[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 143 (Monday, July 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44752-44769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18139]



[[Page 44751]]

Vol. 80

Monday,

No. 143

July 27, 2015

Part V





Department of Labor





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Employee Benefits Security Administration





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 Exemptions From Certain Prohibited Transaction Restrictions; Notices

  Federal Register / Vol. 80 , No. 143 / Monday, July 27, 2015 / 
Notices  

[[Page 44752]]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration


Exemptions From Certain Prohibited Transaction Restrictions

AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Grant of individual exemptions.

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SUMMARY: This document contains exemptions issued by the Department of 
Labor (the Department) from certain of the prohibited transaction 
restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 
(ERISA or the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). 
This notice includes the following: 2015-07, Rock Wool Manufacturing 
Company Salaried Retirement Plan, D-11786; 2015-08, Wells Fargo 
Company, D-11752; 2015-09, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, D-11782; 
2015-10, Eli Lilly and Company and Elco Insurance Company Limited, L-
11784; 2015-11, Robert A. Handelman Roth IRA No. 2, D-11798; 2015-12, 
Roofers Local 195 Pension Fund and Roofers Local 195 Joint 
Apprenticeship Training Fund, D-11809 and L-11810; and, 2015-13, First 
Security Group, Inc. 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan, D-11826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A notice was published in the Federal 
Register of the pendency before the Department of a proposal to grant 
such exemption. The notice set forth a summary of facts and 
representations contained in the application for exemption and referred 
interested persons to the application for a complete statement of the 
facts and representations. The application has been available for 
public inspection at the Department in Washington, DC The notice also 
invited interested persons to submit comments on the requested 
exemption to the Department. In addition the notice stated that any 
interested person might submit a written request that a public hearing 
be held (where appropriate). The applicant has represented that it has 
complied with the requirements of the notification to interested 
persons. No requests for a hearing were received by the Department. 
Public comments were received by the Department as described in the 
granted exemption.
    The notice of proposed exemption was issued and the exemption is 
being granted solely by the Department because, effective December 31, 
1978, section 102 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, 5 U.S.C. App. 1 
(1996), transferred the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to 
issue exemptions of the type proposed to the Secretary of Labor.

Statutory Findings

    In accordance with section 408(a) of the Act and/or section 
4975(c)(2) of the Code and the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 
2570, subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 2011) \1\ and based 
upon the entire record, the Department makes the following findings:
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    \1\ The Department has considered exemption applications 
received prior to December 27, 2011 under the exemption procedures 
set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 
10, 1990).
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    (a) The exemption is administratively feasible;
    (b) The exemption is in the interests of the plan and its 
participants and beneficiaries; and
    (c) The exemption is protective of the rights of the participants 
and beneficiaries of the plan.

Rock Wool Manufacturing Company Salaried Retirement Plan (the Plan), 
Located in Leeds, AL

[Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2015-07; Exemption Application No. D-
11726]

Exemption

Section I: Transaction
    The restrictions of sections 406(a)(1)(A), 406(b)(1) and 406(b)(2) 
of the Act and the sanctions resulting from the application of section 
4975 of the Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1)(A) and (E) of the 
Code,\2\ shall not apply to the proposed in-kind contribution (the 
Contribution) to the Plan of a parcel of unimproved real property 
located at 8200 Thorton Avenue, Leeds, AL (the Property) by Rock Wool 
Manufacturing Company (Rock Wool), the Plan sponsor and a party in 
interest with respect to the Plan.
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    \2\ For purposes of this exemption, references to specific 
provisions of Title I of the Act, unless otherwise specified, refer 
also to the corresponding provisions of the Code.
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Section II: Conditions
    (a) A qualified independent fiduciary (the Independent Fiduciary), 
acting on behalf of the Plan:
    (1) Determines that the Contribution is in the interests of the 
Plan and protective of the Plan's participants and beneficiaries; and
    (2) Determines that the Property is valued for purposes of the 
Contribution at the Property's fair market value as of the date of the 
Contribution, as determined by a qualified independent appraiser (the 
Independent Appraiser);
    (b) The Independent Fiduciary performs the following steps in order 
to make the determinations described above in paragraph (a):
    (1) Reviews, negotiates, and approves the specific terms of the 
Contribution; and
    (2) Ensures, for the purposes of the Contribution, that the 
appraisal report rendered by the Independent Appraiser is consistent 
with sound principles of valuation;
    (c) As of the date of the Contribution, the Independent Fiduciary 
monitors compliance by Rock Wool with respect to the terms of the 
Contribution and with respect to the conditions of this exemption, if 
granted, to ensure that such terms and conditions are satisfied at all 
times;
    (d) The Plan does not pay any commissions, costs or other expenses, 
including any fees that are currently charged or accrued in the future 
by the Independent Fiduciary and the Independent Appraiser, in 
connection with the Contribution;
    (e) The terms and conditions of the Contribution are no less 
favorable to the Plan than the terms and conditions that would be 
negotiated at arm's length between unrelated third parties under 
similar circumstances; and
    (f) The contributed value of the Property is equal to the 
Property's fair market value, as determined by the Independent 
Appraiser on the transaction date, less a 35 percent discount to 
account for certain marketability limitations.

Written Comments

    The Department invited all interested persons to submit written 
comments and/or requests for a public hearing with respect to the 
notice of proposed exemption, published on April 15, 2015, at 80 FR 
20246. All comments and requests for hearing were due by May 31, 2015. 
During the comment period, the Department received no comments and no 
requests for a hearing from interested persons. Accordingly, after 
giving full consideration to the entire record, the Department has 
decided to grant the exemption. The complete application file 
(Application No. D-11726), including all supplemental submissions 
received by the Department, is available for public inspection in the 
Public Disclosure Room of the Employee Benefits Security 
Administration, Room N-1515, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210.
    For a more complete statement of the facts and representations 
supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to 
the Notice of Proposed Exemption published on April 15, 2015, at 80 FR 
20246.

[[Page 44753]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Joseph Brennan of the Department, 
telephone (202) 693-8456. (This is not a toll-free number.)

Wells Fargo Company (WFC), Located in San Francisco, California

[Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2015-08; Application No. D-11752]

Exemption

Section I. Covered Transactions
    The restrictions of section 406(a)(1)(A) and 406(a)(1)(D), and 
section 406(b) of the Act and the sanctions resulting from the 
application of section 4975 of the Code, by reason of section 
4975(c)(1)(A), (D), (E), and (F) of the Code,\3\ shall not apply to the 
purchase of certain securities (the Securities), as defined in Section 
V(j), during the existence of an underwriting or selling syndicate with 
respect to such Securities by an asset management affiliate of WFC (the 
Asset Manager(s)), as defined in Section V(f), from any person other 
than such Asset Manager, where the Asset Manager purchases such 
Securities, as a fiduciary: (1) On behalf of an employee benefit plan 
or employee benefit plans (Client Plan(s)), as defined in Section V(g); 
or (2) on behalf of Client Plans and/or In-House Plan(s), as defined in 
Section V(m), which are invested in a pooled fund or in pooled funds 
(Pooled Fund(s)), as defined in Section V(h), under the following 
circumstances:
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    \3\ For purposes of this exemption references to specific 
provisions of Title I of the Act, unless otherwise specified, refer 
also to the corresponding provisions of the Code.
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    (a) Where a broker-dealer affiliated with WFC (an Affiliated 
Broker-Dealer), as defined in Section V(d), is a manager or member of 
such syndicate (an affiliated underwriter transaction (AUT)); or
    (b) Where an Affiliated Broker-Dealer is a manager or member of 
such syndicate and a servicer affiliated with WFC (an Affiliated 
Servicer), as defined in Section V(n), serves as servicer of a trust 
that issues commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS), as defined in 
Section V(r), including servicing one or more of the commercial 
mortgage backed loans in such trust (an affiliated underwriter and 
affiliated servicer transaction (AUT and AST)); or
    (c) Where an Affiliated Servicer serves as servicer of a trust that 
issues CMBS, including servicing one or more of the commercial mortgage 
backed loans in such trust (AST); or
    (d) Where a trustee affiliated with WFC (an Affiliated Trustee), as 
defined in Section V(o), serves as trustee of a trust that issues the 
Securities (whether or not debt securities) or serves as indenture 
trustee of Securities that are debt securities (an affiliated trustee 
transaction (ATT)); or
    (e) Where an Affiliated Broker-Dealer is a manager or member of 
such syndicate and where an Affiliated Trustee serves as trustee of a 
trust that issues the Securities (whether or not debt securities) or 
serves as an indenture trustee of Securities that are debt Securities 
(an affiliated underwriter and affiliated trustee transaction (AUT and 
ATT).
Section II. Conditions for Transactions Described in Section I(A), (B), 
(D) and (E)
    The transactions described in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e) are 
conditioned upon satisfaction of the general conditions, as set forth 
in Section IV, and upon satisfaction of the following requirements:
    (a)(1) In the case of a transaction described in Section I(b), the 
Securities to be purchased are CMBS, as defined in Section V(r). In the 
case of transactions described in Section I(a), (d), and (e) the 
Securities to be purchased are either--
    (i) Part of an issue registered under the Securities Act of 1933 
(the 1933 Act) (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.). If the Securities to be 
purchased are part of an issue that is exempt from such registration 
requirement, such Securities:
    (A) Are issued or guaranteed by the United States or by any person 
controlled or supervised by and acting as an instrumentality of the 
United States pursuant to authority granted by the Congress of the 
United States;
    (B) Are issued by a bank;
    (C) Are exempt from such registration requirement pursuant to a 
federal statute other than the 1933 Act; or
    (D) Are the subject of a distribution and are of a class which is 
required to be registered under section 12 of the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934 (the 1934 Act) (15 U.S.C. 781), and are issued by an issuer 
that has been subject to the reporting requirements of section 13 of 
the 1934 Act (15 U.S.C. 78m) for a period of at least ninety (90) days 
immediately preceding the sale of such Securities and that has filed 
all reports required to be filed thereunder with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (SEC) during the preceding twelve (12) months; or
    (ii) Part of an issue that is an eligible Rule 144A offering 
(Eligible Rule 144A Offering), as defined in SEC Rule 10f-3 (17 CFR 
270.10f-3(a)(4)).\4\ Where the Eligible Rule 144A Offering of the 
Securities is of equity securities, the offering syndicate shall obtain 
a legal opinion regarding the adequacy of the disclosures in the 
offering memorandum;
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    \4\ SEC Rule 10f-3(a)(4), 17 CFR 270.10f-3(a)(4), states that 
the term, ``Eligible Rule 144A Offering'' means an offering of 
securities that meets the following conditions:
     (i) The securities are offered or sold in transactions exempt 
from registration under section 4(2) of the 1933 Act [15 U.S.C. 
77d(d)], Rule 144A thereunder [Sec.  230.144A of this chapter], or 
Rules 501-508 thereunder [Sec. Sec.  230.501-230-508 of this 
chapter];
     (ii) The securities are sold to persons that the seller and any 
person acting on behalf of the seller reasonably believe to include 
qualified institutional buyers, as defined in Sec.  230.144A(a)(1) 
of this chapter; and
     (iii) The seller and any person acting on behalf of the seller 
reasonably believe that the securities are eligible for resale to 
other qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Sec.  230.144A of 
this chapter.
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    (2) The Securities to be purchased are purchased prior to the end 
of the first day on which any sales are made, pursuant to that 
offering, at a price that is not more than the price paid by each other 
purchaser of the Securities in that offering or in any concurrent 
offering of the Securities, except that --
    (i) If such Securities are offered for subscription upon exercise 
of rights, they may be purchased on or before the fourth day preceding 
the day on which the rights offering terminates; or
    (ii) If such Securities are debt securities, they may be purchased 
at a price that is not more than the price paid by each other purchaser 
of the Securities in that offering or in any concurrent offering of the 
Securities and may be purchased on a day subsequent to the end of the 
first day on which any sales are made, pursuant to that offering, 
provided that the interest rates, as of the date of such purchase, on 
comparable debt securities offered to the public subsequent to the end 
of the first day on which any sales are made and prior to the purchase 
date are less than the interest rate of the debt Securities being 
purchased; and
    (3) The Securities to be purchased are offered pursuant to an 
underwriting or selling agreement under which the members of the 
syndicate are committed to purchase all of the Securities being 
offered, except if --
    (i) Such Securities are purchased by others pursuant to a rights 
offering; or
    (ii) Such Securities are offered pursuant to an over-allotment 
option.
    (b) The issuer of the Securities to be purchased must have been in 
continuous operation for not less than three (3) years, including the 
operation of any predecessors, unless the Securities to be purchased--

[[Page 44754]]

    (1) Are non-convertible debt securities rated in one of the four 
highest rating categories by a rating agency (a Rating Agency or 
collectively, Rating Agencies), as defined in Section V(q); provided 
that none of the Rating Agencies rates such securities in a category 
lower than the fourth highest rating category; or
    (2) Are debt securities issued or fully guaranteed by the United 
States or by any person controlled or supervised by and acting as an 
instrumentality of the United States pursuant to authority granted by 
the Congress of the United States; or
    (3) Are debt securities which are fully guaranteed by a person (the 
Guarantor) that has been in continuous operation for not less than 
three (3) years, including the operation of any predecessors, provided 
that such Guarantor has issued other securities registered under the 
1933 Act; or if such Guarantor has issued other securities which are 
exempt from such registration requirement, such Guarantor has been in 
continuous operation for not less than three (3) years, including the 
operation of any predecessors, and such Guarantor:
    (i) Is a bank; or
    (ii) Is an issuer of securities which are exempt from such 
registration requirement, pursuant to a Federal statute other than the 
1933 Act; or
    (iii) Is an issuer of securities that are the subject of a 
distribution and are of a class which is required to be registered 
under section 12 of the 1934 Act (15 U.S.C. 781), and are issued by an 
issuer that has been subject to the reporting requirements of section 
13 of the 1934 Act (15 U.S.C. 78m) for a period of at least ninety (90) 
days immediately preceding the sale of such securities and that has 
filed all reports required to be filed hereunder with the SEC during 
the preceding twelve (12) months.
    (c) The aggregate amount of Securities of an issue purchased by the 
Asset Manager with the assets of all Client Plans, and the assets, 
calculated on a pro rata basis, of all Client Plans and In-House Plans 
investing in Pooled Funds managed by the Asset Manager, and the assets 
of plans to which the Asset Manager renders investment advice within 
the meaning of 29 CFR 2510.3-21(c) does not exceed:
    (1) 10 percent (10%) of the total amount of the Securities being 
offered in an issue, if such Securities are equity securities; or
    (2) 35 percent (35%) of the total amount of the Securities being 
offered in an issue, if such Securities are debt securities rated in 
one of the four highest rating categories by at least one of the Rating 
Agencies; provided that none of the Rating Agencies rates such 
Securities in a category lower than the fourth highest rating category; 
and
    (3) The assets of any single Client Plan (and the assets of any 
Client Plans and any In-House Plans investing in Pooled Funds) may not 
be used to purchase any Securities being offered, if such Securities 
are debt securities rated lower than the fourth highest rating category 
by any of the Rating Agencies; and
    (4) Notwithstanding the percentage of Securities of an issue 
permitted to be acquired, as set forth in Section II(c)(1), and (2), 
the amount of Securities in any issue (whether equity or debt 
securities) purchased pursuant to transactions described in Section 
I(a), (b), (d), and (e) by the Asset Manager on behalf of any single 
Client Plan, either individually or through investment, calculated on a 
pro rata basis, in a Pooled Fund may not exceed three percent (3%) of 
the total amount of such Securities being offered in such issue, and;
    (5) If purchased in an Eligible Rule 144A Offering, the total 
amount of the Securities being offered for purposes of determining the 
percentages described in Section II(c)(1), (2) and (4) is the total of:
    (i) The principal amount of the offering of such class of 
Securities sold by underwriters or members of the selling syndicate to 
``qualified institutional buyers'' (QIBs), as defined in SEC Rule 144A 
(17 CFR 230.144A(a)(1)); plus
    (ii) The principal amount of the offering of such class of 
Securities in any concurrent public offering.
    (d) The aggregate amount to be paid by any single Client Plan in 
purchasing any Securities described in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e), 
including any amounts paid by any Client Plan or In-House Plan in 
purchasing such Securities through a Pooled Fund, calculated on a pro 
rata basis, does not exceed three percent (3%) of the fair market value 
of the net assets of such Client Plan or In-House Plan, as of the last 
day of the most recent fiscal quarter of such Client Plan or In-House 
Plan prior to such transaction.
    (e) If the transaction is an AUT, as described in Section I(a), 
(b), and (e), the Affiliated Broker-Dealer does not receive, either 
directly, indirectly, or through designation, any selling concession, 
or other compensation or consideration that is based upon the amount of 
Securities purchased by any single Client Plan, or that is based upon 
the amount of Securities purchased by Client Plans or In-House Plans 
through Pooled Funds, pursuant to this exemption. In this regard, the 
Affiliated Broker-Dealer may not receive, either directly or 
indirectly, any compensation or consideration that is attributable to 
the fixed designations generated by purchases of the Securities by the 
Asset Manager on behalf of any single Client Plan or on behalf of any 
Client Plan or In-House Plan in Pooled Funds.
    (f)(1) If the transaction is an AUT as described in Section I(a), 
(b), and (e), the amount the Affiliated Broker-Dealer receives in 
management, underwriting, or other compensation or consideration is not 
increased through an agreement, arrangement, or understanding for the 
purpose of compensating such Affiliated Broker-Dealer for foregoing any 
selling concessions for those Securities sold. Except as described 
above, nothing in this Section II(f)(1) shall be construed as 
precluding an Affiliated Broker-Dealer from receiving management fees 
for serving as manager of an underwriting or selling syndicate, 
underwriting fees for assuming the responsibilities of an underwriter 
in the underwriting or selling syndicate, or other compensation or 
consideration that is not based upon the amount of Securities purchased 
by the Asset Manager on behalf of any single Client Plan, or on behalf 
of any Client Plan or In-House Plan participating in Pooled Funds; and
    (2) Each Affiliated Broker-Dealer shall provide, on a quarterly 
basis, to the Asset Manager a written certification, signed and dated 
by an officer, as defined in Section V(s), of such Affiliated Broker-
Dealer, stating that the amount that each such Affiliated Broker-Dealer 
received in compensation or consideration during the past quarter, in 
connection with any transactions described in Section I(a), (b), (d), 
and (e) was not adjusted in a manner inconsistent with Section II(e), 
(f), or Section IV(d).
    (g)(1) The transactions described in Section I(a), (b), (d), and 
(e), are performed under a written authorization executed in advance by 
an Independent Fiduciary of each single Client Plan (the Independent 
Fiduciary), as defined in Section V(i); and
    (2) The authorization described in Section II(g)(1), to engage in 
the transactions described in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e) may be 
terminated at will by the Independent Fiduciary of a single Client 
Plan, without penalty to such single Client Plan, within five (5) days 
after receipt by the Asset Manager of a written notification from such 
Independent Fiduciary that the authorization to engage, on behalf of 
such single Client Plan, in such transactions is terminated.

[[Page 44755]]

    (h) Prior to the execution by an Independent Fiduciary of a single 
Client Plan of the written authorization described in Section II(g)(1), 
the following information and materials (which may be provided 
electronically) must be provided by the Asset Manager to such 
Independent Fiduciary:
    (1) A copy of the Notice of Proposed Exemption (the Notice) and, if 
granted, a copy of the final exemption (the Grant) as published in the 
Federal Register, provided that the Notice and the Grant are supplied 
simultaneously; and
    (2) Any other reasonably available information regarding the 
transactions described in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e) that such 
Independent Fiduciary requests the Asset Manager to provide.
    (i)(1) In the case of an existing employee benefit plan investor 
(or existing In-House Plan investor, as the case may be) in a Pooled 
Fund, such Pooled Fund may not engage in any transactions described in 
Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e), unless the Asset Manager provides the 
written information, as described below, and within the time period 
described below in this Section II(i)(2), to the Independent Fiduciary 
of each such plan participating in such Pooled Fund (and to the 
fiduciary of each such In-House Plan participating in such Pooled 
Fund);
    (2) The following information and materials (which may be provided 
electronically) shall be provided by the Asset Manager not less than 45 
days prior to such Asset Manager engaging in the transactions described 
in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e) on behalf of a Pooled Fund, and 
provided further that the information described in this Section 
II(i)(2)(i) and (iii) is supplied simultaneously:
    (i) A notice of the intent of such Pooled Fund to purchase 
Securities, pursuant to this exemption for the transactions described 
in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e), a copy of this Notice, and if 
granted, a copy of the Grant, as published in the Federal Register;
    (ii) Any other reasonably available information regarding the 
transactions described in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e) that the 
Independent Fiduciary of a plan (or fiduciary of an In-House Plan) 
participating in a Pooled Fund requests the Asset Manager to provide; 
and
    (iii) A termination form (the Termination Form), as defined in 
Section V(p); and
    (3) The Independent Fiduciary of an existing employee benefit plan 
investor (or fiduciary of an In-House Plan) participating in a Pooled 
Fund has an opportunity to withdraw the assets of such plan (or such 
In-House Plan) from a Pooled Fund for a period of no more than thirty 
(30) days after such plan's (or such In-House Plan's) receipt of the 
initial notice of intent described in Section II(i)(2)(i) and to 
terminate such plan's (or In-House Plan's) investment in such Pooled 
Fund without penalty to such plan (or In-House Plan). Failure of the 
Independent Fiduciary of an existing employee benefit plan investor (or 
fiduciary of such In-House Plan) to return the Termination Form to the 
Asset Manager in the case of such plan (or In-House Plan) participating 
in a Pooled Fund within the time period specified in Section V(p), 
shall be deemed to be an approval by such plan (or such In-House Plan) 
of its participation in the transactions described in Section I(a), 
(b), (d), and (e), as an investor in such Pooled Fund.
    (j) In the case of each plan (and in the case of each In-House 
Plan) whose assets are proposed to be invested in a Pooled Fund after 
such Pooled Fund has satisfied the conditions set forth in this 
exemption to engage in the transactions described in Section I(a), (b), 
(d), and (e), the investment by such plan (or by such In-House Plan) in 
the Pooled Fund is subject to the prior written authorization of an 
Independent Fiduciary representing such plan (or the prior written 
authorization by the fiduciary of such In-House Plan, as the case may 
be), following the receipt by such Independent Fiduciary of such plan 
(or by the fiduciary of such In-House Plan, as the case may be) of the 
written information described in Section II(i)(2)(i) and (ii), provided 
that the Notice and the Grant described in Section II(i)(2)(i) are 
provided simultaneously.
    (k) At least once every three months, and not later than 45 days 
following the period to which such information relates the Asset 
Manager shall furnish:
    (1) In the case of each single Client Plan that engages in the 
transactions described in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e), the 
information described in this Section II(k)(3)-(7) to the Independent 
Fiduciary of each such single Client Plan;
    (2) In the case of each Pooled Fund in which a Client Plan (or in 
which an In-House Plan) invests, the information described in this 
Section II(k)(3)-(6) and (8) to the Independent Fiduciary of each such 
Client Plan (and to the fiduciary of each such In-House Plan) invested 
in such Pooled Fund;
    (3) A quarterly report (the Quarterly Report) (which may be 
provided electronically) which discloses all the Securities purchased 
during the period to which such report relates, on behalf of the Client 
Plan, In-House Plan, or Pooled Fund to which such report relates, and 
which discloses the terms of each of the transactions described in such 
report, including:
    (i) The type of Securities (including the rating of any Securities 
which are debt securities) involved in each of the transactions;
    (ii) The price at which the Securities were purchased in each of 
the transactions;
    (iii) The first day on which any sale was made during the offering 
of the Securities;
    (iv) The size of the issue of the Securities involved in each of 
the transactions;
    (v) The number of Securities purchased by the Asset Manager for the 
Client Plan, In-House Plan, or Pooled Fund to which each of the 
transactions relates;
    (vi) The identity of the underwriter from whom the Securities were 
purchased for each of the transactions;
    (vii) In the case of AUTs as described in Section I(a), (b), and 
(e), the underwriting spread in each of the transactions (i.e., the 
difference, between the price at which the underwriter purchases the 
Securities from the issuer and the price at which the Securities are 
sold to the public);
    (viii) In the case of ATTs as described in Section I(d), and (e), 
the basis upon which the Affiliated Trustee is compensated in each of 
the transactions;
    (ix) The price at which any of the Securities purchased during the 
period to which such report relates were sold;
    (x) The market value at the end of the period to which such report 
relates of the Securities purchased during such period and not sold; 
and
    (xi) In the case of an AST as described in Section I(b), the basis 
upon which the Affiliated Servicer is compensated;
    (4) The Quarterly Report contains:
    (i) In the case of AUTs, as described in Section I(a), (b), and 
(e), a representation that the Asset Manager has received a written 
certification signed by an officer, as defined in Section V(s), of the 
Affiliated Broker-Dealer as described in Section II(f)(2), affirming 
that, as to each such AUT during the past quarter, such Affiliated 
Broker-Dealer acted in compliance with Section II(e), (f), and Section 
IV(d);
    (ii) In the case of ATTs as described in Section I(d) and (e), a 
representation by the Asset Manager affirming that, as to each such 
ATT, the transaction was not part of an agreement, arrangement, or 
understanding designed to benefit the Affiliated Trustee;
    (iii) In the case of an AST as described in Section I(b), a 
representation of the Asset Manager affirming that, as to each

[[Page 44756]]

such AST, the transaction was not part of an agreement, arrangement, or 
understanding designed to benefit the Affiliated Servicer; and
    (iv) A representation that copies of such certifications will be 
provided upon request;
    (5) A disclosure in the Quarterly Report that states that any other 
reasonably available information regarding the transactions described 
in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e), that an Independent Fiduciary (or 
fiduciary of an In-House Plan) requests will be provided, including, 
but not limited to:
    (i) The date on which the Securities were purchased on behalf of 
the Client Plan (or the In-House Plan) to which the disclosure relates 
(including Securities purchased by Pooled Funds in which such Client 
Plan (or such In-House Plan) invests;
    (ii) The percentage of the offering purchased on behalf of all 
Client Plans (and the pro rata percentage purchased on behalf of Client 
Plans and In-House Plans investing in Pooled Funds); and
    (iii) The identity of all members of the underwriting syndicate;
    (6) The Quarterly Report discloses any instance during the past 
quarter where the Asset Manager was precluded for any period of time 
from selling Securities purchased for the transactions described in 
Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e), in that quarter because of its status 
as an affiliate of an Affiliated Broker-Dealer and, as applicable, as 
an affiliate of an Affiliated Trustee, or as an affiliate of an 
Affiliated Servicer and the reason for this restriction;
    (7) Explicit notification, prominently displayed in each Quarterly 
Report sent to the Independent Fiduciary of each single Client Plan 
that engages in any of the transactions described in Section I(a), (b), 
(d), and (e) that the authorization to engage in such covered 
transactions may be terminated, without penalty to such single Client 
Plan, within five (5) days after the date that the Independent 
Fiduciary of such single Client Plan informs the person identified in 
such notification that the authorization to engage in such transactions 
is terminated; and
    (8) Explicit notification, prominently displayed in each Quarterly 
Report sent to the Independent Fiduciary of each Client Plan (and to 
the fiduciary of each In-House Plan) that engages in any of the 
transactions described in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e) through a 
Pooled Fund, that the investment in such Pooled Fund may be terminated, 
without penalty to such Client Plan (or such In-House Plan), within 
such time as may be necessary to effect the withdrawal in an orderly 
manner that is equitable to all withdrawing plans and to the non-
withdrawing plans, after the date that the Independent Fiduciary of 
such Client Plan (or the fiduciary of such In-House Plan, as the case 
may be) informs the person identified in such notification that the 
investment in such Pooled Fund is terminated.
    (l) The Asset Manager, the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, the Affiliated 
Trustee, and the Affiliated Servicer, as applicable, maintain, or cause 
to be maintained, for a period of six (6) years from the date of any of 
the transactions described in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e), such 
records as are necessary to enable the persons described in Section 
II(m) to determine whether the conditions of this exemption have been 
met, except that--
    (1) No party in interest with respect to a plan which engages in 
any of the transactions described in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e), 
other than WFC, the Asset Manager, the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, the 
Affiliated Trustee, and the Affiliated Servicer, as applicable, shall 
be subject to a civil penalty under section 502(i) of the Act or the 
taxes imposed by section 4975(a) and (b) of the Code, if such records 
are not maintained, or are not available for examination, as required 
by Section II(m); and
    (2) A separate prohibited transaction shall not be considered to 
have occurred if, due to circumstances beyond the control of WFC, the 
Asset Manager, the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, and the Affiliated 
Trustee, or the Affiliated Servicer, as applicable, such records are 
lost or destroyed prior to the end of the six (6) year period.
    (m)(1) Except as provided in Section II(m)(2), and notwithstanding 
any provisions of subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 504 of the Act, 
the records referred to in Section II(l) are unconditionally available 
at their customary location for examination during normal business 
hours by--
    (i) Any duly authorized employee or representative of the 
Department, the Internal Revenue Service, or the SEC; or
    (ii) Any fiduciary of any plan that engages in any of the 
transactions described in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e), or any duly 
authorized employee or representative of such fiduciary; or
    (iii) Any employer of participants and beneficiaries and any 
employee organization whose members are covered by a plan that engages 
in any of the transactions described in Section I(a), (b), (d), and 
(e), or any authorized employee or representative of these entities; or
    (iv) Any participant or beneficiary of a plan that engages in any 
of the transactions described in Section I(a), (b), (d), and (e), or 
duly authorized employee or representative of such participant or 
beneficiary;
    (2) None of the persons described in Section II(m)(1)(ii)--(iv) 
shall be authorized to examine trade secrets of WFC, the Asset Manager, 
the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, the Affiliated Trustee, or the Affiliated 
Servicer, or commercial or financial information which is privileged or 
confidential; and
    (3) Should WFC, the Asset Manager, the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, 
the Affiliated Trustee, or the Affiliated Servicer refuse to disclose 
information on the basis that such information is exempt from 
disclosure, pursuant to Section II(m)(2), the Asset Manager shall, by 
the close of the thirtieth (30th) day following the request, provide a 
written notice advising the person who requested such information of 
the reasons for the refusal and that the Department may request such 
information.
    (n) An indenture trustee whose affiliate has, within the prior 12 
months, underwritten any Securities for an obligor of the indenture 
Securities must resign as indenture trustee, if a default occurs upon 
the indenture Securities, within a reasonable amount of time of such 
default.
Section III. Conditions for Transactions Described in Section I(C)
    The transaction described in Section I(c) is conditioned upon 
satisfaction of the general conditions, as set forth in Section IV and 
upon satisfaction of the following requirements:
    (a) The Securities to be purchased are CMBS, as defined in Section 
V(r).
    (b) The purchase of the CMBS meets the conditions of an applicable 
underwriter exemption (the Underwriter Exemption(s)).\5\ (c)(1) The 
aggregate amount of CMBS of an issue purchased by the Asset Manager 
with:
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    \5\ The Underwriter Exemptions are a group of individual 
exemptions granted by the Department to provide relief for the 
origination and operation of certain asset pool investment trusts 
and the acquisition, holding, and disposition by plans of certain 
asset-backed pass-through certificates representing undivided 
interests in those investment trusts. The most recent amendment to 
the Underwriter Exemptions is the Amendment to Prohibited 
Transaction Exemption 2007-05, 72 FR 13130 (March 20, 2007), 
Involving Prudential Securities Incorporated, et al., To Amend the 
Definition of ``Rating Agency,'' [Prohibited Transaction Exemption 
2013-08, 78 FR 41090 (July 9, 2013); Exemption Application No. D-
11718.]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (i) The assets of all Client Plans;
    (ii) The assets, calculated on a pro rata basis, of all Client 
Plans and In-House

[[Page 44757]]

Plans investing in Pooled Funds managed by the Asset Manager; and
    (iii) The assets of plans to which the Asset Manager renders 
investment advice within the meaning of 29 CFR 2510.3-21(c) does not 
exceed 35 percent (35%) of the total amount of the CMBS being offered 
in an issue;
    (2) Notwithstanding the percentage of CMBS of an issue permitted to 
be acquired, as set forth in Section III(c)(1), the amount of CMBS in 
any issue purchased by the Asset Manager on behalf of any single Client 
Plan, either individually or through investment, calculated on a pro 
rata basis, in a Pooled Fund may not exceed three percent (3%) of the 
total amount of such CMBS being offered in such issue; and
    (3) If purchased in an Eligible Rule 144A Offering, the total 
amount of the CMBS being offered for purposes of determining the 
percentages described in this Section III(c) is the total of:
    (i) The principal amount of the offering of such class of CMBS sold 
by underwriters or members of the selling syndicate to QIBs; plus
    (ii) The principal amount of the offering of such class of CMBS in 
any concurrent public offering.
    (d) The aggregate amount to be paid by any single Client Plan in 
purchasing any CMBS, including any amounts paid by any Client Plan or 
In-House Plan in purchasing such CMBS through a Pooled Fund, calculated 
on a pro rata basis, does not exceed three percent (3%) of the fair 
market value of the net assets of such Client Plan or In-House Plan, as 
of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter of such Client Plan 
or In-House Plan prior to such transaction.
    (e)(1) The transaction described in Section I(c) is performed under 
a written authorization executed in advance by an Independent Fiduciary 
of each single Client Plan, as defined in Section V(i); and
    (2) The authorization described in Section III(e)(1) to engage in 
the transaction described in Section I(c) may be terminated at will by 
the Independent Fiduciary of a single Client Plan, without penalty to 
such single Client Plan within five (5) days after receipt by the Asset 
Manager of a written notification from such Independent Fiduciary that 
the authorization to engage, on behalf of such single Client Plan, in 
such transactions is terminated.
    (f) The following information and materials (which may be provided 
electronically) must be provided by the Asset Manager to the 
Independent Fiduciary of a single Client Plan not less than 45 days 
prior to such Asset Manager engaging in the transaction described in 
Section I(c), pursuant to this exemption:
    (1) A notice of the intent of the Asset Manager to purchase CMBS, 
pursuant to Section I(c), a copy of the Notice, and, if granted, a copy 
of the Grant, as published in the Federal Register, provided that the 
Notice and the Grant are supplied simultaneously;
    (2) A notice describing the relationship of the Affiliated Servicer 
to the Asset Manager;
    (3) The basis upon which the Affiliated Servicer is compensated and 
a representation by the Asset Manager affirming that, the transaction 
described in Section I(c) was not part of an agreement, arrangement, or 
understanding designed to benefit the Affiliated Servicer; and
    (4) Any other reasonably available information regarding the 
transaction described in Section I(c) that the Independent Fiduciary of 
such single Client Plan requests the Asset Manager to provide.
    (g)(1) In the case of an existing employee benefit plan investor 
(or existing In-House Plan investor, as the case may be) in a Pooled 
Fund, such Pooled Fund may not engage in a transaction, pursuant to 
Section I(c), unless the Asset Manager provides the written 
information, as described below and within the time period described 
below in this Section III(g)(2), to the Independent Fiduciary of each 
such plan participating in such Pooled Fund (and to the fiduciary of 
each such In-House Plan participating in such Pooled Fund);
    (2) The following information and materials, (which may be provided 
electronically) shall be provided by the Asset Manager not less than 45 
days prior to such Asset Manager engaging in a transaction described in 
Section I(c) on behalf of a Pooled Fund, pursuant to this exemption; 
and provided further that the information described in this Section 
III(g)(2)(i), (ii), (iii), and (v) is supplied simultaneously:
    (i) A notice of the intent of such Pooled Fund to purchase CMBS, 
pursuant to this exemption for a transaction described in Section I(c), 
a copy of this Notice, and a copy of the Grant, as published in the 
Federal Register;
    (ii) A notice describing the relationship of the Affiliated 
Servicer to the Asset Manager;
    (iii) Information on the basis upon which the Affiliated Servicer 
is compensated and a representation by the Asset Manager affirming 
that, such transaction, as described in Section I(c), was not part of 
an agreement, arrangement, or understanding designed to benefit the 
Affiliated Servicer;
    (iv) Any other reasonably available information regarding such 
transaction described in Section I(c) that the Independent Fiduciary of 
a plan (or fiduciary of an In-House Plan) participating in a Pooled 
Fund requests the Asset Manager to provide; and
    (v) A Termination Form, as defined in Section V(p); and
    (3) The Independent Fiduciary of an existing employee benefit plan 
investor (or fiduciary of an In-House Plan) participating in a Pooled 
Fund has an opportunity to withdraw the assets of such plan (or such 
In-House Plan) from a Pooled Fund for a period of no more than thirty 
(30) days after such plan's (or such In-House Plan's) receipt of the 
initial notice of intent described in Section III(g)(2)(i) and to 
terminate such plan's (or In-House Plan's) investment in such Pooled 
Fund without penalty to such plan (or In-House Plan). Failure of the 
Independent Fiduciary of an existing employee benefit plan investor (or 
fiduciary of such In-House Plan) to return the Termination Form to the 
Asset Manager in the case of such plan (or In-House Plan) participating 
in a Pooled Fund within the time period specified in Section V(p), 
shall be deemed to be an approval by such plan (or such In-House Plan) 
of its participation in a transaction described in Section I(c), as an 
investor in such Pooled Fund.
    (h)(1) In the case of each plan (and in the case of each In-House 
Plan) whose assets are proposed to be invested in a Pooled Fund after 
such Pooled Fund has satisfied the conditions set forth in this 
exemption for a transaction described in Section I(c), the investment 
by such plan (or by such In-House Plan) in the Pooled Fund is subject 
to the prior written authorization of an Independent Fiduciary 
representing such plan (or the prior written authorization by the 
fiduciary of such In-House Plan, as the case may be), following the 
receipt by such Independent Fiduciary of the plan (or by the fiduciary 
of the In-House Plan, as the case may be) of the written information 
described in Section III(g)(2); provided that the Notice and, if 
granted, the Grant described in Section III(g)(2)(i) are provided 
simultaneously.
    (i) The requirements of Section IV are met.
Section IV. General Conditions for Transactions Described in Section I
    (a) For purposes of engaging in the transactions described in 
Section I, each Client Plan (and each In-House Plan) shall have total 
net assets with a value of at least $50 million (the $50 Million

[[Page 44758]]

Net Asset Requirement). For purposes of engaging in the transactions 
described in Section I, involving an Eligible Rule 144A Offering, each 
Client Plan (and each In-House Plan) shall have total net assets of at 
least $100 million in securities of issuers that are not affiliated 
with such Client Plan (or such In-House Plan, as the case may be) (the 
$100 Million Net Asset Requirement).
    For purposes of a Pooled Fund engaging in the transactions 
described in Section I, each Client Plan (and each In-House Plan) in 
such Pooled Fund shall have total net assets with a value of at least 
$50 million. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if each such Client Plan 
(and each such In-House Plan) in such Pooled Fund does not have total 
net assets with a value of at least $50 million, the $50 Million Net 
Asset Requirement will be met, if 50 percent (50%) or more of the units 
of beneficial interest in such Pooled Fund are held by Client Plans 
(and by In-House Plans) each of which has total net assets with a value 
of at least $50 million.
    For purposes of a Pooled Fund engaging in the transactions 
described in Section I involving an Eligible Rule 144A Offering, each 
Client Plan (and each In-House Plan) in such Pooled Fund shall have 
total net assets of at least $100 million in securities of issuers that 
are not affiliated with such Client Plan (or such In-House Plan, as the 
case may be). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if each such Client Plan 
(and each such In-House Plan) in such Pooled Fund does not have total 
net assets of at least $100 million in securities of issuers that are 
not affiliated with such Client Plan (or In-House Plan, as the case may 
be), the $100 Million Net Asset Requirement will be met if 50 percent 
(50%) or more of the units of beneficial interest in such Pooled Fund 
are held by Client Plans (and by In-House Plans) each of which have 
total net assets of at least $100 million in securities of issuers that 
are not affiliated with such Client Plan (or such In-House Plan, as the 
case may be), and the Pooled Fund itself qualifies as a QIB, as 
determined pursuant to SEC Rule 144A (17 CFR 230.144A(a)(F)).
    For purposes of the net asset requirements described in Section 
IV(a), where a group of Client Plans is maintained by a single employer 
or controlled group of employers, as defined in section 407(d)(7) of 
the Act, the $50 Million Net Asset Requirement (or in the case of an 
Eligible Rule 144A Offering, the $100 Million Net Asset Requirement) 
may be met by aggregating the assets of such Client Plans, if the 
assets of such Client Plans are pooled for investment purposes in a 
single master trust.
    (b) The Asset Manager is a ``qualified professional asset manager'' 
(QPAM), as that term is defined under Section V(a) of Prohibited 
Transaction Exemption (PTE 84-14),\6\ as amended from time to time, or 
any successor exemption thereto. In addition to satisfying the 
requirements for a QPAM under Section V(a) of PTE 84-14, the Asset 
Manager also must have total client assets under its management and 
control in excess of $5 billion, as of the last day of its most recent 
fiscal year and shareholders' or partners' equity in excess of $1 
million.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 49 FR 9494 (March 13, 1984), as amended, 70 FR 49305 (August 
23, 2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) At the time a transaction described in Section I is entered 
into, no more than 20 percent of the assets of a Pooled Fund are 
comprised of assets of In-House Plans for which WFC, the Asset Manager, 
the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, the Affiliated Trustee, the Affiliated 
Servicer, or any affiliate thereof exercises investment discretion.
    (d) The transactions described in Section I are not part of an 
agreement, arrangement, or understanding designed to benefit the Asset 
Manager or any affiliate.
    (e) For purposes of Section II(i), Section II(j), Section III(g) 
and Section III(h), the requirement that the fiduciary responsible for 
the decision to authorize the transactions described in Section I, as 
applicable, for each plan proposing to invest in a Pooled Fund be 
independent of WFC and its affiliates shall not apply in the case of an 
In-House Plan.
    (f) Subsequent to the initial authorization, pursuant to Section 
II(g) and Section III(e), by an Independent Fiduciary of a single 
Client Plan permitting the Asset Manager to engage in transactions 
described in Section I, as applicable, and subsequent to the initial 
authorization, pursuant to Section II(i), Section II(j), Section 
III(g), and Section III(h), by an Independent Fiduciary of a plan (or 
by a fiduciary of an In-House Plan) to invest in a Pooled Fund that 
engages in the transactions described in Section I, as applicable, the 
Asset Manager will continue to be subject to the requirement to provide 
within a reasonable period of time any reasonably available information 
regarding such transactions that the Independent Fiduciary of such 
plan, such Client Plan (or of such In-House Plan, as the case may be) 
requests the Asset Manager to provide.
    (g) The Independent Fiduciary of each Client Plan (and the 
fiduciary of each In-House Plan) that engages in the transactions 
described in Section I through a Pooled Fund may terminate the 
investment in such Pooled Fund, without penalty to such Client Plan (or 
such In-House Plan), within such time as may be necessary to effect the 
withdrawal in an orderly manner that is equitable to all withdrawing 
plans and to the non-withdrawing plans, after the date that the 
Independent Fiduciary of such Client Plan (or the fiduciary of such In-
House Plan, as the case may be) informs the Asset Manager that the 
investment in such Pooled Fund is terminated.
    (h) The Applicant establishes internal policies that restrict the 
contact and the flow of information between investment management 
personnel and non-investment management personnel in the same or 
affiliated financial service firms.
    (i) The Applicant establishes business separation policies and 
procedures for WFC and its affiliates which are also structured to 
restrict the flow of any information to or from the Asset Manager that 
could limit its flexibility in managing client assets, and of 
information obtained or developed by the Asset Manager that can be used 
by other parts of the organization, to the detriment of the Asset 
Manager's clients.
Section V. Definitions
    (a) The term ``the Applicant'' means WFC.
    (b) The term ``affiliate'' of a person includes:
    (1) Any person directly or indirectly through one or more 
intermediaries, controlling, controlled by, or under common control 
with such person;
    (2) Any officer, director, partner, employee, or relative, as 
defined in section 3(15) of the Act, of such person; and
    (3) Any corporation or partnership of which such person is an 
officer, director, partner, or employee.
    (c) The term ``control'' means the power to exercise a controlling 
influence over the management or policies of a person other than an 
individual.
    (d) The term ``Affiliated Broker-Dealer'' means any broker-dealer 
affiliate, as the term ``affiliate'' is defined in Section V(b)(1), of 
the Applicant, as the term ``Applicant'' is defined in Section V(a), 
that meets the requirements of this exemption. Such Affiliated Broker-
Dealer may participate in an underwriting or selling syndicate as a 
manager or member.
    (e) The term ``manager'' used in Section V(d) above and Section 
V(f) below, means any member of an underwriting or selling syndicate 
who,

[[Page 44759]]

either alone or together with other members of the syndicate, is 
authorized to act on behalf of the members of the syndicate in 
connection with the sale and distribution of the Securities, as defined 
in Section V(j), being offered or who receives compensation from the 
members of the syndicate for its services as a manager of the 
syndicate.
    (f) The term ``Asset Manager(s)'' means WFC or an affiliate of WFC, 
as the term ``affiliate'' is defined in Section V(b)(1), which entity 
acts as the fiduciary with respect to Client Plan(s), as the term 
``Client Plan(s)'' is defined in Section V(g), or as the fiduciary with 
respect to Pooled Fund(s), as the term ``Pooled Fund(s)'' is defined in 
Section V(h). For purposes of this exemption, the Asset Manager must 
qualify as a QPAM, as that term is defined under Section V(a) of PTE 
84-14, 49 FR 9494, March 13, 1984, as amended at, 75 FR 38837, (July 6, 
2010). In addition to satisfying the requirements for a QPAM under 
Section V(a) of PTE 84-14, the Asset Manager must also have total 
client assets under its management and control in excess of $5 billion, 
as of the last day of its most recent fiscal year and shareholders' or 
partners' equity in excess of $1 million.
    (g) The term ``Client Plan(s)'' means an employee benefit plan or 
employee benefit plans that are subject to the Act and/or the Code, and 
for which plan(s) an Asset Manager exercises discretionary authority or 
discretionary control respecting management or disposition of some or 
all of the assets of such plan(s). The term ``Client Plan(s)'' excludes 
In-House Plans, as defined in Section V(m).
    (h) The term ``Pooled Fund(s)'' means a common or collective trust 
fund(s) or a pooled investment fund(s):
    (1) In which employee benefit plan(s) subject to the Act and/or 
Code invest;
    (2) Which is maintained by an Asset Manager, as defined in Section 
V(f); and
    (3) For which such Asset Manager exercises discretionary authority 
or discretionary control respecting the management or disposition of 
the assets of such fund(s).
    (i)(1) The term ``Independent Fiduciary'' means a fiduciary of a 
plan who is unrelated to, and independent of WFC, and is unrelated to, 
and independent of any affiliate of WFC. For purposes of this 
exemption, a fiduciary of a plan will be deemed to be unrelated to, and 
independent of WFC, and unrelated to, and independent of any affiliate 
of WFC, if such fiduciary represents in writing that neither such 
fiduciary, nor any individual responsible for the decision to authorize 
or terminate authorization for the transactions described in Section I 
is an officer, director, or highly compensated employee (within the 
meaning of section 4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) of WFC, or of any 
affiliate of WFC, and represents that such fiduciary shall advise the 
Asset Manager within a reasonable period of time after any change in 
such facts occur;
    (2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section V(i), 
a fiduciary of a plan is not independent:
    (i) If such fiduciary, directly or indirectly, through one or more 
intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control 
with WFC, or any affiliate of WFC;
    (ii) If such fiduciary directly or indirectly receives any 
compensation or other consideration from WFC, or from any affiliate of 
WFC for his or her own personal account in connection with any 
transaction described in this exemption; and
    (iii) If any officer, director, or highly compensated employee 
(within the meaning of section 4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) of the Asset 
Manager responsible for the transactions described in Section I is an 
officer, director, or highly compensated employee (within the meaning 
of section 4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) of the sponsor of a plan or of 
the fiduciary responsible for the decision to authorize or terminate 
authorization for the transactions described in Section I. However, if 
such individual is a director of the sponsor of a plan or of the 
responsible fiduciary, and if he or she abstains from participation in: 
(A) The choice of such plan's investment manager/adviser; and (B) the 
decision to authorize or terminate authorization for the transactions 
described in Section I, then Section V(i)(2)(iii) shall not apply.
    (j) The term ``Securities'' shall have the same meaning as defined 
in section 2(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), 
as amended (15 U.S.C. 80a 2(36) (1996)). For purposes of this 
exemption, mortgage-backed or other asset backed securities rated by 
one of the Rating Agencies, as defined in Section V(q), will be treated 
as debt securities.
    (k) The term ``Eligible Rule 144A Offering'' shall have the same 
meaning as defined in SEC Rule 10f-3(a)(4)
    (17 CFR 270.10f-3(a)(4))under the 1940 Act.
    (l) The term ``qualified institutional buyer'' or the term, 
``QIB,'' shall have the same meaning as defined in SEC Rule 144A (17 
CFR 230.144A(a)(1)) under the 1933 Act.
    (m) The term ``In-House Plan(s)'' means an employee benefit plan or 
employee benefit plans that is/are subject to the Act and/or the Code, 
and that is/are sponsored by WFC or by an affiliate of WFC, as the 
term, affiliate is defined in Section V(b)(1), for its own employees.
    (n) The term ``Affiliated Servicer'' means any affiliate of WFC, as 
defined in Section V(b)(1), that serves as a servicer of a trust that 
issues CMBS (including servicing one or more of the commercial mortgage 
loans in such trust).
    (o) The term ``Affiliated Trustee'' means any affiliate of WFC, as 
affiliate is defined in Section V(b)(1), which is a bank or trust 
company that serves as trustee of a trust that issues Securities which 
are asset-backed securities or as indenture trustee of Securities which 
are either asset-backed securities or other debt securities that meet 
the requirements of Section II of this exemption. For purposes of this 
exemption, other than Section II(o), performing services as custodian, 
paying agent, registrar, or similar ministerial capacities is, in each 
case, also considered as serving as trustee or indenture trustee.
    (p) The term ``Termination Form'' is a form provided by the Asset 
Manager to the Independent Fiduciary of each such plan participating in 
a Pooled Fund (and to the fiduciary of each such In-House Plan 
participating in such Pooled Fund) which expressly provides an election 
for the Independent Fiduciary of a plan (or fiduciary of an In-House 
Plan) participating in a Pooled Fund to terminate such plan's (or In-
House Plan's) investment in such Pooled Fund without penalty to such 
plan (or In-House Plan). Such form shall include instructions 
specifying how to use the form. Specifically, the instructions must 
explain that such plan (or such In-House Plan) has an opportunity to 
withdraw its assets from a Pooled Fund for a period of no more than 
thirty (30) days after such plan's (or such In-House Plan's) receipt of 
the initial notice of intent described in Section II(i)(2)(i) or in 
Section III(g)(2)(i), as applicable, and that the failure of the 
Independent Fiduciary of such plan (or fiduciary of such In-House Plan) 
to return the Termination Form to the Asset Manager in the case of a 
plan (or In-House Plan) participating in a Pooled Fund within the time 
period, specified in Section II(i)(2)(iii) or in Section 
III(g)(2)(iii), as applicable, shall be deemed to be an approval by 
such plan (or such In-House Plan) of its participation in the 
transactions described in Section I, as applicable, as an investor in 
such Pooled Fund.
    Further, the instructions will identify WFC, the Asset Manager, the 
Affiliated Broker-Dealer, and as applicable, the

[[Page 44760]]

Affiliated Trustee, or the Affiliated Servicer, and will provide the 
address of the Asset Manager. The instructions will state that this 
exemption will not be available, unless the fiduciary of each plan 
participating in any of the transactions described in Section I, as 
applicable, as an investor in a Pooled Fund is, in fact, independent of 
WFC, the Asset Manager, the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, and, as 
applicable, the Affiliated Trustee or the Affiliated Servicer. The 
instructions will also state that the fiduciary of each such plan must 
advise the Asset Manager, in writing, if it is not an ``Independent 
Fiduciary,'' as that term is defined in Section V(i).
    (q) The term ``Rating Agency'' or collectively, ``Rating Agencies'' 
means a credit rating agency that:
    (1) Is currently recognized by the SEC as a nationally recognized 
statistical ratings organization (NRSRO);
    (2) Has indicated on its most recently filed SEC Form NRSRO that it 
rates ``issuers of asset-backed securities;'' and
    (3) Has had, within a period not exceeding twelve (12) months prior 
to the initial issuance of the securities, at least three (3) 
``qualified ratings engagements.'' A ``qualified ratings engagement'' 
is one:
    (i) Requested by an issuer or underwriter of securities in 
connection with the initial offering of the securities;
    (ii) For which the credit rating agency is compensated for 
providing ratings;
    (iii) Which is made public to investors generally; and
    (iv) Which involves the offering of securities of the type that 
would be granted relief by the Underwriter Exemptions.
    (r) The term ``CMBS'' means pass-through certificates or trust 
certificates that represent a beneficial ownership interest in the 
assets of an issuer which is a trust and which entitle the holder to 
payments of principal, interest, and/or other payments made with 
respect to the assets of such trust and the corpus or assets of which 
consist solely of obligations that bear interest or are purchased at a 
discount and which are secured by commercial real property (including 
obligations secured by leasehold interests on commercial real property) 
that are rated in one of the four highest rating categories by the 
Rating Agencies; provided that none of the Rating Agencies rates such 
securities in a category lower than the fourth highest rating category.
    (s) The term ``officer'' means a president, any vice president in 
charge of a principal business unit, division, or function (such as 
sales, administration, or finance), or any other officer who performs a 
policy-making function for WFC or any affiliate thereof.
    Effective Date: This exemption will be effective as of the date the 
Grant is published in the Federal Register.

Written Comments/Notice of Technical Correction

    The Department invited all interested persons to submit written 
comments and/or requests for a public hearing with respect to the 
notice of proposed exemption (the Notice), published in the Federal 
Register on November 26, 2014 at 79 FR 70631. All comments and requests 
for hearing were due by January 10, 2015. During the comment period, 
the Department received no comments and no requests for a hearing from 
interested persons with respect to the Notice. However, upon careful 
review of the Notice, the Department observed that Section II(o) had 
been misalphabetized and the reference should have been to Section 
II(n) instead. The Department has corrected the error in this grant 
notice.
    Accordingly, after giving full consideration to the entire record, 
the Department has decided to grant the exemption. The complete 
application file (Application No. D-11752), including all supplemental 
submissions received by the Department, is available for public 
inspection at the Public Disclosure Room of the Employee Benefits 
Security Administration, Room N-1515, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. For a more complete 
statement of facts and representations supporting the Department's 
decision to grant this exemption, refer to the Notice published in the 
Federal Register on November 26, 2014, at 79 FR 70631.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Anna Mpras Vaughan of the 
Department, telephone (202) 693-8565. (This is not a toll-free number.)

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (Baird), Located in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin

[Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2015-09; Application No. D-11782]

Exemption

Section I. Transactions
    The restrictions of sections 406(a)(1)(D) and 406(b) of the 
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA or 
the Act), and the sanctions resulting from the application of section 
4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) by 
reason of sections 4975(c)(1)(D), (E), and (F) of the Code, shall not 
apply to:
    (a) The acquisition, sale or exchange by an Account of shares of an 
open-end investment company (the Fund) registered under the Investment 
Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the investment adviser for which is 
also a fiduciary with respect to the Account (or an affiliate of such 
fiduciary) (hereinafter, Baird and all its affiliates will be referred 
to as Investment Adviser) in connection with the Investment Adviser's 
discretionary management of the Account,
    (b) the in-kind redemptions of shares or acquisitions of shares of 
the Fund in exchange for Account assets transferred in-kind from an 
Account in connection with the Investment Adviser's discretionary 
management of the Account,
    (c) the receipt of fees for acting as an investment adviser for 
such Funds, in connection with the investment by the Accounts in shares 
of the Funds, and
    (d) the receipt of fees for providing Secondary Services to the 
Funds in connection with the investment by the Accounts in shares of 
the Funds, provided that the applicable conditions set forth in 
Sections II and III are met.
Section II. General Conditions
    (a) The Account does not pay a sales commission or other similar 
fees to the Investment Adviser or its affiliates in connection with 
such acquisition, sale, or exchange;
    (b) The Account does not pay a purchase, redemption or similar fee 
to the Investment Adviser in connection with the acquisition of shares 
by the Account or the sale by the Account to the Fund of such shares;
    (c) The Account may pay a purchase or redemption fee to the Fund in 
connection with an acquisition or sale of shares by the Account, that 
is fully disclosed in the Fund's prospectus in effect at all times. 
Furthermore, any purchase fee paid by the Account to the Fund: (1) Is 
intended to approximate the difference between ``bid'' and ``asked'' 
prices on the fixed income securities that the Fund will purchase using 
the proceeds from the sale of Fund shares to the Account; and (2) is 
not charged on any assets transferred in-kind to the Fund;
    (d) The Account does not pay an investment management, investment 
advisory or similar fee with respect to Account assets invested in Fund 
shares for the entire period of such investment. This condition does 
not preclude the payment of investment advisory fees by the Fund under 
the terms of its investment advisory agreement adopted in accordance 
with section 15 of the 1940 Act. This condition also does not preclude 
payment of an investment

[[Page 44761]]

advisory fee by the Account under the following circumstances:
    (1) For Accounts billed in arrears, an investment advisory fee may 
be paid based on total Account assets from which a credit has been 
subtracted representing the Account's pro rata share of investment 
advisory fees paid by the Fund;
    (2) For Accounts billed in advance, the Investment Adviser must 
employ a reasonably designed method to ensure that the amount of the 
prepaid fee that constitutes the fee with respect to the Account assets 
invested in the Fund shares:
    (A) Is anticipated and subtracted from the prepaid fee at the time 
of payment of such fee, and
    (B) Is returned to the Account no later than during the immediately 
following fee period, or
    (C) Is offset against the prepaid fee for the immediately following 
fee period or for the fee period immediately following thereafter. For 
purposes of this paragraph, a fee shall be deemed to be prepaid for any 
fee period if the amount of such fee is calculated as of a date not 
later than the first day of such period; or
    (3) An investment advisory fee may be paid by an Account based on 
the total assets of the Account, if the Account will receive a cash 
rebate of such Account's proportionate share of all fees charged to the 
Fund by the Investment Adviser for investment management, investment 
advisory or similar services no later than one business day after the 
receipt of such fees by the Investment Adviser;
    (e) The crediting, offsetting or rebating of any fees in Section 
II(d) is audited at least annually by the Investment Adviser through a 
system of internal controls to verify the accuracy of the fee mechanism 
adopted by the Investment Adviser under Section II(d). Instances of 
non-compliance must be corrected and identified, in writing, in a 
separate disclosure to affected Accounts within 30 days of such audit;
    (f) The combined total of all fees received by the Investment 
Adviser for the provision of services to an Account, and for the 
provision of any services to a Fund in which an Account may invest, is 
not in excess of ``reasonable compensation'' within the meaning of 
section 408(b)(2) of the Act;
    (g) The Investment Adviser and its affiliates do not receive any 
fees payable pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act in connection 
with the transactions covered by this exemption;
    (h) In advance of any initial investment by a Separately Managed 
Account in a Fund or by a new Plan investor in a Pooled Fund, a Second 
Fiduciary with respect to that Plan, who is independent of and 
unrelated to the Investment Adviser or any affiliate thereof, receives 
in written or in electronic form, full and detailed written disclosure 
of information concerning such Fund(s). The disclosure described in 
this Section II(h) includes, but is not limited to:
    (1) A current prospectus issued by each of the Fund(s);
    (2) A statement describing the fees for investment advisory or 
similar services, any Secondary Services, and all other fees to be 
charged to or paid by the Account and by the Fund(s), including the 
nature and extent of any differential between the rates of such fees;
    (3) The reasons why the Investment Adviser may consider such 
investment to be appropriate for the Account;
    (4) A statement describing whether there are any limitations 
applicable to the Investment Adviser with respect to which Account 
assets may be invested in shares of the Fund(s) and, if so, the nature 
of such limitations; and
    (5) A copy of the proposed exemption and final exemption, and any 
other reasonably available information regarding the transaction 
described herein that the Second Fiduciary requests, provided that the 
notice of proposed exemption and notice of grant of exemption may be 
given within 15 calendar days after the date that the final exemption 
is published in the Federal Register, in the event that the initial 
investment in a Fund by a Separately Managed Account or by a new Plan 
investor in a Pooled Fund has occurred prior to such date;
    (i) After receipt and consideration of the information referenced 
in Section II(h), the Second Fiduciary of the Separately Managed 
Account or the new Plan investing in a Pooled Fund approves in writing 
the investment of Plan assets in each particular Fund and the fees to 
be paid by a Fund to the Investment Adviser.
    (j)(1) In the case of existing Plan investors in a Pooled Fund, 
such Pooled Fund may not engage in any covered transactions pursuant to 
this exemption, unless the Second Fiduciary receives in written or in 
electronic form, the information described in subparagraph (2) of this 
Section II(j), not less than 30 days prior to the Investment Adviser's 
engaging in the covered transactions on behalf of the Pooled Fund 
pursuant to this exemption;
    (2) The information referred to in subparagraph (1) of this Section 
II(j) includes:
    (A) A notice of the Pooled Fund's intent to engage in the covered 
transactions described herein, and a copy of the notice of proposed 
exemption, and a copy of the final exemption, provided that the notice 
of the proposed exemption and notice of grant of exemption may be given 
within 15 calendar days after the date that the final exemption is 
granted and published in the Federal Register, in the event that the 
Investment Advisor engaged in the covered transactions on behalf of the 
Pooled Fund prior to such date,
    (B) Any other reasonably available information regarding the 
covered transactions that a Second Fiduciary requests, and
    (C) A ``Termination Form,'' within the meaning of Section II(k). 
Approval to engage in any covered transactions pursuant to this 
exemption may be presumed notwithstanding that the Investment Adviser 
does not receive any response from a Second Fiduciary;
    (k) All authorizations made by a Second Fiduciary regarding 
investments in a Fund and the fees paid to the Investment Adviser will 
be subject to an annual reauthorization wherein any such prior 
authorization shall be terminable at will by an Account, without 
penalty to the Account, upon receipt by the Investment Adviser of 
written notice of termination. A form expressly providing an election 
to terminate the authorization (the Termination Form) with instructions 
on the use of the form will be supplied to the Second Fiduciary no less 
than annually, in written or in electronic form. The instructions for 
the Termination Form will include the following information:
    (1) The authorization is terminable at will by the Account, without 
penalty to the Account, upon receipt by the Investment Adviser of 
written notice from the Second Fiduciary. Such termination will be 
effected by the Investment Adviser by selling the shares of the Fund 
held by the affected Account within one business day following receipt 
by the Investment Adviser of the Termination Form or any other written 
notice of termination; provided that if, due to circumstances beyond 
the control of the Investment Adviser, the sale cannot be executed 
within one business day, the Investment Adviser shall have one 
additional business day to complete such sale; and provided further 
that, where a Plan's interest in a Pooled Fund cannot be sold within 
this timeframe, the Plan's interest will be sold as soon as 
administratively practicable;
    (2) Failure of the Second Fiduciary to return the Termination Form 
or provide any other written notice of termination

[[Page 44762]]

will result in continued authorization of the Investment Adviser to 
engage in the covered transactions on behalf of an Account; and
    (3) The identity of Baird, the asset management affiliate of Baird, 
the affiliated investment advisers, and the address of the asset 
management affiliate of Baird. The instructions will state that the 
exemption is not available, unless the fiduciary of each Plan 
participating in the covered transactions as an investor in a Pooled 
Fund is, in fact, independent of the Investment Adviser. The 
instructions will also state that the fiduciary of each such Plan must 
advise the asset management affiliate of Baird, in writing, if it is 
not a ``Second Fiduciary,'' as that term is defined, below, in Section 
IV(h).
    However, if the Termination Form has been provided to the Second 
Fiduciary pursuant to this Section II(k) or Sections II(j), (l), or 
(m), the Termination Form need not be provided again for an annual 
reauthorization pursuant to this paragraph unless at least six months 
has elapsed since the form was previously provided;
    (l) In situations where the Fund-level fee is neither rebated nor 
credited against the Account-level fee, the Second Fiduciary of each 
Account invested in a particular Fund will receive full disclosure, in 
written or in electronic form, in a statement, which is separate from 
the Fund prospectus, of any proposed increases in the rates of fees for 
investment advisory or similar services, and any Secondary Services, at 
least 30 days prior to the implementation of such increase in fees, 
accompanied by a Termination Form. In situations where the Fund-level 
fee is rebated or credited against the Account-level fee, the Second 
Fiduciary will receive full disclosure, in a Fund prospectus or 
otherwise, in the same time and manner set forth above, of any 
increases in the rates of fees to be charged by the Investment Adviser 
to the Fund for investment advisory services. Failure to return the 
Termination Form will be deemed an approval of the increase and will 
result in the continued authorization of the Investment Adviser to 
engage in the covered transactions on behalf of an Account;
    (m) In the event that the Investment Adviser provides an additional 
Secondary Service to a Fund for which a fee is charged or there is an 
increase in the rate of any fees paid by the Funds to the Investment 
Adviser for any Secondary Services resulting from either an increase in 
the rate of such fee or from a decrease in the number or kind of 
services provided by the Investment Adviser for such fees over an 
existing rate for such Secondary Service in connection with a 
previously authorized Secondary Service, the Second Fiduciary will 
receive notice, at least 30 days in advance of the implementation of 
such additional service or fee increase, in written or in electronic 
form, explaining the nature and the amount of such services or of the 
effective increase in fees of the affected Fund. Such notice shall be 
accompanied by a Termination Form. Failure to return the Termination 
Form will be deemed an approval of the Secondary Service and will 
result in continued authorization of the Investment Adviser to engage 
in the covered transactions on behalf of the Account;
    (n) On an annual basis, the Second Fiduciary of an Account 
investing in a Fund, will receive, in written or in electronic form:
    (1) A copy of the current prospectus for the Fund and, upon such 
fiduciary's request, a copy of the Statement of Additional Information 
for such Fund, which contains a description of all fees paid by the 
Fund to the Investment Adviser;
    (2) A copy of the annual financial disclosure report of the Fund in 
which such Account is invested, which includes information about the 
Fund portfolios as well as audit findings of an independent auditor of 
the Fund, within 60 days of the preparation of the report; and
    (3) With respect to each of the Funds in which an Account invests, 
in the event such Fund places brokerage transactions with the 
Investment Adviser, the Investment Adviser will provide the Second 
Fiduciary of such Account, in the same manner described above, at least 
annually with a statement specifying the following (and responses to 
oral or written inquiries of the Second Fiduciary as they arise):
    (A) The total, expressed in dollars, brokerage commissions of each 
Fund's investment portfolio that are paid to the Investment Adviser by 
such Fund,
    (B) The total, expressed in dollars, of brokerage commissions of 
each Fund's investment portfolio that are paid by such Fund to 
brokerage firms unrelated to the Investment Adviser;
    (C) The average brokerage commissions per share, expressed as cents 
per share, paid to the Investment Adviser by each portfolio of a Fund, 
and
    (D) The average brokerage commissions per share, expressed as cents 
per share, paid by each portfolio of a Fund to brokerage firms 
unrelated to the Investment Adviser;
    (o) In all instances in which the Investment Adviser provides 
electronic distribution of information to Second Fiduciaries who have 
provided electronic mail addresses, such electronic disclosure will be 
provided in a manner similar to the procedures described in 29 CFR 
2520.104b-1(c);
    (p) No Separately Managed Account holds assets of a Plan sponsored 
by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate. If a Pooled Fund holds 
assets of a Plan or Plans sponsored by the Investment Adviser or an 
affiliate, the total assets of all such Plans shall not exceed 15% of 
the total assets of such Pooled Fund;
    (q) All of the Accounts' other dealings with the Funds, the 
Investment Adviser, or any person affiliated thereto, are on terms that 
are no less favorable to the Account than such dealings are with other 
shareholders of the Funds;
    (r) Baird and its affiliates, as applicable, maintain, or cause to 
be maintained, for a period of six (6) years from the date of any 
covered transaction such records as are necessary to enable the 
persons, described, below, in Section II(s), to determine whether the 
conditions of this exemption have been met, except that--
    (1) No party in interest with respect to a Plan which engages in 
the covered transactions, other than Baird, and its affiliates, as 
applicable, shall be subject to a civil penalty under section 502(i) of 
the Act or the taxes imposed by section 4975(a) and (b) of the Code, if 
such records are not maintained, or not available for examination, as 
required, below, by Section II(s); and
    (2) A separate prohibited transaction shall not be considered to 
have occurred solely because, due to circumstances beyond the control 
of Baird or its affiliate, as applicable, such records are lost or 
destroyed prior to the end of the six-year period;
    (s)(1) Except as provided, below, in Section II(s)(2), and 
notwithstanding any provisions of subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 
504 of the Act, the records referred to, above, in Section II(r) are 
unconditionally available at their customary location for examination 
during normal business hours by--
    (A) Any duly authorized employee or representative of the 
Department, the Internal Revenue Service, or the SEC, or
    (B) Any fiduciary of any Plan that engages in the covered 
transactions, or any duly authorized employee or representative of such 
fiduciary, or
    (C) Any employer of participants and beneficiaries and any employee 
organization whose members are covered by a Plan that engages in the 
covered transactions, or any authorized employee or representative of 
these entities, or

[[Page 44763]]

    (D) Any participant or beneficiary of a Plan that engages in the 
covered transactions, or duly authorized employee or representative of 
such participant or beneficiary;
    (2) None of the persons described, above, in Section II(s)(1)(B)-
(D) shall be authorized to examine trade secrets of the Investment 
Adviser, or commercial or financial information which is privileged or 
confidential; and
    (3) Should the Investment Adviser refuse to disclose information on 
the basis that such information is exempt from disclosure, the 
Investment Adviser shall, by the close of the thirtieth (30th) day 
following the request, provide a written notice advising that person of 
the reasons for the refusal and that the Department may request such 
information.
Section III. Additional Conditions for In-Kind Transactions
    (a) In-kind transactions with an Account shall only involve: (1) 
Publically-traded securities for which market quotations are readily 
available, as determined pursuant to procedures established by the 
Funds under Rule 2a-4 of the 1940 Act; (2) securities that are deemed 
to be liquid and that are valued based upon prices obtained from a 
reliable well-established third-party pricing service that is 
independent of the Investment Adviser (e.g., Interactive Data Pricing 
and Reference Data, LLC) pursuant to then-existing procedures 
established by the Board of Directors or Trustees of the Funds under 
the 1940 Act and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) 
rules, regulations and guidance thereunder (SEC Guidance); and (3) cash 
in the event that the aforementioned securities are odd lot securities, 
fractional shares, accruals on such securities, securities which have 
transfer restrictions, or securities which cannot be readily divided. 
Securities for which prices cannot be obtained from third-party pricing 
services will not be transferred in-kind. Furthermore, in-kind 
transfers of securities will not include:
    (1) Securities that, if publicly offered or sold, would require 
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 
Act), other than securities issued under Rule 144A of the 1933 Act;
    (2) Securities issued by entities in countries that (A) restrict or 
prohibit the holding of securities by non-nationals other than through 
qualified investment vehicles, such as the Funds, or (B) permit 
transfers of ownership of securities to be effected only by 
transactions conducted on a local stock exchange;
    (3) Certain portfolio positions (such as forward foreign currency 
contracts, futures and options contracts, swap transactions, 
certificates of deposit and repurchase agreements), that, although 
liquid and marketable, involve the assumption of contractual 
obligations, require special trading facilities, or can be traded only 
with the counter-party to the transaction to effect a change in 
beneficial ownership;
    (4) Cash equivalents (such as certificates of deposit, commercial 
paper, and repurchase agreements);
    (5) Other assets that are not readily distributable (including 
receivables and prepaid expenses), net of all liabilities (including 
accounts payable); and
    (6) Securities subject to ``stop transfer'' instructions or similar 
contractual restrictions on transfer; provided however that the 
foregoing restrictions shall not apply to securities eligible for 
resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, or commercial paper or 
other short-term instruments issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the 
1933 Act so long as such securities are deemed to be liquid and are 
valued based upon prices obtained from a reliable, well-established 
third-party pricing service that is independent of the Investment 
Adviser pursuant to then-existing procedures established by the Board 
of Directors or Trustees of the Funds under the 1940 Act and applicable 
SEC Guidance.
    (b) Subject to the exceptions described in Section III(a) above, in 
the case of an in-kind exchange of assets (in-kind redemptions and in-
kind transfers of Plan assets) between an Account and a Fund, the 
Account will receive its pro rata portion of the securities of the Fund 
equal in value to that of the number of shares redeemed, or the Fund 
shares having a total net asset value (NAV) equal to the value of the 
assets transferred on the date of the transfer, as determined in a 
single valuation, using sources independent of the Investment Adviser, 
performed in the same manner as it would for any other person or entity 
at the close of the same business day in accordance with the procedures 
established by the Fund pursuant to Rule2a-4 under the 1940 Act, and 
the then-existing valuation procedures established by its Board of 
Directors or Trustees, as applicable for the valuation of such assets, 
that are in compliance with the rules administered by the SEC. In 
connection with a redemption of Fund shares, the value of the 
securities and any cash received by the Account for each redeemed Fund 
share equals the NAV of such shares at the time of the transaction. In 
the case of any other in-kind exchange, the value of the Fund shares 
received by the Account equals the NAV of the transferred securities 
and any cash on the date of the transfer;
    (c) The Investment Adviser shall provide the Second Fiduciary with 
a written confirmation containing information necessary to perform a 
post-transaction review of any in-kind transaction so that the material 
aspects of such transaction, including pricing, can be reviewed. Such 
information must be furnished no later than thirty (30) business days 
after the completion of the in-kind transaction. In the case of a 
Pooled Fund, the Investment Adviser can satisfy the requirement with a 
single aggregate report furnished to the Second Fiduciary containing 
the required information for each in-kind transaction taking place 
during a month. This aggregate report must be furnished to the Second 
Fiduciary no later than thirty (30) business days after the end of that 
month. The information to be provided pursuant to this Section III(c) 
shall include:
    (1) With respect to securities either transferred or received by an 
Account in-kind in exchange for Fund shares,
    (A) the identity of each security either received by the Account 
pursuant to the redemption, or transferred to the Fund by the Account, 
and the related aggregate dollar value of all such securities 
determined in accordance with Rule 2a-4 under the 1940 Act and the 
then-existing procedures established by the Board of Directors or 
Trustees of the Fund (using sources independent of the Investment 
Adviser), and
    (B) The value of each security transferred or received in-kind by 
the Account as of the date of the in-kind transfer, as determined by a 
third party pricing service that is independent of the Investment 
Adviser pursuant to the then-existing procedures established by the 
Board of Directors or Trustees of the Funds under the 1940 Act and 
applicable SEC Guidance;
    (2) With respect to Fund shares either transferred or received by 
an Account in-kind in exchange for securities,
    (A) the number of Fund shares held by the Account immediately 
before the redemption and the related per share net asset value and the 
total dollar value of such Fund shares, determined in accordance with 
Rule 2a-4 under the 1940 Act, using sources independent of the 
Investment Adviser, or
    (B) the number of Fund shares held by the Account immediately after 
the in-kind transfer and the related per share net asset value of the 
Fund shares received and the total dollar value of such Fund shares, 
determined in accordance with Rule 2a-4 under the

[[Page 44764]]

1940 Act using sources independent of the Investment Adviser; and
    (3) The identity of each pricing service or market-maker consulted 
in determining the value of the securities; and
    (d) Prior to the consummation of an in-kind exchange, the 
Investment Adviser must document in writing and determine that such 
transaction is fair to the Account and comparable to, and no less 
favorable than, terms obtainable at arm's-length between unaffiliated 
parties, and that the in-kind transaction is in the best interests of 
the Account and the participants and beneficiaries of the participating 
Plans.
Section IV. Definitions
    (a) The term ``Account'' means either a Separately Managed Account 
or a Pooled Fund in which investments are made by Plans, which is 
managed on a discretionary basis by the Investment Adviser.
    (b) An ``affiliate'' of a person includes any person directly or 
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling, controlled 
by, or under common control with the person; any officer of, director 
of, highly compensated employee (within the meaning of section 
4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) of, or partner in any such person; and any 
corporation or partnership of which such person is an officer, 
director, partner or owner, or highly compensated employee (within the 
meaning of section 4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code).
    (c) The term ``control'' means the power to exercise a controlling 
influence over the management or policies of a person other than an 
individual.
    (d) The term ``Fund'' means any open end investment company 
registered under the 1940 Act.
    (e) The term ``Investment Adviser'' means Robert W. Baird or any of 
its current or future affiliates.
    (f) The term ``Plan'' means a defined benefit pension plan 
described in section 3(3) of the Act and section 4975(e)(1)(A) of the 
Code. For purposes of this exemption, a Plan shall not include any 
trust, account or annuity described in Code section 4975(e)(1)(B) 
through (F), including, for example, an individual retirement account 
described in section 408(a) of the Code and a health savings account 
described in section 223(d) of the Code.
    (g) The term ``Pooled Fund'' means any commingled fund sponsored, 
maintained, advised or trusteed by the Investment Adviser, which fund 
holds Plan assets.
    (h) The term ``Second Fiduciary'' means a fiduciary of a Plan who 
is independent of and unrelated to the Investment Adviser. For purposes 
of this exemption, the Second Fiduciary will not be deemed to be 
independent of and unrelated to the Investment Adviser if:
    (1) Such fiduciary directly or indirectly controls, is controlled 
by, or is under common control with the Investment Adviser;
    (2) Such fiduciary, or any officer, director, partner, or employee 
of the fiduciary is an officer, director, partner, employee or 
affiliate of the Investment Adviser; or
    (3) Such fiduciary directly or indirectly receives any compensation 
or other consideration for his or her own personal account in 
connection with any transaction described in this exemption. If an 
officer, director, partner, affiliate or employee of the Investment 
Adviser is a director of such Second Fiduciary, and if he or she 
abstains from participation in (A) the choice of the Plan's investment 
adviser, (B) the approval for the acquisition, sale, holding, and/or 
exchange of Fund shares by such Plan, and (C) the approval of any 
increase in fees charged to or paid by the Plan in connection with any 
of the transactions described herein, then subparagraph (2) above shall 
not apply.
    (i) The term ``Secondary Service'' means a service other than an 
investment management, investment advisory or similar service which is 
provided by the Investment Adviser to the Funds, including but not 
limited to custodial, accounting, brokerage, administrative or any 
other similar service.
    (j) The term ``Separately Managed Account'' means any Account other 
than a Pooled Fund.
    Effective Date: This exemption is effective as of April 1, 2014.

Written Comment

    The Department invited all interested persons to submit written 
comments and/or requests for a public hearing with respect to the 
notice of proposed exemption (the Notice) on or before January 10, 
2015. During the comment period, the Department received one written 
comment from Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (Baird or the 
Applicant) and no other written comments. Baird's comment generally 
requested minor clarifying modifications to the operative language of 
the exemption and suggested clarifications to several statements in the 
Summary of Facts and Representations (the Summary). Baird's comment and 
the Department's responses thereto are described as follows.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings 
ascribed to them in the Summary of Facts and Representations in the 
Proposed Exemption.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clarifications to the Operative Language

    Relief was proposed in Section I for, among other things, ``(a) the 
acquisition, sale or exchange by an Account of shares of an open-end 
investment company . . . the investment adviser for which is also a 
fiduciary with respect to the Account . . .;'' and ``(b) the in-kind 
redemptions of shares or acquisitions of shares of the Fund in exchange 
for Account assets transferred in-kind from an Account.'' Furthermore, 
Section IV(a) of the proposal defined ``Account'' to mean ``either a 
Separately Managed Account or a Pooled Fund in which investments are 
made by Plans,'' and Section IV(f) defined ``Plan'' to mean ``a plan 
described in section 3(3) of the Act and a plan described in section 
4975(e)(1) of the Code.''
    The Applicant represents that the exemption will only be used by 
defined benefit pension plans managed on a discretionary basis by the 
Investment Adviser, and will not include any plans described in Code 
section 4975(e)(1)(B)-(F). Therefore, in order to more accurately 
describe the scope of the exemption, Sections I(a) and I(b) of the 
proposed exemption have been modified in this final exemption by adding 
the phrase ``in connection with the Investment Adviser's discretionary 
management of the Account'' to the end of such sections; the definition 
of ``Account'' in Section IV(a) has been modified to mean ``either a 
Separately Managed Account or a Pooled Fund in which investments are 
made by Plans, which is managed on a discretionary basis by the 
Investment Adviser;'' and the definition of ``Plan'' in Section IV(f) 
has been modified to mean ``a defined benefit pension plan described in 
section 3(3) of the Act and section 4975(e)(1)(A) of the Code. For 
purposes of this exemption, a Plan shall not include any trust, account 
or annuity described in Code section 4975(e)(1)(B) through (F), 
including, for example, an individual retirement account described in 
section 408(a) of the Code and a health savings account described in 
section 223(d) of the Code.''
    Section III(a)(3) of the proposed exemption provides, in relevant 
part, that ``In-kind transactions with an Account shall only involve: . 
. . (3) cash in the event that the aforementioned securities are odd 
lot securities, fractional shares, or accruals

[[Page 44765]]

on such securities. Securities for which prices cannot be obtained from 
a third-party pricing service will not be transferred in-kind.'' Baird 
requests a modification to Section III(a)(3) to clarify that, in 
addition to the foregoing, securities will not be transferred or 
redeemed in-kind for the shares of the Fund if such securities have 
transfer restrictions or cannot be readily divided. The Department 
concurs with Baird's request, and has modified Section III(a)(3) in the 
final exemption to read, ``In-kind transactions with an Account shall 
only involve: . . . (3) cash in the event that the aforementioned 
securities are odd lot securities, fractional shares, accruals on such 
securities, securities which have transfer restrictions, or securities 
which cannot be readily divided. Securities for which prices cannot be 
obtained from third-party pricing services will not be transferred in-
kind.''
    Section III(a)(3)(6) of the proposed exemption provides that in-
kind securities will not include securities subject to ``stop 
transfer'' instructions, including commercial paper or other short-term 
instruments issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act. Baird 
notes that the proper cite in Section III(a)(3)(6) of the proposed 
exemption is Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act, as opposed to Section 
4(2). The Department concurs and Section III(a)(3)(6) of the final 
exemption has been modified accordingly.
    Section III(c)(1) of the proposed exemption provides that the 
Investment Adviser shall provide the Second Fiduciary with a written 
confirmation containing information necessary to perform a post-
transaction review of any in-kind transaction so that the material 
aspects of the transaction can be reviewed, including, in Subparagraph 
(B), ``the current market price of each security transferred or 
received in-kind by the Account as of the date of the in-kind 
transfer.'' Baird now believes that the term ``current market price'' 
is not accurate, and suggests that the language in Section III(c)(1)(B) 
be changed to ``the value of each security transferred or received in-
kind by the Account as of the date of the in-kind transfer, as 
determined by a third party pricing service that is independent of the 
Investment Adviser pursuant to the then-existing procedures established 
by the Board of Directors or Trustees of the Funds under the 1940 Act 
and applicable SEC guidance thereunder.'' The Department concurs and 
Section III(c)(1)(B) of the final exemption has been modified 
accordingly.
    Section IV(j) of the proposed exemption provides that ``the term 
`Separately Managed Account' means any Account other than a Pooled 
Fund, and includes single-employer plans.'' Baird now believes that the 
language ``and includes single-employer Plans'' should be stricken from 
the definition of ``Separately Managed Account'' because any ERISA plan 
could be a separately managed account, including multiple and multi-
employer plans. The Department concurs and Section IV(j) of the final 
exemption has been modified accordingly.

Clarification to the Summary of Facts and Representations

    Paragraph eight of the Summary provides that ``. . . the Fund will 
value its Portfolio of fixed income securities at their closing bid 
prices each day . . . .'' Baird now states that the description of the 
Fund's valuation methodology is not accurate. Baird's comment explains 
that because fixed income securities are generally not listed and do 
not trade on a national securities exchange, the term ``closing bid 
price'' would not apply. Accordingly, a fund will use a third-party 
pricing service to provide an ``evaluated bid price'' for each fixed 
income security, which may, but need not be that security's closing bid 
price. Furthermore, under the 1940 Act and applicable SEC guidance, 
Baird is required to value fixed income securities at evaluated bid 
prices, as determined by a third party pricing service that is 
independent of Baird or its affiliates pursuant to the then-existing 
procedures established by the Board of Directors or Trustees of the 
Funds. In arriving at an evaluated price for fixed income securities, 
the third-party pricing service will take into account factors 
including recent trade activity, bid and ask prices and the market. The 
Department takes note of the Baird's clarification to the Summary.
    After giving full consideration to the entire record, including the 
Applicant's comment, the Department has decided to grant the exemption, 
as described above. The complete application file is available for 
public inspection in the Public Disclosure Room of the Employee 
Benefits Security Administration, Room N-1515, U.S. Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210.
    For a more complete statement of the facts and representations 
supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to 
the proposed exemption published in the Federal Register on November 
26, 2014, at 79 FR 70648.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jennifer Erin Brown of the 
Department at (202) 693-8352. (This is not a toll-free number.)

Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) and Elco Insurance Company Limited (Elco) 
(together, the Applicants), Located in Indianapolis, IN and North 
Charleston, SC

[Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2015-10; Application No. L-11784]

Exemption

Section I. Transactions
    The restrictions of sections 406(a)(1)(D) and 406(b) of the 
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA or 
the Act) shall not apply to the reinsurance of risks and the receipt of 
premiums therefrom by Elco, an affiliate of Lilly, as the term 
``affiliate'' is defined in Section III(a)(1) below, in connection with 
insurance contracts sold by American United Life Insurance Company 
(AUL) or any successor insurance company (a Fronting Insurer) to 
provide optional group term life insurance benefits (Optional Group 
Life) to participants in the Eli Lilly and Company Life Insurance and 
Death Benefit Plan (the Life Insurance Plan), a component of the Eli 
Lilly and Company Employee Welfare Plan (the Plan), provided the 
conditions set forth in Section II, below, are satisfied.
Section II. Conditions
    (a) Elco--
    (1) Is a party in interest with respect to the Plan by reason of a 
stock or partnership affiliation with Lilly that is described in 
section 3(14)(G) of the Act;
    (2) Is licensed to sell insurance or conduct reinsurance operations 
in at least one state as defined in section 3(10) of the Act;
    (3) Has obtained a Certificate of Authority from the Director of 
the Department of Insurance of its domiciliary state (South Carolina), 
which has neither been revoked nor suspended;
    (4)(A) Has undergone and shall continue to undergo an examination 
by an independent certified public accountant for its last completed 
taxable year immediately prior to the taxable year of the reinsurance 
transaction covered by this exemption; or
    (B) Has undergone a financial examination (within the meaning of 
the law of South Carolina) by the Director of the South Carolina 
Department of Insurance (SCDI) within five (5) years prior to the end 
of the year preceding the year in which such reinsurance transaction 
has occurred; and
    (5) Is licensed to conduct reinsurance transactions by South 
Carolina, whose

[[Page 44766]]

law requires that an actuarial review of reserves be conducted annually 
by an independent firm of actuaries and reported to the appropriate 
regulatory authority;
    (b) The Life Insurance Plan pays no more than adequate 
consideration for the insurance contracts;
    (c) No commissions are paid by the Life Insurance Plan with respect 
to the direct sale of such contracts or the reinsurance thereof;
    (d) Effective January 1, 2012, there was an immediate and 
objectively determined benefit to Plan participants and beneficiaries 
in the form of increased benefits. Any modification to such benefits 
will at least approximate the increase in benefits that are effective 
January 1, 2012, as described in the Notice of Proposed Exemption (the 
Notice) published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2015 at 80 FR 
20249 and will continue in all subsequent years of each contract of 
reinsurance involving Elco and a Fronting Insurer and in every renewal 
of each contract of reinsurance involving Elco and a Fronting Insurer;
    (e) In the initial year and in subsequent years of coverage 
provided by a Fronting Insurer, the formulae used by the Fronting 
Insurer to calculate premiums will be similar to formulae used by other 
insurers providing comparable optional life insurance coverage under 
similar programs. Furthermore, the premium charge calculated in 
accordance with the formulae will be reasonable and will be comparable 
to the premiums charged by the Fronting Insurer and its competitors 
with the same or a better rating providing the same coverage under 
comparable programs;
    (f) The Fronting Insurer has a financial strength rating of ``A'' 
or better from A.M. Best Company (A.M. Best). The reinsurance 
arrangement between the Fronting Insurer and Elco will be indemnity 
insurance only (i.e., the Fronting Insurer will not be relieved of 
liability to the Life Insurance Plan should Elco be unable or unwilling 
to cover any liability arising from the reinsurance arrangement);
    (g) The Life Insurance Plan retains an independent, qualified 
fiduciary, as defined in Section III(c) (the Independent Fiduciary) to 
analyze the transactions and to render an opinion that the requirements 
of Section II(a) through (f) and (h) of this exemption have been 
satisfied;
    (h) Participants and beneficiaries in the Plan will receive in 
subsequent years of every contract of reinsurance involving Elco and 
the Fronting Insurer the benefit increases effective January 1, 2012, 
as described in the Notice, or benefit increases no less in value, as 
determined by the Independent Fiduciary, than the objectively 
determined increased benefits such participants and beneficiaries 
received effective January 1, 2012;
    (i) The Independent Fiduciary will monitor the transactions herein 
on behalf of the Plan on a continuing basis to ensure such transactions 
remain in the interest of the Plan; take all appropriate actions to 
safeguard the interests of the Plan; and enforce compliance with all 
conditions and obligations imposed on any party dealing with the Plan; 
and
    (j) In connection with the provision to participants in the Life 
Insurance Plan of the Optional Group Life which is reinsured by Elco, 
the Independent Fiduciary will review all contracts (and any renewal of 
such contracts) of the reinsurance of risks and the receipt of premiums 
therefrom by Elco and must determine that the requirements of this 
exemption and the terms of the benefit enhancements continue to be 
satisfied.
Section III. Definitions
    (a) The term ``affiliate'' includes:
    (1) Any person directly or indirectly, through one or more 
intermediaries, controlling, controlled by, or under common control 
with the person;
    (2) Any officer, director, employee, relative, or partner in any 
such person; and
    (3) Any corporation or partnership of which such person is an 
officer, director, partner, or employee.
    (b) The term ``control'' means the power to exercise a controlling 
influence over the management or policies of a person other than an 
individual.
    (c) The term ``Independent Fiduciary'' means a person who:
    (1) Is not an affiliate of Lilly or Elco and does not hold an 
ownership interest in Lilly, Elco, or affiliate of Lilly or Elco;
    (2) is not a fiduciary with respect to the Plan prior to its 
appointment to serve as the Independent Fiduciary;
    (3) has acknowledged in writing that:
    (i) It is a fiduciary and has agreed not to participate in any 
decision with respect to any transaction in which it has an interest 
that might affect its best judgment as a fiduciary; and
    (ii) it has appropriate technical training or experience to perform 
the services contemplated by the exemption;
    (4) For purposes of this definition, no organization or individual 
may serve as Independent Fiduciary for any fiscal year in which the 
gross income received by such organization or individual (or 
partnership or corporation of which such organization or individual is 
an officer, director, or 10 percent or more partner or shareholder) 
from Lilly, Elco, or affiliates of Lilly or Elco, (including amounts 
received for services as an independent fiduciary under any prohibited 
transaction exemption granted by the Department) for that fiscal year 
exceeds two percent (2%) of such organization's or individual's gross 
income from all sources for the prior fiscal year;
    (5) No organization or individual which is an Independent Fiduciary 
and no partnership or corporation of which such organization or 
individual is an officer, director or ten percent (10%) or more partner 
or shareholder may acquire any property from, sell any property to, or 
borrow any funds from Lilly, Elco, or affiliates of Lilly or Elco 
during the period that such organization or individual serves as an 
Independent Fiduciary and continuing for a period of six months after 
such organization or individual ceases to be an Independent Fiduciary 
or negotiates any such transaction during the period that such 
organization or individual serves as an Independent Fiduciary; and
    (6) In the event a successor Independent Fiduciary is appointed to 
represent the interests of the Plan with respect to the subject 
transaction, there should be no lapse in time between the resignation 
or termination of the former Independent Fiduciary and the appointment 
of the successor Independent Fiduciary.
    Effective Date: This exemption is effective as of its date of 
publication in the Federal Register.

Written Comments

    The Department invited all interested persons to submit written 
comments and/or requests for a public hearing with respect to the 
notice of proposed exemption (the Notice), published in the Federal 
Register on April 15, 2015, at 80 FR 20249. All comments and requests 
for a hearing were due on or before May 29, 2015. During the comment 
period, the Department received multiple telephone inquiries which 
concerned matters outside the scope of this exemption, and one comment, 
which requested that the exemption not be granted but provided no 
explanation or other detail as to the reason why. The Department 
received no hearing requests. Accordingly, after giving full 
consideration to the entire record, the Department has decided to grant 
the exemption. The complete application file (Application No. L-11784) 
is available for public inspection in the Public Disclosure Room of the

[[Page 44767]]

Employee Benefits Security Administration, Room N-1515, U.S. Department 
of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210.
    For a more complete statement of the facts and representations 
supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to 
the Notice published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2015, at 80 
FR 20249.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jennifer Erin Brown of the 
Department at (202) 693-8352. (This is not a toll-free number.)

Robert A. Handelman Roth IRA No. 2 (the New IRA), Located in Akron, 
Ohio

[Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2015-11; Exemption Application No. D-
11798]

Exemption

    The sanctions resulting from the application of section 4975 of the 
Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1)(A), (D) and (E) of the Code, 
shall not apply to the purchase by the New IRA of a 100% ownership 
interest (the Interest) in RAH Properties Mill Street, Ltd. (the 
Company) from Robert A. Handelman (Mr. Handelman), the New IRA owner 
and a disqualified person with respect to the New IRA.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ Pursuant to 29 CFR 2510.3-2(d), the New IRA is not within 
the jurisdiction of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act of 1974 (the Act). However, there is jurisdiction under 
Title II of the Act pursuant to section 4975 of the Code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This exemption is subject to the following conditions:
    (a) The purchase is a one-time transaction for cash;
    (b) At the time of the purchase, the price paid by the New IRA for 
the Interest is based on the fair market value of such Interest, 
without any discount, as established by a qualified independent 
appraiser in an updated appraisal report as of the date of the 
purchase;
    (c) The terms and conditions of the purchase are at least as 
favorable to the New IRA as those available in a comparable arm's 
length transaction with an unrelated third party;
    (d) The New IRA does not pay any commissions or other expenses in 
connection with the purchase or in connection with the rollover of the 
cash distribution from the Robert A. Handelman Roth IRA No. 1 (the 
Existing IRA) to the New IRA;
    (e) Mr. Handelman pays all appropriate taxes that are associated 
with the transfer of any assets from the Existing IRA to the New IRA in 
connection with the purchase; and
    (f) Mr. Handelman receives no compensation from the New IRA or the 
Existing IRA for his role as manager of the Company.

Written Comments

    As Mr. Handelman is the sole participant of the New IRA, the 
Department determined that there was no need to distribute the Notice 
of Proposed Exemption (the Notice) to interested persons. Therefore, 
comments and requests for a hearing were due within thirty (30) days of 
the date of publication of the Notice in the Federal Register on April 
15, 2015 at 80 FR 20255. All comments and requests for a hearing were 
due by May 15, 2015. During the comment period, the Department received 
no comments and no requests for a hearing.

Technical Correction of Notice

    The Department has decided, on its own motion, to modify the 
meaning of ``fair market value'' in Condition (b) of the Notice and in 
Representations 11 and 13(b) of the Summary of Facts and 
Representations (the Summary). Condition (b) of the Notice and 
Representation 13(b) of the Summary state that ``At the time of the 
purchase, the Price paid by the New IRA for the Interest is [or will 
be] equal to the fair market value of such Interest as determined by a 
qualified independent appraiser in an updated appraisal report as of 
the date of the purchase.'' Representation 11 of the Summary describes 
the appraisal of the Interest by Jason Bogniard, the qualified 
independent appraiser, and states that the fair market value of the 
Interest, as determined by Mr. Bogniard, was $580,000, as of November 
17, 2014. In valuing the Interest, Mr. Bogniard applied a 5% discount 
from the Interest's equity value of $610,000 due to the Interest's lack 
of marketability.
    The Department is concerned that if the new IRA purchases the 
Interest from Mr. Handelman at the discounted value of $580,000, the 
$30,000 excess over the equity value of such Interest could violate the 
contribution limits under the Code for the New IRA. To avoid the 
possibility of an adverse consequence for the New IRA, the Department 
has decided that the term ``fair market value,'' as used herein, should 
reflect the $610,000 equity value of the Interest rather than the 
$580,000 discounted value for such Interest. For emphasis, the 
Department has added the parenthetical ``(without any discount)'' to 
Condition (b), and it notes this corresponding revision to 
Representation 13(b) of the Summary.
    Accordingly, after giving full consideration to the entire record, 
the Department has decided to grant the exemption. The complete 
application file (Application No. D-11798), and all supplemental 
submissions received by the Department, are available for public 
inspection in the Public Disclosure Room of the Employee Benefits 
Security Administration, Room N-1515, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210.
    For a more complete statement of the facts and representations 
supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to 
the Notice published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2015, at 80 
FR 20255.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Anna Mpras Vaughan of the 
Department, telephone (202) 693-8565. (This is not a toll-free number.)

Roofers Local 195 Pension Fund (the Pension Fund) and Roofers Local 195 
Joint Apprenticeship Training Fund (the Training Fund), Located in 
Cicero, NY

[Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2015-12; Exemption Application Nos. 
D-11809 and L-11810]

Exemption

    The restrictions of sections 406(a)(1)(A), 406(a)(1)(D), 406(b)(1), 
and 406(b)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 
as amended (the Act), shall not apply to the sale (the Sale) of a 
building located at 6200 NYS Route 31, Cicero, New York (the Building) 
by the Pension Fund to the Training Fund, provided that the following 
conditions are satisfied: \9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ For purposes of this exemption, references to Section 406 of 
the Act should be read to refer as well to the corresponding 
provisions of Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as 
amended.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (a) At the time of the Sale, the Pension Fund receives a one-time 
cash payment in exchange for the Building, equal to the fair market 
value of the Building as established in an appraisal (the Appraisal) by 
a qualified, independent appraiser, updated on the date of the Sale, 
and provided to the Department no later than 60 days from the date of 
the Sale;
    (b) The Training Fund does not finance more than 80% of the cost of 
its purchase of the Building, and any financing must be with an 
independent, third-party bank (the Bank);
    (c) The Training Fund pays no fees, commissions or other expenses 
associated with the Sale, and no brokerage commissions associated with 
the Sale may be paid by either the Training Fund or the Pension Fund;
    (d) A qualified, independent fiduciary (the Independent Fiduciary), 
acting on behalf of the Training Fund, represents

[[Page 44768]]

the Training Fund's interests for all purposes with respect to the 
Sale, including the financing of the Building, and must: Determine that 
it is in the best interest of the Training Fund to proceed with the 
Sale; review and approve the methodology used in the Appraisal; and 
ensure that such methodology is properly applied by the qualified, 
independent appraiser in determining the fair market value of the 
Building on the date of the Sale;
    (e) The Board of Trustees of the Pension Fund, prior to entering 
the Sale, must determine that the Sale is feasible, in the interest of 
the Pension Fund, and protective of the rights of participants and 
beneficiaries of the Pension Fund;
    (f) The Pension Fund is not a party to the commercial mortgage 
between the Training Fund and the Bank;
    (g) Under the terms of the loan agreement between the Bank and the 
Training Fund, in the event of a default by the Training Fund, the Bank 
has recourse only against the Training Fund's interest in the Building 
and not against the general assets of the Training Fund; and
    (h) The terms and conditions of the Sale are at least as favorable 
to each Fund as those obtainable in an arms-length transaction with an 
unrelated third party.

Written Comments

    The Department invited all interested persons to submit written 
comments and/or requests for a public hearing with respect to the 
notice of proposed exemption, published on April 15, 2015, at 80 FR 
20257. All comments and requests for a hearing were due by May 30, 
2015. During the comment period, the Department received no comments 
and no requests for a hearing from interested persons. Accordingly, 
after giving full consideration to the entire record, the Department 
has decided to grant the exemption. The complete application file 
(Application Nos. D-11809 and L-11810), including all supplemental 
submissions received by the Department, is available for public 
inspection in the Public Disclosure Room of the Employee Benefits 
Security Administration, Room N-1515, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210.
    For a complete statement of the facts and representations 
supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to 
the notice of proposed exemption published on April 15, 2015 in the 
Federal Register at 80 FR 20257.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Erica R. Knox of the Department, 
telephone (202) 693-8644. (This is not a toll-free number.)

First Security Group, Inc. 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan 
(the Plan), Located in Chattanooga, TN

[Prohibited Transaction 2015-13; Exemption Application No. D-11826]

Exemption

Section I: Transactions
    Effective for the period beginning August 21, 2013, and ending on 
September 20, 2013, the restrictions of sections 406(a)(1)(E), 
406(a)(2), 406(b)(1), 406(b)(2), and 407(a)(1)(A) of the Act and the 
sanctions resulting from the application of section 4975 of the Code, 
by reason of section 4975(c)(1)(E) of the Code,\10\ shall not apply:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ For purposes of this proposed exemption, references to 
specific provisions of Title I of the Act, unless otherwise 
specified, refer also to the corresponding provisions of the Code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (a) To the acquisition of certain subscription right(s) (the Right 
or Rights) by the individually-directed account(s) (the Account or 
Accounts) of certain participant(s), beneficiaries, and alternate 
payees in the Plan (the Invested Participant(s)) in connection with an 
offering (the Offering) by First Security Group, Inc. (FSG), of shares 
of common stock (the Common Stock) of FSG, the sponsor of the Plan and 
a party in interest with respect to the Plan; and
    (b) To the holding of the Rights received by the Invested 
Participants during the subscription period (the Subscription Period) 
of the Offering; provided that the conditions set forth in Section II 
of this exemption were satisfied for the duration of the acquisition 
and holding.
Section II: Conditions
    (a) The receipt of the Rights by the Accounts of the Invested 
Participants occurred in connection with the Offering, and the Rights 
were made available by FSG on the same material terms to all 
shareholders of record of the Common Stock of FSG, including the Plan;
    (b) The acquisition of the Rights by the Accounts of the Invested 
Participants resulted from an independent corporate act of FSG;
    (c) Each shareholder of the Common Stock, including the Plan, 
received the same proportionate number of Rights, and this 
proportionate number of Rights was based on the number of shares of 
Common Stock held by each such shareholder;
    (d) The Rights were acquired pursuant to, and in accordance with, 
provisions under the Plan for individually-directed investment of the 
Accounts by the Invested Participants, all or a portion of whose 
Accounts in the Plan held the Common Stock;
    (e) The decision with regard to the holding and the exercise of the 
Rights by an Account was made by the Invested Participant whose Account 
received the Rights;
    (f) No commissions, no fees and no expenses were paid by the Plan 
or by the Accounts of Invested Participants to any related broker in 
connection with the exercise of any of the Rights or with regard to the 
acquisition of the Common Stock through the exercise of such Rights, 
and no brokerage fees, no commissions, no subscription fees, and no 
other charges were paid by the Plan or by the Accounts of Invested 
Participants with respect to the acquisition and holding of the Rights;
    (g) FSG did not influence any Invested Participant's decision to 
exercise the Rights or influence an Invested Participant's decision to 
allow such Rights to expire; and
    (h) The terms of the Offering were described to the Invested 
Participants in clearly written communications, including but not 
limited to the prospectus for the Rights Offering.
    Effective Date: This exemption is effective for the period 
beginning on August 21, 2013, the commencement date of the Offering, 
and ending on September 20, 2013, the closing date of the Offering.

Written Comments

    In the Notice of Proposed Exemption (the Notice), published in the 
Federal Register on November 26, 2014 at 79 FR 70658, the Department 
invited all interested persons to submit written comments and requests 
for a hearing within forty-five (45) days of the date of the 
publication of the Notice in the Federal Register on November 26, 2014. 
All comments and requests for a hearing were due by January 10, 2015.
    During the comment period, the Department received one comment 
letter, dated January 9, 2015, and no requests for a public hearing. 
The comment letter, which was submitted by FSG (the Applicant), 
requests certain clarifications and corrections to the operative 
language and the Summary of Facts and Representations (the Summary) of 
the Notice, as discussed below.
    1. Reference to Invested Participants. Section I(a) of the 
operative language defines the term ``Invested Participants'' as 
``certain participants in the Plan.'' The Applicant believes that this 
phrase should have read ``certain participants,

[[Page 44769]]

beneficiaries, and alternate payees in the Plan.''
    The Department concurs and has revised Section I(a) of the grant 
notice.
    2. Plan as Recordholder of Common Stock. Section II(a) of the 
operative language states, in part, that ``the Rights were made 
available by FSG on the same material terms to all shareholders of 
record of Common Stock of FSG, including the Accounts of Invested 
Participants.'' In addition, Section II(c) of the proposed exemption 
provides that ``Each shareholder of the Common Stock, including each of 
the Accounts of Invested Participants, receiving the same proportionate 
number of Rights, and this proportionate number of Rights was based on 
the number of shares of Common Stock held by each such shareholder.'' 
The Applicant notes that the Plan was treated as a single shareholder 
for purposes of determining the number of Rights that it would receive, 
as required by the Stock Purchase Agreement. The Rights were then 
allocated, by Federated Retirement Plan Services, the Recordkeeper, to 
the Plan Accounts of the Invested Participants so the Rights could be 
exercised, not exercised, or held by such participants until the Rights 
expired. Therefore, according to the Applicant, the phrase ``each of 
the Accounts of the Invested Participants'' should have said ``the 
Plan.''
    The Department concurs and has modified Sections II(a) and II(c) of 
the grant notice to reflect these changes. The Department also notes 
the requested modification for purposes of the Summary.
    3. Reference to Institutional Investors. Representation 4 of the 
Summary lists, in the second sentence of the first paragraph, certain 
institutional investors who entered into the Stock Purchase Agreement 
described therein. The Applicant suggests the following revision: ``[. 
. .] including affiliates of EJF Capital LLC, GP Financial II, LLC, MFP 
Partners, L.P., and Ulysses Partners, LP.''
    In response to this comment, the Department notes this modification 
to the Summary.
    4. Issuance of Common Stock during the Rights Offering. The second 
paragraph of Representation 7 of the Summary states that ``The Plan was 
issued 138,200 shares of Common Stock under the Basic Subscription 
Privilege and 205,008 shares of Common Stock under the Over-
Subscription Privilege . . .'' The Applicant explains that while this 
information generally reflects the information contained in the 
exemption application, due to a scrivener's error these numbers were 
reversed. Accordingly,the Applicant suggests that the statement be 
revised to read as follows:

    The Plan was issued 205,008 shares of Common Stock under the 
Basic Subscription Privilege and 138,260 shares of Common Stock 
under the Over-Subscription Privilege, for a total of 343,268 shares 
of Common Stock. As noted in the special notice to Invested 
Participants, the Plan held approximately 102,502 shares of Common 
Stock on the Record Date. Due to an error on the part of the 
Tabulator, the Plan elected and was issued four more shares than it 
should have been able to receive under the Basic Subscription 
Privilege. Those four shares should have been elected as part of the 
Over-Subscription Privilege. Had the proper election been made and 
processed, the Plan would still have received a total of 343,268 
shares and each of the Invested Participants would still have 
received the amount he or she elected.

    In response to this comment, the Department notes the foregoing 
revisions to the Summary.
    5. Insertion of Clarifying Language. In Representation 13 of the 
Summary, the Applicant wishes to clarify that the phrase ``as of the 
Record Date'' should have been inserted after the phrase ``all 
shareholders of Common Stock of FSG.'' The Applicant explains that the 
prospectus for the Rights Offering, specified that the Rights were 
issued to holders of record as of the applicable record date.''
    In response to this comment, the Department notes these 
clarifications to the Summary.
    Accordingly, after full consideration and review of the entire 
record, including the comment letter filed by the Applicant, the 
Department has determined to grant the exemption, as set forth above. 
The Applicant's comment letter has been included as part of the public 
record of the exemption application. The complete application file (D-
11826) is available for public inspection in the Public Disclosure Room 
of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, Room N-1515, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210.
    For a more complete statement of the facts and representations 
supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to 
the Notice published on November 26, 2014 at 79 FR 70658.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Blessed Chuksorji-Keefe of the 
Department, telephone (202) 693-8567. (This is not a toll-free number.)

General Information

    The attention of interested persons is directed to the following:
    (1) The fact that a transaction is the subject of an exemption 
under section 408(a) of the Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the Code 
does not relieve a fiduciary or other party in interest or disqualified 
person from certain other provisions to which the exemption does not 
apply and the general fiduciary responsibility provisions of section 
404 of the Act, which among other things require a fiduciary to 
discharge his duties respecting the plan solely in the interest of the 
participants and beneficiaries of the plan and in a prudent fashion in 
accordance with section 404(a)(1)(B) of the Act; nor does it affect the 
requirement of section 401(a) of the Code that the plan must operate 
for the exclusive benefit of the employees of the employer maintaining 
the plan and their beneficiaries;
    (2) These exemptions are supplemental to and not in derogation of, 
any other provisions of the Act and/or the Code, including statutory or 
administrative exemptions and transactional rules. Furthermore, the 
fact that a transaction is subject to an administrative or statutory 
exemption is not dispositive of whether the transaction is in fact a 
prohibited transaction; and
    (3) The availability of these exemptions is subject to the express 
condition that the material facts and representations contained in the 
application accurately describes all material terms of the transaction 
which is the subject of the exemption.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 20th day of July, 2015.
Lyssa E. Hall,
Director of Exemption Determinations, Employee Benefits Security 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2015-18139 Filed 7-24-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P