Proposed Exemptions From Certain Prohibited Transaction Restrictions, 83336-83438 [2016-27563]

Agencies

• Employee Benefits Security Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 224 (Monday, November 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83336-83438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27563]



[[Page 83335]]

Vol. 81

Monday,

No. 224

November 21, 2016

Part II





Department of Labor





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Employee Benefits Security Administration





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Proposed Exemptions From Certain Prohibited Transaction Restrictions; 
Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 224 / Monday, November 21, 2016 / 
Notices

[[Page 83336]]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration


Proposed Exemptions From Certain Prohibited Transaction 
Restrictions

AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of proposed exemptions.

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SUMMARY: This document contains notices of pendency before the 
Department of Labor (the Department) of proposed exemptions 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 proposed exemptions: D-11856, Deutsche Investment Management 
Americas Inc. and Certain Current and Future Asset Management 
Affiliates of Deutsche Bank AG; D-11859, Citigroup, Inc.; D-11861, 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.; D-11862, Barclays Capital Inc.; D-11906, JPMorgan 
Chase & Co.; D-11907, UBS Assets Management, UBS Realty Investors, UBS 
Hedge Fund Solutions LLC, UBS O'Connor LLC, and Certain Future 
Affiliates in UBS's Asset Management and Wealth Management Americas 
Divisions; D-11908, Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. and 
Certain Current and Future Asset Management Affiliates of Deutsche 
Bank; D-11909, Citigroup, Inc.; and, D-11910, Barclays Capital Inc.

DATES: All interested persons are invited to submit written comments or 
requests for a hearing on the pending exemptions, unless otherwise 
stated in the Notice of Proposed Exemption, within 45 days from the 
date of publication of this Federal Register Notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for a hearing should state: (1) The 
name, address, and telephone number of the person making the comment or 
request, and (2) the nature of the person's interest in the exemption 
and the manner in which the person would be adversely affected by the 
exemption. A request for a hearing must also state the issues to be 
addressed and include a general description of the evidence to be 
presented at the hearing. All written comments and requests for a 
hearing (at least three copies) should be sent to the Employee Benefits 
Security Administration (EBSA), Office of Exemption Determinations, 
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Suite 400, 
Washington, DC 20210. Attention: Application No. __, stated in each 
Notice of Proposed Exemption. Interested persons are also invited to 
submit comments and/or hearing requests to EBSA via email or FAX. Any 
such comments or requests should be sent either by email to: 
moffitt.betty@dol.gov, or by FAX to (202) 693-8474 by the end of the 
scheduled comment period. The applications for exemption and the 
comments received will be available for public inspection in the Public 
Documents Room of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Room N-1515, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210.
    Warning: All comments will be made available to the public. Do not 
include any personally identifiable information (such as Social 
Security number, name, address, or other contact information) or 
confidential business information that you do not want publicly 
disclosed. All comments may be posted on the Internet and can be 
retrieved by most Internet search engines.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notice to Interested Persons

    Notice of the proposed exemptions will be provided to all 
interested persons in the manner agreed upon by the applicant and the 
Department within 15 days of the date of publication in the Federal 
Register. Such notice shall include a copy of the notice of proposed 
exemption as published in the Federal Register and shall inform 
interested persons of their right to comment and to request a hearing 
(where appropriate).
    The proposed exemptions were requested in applications filed 
pursuant to section 408(a) of the Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the 
Code, and in accordance with procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, 
subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 2011).\1\ 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 requested to the Secretary of 
Labor. Therefore, these notices of proposed exemption are issued solely 
by the Department.
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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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    The applications contain representations with regard to the 
proposed exemptions which are summarized below. Interested persons are 
referred to the applications on file with the Department for a complete 
statement of the facts and representations.

Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (DIMA) and Certain Current 
and Future Asset Management Affiliates of Deutsche Bank AG 
(Collectively, the Applicant or the DB QPAMs), Located in New York, New 
York

[Exemption Application No. D-11856]

Proposed Temporary Exemption

    The Department is considering granting a temporary exemption under 
the authority of section 408(a) of the Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA or the Act), and section 
4975(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), 
and in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, 
subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 2011).\2\
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    \2\ For purposes of this proposed temporary exemption, 
references to section 406 of Title I of the Act, unless otherwise 
specified, should be read to refer as well to the corresponding 
provisions of section 4975 of the Code.
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Section I: Covered Transactions
    If the proposed temporary exemption is granted, certain entities 
with specified relationships to Deutsche Bank AG (hereinafter, the DB 
QPAMs, as further defined in Section II(b)) will not be precluded from 
relying on the exemptive relief provided by Prohibited Transaction 
Exemption (PTE) 84-14,\3\ notwithstanding (1) the ``Korean Conviction'' 
against Deutsche Securities Korea Co., a South Korean affiliate of 
Deutsche Bank AG (hereinafter, DSK, as further defined in Section 
II(f)), entered on January 23, 2016; and (2) the ``US Conviction'' 
against DB Group Services UK Limited, an affiliate of Deutsche Bank 
based in the United Kingdom (hereinafter, DB Group Services, as further 
defined in Section II(e)), scheduled to be entered on the April 3, 2017 
(collectively, the Convictions, as further defined in Section 
II(a)),\4\ for a period of up to 12 months beginning on the U.S. 
Conviction Date (as further defined in Section II(d)), provided that 
the following conditions are satisfied:
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    \3\ 49 FR 9494 (March 13, 1984), as corrected at 50 FR 41430 
(October 10, 1985), as amended at 70 FR 49305 (August 23, 2005), and 
as amended at 75 FR 38837 (July 6, 2010).
    \4\ Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 generally provides that 
``[n]either the QPAM nor any affiliate thereof . . . nor any owner . 
. . of a 5 percent or more interest in the QPAM is a person who 
within the 10 years immediately preceding the transaction has been 
either convicted or released from imprisonment, whichever is later, 
as a result of'' certain criminal activity therein described.

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    (a) The DB QPAMs (including their officers, directors, agents other 
than Deutsche Bank, and employees of such DB QPAMs) did not know of, 
have reason to know of, or participate in the criminal conduct of DSK 
and DB Group Services that is the subject of the Convictions (for 
purposes of this paragraph (a), ``participate in'' includes the knowing 
or tacit approval of the misconduct underlying the Convictions);
    (b) The DB QPAMs (including their officers, directors, agents other 
than Deutsche Bank, and employees of such DB QPAMs) did not receive 
direct compensation, or knowingly receive indirect compensation, in 
connection with the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Convictions;
    (c) The DB QPAMs will not employ or knowingly engage any of the 
individuals that participated in the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Convictions (for purposes of this paragraph (c), 
``participated in'' includes the knowing or tacit approval of the 
misconduct underlying the Convictions);
    (d) A DB QPAM will not use its authority or influence to direct an 
``investment fund'' (as defined in Section VI(b) of PTE 84-14) that is 
subject to ERISA or the Code and managed by such DB QPAM to enter into 
any transaction with DSK or DB Group Services, or engage DSK or DB 
Group Services to provide any service to such investment fund, for a 
direct or indirect fee borne by such investment fund, regardless of 
whether such transaction or service may otherwise be within the scope 
of relief provided by an administrative or statutory exemption;
    (e) Any failure of the DB QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-
14 arose solely from the Convictions;
    (f) A DB QPAM did not exercise authority over the assets of any 
plan subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA (an ERISA-covered plan) or 
section 4975 of the Code (an IRA) in a manner that it knew or should 
have known would: Further the criminal conduct that is the subject of 
the Convictions; or cause the QPAM, affiliates, or related parties to 
directly or indirectly profit from the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Convictions;
    (g) DSK and DB Group Services will not provide discretionary asset 
management services to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, nor will otherwise 
act as a fiduciary with respect to ERISA-covered plan and IRA assets;
    (h)(1) Each DB QPAM must immediately develop, implement, maintain, 
and follow written policies and procedures (the Policies) requiring and 
reasonably designed to ensure that:
    (i) The asset management decisions of the DB QPAM are conducted 
independently of Deutsche Bank's corporate management and business 
activities, including the corporate management and business activities 
of DB Group Services and DSK;
    (ii) The DB QPAM fully complies with ERISA's fiduciary duties and 
with ERISA and the Code's prohibited transaction provisions, and does 
not knowingly participate in any violations of these duties and 
provisions with respect to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs;
    (iii) The DB QPAM does not knowingly participate in any other 
person's violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to ERISA-covered 
plans and IRAs;
    (iv) Any filings or statements made by the DB QPAM to regulators, 
including but not limited to, the Department of Labor, the Department 
of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Pension Benefit 
Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs are 
materially accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's knowledge 
at that time;
    (v) The DB QPAM does not make material misrepresentations or omit 
material information in its communications with such regulators with 
respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients;
    (vi) The DB QPAM complies with the terms of this temporary 
exemption; and
    (vii) Any violation of, or failure to comply with, an item in 
subparagraph (ii) through (vi), is corrected promptly upon discovery, 
and any such violation or compliance failure not promptly corrected is 
reported, upon the discovery of such failure to promptly correct, in 
writing, to appropriate corporate officers, the head of compliance and 
the General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of the relevant DB 
QPAM, the independent auditor responsible for reviewing compliance with 
the Policies, and an appropriate fiduciary of any affected ERISA-
covered plan or IRA where such fiduciary is independent of Deutsche 
Bank; however, with respect to any ERISA-covered plan or IRA sponsored 
by an ``affiliate'' (as defined in Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14) of 
Deutsche Bank or beneficially owned by an employee of Deutsche Bank or 
its affiliates, such fiduciary does not need to be independent of 
Deutsche Bank. A DB QPAM will not be treated as having failed to 
develop, implement, maintain, or follow the Policies, provided that it 
corrects any instance of noncompliance promptly when discovered or when 
it reasonably should have known of the noncompliance (whichever is 
earlier), and provided that it adheres to the reporting requirements 
set forth in this subparagraph (vii);
    (2) Each DB QPAM must immediately develop and implement a program 
of training (the Training), conducted at least annually, for all 
relevant DB QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, 
compliance, and internal audit personnel. The Training must be set 
forth in the Policies and at a minimum, cover the Policies, ERISA and 
Code compliance (including applicable fiduciary duties and the 
prohibited transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the consequences 
for not complying with the conditions of this temporary exemption 
(including any loss of exemptive relief provided herein), and prompt 
reporting of wrongdoing;
    (i)(1) Each DB QPAM submits to an audit conducted by an independent 
auditor, who has been prudently selected and who has appropriate 
technical training and proficiency with ERISA and the Code, to evaluate 
the adequacy of, and the DB QPAM's compliance with, the Policies and 
Training described herein. The audit requirement must be incorporated 
in the Policies. The audit period under this proposed temporary 
exemption begins on October 24, 2016, and continues through the entire 
effective period of this temporary exemption (the Audit Period). The 
Audit Period will cover the contiguous periods of time during which PTE 
2016-12, the Extension of PTE 2015-15 (81 FR 75153, October 28, 2016) 
(the Extension) and this proposed temporary exemption are effective. 
The audit terms contained in this paragraph (i) supersede the terms of 
paragraph (f) of the Extension. However, in determining compliance with 
the conditions for the Extension and this proposed temporary exemption, 
including the Policies and Training requirements, for purposes of 
conducting the audit, the auditor will rely on the conditions for 
exemptive relief as then applicable to the respective portions of the 
Audit Period. The audit must be completed no later than six (6) months 
after the period to which the audit applies;
    (2) To the extent necessary for the auditor, in its sole opinion, 
to complete its audit and comply with the conditions for relief 
described herein, and as permitted by law, each DB QPAM and, if 
applicable, Deutsche

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Bank, will grant the auditor unconditional access to its business, 
including, but not limited to: Its computer systems; business records; 
transactional data; workplace locations; training materials; and 
personnel;
    (3) The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor 
to determine whether each DB QPAM has developed, implemented, 
maintained, and followed the Policies in accordance with the conditions 
of this temporary exemption, and has developed and implemented the 
Training, as required herein;
    (4) The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor 
to test each DB QPAM's operational compliance with the Policies and 
Training. In this regard, the auditor must test a sample of each QPAM's 
transactions involving ERISA-covered plans and IRAs sufficient in size 
and nature to afford the auditor a reasonable basis to determine the 
operational compliance with the Policies and Training;
    (5) For each audit, on or before the end of the relevant period 
described in Section I(i)(1) for completing the audit, the auditor must 
issue a written report (the Audit Report) to Deutsche Bank and the DB 
QPAM to which the audit applies that describes the procedures performed 
by the auditor during the course of its examination. The Audit Report 
must include the auditor's specific determinations regarding: The 
adequacy of the DB QPAM's Policies and Training; the DB QPAM's 
compliance with the Policies and Training; the need, if any, to 
strengthen such Policies and Training; and any instance of the 
respective DB QPAM's noncompliance with the written Policies and 
Training described in Section I(h) above. Any determination by the 
auditor regarding the adequacy of the Policies and Training and the 
auditor's recommendations (if any) with respect to strengthening the 
Policies and Training of the respective DB QPAM must be promptly 
addressed by such DB QPAM, and any action taken by such DB QPAM to 
address such recommendations must be included in an addendum to the 
Audit Report (which addendum is completed prior to the certification 
described in Section I(i)(7) below). Any determination by the auditor 
that the respective DB QPAM has implemented, maintained, and followed 
sufficient Policies and Training must not be based solely or in 
substantial part on an absence of evidence indicating noncompliance. In 
this last regard, any finding that the DB QPAM has complied with the 
requirements under this subsection must be based on evidence that 
demonstrates the DB QPAM has actually implemented, maintained, and 
followed the Policies and Training required by this temporary 
exemption; and
    (6) The auditor must notify the respective DB QPAM of any instance 
of noncompliance identified by the auditor within five (5) business 
days after such noncompliance is identified by the auditor, regardless 
of whether the audit has been completed as of that date;
    (7) With respect to each Audit Report, the General Counsel, or one 
of the three most senior executive officers of the DB QPAM to which the 
Audit Report applies, must certify in writing, under penalty of 
perjury, that the officer has reviewed the Audit Report and this 
temporary exemption; addressed, corrected, or remedied any inadequacy 
identified in the Audit Report; and determined that the Policies and 
Training in effect at the time of signing are adequate to ensure 
compliance with the conditions of this proposed temporary exemption, 
and with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code;
    (8) The Risk Committee of Deutsche Bank's Board of Directors is 
provided a copy of each Audit Report; and a senior executive officer 
with a direct reporting line to the highest ranking legal compliance 
officer of Deutsche Bank must review the Audit Report for each DB QPAM 
and must certify in writing, under penalty of perjury, that such 
officer has reviewed each Audit Report;
    (9) Each DB QPAM provides its certified Audit Report, by regular 
mail to: the Department's Office of Exemption Determinations (OED), 200 
Constitution Avenue NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20210, or by private 
carrier to: 122 C Street NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20001-2109, no 
later than 45 days following its completion. The Audit Report will be 
part of the public record regarding this temporary exemption. 
Furthermore, each DB QPAM must make its Audit Report unconditionally 
available for examination by any duly authorized employee or 
representative of the Department, other relevant regulators, and any 
fiduciary of an ERISA-covered plan or IRA, the assets of which are 
managed by such DB QPAM;
    (10) Each DB QPAM and the auditor must submit to OED: (A) Any 
engagement agreement(s) entered into pursuant to the engagement of the 
auditor under this exemption; and (B) any engagement agreement entered 
into with any other entity retained in connection with such QPAM's 
compliance with the Training or Policies conditions of this proposed 
temporary exemption, no later than six (6) months after the effective 
date of this temporary exemption (and one month after the execution of 
any agreement thereafter);
    (11) The auditor must provide OED, upon request, all of the 
workpapers created and utilized in the course of the audit, including, 
but not limited to: The audit plan; audit testing; identification of 
any instance of noncompliance by the relevant DB QPAM; and an 
explanation of any corrective or remedial action taken by the 
applicable DB QPAM; and
    (12) Deutsche Bank must notify the Department at least 30 days 
prior to any substitution of an auditor, except that no such 
replacement will meet the requirements of this paragraph unless and 
until Deutsche Bank demonstrates to the Department's satisfaction that 
such new auditor is independent of Deutsche Bank, experienced in the 
matters that are the subject of the exemption, and capable of making 
the determinations required of this exemption;
    (j) Effective as of the effective date of this temporary exemption, 
with respect to any arrangement, agreement, or contract between a DB 
QPAM and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA for which a DB QPAM provides 
asset management or other discretionary fiduciary services, each DB 
QPAM agrees:
    (1) To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable with respect 
to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA; to refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions); and to comply with 
the standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of ERISA 
with respect to each such ERISA-covered plan and IRA;
    (2) Not to require (or otherwise cause) the ERISA-covered plan or 
IRA to waive, limit, or qualify the liability of the DB QPAM for 
violating ERISA or the Code or engaging in prohibited transactions;
    (3) Not to require the ERISA-covered plan or IRA (or sponsor of 
such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner of such IRA) to indemnify 
the DB QPAM for violating ERISA or engaging in prohibited transactions, 
except for violations or prohibited transactions caused by an error, 
misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party 
hired by the plan fiduciary who is independent of Deutsche Bank;
    (4) Not to restrict the ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
to terminate or withdraw from its arrangement with the DB QPAM 
(including any investment in a separately managed account or pooled 
fund subject to ERISA

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and managed by such QPAM), with the exception of reasonable 
restrictions, appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically 
designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in a pooled 
fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have adverse 
consequences for all other investors as a result of an actual lack of 
liquidity of the underlying assets, provided that such restrictions are 
applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors;
    (5) Not to impose any fees, penalties, or charges for such 
termination or withdrawal with the exception of reasonable fees, 
appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to 
prevent generally recognized abusive investment practices or 
specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in 
a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have 
adverse consequences for all other investors, provided that such fees 
are applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors;
    (6) Not to include exculpatory provisions disclaiming or otherwise 
limiting liability of the DB QPAM for a violation of such agreement's 
terms, except for liability caused by an error, misrepresentation, or 
misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan 
fiduciary who is independent of Deutsche Bank and its affiliates; and
    (7) To indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
for any damages resulting from a violation of applicable laws, a breach 
of contract, or any claim arising out of the failure of such DB QPAM to 
qualify for the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-14 as a result of a 
violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 other than the Convictions;
    Within four (4) months of the effective date of this temporary 
exemption, each DB QPAM will provide a notice of its obligations under 
this Section I(j) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA for which the DB 
QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary fiduciary 
services;
    (k) The DB QPAMs comply with each condition of PTE 84-14, as 
amended, with the sole exceptions of the violations of Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 that are attributable to the Convictions;
    (l) Deutsche Bank disgorged all of its profits generated by the 
spot/futures-linked market manipulation activities of DSK personnel 
that led to the Conviction against DSK entered on January 25, 2016, in 
Seoul Central District Court;
    (m) Each DB QPAM will maintain records necessary to demonstrate 
that the conditions of this temporary exemption have been met, for six 
(6) years following the date of any transaction for which such DB QPAM 
relies upon the relief in the temporary exemption;
    (n) During the effective period of this temporary exemption, 
Deutsche Bank: (1) Immediately discloses to the Department any Deferred 
Prosecution Agreement (a DPA) or Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) 
that Deutsche Bank or any of its affiliates enter into with the U.S 
Department of Justice, to the extent such DPA or NPA involves conduct 
described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 or section 411 of ERISA; and (2) 
immediately provides the Department any information requested by the 
Department, as permitted by law, regarding the agreement and/or the 
conduct and allegations that led to the agreements; and
    (o) A DB QPAM will not fail to meet the terms of this temporary 
exemption, solely because a different DB QPAM fails to satisfy a 
condition for relief under this temporary exemption described in 
Sections I(c), (d), (h), (i), (j), (k), and (m).
Section II: Definitions
    (a) The term ``Convictions'' means (1) the judgment of conviction 
against DB Group Services, in Case 3:15-cr-00062-RNC to be entered in 
the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut to a 
single count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, and (2) the 
judgment of conviction against DSK entered on January 25, 2016, in 
Seoul Central District Court, relating to charges filed against DSK 
under Articles 176, 443, and 448 of South Korea's Financial Investment 
Services and Capital Markets Act for spot/futures-linked market price 
manipulation. For all purposes under this exemption, ``conduct'' of any 
person or entity that is the ``subject of [a] Conviction'' encompasses 
any conduct of Deutsche Bank and/or their personnel, that is described 
in the Plea Agreement (including the Factual Statement thereto), Court 
judgments (including the judgment of the Seoul Central District Court), 
criminal complaint documents from the Financial Services Commission in 
Korea, and other official regulatory or judicial factual findings that 
are a part of this record;
    (b) The term ``DB QPAM'' means a ``qualified professional asset 
manager'' (as defined in section VI(a) \5\ of PTE 84-14) that relies on 
the relief provided by PTE 84-14 and with respect to which DSK or DK 
Group Services is a current or future ``affiliate'' (as defined in 
section VI(d) of PTE 84-14). For purposes of this temporary exemption, 
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. (DBSI), including all entities over 
which it exercises control; and Deutsche Bank AG, including all of its 
branches, are excluded from the definition of a DB QPAM;
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    \5\ In general terms, a QPAM is an independent fiduciary that is 
a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or 
investment adviser that meets certain equity or net worth 
requirements and other licensure requirements and that has 
acknowledged in a written management agreement that it is a 
fiduciary with respect to each plan that has retained the QPAM.
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    (c) The term ``Deutsche Bank'' means Deutsche Bank AG but, unless 
indicated otherwise, does not include its subsidiaries or affiliates;
    (d) The term ``U.S. Conviction Date'' means the date that a 
judgment of conviction against DB Group Services, in Case 3:15-cr-
00062-RNC, is entered in the United States District Court for the 
District of Connecticut;
    (e) The term ``DB Group Services'' means DB Group Services UK 
Limited, an ``affiliate'' of Deutsche Bank (as defined in Section VI(c) 
of PTE 84-14) based in the United Kingdom;
    (f) The term ``DSK'' means Deutsche Securities Korea Co., a South 
Korean ``affiliate'' of Deutsche Bank (as defined in Section VI(c) of 
PTE 84-14);
    (g) The term ``Plea Agreement'' means the Plea Agreement (including 
the Factual Statement thereto), dated April 23, 2015, between the 
Antitrust Division and Fraud Section of the Criminal Division of the 
U.S. Department of Justice (the DOJ) and DB Group Services resolving 
the actions brought by the DOJ in Case 3:15-cr-00062-RNC against DB 
Group Services for wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States 
Code, Section 1343 related to the manipulation of the London Interbank 
Offered Rate (LIBOR); and
    (h) The terms ``ERISA-covered plan'' and ``IRA'' mean, 
respectively, a plan subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA and a plan 
subject to section 4975 of the Code;
    Effective Date: This proposed temporary exemption will be effective 
for the period beginning on the U.S. Conviction Date, and ending on the 
earlier the date that is twelve months following the U.S. Conviction 
Date; or the effective date of a final agency action made by the 
Department in connection with Exemption Application No. D-11908, an 
application for long-term exemptive relief for the covered transactions 
described herein.
    Department's Comment: The Department is publishing this proposed

[[Page 83340]]

temporary exemption in order to protect ERISA-covered plans and IRAs 
from certain costs and/or investment losses for up to one year, that 
may arise to the extent entities with a corporate relationship to 
Deutsche Bank lose their ability to rely on PTE 84-14 as of the U.S. 
Conviction Date, as described below. Elsewhere today in the Federal 
Register, the Department is also proposing a five-year proposed 
exemption, Exemption Application No. D-11908, that would provide the 
same relief that is described herein, but for a longer effective 
period. The five-year proposed exemption is subject to enhanced 
conditions and a longer comment period. Comments received in response 
to this proposed temporary exemption will be considered in connection 
with the Department's determination whether or not to grant such five-
year exemption.
    The proposed exemption would provide relief from certain of the 
restrictions set forth in sections 406 and 407 of ERISA. If granted, no 
relief from a violation of any other law would be provided by this 
exemption.
    Furthermore, the Department cautions that the relief in this 
proposed temporary exemption would terminate immediately if, among 
other things, an entity within the Deutsche Bank corporate structure is 
convicted of a crime described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 (other than 
the Conviction) during the effective period of the exemption. While 
such an entity could apply for a new exemption in that circumstance, 
the Department would not be obligated to grant the exemption. The terms 
of this proposed temporary exemption have been specifically designed to 
permit plans to terminate their relationships in an orderly and cost 
effective fashion in the event of an additional conviction or a 
determination that it is otherwise prudent for a plan to terminate its 
relationship with an entity covered by the proposed exemption.

Summary of Facts and Representations \6\
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    \6\ The Summary of Facts and Representations is based on 
Deutsche Bank and DIMA's representations, unless indicated 
otherwise.
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Background

    1. Deutsche Bank AG (together with its current and future 
affiliates, Deutsche Bank) is a German banking corporation and a 
commercial bank. Deutsche Bank, with and through its affiliates, 
subsidiaries and branches, provides a wide range of banking, fiduciary, 
recordkeeping, custodial, brokerage and investment services to, among 
others, corporations, institutions, governments, employee benefit 
plans, government retirement plans and private investors. Deutsche Bank 
had [euro]68.4 billion in total shareholders' equity and [euro]1,709 
billion in total assets as of December 31, 2014.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Deutsche Bank represents that its audited financial 
statements are expressed in Euros and are not converted to dollars.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (DIMA) is an 
investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment 
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. DIMA and other wholly-owned 
subsidiaries of Deutsche Bank provide discretionary asset-management 
services to employee benefit plans and IRAs. Such entities include: (A) 
DIMA; (B) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., which is a dual-registrant 
with the SEC under the Advisers Act as an investment adviser and 
broker-dealer; (C) RREEF America L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability 
company and investment adviser registered with the SEC under the 
Advisers Act; (D) Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a corporation 
organized under the laws of the State of New York and supervised by the 
New York State Department of Financial Services, a member of the 
Federal Reserve and an FDIC-insured bank; (E) Deutsche Bank National 
Trust Company, a national banking association, organized under the laws 
of the United States and supervised by the Office of the Comptroller of 
the Currency, and a member of the Federal Reserve; (F) Deutsche Bank 
Trust Company, NA, a national banking association, organized under the 
laws of the United States and supervised by the OCC; (G) Deutsche 
Alternative Asset Management (Global) Limited, a London-based 
investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Advisers Act; (H) 
Deutsche Investments Australia Limited, a Sydney, Australia-based 
investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Advisers Act; (I) 
DeAWM Trust Company (DTC), a limited purpose trust company organized 
under the laws of New Hampshire and subject to supervision of the New 
Hampshire Banking Department; and the four following entities which 
currently do not rely on PTE 84-14 for the management of any ERISA-
covered plan or IRA assets, but may in the future: (J) Deutsche Asset 
Management (Hong Kong) Ltd.; (K) Deutsche Asset Management 
International GmbH; (L) DB Investment Managers, Inc.; and (M) Deutsche 
Bank AG, New York Branch.
    3. Korean Conviction. On January 25, 2016, Deutsche Securities 
Korea, Co. (DSK), an indirectly held, wholly-owned subsidiary of 
Deutsche Bank, was convicted in Seoul Central District Court (the 
Korean Court) of violations of certain provisions of Articles 176, 443, 
and 448 of the Korean Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets 
Act (FSCMA) (the Korean Conviction) for spot/futures linked market 
manipulation in connection with the unwind of an arbitrage position 
which in turn caused a decline on the Korean market. Charges under 
Article 448 of the FSCMA stemmed from vicarious liability assigned to 
DSK for the actions of its employee, who was convicted of violations of 
certain provisions of Articles 176 and 443 of the FCMA. Upon 
conviction, the Korean Court sentenced DSK to pay a criminal fine of 
1.5 billion South Korean Won (KRW). Furthermore, the Korean Court 
ordered that Deutsche Bank forfeit KRW 43,695,371,124, while KRW 
1,183,362,400 was ordered forfeited by DSK.
    4. US Conviction. On April 23, 2015, the Antitrust Division and 
Fraud Section of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of 
Justice (collectively, the DOJ) filed a one-count criminal information 
(the Criminal Information) in Case 3:15-cr-00062-RNC in the District 
Court for the District of Connecticut (the District Court) against DB 
Group Services UK Limited (DB Group Services). The Criminal Information 
charged DB Group Services with wire fraud in violation of Title 18, 
United States Code, Section 1343 related to the manipulation of the 
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) for the purpose of creating 
favorable trading positions for Deutsche Bank traders. DB Group 
Services agreed to resolve the actions brought by the DOJ through a 
plea agreement, dated April 23, 2015 (the Plea Agreement), which is 
expected to result in the District Court issuing a judgment of 
conviction (the US Conviction and together with the Korean Conviction, 
the Convictions). Under the terms of the Plea Agreement, DB Group 
Services plead guilty to the charges set out in the Criminal 
Information and forfeited $150,000,000 to the United States. 
Furthermore, Deutsche Bank AG and the DOJ entered into a deferred 
prosecution agreement, dated April 23, 2015 (the DPA). Pursuant to the 
terms of the DPA, Deutsche Bank agreed to pay a penalty of 
$625,000,000.

PTE 84-14

    5. The Department notes that the rules set forth in section 406 of 
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA) 
and section 4975(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as

[[Page 83341]]

amended (the Code) proscribe certain ``prohibited transactions'' 
between plans and related parties with respect to those plans, known as 
``parties in interest.'' \8\ Under section 3(14) of ERISA, parties in 
interest with respect to a plan include, among others, the plan 
fiduciary, a sponsoring employer of the plan, a union whose members are 
covered by the plan, service providers with respect to the plan, and 
certain of their affiliates. The prohibited transaction provisions 
under section 406(a) of ERISA prohibit, in relevant part, sales, 
leases, loans or the provision of services between a party in interest 
and a plan (or an entity whose assets are deemed to constitute the 
assets of a plan), as well as the use of plan assets by or for the 
benefit of, or a transfer of plan assets to, a party in interest.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ For purposes of the Summary of Facts and Representations, 
references to specific provisions of Title I of ERISA, unless 
otherwise specified, refer also to the corresponding provisions of 
the Code.
    \9\ The prohibited transaction provisions also include certain 
fiduciary prohibited transactions under section 406(b) of ERISA. 
These include transactions involving fiduciary self-dealing; 
fiduciary conflicts of interest, and kickbacks to fiduciaries.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    6. Under the authority of ERISA section 408(a) and Code section 
4975(c)(2), the Department has the authority to grant exemptions from 
such ``prohibited transactions'' in accordance with the procedures set 
forth in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 
2011).
    7. Class Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-14 (PTE 84-14) \10\ 
exempts certain prohibited transactions between a party in interest and 
an ``investment fund'' (as defined in Section VI(b) of PTE 84-14) \11\ 
in which a plan has an interest, if the investment manager satisfies 
the definition of ``qualified professional asset manager'' (QPAM) and 
satisfies additional conditions for the exemption. In this regard, PTE 
84-14 was developed and granted based on the essential premise that 
broad relief could be afforded for all types of transactions in which a 
plan engages only if the commitments and the investments of plan assets 
and the negotiations leading thereto are the sole responsibility of an 
independent, discretionary, manager.\12\ Deutsche Bank has corporate 
relationships with a wide range of entities that may act as QPAMs and 
utilize the exemptive relief provided in PTE 84-14.
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    \10\ 49 FR 9494 (March 13, 1984), as corrected at 50 FR 41430 
(October 10, 1985), as amended at 70 FR 49305 (August 23, 2005), and 
as amended at 75 FR 38837 (July 6, 2010).
    \11\ An ``investment fund'' includes single customer and pooled 
separate accounts maintained by an insurance company, individual 
trusts and common, collective or group trusts maintained by a bank, 
and any other account or fund to the extent that the disposition of 
its assets (whether or not in the custody of the QPAM) is subject to 
the discretionary authority of the QPAM.
    \12\ See 75 FR 38837, 38839 (July 6, 2010).
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    8. However, Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 prevents an entity that may 
otherwise meet the definition of QPAM from utilizing the exemptive 
relief provided by PTE 84-14, for itself and its client plans, if that 
entity or an affiliate thereof or any owner, direct or indirect, of a 5 
percent or more interest in the QPAM has, within 10 years immediately 
preceding the transaction, been either convicted or released from 
imprisonment, whichever is later, as a result of certain specified 
criminal activity described in that section. The Department notes that 
Section I(g) was included in PTE 84-14, in part, based on the 
expectation that a QPAM, and those who may be in a position to 
influence its policies, maintain a high standard of integrity.\13\ 
Accordingly, as a result of the Korean Conviction and the US 
Conviction, QPAMs with certain corporate relationships to DSK and DB 
Group Services, as well as their client plans that are subject to Part 
4 of Title I of ERISA (ERISA-covered plans) or section 4975 of the Code 
(IRAs), will no longer be able to rely on PTE 84-14 without an 
individual exemption issued by the Department.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See 47 FR 56945, 56947 (December 21, 1982).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The DB QPAMs

    9. Deutsche Bank represents that certain current and future 
``affiliates'' of DSK and DB Group Services, as that term is defined in 
Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14, may act as QPAMs in reliance on the relief 
provided in PTE 84-14 (these entities are collectively referred to as 
the ``DB QPAMs'' or the ``Applicant''). The DB QPAMs are currently 
comprised of several wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries of 
Deutsche Bank including: (A) DIMA; (B) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 
which is a dual-registrant with the SEC under the Advisers Act as an 
investment adviser and broker-dealer; (C) RREEF America L.L.C., a 
Delaware limited liability company and investment adviser registered 
with the SEC under the Advisers Act; (D) Deutsche Bank Trust Company 
Americas, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New 
York and supervised by the New York State Department of Financial 
Services, a member of the Federal Reserve and an FDIC-insured bank; (E) 
Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, a national banking association, 
organized under the laws of the United States and supervised by the 
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and a member of the Federal 
Reserve; (F) Deutsche Bank Trust Company, NA, a national banking 
association, organized under the laws of the United States and 
supervised by the OCC; (G) Deutsche Alternative Asset Management 
(Global) Limited, a London-based investment adviser registered with the 
SEC under the Advisers Act; (H) Deutsche Investments Australia Limited, 
a Sydney, Australia-based investment adviser registered with the SEC 
under the Advisers Act; (I) DeAWM Trust Company (DTC), a limited 
purpose trust company organized under the laws of New Hampshire and 
subject to supervision of the New Hampshire Banking Department; and the 
four following entities which currently do not rely on PTE 84-14 for 
the management of any ERISA-covered plan or IRA assets, but may in the 
future: (J) Deutsche Asset Management (Hong Kong) Ltd.; (K) Deutsche 
Asset Management International GmbH; (L) DB Investment Managers, Inc.; 
and (M) Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch.\14\
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    \14\ For reasons described below, exemptive relief to rely on 
PTE 84-14 notwithstanding the Convictions is not being proposed for 
DBSI and the branches of Deutsche Bank AG (including the NY Branch), 
and as such, these entities are excluded from the definition of ``DB 
QPAM'' for purposes of the operative language of this proposed 
temporary exemption.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    10. DIMA notes that discretionary asset management services are 
provided to ERISA-covered plans, IRAs and others under the following 
Asset & Wealth Management (AWM) business lines, each of which may be 
served by one or more of the DB QPAMs: (A) Wealth Management--Private 
Client Services and Wealth Management--Private Bank ($178.1 million in 
ERISA assets, $643.9 million in IRA assets and $1.8 million in rabbi 
trust assets); (B) Active Management ($299 million in ERISA assets, 
$227.9 million in governmental plan assets, and $141.7 million in rabbi 
trust assets); (C) Alternative and Real Assets ($7.4 billion in ERISA-
covered and governmental plan assets); \15\ (D) Alternatives & Fund 
Solutions ($20.8 million in ERISA accounts, $29 million in IRA holdings 
and $14.1 million in governmental plan holdings); and (E) Passive 
Management

[[Page 83342]]

(no current ERISA or IRA assets).\16\ Finally, DTC manages the DWS 
Stock Index Fund, a collective investment trust with $192 million in 
assets as of March 31, 2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ The Alternatives and Real Assets business line also 
provides discretionary asset management services, through a 
separately managed account, to one church plan with total assets 
under management of $168.6 million and, through a pooled fund 
subject to ERISA, to two church plans with total assets under 
management of $7.9 million. According to Deutsche Bank, with respect 
to governmental plan assets, most management agreements are 
contractually subject to ERISA standards.
    \16\ With the exception of Passive Management, the statistics 
for each of the individual business lines listed here have been 
updated by Deutsche Bank and are current as of June 30, 2015, to the 
best of Deutsche Bank's knowledge.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    11. The Applicant represents that the AWM business is separate from 
Group Services. The DB QPAMs that serve the AWM business have their own 
boards of directors. The Applicant represents that the AWM business has 
its own legal and compliance teams. The Applicant further notes that 
the DB QPAMs are subject to certain policies and procedures that are 
designed to, among other things, ensure that asset management decisions 
are made without inappropriate outside influence, applicable law and 
governing documents are followed, personnel act with professionalism 
and in the best interests of clients, clients are treated fairly, 
confidential information is protected, conflicts of interest are 
avoided, errors are reported and a high degree of integrity is 
maintained.

Market Manipulation Activities of DSK \17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ The Department has incorporated the facts related to the 
circumstances leading to the Korean Conviction as represented by 
Deutsche Bank in Application No. D-11696 and included in the Federal 
Register in the notice of proposed exemption for the aforementioned 
application at 80 FR 51314 (August 24, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    12. Deutsche Securities Korea Co. (DSK), an indirect wholly-owned 
subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, is a broker-dealer organized in Korea and 
supervised by the Financial Supervisory Service in Korea. The Absolute 
Strategy Group (ASG) of Deutsche Bank's Hong Kong Branch (DB HK) 
conducts index arbitrage trading for proprietary accounts in Asian 
markets, including Korea. On January 25, 2016, DSK was convicted in 
Seoul Central District Court (the Korean Court), under Articles 176, 
443, and 448 of South Korea's Financial Investment Services and Capital 
Markets Act (FSCMA) for spot/futures-linked market price manipulation. 
The Korean Court issued a written decision (the Korean Decision) in 
connection with the Korean Conviction.
    13. Deutsche Bank represents that index arbitrage trading is a 
trading strategy through which an investor such as Deutsche Bank seeks 
to earn a return by identifying and exploiting a difference between the 
value of futures contracts in respect of a relevant equity index and 
the spot value of the index, as determined by the current market price 
of the constituent stocks. For instance, where the futures contracts 
are deemed to be overpriced by reference to the spot value of the index 
(i.e., if the premium is sufficiently large), then an index arbitrageur 
will short sell the relevant futures contracts (either the exchange-
traded contracts or the put and call option contracts which together 
synthetically replicate the exchange-traded futures contracts) and 
purchase the underlying stocks. The short and long positions offset 
each other in order to be hedged (although the positions may not always 
be perfectly risk-neutral).
    14. Deutsche Bank represents that ASG pursued an index arbitrage 
trading strategy in various Asian markets, including Korea. In Korea, 
the index arbitrage position involved the Korean Composite Stock Price 
Index (KOSPI 200 Index), which reflects stocks commonly traded on the 
Korea Exchange (KRX). Deutsche Bank represents that, while ASG tried to 
track the KOSPI 200 Index as closely as possible, there is a limit on 
foreign ownership for certain shares such as telecommunication 
companies. Thus, once ASG's cash position reached this limitation, DSK 
carried the remainder and ASG's book, combined with DSK's book for 
Korea telecommunication companies, reflected ASG's overall KOSPI 200 
index arbitrage position.
    15. On November 11, 2010, the Applicant states that ASG ``unwound'' 
an arbitrage position on the KOSPI 200 Index through DSK.\18\ The 
``unwind'' included a sale of $2.1 billion worth of stocks in the KRX 
during the final 10 minutes of trading (i.e., the closing auction 
period) and comprised 88% of the volume of stock traded during this 
period. This large volume sale contributed to a drop of the KOSPI 200 
Index by 2.7%.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ The Department understands the ``unwinding'' of a 
transaction to mean closing out a relatively complicated investment 
position. For example, an investor who practices arbitrage by taking 
one position in stocks and the opposite position in option contracts 
would have to unwind by the date on which the options would expire. 
This would entail selling the underlying stocks and covering the 
options.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    16. Prior to the unwinding, but after the decision to unwind was 
made, ASG had taken certain derivative positions, including put options 
on the KOSPI 200 Index. Thus, ASG earned a profit when the KOSPI 200 
Index declined as a result of the unwind trades (the derivative 
positions and unwind trades cumulatively referred to as the Trades). 
DSK had also purchased put options on that day that resulted in it 
earning a profit as a result of the drop of the KOSPI 200 Index. The 
aggregate amount of profit earned from such Trades was approximately 
$40 million.
    17. The Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office (the Korean 
Prosecutors) alleged that the Trades constitute spot/futures linked 
market manipulation, a criminal violation under Korean securities law. 
In this regard, the Korean Prosecutors alleged that ASG unwound its 
cash position of certain securities listed on the KRX(spot) through 
DSK, and caused a fluctuation in the market price of securities related 
to exchange-traded derivatives (the put options) for the purpose of 
gaining unfair profit from such exchange-traded derivatives. On August 
19, 2011, the Korean Prosecutors indicted DSK and four individuals on 
charges of stock market manipulation to gain unfair profits. Two of the 
individuals, Derek Ong and Bertrand Dattas, worked for ASG at DB HK. 
Mr. Ong was a Managing Director and head of ASG, with power and 
authority with respect to the KOSPI 200 Index arbitrage trading 
conducted by Deutsche Bank. Mr. Dattas served as a Director of ASG and 
was responsible for the direct operations of the KOSPI 200 Index 
arbitrage trading. Philip Lonergan, the third individual, was employed 
by Deutsche Bank Services (Jersey) Limited. At the time of the 
transaction, Mr. Lonergan was seconded to DB HK and served as Head of 
Global Market Equity, Trading and Risk. Mr. Lonergan served as Mr. 
Ong's regional superior and was in charge of risk management for his 
team. The fourth individual charged, Do-Joon Park, was employed by DSK, 
serving as a Managing Director of Global Equity Derivatives (GED) at 
DSK and was in charge of the index arbitrage trading using DSK's book 
that had been integrated into and managed by ASG. Mr. Park was also a 
de facto chief officer of equity and derivative product operations of 
DSK.
    18. The Korean Prosecutors' case against DSK was based on Korea's 
criminal vicarious liability provision, under which DSK may be held 
vicariously liable for an act of its employee (i.e., Mr. Park) if it 
failed to exercise due care in the appointment and supervision of its 
employees.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ Article 448 of the FSCMA allows for charges against an 
employer stemming from vicarious liability for the actions of its 
employees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    19. The trial commenced in January 2012 in the Korean Court. The 
Korean Court convicted both DSK and Mr. Park on January 25, 2016. The 
Korean Court sentenced Mr. Park to five years imprisonment. Upon 
conviction, the

[[Page 83343]]

Korean Court ordered DSK to pay a criminal fine of KRW 1.5 billion. 
Furthermore, the Korean Court ordered that Deutsche Bank forfeit KRW 
43,695,371,124, while KRW 1,183,362,400 was ordered forfeited by 
DSK.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ KRW refers to a South Korean Won.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

LIBOR Manipulation Activities by DB Group Services

    20. DB Group Services is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of 
Deutsche Bank located in the United Kingdom. On April 23, 2015, DB 
Group Services pled guilty in the United States District Court for the 
District of Connecticut to a single count of wire fraud, in violation 
of 18 U.S.C. 1343 (the Plea Agreement), related to the manipulation of 
the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) described below. In 
connection with the Plea Agreement with DB Group Services, the DOJ 
filed a Statement of Fact (the DOJ Plea Factual Statement) that details 
the underlying conduct that serves as the basis for the criminal 
charges and impending US Conviction.
    21. According to the DOJ Plea Factual Statement, LIBOR is a 
benchmark interest rate used in financial markets around the world. 
Futures, options, swaps, and other derivative financial instruments 
traded in the over-the-counter market. The LIBOR for a given currency 
is derived from a calculation based upon submissions from a panel of 
banks for that currency (the Contributor Panel) selected by the British 
Bankers' Association (BBA). Each member of the Contributor Panel would 
submit its rates electronically. Once each Contributor Panel bank had 
submitted its rate, the contributed rates were ranked. The highest and 
lowest quartiles were excluded from the calculation, and the middle two 
quartiles (i.e., 50% of the submissions) were averaged to formulate the 
LIBOR ``fix'' or ``setting'' for the given currency and maturity.
    22. The DOJ Plea Factual Statement states that, from 2006 to 2011, 
Deutsche Bank's Global Finance and Foreign Exchange business units 
(GFFX) had employees in multiple entities associated with Deutsche 
Bank, in multiple locations around the world including London and New 
York. Deutsche Bank, through the GFFX unit, employed traders in both 
its Pool Trading groups (Pool) and its Money Market Derivatives (MMD) 
groups. Many of the GFFX traders based in London were employed by DB 
Group Services.
    23. According to the DOJ Plea Factual Statement, Deutsche Bank's 
Pool traders engaged in, among other things, cash trading and 
overseeing Deutsche Bank's internal funding and liquidity. Deutsche 
Bank's Pool traders traded a variety of financial instruments. Deutsche 
Bank's Pool traders were primarily responsible for formulating and 
submitting Deutsche Bank's LIBOR and EURIBOR daily contributions. 
Deutsche Bank's MMD traders, on the other hand, were responsible for, 
among other things, trading a variety of financial instruments, some of 
which, such as interest rate swaps and forward rate agreements, were 
tied to LIBOR and EURIBOR. The DOJ Plea Factual Statement notes that 
both the Pool traders and the MMD traders worked in close proximity and 
reported to the same chain of command. DB Group Services employed many 
of Deutsche Bank's London-based Pool and MMD traders.
    24. Deutsche Bank and DB Group Services's derivatives traders (the 
Derivatives Traders) were responsible for trading a variety of 
financial instruments, some of which, such as interest rate swaps and 
forward rate agreements, were tied to reference rates such as LIBOR and 
EURIBOR. According to the DOJ Plea Factual Statement, from 
approximately 2003 through at least 2010, the Derivatives Traders 
defrauded their counterparties by secretly manipulating U.S. Dollar 
(USD), Yen, and Pound Sterling LIBOR, as well as the EURO Interbank 
Offered Rate (EURIBOR, and collectively, the IBORs or IBOR). The 
Derivatives Traders requested that the IBOR submitters employed by 
Deutsche Bank and other banks send in IBORs that would benefit the 
Derivatives Traders' trading positions, rather than rates that complied 
with the definitions of the IBORs. According to the DOJ, Deutsche Bank 
employees engaged in this collusion through face-to-face requests, 
electronic communications, which included both emails and electronic 
chats, and telephone calls.
    25. The DOJ Plea Factual Statement explains that when the 
Derivatives Traders' requests for favorable IBOR submissions were taken 
into account by the submitters, the resultant contributions affected 
the value and cash flows of derivatives contracts, including interest 
rate swap contracts. In accommodating these requests, the Derivatives 
Traders and submitters were engaged in a deceptive course of conduct in 
an effort to gain an advantage over their counterparties. As part of 
this effort: (1) The Deutsche Bank Pool and MMD Traders submitted 
materially false and misleading IBOR contributions; and (2) Derivatives 
Traders, after initiating and continuing their effort to manipulate 
IBOR contributions, entered into derivative transactions with 
counterparties that did not know that the Deutsche Bank personnel were 
often manipulating the relevant rate.
    26. The DOJ Plea Factual Statement notes that from 2003 through at 
least 2010, DB Group Services employees regularly sought to manipulate 
USD LIBOR to benefit their trading positions and thereby benefit 
themselves and Deutsche Bank. During most of this period, traders at 
Deutsche Bank who traded products linked to USD LIBOR were primarily 
located in London and New York. DB Group Services employed almost all 
of the USD LIBOR traders who were located in London and involved in the 
misconduct. Throughout the period during which the misconduct occurred, 
the Deutsche Bank USD LIBOR submitters in London sat within feet of the 
USD LIBOR traders. This physical proximity enabled the traders and 
submitters to conspire to make and solicit requests for particular 
LIBOR submissions.
    27. Pursuant to the Plea Agreement that DB Group Services entered 
into with the DOJ on April 23, 2015, pleading guilty to wire fraud for 
manipulation of LIBOR, DB Group Services also agreed: (A) To work with 
its parent company (Deutsche Bank) in fulfilling obligations undertaken 
by the Bank in connection with its own settlements; (B) to continue to 
fully cooperate with the DOJ and any other law enforcement or 
government agency designated by the DOJ in a manner consistent with 
applicable laws and regulations; and (C) to pay a fine of $150 million.
    28. On April 23, 2015, Deutsche Bank AG entered into a deferred 
prosecution agreement (DPA) with the DOJ, in disposition of a 2-count 
criminal information charging Deutsche Bank with one count of wire 
fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, and 
one count of price-fixing, in violation of the Sherman Act, Title 15, 
United States Code, Section 1. By entering into the DPA, Deutsche Bank 
AG agreed, among other things: (A) To continue to cooperate with the 
DOJ and any other law enforcement or government agency; (B) to retain 
an independent compliance monitor for three years, subject to extension 
or early termination, to be selected by the DOJ from among qualified 
candidates proposed by the Bank; (C) to further strengthen its internal 
controls as recommended by the monitor and as required by other 
settlements; and (D) to pay a penalty of $625 million.

[[Page 83344]]

    29. On April 23, 2015, Deutsche Bank AG and Deutsche Bank AG, New 
York Branch (DB NY) also entered into a consent order with the New York 
State Department of Financial Services (NY DFS) in which Deutsche Bank 
AG and DB NY agreed to pay a penalty of $600 million. Furthermore, 
Deutsche Bank AG and DB NY engaged an independent monitor selected by 
the NY DFS in the exercise of the NY DFS's sole discretion, for a 2-
year engagement. Finally, the NY DFS ordered that certain employees 
involved in the misconduct be terminated, or not be allowed to hold or 
assume any duties, responsibilities, or activities involving 
compliance, IBOR submissions, or any matter relating to U.S. or U.S. 
Dollar operations.
    30. Furthermore, the United States Commodities Futures Trading 
Commission (CFTC) entered a consent order, dated April 23, 2015, 
requiring Deutsche Bank AG to cease and desist from certain violations 
of the Commodity Exchange Act, to pay a fine of $800 million, and to 
agree to certain undertakings.
    31. The United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a 
final notice (Final Notice), dated April 23, 2015, imposing a fine of 
[pound]226.8 million on Deutsche Bank AG. In its Final Notice, the FCA 
cited Deutsche Bank's inadequate systems and controls specific to IBOR. 
The FCA noted that Deutsche Bank had defective systems to support the 
audit and investigation of misconduct by traders; and Deutsche Bank's 
systems for identifying and recording traders' telephone calls and for 
tracing trading books to individual traders were inadequate. The FCA's 
Final Notice provided that Deutsche Bank took over two years to 
identify and produce all relevant audio recordings requested by the 
FCA. Furthermore, according to the Final Notice, Deutsche Bank gave the 
FCA misleading information about its ability to provide a report 
commissioned by Bundesanstalt f[uuml]r Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, 
Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). In addition, 
the FCA notes in its Final Notice that Deutsche Bank provided it with a 
false attestation that stated that its systems and controls in relation 
to LIBOR were adequate, an attestation known to be false by the person 
who drafted it. The Final Notice provides that, in one instance, 
Deutsche Bank, in error, destroyed 482 tapes of telephone calls, 
despite receiving an FCA notice requiring their preservation, and 
provided inaccurate information to the regulator about whether other 
records existed.
    32. Finally, BaFin set forth preliminary findings based on an audit 
of LIBOR related issues in a May 15, 2015, letter to Deutsche Bank. At 
that time, BaFin raised certain questions about the extent of certain 
senior managers' possible awareness of wrongdoing within Deutsche Bank.

Prior and Anticipated Convictions and Failure To Comply With Section 
I(g) of PTE 84-14

    33. The Korean Conviction caused the DB QPAMs to violate Section 
I(g) of PTE 84-14. As a result, the Department granted, and later 
extended the effective period for, PTE 2015-15, which allows the DB 
QPAMs to rely on the relief provided by PTE 84-14, notwithstanding the 
January 25, 2016 Korean Conviction. The Department granted, and 
extended, PTE 2015-15 in order to protect ERISA-covered plans and IRAs 
from IRAs from certain costs and/or investment losses that could have 
occurred to the extent the DB QPAMs lost their ability to rely on PTE 
84-14 as a result of the Korean Conviction. PTE 2015-15 and its 
extension, PTE 2016-12 (81 FR 75153, October 28, 2016) (the Extension) 
are subject to enhanced conditions that are protective of the rights of 
the participants and beneficiaries of affected ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs.
    34. The Applicant represents that date on which the US Conviction 
will be entered (the U.S. Conviction Date) is tentatively scheduled for 
April 3, 2017, will also cause DB QPAMs to violate Section I(g) of PTE 
84-14. Therefore, Deutsche Bank requests a single, new exemption that 
would permit the DB QPAMs, and their ERISA-covered plan and IRA 
clients, to continue to utilize the relief in PTE 84-14, 
notwithstanding both the Korean Conviction and the US Conviction.
    35. The Department is proposing a temporary exemption herein to 
allow the DB QPAMs to rely on PTE 84-14 notwithstanding the Korean 
Conviction and the US Conviction, subject to a comprehensive suite of 
protective conditions designed to protect the rights of the 
participants and beneficiaries of the ERISA-covered plans and IRAs that 
are managed by DB QPAMs. This proposed temporary exemption would be 
effective for a period of up to one year beginning on the U.S. 
Conviction Date; and ending on the earlier of the date that is twelve 
months after the U.S. Conviction Date or the effective date of a final 
agency action made by the Department in connection with Exemption 
Application No. D-11908. In this regard, elsewhere today in the Federal 
Register, the Department is proposing Exemption Application No. D-
11908, a five-year proposed exemption subject to enhanced protective 
conditions that would provide the same exemptive relief that is 
described herein, but for a longer effective period.
    This temporary exemption will allow the Department sufficient time 
to contemplate whether or not to grant the five-year exemption without 
risking the sudden loss of exemptive relief for the DB QPAMs upon the 
expiration of the relief provided by the Extension. The Extension 
expires upon the earlier of April 23, 2017 or the effective date of a 
final agency action in connection with this proposed temporary 
exemption (e.g., the Department denies or grants this proposed 
temporary exemption).
    36. This temporary exemption will not apply to Deutsche Bank 
Securities, Inc. (DBSI).\21\ Section I(a) of PTE 2015-15, as well as 
this proposed temporary exemption, requires that ``DB QPAMs (including 
their officers, directors, agents other than Deutsche Bank, and 
employees of such DB QPAMs) did not know of, have reason to know of, or 
participate in the criminal conduct of DSK that is the subject of the 
[Korean] Conviction.'' In a letter to the Department dated July 15, 
2016, Deutsche Bank raised the possibility that an individual,\22\ 
while employed at DBSI, may have known or had reason to know of the 
criminal conduct of DSK that is the subject of the Korean Conviction. 
In a letter to the Department dated August 19, 2016, Deutsche Bank 
further clarified that ``there is no evidence that anyone at DBSI other 
than Mr. Ripley knew in advance of the trades conducted by the Absolute 
Strategy Group on November 11, 2010.'' Deutsche Bank states that it had 
previously interpreted Section I(a) of PTE 2015-15 as requiring only 
that ``any current director, officer or employee did not know of, have 
reason to know of, or participate in the conduct.'' The Department 
notes that Deutsche Bank did not raise any interpretive questions 
regarding Section I(a) of PTE 2015-15, or express any concerns 
regarding DBSI's possible noncompliance, during the comment period for 
PTE 2015-15. Nor did Deutsche Bank seek a technical

[[Page 83345]]

correction or other remedy to address such concerns between the time 
that PTE 2015-15 was granted and the date of the Korean Conviction. The 
Department notes that a period of approximately nine months passed 
before Deutsche Bank raised an interpretive question regarding Section 
I(a) of PTE 2015-15. Accordingly, the Department is not proposing 
exemptive relief for DBSI in this temporary exemption.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ The Applicant represents that DBSI has not relied on the 
relief provided by PTE 84-14 since the date of the Korean 
Conviction.
    \22\ The Applicant identifies the individual as Mr. John Ripley, 
a senior global manager in DBSI who was based in the United States 
and who was a functional supervisor over the employees of DSK that 
were prosecuted for market manipulation. Furthermore, the Applicant 
states that Mr. Ripley was terminated by DBSI for ``loss of 
confidence'' in that he could have exercised more care and been more 
proactive in reviewing the trades at issue.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This temporary exemption will also not apply with respect to 
Deutsche Bank AG (the parent entity) or any of its branches. The 
Applicant represents that neither Deutsche Bank AG nor its branches 
have relied on the relief provided by PTE 84-14 since the date of the 
Korean Conviction.
    37. Finally, the Applicant represents that it currently does not 
have a reasonable basis to believe that any pending criminal 
investigation \23\ of any of Deutsche Bank's affiliated corporate 
entities would cause a reasonable plan or IRA customer not to hire or 
retain the Bank's affiliated managers as a QPAM. Furthermore, this 
temporary exemption will not apply to any other conviction(s) of 
Deutsche Bank or its affiliates for crimes described in Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14. The Department notes that, in such event, the Applicant and 
its ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients should be prepared to rely on 
exemptive relief other than PTE 84-14 for any prohibited transactions 
entered into after the date of such new conviction(s); withdraw from 
any arrangements that solely rely on PTE 84-14 for exemptive relief; or 
avoid engaging in any such prohibited transactions in the first place.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ The Applicant references the Deutsche Bank AG Form 6-K, 
filed July 27, 2016, available at: https://www.db.com/ir/en/download/6_K_Jul_2016.pdf; and the Deutsche Bank AG Form 10-F filed 
March 11, 2016 and available at: https://www.db.com/ir/en/download/Deutsche_Bank_20_F_2015.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remedial Measures To Address Criminal Conduct of DSK

    38. Deutsche Bank represents that it has voluntarily disgorged its 
profits generated from exercising derivative positions and put options 
in connection with the activity associated with the Korean Conviction. 
DSK also suspended its proprietary trading from April 2011 to 2012, and 
thereafter DSK only engaged in limited proprietary trading (but not 
index arbitrage trading).\24\ Further, in response to the actions of 
the Korean Prosecutors, Deutsche Bank enhanced its compliance measures 
and implemented additional measures in order to ensure compliance with 
applicable laws in Korea and Hong Kong, as well as within other 
jurisdictions where Deutsche Bank conducts business.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ Deutsche Bank notes that DSK was never permitted to trade 
on behalf of Deutsche Bank.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    39. Deutsche Bank states that Mr. Ong and Mr. Dattas were 
terminated for cause by DB HK on December 6, 2011, and Mr. Lonergan was 
terminated on January 31, 2012. In addition, Mr. Park was suspended for 
six months due to Korean administrative sanctions, and remained on 
indefinite administrative leave, until being terminated effective 
January 25, 2016. John Ripley, a New York-based employee of Deutsche 
Bank Securities Inc. (DBSI) who was not indicted, was also terminated 
in October 2011.\25\
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    \25\ According to the Korean prosecutors, Mr. Ripley served as a 
Head of Global ASG of Deutsche Bank, AG, and was a functional 
superior to Mr. Ong. Mr. Ripley was suspected of having advised to 
unwind all the KOSPI 200 index arbitrage trading for the purpose of 
management of the ending profits and losses of Global ASK and 
approved Mr. Ong's request to establish the speculative positions in 
the course of the unwinding. Though the Korean prosecutors named Mr. 
Ripley as a suspect, he was not named in the August 19, 2011, Writ 
of Indictment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remedial Measures To Address Criminal Conduct of DB Group Services

    40. Deutsche Bank represents that it has significantly modified its 
compensation structure. Specifically, Deutsche Bank: Eliminated the use 
of ``percentage of trading profit'' contracts once held by two traders 
involved in the LIBOR case; extended the vesting/distribution period 
for deferred compensation arrangements; made compliance with its 
internal policies a significant determinant of bonus awards; and 
modified its compensation plans to facilitate forfeiture/clawback of 
compensation when employees are found after the fact to have engaged in 
wrongdoing. Deutsche Bank represents that the forfeiture/clawback 
provisions of its compensation plans have been altered so as to permit 
action against employees even when misconduct is discovered years 
later.
    41. With respect to the LIBOR-related misconduct, Deutsche Bank 
represents that it has separated from or disciplined the employees 
responsible. With the exceptions described below, none of the employees 
determined to be responsible for the misconduct remains employed by 
Deutsche Bank. Deutsche Bank represents that, during the initial phase 
of its internal investigation into the LIBOR matters, it terminated the 
two employees most responsible for the misconduct, including the Global 
Head of Money Market and Derivatives Trading.
    42. Deutsche Bank then terminated five benchmark submitters in its 
Frankfurt office, including the Head of Global Finance and Foreign 
Exchange in Frankfurt. Four of these employees successfully challenged 
their termination in a German Labor court, and one employee entered 
into a separation agreement with Deutsche Bank after initially 
indicating that he would challenge the termination decision. With 
respect to the four employees who challenged their termination, the 
Bank agreed to mediate the employee labor disputes and reached 
settlements with the four employees. Pursuant to the settlements, the 
two more senior employees remained on paid leave through the end of 
2015 and then have no association with Deutsche Bank. The two more 
junior employees have returned to the Bank in non-risk-taking roles. 
They do not work for any DB QPAMs and have no involvement in the Bank's 
AWM business or the setting of interest rate benchmarks. Deutsche Bank 
represents that it also terminated four additional individuals, and 
another eight individuals left the bank before facing disciplinary 
action.
    43. Deutsche Bank represents that it will take action to terminate 
any additional employees who are determined to have been involved in 
the improper benchmark manipulation conduct, as well as those who knew 
about it and approved it. Moreover, the Applicant states that Deutsche 
Bank has taken further steps, both on its own and in consultation with 
U.S. and foreign regulators, to discipline those whose performance fell 
short of DB's expectations in connection with the above-described 
conduct.

Statutory Findings--In the Interests of Affected Plans and IRAs

    44. The Applicant represents that the proposed exemption is in the 
interests of affected ERISA-covered plans and IRAs. Deutsche Bank 
represents that the DB QPAMS provide discretionary asset management 
services under several business lines, including (A) Alternative and 
Real Assets (ARA); (B) Alternatives & Fund Solutions (AFS); (C) Active 
Management (AM); and (D) Wealth Management--Private Client Services and 
Wealth Management--Private Bank. Deutsche Bank asserts that plans will 
incur direct transaction costs in liquidating and reinvesting their 
portfolios. According to Deutsche Bank, the direct transaction costs of 
liquidating and reinvesting ERISA-covered plan, IRA and ERISA-like 
assets

[[Page 83346]]

under the various business lines (other than core real estate) could 
range from 2.5 to 25 basis points, resulting in an estimated dollar 
cost of approximately $5-7 million. Deutsche Bank also states that an 
unplanned liquidation of the Alternatives and Real Assets business' 
direct real estate portfolios could result in portfolio discounts of 
10-20% of gross asset value, in addition to transaction costs ranging 
from 30 to 100 basis points, for estimated total cost to plan investors 
of between $281 million and $723 million, depending on the liquidation 
period.
    45. Deutsche Bank states that its managers provide discretionary 
asset management services, through both separately managed accounts and 
four pooled funds subject to ERISA, to a total of 46 ERISA-covered plan 
accounts, with total assets under management (AuM) of $1.1 billion. 
Deutsche Bank estimates that the underlying plans cover in total at 
least 640,000 participants. Deutsche Bank represents that its managers 
provide asset management services, through both separately managed 
accounts and pooled funds subject to ERISA, to a total of 22 
governmental plan accounts, with total AuM of $7.1 billion. The 
underlying plans cover at least 3 million participants. With respect to 
church plans and rabbi trust accounts, Deutsche Bank investment 
managers separately manage accounts and a pooled fund subject to ERISA, 
to a total of 4 church plan and rabbi trust accounts, with total AuM of 
$318.3 million. With respect to ERISA-covered Plan, IRA, Governmental 
Plan and Church Plan Accounts in Non-Plan Asset Pooled Funds, Deutsche 
Bank represents that its asset managers manages 175 ERISA-covered plan 
accounts with interests totaling $4.23 billion, 178 IRAs with interests 
totaling $29 million, 66 governmental plan accounts with interests 
totaling $2.08 billion, and 14 church plan accounts with interests 
totaling $67.1 million.
    46. Deutsche Bank contends that ERISA-covered, IRA, governmental 
plan and other plan investors that terminate or withdraw from their 
relationship with their DB QPAM manager may be harmed in several 
specific ways, including: The costs of searching for and evaluating a 
new manager; the costs of leaving a pooled fund and finding a 
replacement fund or investment vehicle; and the lack of a secondary 
market for certain investments and the costs of liquidation.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ The Department notes that, if this temporary exemption is 
granted, compliance with the condition in Section I(j) of the 
exemption would require the DB QPAMs to hold their plan customers 
harmless for any losses attributable to, inter alia, any prohibited 
transactions or violations of the duty of prudence and loyalty.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    47. Deutsche Bank represents that its ARA business line provides 
discretionary asset management services to, among others, 17 ERISA 
accounts and 18 governmental plan accounts. The largest account has 
$1.6 billion in AuM. ERISA-covered and governmental plans total $7.4 
billion in AuM. Deutsche Bank estimates that the underlying plans cover 
at least 2.7 million participants. ARA provides these services through 
separately managed accounts and pooled funds subject to ERISA. ARA also 
provides discretionary asset management services, through a separately 
managed account, to one church plan with total AuM of $168.6 million 
and, through a pooled fund subject to ERISA, to two church plans with 
total AuM of $7.9 million.
    Deutsche Bank argues that PTE 84-14 is the sole exemption available 
to ARA for investments in direct real estate for separately managed 
accounts.
    48. Deutsche Bank represents that, as a result of terminating ARA's 
management, a typical plan client may incur $30,000 to $40,000 in 
consulting fees in searching for a new manager as well as $10,000 to 
$30,000 in legal fees. Furthermore, with respect to direct real estate 
investments, Deutsche Bank states that plan clients may face direct 
transaction costs of 30-100 basis points for early liquidation, or a 
$4.8 million to $16 million loss for its largest ARA governmental plan 
client; as well as a 10-20% discount for early liquidation, or a $162.5 
million to $325 million loss for the largest ARA governmental plan 
client. With respect to non-direct real estate investments, Deutsche 
Bank states that plan clients may face direct transaction costs of 20-
60 basis points, or $933,000 for ARA's largest ERISA client.
    49. Deutsche Bank notes that ARA manages seven unregistered real 
estate investment trusts and other funds that currently rely on one or 
more exceptions to the Department's plan asset regulation. Interests in 
the funds are held by 131 ERISA-covered plan accounts, 63 governmental 
plan accounts and 14 church plan accounts. Deutsche Bank represents 
that the largest holding in these funds by an ERISA-covered plan 
account is $647.4 million. Holdings by all ERISA plan accounts in these 
funds total $4.21 billion. The underlying ERISA-covered plans cover at 
least 2 million participants. The largest holding by a governmental 
plan account in these funds is $286.5 million. Holdings of all 
governmental plan accounts in these funds total $2.07 billion. The 
underlying plans cover at least 6.1 million participants. The largest 
holding by a church plan is $16 million. Holdings of all church plans 
in these funds total $67.1 million.
    50. Deutsche Bank represents that its AFS business line manages 28 
unregistered, closed-end, private equity funds, with $2.8 billion in 
total assets, in which ERISA-covered, IRA and governmental plans 
invest. Interests in these funds are held by, among others, 44 ERISA-
covered plan accounts, 178 IRAs and 3 governmental plan accounts. 
Holdings by all ERISA-covered plan accounts total $20.8 million. 
Deutsche Bank notes that the underlying plans cover at least 57,000 
participants. Holdings by all IRAs total $29 million. Holdings by all 
governmental plans total $14.1 million. These funds invest primarily in 
equity interests issued by other private equity funds. The funds 
currently rely on the 25% benefit plan investor participation exception 
under the Department's plan asset regulation.
    51. Deutsche Bank contends that, in the event the AFS business line 
cannot rely upon the exemptive relief of PTE 84-14, all plans would 
have to undertake the time and expense of identifying suitable 
transferees, accept a discounted sale price, comply with applicable 
transfer rules and pay the funds a transfer fee, which may run to 
$5,000 or more. Deutsche Bank states that, in locating a replacement 
fund, a typical plan could incur 6-8 months of delay, $30,000-$40,000 
in consultant fees for a private manager/fund search, 25-50 hours in 
client time and $10,000-$30,000 in legal fees to review subscription 
agreements and negotiate side letters.
    52. Deutsche Bank represents that its AM business line provides 
discretionary asset management services to separately managed plan 
accounts, including five ERISA-covered plan accounts and three 
governmental plan accounts. The largest ERISA account is $164.2 
million. Total ERISA AuM is $299.2 million. The underlying ERISA-
covered plans cover at least 143,000 participants. The largest 
governmental plan account is $164.3 million. Total governmental plan 
AuM is $227.9 million. The underlying plans cover at least 731,000 
participants. Deutsche Bank notes that AM also provides such services 
to one rabbi trust with total AuM of $141.7 million.
    53. Deutsche Bank represents that the AM line manages these 
accounts with a variety of strategies, including: (A) Equities, (B) 
fixed income, (C) overlay, (D) commodities, and (E) cash. These 
strategies involve a range of asset classes

[[Page 83347]]

and types, including: (A) U.S. and foreign fixed income (Treasuries, 
Agencies, corporate bonds, asset-backed securities, mortgage and 
commercial mortgage-backed securities, deposits); (B) U.S. and foreign 
mutual funds and ETFs; (C) U.S. and foreign futures, (D) currency; (E) 
swaps (interest rate and credit default); (F) U.S. and foreign 
equities; and (G) short term investment funds.
    54. Deutsche Bank estimates that, in the event the AM business line 
cannot rely upon the exemptive relief of PTE 84-14, plan clients would 
typically incur $30,000 to $40,000 in consulting fees related to a new 
manager search, up to 5 basis points in direct transaction costs, and 
$15,000-$30,000 in legal costs to negotiate each new futures, cleared 
derivatives, swap or other trading agreements.
    55. Deutsche Bank represents that its Wealth Management--Private 
Client Services and Wealth Management--Private Bank business lines 
manage $178.1 million in ERISA assets, $643.9 million in IRA assets, 
and $1.8 million of rabbi trust assets (Wealth Management--Private 
Bank). Deutsche Bank asserts that causing plan clients to change 
managers will lead the plans and IRAs to incur transaction costs, 
estimated at 2.5 basis points overall.

Statutory Findings--Protective of the Rights of Participants of 
Affected Plans and IRAs

    56. The Applicant has proposed certain conditions it believes are 
protective of plans and IRAs with respect to the transactions described 
herein. The Department has determined to revise and supplement the 
proposed conditions so that it can make its required finding that the 
requested exemption is protective of the rights of participants and 
beneficiaries of affected plans and IRAs.
    57. Several of the conditions underscore the Department's 
understanding, based on Deutsche Bank's representations, that the 
affected DB QPAMs were not involved in the misconduct that is the 
subject of the Convictions. The temporary exemption, if granted as 
proposed, mandates that the DB QPAMs (including their officers, 
directors, agents other than Deutsche Bank, and employees of such DB 
QPAMs) did not know of, have reason to know of, or participate in the 
criminal conduct of DSK and DB Group Services that is the subject of 
the Convictions. For purposes of this requirement, ``participate in'' 
includes an individual's knowing or tacit approval of the misconduct 
underlying the Convictions. Furthermore, the DB QPAMs (including their 
officers, directors, employees, and agents other than Deutsche Bank) 
cannot have received direct compensation, or knowingly received 
indirect compensation, in connection with the criminal conduct that is 
the subject of the Convictions.
    58. The proposed temporary exemption defines the Convictions as: 
(1) The judgment of conviction against DB Group Services, in Case 3:15-
cr-00062-RNC to be entered in the United States District Court for the 
District of Connecticut to a single count of wire fraud, in violation 
of 18 U.S.C. 1343 (the US Conviction); and (2) the judgment of 
conviction against DSK entered on January 25, 2016, in Seoul Central 
District Court, relating to charges filed against DSK under Articles 
176, 443, and 448 of South Korea's Financial Investment Services and 
Capital Markets Act for spot/futures-linked market price manipulation 
(the Korean Conviction). The Department notes that the ``conduct'' of 
any person or entity that is the ``subject of [a] Conviction'' 
encompasses any conduct of Deutsche Bank and/or their personnel, that 
is described in the Plea Agreement (including the Factual Statement), 
Court judgments (including the judgment of the Seoul Central District 
Court), criminal complaint documents from the Financial Services 
Commission in Korea, and other official regulatory or judicial factual 
findings that are a part of this record.
    59. The Department expects that DB QPAMs will rigorously ensure 
that the individuals associated with the misconduct will not be 
employed or knowingly engaged by such QPAMs. In this regard, the 
proposed temporary exemption mandates that the DB QPAMs will not employ 
or knowingly engage any of the individuals that knowingly participated 
in the spot/futures-linked market manipulation or LIBOR manipulation 
activities that led to the Convictions, respectively. For purposes of 
this condition, ``participated in'' includes an individual's knowing or 
tacit approval of the behavior that is the subject of the Convictions. 
Further, a DB QPAM will not use its authority or influence to direct an 
``investment fund'' (as defined in Section VI(b) of PTE 84-14) that is 
subject to ERISA or the Code and managed by such DB QPAM to enter into 
any transaction with DSK or DB Group Services, nor otherwise engage DSK 
or DB Group Services to provide additional services to such investment 
fund, for a direct or indirect fee borne by such investment fund, 
regardless of whether such transaction or services may otherwise be 
within the scope of relief provided by an administrative or statutory 
exemption.
    60. The DB QPAMs must comply with each condition of PTE 84-14, as 
amended, with the sole exceptions of the violations of Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 that are attributable to the Convictions. Further, any 
failure of the DB QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 must 
result solely from the US Conviction and the Korean Conviction.
    61. No relief will be provided by this temporary exemption to the 
extent that a DB QPAM exercised its authority over the assets of any 
plan subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA (an ERISA-covered plan) or 
section 4975 of the Code (an IRA) in a manner that it knew or should 
have known would: Further the criminal conduct that is the subject of 
the Convictions; or cause the QPAM, affiliates, or related parties to 
directly or indirectly profit from the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Convictions.
    Further, no temporary relief will be provided to the extent DSK or 
DB Group Services provides any discretionary asset management services 
to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs or otherwise act as a fiduciary with 
respect to ERISA-covered plan or IRA assets.
    62. Policies. The Department believes that robust policies and 
training are warranted where, as here, extensive criminal misconduct 
has occurred within a corporate organization that includes one or more 
QPAMs managing plan investments in reliance on PTE 84-14. Therefore, 
this proposed temporary exemption requires each DB QPAM to immediately 
develop, implement, maintain, and follow written policies and 
procedures (the Policies) requiring and reasonably designed to ensure 
that: The asset management decisions of the DB QPAM are conducted 
independently of the corporate management and business activities of 
Deutsche Bank, including DB Group Services and DSK; the DB QPAM fully 
complies with ERISA's fiduciary duties and ERISA and the Code's 
prohibited transaction provisions and does not knowingly participate in 
any violations of these duties and provisions with respect to ERISA-
covered plans and IRAs; the DB QPAM does not knowingly participate in 
any other person's violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to 
ERISA-covered plans and IRAs; any filings or statements made by the DB 
QPAM to regulators, including but not limited to, the Department of 
Labor, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and 
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA covered 
plans or IRAs are

[[Page 83348]]

materially accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's knowledge 
at that time; the DB QPAM does not make material misrepresentations or 
omit material information in its communications with such regulators 
with respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients; and the DB QPAM complies with 
the terms of this proposed temporary exemption. Any violation of, or 
failure to comply with, the Policies must be corrected promptly upon 
discovery, and any such violation or compliance failure not promptly 
corrected must be reported, upon discovering the failure to promptly 
correct, in writing, to appropriate corporate officers, the head of 
Compliance and the General Counsel of the relevant DB QPAM (or their 
functional equivalent), the independent auditor responsible for 
reviewing compliance with the Policies, and an appropriate fiduciary of 
any affected ERISA-covered plan or IRA that is independent of Deutsche 
Bank.\27\ A DB QPAM will not be treated as having failed to develop, 
implement, maintain, or follow the Policies, provided that it corrects 
any instance of noncompliance promptly when discovered or when it 
reasonably should have known of the noncompliance (whichever is 
earlier), and provided that it reports such instance of noncompliance 
as explained above.
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    \27\ With respect to any ERISA-covered plan or IRA sponsored by 
an ``affiliate'' (as defined in Part VI(d) of PTE 84-14) of Deutsche 
Bank or beneficially owned by an employee of Deutsche Bank or its 
affiliates, such fiduciary does not need to be independent of 
Deutsche Bank.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    63. Training. The Department has also imposed a condition that 
requires each DB QPAM to immediately develop and implement a program of 
training (the Training) for all relevant DB QPAM asset/portfolio 
management, trading, legal, compliance, and internal audit personnel. 
The Training must be set forth in the Policies and at a minimum, cover 
the Policies, ERISA and Code compliance (including applicable fiduciary 
duties and the prohibited transaction provisions) and ethical conduct, 
the consequences for not complying with the conditions of this proposed 
temporary exemption (including the loss of the exemptive relief 
provided herein), and prompt reporting of wrongdoing.
    64. Independent Transparent Audit. The Department views a rigorous, 
transparent audit that is conducted by an independent party as 
essential to ensuring that the conditions for exemptive relief 
described herein are followed by the DB QPAMs. Therefore, Section I(i) 
of this proposed temporary exemption requires that each DB QPAM submits 
to an audit conducted by an independent auditor, who has been prudently 
selected and who has appropriate technical training and proficiency 
with ERISA and the Code, to evaluate the adequacy of, and the DB QPAM's 
compliance with, the Policies and Training described herein. The audit 
requirement must be incorporated in the Policies.
    This proposed temporary exemption requires that the audit described 
herein must ``look back'' to cover the period of time beginning on the 
effective date of the Extension, October 24, 2016, and ending on the 
earlier the date that is twelve months following the U.S. Conviction 
Date; or the effective date of a final agency action made by the 
Department in connection with Exemption Application No. D-11908 (the 
Audit Period). The audit must be completed no later than six (6) months 
after the Audit Period. In order to harmonize the audit required herein 
with the audit required by the Extension, the audit requirement 
described in paragraph (i) of this temporary exemption expressly 
supersedes paragraph (f) of the Extension. However, in determining the 
DB QPAMs' compliance with the provisions of the Extension and the 
temporary exemption for purposes of conducting the audit, the auditor 
will rely on the conditions for exemptive relief as then applicable to 
the respective portions of the Audit Period.
    The audit condition requires that, to the extent necessary for the 
auditor, in its sole opinion, to complete its audit and comply with the 
conditions for relief described herein, and as permitted by law, each 
DB QPAM and, if applicable, Deutsche Bank, will grant the auditor 
unconditional access to its business, including, but not limited to: 
Its computer systems; business records; transactional data; workplace 
locations; training materials; and personnel.
    The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor to 
determine whether each DB QPAM has complied with the Policies and 
Training conditions described herein, and must further require the 
auditor to test each DB QPAM's operational compliance with the Policies 
and Training. The auditor must issue a written report (the Audit 
Report) to Deutsche Bank and the DB QPAM to which the audit applies 
that describes the procedures performed by the auditor during the 
course of its examination. The Audit Report must include the auditor's 
specific determinations regarding: The adequacy of the DB QPAM's 
Policies and Training; the DB QPAM's compliance with the Policies and 
Training; the need, if any, to strengthen such Policies and Training; 
and any instance of the respective DB QPAM's noncompliance with the 
written Policies and Training.
    Any determination by the auditor regarding the adequacy of the 
Policies and Training and the auditor's recommendations (if any) with 
respect to strengthening the Policies and Training of the respective DB 
QPAM must be promptly addressed by such DB QPAM, and any action taken 
by such DB QPAM to address such recommendations must be included in an 
addendum to the Audit Report. Any determination by the auditor that the 
respective DB QPAM has implemented, maintained, and followed sufficient 
Policies and Training must not be based solely or in substantial part 
on an absence of evidence indicating noncompliance. In this last 
regard, any finding that the DB QPAM has complied with the requirements 
under this subsection must be based on evidence that demonstrates the 
DB QPAM has actually implemented, maintained, and followed the Policies 
and Training required by this temporary exemption. Furthermore, the 
auditor must notify the respective DB QPAM of any instance of 
noncompliance identified by the auditor within five (5) business days 
after such noncompliance is identified by the auditor, regardless of 
whether the audit has been completed as of that date.
    This proposed temporary exemption requires that certain senior 
personnel of Deutsche Bank review the Audit Report, make 
certifications, and take various corrective actions. In this regard, 
the General Counsel, or one of the three most senior executive officers 
of the DB QPAM to which the Audit Report applies, must certify in 
writing, under penalty of perjury, that the officer has reviewed the 
Audit Report and this exemption; addressed, corrected, or remedied any 
inadequacy identified in the Audit Report; and determined that the 
Policies and Training in effect at the time of signing are adequate to 
ensure compliance with the conditions of this proposed temporary 
exemption and with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code. The 
Risk Committee of Deutsche Bank's Board of Directors is provided a copy 
of each Audit Report; and a senior executive officer with a direct 
reporting line to the highest ranking legal compliance officer of 
Deutsche Bank must review the Audit Report for each DB QPAM and must 
certify in writing, under penalty of

[[Page 83349]]

perjury, that such officer has reviewed each Audit Report.
    In order to create a more transparent record in the event that the 
proposed temporary relief is granted, each DB QPAM must provide its 
certified Audit Report to the Department no later than 45 days 
following its completion. The Audit Report will be part of the public 
record regarding this temporary exemption. Furthermore, each DB QPAM 
must make its Audit Report unconditionally available for examination by 
any duly authorized employee or representative of the Department, other 
relevant regulators, and any fiduciary of an ERISA-covered plan or IRA, 
the assets of which are managed by such DB QPAM. Additionally, each DB 
QPAM and the auditor must submit to the Department any engagement 
agreement(s) entered into pursuant to the engagement of the auditor 
under this temporary exemption; and any engagement agreement entered 
into with any other entity retained in connection with such QPAM's 
compliance with the Training or Policies conditions of this proposed 
temporary exemption, no later than six (6) months after the effective 
date of this temporary exemption (and one month after the execution of 
any agreement thereafter). Finally, if the temporary exemption is 
granted, the auditor must provide the Department, upon request, all of 
the workpapers created and utilized in the course of the audit, 
including, but not limited to: The audit plan; audit testing; 
identification of any instance of noncompliance by the relevant DB 
QPAM; and an explanation of any corrective or remedial action taken by 
the applicable DB QPAM.
    In order to enhance oversight of the compliance with the temporary 
exemption, Deutsche Bank must notify the Department at least 30 days 
prior to any substitution of an auditor, and Deutsche Bank must 
demonstrate to the Department's satisfaction that any new auditor is 
independent of Deutsche Bank, experienced in the matters that are the 
subject of the temporary exemption, and capable of making the 
determinations required of this temporary exemption.
    65. Contractual Obligations. This proposed temporary exemption 
requires DB QPAMs to enter into certain contractual obligations in 
connection with the provision of services to their clients. It is the 
Department's view that the condition in Section I(j) is essential to 
the Department's ability to make its findings that the proposed 
temporary exemption is protective of the rights of the participants and 
beneficiaries of ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients. In this regard, 
effective as of the effective date of this temporary exemption, with 
respect to any arrangement, agreement, or contract between a DB QPAM 
and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA for which a DB QPAM provides asset 
management or other discretionary fiduciary services, each DB QPAM 
agrees: To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable with respect 
to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA; to refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions); to comply with the 
standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of ERISA 
with respect to each such ERISA-covered plan and IRA; and to indemnify 
and hold harmless the ERISA-covered plan and IRA for any damages 
resulting from a DB QPAM's violation of applicable laws, a DB QPAM's 
breach of contract, or any claim brought in connection with the failure 
of such DB QPAM to qualify for the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-
14 as a result of a violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 other than 
the Convictions. Furthermore, DB QPAMs must agree not to require (or 
otherwise cause) the ERISA-covered plan or IRA to waive, limit, or 
qualify the liability of the DB QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code or 
engaging in prohibited transactions; not to require the ERISA-covered 
plan or IRA (or sponsor of such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner 
of such IRA) to indemnify the DB QPAM for violating ERISA or engaging 
in prohibited transactions, except for violations or prohibited 
transactions caused by an error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a 
plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan fiduciary who is 
independent of Deutsche Bank; not to restrict the ability of such 
ERISA-covered plan or IRA to terminate or withdraw from its arrangement 
with the DB QPAM (including any investment in a separately managed 
account or pooled fund subject to ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with 
the exception of reasonable restrictions, appropriately disclosed in 
advance, that are specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment 
of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or 
termination may have adverse consequences for all other investors as a 
result of an actual lack of liquidity of the underlying assets, 
provided that such restrictions are applied consistently and in like 
manner to all such investors; not to impose any fees, penalties, or 
charges for such termination or withdrawal with the exception of 
reasonable fees, appropriately disclosed in advance, that are 
specifically designed to prevent generally recognized abusive 
investment practices or specifically designed to ensure equitable 
treatment of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such 
withdrawal or termination may have adverse consequences for all other 
investors, provided that such fees are applied consistently and in like 
manner to all such investors; and not to include exculpatory provisions 
disclaiming or otherwise limiting liability of the DB QPAM for a 
violation of such agreement's terms, except for liability caused by an 
error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other 
party hired by the plan fiduciary who is independent of Deutsche Bank.
    66. Within four (4) months of the effective date of this proposed 
temporary exemption, each DB QPAM will provide a notice of its 
obligations under Section I(j) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA 
client for which the DB QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services.
    67. Each DB QPAM must maintain records necessary to demonstrate 
that the conditions of this proposed temporary exemption have been met, 
for six (6) years following the date of any transaction for which such 
DB QPAM relies upon the relief in the proposed temporary exemption.
    68. Certain of the conditions of the temporary exemption are 
specifically directed at Deutsche Bank. In this regard, Deutsche Bank 
must have disgorged all of its profits generated by the spot/futures-
linked market manipulation activities of DSK personnel that led to the 
Conviction against DSK entered on January 25, 2016, in Seoul Central 
District Court.
    69. The proposed temporary exemption mandates that, during the 
effective period of this temporary exemption, Deutsche Bank: Must (1) 
immediately disclose to the Department any Deferred Prosecution 
Agreement (a DPA) or Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) that Deutsche 
Bank or an affiliate enters into with the U.S Department of Justice, to 
the extent such DPA or NPA involves conduct described in Section I(g) 
of PTE 84-14 or section 411 of ERISA; and (2) immediately provide the 
Department any information requested by the Department, as permitted by 
law, regarding the agreement and/or the conduct and allegations that 
led to the agreements. In this regard, any conduct that would have 
constituted a violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 or given rise to 
the prohibition described under section 411 of ERISA if such conduct 
had resulted in a conviction, but instead was the subject of a DPA or 
NPA

[[Page 83350]]

between Deutsche Bank or any affiliate of Deutsche Bank and the U.S. 
Department of Justice, must be disclosed to the Department.

Statutory Findings--Administratively Feasible

    70. Deutsche Bank represents that the proposed temporary exemption 
is administratively feasible because it does not require any monitoring 
by the Department but relies on an independent auditor to determine 
that the exemption conditions are being complied with. Furthermore, the 
requested temporary exemption does not require the Department's 
oversight because, as a condition of this proposed temporary exemption, 
neither DB Group Services nor DSK will provide any fiduciary or QPAM 
services to ERISA covered plans and IRAs.
    71. Given the revised and new conditions described above, the 
Department has tentatively determined that the temporary relief sought 
by the Applicant satisfies the statutory requirements for an exemption 
under section 408(a) of ERISA.

Notice to Interested Persons

    All written comments and/or requests for a hearing must be received 
by the Department within five days of the date of publication of this 
proposed temporary exemption in the Federal Register. All comments will 
be made available to the public. To the extent the Department publishes 
a proposed exemption that contains more permanent relief for the 
transactions described herein, the notice of proposed exemption will 
set forth a notice and comment period that extends at least 45 days.
    All comments will be made available to the public.
    Warning: If you submit a comment, EBSA recommends that you include 
your name and other contact information in the body of your comment, 
but DO NOT submit information that you consider to be confidential, or 
otherwise protected (such as Social Security number or an unlisted 
phone number) or confidential business information that you do not want 
publicly disclosed. All comments may be posted on the Internet and can 
be retrieved by most Internet search engines.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Ness of the Department, 
telephone (202) 693-8561. (This is not a toll-free number.)

Citigroup, Inc. (Citigroup or the Applicant), Located in New York, New 
York

[Application No. D-11859]

Proposed Temporary Exemption

    The Department is considering granting a temporary exemption under 
the authority of section 408(a) of the Act (or ERISA) and section 
4975(c)(2) of the Code, and in accordance with the procedures set forth 
in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 
2011).\28\
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    \28\ For purposes of this proposed temporary exemption, 
references to section 406 of Title I of the Act, unless otherwise 
specified, should be read to refer as well to the corresponding 
provisions of section 4975 of the Code.
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Section I: Covered Transactions
    If the proposed temporary exemption is granted, the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAMs and the Citigroup Related QPAMs, as defined in 
Sections II(a) and II(b), respectively, will not be precluded from 
relying on the exemptive relief provided by Prohibited Transaction 
Class Exemption 84-14 (PTE 84-14 or the QPAM Exemption),\29\ 
notwithstanding the judgment of conviction against Citicorp (the 
Conviction, as defined in Section II(c)),\30\ for engaging in a 
conspiracy to: (1) Fix the price of, or (2) eliminate competition in 
the purchase or sale of the euro/U.S. dollar currency pair exchanged in 
the Foreign Exchange (FX) Spot Market. This temporary exemption will be 
effective for a period of up to twelve (12) months beginning on the 
Conviction Date (as defined in Section II(d)), provided the following 
conditions are satisfied:
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    \29\ 49 FR 9494 (March 13, 1984), as corrected at 50 FR 41430 
(October 10, 1985), as amended at 70 FR 49305 (August 23, 2005), and 
as amended at 75 FR 38837 (July 6, 2010).
    \30\ Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 generally provides that 
``[n]either the QPAM nor any affiliate thereof . . . nor any owner . 
. . of a 5 percent or more interest in the QPAM is a person who 
within the 10 years immediately preceding the transaction has been 
either convicted or released from imprisonment, whichever is later, 
as a result of'' certain felonies including violation of the Sherman 
Antitrust Act, Title 15 United States Code, Section 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (a) Other than a single individual who worked for a non-fiduciary 
business within Citigroup's Markets and Securities Services business, 
and who had no responsibility for, and exercised no authority in 
connection with, the management of plan assets, the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAMs and the Citigroup Related QPAMs (including their 
officers, directors, agents other than Citicorp, and employees of such 
Citigroup QPAMs) did not know of, have reason to know of, or 
participate in the criminal conduct of Citicorp that is the subject of 
the Conviction (for purposes of this paragraph (a), ``participate in'' 
includes the knowing or tacit approval of the misconduct underlying the 
Conviction);
    (b) Other than a single individual who worked for a non-fiduciary 
business within Citigroup's Markets and Securities Services business, 
and who had no responsibility for, and exercised no authority in 
connection with, the management of plan assets, the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAMs and the Citigroup Related QPAMs (including their 
officers, directors, agents other than Citicorp, and employees of such 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs), did not receive direct compensation, or 
knowingly receive indirect compensation in connection with the criminal 
conduct that is the subject of the Conviction;
    (c) The Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs will not employ or knowingly 
engage any of the individuals that participated in the criminal conduct 
that is the subject of the Conviction (for purposes of this paragraph 
(c), ``participated in'' includes the knowing or tacit approval of the 
misconduct underlying the Conviction);
    (d) A Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will not use its authority or 
influence to direct an ``investment fund'' (as defined in Section VI(b) 
of PTE 84-14), that is subject to ERISA or the Code and managed by such 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM, to enter into any transaction with Citicorp 
or the Markets and Securities Services business of Citigroup, or to 
engage Citicorp or the Markets and Securities Services business of 
Citigroup, to provide any service to such investment fund, for a direct 
or indirect fee borne by such investment fund, regardless of whether 
such transaction or service may otherwise be within the scope of relief 
provided by an administrative or statutory exemption;
    (e) Any failure of a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM or a Citigroup 
Related QPAM to satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 arose solely from the 
Conviction;
    (f) A Citigroup Affiliated QPAM or a Citigroup Related QPAM did not 
exercise authority over the assets of any plan subject to Part 4 of 
Title I of ERISA (an ERISA-covered plan) or section 4975 of the Code 
(an IRA) in a manner that it knew or should have known would: Further 
the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction; or cause 
the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM or the Citigroup Related QPAM or its 
affiliates or related parties to directly or indirectly profit from the 
criminal

[[Page 83351]]

conduct that is the subject of the Conviction;
    (g) Citicorp and the Markets and Securities Services business of 
Citigroup will not provide discretionary asset management services to 
ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, nor will otherwise act as a fiduciary with 
respect to ERISA-covered plan and IRA assets;
    (h)(1) Within four (4) months of the Conviction, each Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM must develop, implement, maintain, and follow written 
policies and procedures (the Policies) requiring and reasonably 
designed to ensure that:
    (i) The asset management decisions of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM 
are conducted independently of the corporate management and business 
activities of Citigroup, including the corporate management and 
business activities of the Markets and Securities Services business of 
Citigroup;
    (ii) The Citigroup Affiliated QPAM fully complies with ERISA's 
fiduciary duties, and with ERISA and the Code's prohibited transaction 
provisions, and does not knowingly participate in any violations of 
these duties and provisions with respect to ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs;
    (iii) The Citigroup Affiliated QPAM does not knowingly participate 
in any other person's violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to 
ERISA-covered plans and IRAs;
    (iv) Any filings or statements made by the Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM to regulators, including but not limited to, the Department, the 
Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Pension 
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, 
are materially accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's 
knowledge at that time;
    (v) The Citigroup Affiliated QPAM does not make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with such regulators with respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or 
make material misrepresentations or omit material information in its 
communications with ERISA-covered plans and IRA clients;
    (vi) The Citigroup Affiliated QPAM complies with the terms of this 
temporary exemption; and
    (vii) Any violation of, or failure to comply with an item in 
subparagraphs (ii) through (vi), is corrected promptly upon discovery, 
and any such violation or compliance failure not promptly corrected is 
reported, upon discovering the failure to promptly correct, in writing, 
to appropriate corporate officers, the head of compliance, and the 
General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of the relevant 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM, and an appropriate fiduciary of any affected 
ERISA-covered plan or IRA, where such fiduciary is independent of 
Citigroup; however, with respect to any ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
sponsored by an ``affiliate'' (as defined in Section VI(d) of PTE 84-
14) of Citigroup or beneficially owned by an employee of Citigroup or 
its affiliates, such fiduciary does not need to be independent of 
Citigroup. A Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will not be treated as having 
failed to develop, implement, maintain, or follow the Policies, 
provided that it corrects any instance of noncompliance promptly when 
discovered, or when it reasonably should have known of the 
noncompliance (whichever is earlier), and provided that it adheres to 
the reporting requirements set forth in this subparagraph (vii);
    (2) Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM must develop and implement a program of 
training (the Training), conducted at least annually, for all relevant 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, 
compliance, and internal audit personnel. The Training must be set 
forth in the Policies and, at a minimum, cover the Policies, ERISA and 
Code compliance (including applicable fiduciary duties and the 
prohibited transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the consequences 
for not complying with the conditions of this temporary exemption 
(including any loss of exemptive relief provided herein), and prompt 
reporting of wrongdoing;
    (i)(1) Effective as of the effective date of this temporary 
exemption, with respect to any arrangement, agreement, or contract 
between a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
for which a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or 
other discretionary fiduciary services, each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM 
agrees:
    (i) To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable, with respect 
to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA; to refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions); and to comply with 
the standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of 
ERISA, as applicable, with respect to each such ERISA-covered plan and 
IRA;
    (ii) Not to require (or otherwise cause) the ERISA covered plan or 
IRA to waive, limit, or qualify the liability of the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code or engaging in 
prohibited transactions;
    (iii) Not to require the ERISA-covered plan or IRA (or sponsor of 
such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner of such IRA) to indemnify 
the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code, or 
engaging in prohibited transactions, except for violations or 
prohibited transactions caused by an error, misrepresentation, or 
misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan 
fiduciary, which is independent of Citigroup, and its affiliates;
    (iv) Not to restrict the ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
to terminate or withdraw from its arrangement with the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM (including any investment in a separately managed 
account or pooled fund subject to ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with 
the exception of reasonable restrictions, appropriately disclosed in 
advance, that are specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment 
of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or 
termination may have adverse consequences for all other investors as a 
result of the actual lack of liquidity of the underlying assets, 
provided that such restrictions are applied consistently and in like 
manner to all such investors;
    (v) Not to impose any fee, penalty, or charge for such termination 
or withdrawal, with the exception of reasonable fees, appropriately 
disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to prevent 
generally recognized abusive investment practices, or specifically 
designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in a pooled 
fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have adverse 
consequences for all other investors, provided that each such fee is 
applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors;
    (vi) Not to include exculpatory provisions disclaiming or otherwise 
limiting liability of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM for a violation of 
such agreement's terms, except for liability caused by an error, 
misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party 
hired by the plan fiduciary which is independent of Citigroup, and its 
affiliates; and
    (vii) To indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
for any damages resulting from a violation of applicable laws, a breach 
of contract, or any claim arising out of the failure of such Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM to qualify for the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-
14 as a result of a violation

[[Page 83352]]

of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 other than the Conviction;
    (2) Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will provide a notice of its obligations 
under this Section I(i) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA for which a 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services;
    (j) The Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs must comply with each condition 
of PTE 84-14, as amended, with the sole exception of the violation of 
Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 that is attributable to the Conviction;
    (k) Each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will maintain records necessary 
to demonstrate that the conditions of this temporary exemption have 
been met, for six (6) years following the date of any transaction for 
which such Citigroup Affiliated QPAM relies upon the relief in the 
temporary exemption;
    (l) During the effective period of this temporary exemption, 
Citigroup: (1) Immediately discloses to the Department any Deferred 
Prosecution Agreement (a DPA) or Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) 
with the U.S. Department of Justice to the extent such DPA or NPA 
involves conduct described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 or section 411 
of ERISA; and
    (2) Immediately provides the Department any information requested 
by the Department, as permitted by law, regarding the agreement and/or 
the conduct and allegations that led to the agreement; and
    (m) A Citigroup Affiliated QPAM or a Citigroup Related QPAM will 
not fail to meet the terms of this temporary exemption solely because a 
different Citigroup Affiliated QPAM or Citigroup Related QPAM fails to 
satisfy a condition for relief under this temporary exemption, 
described in Sections I(c), (d), (h), (i), (j), and (k).
Section II: Definitions
    (a) The term ``Citigroup Affiliated QPAM'' means a ``qualified 
professional asset manager'' (as defined in section VI(a) \31\ of PTE 
84-14) that relies on the relief provided by PTE 84-14 and with respect 
to which Citigroup is a current or future ``affiliate'' (as defined in 
section VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14). The term ``Citigroup Affiliated QPAM'' 
excludes the parent entity, Citicorp and Citigroup's Markets and 
Securities Services business.
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    \31\ In general terms, a QPAM is an independent fiduciary that 
is a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or 
investment adviser that meets certain equity or net worth 
requirements and other licensure requirements, and has acknowledged 
in a written management agreement that it is a fiduciary with 
respect to each plan that has retained the QPAM.
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    (b) The term ``Citigroup Related QPAM'' means any current or future 
``qualified professional asset manager'' (as defined in section VI(a) 
of PTE 84-14) that relies on the relief provided by PTE 84-14, and with 
respect to which Citigroup owns a direct or indirect five percent or 
more interest, but with respect to which Citigroup is not an 
``affiliate'' (as defined in Section VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14).
    (c) The terms ``ERISA-covered plan'' and ``IRA'' mean, 
respectively, a plan subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA and a plan 
subject to section 4975 of the Code;
    (d) The term ``Citigroup'' means Citigroup, Inc., the parent 
entity, and does not include any subsidiaries or other affiliates;
    (e) The term ``Conviction'' means the judgment of conviction 
against Citigroup for violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 
1, which is scheduled to be entered in the District Court for the 
District of Connecticut (the District Court)(Case Number 3:15-cr-78-
SRU), in connection with Citigroup, through one of its euro/U.S. dollar 
(EUR/USD) traders, entering into and engaging in a combination and 
conspiracy to fix, stabilize, maintain, increase or decrease the price 
of, and rig bids and offers for, the EUR/USD currency pair exchanged in 
the FX spot market by agreeing to eliminate competition in the purchase 
and sale of the EUR/USD currency pair in the United States and 
elsewhere. For all purposes under this temporary exemption, ``conduct'' 
of any person or entity that is the ``subject of [a] Conviction'' 
encompasses any conduct of Citigroup and/or their personnel, that is 
described in the Plea Agreement, (including the Factual Statement), and 
other official regulatory or judicial factual findings that are a part 
of this record; and
    (f) The term ``Conviction Date'' means the date that a judgment of 
Conviction against Citicorp is entered by the District Court in 
connection with the Conviction.
    Effective Date: This proposed temporary exemption will be effective 
for the period beginning on the Conviction Date until the earlier of: 
(1) The date that is twelve (12) months following the Conviction Date; 
or (2) the effective date of final agency action made by the Department 
in connection with an application for long-term exemptive relief for 
the covered transactions described herein.
    Department's Comment: The Department is publishing this proposed 
temporary exemption in order to protect ERISA-covered plans and IRAs 
from certain costs and/or investment losses that may arise to the 
extent entities with a corporate relationship to Citigroup lose their 
ability to rely on PTE 84-14 as of the Conviction Date, as described 
below. Elsewhere today in the Federal Register, the Department is also 
proposing a five-year proposed exemption that would provide the same 
relief that is described herein, but for a longer effective period. The 
five-year proposed exemption is subject to enhanced conditions and a 
longer comment period. Comments received in response to this proposed 
temporary exemption will be considered in connection with the 
Department's determination whether or not to grant such five-year 
exemption.
    The proposed exemption would provide relief from certain of the 
restrictions set forth in sections 406 and 407 of ERISA. No relief from 
a violation of any other law would be provided by this exemption, 
including any criminal conviction described herein.
    Furthermore, the Department cautions that the relief in this 
proposed exemption would terminate immediately if, among other things, 
an entity within the Citigroup corporate structure is convicted of a 
crime described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 (other than the 
Conviction) during the effective period of the exemption. While such an 
entity could apply for a new exemption in that circumstance, the 
Department would not be obligated to grant the exemption. The terms of 
this proposed exemption have been specifically designed to permit plans 
to terminate their relationships in an orderly and cost effective 
fashion in the event of an additional conviction or a determination 
that it is otherwise prudent for a plan to terminate its relationship 
with an entity covered by the proposed exemption.

Summary of Facts and Representations \32\
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    \32\ The Summary of Facts and Representations is based on the 
Applicant's representations, unless indicated otherwise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Background

    1. Citigroup is a global diversified financial services holding 
company incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in New York, New 
York. Citigroup and its affiliates provide consumers, corporations, 
governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products 
and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and 
investment banking, securities brokerage, trade and securities

[[Page 83353]]

services and wealth management. Citigroup has approximately 241,000 
employees and operations in over 160 countries and jurisdictions. As of 
December 31, 2014, Citigroup had approximately $1.8 trillion of assets 
under management and held $889 billion in deposits.
    2. Citigroup currently operates, for management reporting purposes, 
via two primary business segments which include: (a) Citigroup's Global 
Consumer Banking businesses (GCB); and (b) Citigroup's Institutional 
Clients Group (ICG).
    GCB includes a global, full-service consumer franchise delivering a 
wide array of retail banking, commercial banking, Citi-branded credit 
cards and investment services through a network of local branches, 
offices and electronic delivery systems. GCB had 3,280 branches in 35 
countries around the world. For the year ended December 31, 2014, GCB 
had $399 billion of average assets and $331 billion of average 
deposits.
    ICG provides a broad range of banking and financial products and 
services to corporate, institutional, public sector and high-net-worth 
clients in approximately 100 countries. ICG transacts with clients in 
both cash instruments and derivatives, including fixed income, foreign 
currency, equity and commodity products. ICG is divided into several 
business lines including: (a) Citi Corporate and Investment Banking; 
(b) Treasury and Trade Solutions; (c) Markets and Securities Services; 
and (d) Citi Private Bank (CPB).
    3. The Applicant represents that Citigroup has several affiliates 
that provide investment management services.\33\ Citigroup provides 
investment advisory services to clients world-wide through a number of 
different programs offered by various businesses that are tailored to 
meet the needs of its diverse clientele. Within the United States, 
Citigroup offers its investment advisory programs primarily through the 
following: (a) CPB and Citigroup's Global Consumers Group (GCG), acting 
through Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (CGMI); and (b) Citibank, N.A. 
(Citibank) and Citi Private Advisory, LLC (CPA) (collectively, the 
Advisory Businesses). The Applicant represents that CPA and CGMI are 
each investment advisers, registered under the Advisers Act. The 
Applicant also represents that CPB, CGMI, Citibank, and CPA are QPAMs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14 defines an ``affiliate'' of a 
person, for purposes of Section I(g), as: (1) Any person directly or 
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling, 
controlled by, or under common control with the person, (2) any 
director of, relative of, or partner in, any such person, (3) any 
corporation, partnership, trust or unincorporated enterprise of 
which such person is an officer, director, or a 5 percent or more 
partner or owner, and (4) any employee or officer of the person 
who--(A) is a highly compensated employee (as defined in section 
4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) or officer (earning 10 percent or more of 
the yearly wages of such person), or (B) has direct or indirect 
authority, responsibility or control regarding the custody, 
management or disposition of plan assets.
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    Within the United States, Citigroup's Advisory Businesses are 
conducted within CPB and GCG. Together, CPB and GCG provide services to 
over 44,000 customer advisory accounts with assets under management 
totaling over $33 billion. Of these, there are over 20,000 accounts for 
ERISA pension plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs) 
(collectively, Retirement Accounts), with assets under management of 
approximately $3.8 billion.
    Although each of the advisory programs offered by the Advisory 
Businesses is unique, most utilize independent third-party managers on 
a discretionary or nondiscretionary basis, as determined by the client. 
Other programs such as Citi Investment Management (CIM), which operates 
through both the CGMI and CPB business units, primarily provide advice 
concerning the selection of individual securities for CPB clients.
    CPB, GCG, CBNA, CGMI and their affiliates provide administrative, 
management and/or technical services designed to implement and monitor 
client's investment guidelines, and in certain nondiscretionary 
programs, offer recommendations on investing and re-investing portfolio 
assets for the client's consideration. CPB provides private banking 
services, and offers its clients access to a broad array of products 
and services available through bank and non-bank affiliates of 
Citigroup. GCG services include U.S. and international retail banking, 
U.S. consumer lending, international consumer finance, and commercial 
finance. Citibank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Citigroup and a 
national banking association which provides fiduciary advisory 
services.
    4. CGMI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Citigroup whose principal 
activities include retail and institutional private client services 
which include: (a) Advice with respect to financial markets; (b) the 
execution of securities and commodities transactions as a broker or 
dealer; (c) securities underwriting; (d) investment banking; (e) 
investment management (including fiduciary and administrative 
services); and (f) trading and holding securities and commodities for 
its own account. CGMI holds a number of registrations, including 
registration as an investment adviser, a securities broker-dealer, and 
a futures commission merchant.
    CPA is also a wholly-owned subsidiary of Citigroup and provides 
advisory services to private investment funds that are organized to 
invest primarily in other private investment funds advised by third-
party managers.
    The Applicant represents that trading decisions and investment 
strategy of current Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs for their clients is not 
shared with Citigroup employees outside of the Advisory Business, nor 
do employees of the Advisory Business consult with other Citigroup 
affiliates prior to making investment decisions on behalf of clients.
    5. On May 20, 2015, the Applicant filed an application for 
exemptive relief from the prohibitions of sections 406(a) and 406(b) of 
ERISA, and the sanctions resulting from the application of section 4975 
of the Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1) of the Code, in connection 
with a conviction that would make the relief in PTE 84-14 unavailable 
to any current or future Citigroup-related investment managers.
    The U.S. Department of Justice (Department of Justice) has 
conducted an investigation of certain conduct and practices of 
Citigroup in the FX spot market. To resolve the Department of Justice's 
investigation, Citicorp, a Delaware corporation that is a financial 
services holding company and the direct parent company of Citibank, 
entered into a plea agreement with the Department of Justice (the Plea 
Agreement), to be approved by the U.S. District Court for the District 
of Connecticut (the District Court), pursuant to which Citicorp has 
pleaded guilty to one count of an antitrust violation of the Sherman 
Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 1 (15 U.S.C. 1). The Plea Agreement 
acknowledges that Citigroup has provided ``substantial assistance'' to 
the Department of Justice in carrying out its investigation.
    As set forth in the Plea Agreement, from at least December 2007 and 
continuing to at least January 2013 (the Relevant Period), Citicorp, 
through one London-based euro/U.S. dollar (EUR/USD) trader employed by 
Citibank, entered into and engaged in a conspiracy to fix, stabilize, 
maintain, increase or decrease the price of, and rig bids and offers 
for, the EUR/USD currency pair exchanged in the FX spot market by 
agreeing to eliminate competition in the purchase and sale of the EUR/
USD currency pair in the United States and elsewhere. The criminal 
conduct that is the subject of the Conviction included near daily

[[Page 83354]]

conversations, some of which were in code, in an exclusive electronic 
chat room used by certain EUR/USD traders, including the EUR/USD trader 
employed by Citibank. The criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Conviction forms the basis for the Department of Justice's antitrust 
charge that Citicorp violated 15 U.S.C. 1.
    Under the terms of the Plea Agreement, the Department of Justice 
and Citicorp have agreed that the District Court should impose a 
sentence requiring Citicorp to pay a criminal fine of $925 million. The 
Plea Agreement also provides for a three-year term of probation, with 
conditions to include, among other things, Citigroup's continued 
implementation of a compliance program designed to prevent and detect 
the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction throughout 
its operations, as well as Citigroup's further strengthening of its 
compliance and internal controls as required by other regulatory or 
enforcement agencies that have addressed the criminal conduct that is 
the subject of the Conviction, including: (a) The U.S. Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC), pursuant to its settlement with 
Citibank on November 11, 2014, requiring remedial measures to 
strengthen the control framework governing Citigroup's FX trading 
business; (b) the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant 
to its settlement with Citibank on November 11, 2014, requiring 
remedial measures to improve the control framework governing 
Citigroup's wholesale trading and benchmark activities; (c) the U.K. 
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), pursuant to its settlement with 
Citibank on November 11, 2014; and (d) the U.S. Board of Governors of 
the Federal Reserve System (FRB), pursuant to its settlement with 
Citigroup entered into concurrently with the Plea Agreement with 
Department of Justice, requiring remedial measures to improve 
Citigroup's controls for FX trading and activities involving 
commodities and interest rate products.
    6. The Applicant states that in January 2016, Nigeria's Federal 
Director of Public Prosecutions filed charges against a Nigerian 
subsidiary of Citibank and fifteen individuals (some of whom are 
current or former employees of that subsidiary) relating to specific 
credit facilities provided to a certain customer in 2000 to finance the 
import of goods. The Applicant represents that these charges are the 
latest of a series of charges that were filed and then withdrawn 
between 2007 and 2011. The Applicant also represents that to its best 
knowledge, it does not have a reasonable basis to believe that the 
discretionary asset management activities of any Citigroup QPAMs are 
subject to these charges. Further, the Applicant represents that it 
does not have a reasonable basis to believe that there are any pending 
criminal investigations involving Citigroup or any of its affiliates 
that would cause a reasonable plan or IRA customer not to hire or 
retain the institution as a QPAM.
    7. Notwithstanding the aforementioned charges, once the Conviction 
is entered, the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs and the Citigroup Related 
QPAMs, as well as their client plans that are subject to Part 4 of 
Title I of ERISA (ERISA-covered plans) or section 4975 of the Code 
(IRAs), will no longer be able to rely on PTE 84-14, pursuant to the 
anti-criminal rule set forth in section I(g) of the class exemption, 
absent an individual exemption. The Applicant is seeking an individual 
exemption that would permit the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs and the 
Citigroup Related QPAMs, and their ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients 
to continue to utilize the relief in PTE 84-14, notwithstanding the 
anticipated Conviction, provided that such QPAMs satisfy the additional 
conditions imposed by the Department in the proposed temporary 
exemption herein.
    8. The Applicant represents that the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Conviction was neither widespread nor pervasive. The 
Applicant states that such criminal conduct consisted of isolated acts 
perpetrated by a single EUR/USD trader employed in Citigroup's Markets 
and Securities Services business in the United Kingdom who was removed 
from the activities of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs, both 
geographically and organizationally. The Applicant represents that this 
London-based EUR/USD trader was not an officer or director of 
Citigroup, and did not have any involvement in, or influence over, 
Citigroup or any of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs. The Applicant 
states that this London-based EUR/USD trader had minimal management 
responsibilities, which related exclusively to Citigroup's G10 Spot FX 
trading business, outside of the United States. As represented by the 
Applicant, once senior management became aware of the criminal conduct 
that is the subject of the Conviction, Citibank took action to 
terminate the employee.
    9. The Applicant represents that no current or former employee of 
Citigroup or of any Citigroup Affiliated QPAM who previously has been 
or who subsequently may be identified by Citigroup, or any U.S. or non-
U.S. regulatory or enforcement agencies, as having been responsible for 
the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction will have 
any involvement in providing asset management services to plans and 
IRAs or will be an officer, director, or employee of the Applicant or 
of any Citigroup Affiliated QPAM.

Citigroup's Business Separation/Compliance/Training

    10. The Applicant represents that Citigroup's Advisory Businesses 
are operated independently from Citigroup's Markets and Securities 
Services, the segment of Citigroup in which foreign exchange trading is 
conducted.\34\ Although the Advisory Business falls under the umbrellas 
of ICG and GCG, it operates separately in all material respects from 
the sales and trading businesses that comprise that business segment. 
The Advisory Business maintains separate: (a) Management and reporting 
lines; (b) compliance programs; (c) compensation arrangements; (d) 
profit and loss reporting (with different comptrollers), (e) human 
resources and training programs, and (f) legal coverage. The Applicant 
represents that the Advisory Businesses maintain a separate, dedicated 
compliance function, and have protocols to preserve the separation 
between employees in the Advisory Business and those in Markets and 
Securities Services.
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    \34\ The Applicant represents that each of Citigroup's primary 
business units operates a large number of separate and independent 
businesses. These lines of business generally have: (a) A group of 
employees working solely on matters specific to its line of 
business, (b) separate management and reporting lines; (c) tailored 
compliance regimens; (d) separate compensation arrangements; (e) 
separate profit and loss reporting; (vi) separate human resources 
personnel and training, (f) dedicated risk and compliance officers 
and (g) dedicated legal coverage.
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    11. The Applicant represents that Citigroup's independent control 
functions, including Compliance, Finance, Legal and Risk, set standards 
according to which Citigroup and its businesses are expected to manage 
and oversee risks, including compliance with applicable laws, 
regulatory requirements, policies and standards of ethical conduct. 
Among other things, the independent control functions provide advice 
and training to Citigroup's businesses and establish tools, 
methodologies, processes and oversight of controls used by the 
businesses to foster a culture of compliance and control and to satisfy 
those standards.
    12. The Applicant represents that compliance at Citigroup is an

[[Page 83355]]

independent control function within Franchise Risk and Strategy that is 
designed to protect Citigroup not only by managing adherence to 
applicable laws, regulations and other standards of conduct, but also 
by promoting business behavior and activity that is consistent with 
global standards for responsible finance. The Applicant states that 
Citigroup has implemented company-wide initiatives designed to further 
embed ethics in Citigroup's culture. This includes training for more 
than 40,000 senior employees that fosters ethical decision-making and 
underscores the importance of escalating issues, a video series 
featuring senior leaders discussing ethical decisions, regular 
communications on ethics and culture, and the development of enhanced 
tools to support ethical decision-making.

Statutory Findings--In the Interest of Affected Plans and IRAs

    13. The Applicant represents that, if the exemption is denied, the 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs may be unable to effectively manage assets 
subject to ERISA or the prohibited transaction provisions of the Code 
where PTE 84-14 is needed to avoid engaging in a prohibited 
transaction. The Applicant further represents that plans and 
participants would be harmed because they would be unnecessarily 
deprived of the current and future opportunity to utilize the 
Applicant's experience in and expertise with respect to the financial 
markets and investing. The Applicant anticipates that, if the exemption 
is denied, some of Citigroup's 20,000 existing Retirement Account 
clients may feel forced to terminate their advisory relationship with 
Citigroup, incurring expenses related to: (a) Consultant fees and other 
due diligence expenses for identifying new managers; (b) transaction 
costs associated with a change in investment manager, including the 
sale and purchase of portfolio investments to accommodate the 
investment policies and strategy of the new manager, and the cost of 
entering into new custodial arrangements; and (c) lost investment 
opportunities in connection with the change.\35\
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    \35\ The Department notes that, if this temporary exemption is 
granted, compliance with the condition in Section I(j) of the 
exemption would require the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs to hold their 
plan customers harmless for any losses attributable to, inter alia, 
any prohibited transactions or violations of the duty of prudence 
and loyalty.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Statutory Findings--Protective of the Rights of Participants of 
Affected Plans and IRAs

    14. The Applicant has proposed certain conditions it believes are 
protective of participants and beneficiaries of ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs with respect to the transactions described herein. The Department 
has determined to revise and supplement the proposed conditions so that 
it can make its required finding that the requested exemption is 
protective of the rights of participants and beneficiaries of affected 
plans and IRAs. In this regard, the Department has tentatively 
determined that the following conditions adequately protect the rights 
of participants and beneficiaries of affected plans and IRAs with 
respect to the transactions that would be covered by this temporary 
exemption.
    Relief under this proposed exemption is only available to the 
extent: (a) Other than with respect to a single individual who worked 
for a non-fiduciary business within Citigroup's Markets and Securities 
Services business and who had no responsibility for, and exercised no 
authority in connection with, the management of plan assets, Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAMs, including their officers, directors, agents other 
than Citicorp, and employees of such Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs, did 
not know of, have reason to know of, or participate in the criminal 
conduct of Citicorp that is the subject of the Conviction (For purposes 
of the foregoing condition, the term ``participate in'' includes the 
knowing or tacit approval of the misconduct underlying the 
Conviction.); (b) any failure of those QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 arose solely from the Conviction; and (c) other than a single 
individual who worked for a non-fiduciary business within Citigroup's 
Markets and Securities Services business, and who had no responsibility 
for, and exercised no authority in connection with, the management of 
plan assets, the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs and the Citigroup Related 
QPAMs (including their officers, directors, agents other than Citicorp, 
and employees of such Citigroup QPAMs) did not receive direct 
compensation, or knowingly receive indirect compensation, in connection 
with the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction.
    15. The Department expects the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs to 
rigorously ensure that the individual associated with the criminal 
conduct of Citicorp will not be employed or knowingly engaged by such 
QPAMs. In this regard, the temporary exemption, if granted as proposed, 
mandates that the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs will not employ or 
knowingly engage any of the individuals that participated in the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction. For purposes of 
this condition, the term ``participated in'' includes the knowing or 
tacit approval of the misconduct underlying the Conviction.
    16. Further, the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will not use its 
authority or influence to direct an ``investment fund,'' (as defined in 
Section VI(b) of PTE 84-14), that is subject to ERISA or the Code and 
managed by such Citigroup Affiliated QPAM to enter into any transaction 
with Citicorp or the Markets and Securities business of Citigroup, or 
to engage Citigroup or the Markets and Securities business of Citigroup 
to provide any service to such investment fund, for a direct or 
indirect fee borne by such investment fund, regardless of whether such 
transaction or service may otherwise be within the scope of relief 
provided by an administrative or statutory exemption.
    17. The Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs and the Citigroup Related QPAMs 
must comply with each condition of PTE 84-14, as amended, with the sole 
exception of the violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 that is 
attributable to the Conviction. Further, any failure of the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAMs or the Citigroup Related QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) 
of PTE 84-14 arose solely from the Conviction.
    No relief will be provided by the temporary exemption to the extent 
that a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM or a Citigroup Related QPAM exercised 
authority over the assets of an ERISA-covered plan or IRA in a manner 
that it knew or should have known would: Further the criminal conduct 
that is the subject of the Conviction; or cause the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM or the Citigroup Related QPAM, or its affiliates or 
related parties to directly or indirectly profit from the criminal 
conduct that is the subject of the Conviction. Further, no relief will 
be provided to the extent Citicorp or the Markets and Securities 
business of Citigroup provides any discretionary asset management 
services to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or otherwise acts as a 
fiduciary with respect to ERISA-covered plan or IRA assets.
    18. The Department believes that robust policies and training are 
warranted where, as here, the criminal misconduct has occurred within a 
corporate organization that is affiliated with one or more QPAMs 
managing

[[Page 83356]]

plan assets in reliance on PTE 84-14. Therefore, this proposed 
temporary exemption requires that within four (4) months of the date of 
the Conviction, each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM must develop, implement, 
maintain, and follow written policies and procedures (the Policies) 
requiring and reasonably designed to ensure that: The asset management 
decisions of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM are conducted independently 
of the corporate management and business activities of Citigroup, 
including the Markets and Securities business of Citigroup; the 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM fully complies with ERISA's fiduciary duties, 
and with ERISA and the Code's prohibited transaction provisions, and 
does not knowingly participate in any violation of these duties and 
provisions with respect to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs; the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM does not knowingly participate in any other person's 
violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs; any filings or statements made by the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM 
to regulators, including, but not limited to, the Department, the 
Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Pension 
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, 
are materially accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's 
knowledge at that time; the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM does not make 
material misrepresentations or omit material information in its 
communications with such regulators with respect to ERISA-covered plans 
or IRAs, or make material misrepresentations or omit material 
information in its communications with ERISA-covered plan and IRA 
clients; and the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM complies with the terms of 
this temporary exemption. Any violation of, or failure to comply with 
these items is corrected promptly upon discovery, and any such 
violation or compliance failure not promptly corrected is reported, 
upon discovering the failure to promptly correct, in writing, to 
appropriate corporate officers, the head of compliance, and the General 
Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of the relevant Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM, and an appropriate fiduciary of any affected ERISA-
covered plan or IRA, which fiduciary is independent of Citigroup.
    19. The Department has also imposed a condition that requires each 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM within four (4) months of the date of the 
Conviction, to develop and implement a program of training (the 
Training), conducted at least annually, for all relevant Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, compliance, 
and internal audit personnel. The Training must be set forth in the 
Policies and, at a minimum, cover the Policies, ERISA and Code 
compliance (including applicable fiduciary duties and the prohibited 
transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the consequences for not 
complying with the conditions of this temporary exemption, (including 
any loss of exemptive relief provided herein), and prompt reporting of 
wrongdoing.
    20. This temporary exemption requires the Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAMs to enter into certain contractual obligations in connection with 
the provision of services to their clients. It is the Department's view 
that the condition for exemptive relief requiring these contractual 
obligations is essential to the Department's ability to make its 
findings that the proposed temporary exemption is protective of the 
rights of the participants and beneficiaries of ERISA-covered and IRA 
plan clients of Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs under section 408(a) of 
ERISA. In this regard, Section I(i) of the proposed temporary exemption 
provides that, as of the effective date of this temporary exemption, 
with respect to any arrangement, agreement, or contract between a 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA for which a 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services, each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM must 
agree: (a) To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable, with 
respect to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA, and refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions), and to comply with 
the standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of 
ERISA, as applicable, with respect to each such ERISA-covered plan and 
IRA; (b) to indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
for any damages resulting from a violation of applicable laws, a breach 
of contract, or any claim arising out of the failure of such Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM to qualify for the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-
14 as a result of a violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 other than 
the Conviction; (c) not to require (or otherwise cause) the ERISA-
covered plan or IRA to waive, limit, or qualify the liability of the 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code or engaging 
in prohibited transactions; (d) not to require the ERISA-covered plan 
or IRA (or sponsor of such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner of 
such IRA) to indemnify the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM for violating 
ERISA or the Code, or engaging in prohibited transactions, except for a 
violation or a prohibited transaction caused by an error, 
misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party 
hired by the plan fiduciary who is independent of Citigroup, and its 
affiliates; (e) not to restrict the ability of such ERISA-covered plan 
or IRA to terminate or withdraw from its arrangement with the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM (including any investment in a separately-managed 
account or pooled fund subject to ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with 
the exception of reasonable restrictions, appropriately disclosed in 
advance, that are specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment 
of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or 
termination may have adverse consequences for all other investors as a 
result of an actual lack of liquidity of the underlying assets, 
provided that such restrictions are applied consistently and in like 
manner to all such investors; and (f) not to impose any fee, penalty, 
or charge for such termination or withdrawal with the exception of 
reasonable fees, appropriately disclosed in advance, that are 
specifically designed to prevent generally recognized abusive 
investment practices or specifically designed to ensure equitable 
treatment of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such 
withdrawal or termination may have adverse consequences for all other 
investors, provided that each such fee is applied consistently and in 
like manner to all such investors. Furthermore, any contract, agreement 
or arrangement between a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM and its ERISA-
covered plan or IRA client must not contain exculpatory provisions 
disclaiming or otherwise limiting liability of the Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM for a violation of such agreement's terms, except for liability 
caused by an error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan 
fiduciary or other party hired by the plan fiduciary which is 
independent of Citigroup, and its affiliates.
    21. Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will provide a notice of its obligations 
under Section I(i) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA for which the 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services. In addition, each Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM must maintain records necessary

[[Page 83357]]

to demonstrate that the conditions of this temporary exemption have 
been met for six (6) years following the date of any transaction for 
which such Citigroup Affiliated QPAM relies upon the relief in the 
temporary exemption.
    22. Furthermore, the proposed temporary exemption mandates that, 
during the effective period of this temporary exemption, Citigroup must 
immediately disclose to the Department any Deferred Prosecution 
Agreement (a DPA) or a Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) that 
Citigroup or an affiliate enters into with the Department of Justice, 
to the extent such DPA or NPA involves conduct described in Section 
I(g) of PTE 84-14 or section 411 of ERISA. In addition, Citigroup or an 
affiliate must immediately provide the Department any information 
requested by the Department, as permitted by law, regarding the 
agreement and/or conduct and allegations that led to the agreement.
    23. The proposed exemption would provide relief from certain of the 
restrictions set forth in Section 406 and 407 of ERISA. Such a granted 
exemption would not provide relief from any other violation of law. 
Pursuant to the terms of this proposed exemption, any criminal 
conviction not expressly described herein, but otherwise described in 
Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 and attributable to the Applicant for 
purposes of PTE 84-14, would result in the Applicant's loss of this 
exemption.

Statutory Findings--Administratively Feasible

    24. The Applicant represents that the proposed temporary exemption 
is administratively feasible because it does not require any monitoring 
by the Department. In addition, the limited effective duration of the 
temporary exemption provides the Department with the opportunity to 
determine whether long-term exemptive relief is warranted, without 
causing sudden and potentially costly harm to ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs.

Summary

    25. Given the revised and new conditions described above, the 
Department has tentatively determined that the relief sought by the 
Applicant satisfies the statutory requirements for a temporary 
exemption under section 408(a) of ERISA.

Notice to Interested Persons

    Written comments and requests for a public hearing on the proposed 
temporary exemption should be submitted to the Department within five 
(5) days from the date of publication of this Federal Register notice. 
Given the short comment period, the Department will consider comments 
received after such date, in connection with its consideration of more 
permanent relief.
    Warning: Do not include any personally identifiable information 
(such as name, address, or other contact information) or confidential 
business information that you do not want publicly disclosed. All 
comments may be posted on the Internet and can be retrieved by most 
Internet search engines.

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

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPMC or the Applicant), Located in New York, New 
York

[Application No. D-11861]

Proposed Temporary Exemption

    The Department is considering granting a temporary exemption under 
the authority of section 408(a) of the Act (or ERISA) and section 
4975(c)(2) of the Code, and in accordance with the procedures set forth 
in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 
2011).\36\
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    \36\ For purposes of this proposed temporary exemption, 
references to section 406 of Title I of the Act, unless otherwise 
specified, should be read to refer as well to the corresponding 
provisions of section 4975 of the Code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section I: Covered Transactions
    If the proposed temporary exemption is granted, the JPMC Affiliated 
QPAMs and the JPMC Related QPAMs, as defined in Sections II(a) and 
II(b), respectively, will not be precluded from relying on the 
exemptive relief provided by Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 84-
14 (PTE 84-14 or the QPAM Exemption),\37\ notwithstanding the judgment 
of conviction against JPMC (the Conviction), as defined in Section 
II(c)),\38\ for engaging in a conspiracy to: (1) Fix the price of, or 
(2) eliminate competition in the purchase or sale of the euro/U.S. 
dollar currency pair exchanged in the Foreign Exchange (FX) Spot 
Market. This temporary exemption will be effective for a period of up 
to twelve (12) months beginning on the Conviction Date (as defined in 
Section II(d)), provided the following conditions are satisfied:
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    \37\ 49 FR 9494 (March 13, 1984), as corrected at 50 FR 41430 
(October 10, 1985), as amended at 70 FR 49305 (August 23, 2005), and 
as amended at 75 FR 38837 (July 6, 2010).
    \38\ Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 generally provides that 
``[n]either the QPAM nor any affiliate thereof . . . nor any owner . 
. . of a 5 percent or more interest in the QPAM is a person who 
within the 10 years immediately preceding the transaction has been 
either convicted or released from imprisonment, whichever is later, 
as a result of'' certain felonies including violation of the Sherman 
Antitrust Act, Title 15 United States Code, Section 1.
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    (a) Other than a single individual who worked for a non-fiduciary 
business within JPMorgan Chase Bank and who had no responsibility for, 
and exercised no authority in connection with, the management of plan 
assets, the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs and the JPMC Related QPAMs (including 
their officers, directors, agents other than JPMC, and employees of 
such JPMC QPAMs) did not know of, have reason to know of, or 
participate in the criminal conduct of JPMC that is the subject of the 
Conviction (for purposes of this paragraph (a), ``participate in'' 
includes the knowing or tacit approval of the misconduct underlying the 
Conviction);
    (b) Other than a single individual who worked for a non-fiduciary 
business within JPMorgan Chase Bank and who had no responsibility for, 
and exercised no authority in connection with, the management of plan 
assets, the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs and the JPMC Related QPAMs (including 
their officers, directors, agents other than JPMC, and employees of 
such JPMC QPAMs) did not receive direct compensation, or knowingly 
receive indirect compensation in connection with the criminal conduct 
that is the subject of the Conviction;
    (c) The JPMC Affiliated QPAMs will not employ or knowingly engage 
any of the individuals that participated in the criminal conduct that 
is the subject of the Conviction (for purposes of this paragraph (c), 
``participated in'' includes the knowing or tacit approval of the 
misconduct underlying the Conviction);
    (d) A JPMC Affiliated QPAM will not use its authority or influence 
to direct an ``investment fund'' (as defined in Section VI(b) of PTE 
84-14), that is subject to ERISA or the Code and managed by such JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM to enter into any transaction with JPMC or the 
Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank, or engage JPMC or 
the Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank to provide any 
service to such investment fund, for a direct or indirect fee borne by 
such investment fund, regardless of whether such transaction or service 
may otherwise be within the scope of relief provided by an 
administrative or statutory exemption;
    (e) Any failure of a JPMC Affiliated QPAM or a JPMC Related QPAM to 
satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 arose solely from the Conviction;

[[Page 83358]]

    (f) A JPMC Affiliated QPAM or a JPMC Related QPAM did not exercise 
authority over plan assets in a manner that it knew or should have 
known would: Further the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Conviction; or cause the JPMC QPAM or its affiliates or related parties 
to directly or indirectly profit from the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Conviction;
    (g) JPMC and the Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank 
will not provide discretionary asset management services to ERISA-
covered plans or IRAs, and will not otherwise act as a fiduciary with 
respect to ERISA-covered plan and IRA assets;
    (h)(1) Within four (4) months of the Conviction, each JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM must develop, implement, maintain, and follow written 
policies and procedures (the Policies) requiring and reasonably 
designed to ensure that:
    (i) The asset management decisions of the JPMC Affiliated QPAM are 
conducted independently of the corporate management and business 
activities of JPMC, including the Investment Banking Division of 
JPMorgan Chase Bank;
    (ii) The JPMC Affiliated QPAM fully complies with ERISA's fiduciary 
duties, and with ERISA and the Code's prohibited transaction 
provisions, and does not knowingly participate in any violations of 
these duties and provisions with respect to ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs;
    (iii) The JPMC Affiliated QPAM does not knowingly participate in 
any other person's violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to 
ERISA-covered plans and IRAs;
    (iv) Any filings or statements made by the JPMC Affiliated QPAM to 
regulators, including but not limited to, the Department, the 
Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Pension 
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, 
are materially accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's 
knowledge at that time;
    (v) The JPMC Affiliated QPAM does not make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with such regulators with respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or 
make material misrepresentations or omit material information in its 
communications with ERISA-covered plans and IRA clients;
    (vi) The JPMC Affiliated QPAM complies with the terms of this 
temporary exemption; and
    (vii) Any violation of, or failure to comply with an item in 
subparagraphs (ii) through (vi), is corrected promptly upon discovery, 
and any such violation or compliance failure not promptly corrected is 
reported, upon discovering the failure to promptly correct, in writing, 
to appropriate corporate officers, the head of compliance, and the 
General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of the relevant JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM, and an appropriate fiduciary of any affected ERISA-
covered plan or IRA, where such fiduciary is independent of JPMC; 
however, with respect to any ERISA-covered plan or IRA sponsored by an 
``affiliate'' (as defined in Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14) of JPMC or 
beneficially owned by an employee of JPMC or its affiliates, such 
fiduciary does not need to be independent of JPMC. A JPMC Affiliated 
QPAM will not be treated as having failed to develop, implement, 
maintain, or follow the Policies, provided that it corrects any 
instance of noncompliance promptly when discovered, or when it 
reasonably should have known of the noncompliance (whichever is 
earlier), and provided that it adheres to the reporting requirements 
set forth in this subparagraph (vii);
    (2) Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM must develop and implement a program of training (the 
Training), conducted at least annually, for all relevant JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, compliance, 
and internal audit personnel. The Training must be set forth in the 
Policies and, at a minimum, cover the Policies, ERISA and Code 
compliance (including applicable fiduciary duties and the prohibited 
transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the consequences for not 
complying with the conditions of this temporary exemption (including 
any loss of exemptive relief provided herein), and prompt reporting of 
wrongdoing;
    (i)(1) Effective as of the effective date of this temporary 
exemption, with respect to any arrangement, agreement, or contract 
between a JPMC Affiliated QPAM and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA for 
which a JPMC Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM agrees:
    (i) To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable, with respect 
to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA; to refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions); and to comply with 
the standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of 
ERISA, as applicable, with respect to each such ERISA-covered plan and 
IRA;
    (ii) Not to require (or otherwise cause) the ERISA covered plan or 
IRA to waive, limit, or qualify the liability of the JPMC Affiliated 
QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code or engaging in prohibited 
transactions;
    (iii) Not to require the ERISA-covered plan or IRA (or sponsor of 
such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner of such IRA) to indemnify 
the JPMC Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code, or engaging 
in prohibited transactions, except for violations or prohibited 
transactions caused by an error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a 
plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan fiduciary, which is 
independent of JPMC and its affiliates;
    (iv) Not to restrict the ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
to terminate or withdraw from its arrangement with the JPMC Affiliated 
QPAM (including any investment in a separately managed account or 
pooled fund subject to ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with the 
exception of reasonable restrictions, appropriately disclosed in 
advance, that are specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment 
of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or 
termination may have adverse consequences for all other investors as a 
result of the actual lack of liquidity of the underlying assets, 
provided that such restrictions are applied consistently and in like 
manner to all such investors;
    (v) Not to impose any fee, penalty, or charge for such termination 
or withdrawal, with the exception of reasonable fees, appropriately 
disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to prevent 
generally recognized abusive investment practices, or specifically 
designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in a pooled 
fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have adverse 
consequences for all other investors, provided that each such fee is 
applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors;
    (vi) Not to include exculpatory provisions disclaiming or otherwise 
limiting liability of the JPMC Affiliated QPAM for a violation of such 
agreement's terms, except for liability caused by an error, 
misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party 
hired by the plan fiduciary which is independent of JPMC, and its 
affiliates; and
    (vii) To indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
for any damages resulting from a violation of applicable laws, a breach 
of contract, or any claim arising out of the failure of such JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM to qualify for the exemptive relief provided by

[[Page 83359]]

PTE 84-14 as a result of a violation of Section I (g) of PTE 84-14 
other than the Conviction;
    (2) Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM will provide a notice of its obligations under this 
Section I(i) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA for which a JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary 
fiduciary services;
    (j) The JPMC Affiliated QPAMs must comply with each condition of 
PTE 84-14, as amended, with the sole exception of the violation of 
Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 that is attributable to the Conviction;
    (k) Each JPMC Affiliated QPAM will maintain records necessary to 
demonstrate that the conditions of this temporary exemption have been 
met, for six (6) years following the date of any transaction for which 
such JPMC Affiliated QPAM relies upon the relief in the temporary 
exemption;
    (l) During the effective period of this temporary exemption, JPMC: 
(1) Immediately discloses to the Department any Deferred Prosecution 
Agreement (a DPA) or Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) with the U.S. 
Department of Justice to the extent such DPA or NPA involves conduct 
described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 or section 411 of ERISA; and
    (2) Immediately provides the Department any information requested 
by the Department, as permitted by law, regarding the agreement and/or 
the conduct and allegations that led to the agreement; and
    (m) A JPMC Affiliated QPAM or a JPMC Related QPAM will not fail to 
meet the terms of this temporary exemption solely because a different 
JPMC Affiliated QPAM or JPMC Related QPAM fails to satisfy a condition 
for relief under this temporary exemption, as described in Sections 
I(c), (d), (h), (i), (j) and (k).
Section II: Definitions
    (a) The term ``JPMC Affiliated QPAM'' means a ``qualified 
professional asset manager'' (as defined in Section VI(a) \39\ of PTE 
84-14) that relies on the relief provided by PTE 84-14 and with respect 
to which JPMC is a current or future ``affiliate'' (as defined in 
Section VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14). The term ``JPMC Affiliated QPAM'' 
excludes the parent entity, JPMC, the division directly implicated by 
the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction.
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    \39\ In general terms, a QPAM is an independent fiduciary that 
is a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or 
investment adviser that meets certain equity or net worth 
requirements and other licensure requirements, and has acknowledged 
in a written management agreement that it is a fiduciary with 
respect to each plan that has retained the QPAM.
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    (b) The term ``JPMC Related QPAM'' means any current or future 
``qualified professional asset manager'' (as defined in section VI(a) 
of PTE 84-14) that relies on the relief provided by PTE 84-14, and with 
respect to which JPMC owns a direct or indirect five percent or more 
interest, but with respect to which JPMC is not an ``affiliate'' (as 
defined in Section VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14).
    (c) The terms ``ERISA-covered plan'' and ``IRA'' mean, 
respectively, a plan subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA and a plan 
subject to section 4975 of the Code;
    (d) The term ``JPMC'' means JPMorgan Chase and Co., the parent 
entity, but does not include any subsidiaries or other affiliates;
    (e) The term ``Conviction'' means the judgment of conviction 
against JPMC for violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 1, 
which is scheduled to be entered in the District Court for the District 
of Connecticut (the District Court) (Case Number 3:15-cr-79-SRU), in 
connection with JPMC, through one of its euro/U.S. dollar (EUR/USD) 
traders, entering into and engaging in a combination and conspiracy to 
fix, stabilize, maintain, increase or decrease the price of, and rig 
bids and offers for, the EUR/USD currency pair exchanged in the FX spot 
market by agreeing to eliminate competition in the purchase and sale of 
the EUR/USD currency pair in the United States and elsewhere. For all 
purposes under this temporary exemption, ``conduct'' of any person or 
entity that is the ``subject of [a] Conviction'' encompasses any 
conduct of JPMC and/or their personnel, that is described in the Plea 
Agreement, (including the Factual Statement), and other official 
regulatory or judicial factual findings that are a part of this record; 
and
    (f) The term ``Conviction Date'' means the date that a judgment of 
Conviction against JPMC is entered by the District Court in connection 
with the Conviction.
    Effective Date: This proposed temporary exemption will be effective 
for the period beginning on the Conviction Date until the earlier of: 
(1) The date that is twelve (12) months following the Conviction Date; 
or (2) the effective date of final agency action made by the Department 
in connection with an application for long-term exemptive relief for 
the covered transactions described herein.
    Department's Comment: The Department is publishing this proposed 
temporary exemption in order to protect ERISA-covered plans and IRAs 
from certain costs and/or investment losses that may arise to the 
extent entities with a corporate relationship to JPMC lose their 
ability to rely on PTE 84-14 as of the Conviction Date, as described 
below. Elsewhere today in the Federal Register, the Department is also 
proposing a five-year proposed exemption that would provide the same 
relief that is described herein, but for a longer effective period. The 
five-year proposed exemption is subject to enhanced conditions and a 
longer comment period. Comments received in response to this proposed 
temporary exemption will be considered in connection with the 
Department's determination whether or not to grant such five-year 
exemption.
    The proposed exemption would provide relief from certain of the 
restrictions set forth in sections 406 and 407 of ERISA. No relief from 
a violation of any other law would be provided by this exemption 
including any criminal conviction described herein.
    Furthermore, the Department cautions that the relief in this 
proposed exemption would terminate immediately if, among other things, 
an entity within the JPMC corporate structure is convicted of a crime 
described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 (other than the Conviction) 
during the effective period of the exemption. While such an entity 
could apply for a new exemption in that circumstance, the Department 
would not be obligated to grant the exemption. The terms of this 
proposed exemption have been specifically designed to permit plans to 
terminate their relationships in an orderly and cost effective fashion 
in the event of an additional conviction or a determination that it is 
otherwise prudent for a plan to terminate its relationship with an 
entity covered by the proposed exemption.

Summary of Facts and Representations \40\
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    \40\ The Summary of Facts and Representations is based on the 
Applicant's representations, unless indicated otherwise.
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Background

    1. JPMC is a financial holding company and global financial 
services firm, incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in New York, 
New York, with approximately 240,000 employees and operations in over 
60 countries. According to the Applicant, JPMC provides a variety of 
services, including investment banking, financial services for 
consumers and small business, commercial banking, financial transaction 
processing, and asset management.

[[Page 83360]]

    The Applicant represents that JPMC's principal bank subsidiaries 
are: (a) JPMorgan Chase Bank, a national banking association wholly 
owned by JPMC, with U.S. branches in 23 states; and (b) Chase Bank USA, 
National Association, a national banking association that is JPMC's 
credit card-issuing bank. The Applicant also represents that two of 
JPMC's principal non-bank subsidiaries are its investment bank 
subsidiary, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and its primary investment 
management subsidiary, J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (JPMIM). 
The bank and nonbank subsidiaries of JPMC operate internationally 
through overseas branches and subsidiaries, representative offices and 
subsidiary foreign banks.
    The Applicant explains that entities within the JPMC's asset 
management line of business (Asset Management) serve institutional and 
retail clients worldwide through the Global Investment Management (GIM) 
and Global Wealth Management (GWM) businesses. The Applicant represents 
that JPMC's Asset Management line of business had total client assets 
of about $2.4 trillion and discretionary assets under management of 
approximately $1.7 trillion at the end of 2014.\41\
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    \41\ In addition to its Asset Management line of business, the 
Applicant represents that JPMC operates three other core lines of 
business. They are: Consumer and Community Banking Services; 
Corporate and Investment Banking Services; and Commercial Banking 
Services.
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    2. The Applicant represents that JPMC has several affiliates that 
provide investment management services.\42\ JPMorgan Chase Bank and 
most of the U.S. registered advisers manage the assets of ERISA-covered 
plans and/or IRAs on a discretionary basis. They routinely rely on the 
QPAM Exemption to provide relief for party in interest transactions. 
According to the Applicant, the primary domestic bank and U.S. 
registered adviser affiliates in which JPMC owns a significant 
interest, directly or indirectly, include the following: JPMorgan Chase 
Bank, N.A.; JPMorgan Investment Management Inc.; J.P. Morgan Securities 
LLC; JF International Management Inc.; J.P. Morgan Alternative Asset 
Management, Inc.; Highbridge Capital Management, LLC; and Security 
Capital Research & Management Incorporated. These are the entities that 
currently would be covered by the exemption, if it is granted.
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    \42\ Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14 defines an ``affiliate'' of a 
person, for purposes of Section I(g), as: (1) Any person directly or 
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling, 
controlled by, or under common control with the person, (2) any 
director of, relative of, or partner in, any such person, (3) any 
corporation, partnership, trust or unincorporated enterprise of 
which such person is an officer, director, or a 5 percent or more 
partner or owner, and (4) any employee or officer of the person 
who--(A) is a highly compensated employee (as defined in section 
4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) or officer (earning 10 percent or more of 
the yearly wages of such person), or (B) has direct or indirect 
authority, responsibility or control regarding the custody, 
management or disposition of plan assets.
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    3. In addition to the QPAMs identified above, the Applicant has 
other affiliated managers that meet the definition of a QPAM that do 
not currently manage ERISA or IRA assets on a discretionary basis, but 
may in the future, including: J.P. Morgan Partners, LLC; Sixty Wall 
Street Management Company LLC; J.P. Morgan Private Investments Inc.; 
J.P. Morgan Asset Management (UK) Limited; JPMorgan Funds Limited; and 
Bear Stearns Asset Management, Inc. The Applicant requests that 
affiliates that manage ERISA or IRA assets be covered by the exemption. 
The Applicant also acquires and creates new affiliates frequently, and 
to the extent that these new affiliates meet the definition of a QPAM 
and manage ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, the Applicant requests that 
these entities be covered by the exemption. The Applicant represents 
that JPMC owns, directly or indirectly, a 5% or greater interest in 
certain investment managers (and may in the future own similar 
interests in other managers), but such managers are not affiliated in 
the sense that JPMC has actual control over their operations and 
activities. JPMC does not have the authority to exercise a controlling 
influence over these investment managers and is not involved with the 
managers' clients, strategies, or ERISA assets under management, if 
any.\43\ The Applicant requests that these entities also be covered by 
the proposed temporary exemption.
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    \43\ Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14 defines an ``affiliate'' of a 
person, for purposes of Section I(g), as: (1) Any person directly or 
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling, 
controlled by, or under common control with the person, (2) any 
director of, relative of, or partner in, any such person, (3) any 
corporation, partnership, trust or unincorporated enterprise of 
which such person is an officer, director, or a 5 percent or more 
partner or owner, and (4) any employee or officer of the person 
who--(A) is a highly compensated employee (as defined in section 
4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) or officer (earning 10 percent or more of 
the yearly wages of such person), or (B) has direct or indirect 
authority, responsibility or control regarding the custody, 
management or disposition of plan assets.
    Section VI(e) of PTE 84-14 defines the term ``control'' as the 
power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or 
policies of a person other than an individual.
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    4. On May 20, 2015, the Applicant filed an application for 
exemptive relief from the prohibitions of sections 406(a) and 406(b) of 
ERISA, and the sanctions resulting from the application of section 4975 
of the Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1) of the Code, in connection 
with a conviction that would make the relief in PTE 84-14 unavailable 
to any current or future JPMC-related investment managers.
    On May 20, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice (Department of 
Justice) filed a criminal information in the U.S. District Court for 
the District of Connecticut (the District Court) against JPMC, charging 
JPMC with a one-count violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 
1 (the Information). The Information charges that, from at least as 
early as July 2010 until at least January 2013, JPMC, through one of 
its euro/U.S. dollar (EUR/USD) traders, entered into and engaged in a 
combination and conspiracy to fix, stabilize, maintain, increase or 
decrease the price of, and rig bids and offers for, the EUR/USD 
currency pair exchanged in the FX spot market by agreeing to eliminate 
competition in the purchase and sale of the EUR/USD currency pair in 
the United States and elsewhere. The criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Conviction involved near daily conversations, some of 
which were in code, in an exclusive electronic chat room used by 
certain EUR/USD traders, including the EUR/USD trader described herein.
    5. JPMC sought to resolve the charges through a Plea Agreement 
presented to the District Court on May 20, 2015. Under the Plea 
Agreement, JPMC agreed to enter a plea of guilty to the charge set out 
in the Information (the Plea). In addition, JPMC has made an admission 
of guilt to the District Court. The Applicant expects that the District 
Court will enter a judgment against JPMC that will require remedies 
that are materially the same as those set forth in the Plea Agreement.
    Pursuant to the Plea Agreement, the District Court will order a 
term of probation and JPMC will be subject to certain conditions. 
First, JPMC must not commit another crime in violation of the federal 
laws of the United States or engage in the Conduct set forth in 
Paragraphs 4(g)-(i) of the Plea Agreement during the term of probation, 
and shall make disclosures relating to certain other sales-related 
practices. Second, JPMC must notify the probation officer upon learning 
of the commencement of any federal criminal investigation in which JPMC 
is a target, or of any federal criminal prosecution against it. Third, 
JPMC must implement and must continue to implement a compliance program 
designed to prevent and detect the criminal conduct that is the subject 
of the Conviction.

[[Page 83361]]

Fourth, JPMC must further strengthen its compliance and internal 
controls as required by the CFTC, the Financial Conduct Authority 
(FCA), and any other regulatory or enforcement agencies that have 
addressed the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction, 
as set forth in the factual basis section of the Plea Agreement, and 
report to the probation officer and the United States, upon request, 
regarding its remediation and implementation of any compliance program 
and internal controls, policies, and procedures that relate to the 
conduct described in the factual basis section of the Plea Agreement.
    6. Pursuant to the Plea Agreement, JPMC must promptly bring to the 
Department of Justice Antitrust Division's attention: (a) All credible 
information regarding criminal violations of U.S. antitrust laws by the 
defendant or any of its employees as to which the JPMC's Board of 
Directors, management (that is, all supervisors within the bank), or 
legal and compliance personnel are aware; (b) all federal criminal or 
regulatory investigations in which the defendant is a subject or a 
target, and all administrative or regulatory proceedings or civil 
actions brought by any federal governmental authority in the United 
States against the defendant or its employees, to the extent that such 
investigations, proceedings or actions allege violations of U.S. 
antitrust laws.
    7. Pursuant to the Plea Agreement, JPMC must promptly bring to the 
Department of Justice Criminal Division, Fraud Section's attention: (a) 
All credible information regarding criminal violations of U.S. law 
concerning fraud, including securities or commodities fraud by the 
defendant or any of its employees as to which the JPMC's Board of 
Directors, management (that is, all supervisors within the bank), or 
legal and compliance personnel are aware; and (b) all criminal or 
regulatory investigations in which JPMC is or may be a subject or a 
target, and all administrative proceedings or civil actions brought by 
any governmental authority in the United States against JPMC or its 
employees, to the extent such investigations, proceedings or actions 
allege violations of U.S. law concerning fraud, including securities or 
commodities fraud.
    Pursuant to Paragraph 9(c) of the Plea Agreement, the Department of 
Justice agreed ``that it [would] support a motion or request by [JPMC] 
that sentencing in this matter be adjourned until the Department of 
Labor has issued a ruling on the defendant's request for an exemption . 
. . .'' According to the Applicant, sentencing has not yet occurred in 
the District Court, nor has sentencing been scheduled.
    8. Along with the Department of Justice, the Board of Governors of 
the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency (OCC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and 
the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have conducted or have been 
conducting investigations into the practices of JPMC and its direct and 
indirect subsidiaries relating to FX trading.
    The FRB issued a cease and desist order on May 20, 2015, against 
JPMC concerning unsafe and unsound banking practices relating to JPMC's 
FX business and requiring JPMC to cease and desist, assessing against 
JPMC a civil money penalty of $342,000,000, and requiring JPMC to agree 
to take certain affirmative actions (FRB Order).
    The OCC issued a cease and desist order on November 11, 2014, 
against JPMorgan Chase Bank concerning deficiencies and unsafe or 
unsound practices relating to JPMorgan Chase Bank's wholesale FX 
business and requiring JPMorgan Chase Bank to cease and desist, 
ordering JPMorgan Chase Bank to pay a civil money penalty of 
$350,000,000, and requiring JPMorgan Chase Bank to agree to take 
certain affirmative actions (OCC Order).
    The CFTC issued a cease and desist order on November 11, 2014, 
against JPMorgan Chase Bank relating to certain FX trading activities 
and requiring JPMorgan Chase Bank to cease and desist from violating 
certain provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act, ordering JPMorgan 
Chase Bank to pay a civil monetary penalty of $310,000,000, and 
requiring JPMorgan Chase Bank to agree to certain conditions and 
undertakings (CFTC Order).
    The FCA issued a warning notice on November 11, 2014, against 
JPMorgan Chase Bank for failing to control business practices in its 
G10 spot FX trading operations and caused JPMorgan Chase Bank to pay a 
financial penalty of [pound]222,166,000 (FCA Order).
    9. In addition to the investigations described above, relating to 
FX trading, the Applicant is or has been the subject of other 
investigations, by: (a) The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, which 
concluded its investigation of the Applicant on December 14, 2014, and 
found no evidence of collusion among the banks investigated, rigging of 
FX benchmarks published in Hong Kong, or market manipulation, and 
imposed no financial penalties on the Applicant; (b) the South Africa 
Reserve Bank, which released the report of its inquiry of the Applicant 
on October 19, 2015, and found no evidence of widespread malpractice or 
serious misconduct by the Applicant in the South Africa FX market, and 
noted that most authorized dealers have acceptable arrangements and 
structures in place as well as whistle-blowing policies and client 
complaint processes; (c) the Australian Securities & Investments 
Commission, (d) the Japanese Financial Services Agency, (e) the Korea 
Fair Trade Commission, and (f) the Swiss Competition Commission. 
According to the Applicant, it is cooperating with the inquiries by 
these organizations.
    In addition, the French criminal authorities have been 
investigating a series of transactions involving senior managers of 
Wendel Investissement (Wendel) during the period 2004-2007. In 2007, 
the Paris branch of JPMorgan Chase Bank provided financing for the 
transactions to Wendel managers. The Applicant explains that JPMC is 
responding to and cooperating with the investigation, and to date, no 
decision or indictment has been made by the French court.
    In addition, the Applicant represents that the Criminal Division of 
the Department of Justice is investigating the Applicant's compliance 
with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other laws with respect the 
Applicant's hiring practices related to candidates referred by clients, 
potential clients, and government officials, and its engagement of 
consultants in the Asia Pacific region. The Applicant states that it is 
responding to and cooperating with this investigation.
    The Applicant also represents that to its best knowledge, it does 
not have a reasonable basis to believe that the discretionary asset 
management activities of any affiliated QPAM are subject to the 
aforementioned investigations. Further, the Applicant represents that 
JPMC currently does not have a reasonable basis to believe that there 
are any pending criminal investigations involving JPMC or any of its 
affiliated companies that would cause a reasonable plan or IRA customer 
not to hire or retain the institution as a QPAM.
    10. Once the Conviction is entered, the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs and 
the JPMC Related QPAMs, as well as their client plans that are subject 
to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA (ERISA-covered plans) or section 4975 of 
the Code (IRAs), will no longer be able to rely on PTE 84-14, pursuant 
to the anti-criminal rule set forth in section I(g) of the class 
exemption, absent an individual exemption. The Applicant is seeking an 
individual exemption that would permit the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs and 
the JPMC Related QPAMs, and their ERISA-

[[Page 83362]]

covered plan and IRA clients to continue to utilize the relief in PTE 
84-14, notwithstanding the anticipated Conviction, provided that such 
QPAMs satisfy the additional conditions imposed by the Department in 
the proposed temporary exemption herein.
    11. According to the Applicant, the criminal conduct giving rise to 
the Plea did not involve any of the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs acting in the 
capacity of investment manager or trustee. JPMC represents that its 
participation in the antitrust conspiracy described in the Plea 
Agreement is limited to a single EUR/USD trader in London. The 
Applicant represents that the criminal conduct that is the subject of 
the Conviction was not widespread, nor was it pervasive; rather it was 
isolated to a single trader. No current or former personnel from JPMC 
or its affiliates have been sued individually in this matter for the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction, and the 
individual referenced in the Complaint as responsible for such criminal 
conduct is no longer employed by JPMC or its affiliates.\44\
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    \44\ The Applicant has confirmed with JPMC's Human Resources 
Department that the individual referenced in the Complaint is no 
longer employed with any entity within JPMC or its affiliates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Applicant submits that the criminal conduct that is the subject 
of the Conviction did not involve any of JPMC's asset management staff. 
The Applicant represents that: (a) Other than a single individual who 
worked for a non-fiduciary business within JPMorgan Chase Bank and who 
had no responsibility for, and exercised no authority in connection 
with, the management of plan assets, the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs, and the 
JPMC Related QPAMs (including officers, directors, agents other than 
JPMC, and employees of such QPAMs who had responsibility for, or 
exercised authority in connection with, the management of plan assets) 
did not know of, did not have reason to know of, and did not 
participate in the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Conviction; and (b) no current or former employee of JPMC or of any 
JPMC Affiliated QPAM who previously has been or who subsequently may be 
identified by JPMC, or any U.S. or non-U.S. regulatory or enforcement 
agencies, as having been responsible for the such criminal conduct has 
or will have any involvement in providing asset management services to 
plans and IRAs or will be an officer, director, or employee of the 
Applicant or of any JPMC Affiliated QPAM.\45\
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    \45\ The Applicant states that counsel for JPMC confirmed that 
the individual responsible for the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Conviction is not currently employed by any entity 
that is part of JPMC. This individual's employment has been 
terminated and a notation has been made in his employment file to 
ensure he is not re-hired at any future date.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    12. According to the Applicant, the transactions covered by the 
temporary exemption include the full range of everyday investment 
transactions that a plan might enter into, including the purchase and 
sale of debt and equity securities, both foreign and domestic, both 
registered and sold under Rule 144A or otherwise (e.g., traditional 
private placement), pass-through securities, asset-backed securities, 
the purchase and sale of commodities, futures, forwards, options, 
swaps, stable value wrap contracts, real estate, real estate financing 
and leasing, foreign repurchase agreements, foreign exchange, and other 
investments, and the hedging of risk through a variety of investment 
instruments and strategies. The Applicant states that these 
transactions are customary for the industry and investment managers 
routinely rely on the QPAM Exemption to enter into them.
    13. The Applicant represents that the investment management 
businesses that are operated out of the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs are 
separated from the non-investment management businesses of the 
Applicant. Each of these investment management businesses, including 
the investment management business of JPMorgan Chase Bank (as well as 
the agency securities lending business of JPMorgan Chase Bank), have 
systems, management, dedicated risk and compliance officers and legal 
coverage that are separate from the foreign exchange trading activities 
that were the subject of the Plea Agreement.
    The Applicant represents that the investment management businesses 
of the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs are subject to policies and procedures and 
JPMC Affiliated QPAM personnel engage in training designed to ensure 
that such businesses understand and manage their fiduciary duties in 
accordance with applicable law. Thus, the Applicant maintains that the 
management of plan assets is conducted separately from: (a) The non-
investment management business activities of the Applicant, including 
the investment banking, treasury services and other investor services 
businesses of the Corporate & Investment Bank business of the Applicant 
(CIB); and/or (b) the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Plea 
Agreement. Generally, the policies and procedures create information 
barriers, which prevent employees of the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs from 
gaining access to inside information that an affiliate may have 
acquired or developed in connection with investment banking, treasury 
services or other investor services business activities. These policies 
and procedures apply to employees, officers, and directors of the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAMs. The Applicant maintains an employee hotline for 
employees to express any concerns of wrongdoing anonymously.
    The Applicant represents that, to the best of its knowledge: (a) No 
JPMC employees are involved in the trading decisions or investment 
strategies of the JPMC Affiliated or Related QPAMs; (b) the JPMC 
Affiliated and Related QPAMs do not consult with JPMC employees prior 
to making investment decisions on behalf of plans; (c) JPMC does not 
control the asset management decisions of the JPMC Affiliated or 
Related QPAMs; (d) the JPMC Affiliated and Related QPAMs do not need 
JPMC's consent to make investment decisions, correct errors, or adopt 
policies or training for staff; and (e) there is no interaction between 
JPMC employees and the JPMC Affiliated or Related QPAMs in connection 
with the investment management activities of the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs.

Statutory Findings--In the Interest of Affected Plans and IRAs

    14. The Applicant represents that, if the proposed temporary 
exemption is denied, the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs may be unable to manage 
efficiently the strategies for which they have contracted with 
thousands of plans and IRAs. Transactions currently dependent on the 
QPAM Exemption could be in default and be terminated at a significant 
cost to the plans. In particular, the Applicant represents that the 
JPMC Affiliated QPAMs have entered, and could in the future enter, into 
contracts on behalf of, or as investment adviser of, ERISA-covered 
plans, collective trusts and other funds subject to ERISA for certain 
outstanding transactions, including but not limited to: The purchase 
and sale of debt and equity securities, both foreign and domestic, both 
registered and sold under Rule 144A or otherwise (e.g., traditional 
private placement); pass-through securities; asset-backed securities; 
and the purchase and sale of commodities, futures, options, stable 
value wrap contracts, real estate, foreign repurchase agreements, 
foreign exchange, and other investments.
    The JPMC Affiliated QPAMs also have entered into, and could in the 
future enter into, contracts for other transactions such as swaps, 
forwards, and real estate financing and leasing on

[[Page 83363]]

behalf of their ERISA clients. According to the Applicant, these and 
other strategies and investments require the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs to 
meet the conditions in the QPAM Exemption. The Applicant states that 
certain derivatives transactions and other contractual agreements 
automatically and immediately could be terminated without notice or 
action, or could become subject to termination upon notice from a 
counterparty, in the event the Applicant no longer qualifies for relief 
under the QPAM Exemption.
    15. The Applicant represents that real estate transactions, for 
example, could be subject to significant disruption without the QPAM 
Exemption. Clients of the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs have over $27 billion 
in ERISA and public plan assets in commingled funds invested in real 
estate strategies, with approximately 235 holdings. Many transactions 
in these accounts rely on Parts I, II and III of the QPAM Exemption as 
a backup to the collective investment fund exemption (which may become 
unavailable to the extent a related group of plans has a greater than 
10% interest in the collective investment fund). The Applicant 
estimates that there would be significant loss in value if assets had 
to be quickly liquidated--over a 10% bid-ask spread--in addition to 
substantial reinvestment costs and opportunity costs. There could also 
be prepayment penalties. In addition, real estate transactions are 
affected in funds that are not deemed to hold plan assets under 
applicable law. While funds may have other available exemptions for 
certain transactions, that fact could change in the future.
    16. The JPMC Affiliated QPAMs also rely on the QPAM Exemption when 
buying and selling fixed income products. Stable value strategies, for 
example, rely on the QPAM Exemption to enter into wrappers and 
insurance contracts that permit the assets to be valued at book value. 
Many counterparties specifically require a representation that the QPAM 
Exemption applies, and those contracts could be in default if the 
requested exemption were not granted. Depending on the market value of 
the assets in these funds at the time of termination, such termination 
could result in losses to the stable value funds. The Applicant states 
that, while the market value currently exceeds book value, that can 
change at any time, and could result in market value adjustments to 
withdrawing plans and withdrawal delays under their contracts.
    17. The Applicant submits that nearly 400 accounts managed by the 
JPMC Affiliated QPAMs (including commingled funds and separately 
managed accounts) invest in fixed income products, with a total 
portfolio of approximately $49.3 billion in market value of ERISA and 
public plan assets in commingled funds. Fixed income strategies in 
which those accounts are invested include investment-grade short, 
intermediate, and long duration bonds, as well as securitized products, 
and high yield and emerging market investments. If the QPAM Exemption 
were lost, the Applicant estimates that its clients could incur average 
weighted liquidation costs of approximately 65 basis points of the 
total market value in fixed income products, assuming normal market 
conditions where the holdings can be liquidated at a normal bid-offer 
spread without significant widening. While short and intermediate term 
bonds could be liquidated for between 15-50 basis points, long duration 
bonds may be more difficult to liquidate and costs may range from 75-
100 basis points. Costs of liquidating high-yield and emerging market 
investments could range from 75-150 basis points. Such costs do not 
include reinvestment costs for transitioning to a new manager.
    18. The Applicant states that, futures, options, and cleared and 
bilateral swaps, which certain strategies rely on to hedge risk and 
obtain certain exposures on an economic basis, rely on the QPAM 
Exemption. The Applicant further states that the QPAM Exemption is 
particularly important for securities and other instruments that may be 
traded on a principal basis, such as mortgage-backed securities, 
corporate debt, municipal debt, other U.S. fixed income securities, 
Rule 144A securities, non-US fixed income securities, non-US equity 
securities, U.S. and non-US over-the-counter instruments such as 
forwards and options, structured products and FX.
    19. The Applicant represents that plans that decide to continue to 
employ the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs could be prohibited from engaging in 
certain transactions that would be beneficial to such plans, such as 
hedging transactions using over-the-counter options or derivatives. 
Counterparties to such transactions are far more comfortable with the 
QPAM Exemption than any other exemption, and a failure of the QPAM 
Exemption to be available could trigger a default or early termination 
by the plan or pooled trust. Even if other exemptions are available to 
such counterparties, the Applicant predicts that the cost of the 
transaction might increase to reflect any lack of comfort in 
transacting business using a less familiar exemption. The Applicant 
represents that plans may also face collateral consequences, such as 
missed investment opportunities, administrative delay, and the cost of 
investing in cash pending reinvestments.
    20. The Applicant represents that, to the extent that plans and 
IRAs believe they need to withdraw from their arrangements, they could 
incur significant transaction costs, including costs associated with 
the liquidation of investments, finding new asset managers, and the 
reinvestment of plan assets.\46\ The Applicant believes that the 
transaction costs to plans of changing managers are significant, 
especially for many of the strategies employed by the JPMC Affiliated 
QPAMs. The Applicant also represents that, depending on the strategy, 
the cost of liquidating assets in connection with transitioning clients 
to another manager could be significant.\47\ The process for 
transitioning to a new manager typically is lengthy, and likely would 
involve numerous steps--each of which could last several months--
including retaining a consultant, engaging in the request for 
proposals, negotiating contracts, and ultimately transitioning assets. 
In addition, securities transactions would incur transaction-related 
expenses.
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    \46\ The Department notes that, if this temporary exemption is 
granted, compliance with the condition in Section I(i) of the 
exemption would require the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs to hold their plan 
customers harmless for any losses attributable to, inter alia, any 
prohibited transactions or violations of the duty of prudence and 
loyalty.
    \47\ According to the Applicant: Some investments are more 
liquid than others (e.g., Treasury bonds generally are more liquid 
than foreign sovereign bonds and equities generally are more liquid 
than swaps); some of the strategies followed by the Applicant tend 
to be less liquid than certain other strategies and, thus, the cost 
of a transition would be significantly higher than, for example, 
liquidating a large cap equity portfolio; and particularly hard hit 
would be the real estate separate account strategies, which are 
illiquid and highly dependent on the QPAM Exemption.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Statutory Findings--Protective of the Rights of Participants of 
Affected Plans and IRAs

    21. The Applicant has proposed certain conditions it believes are 
protective of participants and beneficiaries of ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs with respect to the transactions described herein. The Department 
has determined that it is necessary to modify and supplement the 
conditions before it can tentatively determine that the requested 
exemption meets the statutory requirements of section 408(a) of ERISA. 
In this regard, the Department has tentatively determined that the 
following

[[Page 83364]]

conditions adequately protect the rights of participants and 
beneficiaries of affected plans and IRAs with respect to the 
transactions that would be covered by this temporary exemption.
    The exemption, if granted as proposed, is only available to the 
extent: (a) Other than with respect to a single individual who worked 
for a non-fiduciary business within JPMorgan Chase Bank and who had no 
responsibility for, and exercised no authority in connection with, the 
management of plan assets, the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs, including their 
officers, directors, agents other than JPMC, and employees of such JPMC 
Affiliated QPAMs, did not know of, have reason to know of, or 
participate in the criminal conduct of JPMC that is the subject of the 
Conviction (Again, for purposes of the foregoing condition, the term 
``participate in'' includes the knowing or tacit approval of the 
misconduct underlying the Conviction.); (b) any failure of those QPAMs 
to satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 arose solely from the Conviction; 
and (c) other than a single individual who worked for a non-fiduciary 
business within JPMorgan Chase Bank and who had no responsibility for, 
and exercised no authority in connection with, the management of plan 
assets, the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs and the JPMC Related QPAMs (including 
their officers, directors, agents other than JPMC, and employees of 
such JPMC QPAMs) did not receive direct compensation, or knowingly 
receive indirect compensation, in connection with the criminal conduct 
that is the subject of the Conviction.
    22. The Department expects the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs to rigorously 
ensure that the individual associated with the criminal conduct of JPMC 
will not be employed or knowingly engaged by such QPAMs. In this 
regard, the temporary exemption, if granted as proposed, mandates that 
the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs will not employ or knowingly engage any of 
the individuals that participated in the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Conviction. For purposes of this condition, the term 
``participated in'' includes the knowing or tacit approval of the 
misconduct underlying the Conviction.
    23. Further, the JPMC Affiliated QPAM will not use its authority or 
influence to direct an ``investment fund,'' (as defined in Section 
VI(b) of PTE 84-14), that is subject to ERISA or the Code and managed 
by such JPMC Affiliated QPAM to enter into any transaction with JPMC or 
the Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank, or to engage 
JPMC or the Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank to 
provide any service to such investment fund, for a direct or indirect 
fee borne by such investment fund, regardless of whether such 
transaction or service may otherwise be within the scope of relief 
provided by an administrative or statutory exemption.
    24. The JPMC Affiliated QPAMs and the JPMC Related QPAMs must 
comply with each condition of PTE 84-14, as amended, with the sole 
exception of the violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 that is 
attributable to the Conviction. Further, any failure of the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAMs or the JPMC Related QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 arose solely from the Conviction.
    No relief will be provided by the temporary exemption to the extent 
that a JPMC Affiliated QPAM or a JPMC Related QPAM exercised authority 
over plan assets in a manner that it knew or should have known would: 
Further the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction; or 
cause the JPMC QPAM or its affiliates or related parties to directly or 
indirectly profit from the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Conviction.
    Further, no relief will be provided to the extent JPMC or the 
Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank provides any 
discretionary asset management services to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, 
or otherwise acts as a fiduciary with respect to ERISA-covered plan or 
IRA assets.
    25. The Department believes that robust policies and training are 
warranted where, as here, the criminal misconduct has occurred within a 
corporate organization that is affiliated with one or more QPAMs 
managing plan assets in reliance on PTE 84-14. Therefore, this proposed 
temporary exemption requires that within four (4) months of the date of 
the Conviction, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM must develop, implement, 
maintain, and follow written policies and procedures (the Policies) 
requiring and reasonably designed to ensure that: The asset management 
decisions of the JPMC Affiliated QPAM are conducted independently of 
the corporate management and business activities of JPMC, including the 
Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank; the JPMC Affiliated 
QPAM fully complies with ERISA's fiduciary duties, and with ERISA and 
the Code's prohibited transaction provisions, and does not knowingly 
participate in any violation of these duties and provisions with 
respect to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs; the JPMC Affiliated QPAM does 
not knowingly participate in any other person's violation of ERISA or 
the Code with respect to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs; any filings or 
statements made by the JPMC Affiliated QPAM to regulators, including, 
but not limited to, the Department, the Department of the Treasury, the 
Department of Justice, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, on 
behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, are materially accurate and 
complete, to the best of such QPAM's knowledge at that time; the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM does not make material misrepresentations or omit 
material information in its communications with such regulators with 
respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients; and the JPMC Affiliated QPAM 
complies with the terms of this temporary exemption. Any violation of, 
or failure to comply with these items is corrected promptly upon 
discovery, and any such violation or compliance failure not promptly 
corrected is reported, upon discovering the failure to promptly 
correct, in writing, to appropriate corporate officers, the head of 
compliance, and the General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of 
the relevant JPMC Affiliated QPAM, and an appropriate fiduciary of any 
affected ERISA-covered plan or IRA, which fiduciary is independent of 
JPMC.
    26. The Department has also imposed a condition that requires each 
JPMC Affiliated QPAM, within four (4) months of the date of the 
Conviction, to develop and implement a program of training (the 
Training), conducted at least annually, for all relevant JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, compliance, 
and internal audit personnel. The Training must be set forth in the 
Policies and, at a minimum, cover the Policies, ERISA and Code 
compliance (including applicable fiduciary duties and the prohibited 
transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the consequences for not 
complying with the conditions of this temporary exemption, (including 
any loss of exemptive relief provided herein), and prompt reporting of 
wrongdoing.
    27. This temporary exemption requires the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs to 
enter into certain contractual obligations in connection with the 
provision of services to their clients. It is the Department's view 
that the condition for exemptive relief requiring these contractual 
obligations is essential to the Department's ability to make its 
findings that the proposed temporary

[[Page 83365]]

exemption is protective of the rights of the participants and 
beneficiaries of ERISA-covered and IRA plan clients of JPMC Affiliated 
QPAMs under section 408(a) of ERISA.
    In this regard, effective as of the effective date of this 
temporary exemption, with respect to any arrangement, agreement, or 
contract between a JPMC Affiliated QPAM and an ERISA-covered plan or 
IRA for which a JPMC Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM agrees: (a) 
To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable, with respect to such 
ERISA-covered plan or IRA, to refrain from engaging in prohibited 
transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly correct any 
inadvertent prohibited transactions), and to comply with the standards 
of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of ERISA, as 
applicable, with respect to each such ERISA-covered plan and IRA; (b) 
not to require (or otherwise cause) the ERISA covered plan or IRA to 
waive, limit, or qualify the liability of the JPMC Affiliated QPAM for 
violating ERISA or the Code or engaging in prohibited transactions; (c) 
not to require the ERISA-covered plan or IRA (or sponsor of such ERISA-
covered plan or beneficial owner of such IRA) to indemnify the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code, or engaging in 
prohibited transactions, except for violations or prohibited 
transactions caused by an error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a 
plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan fiduciary, which is 
independent of JPMC, and its affiliates; (d) not to restrict the 
ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA to terminate or withdraw from 
its arrangement with the JPMC Affiliated QPAM (including any investment 
in a separately managed account or pooled fund subject to ERISA and 
managed by such QPAM), with the exception of reasonable restrictions, 
appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to 
ensure equitable treatment of all investors in a pooled fund in the 
event such withdrawal or termination may have adverse consequences for 
all other investors as a result of the actual lack of liquidity of the 
underlying assets, provided that such restrictions are applied 
consistently and in like manner to all such investors; (e) not to 
impose any fee, penalty, or charge for such termination or withdrawal, 
with the exception of reasonable fees, appropriately disclosed in 
advance, that are specifically designed to prevent generally recognized 
abusive investment practices, or specifically designed to ensure 
equitable treatment of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such 
withdrawal or termination may have adverse consequences for all other 
investors, provided that each such fee is applied consistently and in 
like manner to all such investors; (f) not to include exculpatory 
provisions disclaiming or otherwise limiting liability of the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM for a violation of such agreement's terms, except for 
liability caused by an error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a 
plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan fiduciary which is 
independent of JPMC, and its affiliates; and (g) to indemnify and hold 
harmless the ERISA-covered plan or IRA for any damages resulting from a 
violation of applicable laws, a breach of contract, or any claim 
arising out of the failure of such JPMC Affiliated QPAM to qualify for 
the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-14 as a result of a violation 
of Section I (g) of PTE 84-14 other than the Conviction.
    28. Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM will provide a notice of its obligations under this 
Section I(i) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA for which a JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary 
fiduciary services. In addition, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM must 
maintain records necessary to demonstrate that the conditions of this 
temporary exemption have been met for six (6) years following the date 
of any transaction for which such JPMC Affiliated QPAM relies upon the 
relief in the temporary exemption.
    29. Furthermore, the proposed temporary exemption mandates that, 
during the effective period of this temporary exemption, JPMC must 
immediately disclose to the Department any Deferred Prosecution 
Agreement (a DPA) or a Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) that JPMC or 
an affiliate enters into with the Department of Justice, to the extent 
such DPA or NPA involves conduct described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 
or section 411 of ERISA. In addition, JPMC or an affiliate must 
immediately provide the Department any information requested by the 
Department, as permitted by law, regarding the agreement and/or conduct 
and allegations that led to the agreement.
    30. The proposed exemption would provide relief from certain of the 
restrictions set forth in Section 406 and 407 of ERISA. Such a granted 
exemption would not provide relief from any other violation of law. 
Pursuant to the terms of this proposed exemption, any criminal 
conviction not expressly described herein, but otherwise described in 
Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 and attributable to the Applicant for 
purposes of PTE 84-14, would result in the Applicant's loss of this 
exemption.

Statutory Findings--Administratively Feasible

    31. The Applicant represents that the proposed temporary exemption 
is administratively feasible because it does not require any monitoring 
by the Department. In addition, the limited effective duration of the 
temporary exemption provides the Department with the opportunity to 
determine whether long-term exemptive relief is warranted, without 
causing sudden and potentially costly harm to ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs.
    32. Given the revised and new conditions described above, the 
Department has tentatively determined that the relief sought by the 
Applicant satisfies the statutory requirements for a temporary 
exemption under section 408(a) of ERISA.

Notice to Interested Persons

    Written comments and requests for a public hearing on the proposed 
temporary exemption should be submitted to the Department within seven 
(7) days from the date of publication of this Federal Register notice. 
Given the short comment period, the Department will consider comments 
received after such date, in connection with its consideration of more 
permanent relief.
    Warning: Do not include any personally identifiable information 
(such as name, address, or other contact information) or confidential 
business information that you do not want publicly disclosed. All 
comments may be posted on the Internet and can be retrieved by most 
Internet search engines.

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

Barclays Capital Inc. (BCI or the Applicant), Located in New York, New 
York

[Application No. D-11862]

Proposed Temporary Exemption

    The Department is considering granting a temporary exemption under 
the authority of section 408(a) of Employee Retirement Income Security 
Act of 1974, as amended, (ERISA or the Act) and section 4975(c)(2) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and in 
accordance

[[Page 83366]]

with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (76 FR 
66637, 66644, October 27, 2011).\48\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ For purposes of this proposed temporary exemption, 
references to section 406 of Title I of the Act, unless otherwise 
specified, refer as well to the corresponding provisions of section 
4975 of the Code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section I: Covered Transactions
    If the proposed temporary exemption is granted, the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAMs and the Barclays Related QPAMs, as defined in Sections 
II(a) and II(b), respectively, will not be precluded from relying on 
the exemptive relief provided by Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-14 
(PTE 84-14 or the QPAM Exemption),\49\ notwithstanding a judgment of 
conviction against Barclays PLC (BPLC) (the Conviction), as defined in 
Section II(c)),\50\ for engaging in a conspiracy to: (1) Fix the price 
of, or (2) eliminate competition in the purchase or sale of the euro/
U.S. dollar currency pair exchanged in the Foreign Exchange (FX) Spot 
Market. This temporary exemption will be effective for a period of up 
to twelve (12) months beginning on the Conviction Date (as defined in 
Section II(e)), provided the following conditions are satisfied:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \49\ 49 FR 9494 (March 13, 1984), as corrected at 50 FR 41430 
(October 10, 1985), as amended at 70 FR 49305 (August 23, 2005), and 
as amended at 75 FR 38837 (July 6, 2010).
    \50\ Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 generally provides that 
``[n]either the QPAM nor any affiliate thereof . . . nor any owner . 
. . of a 5 percent or more interest in the QPAM is a person who 
within the 10 years immediately preceding the transaction has been 
either convicted or released from imprisonment, whichever is later, 
as a result of'' certain felonies including violation of the Sherman 
Antitrust Act, Title 15 United States Code, Section 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (a) Other than certain individuals who: Worked for a non-fiduciary 
business within BCI; had no responsibility for, and exercised no 
authority in connection with, the management of plan assets; and are no 
longer employed by BCI, the Barclays Affiliated QPAMs (including their 
officers, directors, agents other than BPLC, and employees of such 
QPAMs who had responsibility for, or exercised authority in connection 
with the management of plan assets) did not know of, have reason to 
know of, or participate in the criminal conduct that is the subject of 
the Conviction (for purposes of this paragraph (a), ``participate in'' 
includes the knowing or tacit approval of the misconduct underlying the 
Conviction);
    (b) The Barclays Affiliated QPAMs and the Barclays Related QPAMs 
(including their officers, directors, agents other than BPLC, and 
employees of such QPAMs) did not receive direct compensation, or 
knowingly receive indirect compensation, in connection with the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction;
    (c) The Barclays Affiliated QPAMs will not employ or knowingly 
engage any of the individuals that participated in the criminal conduct 
that is the subject of the Conviction (for purposes of this paragraph 
(c), ``participated in'' includes the knowing or tacit approval of the 
misconduct underlying the Conviction);
    (d) A Barclays Affiliated QPAM will not use its authority or 
influence to direct an ``investment fund,'' (as defined in Section 
VI(b) of PTE 84-14) that is subject to ERISA or the Code and managed by 
such Barclays Affiliated QPAM, to enter into any transaction with BPLC 
or BCI, or to engage BPLC or BCI, to provide any service to such 
investment fund, for a direct or indirect fee borne by such investment 
fund, regardless of whether such transaction or service may otherwise 
be within the scope of relief provided by an administrative or 
statutory exemption;
    (e) Any failure of a Barclays Affiliated QPAM or a Barclays Related 
QPAM to satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 arose solely from the 
Conviction;
    (f) A Barclays Affiliated QPAM or a Barclays Related QPAM did 
exercise authority over the assets of any plan subject to Part 4 of 
Title I of ERISA (an ERISA-covered plan) or section 4975 of the Code 
(an IRA) in a manner that it knew or should have known would: further 
the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction; or cause 
the Barclays Affiliate QPAM or the Barclays Related QPAM, or its 
affiliates or related parties to directly or indirectly profit from the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction;
    (g) BPLC and BCI will not provide discretionary asset management 
services to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, nor will otherwise act as a 
fiduciary with respect to ERISA-covered plan and IRA assets;
    (h)(1) Prior to a Barclays Affiliated QPAM's engagement by any 
ERISA-covered plan or IRA for discretionary asset management services, 
the Barclays Affiliated QPAM must develop, implement, maintain, and 
follow written policies and procedures (the Policies) requiring and 
reasonably designed to ensure that:
    (i) The asset management decisions of the Barclays Affiliated QPAM 
are conducted independently of the corporate management and business 
activities of BPLC and BCI;
    (ii) The Barclays Affiliated QPAM fully complies with ERISA's 
fiduciary duties and with ERISA and the Code's prohibited transaction 
provisions, and does not knowingly participate in any violations of 
these duties and provisions with respect to ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs;
    (iii) The Barclays Affiliated QPAM does not knowingly participate 
in any other person's violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to 
ERISA-covered plans and IRAs;
    (iv) Any filings or statements made by the Barclays Affiliated QPAM 
to regulators, including but not limited to, the Department of Labor, 
the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the 
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans 
or IRAs are materially accurate and complete, to the best of such 
QPAM's knowledge at that time;
    (v) The Barclays Affiliated QPAM does not make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with such regulators with respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or 
make material misrepresentations or omit material information in its 
communications with ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients;
    (vi) The Barclays Affiliated QPAM complies with the terms of this 
temporary exemption; and
    (vii) Any violation of, or failure to comply with, an item in 
subparagraphs (ii) through (vi), is corrected promptly upon discovery, 
and any such violation or compliance failure not promptly corrected is 
reported, upon discovering the failure to promptly correct, in writing, 
to appropriate corporate officers, the head of compliance, and the 
General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of the relevant 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM, and an appropriate fiduciary of any affected 
ERISA-covered plan or IRA where such fiduciary is independent of BPLC; 
however, with respect to any ERISA-covered plan or IRA sponsored by an 
``affiliate'' (as defined in Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14) of BPLC or 
beneficially owned by an employee of BPLC or its affiliates, such 
fiduciary does not need to be independent of BPLC. A Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM will not be treated as having failed to develop, 
implement, maintain, or follow the Policies, provided that it corrects 
any instance of noncompliance promptly when discovered or when it 
reasonably should have known of the noncompliance (whichever is 
earlier), and provided that it adheres to the reporting requirements 
set forth in this subparagraph (vii);
    (2) Prior to a Barclays Affiliated QPAM's engagement by any ERISA 
covered plan or IRA for discretionary asset management services, the 
Barclays

[[Page 83367]]

Affiliated QPAM must develop and implement a program of training (the 
Training), conducted at least annually, for all relevant Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, compliance, 
and internal audit personnel. The Training must be set forth in the 
Policies and, at a minimum, cover the Policies, ERISA and Code 
compliance (including applicable fiduciary duties and the prohibited 
transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the consequences for not 
complying with the conditions of this temporary exemption (including 
any loss of exemptive relief provided herein), and prompt reporting of 
wrongdoing;
    (i) Effective as of the effective date of this temporary exemption 
with respect to any arrangement, agreement, or contract between a 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA for which 
such Barclays Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services, each Barclays Affiliated QPAM agrees:
    (1) To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable with respect 
to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA; to refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions); and to comply with 
the standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of ERISA 
with respect to each such ERISA-covered plan and IRA;
    (2) Not to require (or otherwise cause) the ERISA-covered plan or 
IRA to waive, limit, or qualify the liability of the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code or engaging in 
prohibited transactions;
    (3) Not to require the ERISA-covered plan or IRA (or sponsor of 
such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner of such IRA) to indemnify 
the Barclays Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or engaging in 
prohibited transactions, except for violations or prohibited 
transactions caused by an error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a 
plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan fiduciary who is 
independent of BPLC, and its affiliates;
    (4) Not to restrict the ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
to terminate or withdraw from its arrangement with the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM (including any investment in a separately managed 
account or pooled fund subject to ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with 
the exception of reasonable restrictions, appropriately disclosed in 
advance, that are specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment 
of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or 
termination may have adverse consequences for all other investors as a 
result of an actual lack of liquidity of the underlying assets, 
provided that such restrictions are applied consistently and in like 
manner to all such investors;
    (5) Not to impose any fees, penalties, or charges for such 
termination or withdrawal with the exception of reasonable fees, 
appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to 
prevent generally recognized abusive investment practices or 
specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in 
a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have 
adverse consequences for all other investors, provided that such fees 
are applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors;
    (6) Not to include exculpatory provisions disclaiming or otherwise 
limiting liability of the Barclays Affiliated QPAM for a violation of 
such agreement's terms, except for liability caused by an error, 
misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party 
hired by the plan fiduciary who is independent of BPLC, and its 
affiliates; and
    (7) To indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
for any damages resulting from a violation of applicable laws, a breach 
of contract, or any claim arising out of the failure of such Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM to qualify for the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-
14 as a result of a violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 other than 
the Conviction.
    Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM will provide a notice of its obligations under this 
Section I(i) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA for which a Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary 
fiduciary services;
    (j) The Barclays Affiliated QPAMs comply with each condition of PTE 
84-14, as amended, with the sole exceptions of the violations of 
Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 that are attributable to the Conviction;
    (k) Each Barclays Affiliated QPAM will maintain records necessary 
to demonstrate that the conditions of this temporary exemption have 
been met, for six (6) years following the date of any transaction for 
which such Barclays Affiliated QPAM relies upon the relief in the 
temporary exemption;
    (l) During the effective period of this temporary exemption, BPLC: 
(1) Immediately discloses to the Department any Deferred Prosecution 
Agreement (a DPA) or Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) that BPLC or an 
affiliate enters into with the U.S. Department of Justice, to the 
extent such DPA or NPA involves conduct described in Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 or section 411 of ERISA; and
    (2) Immediately provides the Department any information requested 
by the Department, as permitted by law, regarding the agreement and/or 
the conduct and allegations that led to the agreements; and
    (m) A Barclays Affiliated QPAM or a Barclays Related QPAM will not 
fail to meet the terms of this temporary exemption solely because a 
different Barclays Affiliated QPAM or Barclays Related QPAM fails to 
satisfy a condition for relief under this temporary exemption, 
described in Sections I(c), (d), (h), (i), (j) and (k).
Section II: Definitions
    (a) The term ``Barclays Affiliated QPAM'' means a ``qualified 
professional asset manager'' (as defined in Section VI(a) \51\ of PTE 
84-14) that relies on the relief provided by PTE 84-14 and with respect 
to which BPLC is a current or future ``affiliate'' (as defined in 
Section VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14). The term ``Barclays Affiliated QPAM'' 
excludes BPLC and BCI.
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    \51\ In general terms, a QPAM is an independent fiduciary that 
is a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or 
investment adviser that meets certain equity or net worth 
requirements and other licensure requirements and that has 
acknowledged in a written management agreement that it is a 
fiduciary with respect to each plan that has retained the QPAM.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) The term ``Barclays Related QPAM'' means any current or future 
``qualified professional asset manager'' (as defined in Section VI(a) 
of PTE 84-14) that relies on the relief provided by PTE 84-14, and with 
respect to which BPLC owns a direct or indirect five percent or more 
interest, but with respect to which BPLC is not an ``affiliate'' (as 
defined in Section VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14).
    (c) The terms ``ERISA-covered plan'' and ``IRA'' mean, 
respectively, a plan subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA and a plan 
subject to section 4975 of the Code;
    (d) The term ``BPLC'' means Barclays PLC, the parent entity, and 
does not include any subsidiaries or other affiliates;
    (e) The term ``Conviction'' means the judgment of conviction 
against BPLC for violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 1, 
which is scheduled to be entered in the District Court for the District 
of Connecticut (the District Court), Case Number 3:15-cr-00077-SRU-1, 
in connection with BPLC,

[[Page 83368]]

through certain of its euro/U.S. dollar (EUR/USD) traders, entering 
into and engaging in a combination and conspiracy to fix, stabilize, 
maintain, increase or decrease the price of, and rig bids and offers 
for, the EUR/USD currency pair exchanged in the FX spot market by 
agreeing to eliminate competition in the purchase and sale of the EUR/
USD currency pair in the United States and elsewhere. For all purposes 
under this temporary exemption, ``conduct'' of any person or entity 
that is the ``subject of [a] Conviction'' encompasses any conduct of 
BPLC and/or their personnel, that is described in the Plea Agreement, 
(including the Factual Statement), and other official regulatory or 
judicial factual findings that are a part of this record; and
    (f) The term ``Conviction Date'' means the date that a judgment of 
Conviction against BPLC is entered by the District Court in connection 
with the Conviction.
    Effective Date: This proposed temporary exemption will be effective 
for the period beginning on the Conviction Date until the earlier of: 
the date that is twelve months following the Conviction Date; or the 
effective date of a final agency action made by the Department in 
connection with an application for long-term exemptive relief for the 
covered transactions described herein.
    Department's Comment: The Department is publishing this proposed 
temporary exemption in order to protect ERISA-covered plans and IRAs 
from certain costs and/or investment losses that may arise to the 
extent entities with a corporate relationship to BPLC lose their 
ability to rely on PTE 84-14 as of the Conviction Date, as described 
below. Elsewhere today in the Federal Register, the Department is also 
proposing a five-year proposed exemption that would provide the same 
relief that is described herein, but for a longer effective period. The 
five-year proposed exemption is subject to enhanced conditions and a 
longer comment period. Comments received in response to this proposed 
temporary exemption will be considered in connection with the 
Department's determination whether or not to grant such five-year 
exemption.
    The proposed exemption would provide relief from certain of the 
restrictions set forth in sections 406 and 407 of ERISA. No relief from 
a violation of any other law would be provided by this exemption.
    Furthermore, the Department cautions that the relief in this 
proposed exemption would terminate immediately if, among other things, 
an entity within the BPLC corporate structure is convicted of a crime 
described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 (other than the Conviction) 
during the effective period of the exemption. While such an entity 
could apply for a new exemption in that circumstance, the Department 
would not be obligated to grant the exemption. The terms of this 
proposed exemption have been specifically designed to permit plans to 
terminate their relationships in an orderly and cost effective fashion 
in the event of an additional conviction or a determination that it is 
otherwise prudent for a plan to terminate its relationship with an 
entity covered by the proposed exemption.

Summary of Facts and Representations \52\
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    \52\ The Summary of Facts and Representations is based on the 
Applicant's representations, unless indicated otherwise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Background

    1. BCI is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934, as amended, and was, until December 28, 2015, an 
investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 
1940, as amended. As a registered broker-dealer, BCI is regulated by 
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Financial Industry 
Regulatory Authority.
    BCI is incorporated in the State of Connecticut and headquartered 
in New York, with 18 U.S. branch offices. BCI is wholly-owned by 
Barclays Group US Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC, 
which, in turn, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BPLC, a non-operating 
holding company.
    Barclays Bank PLC wholly owns, indirectly, one bank subsidiary in 
the United States--Barclays Bank Delaware, a Delaware chartered 
commercial bank supervised and regulated by the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation, the Delaware Office of the State Bank 
Commissioner and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Barclays 
Bank Delaware does not manage ERISA plan or IRA assets currently, but 
may do so in the future.
    BPLC's asset management business, Barclays Wealth and Investment 
Management (BWIM), offers wealth management products and services for 
many types of clients, including individual and institutional clients. 
BWIM operates through over 20 offices worldwide. Prior to December 4, 
2015, BWIM functioned in the United States through BCI.
    On December 4, 2015, BCI consummated a sale of its U.S. operations 
of BWIM, including Barclays Wealth Trustees, to Stifel Financial Corp. 
As a result of the transaction, as of that date, neither BCI nor any of 
its affiliates continued to manage ERISA-covered plan or IRA assets.
    2. On May 20, 2015, the Department of Justice filed a one-count 
criminal information (the Information) in the United States District 
Court for the District of Connecticut charging BPLC, an affiliate of 
BCI, with participating in a combination and a conspiracy to fix, 
stabilize, maintain, increase or decrease the price of, and rig bids 
and offers for, Euro/USD currency pairs exchanged in the foreign 
currency exchange spot market by agreeing to eliminate competition in 
the purchase and sale of such currency pairs in the United States and 
elsewhere, in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 1. For 
example, BPLC engaged in communications with other financial services 
firms in an electronic chat room limited to specific EUR/USD traders, 
each of whom was employed, at certain times, by one of the financial 
services firms engaged in the FX Spot Market.
    BPLC also participated in a conspiracy to decrease competition in 
the purchase and sale of the EUR/USD currency pair. BPLC and other 
financial services firms coordinated the trading of the EUR/USD 
currency pair in connection with certain benchmark currency ``fixes'' 
which occurred at specific times each trading day. In addition, BPLC 
and other financial services firms refrained from certain trading 
behavior, by withholding bids and offers, when another firm held an 
open risk position, so that the price of the currency traded would not 
move in a direction adverse to the firm with the open risk position.
    Also, on May 20, 2015, pursuant to a plea agreement (the Plea 
Agreement), BPLC entered a plea of guilty for the violation of Sherman 
Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 1. Under the Plea Agreement, BPLC pled guilty 
to the charge set out in the Information. The judgment of Conviction 
has not yet been entered.
    BPLC paid a criminal fine of $710 million to the Department of 
Justice, of which $650 million is attributable to the charge set out in 
the Information. The remaining $60 million is attributable to conduct 
covered by the non-prosecution agreement that BPLC entered into on June 
26, 2012, with the Criminal Division, Fraud Section of the Department 
of Justice related to BPLC's submissions of benchmark interest rates, 
including the London InterBank Offered Rate (known as LIBOR). In 
addition, Barclays Bank PLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BPLC, entered 
into a settlement agreement with the U.K.

[[Page 83369]]

Financial Conduct Authority to pay a monetary penalty of [pound]284.432 
million ($440.9 million).
    As part of the settlement, Barclays Bank PLC consented to the entry 
of an Order Instituting Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 6(c)(4)(A) and 
6(d) of the Commodity Exchange Act, Making Findings, and Imposing 
Remedial Sanctions by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) 
imposing a civil money penalty of $400 million (the CFTC Order). In 
addition, Barclays Bank PLC and its New York branch consented to the 
entry of an Order to Cease and Desist and Order of Assessment of a 
Civil Money Penalty Issued Upon Consent Pursuant to the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act, as Amended, by the Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System (the Federal Reserve) imposing a civil money penalty of 
$342 million (the Board Order). Barclays Bank PLC and its New York 
branch also consented to the entry of a Consent Order under New York 
Bank Law 44 and 44-a by the New York Department of Financial Services 
(DFS) imposing a civil money penalty of $485 million \53\ (the DFS 
Order and, together with the Plea Agreement, the CFTC Order and the 
Board Order, the FX Settlements).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \53\ On November 17, 2015, Barclays Bank PLC announced that it 
had reached a subsequent settlement with DFS in respect of its 
investigation into Barclays Bank PLC's electronic trading of FX and 
FX electronic trading system, that it had agreed to pay a civil 
money penalty of $150 million and that Barclays Bank PLC would take 
certain remedial steps, including submission of a proposed 
remediation plan concerning the underlying conduct to the 
independent consultant who was initially installed pursuant to a 
Memorandum of Understanding entered between Barclays Bank PLC and 
DFS, and whose engagement terminated February 19, 2016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. In addition to the settlements described above, relating to FX 
trading, in July 2015, the Israeli tax authorities commenced a criminal 
investigation relating to the Value Added Tax returns of Barclays Bank 
PLC in Israel. The Applicant represents that the investigation is 
ongoing, and the outcome is anticipated to be a non-material financial 
penalty.
    In addition, the Applicant represents that Barclays Italy is the 
subject of three separate criminal proceedings before the Tribunal of 
Rome, which stem from individual allegations of usury, fraud and 
forgery in connection with a mortgage, and embezzlement. With respect 
to this investigation, Applicant also anticipates the outcome will be a 
non-material financial penalty.

    The Applicant represents that to the best of its knowledge, it 
does not have a reasonable basis to believe that the discretionary 
activities of any affiliated QPAM are the subject of the 
investigation or the criminal proceedings discussed above. The 
Applicant also represents that it does not have a reasonable basis 
to believe that any pending criminal investigation involving the 
Applicant or its affiliates would cause a reasonable plan or IRA 
customer not to hire or retain a QPAM affiliated with the 
Applicant.\54\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \54\ According to the Applicant, for further information related 
to both criminal and civil matters involving BPLC, BPLC's most 
recent litigation-related disclosure can be found in note 19 
(``Legal, competition and regulatory matters'') to the ``Results of 
Barclays PLC Group as of, and for the six months ended, 30 June 
2016,'' filed as exhibit 99.1 to a Form 6-K (Report of Foreign 
Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934), filed by BPLC with the U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission on July 29, 2016. The Applicant also notes that 
this disclosure does not specifically describe certain confidential 
investigations resulting from BPLC's reporting of certain conduct 
that may be criminal to enforcement authorities but as to which BPLC 
would not expect to be the subject of an indictment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Failure To Comply With Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 and Proposed Relief

    4. PTE 84-14 is a class exemption that permits certain transactions 
between a party in interest with respect to an employee benefit plan 
and an investment fund in which the plan has an interest and which is 
managed by a ``qualified professional asset manager'' (QPAM), if the 
conditions of the exemption are satisfied. These conditions include 
Section I(g), which precludes a person who may otherwise meet the 
definition of a QPAM from relying on the relief provided by PTE 84-14 
if that person or its ``affiliate'' \55\ has, within 10 years 
immediately preceding the transaction, been either convicted or 
released from imprisonment, whichever is later, as a result of certain 
specified criminal activity described therein.\56\ The Department notes 
that a QPAM, and those who may be in a position to influence its 
policies, are expected to maintain a high standard of integrity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \55\ Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14 defines the term ``affiliate'' 
for purposes of Section I(g) as ``(1) Any person directly or 
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling, 
controlled by, or under common control with the person, (2) Any 
director of, relative of, or partner in, any such person, (3) Any 
corporation, partnership, trust or unincorporated enterprise of 
which such person is an officer, director, or a 5 percent or more 
partner or owner, and (4) Any employee or officer of the person 
who--(A) Is a highly compensated employee (as defined in Section 
4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) or officer (earning 10 percent or more of 
the yearly wages of such person), or (B) Has direct or indirect 
authority, responsibility or control regarding the custody, 
management or disposition of plan assets.''
    \56\ For purposes of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14, a person shall 
be deemed to have been ``convicted'' from the date of the judgment 
of the trial court, regardless of whether that judgment stands on 
appeal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    5. The Applicant represents that BPLC is currently affiliated 
(within the meaning of Part VI(d) of PTE 84-14) with only two entities 
that could meet the definition of ``QPAM'' in Part VI(a) of PTE 84-14, 
namely Barclays Bank Delaware and Barclays Bank PLC, New York Branch, 
both of which are subject to its control (within the meaning of Part 
VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14). The Applicant states that BPLC or a subsidiary 
may, in the future, invest in non-controlled, minimally related QPAMs 
that could constitute Barclays Related QPAMs, as defined in the 
proposed exemption.\57\ The Applicant states that it may acquire a new 
affiliate at any time, and creates new affiliates frequently, in either 
case that could constitute Barclays Affiliated QPAMs or Barclays 
Related QPAMs, as defined in the proposed exemption. To the extent that 
these new affiliates manage ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, these future 
affiliates would also be covered by the exemption.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \57\ For example, the Applicant states that BPLC may provide 
seed investments for new managers in exchange for minority 
interests. However, the Applicant points out that these managers, 
which had nothing to do with the conduct underlying the Conviction, 
would be unable to rely on PTE 84-14 for the benefit of their plan 
clients absent such relief.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    However, the exemption described herein does not extend to the 
convicted entity, BPLC, or BCI. Regarding BCI, according to the 
Applicant, the New York Department of Financial Services referred to 14 
people who DFS believed should be sanctioned in some way. According to 
Barclays' human resources records, seven of those individuals were line 
managers with some supervisory authority at some point during the 
relevant time period. Five of those individuals were employed by both 
Barclays Bank PLC and BCI. Nine of the fourteen worked, at one time or 
another, in New York. The Department views BCI's level of involvement 
in the misconduct that gave rise to the Conviction as unacceptable, and 
is not proposing relief herein for that entity to act as a QPAM.

Remedial Actions To Address the Criminal Conduct of BPLC--Pursuant to 
the Plea Agreement

    6. The Applicant states that the Department of Justice and BPLC 
negotiated a settlement reflected in the Plea Agreement, in which BPLC 
agreed to lawfully undertake the following pursuant to the Plea 
Agreement:
    (a) Payment by BPLC of a total monetary penalty in the amount of 
$710 million;
    (b) During the probation term of three years, BPLC will not commit 
another crime under U.S. federal law or engage

[[Page 83370]]

in the conduct that gave rise to the Plea Agreement;
    (c) BPLC will notify the probation officer upon learning of the 
commencement of any federal criminal investigation in which BPLC is a 
target, or federal criminal prosecution against it;
    (d) During the probation term, BPLC will prominently post and 
maintain on its Web site and, within 30 days after BPLC pleads guilty, 
make best efforts to send spot FX customers and counterparties (other 
than customers and counterparties who BPLC can establish solely engaged 
in buying or selling foreign currency through its consumer bank units 
and not its spot FX sales or trading staff) a retrospective disclosure 
notice regarding certain historical conduct involving FX Spot Market 
transactions with customers via telephone, email and/or electronic 
chat;
    (e) BPLC will implement a compliance program designed to prevent 
and detect the conduct underlying the Plea Agreement throughout its 
operations including those of its affiliates and subsidiaries and 
provide an annual progress report to the Department of Justice and the 
probation officer;
    (f) BPLC will further strengthen its compliance and internal 
controls as required by the CFTC and the U.K. Financial Conduct 
Authority and any other regulatory or enforcement agencies that have 
addressed the conduct underlying the Plea Agreement, which shall 
include, but not be limited to, a thorough review of the activities and 
decision-making by employees of BPLC's legal and compliance functions 
with respect to the historical conduct underlying the Plea Agreement, 
and promptly report to the Department of Justice and the probation 
officer all of its remediation efforts required by these agencies, as 
well as remediation and implementation of any compliance program and 
internal controls, policies and procedures related to the criminal 
conduct underlying the Plea Agreement;
    (g) BPLC will report to the Department of Justice all credible 
information regarding criminal violations of U.S. antitrust laws and of 
U.S. law concerning fraud, including securities or commodities fraud, 
by BPLC or any of its employees, as to which BPLC's Board of Directors, 
management (that is, all supervisors within the bank), or legal and 
compliance personnel are aware;
    (h) BPLC will bring to the Antitrust Division's attention all 
federal criminal investigations in which BPLC is identified as a 
subject or a target, and all administrative or regulatory proceedings 
or civil actions brought by any federal or state governmental authority 
in the United States against BPLC or its employees, to the extent that 
such investigations, proceedings or actions allege facts that could 
form the basis of a criminal violation of U.S. antitrust laws, and also 
bring to the Criminal Division, Fraud Section's attention all federal 
criminal or regulatory investigations in which BPLC is identified as a 
subject or a target, and all administrative or regulatory proceedings 
or civil actions brought by any federal governmental authority in the 
United States against BPLC or its employees, to the extent that such 
investigations, proceedings or actions allege violation of U.S. law 
concerning fraud, including securities or commodities fraud;
    (i) BPLC and all of the entities in which BPLC had, indirectly or 
directly, a greater than 50% ownership interest as of the date of the 
Plea Agreement, including Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays Capital 
Services Ltd. (i.e., the Related Entities), will cooperate fully and 
truthfully with the Department of Justice in its investigation and 
prosecution of the conduct underlying the Plea Agreement, or any other 
currency pair in the FX Spot Market, or any foreign exchange forward, 
foreign exchange option or other foreign exchange derivative, or other 
financial product, to the extent such other financial product has been 
disclosed to the Department of Justice (excluding a certain sealed 
investigation). This will include producing non-privileged non-
protected materials, wherever located; using its best efforts to secure 
continuing cooperation of the current or former directors, officers and 
employees of BPLC and its Related Entities; and identifying witnesses 
who, to BPLC's knowledge, may have material information regarding the 
matters under investigation;
    (j) During the probation term, BPLC will cooperate fully with the 
Department of Justice and any other law enforcement authority or 
government agency designated by the Department of Justice, in a manner 
consistent with applicable law and regulations, with regard to a 
certain sealed investigation.
    (k) BPLC must expeditiously seek relief from the Department by 
filing an application for the QPAM Exemption and will provide all 
information requested by the Department in a timely manner.

Remedial Actions To Address the Criminal Conduct of BPLC Subject to the 
Conviction--Structural Enhancements

    7. The Applicant represents that BPLC and its subsidiaries and 
affiliates, including Barclays Bank PLC and its New York branch 
(collectively, the Bank) have implemented and will continue to 
implement policies and procedures designed to prevent the recurrence of 
the conduct that is the subject of the FX Settlements as required by 
the Plea Agreement.

Remedial Actions To Address the Criminal Conduct of BPLC Subject to the 
Conviction--Additional Structural Enhancements

    8. The Applicant states that the Bank has made substantial 
investments in the independent, external review of its governance, 
operational model, and risk and control programs, conducted by Sir 
Anthony Salz, including interviews of more than 600 employees, clients, 
and competitors, as well as consideration of more than 9,000 responses 
to an internal staff survey. The Applicant represents that the Bank has 
taken steps to clearly articulate its policies and values and 
disseminate that information firm-wide through trainings.
    The Applicant states that the Bank continues to develop a strong 
institutionalized framework of supervision and accountability running 
from the desk level to the top of the organization. The Applicant 
represents that the Bank continues to institute an enhanced global 
compliance and controls system, supported by substantial financial and 
human resources, and charged with enforcing and continually monitoring 
adherence to BPLC's policies.

Statutory Findings--Protective of the Rights of Participants of 
Affected Plans and IRAs

    9. The Applicant proposed certain conditions it believes are 
protective of the rights of participants and beneficiaries of ERISA-
covered plans and IRAs with respect to the transactions described 
herein. The Department has determined to revise and supplement the 
proposed conditions so that it can make its required finding that the 
requested exemption is protective of the rights of participants and 
beneficiaries of affected plans and IRAs. In this regard, the 
Department has tentatively determined that the following conditions 
adequately protect the rights of participants and beneficiaries of 
affected plans and IRAs with respect to the transactions that

[[Page 83371]]

would be covered by this temporary exemption.
    10. Relief under this proposed exemption is only available to the 
extent: (a) Other than with respect to certain individuals who worked 
for a non-fiduciary business within BCI and who had no responsibility 
for, and exercised no authority in connection with, the management of 
plan assets, the Barclays Affiliated QPAMs, including their officers, 
directors, agents other than BPLC and employees of such Barclays 
Affiliated QPAMs, did not know of, have reason to know of, or 
participate in the criminal conduct of BPLC that is the subject of the 
Conviction (for purposes of this condition, the term ``participated 
in'' includes the knowing or tacit approval of the misconduct 
underlying the Conviction); (b) any failure of those QPAMs to satisfy 
Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 arose solely from the Conviction; and (c) the 
Barclays Affiliated QPAMs and the Barclays Related QPAMs (including 
their officers, directors, agents other than BPLC, and employees of 
such QPAMs) did not receive direct compensation, or knowingly receive 
indirect compensation, in connection with the criminal conduct that is 
the subject of the Conviction.
    11. The Department expects the Barclays Affiliated QPAMs to 
rigorously ensure that the individuals associated with the criminal 
conduct of BPLC will not be employed or knowingly engaged by such 
QPAMs. In this regard, the temporary exemption, if granted as proposed, 
mandates that the Barclays Affiliated QPAMs will not employ or 
knowingly engage any of the individuals that participated in criminal 
conduct that is the subject of the Conviction. Again, for purposes of 
this condition, the term ``participated in'' includes the knowing or 
tacit approval of the misconduct underlying the Conviction.
    Further, the Barclays Affiliated QPAM will not use its authority or 
influence to direct an ``investment fund,'' (as defined in Section 
VI(b) of PTE 84-14), that is subject to ERISA or the Code and managed 
by such Barclays Affiliated QPAM, to enter into any transaction with 
BPLC or BCI, or to engage BPLC or BCI, to provide any service to such 
investment fund, for a direct or indirect fee borne by such investment 
fund, regardless of whether such transaction or service may otherwise 
be within the scope of relief provided by an administrative or 
statutory exemption.
    12. The Barclays Affiliated QPAMs and Barclays Related QPAMs must 
comply with each condition of PTE 84-14, as amended, with the sole 
exception of the violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 that is 
attributable to the Conviction. Further, any failure of the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAMs or the Barclays Related QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) 
of PTE 84-14 arose solely from the Conviction.
    13. No relief will be provided by the temporary exemption to the 
extent that a Barclays Affiliated QPAM or a Barclays Related QPAM 
exercised authority over the assets of an ERISA-covered plan or IRA in 
a manner that it knew or should have known would: Further the criminal 
conduct that is the subject of the Conviction; or cause the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM or the Barclays Related QPAM, affiliates, or related 
parties to directly or indirectly profit from the criminal conduct that 
is the subject of the Conviction. Further, no relief will be provided 
to the extent BPLC or BCI provides any discretionary asset management 
services to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or otherwise acts as a 
fiduciary with respect to ERISA-covered plan and IRA assets.
    13. The Department believes that robust policies and training are 
warranted where, as here, the criminal misconduct has occurred within a 
corporate organization that is affiliated with one or more QPAMs 
managing plan or IRA assets in reliance on PTE 84-14. Therefore, this 
proposed temporary exemption requires that prior to a Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM's engagement by any ERISA-covered plan or IRA for 
discretionary asset management services, each Barclays Affiliated QPAM 
must develop, implement, maintain, and follow written policies and 
procedures (the Policies) requiring and reasonably designed to ensure 
that: The asset management decisions of the Barclays Affiliated QPAM 
are conducted independently of the corporate management and business 
activities of BPLC and BCI; the Barclays Affiliated QPAM fully complies 
with ERISA's fiduciary duties, and with ERISA and the Code's prohibited 
transaction provisions, and does not knowingly participate in any 
violations of these duties and provisions with respect to ERISA-covered 
plans and IRAs; the Barclays Affiliated QPAM does not knowingly 
participate in any other person's violation of ERISA or the Code with 
respect to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs; any filings or statements made 
by the Barclays Affiliated QPAM to regulators, including but not 
limited to, the Department, the Department of the Treasury, the 
Department of Justice, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, on 
behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs are materially accurate and 
complete, to the best of such QPAM's knowledge at that time; the 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM does not make material misrepresentations or 
omit material information in its communications with such regulators 
with respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients; and the Barclays Affiliated 
QPAM complies with the terms of this temporary exemption. Any violation 
of, or failure to comply with, these items is corrected promptly upon 
discovery, and any such violation or compliance failure not promptly 
corrected is reported, upon discovering the failure to promptly 
correct, in writing, to appropriate corporate officers, the head of 
compliance and the General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of 
the relevant Barclays Affiliated QPAM, and an appropriate fiduciary of 
any affected ERISA-covered plan or IRA, where such fiduciary is 
independent of BPLC.
    13. The Department has also imposed a condition that requires that 
prior to a Barclays Affiliated QPAM's engagement by any ERISA-covered 
plan or IRA for discretionary asset management services reliant on PTE 
84-14, each Barclays Affiliated QPAM develops and implements a program 
of training (the Training), conducted at least annually, for all 
relevant Barclays Affiliated QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, 
legal, compliance, and internal audit personnel. The Training must be 
set forth in the Policies and, at a minimum, cover the Policies, ERISA 
and Code compliance (including applicable fiduciary duties and the 
prohibited transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the consequences 
for not complying with the conditions of this temporary exemption 
(including any loss of exemptive relief provided herein), and prompt 
reporting of wrongdoing.
    14. This temporary exemption requires the Barclays Affiliated QPAMs 
to enter into certain contractual obligations in connection with the 
provision of services to their clients. It is the Department's view 
that the condition for exemptive relief requiring these contractual 
obligations is essential to the Department's ability to make its 
findings that the proposed temporary exemption is protective of the 
rights of the participants and beneficiaries of ERISA-covered and IRA 
plan clients of Barclays Affiliated QPAMs under section 408(a) of 
ERISA. In this regard, Section I(i) of the proposed temporary exemption 
provides that, as of the effective date of this temporary exemption 
with respect to any

[[Page 83372]]

arrangement, agreement, or contract between a Barclays Affiliated QPAM 
and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA for which a Barclays Affiliated QPAM 
provides asset management or other discretionary fiduciary services, 
each Barclays Affiliated QPAM must agree: To comply with ERISA and the 
Code, as applicable, with respect to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA, 
and refrain from engaging in prohibited transactions that are not 
otherwise exempt (and to promptly correct any inadvertent prohibited 
transactions), and to comply with the standards of prudence and loyalty 
set forth in section 404 of ERISA with respect to each such ERISA-
covered plan and IRA; to indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-covered 
plan or IRA for any damages resulting from a violation of applicable 
laws, a breach of contract, or any claim arising out of the failure of 
such Barclays Affiliated QPAM to qualify for the exemptive relief 
provided by PTE 84-14 as a result of a violation of Section I(g) of PTE 
84-14 other than the Conviction; not to require (or otherwise cause) 
the ERISA-covered plan or IRA to waive, limit, or qualify the liability 
of the Barclays Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code or 
engaging in prohibited transactions; not to require the ERISA-covered 
plan or IRA (or sponsor of such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner 
of such IRA) to indemnify the Barclays Affiliated QPAM for violating 
ERISA or engaging in prohibited transactions, except for violations or 
prohibited transactions caused by an error, misrepresentation, or 
misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan 
fiduciary who is independent of BPLC, and its affiliates; not to 
restrict the ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA to terminate or 
withdraw from its arrangement with the Barclays Affiliated QPAM 
(including any investment in a separately managed account or pooled 
fund subject to ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with the exception of 
reasonable restrictions, appropriately disclosed in advance, that are 
specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in 
a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have 
adverse consequences for all other investors as a result of the actual 
lack of liquidity of the underlying assets, provided that such 
restrictions are applied consistently and in like manner to all such 
investors; and not to impose any fees, penalties, or charges for such 
termination or withdrawal with the exception of reasonable fees, 
appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to 
prevent generally recognized abusive investment practices or 
specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in 
a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have 
adverse consequences for all other investors, provided that such fees 
are applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors. 
Furthermore, any contract, agreement or arrangement between a Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM and its ERISA-covered plan or IRA client must not 
contain exculpatory provisions disclaiming or otherwise limiting 
liability of the Barclays Affiliated QPAM for a violation of such 
agreement's terms, except for liability caused by an error, 
misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party 
hired by the plan fiduciary who is independent of BPLC, and its 
affiliates, and its affiliates.
    15. Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM will: Provide a notice of its obligations 
under Section I(i) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA for which the 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services.
    16. In addition, each Barclays Affiliated QPAM must maintain 
records necessary to demonstrate that the conditions of this temporary 
exemption have been met for six (6) years following the date of any 
transaction for which such Barclays Affiliated QPAM relies upon the 
relief in the temporary exemption.
    17. Furthermore, the proposed temporary exemption mandates that, 
during the effective period of this temporary exemption, BPLC must 
immediately disclose to the Department any Deferred Prosecution 
Agreement (a DPA) or a Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) that BPLC or 
an affiliate enters into with the Department of Justice, to the extent 
such DPA or NPA involves conduct described in section I(g) of PTE 84-14 
or section 411 of ERISA. In addition, BPLC or an affiliate must 
immediately provide the Department any information requested by the 
Department, as permitted by law, regarding the agreement and/or the 
conduct and allegations that led to the agreement.
    18. The proposed exemption would provide relief from certain of the 
restrictions set forth in Section 406 and 407 of ERISA. Such a granted 
exemption would not provide relief from any other violation of law. 
Pursuant to the terms of this proposed exemption, any criminal 
conviction not expressly described herein, but otherwise described in 
Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 and attributable to the Applicant for 
purposes of PTE 84-14, would result in the Applicant's loss of this 
exemption.

Statutory Findings--Administratively Feasible

    19. The Applicant represents that the proposed temporary exemption 
is administratively feasible because it does not require any monitoring 
by the Department. In addition, the limited effective duration of the 
temporary exemption provides the Department with the opportunity to 
determine whether long-term exemptive relief is warranted, without 
causing sudden and potentially costly harm to ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs.

Summary

    20. Given the revised and new conditions described above, the 
Department has tentatively determined that the relief sought by the 
Applicant satisfies the statutory requirements for an exemption under 
section 408(a) of ERISA.

Notice to Interested Persons

    Written comments and requests for a public hearing on the proposed 
temporary exemption should be submitted to the Department within five 
(5) days from the date of publication of this Federal Register Notice. 
Given the short comment period, the Department will consider comments 
received after such date, in connection with its consideration of more 
permanent relief.
    Warning: Do not include any personally identifiable information 
(such as name, address, or other contact information) or confidential 
business information that you do not want publicly disclosed. All 
comments may be posted on the Internet and can be retrieved by most 
Internet search engines.

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

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPMC or the Applicant), Located in New York, New 
York

[Application No. D-11906]

Proposed Five Year Exemption
    The Department is considering granting a five-year exemption under 
the authority of section 408(a) of the Act (or ERISA) and section 
4975(c)(2) of the Code, and in accordance with the procedures set forth 
in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 
2011).\58\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \58\ For purposes of this proposed five-year exemption, 
references to section 406 of Title I of the Act, unless otherwise 
specified, should be read to refer as well to the corresponding 
provisions of section 4975 of the Code.

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[[Page 83373]]

Section I: Covered Transactions
    If the proposed five-year exemption is granted, certain asset 
managers with specified relationships to JPMC (the JPMC Affiliated 
QPAMs and the JPMC Related QPAMs, as defined further in Sections II(a) 
and II(b), respectively) will not be precluded from relying on the 
exemptive relief provided by Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 84-
14 (PTE 84-14 or the QPAM Exemption),\59\ notwithstanding the judgment 
of conviction against JPMC (the Conviction), as defined in Section 
II(c)),\60\ for engaging in a conspiracy to: (1) Fix the price of, or 
(2) eliminate competition in the purchase or sale of the euro/U.S. 
dollar currency pair exchanged in the Foreign Exchange (FX) Spot 
Market, for a period of five years beginning on the date the exemption 
is granted, provided the following conditions are satisfied:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \59\ 49 FR 9494 (March 13, 1984), as corrected at 50 FR 41430 
(October 10, 1985), as amended at 70 FR 49305 (August 23, 2005), and 
as amended at 75 FR 38837 (July 6, 2010).
    \60\ Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 generally provides that 
``[n]either the QPAM nor any affiliate thereof . . . nor any owner . 
. . of a 5 percent or more interest in the QPAM is a person who 
within the 10 years immediately preceding the transaction has been 
either convicted or released from imprisonment, whichever is later, 
as a result of'' certain felonies including violation of the Sherman 
Antitrust Act, Title 15 United States Code, Section 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (a) Other than a single individual who worked for a non-fiduciary 
business within JPMorgan Chase Bank and who had no responsibility for, 
and exercised no authority in connection with, the management of plan 
assets, the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs and the JPMC Related QPAMs (including 
their officers, directors, agents other than JPMC, and employees of 
such QPAMs who had responsibility for, or exercised authority in 
connection with the management of plan assets) did not know of, did not 
have reason to know of, or participate in the criminal conduct that is 
the subject of the Conviction. For purposes of this paragraph (a), 
``participate in'' includes the knowing or tacit approval of the 
misconduct underlying the Conviction;
    (b) Other than a single individual who worked for a non-fiduciary 
business within JPMorgan Chase Bank and who had no responsibility for, 
and exercised no authority in connection with, the management of plan 
assets, the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs and the JPMC Related QPAMs (including 
their officers, directors, and agents other than JPMC, and employees of 
such JPMC QPAMs) did not receive direct compensation, or knowingly 
receive indirect compensation in connection with the criminal conduct 
that is the subject of the Conviction;
    (c) The JPMC Affiliated QPAMs will not employ or knowingly engage 
any of the individuals that participated in the criminal conduct that 
is the subject of the Conviction For the purposes of this paragraph 
(c), ``participated in'' includes the knowing or tacit approval of the 
misconduct underlying Conviction;
    (d) A JPMC Affiliated QPAM will not use its authority or influence 
to direct an ``investment fund'' (as defined in Section VI(b) of PTE 
84-14), that is subject to ERISA or the Code and managed by such JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM, to enter into any transaction with JPMC or the 
Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank, or engage JPMC or 
the Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank to provide any 
service to such investment fund, for a direct or indirect fee borne by 
such investment fund, regardless of whether such transaction or service 
may otherwise be within the scope of relief provided by an 
administrative or statutory exemption;
    (e) Any failure of a JPMC Affiliated QPAM or a JPMC Related QPAM to 
satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 arose solely from the Conviction;
    (f) A JPMC Affiliated QPAM or a JPMC Related QPAM did not exercise 
authority over the assets of any plan subject to Part 4 of Title I of 
ERISA (an ERISA-covered plan) or section 4975 of the Code (an IRA) in a 
manner that it knew or should have known would: Further the criminal 
conduct that is the subject of the Conviction; or cause the JPMC QPAM 
or its affiliates or related parties to directly or indirectly profit 
from the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction;
    (g) JPMC and the Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank 
will not provide discretionary asset management services to ERISA-
covered plans or IRAs, and will not otherwise act as a fiduciary with 
respect to ERISA-covered plan or IRA assets;
    (h)(1) Within four (4) months of the Conviction, each JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM must develop, implement, maintain, and follow written 
policies and procedures (the Policies) requiring and reasonably 
designed to ensure that:
    (i) The asset management decisions of the JPMC Affiliated QPAM are 
conducted independently of JPMC's management and business activities, 
including the corporate management and business activities of the 
Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank;
    (ii) The JPMC Affiliated QPAM fully complies with ERISA's fiduciary 
duties, and with ERISA and the Code's prohibited transaction 
provisions, and does not knowingly participate in any violation of 
these duties and provisions with respect to ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs;
    (iii) The JPMC Affiliated QPAM does not knowingly participate in 
any other person's violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to 
ERISA-covered plans and IRAs;
    (iv) Any filings or statements made by the JPMC Affiliated QPAM to 
regulators, including, but not limited to, the Department, the 
Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Pension 
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, 
are materially accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's 
knowledge at that time;
    (v) The JPMC Affiliated QPAM does not make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with such regulators with respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or 
make material misrepresentations or omit material information in its 
communications with ERISA-covered plans and IRA clients;
    (vi) The JPMC Affiliated QPAM complies with the terms of this five-
year exemption; and
    (vii) Any violation of, or failure to comply with an item in 
subparagraphs (ii) through (vi), is corrected promptly upon discovery, 
and any such violation or compliance failure not promptly corrected is 
reported, upon the discovery of such failure to promptly correct, in 
writing, to appropriate corporate officers, the head of compliance, and 
the General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of the relevant 
JPMC Affiliated QPAM, the independent auditor responsible for reviewing 
compliance with the Policies, and an appropriate fiduciary of any 
affected ERISA-covered plan or IRA that is independent of JPMC; 
however, with respect to any ERISA-covered plan or IRA sponsored by an 
``affiliate'' (as defined in Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14) of JPMC or 
beneficially owned by an employee of JPMC or its affiliates, such 
fiduciary does not need to be independent of JPMC. A JPMC Affiliated 
QPAM will not be treated as having failed to develop, implement, 
maintain, or follow the Policies, provided that it corrects any 
instance of noncompliance promptly when discovered, or when it 
reasonably should have known of the noncompliance (whichever is 
earlier), and provided that it adheres to the reporting requirements 
set forth in this subparagraph (vii);

[[Page 83374]]

    (2) Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM must develop and implement a program of training (the 
Training), conducted at least annually, for all relevant JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, compliance, 
and internal audit personnel. The Training must:
    (i) Be set forth in the Policies and, at a minimum, cover the 
Policies, ERISA and Code compliance (including applicable fiduciary 
duties and the prohibited transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the 
consequences for not complying with the conditions of this five-year 
exemption (including any loss of exemptive relief provided herein), and 
prompt reporting of wrongdoing; and
    (ii) Be conducted by an independent professional who has been 
prudently selected and who has appropriate technical and training and 
proficiency with ERISA and the Code;
    (i)(1) Each JPMC Affiliated QPAM submits to an audit conducted 
annually by an independent auditor, who has been prudently selected and 
who has appropriate technical training and proficiency with ERISA and 
the Code, to evaluate the adequacy of, and the JPMC Affiliated QPAM's 
compliance with, the Policies and Training described herein. The audit 
requirement must be incorporated in the Policies. Each annual audit 
must cover a consecutive twelve month period starting with the twelve 
month period that begins on the effective date of the five-year 
exemption, and each annual audit must be completed no later than six 
(6) months after the period to which the audit applies;
    (2) To the extent necessary for the auditor, in its sole opinion, 
to complete its audit and comply with the conditions for relief 
described herein, and as permitted by law, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM 
and, if applicable, JPMC, will grant the auditor unconditional access 
to its business, including, but not limited to: Its computer systems; 
business records; transactional data; workplace locations; training 
materials; and personnel;
    (3) The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor 
to determine whether each JPMC Affiliated QPAM has developed, 
implemented, maintained, and followed the Policies in accordance with 
the conditions of this five-year exemption, and has developed and 
implemented the Training, as required herein;
    (4) The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor 
to test each JPMC Affiliated QPAM's operational compliance with the 
Policies and Training. In this regard, the auditor must test a sample 
of each QPAM's transactions involving ERISA-covered plans and IRAs 
sufficient in size and nature to afford the auditor a reasonable basis 
to determine the operational compliance with the Policies and Training;
    (5) For each audit, on or before the end of the relevant period 
described in Section I(i)(1) for completing the audit, the auditor must 
issue a written report (the Audit Report) to JPMC and the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM to which the audit applies that describes the 
procedures performed by the auditor during the course of its 
examination. The Audit Report must include the auditor's specific 
determinations regarding:
    (i) The adequacy of the JPMC Affiliated QPAM's Policies and 
Training; the JPMC Affiliated QPAM's compliance with the Policies and 
Training; the need, if any, to strengthen such Policies and Training; 
and any instance of the respective JPMC Affiliated QPAM's noncompliance 
with the written Policies and Training described in Section I(h) above. 
Any determination by the auditor regarding the adequacy of the Policies 
and Training and the auditor's recommendations (if any) with respect to 
strengthening the Policies and Training of the respective JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM must be promptly addressed by such JPMC Affiliated 
QPAM, and any action taken by such JPMC Affiliated QPAM to address such 
recommendations must be included in an addendum to the Audit Report 
(which addendum is completed prior to the certification described in 
Section I(i)(7) below). Any determination by the auditor that the 
respective JPMC Affiliated QPAM has implemented, maintained, and 
followed sufficient Policies and Training must not be based solely or 
in substantial part on an absence of evidence indicating noncompliance. 
In this last regard, any finding that the JPMC Affiliated QPAM has 
complied with the requirements under this subsection must be based on 
evidence that demonstrates the JPMC Affiliated QPAM has actually 
implemented, maintained, and followed the Policies and Training 
required by this five-year exemption. Furthermore, the auditor must not 
rely on the Annual Report created by the compliance officer (the 
Compliance Officer) as described in Section I(m) below in lieu of 
independent determinations and testing performed by the auditor as 
required by Section I(i)(3) and (4) above; and
    (ii) The adequacy of the Annual Review described in Section I(m) 
and the resources provided to the Compliance Officer in connection with 
such Annual Review;
    (6) The auditor must notify the respective JPMC Affiliated QPAM of 
any instance of noncompliance identified by the auditor within five (5) 
business days after such noncompliance is identified by the auditor, 
regardless of whether the audit has been completed as of that date;
    (7) With respect to each Audit Report, the General Counsel, or one 
of the three most senior executive officers of the JPMC Affiliated QPAM 
to which the Audit Report applies, must certify in writing, under 
penalty of perjury, that the officer has reviewed the Audit Report and 
this exemption; addressed, corrected, or remedied any inadequacy 
identified in the Audit Report; and determined that the Policies and 
Training in effect at the time of signing are adequate to ensure 
compliance with the conditions of this proposed five-year exemption, 
and with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code;
    (8) The Risk Committee of JPMC's Board of Directors is provided a 
copy of each Audit Report; and a senior executive officer with a direct 
reporting line to the highest ranking legal compliance officer of JPMC 
must review the Audit Report for each JPMC Affiliated QPAM and must 
certify in writing, under penalty of perjury, that such officer has 
reviewed each Audit Report;
    (9) Each JPMC Affiliated QPAM provides its certified Audit Report, 
by regular mail to: The Department's Office of Exemption Determinations 
(OED), 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20210, or 
by private carrier to: 122 C Street NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC 
20001-2109, no later than 30 days following its completion. The Audit 
Report will be part of the public record regarding this five-year 
exemption. Furthermore, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM must make its Audit 
Report unconditionally available for examination by any duly authorized 
employee or representative of the Department, other relevant 
regulators, and any fiduciary of an ERISA-covered plan or IRA, the 
assets of which are managed by such JPMC Affiliated QPAM;
     (10) Each JPMC Affiliated QPAM and the auditor must submit to OED: 
(A) Any engagement agreement(s) entered into pursuant to the engagement 
of the auditor under this five-year exemption; and (B) any engagement 
agreement entered into with any other entity retained in connection 
with such QPAM's compliance with the Training or Policies conditions of 
this five-year

[[Page 83375]]

exemption, no later than six (6) months after the Conviction Date (and 
one month after the execution of any agreement thereafter);
    (11) The auditor must provide OED, upon request, all of the 
workpapers created and utilized in the course of the audit, including, 
but not limited to: The audit plan; audit testing; identification of 
any instance of noncompliance by the relevant JPMC Affiliated QPAM; and 
an explanation of any corrective or remedial action taken by the 
applicable JPMC Affiliated QPAM; and
    (12) JPMC must notify the Department at least 30 days prior to any 
substitution of an auditor, except that no such replacement will meet 
the requirements of this paragraph unless and until JPMC demonstrates 
to the Department's satisfaction that such new auditor is independent 
of JPMC, experienced in the matters that are the subject of the 
exemption, and capable of making the determinations required of this 
exemption;
    (j) Effective as of the effective date of this five-year exemption, 
with respect to any arrangement, agreement, or contract between a JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA for which a JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary 
fiduciary services, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM agrees and warrants:
    (1) To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable with respect 
to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA; to refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions); and to comply with 
the standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of 
ERISA, as applicable, with respect to each such ERISA-covered plan and 
IRA;
    (2) To indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
for any damages resulting from a JPMC Affiliated QPAM's violation of 
applicable laws, a JPMC Affiliated QPAM's breach of contract, or any 
claim brought in connection with the failure of such JPMC Affiliated 
QPAM to qualify for the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-14 as a 
result of a violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 other than the 
Conviction;
    (3) Not to require (or otherwise cause) the ERISA-covered plan or 
IRA to waive, limit, or qualify the liability of the JPMC Affiliated 
QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code or engaging in prohibited 
transactions;
    (4) Not to require the ERISA-covered plan or IRA (or sponsor of 
such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner of such IRA) to indemnify 
the JPMC Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or engaging in prohibited 
transactions, except for violations or prohibited transactions caused 
by an error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or 
other party hired by the plan fiduciary who is independent of JPMC, and 
its affiliates;
    (5) Not to restrict the ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
to terminate or withdraw from its arrangement with the JPMC Affiliated 
QPAM (including any investment in a separately managed account or 
pooled fund subject to ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with the 
exception of reasonable restrictions, appropriately disclosed in 
advance, that are specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment 
of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or 
termination may have adverse consequences for all other investors as a 
result of an actual lack of liquidity of the underlying assets, 
provided that such restrictions are applied consistently and in like 
manner to all such investors;
    (6) Not to impose any fees, penalties, or charges for such 
termination or withdrawal with the exception of reasonable fees, 
appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to 
prevent generally recognized abusive investment practices or 
specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in 
a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have 
adverse consequences for all other investors, provided that such fees 
are applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors; and
    (7) Not to include exculpatory provisions disclaiming or otherwise 
limiting liability of the JPMC Affiliated QPAM for a violation of such 
agreement's terms, except for liability caused by an error, 
misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party 
hired by the plan fiduciary who is independent of JPMC, and its 
affiliates;
    (8) Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM must provide a notice of its obligations under this 
Section I(j) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA for which an JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary 
fiduciary services. For all other prospective ERISA-covered plan and 
IRA clients for which a JPMC Affiliated QPAM provides asset management 
or other discretionary services, the JPMC Affiliated QPAM will agree in 
writing to its obligations under this Section I(j) in an updated 
investment management agreement between the JPMC Affiliated QPAM and 
such clients or other written contractual agreement;
    (k)(1) Notice to ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients. Within thirty 
(30) days of the publication of this proposed five-year exemption in 
the Federal Register, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM will provide a notice 
of the proposed five-year exemption, along with a separate summary 
describing the facts that led to the Conviction (the Summary), which 
have been submitted to the Department, and a prominently displayed 
statement (the Statement) that the Conviction results in a failure to 
meet a condition in PTE 84-14, to each sponsor of an ERISA-covered plan 
and each beneficial owner of an IRA for which a JPMC Affiliated QPAM 
provides asset management or other discretionary services, or the 
sponsor of an investment fund in any case where a JPMC Affiliated QPAM 
acts only as a sub-advisor to the investment fund in which such ERISA-
covered plan and IRA invests. In the event that this proposed five-year 
exemption is granted, the Federal Register copy of the notice of final 
five-year exemption must be delivered to such clients within sixty (60) 
days of its publication in the Federal Register, and may be delivered 
electronically (including by an email that has a link to the 
exemption). Any prospective clients for which a JPMC Affiliated QPAM 
provides asset management or other discretionary services must receive 
the proposed and final five-year exemptions with the Summary and the 
Statement prior to, or contemporaneously with, the client's receipt of 
a written asset management agreement from the JPMC Affiliated QPAM; and
    (2) Notice to Non-Plan Clients. Each JPMC Affiliated QPAM will 
provide a Federal Register copy of the proposed five-year exemption, a 
Federal Register copy of the final five-year exemption; the Summary; 
and the Statement to each: (A) Current Non-Plan Client within four (4) 
months of the effective date, if any, of a final five-year exemption; 
and (B) Future Non-Plan Client prior to, or contemporaneously with, the 
client's receipt of a written asset management agreement from the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM. For purposes of this subparagraph (2), a Current Non-
Plan Client means a client of a JPMC Affiliated QPAM that: Is neither 
an ERISA-covered plan nor an IRA; has assets managed by the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM as of the effective date, if any, of a final five-year 
exemption; and has received a written representation (qualified or 
otherwise) from the JPMC Affiliated QPAM that such JPMC Affiliated QPAM 
qualifies as a QPAM or

[[Page 83376]]

qualifies for the relief provided by PTE 84-14. For purposes of this 
subparagraph (2), a Future Non-Plan Client means a client of a JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM that is neither an ERISA-covered plan nor an IRA that, 
has assets managed by the JPMC Affiliated QPAM as of the effective 
date, if any, of a final five-year exemption, and has received a 
written representation (qualified or otherwise) from the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM that such JPMC Affiliated QPAM is a QPAM, or qualifies 
for the relief provided by PTE 84-14;
    (l) The JPMC Affiliated QPAMs must comply with each condition of 
PTE 84-14, as amended, with the sole exception of the violation of 
Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 that is attributable to the Conviction;
    (m)(1) JPMC designates a senior compliance officer (the Compliance 
Officer) who will be responsible for compliance with the Policies and 
Training requirements described herein. The Compliance Officer must 
conduct an annual review (the Annual Review) to determine the adequacy 
and effectiveness of the implementation of the Policies and Training. 
With respect to the Compliance Officer, the following conditions must 
be met:
    (i) The Compliance Officer must be a legal professional with 
extensive experience with, and knowledge of, the regulation of 
financial services and products, including under ERISA and the Code; 
and
    (ii) The Compliance Officer must have a direct reporting line to 
the highest-ranking corporate officer in charge of legal compliance 
that is independent of JPMC's other business lines;
    (2) With respect to each Annual Review, the following conditions 
must be met:
    (i) The Annual Review includes a review of: Any compliance matter 
related to the Policies or Training that was identified by, or reported 
to, the Compliance Officer or others within the compliance and risk 
control function (or its equivalent) during the previous year; any 
material change in the business activities of the JPMC Affiliated 
QPAMs; and any change to ERISA, the Code, or regulations related to 
fiduciary duties and the prohibited transaction provisions that may be 
applicable to the activities of the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs;
    (ii) The Compliance Officer prepares a written report for each 
Annual Review (each, an Annual Report) that (A) summarizes his or her 
material activities during the preceding year; (B) sets forth any 
instance of noncompliance discovered during the preceding year, and any 
related corrective action; (C) details any change to the Policies or 
Training to guard against any similar instance of noncompliance 
occurring again; and (D) makes recommendations, as necessary, for 
additional training, procedures, monitoring, or additional and/or 
changed processes or systems, and management's actions on such 
recommendations;
    (iii) In each Annual Report, the Compliance Officer must certify in 
writing that to his or her knowledge: (A) The report is accurate; (B) 
the Policies and Training are working in a manner which is reasonably 
designed to ensure that the Policies and Training requirements 
described herein are met; (C) any known instance of noncompliance 
during the preceding year and any related correction taken to date have 
been identified in the Annual Report; (D) the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs 
have complied with the Policies and Training in all respects, and/or 
corrected any instances of noncompliance in accordance with Section 
I(h) above; and (E) JPMC has provided the Compliance Officer with 
adequate resources, including, but not limited to, adequate staffing;
    (iv) Each Annual Report must be provided to appropriate corporate 
officers of JPMC and each JPMC Affiliated QPAM to which such report 
relates; the head of compliance and the General Counsel (or their 
functional equivalent) of the relevant JPMC Affiliated QPAM; and must 
be made unconditionally available to the independent auditor described 
in Section I(i) above;
    (v) Each Annual Review, including the Compliance Officer's written 
Annual Report, must be completed at least three (3) months in advance 
of the date on which each audit described in Section I(i) is scheduled 
to be completed;
    (n) Each JPMC Affiliated QPAM will maintain records necessary to 
demonstrate that the conditions of this exemption have been met, for 
six (6) years following the date of any transaction for which such JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM relies upon the relief in the exemption;
    (o) During the effective period of the five-year exemption JPMC: 
(1) Immediately discloses to the Department any Deferred Prosecution 
Agreement (a DPA) or a Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) with the U.S. 
Department of Justice, entered into by JPMC or any of its affiliates in 
connection with conduct described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 or 
section 411 of ERISA; and
    (2) Immediately provides the Department any information requested 
by the Department, as permitted by law, regarding the agreement and/or 
conduct and allegations that led to the agreement. After review of the 
information, the Department may require JPMC, its affiliates, or 
related parties, as specified by the Department, to submit a new 
application for the continued availability of relief as a condition of 
continuing to rely on this exemption. If the Department denies the 
relief requested in the new application, or does not grant such relief 
within twelve months of application, the relief described herein is 
revoked as of the date of denial or as of the expiration of the twelve 
month period, whichever date is earlier;
    (p) Each JPMC Affiliated QPAM, in its agreements with ERISA-covered 
plan and IRA clients, or in other written disclosures provided to 
ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients, within 60 days prior to the initial 
transaction upon which relief hereunder is relied, and then at least 
once annually, will clearly and prominently: Inform the ERISA-covered 
plan and IRA client that the client has the right to obtain copies of 
the QPAM's written Policies adopted in accordance with the exemption; 
and
    (q) A JPMC Affiliated QPAM or a JPMC Related QPAM will not fail to 
meet the terms of this exemption solely because a different JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM or JPMC Related QPAM fails to satisfy a condition for 
relief described in Sections I(c), (d), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (n) 
and (p).
Section II: Definitions
    (a) The term ``JPMC Affiliated QPAM'' means a ``qualified 
professional asset manager'' (as defined in Section VI(a) \61\ of PTE 
84-14) that relies on the relief provided by PTE 84-14 and with respect 
to which JPMC is a current or future ``affiliate'' (as defined in 
Section VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14). The term ``JPMC Affiliated QPAM'' 
excludes the parent entity, JPMC, the division implicated in the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction.
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    \61\ In general terms, a QPAM is an independent fiduciary that 
is a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or 
investment adviser that meets certain equity or net worth 
requirements and other licensure requirements, and has acknowledged 
in a written management agreement that it is a fiduciary with 
respect to each plan that has retained the QPAM.
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    (b) The term ``JPMC Related QPAM'' means any current or future 
``qualified professional asset manager'' (as defined in section VI(a) 
of PTE 84-14) that relies on the relief provided by PTE 84-14, and with 
respect to which JPMC owns a direct or indirect five percent or more 
interest, but with respect to which JPMC

[[Page 83377]]

is not an ``affiliate'' (as defined in Section VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14).
    (c) The terms ``ERISA-covered plan'' and ``IRA'' mean, 
respectively, a plan subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA and a plan 
subject to section 4975 of the Code.
    (d) The term ``JPMC'' means JPMorgan Chase and Co., the parent 
entity, but does not include any subsidiaries or other affiliates;
    (e) The term ``Conviction'' means the judgment of conviction 
against JPMC for violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 1, 
which is scheduled to be entered in the District Court for the District 
of Connecticut (the District Court) (Case Number 3:15-cr-79-SRU), in 
connection with JPMC, through one of its euro/U.S. dollar (EUR/USD) 
traders, entering into and engaging in a combination and conspiracy to 
fix, stabilize, maintain, increase or decrease the price of, and rig 
bids and offers for, the EUR/USD currency pair exchanged in the FX spot 
market by agreeing to eliminate competition in the purchase and sale of 
the EUR/USD currency pair in the United States and elsewhere. For all 
purposes under this exemption, ``conduct'' of any person or entity that 
is the ``subject of [a] Conviction'' encompasses any conduct of JPMC 
and/or their personnel, that is described in the Plea Agreement, 
(including the Factual Statement), and other official regulatory or 
judicial factual findings that are a part of this record; and
    (f) The term ``Conviction Date'' means the date that a judgment of 
Conviction against JPMC is entered by the District Court in connection 
with the Conviction.
    Effective Date: This proposed five-year exemption will be effective 
beginning on the date of publication of such grant in the Federal 
Register and ending on the date that is five years thereafter. Should 
the Applicant wish to extend the effective period of exemptive relief 
provided by this proposed five-year exemption, the Applicant must 
submit another application for an exemption. In this regard, the 
Department expects that, in connection with such application, the 
Applicant should be prepared to demonstrate compliance with the 
conditions for this exemption and that the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs, and 
those who may be in a position to influence their policies, have 
maintained the high standard of integrity required by PTE 84-14.
    Department's Comment: Concurrently with this proposed five-year 
exemption, the Department is publishing a proposed one-year exemption 
for JPMC Affiliated QPAMs to continue to rely on PTE 84-14. That one-
year exemption is intended to allow the Department sufficient time, 
including a longer comment period, to determine whether to grant this 
five-year exemption. The proposed one-year exemption is designed to 
protect ERISA-covered plans and IRAs from the potential costs and 
losses, described below, that would be incurred if such JPMC Affiliated 
QPAMs were to suddenly lose their ability to rely on PTE 84-14 as of 
the Conviction date.
    The proposed five-year exemption would provide relief from certain 
of the restrictions set forth in sections 406 and 407 of ERISA. No 
relief from a violation of any other law would be provided by this 
exemption including any criminal conviction described herein.
    The Department cautions that the relief in this proposed five-year 
exemption would terminate immediately if, among other things, an entity 
within the JPMC corporate structure is convicted of a crime described 
in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 (other than the Conviction) during the 
effective period of the exemption. While such an entity could apply for 
a new exemption in that circumstance, the Department would not be 
obligated to grant the exemption. The terms of this proposed five-year 
exemption have been specifically designed to permit plans to terminate 
their relationships in an orderly and cost effective fashion in the 
event of an additional conviction or a determination that it is 
otherwise prudent for a plan to terminate its relationship with an 
entity covered by the proposed exemption.

Summary of Facts and Representations \62\

Background

    1. JPMC is a financial holding company and global financial 
services firm, incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in New York, 
New York, with approximately 240,000 employees and operations in over 
60 countries. According to the Applicant, JPMC provides a variety of 
services, including investment banking, financial services for 
consumers and small business, commercial banking, financial transaction 
processing, and asset management.
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    \62\ The Summary of Facts and Representations is based on the 
Applicant's representations, unless indicated otherwise.
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    The Applicant represents that JPMC's principal bank subsidiaries 
are: (a) JPMorgan Chase Bank, a national banking association wholly 
owned by JPMC, with U.S. branches in 23 states; and (b) Chase Bank USA, 
National Association, a national banking association that is JPMC's 
credit card-issuing bank. The Applicant also represents that two of 
JPMC's principal non-bank subsidiaries are its investment bank 
subsidiary, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and its primary investment 
management subsidiary, J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (JPMIM). 
The bank and nonbank subsidiaries of JPMC operate internationally 
through overseas branches and subsidiaries, representative offices and 
subsidiary foreign banks.
    The Applicant explains that entities within the JPMC's asset 
management line of business (Asset Management) serve institutional and 
retail clients worldwide through the Global Investment Management (GIM) 
and Global Wealth Management (GWM) businesses. The Applicant represents 
that JPMC's Asset Management line of business had total client assets 
of about $2.4 trillion and discretionary assets under management of 
approximately $1.7 trillion at the end of 2014.\63\
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    \63\ In addition to its Asset Management line of business, the 
Applicant represents that JPMC operates three other core lines of 
business. They are: Consumer and Community Banking Services; 
Corporate and Investment Banking Services; and Commercial Banking 
Services.
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    2. The Applicant represents that JPMC has several affiliates that 
provide investment management services.\64\ JPMorgan Chase Bank and 
most of the U.S. registered advisers manage the assets of ERISA-covered 
plans and/or IRAs on a discretionary basis. They routinely rely on the 
QPAM Exemption to provide relief for party in interest transactions. 
According to the Applicant, the primary domestic bank and U.S. 
registered adviser affiliates in which JPMC owns a significant 
interest, directly or indirectly, include the following: JPMorgan Chase 
Bank, N.A.; JPMorgan Investment Management Inc.; J.P. Morgan Securities 
LLC; JF International Management Inc.; J.P. Morgan Alternative Asset 
Management, Inc.; Highbridge Capital Management, LLC; and Security 
Capital Research & Management Incorporated. These are the entities that 
currently would be

[[Page 83378]]

covered by the exemption, if it is granted.
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    \64\ Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14 defines an ``affiliate'' of a 
person, for purposes of Section I(g), as: (1) Any person directly or 
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling, 
controlled by, or under common control with the person, (2) any 
director of, relative of, or partner in, any such person, (3) any 
corporation, partnership, trust or unincorporated enterprise of 
which such person is an officer, director, or a 5 percent or more 
partner or owner, and (4) any employee or officer of the person 
who--(A) is a highly compensated employee (as defined in section 
4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) or officer (earning 10 percent or more of 
the yearly wages of such person), or (B) has direct or indirect 
authority, responsibility or control regarding the custody, 
management or disposition of plan assets.
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    3. In addition to the QPAMs identified above, the Applicant has 
other affiliated managers that meet the definition of a QPAM that do 
not currently manage ERISA or IRA assets on a discretionary basis, but 
may in the future, including: J.P. Morgan Partners, LLC; Sixty Wall 
Street Management Company LLC; J.P. Morgan Private Investments Inc.; 
J.P. Morgan Asset Management (UK) Limited; JPMorgan Funds Limited; and 
Bear Stearns Asset Management, Inc. The Applicant requests that 
affiliates that manage ERISA or IRA assets be covered by the five-year 
exemption. The Applicant also acquires and creates new affiliates 
frequently, and to the extent that these new affiliates meet the 
definition of a QPAM and manage ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, the 
Applicant requests that these entities be covered by the five-year 
exemption. The Applicant represents that JPMC owns, directly or 
indirectly, a 5% or greater interest in certain investment managers 
(and may in the future own similar interests in other managers), but 
such managers are not affiliated in the sense that JPMC has actual 
control over their operations and activities. JPMC does not have the 
authority to exercise a controlling influence over these investment 
managers and is not involved with the managers' clients, strategies, or 
ERISA assets under management, if any.\65\ The Applicant requests that 
these entities also be covered by the five-year exemption.
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    \65\ Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14 defines an ``affiliate'' of a 
person, for purposes of Section I(g), as: (1) Any person directly or 
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling, 
controlled by, or under common control with the person, (2) any 
director of, relative of, or partner in, any such person, (3) any 
corporation, partnership, trust or unincorporated enterprise of 
which such person is an officer, director, or a 5 percent or more 
partner or owner, and (4) any employee or officer of the person 
who--(A) is a highly compensated employee (as defined in section 
4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) or officer (earning 10 percent or more of 
the yearly wages of such person), or (B) has direct or indirect 
authority, responsibility or control regarding the custody, 
management or disposition of plan assets.
    Section VI(e) of PTE 84-14 defines the term ``control'' as the 
power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or 
policies of a person other than an individual.
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    4. On May 20, 2015, the Applicant filed an application for 
exemptive relief from the prohibitions of sections 406(a) and 406(b) of 
ERISA, and the sanctions resulting from the application of section 4975 
of the Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1) of the Code, in connection 
with a conviction that would make the relief in PTE 84-14 unavailable 
to any current or future JPMC-related investment managers.
    On May 20, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice (Department of 
Justice) filed a criminal information in the U.S. District Court for 
the District of Connecticut (the District Court) against JPMC, charging 
JPMC with a one-count violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 
1 (the Information). The Information charges that, from at least as 
early as July 2010 until at least January 2013, JPMC, through one of 
its euro/U.S. dollar (EUR/USD) traders, entered into and engaged in a 
combination and conspiracy to fix, stabilize, maintain, increase or 
decrease the price of, and rig bids and offers for, the EUR/USD 
currency pair exchanged in the FX spot market by agreeing to eliminate 
competition in the purchase and sale of the EUR/USD currency pair in 
the United States and elsewhere. The criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Conviction involved near daily conversations, some of 
which were in code, in an exclusive electronic chat room used by 
certain EUR/USD traders, including the EUR/USD trader described herein.
    5. JPMC sought to resolve the charges through a Plea Agreement 
presented to the District Court on May 20, 2015. Under the Plea 
Agreement, JPMC agreed to enter a plea of guilty to the charge set out 
in the Information (the Plea). In addition, JPMC has made an admission 
of guilt to the District Court. The Applicant expects that the District 
Court will enter a judgment against JPMC that will require remedies 
that are materially the same as those set forth in the Plea Agreement.
    Pursuant to the Plea Agreement, the District Court will order a 
term of probation and JPMC will be subject to certain conditions. 
First, JPMC must not commit another crime in violation of the federal 
laws of the United States or engage in the Conduct set forth in 
Paragraphs 4(g)-(i) of the Plea Agreement during the term of probation, 
and shall make disclosures relating to certain other sales-related 
practices. Second, JPMC must notify the probation officer upon learning 
of the commencement of any federal criminal investigation in which JPMC 
is a target, or federal criminal prosecution against it. Third, JPMC 
must implement and must continue to implement a compliance program 
designed to prevent and detect the criminal conduct that is the subject 
of the Conviction. Fourth, JPMC must further strengthen its compliance 
and internal controls as required by the CFTC, the Financial Conduct 
Authority (FCA), and any other regulatory or enforcement agencies that 
have addressed the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Conviction, as set forth in the factual basis section of the Plea 
Agreement, and report to the probation officer and the United States, 
upon request, regarding its remediation and implementation of any 
compliance program and internal controls, policies, and procedures that 
relate to the conduct described in the factual basis section of the 
Plea Agreement.
    6. Pursuant to the Plea Agreement, JPMC must promptly bring to the 
Department of Justice Antitrust Division's attention: (a) All credible 
information regarding criminal violations of U.S. antitrust laws by the 
defendant or any of its employees as to which the JPMC's Board of 
Directors, management (that is, all supervisors within the bank), or 
legal and compliance personnel are aware; (b) all federal criminal or 
regulatory investigations in which the defendant is a subject or a 
target, and all administrative or regulatory proceedings or civil 
actions brought by any federal governmental authority in the United 
States against the defendant or its employees, to the extent that such 
investigations, proceedings or actions allege violations of U.S. 
antitrust laws.
    7. Pursuant to the Plea Agreement, JPMC must promptly bring to the 
Department of Justice Criminal Division, Fraud Section's attention: (a) 
All credible information regarding criminal violations of U.S. law 
concerning fraud, including securities or commodities fraud by the 
defendant or any of its employees as to which the JPMC's Board of 
Directors, management (that is, all supervisors within the bank), or 
legal and compliance personnel are aware; and (b) all criminal or 
regulatory investigations in which JPMC is or may be a subject or a 
target, and all administrative proceedings or civil actions brought by 
any governmental authority in the United States against JPMC or its 
employees, to the extent such investigations, proceedings or actions 
allege violations of U.S. law concerning fraud, including securities or 
commodities fraud.
    Pursuant to Paragraph 9(c) of the Plea Agreement, the Department of 
Justice agreed ``that it [would] support a motion or request by [JPMC] 
that sentencing in this matter be adjourned until the Department of 
Labor has issued a ruling on the defendant's request for an exemption. 
. . .'' According to the Applicant, sentencing has not yet occurred in 
the District Court, nor has sentencing been scheduled.
    8. Along with the Department of Justice, the Board of Governors of 
the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency (OCC), the Commodity Futures Trading

[[Page 83379]]

Commission (CFTC), and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have 
conducted or have been conducting investigations into the practices of 
JPMC and its direct and indirect subsidiaries relating to FX trading.
    The FRB issued a cease and desist order on May 20, 2015, against 
JPMC concerning unsafe and unsound banking practices relating to JPMC's 
FX business and requiring JPMC to cease and desist, assessing against 
JPMC a civil money penalty of $342,000,000, and requiring JPMC to agree 
to take certain affirmative actions (FRB Order).
    The OCC issued a cease and desist order on November 11, 2014, 
against JPMorgan Chase Bank concerning deficiencies and unsafe or 
unsound practices relating to JPMorgan Chase Bank's wholesale FX 
business and requiring JPMorgan Chase Bank to cease and desist, 
ordering JPMorgan Chase Bank to pay a civil money penalty of 
$350,000,000, and requiring JPMorgan Chase Bank to agree to take 
certain affirmative actions (OCC Order).
    The CFTC issued a cease and desist order on November 11, 2014, 
against JPMorgan Chase Bank relating to certain FX trading activities 
and requiring JPMorgan Chase Bank to cease and desist from violating 
certain provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act, ordering JPMorgan 
Chase Bank to pay a civil monetary penalty of $310,000,000, and 
requiring JPMorgan Chase Bank to agree to certain conditions and 
undertakings (CFTC Order).
    The FCA issued a warning notice on November 11, 2014, against 
JPMorgan Chase Bank for failing to control business practices in its 
G10 spot FX trading operations and caused JPMorgan Chase Bank to pay a 
financial penalty of [pound]222,166,000 (FCA Order).
    9. In addition to the investigations described above, relating to 
FX trading, the Applicant is or has been the subject of other 
investigations, by: (a) The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, which 
concluded its investigation of the Applicant on December 14, 2014, and 
found no evidence of collusion among the banks investigated, rigging of 
FX benchmarks published in Hong Kong, or market manipulation, and 
imposed no financial penalties on the Applicant; (b) the South Africa 
Reserve Bank, which released the report of its inquiry of the Applicant 
on October 19, 2015, and found no evidence of widespread malpractice or 
serious misconduct by the Applicant in the South Africa FX market, and 
noted that most authorized dealers have acceptable arrangements and 
structures in place as well as whistle-blowing policies and client 
complaint processes; (c) the Australian Securities & Investments 
Commission, (d) the Japanese Financial Services Agency, (e) the Korea 
Fair Trade Commission, and (f) the Swiss Competition Commission. 
According to the Applicant, it is cooperating with the inquiries by 
these organizations.
    In addition, the French criminal authorities have been 
investigating a series of transactions entered into by senior managers 
of Wendel Investissement (Wendel) during the period 2004-2007. In 2007, 
the Paris branch of JPMorgan Chase Bank provided financing for the 
transactions to a number of Wendel managers. The Applicant explains 
that JPMC is responding to and cooperating with the investigation, and 
to date, no decision or indictment has been made by the French court.
    In addition, the Applicant represents that the Criminal Division of 
the Department of Justice is investigating the Applicant's compliance 
with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other laws with respect the 
Applicant's hiring practices related to candidates referred by clients, 
potential clients, and government officials, and its engagement of 
consultants in the Asia Pacific region. The Applicant states that it is 
responding to, and cooperating with, this investigation.
    The Applicant also represents that to its best knowledge, it does 
not have a reasonable basis to believe that the discretionary asset 
management activities of any affiliated QPAM are subject to the 
aforementioned investigations. Further, the Applicant represents that 
JPMC currently does not have a reasonable basis to believe that there 
are any pending criminal investigations involving JPMC or any of its 
affiliated companies that would cause a reasonable plan or IRA customer 
not to hire or retain the institution as a QPAM.
    10. Once the Conviction is entered, the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs and 
the JPMC Related QPAMs, as well as their client plans that are subject 
to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA (ERISA-covered plans) or section 4975 of 
the Code (IRAs), will no longer be able to rely on PTE 84-14, pursuant 
to the anti-criminal rule set forth in section I(g) of the class 
exemption, absent an individual exemption. The Applicant is seeking an 
individual exemption that would permit the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs and 
the JPMC Related QPAMs, and their ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients to 
continue to utilize the relief in PTE 84-14, notwithstanding the 
anticipated Conviction, provided that such QPAMs satisfy the additional 
conditions imposed by the Department in the proposed five-year 
exemption herein.
    11. According to the Applicant, the criminal conduct giving rise to 
the Plea did not involve any of the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs acting in the 
capacity of investment manager or trustee. JPMC's participation in the 
antitrust conspiracy described in the Plea Agreement is limited to a 
single EUR/USD trader in London. The Applicant represents that the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction was not 
widespread, nor was it pervasive; rather it was isolated to a single 
trader. No current or former personnel from JPMC or its affiliates have 
been sued individually in this matter for the criminal conduct that is 
the subject of the Conviction, and the individual referenced in the 
Complaint as responsible for such criminal conduct is no longer 
employed by JPMC or its affiliates.\66\
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    \66\ The Applicant has confirmed with JPMC's Human Resources 
Department that the individual referenced in the Complaint is no 
longer employed with any entity within JPMC or its affiliates.
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    The Applicant submits that the criminal conduct that is the subject 
of the Conviction did not involve any of JPMC's asset management staff. 
The Applicant represents that: (a) Other than a single individual who 
worked for a non-fiduciary business within JPMorgan Chase Bank and who 
had no responsibility for, and exercised no authority in connection 
with, the management of plan assets, the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs, and the 
JPMC Related QPAMs (including officers, directors, agents other than 
JPMC, and employees of such QPAMs who had responsibility for, or 
exercised authority in connection with, the management of plan assets) 
did not know of, did not have reason to know of, and did not 
participate in the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Conviction; and (b) no current or former employee of JPMC or of any 
JPMC Affiliated QPAM who previously has been or who subsequently may be 
identified by JPMC, or any U.S. or non-U.S. regulatory or enforcement 
agencies, as having been responsible for the such criminal conduct has 
or will have any involvement in providing asset management services to 
plans and IRAs or will be an officer, director, or employee of the 
Applicant or of any JPMC Affiliated QPAM.\67\
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    \67\ The Applicant states that counsel for JPMC confirmed that 
the individual responsible for the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Conviction is not currently employed by any entity 
that is part of JPMC. This individual's employment has been 
terminated and a notation has been made in his employment file to 
ensure he is not re-hired at any future date.

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[[Page 83380]]

    12. According to the Applicant, the transactions covered by this 
five-year exemption include the full range of everyday investment 
transactions that a plan might enter into, including the purchase and 
sale of debt and equity securities, both foreign and domestic, both 
registered and sold under Rule 144A or otherwise (e.g., traditional 
private placement), pass-through securities, asset-backed securities, 
the purchase and sale of commodities, futures, forwards, options, 
swaps, stable value wrap contracts, real estate, real estate financing 
and leasing, foreign repurchase agreements, foreign exchange, and other 
investments, and the hedging of risk through a variety of investment 
instruments and strategies. The Applicant states that all of these 
transactions are customary for the industry and investment managers 
routinely rely on the QPAM Exemption to enter into them.
    13. The Applicant represents that the investment management 
businesses that are operated out of the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs are 
separated from the non-investment management businesses of the 
Applicant. Each of these investment management businesses, including 
the investment management business of JPMorgan Chase Bank (as well as 
the agency securities lending business of JPMorgan Chase Bank), have 
systems, management, dedicated risk and compliance officers and legal 
coverage that are separate from the foreign exchange trading activities 
that were the subject of the Plea Agreement.
    The Applicant represents that the investment management businesses 
of the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs are subject to policies and procedures and 
JPMC Affiliated QPAM personnel engage in training designed to ensure 
that such businesses understand and manage their fiduciary duties in 
accordance with applicable law. Thus, the Applicant maintains that the 
management of plan assets is conducted separately from: (a) The non-
investment management business activities of the Applicant, including 
the investment banking, treasury services and other investor services 
businesses of the Corporate & Investment Bank business of the Applicant 
(CIB); and/or (b) the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Plea 
Agreement. Generally, the policies and procedures create information 
barriers, which prevent employees of the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs from 
gaining access to inside information that an affiliate may have 
acquired or developed in connection with the investment banking, 
treasury services or other investor services business activities. These 
policies and procedures apply to employees, officers, and directors of 
the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs. The Applicant maintains an employee hotline 
for employees to express any concerns of wrongdoing anonymously.
    The Applicant represents that, to the best of its knowledge: (a) No 
JPMC employees are involved in the trading decisions or investment 
strategies of the JPMC Affiliated or Related QPAMs; (b) the JPMC 
Affiliated and Related QPAMs do not consult with JPMC employees prior 
to making investment decisions on behalf of plans; (c) JPMC does not 
control the asset management decisions of the JPMC Affiliated or 
Related QPAMs; (d) the JPMC Affiliated and Related QPAMs do not need 
JPMC's consent to make investment decisions, correct errors, or adopt 
policies or training for staff; and (e) there is no interaction between 
JPMC employees and the JPMC Affiliated or Related QPAMs in connection 
with the investment management activities of the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs.

Statutory Findings--In the Interest of Affected Plans and IRAs

    14. The Applicant states that, if the proposed five-year exemption 
is denied, the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs may be unable to manage 
efficiently the strategies for which they have contracted with 
thousands of plans and IRAs. Transactions currently dependent on the 
QPAM Exemption could be in default and be terminated at a significant 
cost to the plans. In particular, the Applicant represents that the 
JPMC Affiliated QPAMs have entered, and could in the future enter, into 
contracts on behalf of, or as investment adviser of, ERISA-covered 
plans, collective trusts and other funds subject to ERISA for certain 
outstanding transactions, including but not limited to: The purchase 
and sale of debt and equity securities, both foreign and domestic, both 
registered and sold under Rule 144A or otherwise (e.g., traditional 
private placement); pass-through securities; asset-backed securities; 
and the purchase and sale of commodities, futures, options, stable 
value wrap contracts, real estate, foreign repurchase agreements, 
foreign exchange, and other investments.
    The JPMC Affiliated QPAMs also have entered into, and could in the 
future enter into, contracts for other transactions such as swaps, 
forwards, and real estate financing and leasing on behalf of their 
ERISA clients. According to the Applicant, these and other strategies 
and investments require the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs to meet the 
conditions in the QPAM Exemption. The Applicant states that certain 
derivatives transactions and other contractual agreements automatically 
and immediately could be terminated without notice or action, or could 
become subject to termination upon notice from a counterparty, in the 
event the Applicant no longer qualifies for relief under the QPAM 
Exemption.
    15. The Applicant represents that real estate transactions, for 
example, could be subject to significant disruption without the QPAM 
Exemption. Clients of the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs have over $27 billion 
in ERISA and public plan assets in commingled funds invested in real 
estate strategies, with approximately 235 holdings. Many transactions 
in these accounts rely on Parts I, II and III of the QPAM Exemption as 
a backup to the collective investment fund exemption (which may become 
unavailable to the extent a related group of plans has a greater than 
10% interest in the collective investment fund). The Applicant 
estimates that there would be significant loss in value if assets had 
to be quickly liquidated--over a 10% bid-ask spread--in addition to 
substantial reinvestment costs and opportunity costs. There could also 
be prepayment penalties. In addition, real estate transactions are 
affected in funds that are not deemed to hold plan assets under 
applicable law. While funds may have other available exemptions for 
certain transactions, that fact could change in the future.
    16. The JPMC Affiliated QPAMs also rely on the QPAM Exemption when 
buying and selling fixed income products. Stable value strategies, for 
example, rely on the QPAM Exemption to enter into wrappers and 
insurance contracts that permit the assets to be valued at book value. 
Many counterparties specifically require a representation that the QPAM 
Exemption applies, and those contracts could be in default if the 
requested exemption were not granted. Depending on the market value of 
the assets in these funds at the time of termination, such termination 
could result in losses to the stable value funds. The Applicant states 
that, while the market value currently exceeds book value, that can 
change at any time, and could result in market value adjustments to 
withdrawing plans and withdrawal delays under their contracts.
    17. The Applicant submits that nearly 400 accounts managed by the 
JPMC Affiliated QPAMs (including commingled funds and separately 
managed accounts) invest in fixed

[[Page 83381]]

income products, with a total portfolio of approximately $49.3 billion 
in market value of ERISA and public plan assets in commingled funds. 
Fixed income strategies in which those accounts are invested include 
investment-grade short, intermediate, and long duration bonds, as well 
as securitized products, and high yield and emerging market 
investments. If the QPAM Exemption were lost, the Applicant estimates 
that its clients could incur average weighted liquidation costs of 
approximately 65 basis points of the total market value in fixed income 
products, assuming normal market conditions where the holdings can be 
liquidated at a normal bid-offer spread without significant widening. 
While short and intermediate term bonds could be liquidated for between 
15-50 basis points, long duration bonds may be more difficult to 
liquidate and costs may range from 75-100 basis points. Costs of 
liquidating high-yield and emerging market investments could range from 
75-150 basis points. Such costs do not include reinvestment costs for 
transitioning to a new manager.
    18. The Applicant states that, futures, options, and cleared and 
bilateral swaps, which certain strategies rely on to hedge risk and 
obtain certain exposures on an economic basis, rely on the QPAM 
Exemption. The Applicant further states that the QPAM Exemption is 
particularly important for securities and other instruments that may be 
traded on a principal basis, such as mortgage-backed securities, 
corporate debt, municipal debt, other US fixed income securities, Rule 
144A securities, non-US fixed income securities, non-US equity 
securities, US and non-US over-the-counter instruments such as forwards 
and options, structured products and FX.
    19. The Applicant represents that plans that decide to continue to 
employ the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs could be prohibited from engaging in 
certain transactions that would be beneficial to such plans, such as 
hedging transactions using over-the-counter options or derivatives. 
Counterparties to such transactions are far more comfortable with the 
QPAM Exemption than any other exemption, and a failure of the QPAM 
Exemption to be available could trigger a default or early termination 
by the plan or pooled trust. Even if other exemptions were acceptable 
to such counterparties, the Applicant predicts that the cost of the 
transaction might increase to reflect any lack of comfort in 
transacting business using a less familiar exemption. The Applicant 
represents that plans may also face collateral consequences, such as 
missed investment opportunities, administrative delay, and the cost of 
investing in cash pending reinvestments.
    20. The Applicant represents that, to the extent that plans and 
IRAs believe they need to withdraw from their arrangements, they could 
incur significant transaction costs, including costs associated with 
the liquidation of investments, finding new asset managers, and the 
reinvestment of plan assets.\68\ The Applicant believes that the 
transaction costs to plans of changing managers are significant, 
especially for many of the strategies employed by the JPMC Affiliated 
QPAMs. The Applicant also believes that, depending on the strategy, the 
cost of liquidating assets in connection with transitioning clients to 
another manager could be significant.\69\ The process for transitioning 
to a new manager typically is lengthy, and likely would involve 
numerous steps--each of which could last several months--including 
retaining a consultant, engaging in the request for proposals, 
negotiating contracts, and ultimately transitioning assets. In 
addition, securities transactions would incur transaction-related 
expenses.
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    \68\ The Department notes that, if this temporary exemption is 
granted, compliance with the condition in Section I(j) of the 
exemption would require the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs to hold their plan 
customers harmless for any losses attributable to, inter alia, any 
prohibited transactions or violations of the duty of prudence and 
loyalty.
    \69\ Some investments are more liquid than others (e.g., 
Treasury bonds generally are more liquid than foreign sovereign 
bonds and equities generally are more liquid than swaps). Some of 
the strategies followed by the Applicant tend to be less liquid than 
certain other strategies and, thus, the cost of a transition would 
be significantly higher than, for example, liquidating a large cap 
equity portfolio. Particularly hard hit would be the real estate 
separate account strategies, which are illiquid and highly dependent 
on the QPAM Exemption.
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Statutory Findings--Protective of the Rights of Participants of 
Affected Plans and IRAs

    21. The Applicant has proposed certain conditions it believes are 
protective of participants and beneficiaries of ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs with respect to the transactions described herein. The Department 
has determined that it is necessary to modify and supplement the 
conditions before it can tentatively determine that the requested 
exemption meets the statutory requirements of section 408(a) of ERISA. 
In this regard, the Department has tentatively determined that the 
following conditions adequately protect the rights of participants and 
beneficiaries of affected plans and IRAs with respect to the 
transactions that would be covered by this proposed five-year 
exemption.
    The five-year exemption, if granted as proposed, is only available 
to the extent: (a) Other than with respect to a single individual who 
worked for a non-fiduciary business within JPMorgan Chase Bank and who 
had no responsibility for, and exercised no authority in connection 
with, the management of plan assets, JPMC Affiliated QPAMs, including 
their officers, directors, agents other than JPMC, and employees, did 
not know of, have reason to know of, or participate in the criminal 
conduct of JPMC that is the subject of the Conviction (for purposes of 
this requirement, ``participate in'' includes an individual's knowing 
or tacit approval of the misconduct underlying the Conviction); (b) any 
failure of those QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 arose 
solely from the Conviction; and (c) other than a single individual who 
worked for a non-fiduciary business within JPMorgan Chase Bank and who 
had no responsibility for, and exercised no authority in connection 
with, the management of plan assets, the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs and the 
JPMC Related QPAMs (including their officers, directors, agents other 
than JPMC, and employees of such JPMC QPAMs) did not receive direct 
compensation, or knowingly receive indirect compensation, in connection 
with the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction.
    22. The Department expects the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs will 
rigorously ensure that the individual associated with the misconduct 
will not be employed or knowingly engaged by such QPAMs. In this 
regard, the five-year exemption mandates that the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs 
will not employ or knowingly engage any of the individuals that 
participated in the FX manipulation that is the subject of the 
Conviction. For purposes of this condition, ``participated in'' 
includes an individual's knowing or tacit approval of the behavior that 
is the subject of the Conviction.
    23. Further, the JPMC Affiliated QPAM will not use its authority or 
influence to direct an ``investment fund,'' (as defined in Section 
VI(b) of PTE 84-14), that is subject to ERISA or the Code and managed 
by such JPMC Affiliated QPAM to enter into any transaction with JPMC or 
the Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank, or to engage 
JPMC or the Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank to 
provide any service to such investment fund, for a direct or indirect 
fee borne by such

[[Page 83382]]

investment fund, regardless of whether such transaction or service may 
otherwise be within the scope of relief provided by an administrative 
or statutory exemption.
    24. The JPMC Affiliated QPAMs and the JPMC Related QPAMs must 
comply with each condition of PTE 84-14, as amended, with the sole 
exception of the violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 that is 
attributable to the Conviction. Further, any failure of the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAMs or the JPMC Related QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 arose solely from the Conviction.
    No relief will be provided by this five-year exemption if a JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM or a JPMC Related QPAM exercised authority over plan 
assets in a manner that it knew or should have known would: Further the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction; or cause the 
JPMC QPAM or its affiliates or related parties to directly or 
indirectly profit from the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Conviction. Also, no relief will be provided by this five-year 
exemption to the extent JPMC or the Investment Banking Division of 
JPMorgan Chase Bank: Provides any discretionary asset management 
services to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs; or otherwise acts as a 
fiduciary with respect to ERISA-covered plan or IRA assets.
    25. The Department believes that robust policies and training are 
warranted where, as here, the criminal misconduct has occurred within a 
corporate organization that is affiliated with one or more QPAMs 
managing plan or IRA assets. Therefore, this proposed five-year 
exemption requires that within four (4) months of the Conviction, each 
JPMC Affiliated QPAM must develop, implement, maintain, and follow 
written policies (the Policies) requiring and reasonably designed to 
ensure that: The asset management decisions of the JPMC Affiliated QPAM 
are conducted independently of the corporate management and business 
activities of JPMC, including the management and business activities of 
the Investment Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank; the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM fully complies with ERISA's fiduciary duties, and with 
ERISA and the Code's prohibited transaction provisions, and does not 
knowingly participate in any violation of these duties and provisions 
with respect to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs; the JPMC Affiliated QPAM 
does not knowingly participate in any other person's violation of ERISA 
or the Code with respect to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs; any filings 
or statements made by the JPMC Affiliated QPAM to regulators, 
including, but not limited to, the Department of Labor, the Department 
of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Pension Benefit 
Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, are 
materially accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's knowledge 
at that time; the JPMC Affiliated QPAM does not make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with such regulators with respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or 
make material misrepresentations or omit material information in its 
communications with ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients; and the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM complies with the terms of this five-year exemption. 
Any violation of, or failure to comply with these Policies must be 
corrected promptly upon discovery, and any such violation or compliance 
failure not promptly corrected is reported, upon discovering the 
failure to promptly correct, in writing, to appropriate corporate 
officers, the head of compliance, and the General Counsel (or their 
functional equivalent) of the relevant JPMC Affiliated QPAM, the 
independent auditor responsible for reviewing compliance with the 
Policies, and an appropriate fiduciary of any affected ERISA-covered 
plan or IRA, which fiduciary is independent of JPMC. A JPMC Affiliated 
QPAM will not be treated as having failed to develop, implement, 
maintain, or follow the Policies, provided that it corrects any 
instance of noncompliance promptly when discovered or when it 
reasonably should have known of the noncompliance (whichever is 
earlier), and provided that it reports such instance of noncompliance 
as explained above.
    26. The Department has also imposed a condition that requires each 
JPMC Affiliated QPAM, within four (4) months of the date of the 
Conviction, to develop and implement a program of training (the 
Training), conducted at least annually, for all relevant JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, compliance, 
and internal audit personnel. The Training must be set forth in the 
Policies and, at a minimum, cover the Policies, ERISA and Code 
compliance (including applicable fiduciary duties and the prohibited 
transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the consequences for not 
complying with the conditions of this five-year exemption (including 
any loss of exemptive relief provided herein), and prompt reporting of 
wrongdoing. Further, the Training must be conducted by an independent 
professional who has been prudently selected and who has appropriate 
technical training and proficiency with ERISA and the Code.
    27. Independent Transparent Audit. The Department views a rigorous 
and transparent audit that is conducted annually by an independent 
party, as essential to ensuring that the conditions for exemptive 
relief described herein are followed by the JPMC Affiliated QPAMs. 
Therefore, Section I(i) of this proposed five-year exemption requires 
that each JPMC Affiliated QPAM submits to an audit, conducted annually 
by an independent auditor, who has been prudently selected and who has 
appropriate technical training and proficiency with ERISA and the Code, 
to evaluate the adequacy of, and the JPMC Affiliated QPAM's compliance 
with, the Policies and Training described herein. The audit requirement 
must be incorporated in the Policies. In addition, each annual audit 
must cover a consecutive twelve (12) month period starting with the 
twelve (12) month period that begins on the effective date of the five-
year exemption. Each annual audit must be completed no later than six 
(6) months after the period to which the audit applies.
    28. Among other things, the audit condition requires that, to the 
extent necessary for the auditor, in its sole opinion, to complete its 
audit and comply with the conditions for relief described herein, and 
as permitted by law, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM and, if applicable, 
JPMC, will grant the auditor unconditional access to its business, 
including, but not limited to: Its computer systems; business records; 
transactional data; workplace locations; training materials; and 
personnel.
    In addition, the auditor's engagement must specifically require the 
auditor to determine whether each JPMC Affiliated QPAM has complied 
with the Policies and Training conditions described herein, and must 
further require the auditor to test each JPMC Affiliated QPAM's 
operational compliance with the Policies and Training. The auditor must 
issue a written report (the Audit Report) to JPMC and the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM to which the audit applies that describes the 
procedures performed by the auditor during the course of its 
examination. The Audit Report must include the auditor's specific 
determinations regarding: The adequacy of the JPMC Affiliated QPAM's 
Policies and Training; the JPMC Affiliated QPAM's compliance with the 
Policies and Training; the need, if any, to strengthen such Policies 
and Training; and any instance of the respective JPMC

[[Page 83383]]

Affiliated QPAM's noncompliance with the written Policies and Training.
    Any determination by the auditor regarding the adequacy of the 
Policies and Training and the auditor's recommendations (if any) with 
respect to strengthening the Policies and Training of the respective 
JPMC Affiliated QPAM must be promptly addressed by such JPMC Affiliated 
QPAM, and any action taken by such JPMC Affiliated QPAM to address such 
recommendations must be included in an addendum to the Audit Report. 
Further, any determination by the auditor that the respective JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM has implemented, maintained, and followed sufficient 
Policies and Training must not be based solely or in substantial part 
on an absence of evidence indicating noncompliance. In this last 
regard, any finding that the JPMC Affiliated QPAM has complied with the 
requirements, as described above, must be based on evidence that 
demonstrates the JPMC Affiliated QPAM has actually implemented, 
maintained, and followed the Policies and Training required by this 
five-year exemption. Finally, the Audit Report must address the 
adequacy of the Annual Review required under this exemption and the 
resources provided to the Compliance Officer in connection with such 
Annual Review. Moreover, the auditor must notify the respective JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM of any instance of noncompliance identified by the 
auditor within five (5) business days after such noncompliance is 
identified by the auditor, regardless of whether the audit has been 
completed as of that date.
    29. This exemption requires that certain senior personnel of JPMC 
review the Audit Report and make certain certifications and take 
various corrective actions. In this regard, the General Counsel, or one 
of the three most senior executive officers of the JPMC Affiliate QPAM 
to which the Audit Report applies, must certify, in writing, under 
penalty of perjury, that the officer has reviewed the Audit Report and 
this five-year exemption; addressed, corrected, or remedied an 
inadequacy identified in the Audit Report; and determined that the 
Policies and Training in effect at the time of signing are adequate to 
ensure compliance with the conditions of this proposed five-year 
exemption and with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code. The 
Risk Committee of JPMC's Board of Directors is provided a copy of each 
Audit Report; and a senior executive officer with a direct reporting 
line to the highest ranking legal compliance officer of JPMC must 
review the Audit Report for each JPMC Affiliated QPAM and must certify 
in writing, under penalty of perjury, that such officer has reviewed 
each Audit Report.
    30. In order to create a more transparent record in the event that 
the proposed relief is granted, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM must provide 
its certified Audit Report to the Department no later than thirty (30) 
days following its completion. The Audit Report will be part of the 
public record regarding this five-year exemption.
    Further, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM must make its Audit Report 
unconditionally available for examination by any duly authorized 
employee or representative of the Department, other relevant 
regulators, and any fiduciary of an ERISA-covered plan or IRA, the 
assets of which are managed by such JPMC Affiliated QPAM. Additionally, 
each JPMC Affiliated QPAM and the auditor must submit to the Department 
any engagement agreement(s) entered into pursuant to the engagement of 
the auditor under this five-year exemption. Also, they must submit to 
the Department any engagement agreement entered into with any other 
entity retained in connection with such QPAM's compliance with the 
Training or Policies conditions of this proposed five-year exemption no 
later than six (6) months after the Conviction Date (and one month 
after the execution of any agreement thereafter).
    Finally, if the exemption is granted, the auditor must provide the 
Department, upon request, all of the workpapers created and utilized in 
the course of the audit, including, but not limited to: The audit plan; 
audit testing; identification of any instance of noncompliance by the 
relevant JPMC Affiliated QPAM; and an explanation of any corrective or 
remedial action taken by the applicable JPMC Affiliated QPAM.
    In order to enhance oversight of the compliance with the exemption, 
JPMC must notify the Department at least thirty (30) days prior to any 
substitution of an auditor, and JPMC must demonstrate to the 
Department's satisfaction that any new auditor is independent of JPMC, 
experienced in the matters that are the subject of the exemption, and 
capable of making the determinations required of this five-year 
exemption.
    31. Contractual Obligations. This five-year exemption requires the 
JPMC Affiliated QPAMs to enter into certain contractual obligations in 
connection with the provision of services to their clients. It is the 
Department's view that the condition in Section I(j) is essential to 
the Department's ability to make its findings that the proposed five-
year exemption is protective of the rights of the participants and 
beneficiaries of ERISA-covered and IRA plan clients of JPMC Affiliated 
QPAMs under section 408(a) of ERISA.
    In this regard, effective as of the effective date of this five-
year exemption, with respect to any arrangement, agreement, or contract 
between a JPMC Affiliated QPAM and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA for 
which a JPMC Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM agrees and 
warrants: (a) To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable with 
respect to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA, to refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions), and to comply with 
the standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of 
ERISA, as applicable, with respect to each such ERISA-covered plan and 
IRA; (b) to indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
for any damages resulting from a JPMC Affiliated QPAM's violation of 
applicable laws, a JPMC Affiliated QPAM's breach of contract, or any 
claim brought in connection with the failure of such JPMC Affiliated 
QPAM to qualify for the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-14 as a 
result of a violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 other than the 
Conviction; (c) not to require (or otherwise cause) the ERISA-covered 
plan or IRA to waive, limit, or qualify the liability of the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code or engaging in 
prohibited transactions; (d) not to require the ERISA-covered plan or 
IRA (or sponsor of such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner of such 
IRA) to indemnify the JPMC Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or 
engaging in prohibited transactions, except for violations or 
prohibited transactions caused by an error, misrepresentation, or 
misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan 
fiduciary who is independent of JPMC, and its affiliates; (e) not to 
restrict the ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA to terminate or 
withdraw from its arrangement with the JPMC Affiliated QPAM (including 
any investment in a separately managed account or pooled fund subject 
to ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with the exception of reasonable 
restrictions, appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically 
designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in a

[[Page 83384]]

pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have 
adverse consequences for all other investors as a result of an actual 
lack of liquidity of the underlying assets, provided that such 
restrictions are applied consistently and in like manner to all such 
investors; (f) not to impose any fees, penalties, or charges for such 
termination or withdrawal with the exception of reasonable fees, 
appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to 
prevent generally recognized abusive investment practices or 
specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in 
a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have 
adverse consequences for all other investors, provided that such fees 
are applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors; and 
(g) not to include exculpatory provisions disclaiming or otherwise 
limiting liability of the JPMC Affiliated QPAM for a violation of such 
agreement's terms, except for liability caused by an error, 
misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party 
hired by the plan fiduciary who is independent of JPMC, and its 
affiliates.
    32. Further, within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, 
each JPMC Affiliated QPAM must provide a notice of its obligations 
under Section I(j) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA for which an JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary 
fiduciary services. For all other prospective ERISA-covered plan and 
IRA clients for which a JPMC Affiliated QPAM provides asset management 
or other discretionary services, the JPMC Affiliated QPAM will agree in 
writing to its obligations under Section I(j) in an updated investment 
management agreement between the JPMC Affiliated QPAM and such clients 
or other written contractual agreement.
    33. Notice Requirements. The proposed exemption contains extensive 
notice requirements, some of which extend not only to ERISA-covered 
plan and IRA clients of JPMC Affiliated QPAMs, but which also go to 
non-Plan clients of JPMC Affiliated QPAMs. In this regard, the 
Department understands that many firms may promote their ``QPAM'' 
designation in order to earn asset management business, including from 
non-ERISA plans. Therefore, in order to fully inform any clients that 
may have retained JPMC Affiliated QPAMs as asset managers because such 
JPMC Affiliated QPAMs have represented themselves as able to rely on 
PTE 84-14, the Department has determined to condition exemptive relief 
upon the following notice requirements.
    Within fifteen (15) days of the publication of this proposed five-
year exemption in the Federal Register, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM will 
provide a notice of the proposed five-year exemption, along with a 
separate summary describing the facts that led to the Conviction (the 
Summary), which have been submitted to the Department, and a 
prominently displayed statement (the Statement) that the Conviction 
results in the failure to meet a condition in PTE 84-14, to each 
sponsor of an ERISA-covered plan and each beneficial owner of an IRA 
for which a JPMC Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary services, or the sponsor of an investment fund in any 
case where a JPMC Affiliated QPAM acts only as a sub-adviser to the 
investment fund in which such ERISA-covered plan and IRA invests. In 
the event that this proposed five-year exemption is granted, the 
Federal Register copy of the notice of final five-year exemption must 
be delivered to such clients within sixty (60) days of its publication 
in the Federal Register, and may be delivered electronically (including 
by an email that has a link to the exemption). Any prospective clients 
for which a JPMC Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary services must receive the proposed and final five-year 
exemptions with the Summary and the Statement prior to, or 
contemporaneously with, the client's receipt of a written asset 
management agreement from the JPMC Affiliated QPAM.
    In addition, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM will provide a Federal 
Register copy of the proposed five-year exemption, a Federal Register 
copy of the final five-year exemption; the Summary; and the Statement 
to each: (A) Current Non-Plan Client within four (4) months of the 
effective date, if any, of a final five-year exemption; and (B) Future 
Non-Plan Client prior to, or contemporaneously with, the client's 
receipt of a written asset management agreement from the JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM. A ``Current Non-Plan Client'' is a client of a JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM that: Is neither an ERISA-covered plan nor an IRA; has 
assets managed by the JPMC Affiliated QPAM as of the effective date, if 
any, of a final five-year exemption; and has received a written 
representation (qualified or otherwise) from the JPMC Affiliated QPAM 
that such JPMC Affiliated QPAM qualifies as a QPAM or qualifies for the 
relief provided by PTE 84-14. A ``Future Non-Plan Client'' is a client 
of a JPMC Affiliated QPAM that is neither an ERISA-covered plan nor an 
IRA that has assets managed by the JPMC Affiliated QPAM after the 
effective date, if any, of a final five-year exemption, and has 
received a written representation (qualified or otherwise) from the 
JPMC Affiliated QPAM that such JPMC Affiliated QPAM is a QPAM, or 
qualifies for the relief provided by PTE 84-14.
    34. This proposed five-year exemption also requires JPMC to 
designate a senior compliance officer (the Compliance Officer) who will 
be responsible for compliance with the Policies and Training 
requirements described herein. The Compliance Officer will have several 
obligations that it must comply with, as described in Section I(m) 
above. These include conducting an annual review (the Annual Review) to 
determine the adequacy and effectiveness of the implementation of the 
Policies and Training; the preparation of a written report for each 
Annual Review (each, an Annual Report) that, among other things, 
summarizes his or her material activities during the preceding year; 
and sets forth any instance of noncompliance discovered during the 
preceding year, and any related corrective action. Each Annual Report 
must be provided to appropriate corporate officers of JPMC and each 
JPMC Affiliated QPAM to which such report relates; the head of 
compliance and the General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of 
the relevant JPMC Affiliated QPAM; and must be made unconditionally 
available to the independent auditor described above.
    35. Each JPMC Affiliated QPAM must maintain records necessary to 
demonstrate that the conditions of this exemption have been met for six 
(6) years following the date of any transaction for which such JPMC 
Affiliated QPAM relies upon the relief in the proposed five-year 
exemption.
    36. The proposed five-year exemption mandates that, during the 
effective period of this five-year exemption JPMC must immediately 
disclose to the Department any Deferred Prosecution Agreement (a DPA) 
or Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) that JPMC or an affiliate enters 
into with the U.S. Department of Justice, to the extent such DPA or NPA 
involved conduct described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 or section 411 
of ERISA. In addition, JPMC must immediately provide the Department any 
information requested by the Department, as permitted by law, regarding 
the agreement and/or the conduct and allegations that led to the 
agreement. The Department may,

[[Page 83385]]

following its review of that information, require JPMC or a party 
specified by the Department, to submit a new application for the 
continued availability of relief as a condition of continuing to rely 
on this exemption. In this regard, the QPAM (or other party submitting 
the application) will have the burden of justifying the relief sought 
in the application. If the Department denies the relief requested in 
that application, or does not grant such relief within twelve months of 
the application, the relief described herein would be revoked as of the 
date of denial or as of the expiration of the twelve month period, 
whichever date is earlier.
    37. Finally, each JPMC Affiliated QPAM, in its agreements with 
ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients, or in other written disclosures 
provided to ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients, within sixty (60) days 
prior to the initial transaction upon which relief hereunder is relied, 
will clearly and prominently: Inform the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
client that the client has the right to obtain copies of the QPAM's 
written Policies adopted in accordance with this five-year exemption.

Statutory Findings--Administratively Feasible

    38. The Applicant represents that the proposed exemption is 
administratively feasible because it does not require any monitoring by 
the Department. Furthermore, the requested five-year exemption does not 
require the Department's oversight because, as a condition of this 
proposed five-year exemption, neither JPMC nor the Investment Banking 
Division of JPMorgan Chase Bank will provide any fiduciary or QPAM 
services to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs.

Summary

    39. Given the revised and new conditions described above, the 
Department has tentatively determined that the relief sought by the 
Applicant satisfies the statutory requirements for a five-year 
exemption under section 408(a) of ERISA.

Notice to Interested Persons

    Notice of the proposed exemption will be provided to all interested 
persons within 30 days of the publication of the notice of proposed 
five-year exemption in the Federal Register. The notice will be 
provided to all interested persons in the manner described in Section 
I(k)(1) of this proposed five-year exemption and will contain the 
documents described therein and a supplemental statement, as required 
pursuant to 29 CFR 2570.43(a)(2). The supplemental statement will 
inform interested persons of their right to comment on and to request a 
hearing with respect to the pending exemption. All written comments 
and/or requests for a hearing must be received by the Department within 
sixty (60) days of the date of publication of this proposed exemption 
in the Federal Register. All comments will be made available to the 
public.
    Warning: If you submit a comment, EBSA recommends that you include 
your name and other contact information in the body of your comment, 
but DO NOT submit information that you consider to be confidential, or 
otherwise protected (such as a Social Security number or an unlisted 
phone number) or confidential business information that you do not want 
publicly disclosed. All comments may be posted on the Internet and can 
be retrieved by most Internet search engines.

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

UBS Assets Management (Americas) Inc.; UBS Realty Investors LLC; UBS 
Hedge Fund Solutions LLC; UBS O'Connor LLC; and Certain Future 
Affiliates in UBS's Asset Management and Wealth Management Americas 
Divisions (Collectively, the Applicants or the UBS QPAMs), Located in 
Chicago, Illinois; Hartford, Connecticut; New York, New York; and 
Chicago, Illinois, Respectively

[Exemption Application No. D-11907]

Proposed Five Year Exemption

    The Department is considering granting a five-year exemption under 
the authority of section 408(a) of the Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA or the Act), and section 
4975(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), 
and in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, 
subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 2011).\70\
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    \70\ For purposes of this proposed five-year exemption, 
references to section 406 of Title I of the Act, unless otherwise 
specified, should be read to refer as well to the corresponding 
provisions of section 4975 of the Code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section I: Covered Transactions
    If the proposed five-year exemption is granted, certain asset 
managers with specified relationships to UBS, AG (hereinafter, the UBS 
QPAMs, as further defined in Section II(b)) will not be precluded from 
relying on the exemptive relief provided by Prohibited Transaction 
Exemption 84-14 (PTE 84-14),\71\ notwithstanding the ``2013 
Conviction'' against UBS Securities Japan Co., Ltd. entered on 
September 18, 2013 and the ``2016 Conviction'' against UBS AG scheduled 
to be entered on November 29, 2016 (collectively the Convictions, as 
further defined in Section II(a)),\72\ for a period of five years 
beginning on the date on which a grant notice is published in the 
Federal Register, provided that the following conditions are satisfied:
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    \71\ 49 FR 9494 (March 13, 1984), as corrected at 50 FR 41430 
(October 10, 1985), as amended at 70 FR 49305 (August 23, 2005), and 
as amended at 75 FR 38837 (July 6, 2010).
    \72\ Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 generally provides that 
``[n]either the QPAM nor any affiliate thereof . . . nor any owner . 
. . of a 5 percent or more interest in the QPAM is a person who 
within the 10 years immediately preceding the transaction has been 
either convicted or released from imprisonment, whichever is later, 
as a result of'' certain criminal activity therein described.
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    (a) The UBS QPAMs (including their officers, directors, agents 
other than UBS, and employees of such UBS QPAMs) did not know of, have 
reason to know of, or participate in: (1) The FX Misconduct; or (2) the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Convictions (for the 
purposes of this Section I(a), ``participate in'' includes the knowing 
or tacit approval of the FX Misconduct or the misconduct that is the 
subject of the Convictions);
    (b) The UBS QPAMs (including their officers, directors, agents 
other than UBS, and employees of such UBS QPAMs) did not receive direct 
compensation, or knowingly receive indirect compensation, in connection 
with: (1) The FX Misconduct; or (2) the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Convictions;
    (c) The UBS QPAMs will not employ or knowingly engage any of the 
individuals that participated in: (1) The FX Misconduct or (2) the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Convictions (for the 
purposes of this Section I(c), ``participated in'' includes the knowing 
or tacit approval of the FX Misconduct or the misconduct that is the 
subject of the Convictions);
    (d) A UBS QPAM will not use its authority or influence to direct an 
``investment fund'' (as defined in Section VI(b) of PTE 84-14) that is 
subject to ERISA or the Code and managed by such UBS QPAM, to enter 
into any transaction with UBS or UBS Securities Japan or engage UBS or 
UBS Securities Japan to provide any service to such investment fund, 
for a direct or indirect fee borne by such investment fund, regardless 
of whether such

[[Page 83386]]

transaction or service may otherwise be within the scope of relief 
provided by an administrative or statutory exemption;
    (e) Any failure of the UBS QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-
14 arose solely from the Convictions;
    (f) A UBS QPAM did not exercise authority over the assets of any 
plan subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA (an ERISA-covered plan) or 
section 4975 of the Code (an IRA) in a manner that it knew or should 
have known would: Further the FX Misconduct or the criminal conduct 
that is the subject of the Convictions; or cause the UBS QPAM, its 
affiliates or related parties to directly or indirectly profit from the 
FX Misconduct or the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Convictions;
    (g) UBS and UBS Securities Japan will not provide discretionary 
asset management services to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, nor will 
otherwise act as a fiduciary with respect to ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
assets;
    (h)(1) Each UBS QPAM must immediately develop, implement, maintain, 
and follow written policies and procedures (the Policies) requiring and 
reasonably designed to ensure that:
    (i) The asset management decisions of the UBS QPAM are conducted 
independently of UBS's corporate management and business activities, 
including the corporate management and business activities of the 
Investment Bank division and UBS Securities Japan;
    (ii) The UBS QPAM fully complies with ERISA's fiduciary duties, and 
with ERISA and the Code's prohibited transaction provisions, and does 
not knowingly participate in any violation of these duties and 
provisions with respect to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs;
    (iii) The UBS QPAM does not knowingly participate in any other 
person's violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to ERISA-covered 
plans and IRAs;
    (iv) Any filings or statements made by the UBS QPAM to regulators, 
including but not limited to, the Department of Labor, the Department 
of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Pension Benefit 
Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs are 
materially accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's knowledge 
at that time;
    (v) The UBS QPAM does not make material misrepresentations or omit 
material information in its communications with such regulators with 
respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients;
    (vi) The UBS QPAM complies with the terms of this five-year 
exemption; and
    (vii) Any violation of, or failure to comply with, an item in 
subparagraphs (ii) through (vi), is corrected promptly upon discovery, 
and any such violation or compliance failure not promptly corrected is 
reported, upon discovery of such failure to promptly correct, in 
writing, to appropriate corporate officers, the head of compliance and 
the General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of the relevant 
UBS QPAM, the independent auditor responsible for reviewing compliance 
with the Policies, and an appropriate fiduciary of any affected ERISA-
covered plan or IRA that is independent of UBS; however, with respect 
to any ERISA-covered plan or IRA sponsored by an ``affiliate'' (as 
defined in Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14) of UBS or beneficially owned by 
an employee of UBS or its affiliates, such fiduciary does not need to 
be independent of UBS. A UBS QPAM will not be treated as having failed 
to develop, implement, maintain, or follow the Policies, provided that 
it corrects any instance of noncompliance promptly when discovered, or 
when it reasonably should have known of the noncompliance (whichever is 
earlier), and provided that it adheres to the reporting requirements 
set forth in this subparagraph (vii);
    (2) Each UBS QPAM must immediately develop and implement a program 
of training (the Training), conducted at least annually, for all 
relevant UBS QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, 
compliance, and internal audit personnel. The Training must:
    (i) Be set forth in the Policies and at a minimum, cover the 
Policies, ERISA and Code compliance (including applicable fiduciary 
duties and the prohibited transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the 
consequences for not complying with the conditions of this five-year 
exemption (including any loss of exemptive relief provided herein), and 
prompt reporting of wrongdoing; and
    (ii) Be conducted by an independent professional who has been 
prudently selected and who has appropriate technical training and 
proficiency with ERISA and the Code;
    (i)(1) Each UBS QPAM submits to an audit conducted annually by an 
independent auditor, who has been prudently selected and who has 
appropriate technical training and proficiency with ERISA and the Code, 
to evaluate the adequacy of, and the UBS QPAM's compliance with, the 
Policies and Training described herein. The audit requirement must be 
incorporated in the Policies. Each annual audit must cover a 
consecutive twelve month period starting with the twelve month period 
that begins on the date of the Conviction Date (the Initial Audit 
Period). If this proposed five-year exemption is granted within one 
year of the effective date of the proposed temporary exemption for UBS 
QPAMs (Exemption Application No. D-11863),\73\ then the Initial Audit 
Period will cover the period of time during which such temporary 
exemption is effective and a portion of the time during which this 
proposed five-year exemption is effective. In such event, the audit 
terms contained in this Section I(i) will supersede the terms of 
Section I(i) of the proposed temporary exemption. Additionally, in 
determining compliance with the conditions for relief in the proposed 
temporary exemption and this proposed five-year exemption, including 
the Policies and Training requirements, for purposes of conducting the 
audit, the auditor will rely on the conditions for exemptive relief as 
then applicable to the respective periods under audit. For time periods 
prior to the Conviction Date and covered under PTE 2013-09, the audit 
requirements in Section (g) of PTE 2013-09 will remain in effect. Each 
annual audit must be completed no later than six (6) months after the 
period to which the audit applies;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \73\ A proposed temporary exemption in respect of Exemption 
Application No. D-11863 for UBS QPAMs to rely on the exemptive 
relief provided by PTE 84-14, notwithstanding the Convictions, for 
up to twelve months from the date of the U.S. Conviction, is being 
published elsewhere in the Federal Register.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) To the extent necessary for the auditor, in its sole opinion, 
to complete its audit and comply with the conditions for relief 
described herein, and as permitted by law, each UBS QPAM and, if 
applicable, UBS, will grant the auditor unconditional access to its 
business, including, but not limited to: Its computer systems; business 
records; transactional data; workplace locations; training materials; 
and personnel;
    (3) The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor 
to determine whether each UBS QPAM has developed, implemented, 
maintained, and followed the Policies in accordance with the conditions 
of this five-year exemption, and has developed and implemented the 
Training, as required herein;
    (4) The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor 
to test

[[Page 83387]]

each UBS QPAM's operational compliance with the Policies and Training. 
In this regard, the auditor must test a sample of each QPAM's 
transactions involving ERISA-covered plans and IRAs sufficient in size 
and nature to afford the auditor a reasonable basis to determine the 
operational compliance with the Policies and Training;
    (5) For each audit, on or before the end of the relevant period 
described in Section I(i)(1) for completing the audit, the auditor must 
issue a written report (the Audit Report) to UBS and the UBS QPAM to 
which the audit applies that describes the procedures performed by the 
auditor during the course of its examination. The Audit Report must 
include the auditor's specific determinations regarding:
    (i) The adequacy of the UBS QPAM's Policies and Training; the UBS 
QPAM's compliance with the Policies and Training; the need, if any, to 
strengthen such Policies and Training; and any instance of the 
respective UBS QPAM's noncompliance with the written Policies and 
Training described in Section I(h) above. Any determination by the 
auditor regarding the adequacy of the Policies and Training and the 
auditor's recommendations (if any) with respect to strengthening the 
Policies and Training of the respective UBS QPAM must be promptly 
addressed by such UBS QPAM, and any action taken by such UBS QPAM to 
address such recommendations must be included in an addendum to the 
Audit Report (which addendum is completed prior to the certification 
described in Section I(i)(7) below). Any determination by the auditor 
that the respective UBS QPAM has implemented, maintained, and followed 
sufficient Policies and Training must not be based solely or in 
substantial part on an absence of evidence indicating noncompliance. In 
this last regard, any finding that the UBS QPAM has complied with the 
requirements under this subsection must be based on evidence that 
demonstrates the UBS QPAM has actually implemented, maintained, and 
followed the Policies and Training required by this five-year 
exemption. Furthermore, the auditor must not rely on the Annual Report 
created by the Compliance Officer as described in Section I(m) below in 
lieu of independent determinations and testing performed by the auditor 
as required by Section I(i)(3) and (4) above; and
    (ii) The adequacy of the Annual Review described in Section I(m) 
and the resources provided to the Compliance officer in connection with 
such Annual Review;
    (6) The auditor must notify the respective UBS QPAM of any instance 
of noncompliance identified by the auditor within five (5) business 
days after such noncompliance is identified by the auditor, regardless 
of whether the audit has been completed as of that date;
    (7) With respect to each Audit Report, the General Counsel, or one 
of the three most senior executive officers of the UBS QPAM to which 
the Audit Report applies, must certify in writing, under penalty of 
perjury, that the officer has reviewed the Audit Report and this five-
year exemption; addressed, corrected, or remedied any inadequacy 
identified in the Audit Report; and determined that the Policies and 
Training in effect at the time of signing are adequate to ensure 
compliance with the conditions of this proposed five-year exemption and 
with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code;
    (8) The Risk Committee, the Audit Committee, and the Corporate 
Culture and Responsibility Committee of UBS's Board of Directors are 
provided a copy of each Audit Report; and a senior executive officer of 
UBS's Compliance and Operational Risk Control function must review the 
Audit Report for each UBS QPAM and must certify in writing, under 
penalty of perjury, that such officer has reviewed each Audit Report;
    (9) Each UBS QPAM must provide its certified Audit Report, by 
regular mail to: the Department's Office of Exemption Determinations 
(OED), 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Suite 400, Washington DC 20210, or 
by private carrier to: 122 C Street NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC 
20001-2109, no later than 45 days following its completion. The Audit 
Report will be part of the public record regarding this five-year 
exemption. Furthermore, each UBS QPAM must make its Audit Report 
unconditionally available for examination by any duly authorized 
employee or representative of the Department, other relevant 
regulators, and any fiduciary of an ERISA-covered plan or IRA, the 
assets of which are managed by such UBS QPAM;
    (10) Each UBS QPAM and the auditor must submit to OED: (A) Any 
engagement agreement entered into pursuant to the engagement of the 
auditor under this five-year exemption; and (B) any engagement 
agreement entered into with any other entity retained in connection 
with such QPAM's compliance with the Training or Policies conditions of 
this proposed five-year exemption no later than six (6) months after 
the effective date of this five-year exemption (and one month after the 
execution of any agreement thereafter);
    (11) The auditor must provide OED, upon request, all of the 
workpapers created and utilized in the course of the audit, including, 
but not limited to: The audit plan; audit testing; identification of 
any instance of noncompliance by the relevant UBS QPAM; and an 
explanation of any corrective or remedial action taken by the 
applicable UBS QPAM; and
    (12) UBS must notify the Department at least 30 days prior to any 
substitution of an auditor, except that no such replacement will meet 
the requirements of this paragraph unless and until UBS demonstrates to 
the Department's satisfaction that such new auditor is independent of 
UBS, experienced in the matters that are the subject of the five-year 
exemption and capable of making the determinations required of this 
five-year exemption;
    (j) Effective as of the effective date of this five-year exemption, 
with respect to any arrangement, agreement, or contract between a UBS 
QPAM and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA for which such UBS QPAM provides 
asset management or other discretionary fiduciary services, each UBS 
QPAM agrees and warrants:
    (1) To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable with respect 
to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA; to refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions); and to comply with 
the standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of 
ERISA, as applicable;
    (2) Not to require (or otherwise cause) the ERISA-covered plan or 
IRA to waive, limit, or qualify the liability of the UBS QPAM for 
violating ERISA or the Code or engaging in prohibited transactions;
    (3) Not to require the ERISA-covered plan or IRA (or sponsor of 
such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner of such IRA) to indemnify 
the UBS QPAM for violating ERISA or engaging in prohibited 
transactions, except for violations or prohibited transactions caused 
by an error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or 
other party hired by the plan fiduciary who is independent of UBS;
    (4) Not to restrict the ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
to terminate or withdraw from its arrangement with the UBS QPAM 
(including any investment in a separately managed account or pooled 
fund subject to ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with the exception of 
reasonable restrictions, appropriately disclosed in advance, that are 
specifically designed to ensure

[[Page 83388]]

equitable treatment of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such 
withdrawal or termination may have adverse consequences for all other 
investors as a result of an actual lack of liquidity of the underlying 
assets, provided that such restrictions are applied consistently and in 
like manner to all such investors;
    (5) Not to impose any fees, penalties, or charges for such 
termination or withdrawal with the exception of reasonable fees, 
appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to 
prevent generally recognized abusive investment practices or 
specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in 
a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have 
adverse consequences for all other investors, provided that such fees 
are applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors;
    (6) Not to include exculpatory provisions disclaiming or otherwise 
limiting liability of the UBS QPAM for a violation of such agreement's 
terms, except for liability caused by an error, misrepresentation, or 
misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan 
fiduciary who is independent of UBS and its affiliates; and
    (7) To indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-covered plan and IRA 
for any damages resulting from a violation of applicable laws, a UBS 
QPAM's breach of contract, or any claim arising out of the failure of 
such UBS QPAM to qualify for the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-14 
as a result of a violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 other than the 
Convictions;
    (8) Within four (4) months of the effective date of this proposed 
five-year exemption, each UBS QPAM must provide a notice of its 
obligations under this Section I(j) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA 
for which the UBS QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary 
fiduciary services. For all other prospective ERISA-covered plan and 
IRA clients for which a UBS QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services, the UBS QPAM will agree in writing to 
its obligations under this Section I(j) in an updated investment 
management agreement or advisory agreement between the UBS QPAM and 
such clients or other written contractual agreement;
    (k)(1) Notice to ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients. Within fifteen 
(15) days of the publication of this proposed five-year exemption in 
the Federal Register, each UBS QPAM will provide a notice of the 
proposed five-year exemption, along with a separate summary describing 
the facts that led to the Convictions (the Summary), which have been 
submitted to the Department, and a prominently displayed statement (the 
Statement) that each Conviction separately results in a failure to meet 
a condition in PTE 84-14, to each sponsor of an ERISA-covered plan and 
each beneficial owner of an IRA for which a UBS QPAM provides asset 
management or other discretionary fiduciary services, or the sponsor of 
an investment fund in any case where a UBS QPAM acts only as a sub-
advisor to the investment fund in which such ERISA-covered plan and IRA 
invests. In the event that this proposed five-year exemption is 
granted, the Federal Register copy of the notice of final five-year 
exemption must be delivered to such clients within sixty (60) days of 
its publication in the Federal Register, and may be delivered 
electronically (including by an email that has a link to the five-year 
exemption). Any prospective clients for which a UBS QPAM provides asset 
management or other discretionary fiduciary services must receive the 
proposed and final five-year exemptions with the Summary and the 
Statement prior to, or contemporaneously with, the client's receipt of 
a written asset management agreement from the UBS QPAM; and
    (2) Notice to Non-Plan Clients. Each UBS QPAM will provide a 
Federal Register copy of the proposed five-year exemption, a Federal 
Register copy of the final five-year exemption; the Summary; and the 
Statement to each: (A) Current Non-Plan Client within four (4) months 
of the effective date, if any, of a final five-year exemption; and (B) 
Future Non-Plan Client prior to, or contemporaneously with, the 
client's receipt of a written asset management agreement, or other 
written contractual agreement, from the UBS QPAM. For purposes of this 
subparagraph (2), a Current Non-Plan Client means a client of a UBS 
QPAM that: Is neither an ERISA-covered plan nor an IRA; has assets 
managed by the UBS QPAM as of the effective date, if any, of a final 
five-year exemption; and has received a written representation 
(qualified or otherwise) from the UBS QPAM that such UBS QPAM qualifies 
as a QPAM or qualifies for the relief provided by PTE 84-14. For 
purposes of this subparagraph (2), a Future Non-Plan Client means a 
prospective client of a UBS QPAM that: Is neither an ERISA-covered plan 
nor an IRA; has assets managed by the UBS QPAM after (but not as of) 
the effective date, if any, of a final five-year exemption; and has 
received a written representation (qualified or otherwise) from the UBS 
QPAM that such UBS QPAM qualifies as a QPAM or qualifies for the relief 
provided by PTE 84-14;
    (l) The UBS QPAMs must comply with each condition of PTE 84-14, as 
amended, with the sole exceptions of the violations of Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 that are attributable to the Convictions;
    (m)(1) UBS designates a senior compliance officer (the Compliance 
Officer) who will be responsible for compliance with the Policies and 
Training requirements described herein. The Compliance Officer must 
conduct an annual review (the Annual Review) to determine the adequacy 
and effectiveness of the implementation of the Policies and Training. 
With respect to the Compliance Officer, the following conditions must 
be met:
    (i) The Compliance Officer must be a legal professional with 
extensive experience with, and knowledge of, the regulation of 
financial services and products, including under ERISA and the Code; 
and
    (ii) The Compliance Officer has a dual-reporting line within UBS's 
Compliance and Operational Risk Control (C&ORC) function: (A) A 
divisional reporting line to the Head of Compliance and Operational 
Risk Control, Asset Management, and (B) a regional reporting line to 
the Head of Americas Compliance and Operational Risk Control. The C&ORC 
function will be organizationally independent of UBS's business 
divisions--including Asset Management and the Investment Bank--and is 
led by the Global Head of C&ORC, who will report directly to UBS's 
Chief Risk Officer;
    (2) With respect to each Annual Review, the following conditions 
must be met:
    (i) The Annual Review includes a review of: Any compliance matter 
related to the Policies or Training that was identified by, or reported 
to, the Compliance Officer or others within the Compliance and 
Operational Risk Control function during the previous year; any 
material change in the business activities of the UBS QPAMs; and any 
change to ERISA, the Code, or regulations related to fiduciary duties 
and the prohibited transaction provisions that may be applicable to the 
activities of the UBS QPAMs;
    (ii) The Compliance Officer prepares a written report for each 
Annual Review (each, an Annual Report) that (A) summarizes his or her 
material activities during the preceding year; (B) sets forth any 
instance of noncompliance discovered during the preceding year, and any 
related corrective action; (C)

[[Page 83389]]

details any change to the Policies or Training to guard against any 
similar instance of noncompliance occurring again; and (D) makes 
recommendations, as necessary, for additional training, procedures, 
monitoring, or additional and/or changed processes or systems, and 
management's actions on such recommendations;
    (iii) In each Annual Report, the Compliance Officer must certify in 
writing that to his or her knowledge: (A) The report is accurate; (B) 
the Policies and Training are working in a manner which is reasonably 
designed to ensure that the Policies and Training requirements 
described herein are met; (C) any known instance of noncompliance 
during the preceding year and any related correction taken to date have 
been identified in the Annual Report; (D) the UBS QPAMs have complied 
with the Policies and Training in all respects, and/or corrected any 
instances of noncompliance in accordance with Section I(h) above; and 
(E) UBS has provided the Compliance Officer with adequate resources, 
including, but not limited to, adequate staffing;
    (iv) Each Annual Report must be provided to appropriate corporate 
officers of UBS and each UBS QPAM to which such report relates; the 
head of Compliance and the General Counsel (or their functional 
equivalent) of the relevant UBS QPAM; and must be made unconditionally 
available to the independent auditor described in Section I(i) above;
    (v) Each Annual Review, including the Compliance Officer's written 
Annual Report, must be completed at least three (3) months in advance 
of the date on which each audit described in Section I(i) is scheduled 
to be completed;
    (n) UBS imposes its internal procedures, controls, and protocols on 
UBS Securities Japan to: (1) Reduce the likelihood of any recurrence of 
conduct that that is the subject of the 2013 Conviction, and (2) comply 
in all material respects with the Business Improvement Order, dated 
December 16, 2011, issued by the Japanese Financial Services Authority;
    (o) UBS complies in all material respects with the audit and 
monitoring procedures imposed on UBS by the United States Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission Order, dated December 19, 2012;
    (p) Each UBS QPAM will maintain records necessary to demonstrate 
that the conditions of this five-year exemption have been met, for six 
(6) years following the date of any transaction for which such UBS QPAM 
relies upon the relief in the five-year exemption;
    (q) During the effective period of this five-year exemption UBS: 
(1) Immediately discloses to the Department any Deferred Prosecution 
Agreement (a DPA) or Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) that UBS or an 
affiliate enters into with the U.S Department of Justice, to the extent 
such DPA or NPA involves conduct described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 
or section 411 of ERISA; and (2) immediately provides the Department 
any information requested by the Department, as permitted by law, 
regarding the agreement and/or the conduct and allegations that led to 
the agreement;
    After review of the information, the Department may require UBS, 
its affiliates, or related parties, as specified by the Department, to 
submit a new application for the continued availability of relief as a 
condition of continuing to rely on this exemption. If the Department 
denies the relief requested in the new application, or does not grant 
such relief within twelve months of application, the relief described 
herein is revoked as of the date of denial or as of the expiration of 
the twelve month period, whichever date is earlier;
    (r) Each UBS QPAM, in its agreements with ERISA-covered plan and 
IRA clients, or in other written disclosures provided to ERISA-covered 
plan and IRA clients, within 60 days prior to the initial transaction 
upon which relief hereunder is relied, and then at least once annually, 
will clearly and prominently: Inform the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
client that the client has the right to obtain copies of the QPAM's 
written Policies adopted in accordance with this five-year exemption; 
and
    (s) A UBS QPAM will not fail to meet the terms of this five-year 
exemption, solely because a different UBS QPAM fails to satisfy a 
condition for relief under this five-year exemption described in 
Sections I(c), (d), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (p), and (r).
Section II: Definitions
    (a) The term ``Convictions'' means the 2013 Conviction and the 2016 
Conviction. The term ``2013 Conviction'' means the judgment of 
conviction against UBS Securities Japan Co. Ltd. in Case Number 3:12-
cr-00268-RNC in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut 
for one count of wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United Sates 
Code, sections 1343 and 2 in connection with submission of YEN London 
Interbank Offered Rates and other benchmark interest rates. The term 
``2016 Conviction'' means the anticipated judgment of conviction 
against UBS AG in Case Number 3:15-cr-00076-RNC in the U.S. District 
Court for the District of Connecticut for one count of wire fraud in 
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 2 in 
connection with UBS's submission of Yen London Interbank Offered Rates 
and other benchmark interest rates between 2001 and 2010. For all 
purposes under this proposed five-year exemption, ``conduct'' of any 
person or entity that is the ``subject of [a] Conviction'' encompasses 
any conduct of UBS and/or their personnel, that is described in the 
Plea Agreement, (including Exhibits 1 and 3 attached thereto), and 
other official regulatory or judicial factual findings that are a part 
of this record.
    (b) The term ``UBS QPAM'' means UBS Asset Management (Americas) 
Inc., UBS Realty Investors LLC, UBS Hedge Fund Solutions LLC, UBS 
O'Connor LLC, and any future entity within the Asset Management or the 
Wealth Management Americas divisions of UBS AG that qualifies as a 
``qualified professional asset manager'' (as defined in Section VI(a) 
\74\ of PTE 84-14) and that relies on the relief provided by PTE 84-14 
and with respect to which UBS AG is an ``affiliate'' (as defined in 
Part VI(d) of PTE 84-14). The term ``UBS QPAM'' excludes the parent 
entity, UBS AG and UBS Securities Japan.
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    \74\ In general terms, a QPAM is an independent fiduciary that 
is a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or 
investment adviser that meets certain equity or net worth 
requirements and other licensure requirements and that has 
acknowledged in a written management agreement that it is a 
fiduciary with respect to each plan that has retained the QPAM.
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    (c) The term ``UBS'' means UBS AG.
    (d) The term ``Conviction Date'' means the date that a judgment of 
conviction against UBS is entered in the 2016 Conviction.
    (e) The term ``FX Misconduct'' means the conduct engaged in by UBS 
personnel described in Exhibit 1 of the Plea Agreement (Factual Basis 
for Breach) entered into between UBS AG and the Department of Justice 
Criminal Division, on May 20, 2015 in connection with Case Number 3:15-
cr-00076-RNC filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of 
Connecticut.
    (f) The term ``UBS Securities Japan'' means UBS Securities Japan 
Co. Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UBS incorporated under the laws 
of Japan.
    (g) The term ``Plea Agreement'' means the Plea Agreement (including 
Exhibits 1 and 3 attached thereto) entered into between UBS AG and the 
Department of Justice Criminal Division, on May 20,

[[Page 83390]]

2015 in connection with Case Number 3:15-cr-00076-RNC filed in the US 
District Court for the District of Connecticut.
    Effective Date: This proposed five-year exemption will be effective 
beginning on the date of publication of such grant in the Federal 
Register and ending on the date that is five years thereafter. Should 
the Applicants wish to extend the effective period of exemptive relief 
provided by this proposed five-year exemption, the Applicants must 
submit another application for an exemption. In this regard, the 
Department expects that, in connection with such application, the 
Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate compliance with the 
conditions for this exemption and that the UBS QPAMs, and those who may 
be in a position to influence their policies, have maintained the high 
standard of integrity required by PTE 84-14.
    Department's Comment: As described in further detail below, on 
September 13, 2013, the Department published PTE 2013-09, which is an 
exemption that permits certain UBS asset managers to continue to rely 
on PTE 84-14, notwithstanding the 2013 Conviction. The impending 2016 
Conviction will constitute a violation of the conditions of PTE 2013-09 
and PTE 84-14. As a result, the UBS QPAMs will not be able to rely on 
PTE 84-14 for exemptive relief as of the Conviction Date.
    Elsewhere in the Federal Register, in connection with Exemption 
Application D-11863, the Department is publishing a proposed temporary 
exemption for the UBS QPAMs to continue to rely on PTE 84-14 
notwithstanding the Convictions, for a period of up to twelve months. 
That temporary exemption is intended to allow the Department sufficient 
time, including a longer comment period, to determine whether or not to 
grant this five-year exemption. The proposed temporary exemption is 
designed to protect ERISA-covered plans and IRAs from the potential 
costs and losses, described below, that would be incurred if such UBS 
QPAMs were to suddenly lose their ability to rely on PTE 84-14 as of 
the Conviction date.
    The five-year exemption proposed herein would permit certain asset 
managers affiliated with UBS and its affiliates to continue to rely on 
PTE 84-14 for a period of five years from its effective date. Upon the 
effective date of the proposed five-year exemption, the Temporary 
Exemption, if still effective, would expire.
    The proposed five-year exemption would provide relief from certain 
of the restrictions set forth in sections 406 and 407 of ERISA. If 
granted, no relief or waiver of a violation of any other law would be 
provided by this five-year exemption.
    Furthermore, the Department cautions that the relief in this 
proposed five-year exemption would terminate immediately if, among 
other things, an entity within the UBS corporate structure is convicted 
of a crime described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 (other than the 
Convictions) during the effective period of the five-year exemption. 
While such an entity could apply for a new exemption in that 
circumstance, the Department would not be obligated to grant the 
exemption. The terms of this proposed five-year exemption have been 
specifically designed to permit plans to terminate their relationships 
in an orderly and cost effective fashion in the event of an additional 
conviction or a determination that it is otherwise prudent for a plan 
to terminate its relationship with an entity covered by the proposed 
five-year exemption.

Summary of Facts and Representations 75
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    \75\ The Summary of Facts and Representations is based on the 
Applicants' representations, unless indicated otherwise.
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The Applicants

    1. UBS AG (UBS) is a Swiss-based global financial services company 
organized under the laws of Switzerland. UBS has banking divisions and 
subsidiaries throughout the world, with its United States headquarters 
located in New York, New York and Stamford, Connecticut. UBS and its 
affiliates employ approximately 20,000 people in the United States.
    2. The operational structure of UBS and its affiliates 
(collectively, the UBS Group) consists of a Corporate Center function 
and five business divisions: Wealth Management; Wealth Management 
Americas; Retail & Corporate; Asset Management; and the Investment 
Bank.
    3. LIBOR NPA. On December 18, 2012, UBS and the United States 
Department of Justice (DOJ) entered into a Non-Prosecution Agreement 
(the LIBOR NPA) related to UBS's misconduct and involving its 
submission of Yen London Interbank Offer Rate (Yen LIBOR) rates and 
other benchmark rates between 2001 and 2010. In exchange for UBS 
promising, among other things, not to commit any crime in violation of 
U.S. laws for a period of two years from the date of the LIBOR NPA, DOJ 
agreed that it would not prosecute UBS for any crimes related to the 
submission of Yen LIBOR rates and other benchmark rates. For its part, 
UBS agreed to, among other things: (i) Pay a monetary penalty of 
$500,000,000; and (ii) take steps to further strengthen its internal 
controls, as required by certain other U.S. and non-U.S. regulatory 
agencies that had addressed the misconduct described in the LIBOR NPA. 
Such requirements include those imposed by the United States Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) order dated December 19, 2012 (the 
CFTC Order) which requires UBS to comply with significant auditing and 
monitoring conditions that set standards for submissions related to 
interest rate benchmarks such as LIBOR, qualifications of submitters 
and supervisors, documentation, training, and firewalls. Under the CFTC 
Order, UBS must maintain monitoring systems or electronic exception 
reporting systems that identify possible improper or unsubstantiated 
submissions. The CFTC Order requires UBS to conduct internal audits of 
reasonable and random samples of its submissions every six months. 
Additionally, UBS must retain an independent, third-party auditor to 
conduct a yearly audit of the submission process for five years and a 
copy of the report must be provided to the CFTC. Furthermore, the 
Japanese Financial Service Authority's (JFSA) Business Improvement 
Order dated December 16, 2011 requires UBS Securities Japan to (i) 
develop a plan to ensure compliance with its legal and regulatory 
obligations and to establish a control framework that is designed to 
prevent recurrences of the fraudulent submissions for benchmark 
interest rates; and (ii) provide periodic written reports to the JFSA 
regarding UBS Securities Japan's implementation of the measures 
required by the order.
    4. 2013 Conviction. Although UBS, the parent entity, was not 
criminally charged in connection with the submission of benchmark rates 
when it entered into the LIBOR NPA, UBS Securities Japan Co. Ltd. (UBS 
Securities Japan), a wholly-owned subsidiary of UBS incorporated under 
the laws of Japan, pled guilty on December 19, 2012, to one count of 
wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United Sates Code, sections 1343 
and 2. UBS Securities Japan's guilty plea arose out of its fraudulent 
submission of Yen LIBOR rates between 2006 and 2009,\76\

[[Page 83391]]

and its participation in a scheme to defraud counterparties to interest 
rate derivatives trades executed on its behalf, by secretly 
manipulating certain benchmark interest rates, namely Yen LIBOR and the 
Euroyen Tokyo InterBank Offered Rate (EuroYen TIBOR), to which the 
profitability of those trades was tied. On September 18, 2013 (the 2013 
Conviction Date), UBS Securities Japan was sentenced by the United 
States District Court for the District of Connecticut (the 2013 
Conviction).\77\
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    \76\ Section 1343 generally imposes criminal liability for 
fraud, including fines and/or imprisonment, when a person utilizes 
wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign 
commerce. Section 2 generally imposes criminal liability on a person 
as a principal if that person aids, counsels, commands, induces, or 
willfully causes another person to engage in criminal activity.
    \77\ United States of America v. UBS Securities Japan Limited, 
Case Number 3:12-cr-00268-RNC.
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    5. FX Misconduct and Breach of LIBOR NPA. At approximately the same 
time, the DOJ was conducting an investigation of several multi-national 
banks, including UBS, in connection with the reported manipulation of 
the foreign exchange (FX) markets. The DOJ determined, among other 
things, that UBS had engaged in deceptive currency trading and sales 
practices in conducting certain FX market transactions, as well as 
collusive conduct in certain FX markets. The DOJ did not file separate 
charges in connection with the FX-related misconduct, but instead 
determined that the LIBOR NPA had been breached. The DOJ terminated the 
LIBOR NPA and filed a one-count criminal information (the Information), 
Case Number 3:15-cr-00076-RNC, in the U.S. District Court for the 
District of Connecticut. The Information charged that, on or about June 
29, 2009, in furtherance of a scheme to defraud counterparties to 
interest rate derivatives transactions UBS transmitted or caused the 
transmission of electronic communications in interstate and foreign 
commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 
and 2.
    6. 2016 Conviction. UBS entered into a Plea Agreement with the DOJ 
dated May 20, 2015 (the Plea Agreement), pleading guilty to the charges 
in the Information, and agreeing to pay a $203,000,000 criminal 
penalty.\78\ In addition, UBS agreed not to commit another federal 
crime during a three year probation period; to continue implement a 
compliance program designed to prevent and detect, or otherwise remedy, 
conduct that led to the LIBOR NPA; and to provide annual reports to the 
probation officer and the DOJ on its progress in implementing the 
program. UBS also agreed to continue to strengthen its compliance 
program and internal controls as required by: The U.S. Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); the United Kingdom's Financial 
Conduct Authority (UK FCA); the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory 
Authority (FINMA); and any other regulatory enforcement agency, in 
connection with resolutions involving conduct in FX markets or conduct 
related to benchmark rates. UBS must provide information regarding its 
compliance programs to the probation officer, upon request. A judgment 
of conviction (the 2016 Conviction) against UBS in Case Number 3:15-cr-
00076-RNC is scheduled to be entered in the U.S. District Court for the 
District of Connecticut on or about November 29, 2016.
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    \78\ United States of America v. UBS, Case Number 3:15-cr-00076-
RNC.
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PTE 84-14

    7. The Department notes that the rules set forth in section 406 of 
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA) 
and section 4975(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended 
(the Code) proscribe certain ``prohibited transactions'' between plans 
and related parties with respect to those plans, known as ``parties in 
interest.'' \79\ Under section 3(14) of ERISA, parties in interest with 
respect to a plan include, among others, the plan fiduciary, a 
sponsoring employer of the plan, a union whose members are covered by 
the plan, service providers with respect to the plan, and certain of 
their affiliates. The prohibited transaction provisions under section 
406(a) of ERISA prohibit, in relevant part, sales, leases, loans or the 
provision of services between a party in interest and a plan (or an 
entity whose assets are deemed to constitute the assets of a plan), as 
well as the use of plan assets by or for the benefit of, or a transfer 
of plan assets to, a party in interest.\80\ Under the authority of 
section 408(a) of ERISA and section 4975(c)(2) of the Code, the 
Department has the authority to grant exemptions from such ``prohibited 
transactions'' in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR 
part 2570, subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 2011).
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    \79\ For purposes of the Summary of Facts and Representations, 
references to specific provisions of Title I of ERISA, unless 
otherwise specified, refer also to the corresponding provisions of 
the Code.
    \80\ The prohibited transaction provisions also include certain 
fiduciary prohibited transactions under section 406(b) of ERISA. 
These include transactions involving fiduciary self-dealing; 
fiduciary conflicts of interest, and kickbacks to fiduciaries.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    8. Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-14 (PTE 84-14) \81\ exempts 
certain prohibited transactions between a party in interest and an 
``investment fund'' (as defined in Section VI(b) of PTE 84-14) \82\ in 
which a plan has an interest, if the investment manager satisfies the 
definition of ``qualified professional asset manager'' (QPAM) and 
satisfies additional conditions for the exemption. In this regard, PTE 
84-14 was developed and granted based on the essential premise that 
broad relief could be afforded for all types of transactions in which a 
plan engages only if the commitments and the investments of plan assets 
and the negotiations leading thereto are the sole responsibility of an 
independent, discretionary, manager.\83\
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    \81\ 49 FR 9494 (March 13, 1984), as corrected at 50 FR 41430 
(October 10, 1985), as amended at 70 FR 49305 (August 23, 2005), and 
as amended at 75 FR 38837 (July 6, 2010).
    \82\ An ``investment fund'' includes single customer and pooled 
separate accounts maintained by an insurance company, individual 
trusts and common, collective or group trusts maintained by a bank, 
and any other account or fund to the extent that the disposition of 
its assets (whether or not in the custody of the QPAM) is subject to 
the discretionary authority of the QPAM.
    \83\ See 75 FR 38837, 38839 (July 6, 2010).
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    9. However, Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 prevents an entity that may 
otherwise meet the definition of QPAM from utilizing the exemptive 
relief provided by PTE 84-14, for itself and its client plans, if that 
entity or an ``affiliate'' \84\ thereof or any owner, direct or 
indirect, of a 5 percent or more interest in the QPAM has, within 10 
years immediately preceding the transaction, been either convicted or 
released from imprisonment, whichever is later, as a result of certain 
specified criminal activity described in that section. The Department 
notes that Section I(g) was included in PTE 84-14, in part, based on 
the expectation that a QPAM, and those who may be in a position to 
influence its policies, maintain a high standard of integrity.\85\ 
Accordingly, as a result of the Convictions, QPAMs with certain 
corporate relationships to UBS and UBS Securities Japan, as well as 
their client plans that are subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA 
(ERISA-covered plans) or section 4975 of the Code (IRAs), will no 
longer be able to rely on

[[Page 83392]]

PTE 84-14 without an individual exemption issued by the Department.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \84\ Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14 defines the term ``affiliate'' 
for purposes of Section I(g) as ``(1) Any person directly or 
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling, 
controlled by, or under common control with the person, (2) Any 
director of, relative of, or partner in, any such person, (3) Any 
corporation, partnership, trust or unincorporated enterprise of 
which such person is an officer, director, or a 5 percent or more 
partner or owner, and (4) Any employee or officer of the person 
who--(A) Is a highly compensated employee (as defined in Section 
4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) or officer (earning 10 percent or more of 
the yearly wages of such person), or (B) Has direct or indirect 
authority, responsibility or control regarding the custody, 
management or disposition of plan assets.''
    \85\ See 47 FR 56945, 56947 (December 21, 1982).
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The UBS QPAMs

    10. UBS Asset Management (Americas) Inc., UBS Realty Investors LLC, 
UBS Hedge Fund Solutions LLC, and UBS O'Connor LLC are affiliates of 
UBS, AG (UBS) \86\ within UBS's Asset Management division, and may rely 
on PTE 84-14. Such entities, along with future entities in UBS's Assets 
Management and Wealth Management Americas divisions that qualify as 
``qualified professional asset managers'' (as defined in Part VI(a) of 
PTE 84-14) and rely on the relief provided by PTE 84-14 and with 
respect to which UBS AG is an ``affiliate'' (as defined in Part VI(d) 
of PTE 84-14) are hereinafter referred to as the ``UBS QPAMs''. The 
Applicants represent that currently, the Asset Management division is 
the only division that has entities functioning as QPAMs and that UBS 
itself does not provide investment management services to client plans 
that are subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA (ERISA plans) or section 
4975 of the Code (IRAs), or otherwise exercise discretionary control 
over ERISA assets.
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    \86\ UBS Asset Management (Americas) Inc. and UBS Realty 
Investors LLC are wholly owned by UBS Americas, Inc., a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of UBS AG. UBS Hedge Fund Solutions LLC (formerly UBS 
Alternative and Quantitative Investments, LLC) and UBS O'Connor LLC 
are wholly owned by UBS Americas Holding LLC, a wholly owned 
subsidiary of UBS AG.
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    11. The Applicants represent further that the UBS QPAMs provide 
investment management services to 36 ERISA plan and IRA clients through 
separately-managed accounts and pooled funds. These ERISA plan clients 
are all large plans and several have more than 500,000 participants and 
beneficiaries. Collectively, the UBS QPAMs currently manage 
approximately $22.1 billion of ERISA Plan and IRA assets (excluding 
ERISA Plan and IRA assets invested in pooled funds that are not plan 
asset funds). Several types of investment strategies are used by the 
UBS QPAMs to invest ERISA plan and IRA assets. These strategies include 
investments of approximately $3.3 billion in alternative investments/
hedge funds, $835 million in equity investments, $8.6 billion in fixed 
income, $2.2 billion in multi-asset investments, $5.8 billion in 
derivative investments and $1.4 billion in real estate investments.

UBS's FX Misconduct

    12. The DOJ determined that, prior to and after UBS signed the 
LIBOR NPA on December 18, 2012, certain employees of UBS engaged in 
fraudulent and deceptive currency trading and sales practices in 
conducting certain FX market transactions via telephone, email and/or 
electronic chat, to the detriment of UBS's customers.\87\ These 
employees also engaged in collusion with other participants in certain 
FX markets (such conduct, as further detailed below, is hereinafter 
referred to as the ``FX Misconduct'').
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    \87\ The circumstances of UBS's violation of the terms of the 
LIBOR NPA are described in Exhibit 1 to the Plea Agreement, entitled 
``The Factual Basis for Breach of the Non-Prosecution Agreement'' 
(the Factual Basis for Breach).
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    13. According to the Factual Basis for Breach, the FX Misconduct 
included the addition of undisclosed markups to certain FX 
transactions. In that regard, sales staff misrepresented to customers 
on certain transactions that markups were not being added, when in fact 
they were.
    14. The Factual Basis for Breach explains that for certain limit 
orders, UBS personnel would use a price level different from the one 
specified by the customers, without the customers' knowledge, to 
``track'' certain limit orders. This practice was done to obtain an 
undisclosed markup on the trade for UBS if the market hit both the 
customer's limit price and UBS's altered tracking price. Additionally, 
the practice also subjected customers to the potential that their limit 
orders would be delayed or not filled when the market hit the 
customer's limit price but not UBS's altered tracking price.
    15. The Factual Basis for Breach also details how certain customers 
obtaining quotes and placing trades over the phone would, on occasion, 
request an ``open-line'' so they could hear the conversation regarding 
price quotes between the UBS trader and salesperson. Certain of these 
customers had an expectation the price they heard from the trader did 
not include a sales markup for their transaction currency. While on 
certain ``open-line'' phone calls, UBS traders and salespeople used 
hand signals to fraudulently conceal markups from these customers.
    16. The Factual Basis for Breach describes how, from about October 
2011 to at least January 2013, a UBS FX trader conspired with other 
financial services firms acting as dealers in the FX spot market, by 
agreeing to restrain competition in the purchase and sale of the Euro/
U.S. dollar currency pair. To achieve this, among other things, the 
conspirators: (i) Coordinated the trading of the Euro/U.S. dollar 
currency pair in connection with the European Central Bank and the 
World Markets/Reuters benchmark currency ``fixes;'' and (ii) refrained 
from certain trading behavior by withholding offers and bids when one 
conspirator held an open risk position. They did this so that the price 
of the currency traded would not move in a direction adverse to the 
conspirator with an open risk position.
    17. The Factual Basis for Breach explains that in determining that 
UBS was in breach of the LIBOR NPA, the DOJ considered UBS's FX 
Misconduct described above in light of UBS's obligation under the LIBOR 
NPA to commit no further crimes. The DOJ also took into account UBS's 
three recent prior criminal resolutions \88\ and multiple civil and 
regulatory resolutions. In addition, the DOJ also considered that the 
compliance programs and remedial efforts put in place by UBS following 
the LIBOR NPA failed to detect the collusive and deceptive conduct in 
the FX markets until an article was published pointing to potential 
misconduct in the FX markets.
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    \88\ In addition to the 2012 LIBOR NPA described above, in 
February 2009, UBS entered into a deferred prosecution agreement 
with the DOJ's Tax Division for conspiring to defraud the United 
States of tax revenue through secret Swiss bank accounts for United 
States tax payers. In connection therewith, UBS agreed to pay $780 
million. In May of 2011, UBS entered into a non-prosecution 
agreement with the DOJ's Antitrust Division to resolve allegations 
of bid-rigging in the municipal bond derivatives market, and agreed 
to pay $160 million.
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UBS's LIBOR Misconduct

    18. The Statement of Facts (SOF) in Exhibit 3 of the Plea Agreement 
describes the circumstances of UBS's scheme to defraud counterparties 
to interest rate derivatives transactions, by secretly manipulating 
benchmark interest rates to which the profitability of those 
transactions was tied. According to the SOF, LIBOR is a benchmark 
interest rate used in financial markets worldwide, namely on exchanges 
and in over-the-counter markets, to settle trades for futures, options, 
swaps, and other derivative financial instruments. In addition, LIBOR 
is often used as a reference rate for mortgages, credit cards, student 
loans, and other consumer lending products. LIBOR and the other 
benchmark interest rates play a fundamentally important role in 
financial markets throughout the world due their widespread use.
    19. Each business day the LIBOR average benchmark interest rates 
are calculated and published by Thomson Reuters, acting as agent for 
the British Bankers' Association (BBA), for ten currencies (including 
the United States Dollar, the British Pound Sterling, and

[[Page 83393]]

the Japanese Yen) and for various maturities (ranging from overnight to 
twelve months). The calculation for a given currency is based upon rate 
submissions from a panel of banks for that currency (the Contributor 
Panel). In general terms, LIBOR is the rate at which the Contributor 
Panel member could borrow funds. According to the BBA, the Contributor 
Bank Panel must submit the rate considered by the bank's cash 
management staff, and not the bank's personnel responsible for 
derivative trading, as the rate the bank could borrow unsecured inter-
bank funds in the London money market, without reference to rates 
contributed by other Contributor Panel banks. Additionally, a 
Contributor Panel bank may not contribute a rate based on the pricing 
of any derivative financial instrument. Once each Contributor Panel 
bank has submitted its rate, the contributed rates are ranked and 
averaged, discarding the highest and lowest 25%, to formulate the LIBOR 
``Fix'' for that particular currency and maturity. Since 2005, UBS has 
been a member of the Contributor Panels for the Dollar LIBOR, Yen 
LIBOR, Euro LIBOR, Swiss Franc LIBOR, and Pound Sterling LIBOR.
    20. UBS has also been a member of the Contributor Panel for the 
Euro Interbank Offered Rate (Euribor) since 2005. The European Banking 
Federation (EBF) oversees the Euribor reference rate which is the rate 
expected to be offered by one prime bank to another for Euro interbank 
term deposits within the Euro zone. The Euribor Contributor Panel bank 
rate submissions are ranked, and the highest and lowest 15% of all the 
submissions are excluded from the calculation. The Euribor fix is then 
formulated using the average of the remaining rate submissions.
    21. In addition, UBS was also a member of the Contributor Panel for 
the Euroyen TIBOR from at least 2005 until 2012. The Japanese Bankers 
Association (JBA) oversees the TIBOR reference rate. Yen deposits 
maintained in accounts outside of Japan are referred to as ``Euroyen'' 
and the prevailing lending market rates between prime banks in the 
Japan Offshore Market is Euroyen TIBOR. Euroyen TIBOR is calculated by 
averaging the rate submissions of Contributor Panel members after 
discarding the two highest and lowest rate submissions. The Euroyen 
TIBOR rates and the Contributor Panel members' rate submissions are 
made available worldwide.
    22. The SOF also describes the wide-ranging and systematic efforts, 
practiced nearly on a daily basis, by several UBS employees to 
manipulate YEN LIBOR in order to benefit UBS's trading positions 
through internal manipulation within UBS, by using cash brokers to 
influence other Contributor Panel banks' Yen LIBOR submissions, and by 
colluding directly with employees at other Contributor Panel banks to 
influence those banks' Yen LIBOR submissions.
    23. The SOF provides that, at various times from at least 2001 
through June 2010, certain UBS derivatives traders manipulated 
submissions for various interest rate benchmarks, and colluded with 
employees at other banks and cash brokers to influence certain 
benchmark rates to benefit their trading positions. The SOF explains 
that the UBS derivatives traders directly and indirectly exercised 
improper influence over UBS's submissions for LIBOR, Euroyen TIBOR and 
Euribor. In this regard, those UBS derivatives traders requested, and 
sometimes directed, that certain UBS benchmark interest submitters 
submit a particular benchmark interest rate contribution or a higher, 
lower, or unchanged rate for LIBOR, Euroyen TIBOR, and Euribor that 
would be beneficial to the traders. These UBS traders' requests for 
favorable benchmark rates submissions were regularly accommodated by 
the UBS submitters.\89\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \89\ According to the SOF, UBS personnel on occasion also 
engaged in the internal manipulation of UBS's interest rate 
submissions in connection with the Swiss Franc LIBOR, the British 
Pound Sterling LIBOR, the Euribor, and the U.S. Dollar LIBOR.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    24. The SOF also details how cash brokers \90\ were used by certain 
UBS Yen derivatives traders to distribute misinformation to other 
Contributor Panel banks regarding Yen LIBOR in order to manipulate Yen 
LIBOR submissions to the benefit of UBS. The SOF details further how 
the UBS traders, submitters, supervisors and certain UBS managers, 
continued to encourage, allow, or participate in the conduct even 
though they were aware that manipulation of LIBOR submissions was 
inappropriate and they attempted to conceal the manipulation and 
obstruct the LIBOR investigation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \90\ Bids and offers for cash are tracked in the market by cash 
brokers. These cash brokers also act as intermediaries by assisting 
derivatives and money market traders in arranging transactions 
between financial institutions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    25. UBS acknowledges that the SOF is true and correct and that the 
wrongful acts taken by the participating employees in furtherance of 
the misconduct set forth above were within the scope of their 
employment at UBS. Furthermore, UBS acknowledges that the participating 
employees intended, at least in part, to benefit UBS through the 
actions described above.

Prior and Anticipated Convictions and Failure To Comply With Section 
I(g) of PTE 84-14

    26. The 2013 Conviction caused the UBS QPAMs to violate Section 
I(g) of PTE 84-14. On September 13, 2013, the Department granted PTE 
2013-09, which allows the UBS QPAMs to rely on the relief provided in 
PTE 84-14, notwithstanding the 2013 Conviction of UBS Securities 
Japan.\91\ Under PTE 2013-09, the UBS QPAMs must comply with a number 
of conditions, including the condition in Section I(h) which provides 
that, ``Notwithstanding the [2013 Conviction], UBS complies with each 
condition of PTE 84-14, as amended.'' \92\ As a result of this 
requirement, if UBS or one of its affiliates is convicted of another 
crime (besides the 2013 Conviction) described in Section I(g) of PTE 
84-14, then the relief provided by PTE 2013-09 would be unavailable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \91\ 78 FR 56740 (September 13, 2013).
    \92\ Section I(h) of PTE 2013-09, at 78 FR 56741 (September 18, 
2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    27. The 2016 Conviction will cause the UBS QPAMs to violate Section 
I(g) of PTE 84-14, once a judgment of conviction is entered by the 
District Court. As a consequence, the UBS QPAMs will not be able to 
rely upon the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-14 for a period of 
ten years as of the 2016 Conviction Date. Furthermore, the 2016 
Conviction will also cause Section I(h) of PTE 2013-09 to be violated, 
as of the 2016 Conviction Date. UBS QPAMs will become ineligible for 
the relief provided by PTE 84-14 as a result of both the 2013 
Conviction and 2016 Conviction. Therefore, the Applicants request a 
single, new exemption that provides relief for the UBS QPAMs to rely on 
PTE 84-14 notwithstanding the 2013 Conviction and the 2016 Conviction, 
effective as of the 2016 Conviction Date.
    28. The Department is proposing a five-year exemption herein to 
allow the UBS QPAMs to rely on PTE 84-14 notwithstanding the 
Convictions, subject to a comprehensive suite of protective conditions 
that are designed to protect the rights of the participants and 
beneficiaries of the ERISA-covered plans and IRAs that are managed by 
UBS QPAMs.
    Elsewhere in the Federal Register, the Department is publishing a 
proposed temporary exemption for UBS QPAMs to rely on PTE 84-14 
notwithstanding the Convictions, for a period of up to one year. The 
temporary exemption will allow the Department to determine whether to 
grant this proposed five-year exemption, and will protect ERISA-covered 
plans and IRAs from potential

[[Page 83394]]

losses if such UBS QPAMs suddenly lose their ability to rely on PTE 84-
14 with respect to such plans and IRAs. The temporary exemption will be 
effective from the Conviction Date until the earlier of twelve months 
from such Conviction Date or until the effective date of a final agency 
action made by the Department in connection with this proposed five-
year exemption. The proposed five-year exemption would supplant the 
exemptive relief set forth in a temporary exemption, effective as of 
the date of grant.
    29. Finally, excluding the Convictions and the FX Misconduct, UBS 
represents that it currently does not have a reasonable basis to 
believe there are any pending criminal investigations involving the 
Applicants or any of their affiliated companies that would cause a 
reasonable plan or IRA customer not to hire or retain the institution 
as a QPAM.
    Furthermore, this proposed five-year exemption will not apply to 
any other conviction(s) of UBS or its affiliates for crimes described 
in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14. The Department notes that, in such event, 
the Applicants and their ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients should be 
prepared to rely on exemptive relief other than PTE 84-14 for any 
prohibited transactions entered into after the date of such 
conviction(s), withdraw from any arrangements that solely rely on PTE 
84-14 for exemptive relief; or avoid engaging in any such prohibited 
transactions in the first place.

Remedial Measures Taken by UBS To Address the LIBOR Conduct and FX 
Misconduct

    30. The Applicants represent that UBS took extensive remedial 
actions and implemented internal control procedures before, during, and 
after the LIBOR investigations and FX Misconduct, in order to reform 
its compliance structure and strengthen its corporate culture. UBS 
represents that it undertook the following structural reforms and 
compliance enhancements:
    Corporate Culture. UBS represents that it has significantly revised 
and strengthened its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics from 
approximately 2008 through 2011, and instituted a ``Principles of 
Behavior'' program from approximately late 2013 through the present. In 
2013, UBS adopted a firm-wide definition of ``conduct risk,'' and 
defined the roles and responsibilities of UBS's business divisions with 
respect to such conduct risk. In 2013 UBS also enhanced employee 
supervision policies.
    Annual Risk Assessments. Beginning in approximately 2008, UBS 
instituted annual business and operational risk assessments for each 
UBS sub-division and for particular risks across the firm, such as 
fraud risk and market risk.
    Coordination of High-Risk Matters and Compliance Reorganization. 
During 2011 through 2013, UBS established the cross-functional 
Investigation Sounding Board (ISB) chaired by UBS's Global Head of 
Litigation and Investigations, which oversees and coordinates all 
investigations of high risk issues. In 2013, UBS integrated its 
compliance function and operational risk control functions to avoid 
gaps in risk coverage.
    Transactional and Employee Monitoring. In 2013, UBS adopted and 
began to implement an automated system to monitor transactions covering 
all asset classes. UBS enhanced the monitoring of all email and group 
messaging, and implemented a system to monitor audio communications 
including land lines and cell phones. UBS implemented a trader 
surveillance system, and developed and implemented a tool to monitor 
and assess employee behavioral indicators. UBS also expanded cross 
border monitoring, and improved the processes associated with the UBS 
Group's whistleblowing policy.
    Compensation Reformation. From approximately 2008 through 2011, UBS 
reformed its compensation and incentives structure, including longer 
deferred compensation periods, greater claw-back and forfeiture 
provisions. UBS enhanced processes to ensure that disciplinary 
sanctions and compliance related violations (such as failure to 
complete training) are considered when determining employee 
compensation and in an individual's performance review.
    Corporate Reforms. In October 2012, UBS announced a transformation 
of the Investment Bank--where the LIBOR and FX Misconduct occurred--by 
reducing the size and complexity of the Investment Bank to ensure it 
can operate within strict risk and financial resource limitations.
    Benchmark Interest Rate Submissions. From 2011 through 2013, UBS 
created a dedicated, independent benchmark submissions team and index 
group segregated from the for-profit activities of the bank. UBS also 
imposed appropriate communications firewalls between those functions of 
the bank, and implemented strict controls and procedures for 
determining benchmark submissions. UBS enhanced supervisory oversight 
of benchmark and indices submissions, and implemented appropriate 
monitoring systems to identify unsubstantiated submissions.
    Risk Management and Control. In 2013, UBS adopted or strengthened 
firm-wide policies that set forth and established: Standards for market 
conduct; a ``zero tolerance'' approach to fraud; standard approaches 
for fraud risk management and issue escalation across the firm; a firm-
wide approach to identifying, managing, and escalating actual and 
potential conflicts of interest; and key principles to ensure that UBS 
complies with all applicable competition laws.
    Front Office Processes. UBS invested approximately $100 million to 
address the FX business conduct and control deficiencies identified 
during the FX investigation, including initiating continuous 
transaction monitoring and detailed time stamping of orders and 
implementing controls, principles and systems similar to those required 
by the regulated markets for its FX business. UBS states that it has: 
Standardized the FX fixing order process; updated chatroom standards 
and controls; prohibited the use of mobile phones on trading floors; 
implemented new requirements for client and market conduct, behavior, 
and communications; established enhanced supervisory procedures; and 
required all Investment Bank personnel to take market conduct training.
    31. Furthermore, the Applicants represent that UBS took 
disciplinary action against forty-four individuals in connection with 
the LIBOR misconduct, and against sixteen individuals in connection 
with the FX Misconduct. The individuals involved in the disciplinary 
actions included traders, benchmark submitters, compliance personnel, 
salespeople and managers. The disciplinary actions encompassed the 
termination or separation of thirty employees and also included 
financial consequences, such as forfeiture of deferred compensation, 
loss of bonuses and bonus reductions.

Statutory Findings--In the Interest of Affected ERISA Plans and IRAs

    32. The Applicants represent that the requested exemption is in the 
interest of affected plans and their participants and beneficiaries 
because it will enable ERISA plan and IRA clients to have the 
opportunity to enter into transactions that are beneficial to the plan 
and may otherwise be prohibited or more costly. The Applicants maintain 
that if the exemption request is denied, the UBS QPAMs will be unable 
to cause ERISA-covered plan clients to engage in many routine and 
standard transactions that occur across many asset classes. According 
to the Applicants, these

[[Page 83395]]

transactions encompass the following asset classes:
    Real Estate. UBS QPAMs manage approximately $1.4 billion of real 
estate assets in a separate account as an ERISA section 3(38) 
investment manager for a large multiemployer pension plan with many 
participating employers (and therefore, numerous parties in interest). 
The investments constitute equity and debt investments in operating 
real properties, including apartments, office buildings, retail 
centers, and industrial buildings. The Applicants represent that they 
rely on PTE 84-14 for the acquisitions of properties in the separate 
account, as well as mortgage loans entered into in connection with the 
purchases of the properties; leases of space in commercial properties 
and residential leases in apartment properties; property management 
agreements and agreements with vendors providing services at the 
properties (e.g. janitorial services); and sales to potential buyers of 
the properties.
    Alternative Investments. The UBS QPAMs manage three hedge funds of 
funds that hold assets deemed to constitute ``plan assets'' under 
ERISA, with approximately $825 million under management. The Applicants 
state that they rely on PTE 84-14 to enter into and manage the credit 
facilities totaling approximately $56 million entered into by the 
funds.
    Derivatives. The UBS QPAMs manage approximately $8.3 billion of 
assets for ERISA plan separate account clients and plan assets funds 
whose investment guidelines permit or require investment in derivatives 
contracts documented through International Swaps and Derivatives 
Association, Inc. (ISDA) agreements or cleared swap agreements. 
According to the Applicants, approximately 12 ERISA plan separate 
account clients and 23 plan asset funds are counterparties to ISDA 
umbrella agreements and cleared swaps account agreements, and the UBS 
QPAMs currently manage approximately 350 separate trading lines on 
behalf of those clients and funds. According to the Applicants, PTE 84-
14 is primarily relied upon for these transactions, and the 
counterparties to these agreements almost always require 
representations to such effect to be included in the agreements.
    Fixed Income. The Applicants state that, as a result of regulatory 
proposals by the Financial Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Federal 
Reserve of New York Treasury Markers Practice Group, Master Securities 
Forward Transaction Agreements (MSFTAs) are beginning to be required to 
be in place in order to enter into several broad categories of agency 
mortgage-backed securities transactions. According to the Applicants, 
similar to ISDAs, the counterparties to MSFTAs universally require UBS 
QPAMs to represent that they can rely on PTE 84-14, making it 
impossible for the UBS QPAMs to execute such transactions on behalf of 
their ERISA plan and IRA clients. The UBS QPAMs manage approximately 
$5.3 billion of assets for ERISA separate account clients and plan 
asset funds whose investment guidelines permit these types of 
transactions, of which approximately $25 million has been invested in 
these types of fixed income transactions.
    Equity Investments. The Applicants state that, although direct 
investments in equities typically do not require reliance on PTE 84-14, 
certain related transactions do, such as futures contracts. Moreover, 
according to the Applicants, even when another exemption is available 
for equity investments, ERISA plan and IRA clients may not want to 
retain an investment manager that cannot rely on PTE 84-14 for the 
reasons discussed above.
    OCIO Services. The Applicants explain that in addition to providing 
investment management services, the UBS QPAMs also provide outsourced 
chief investment officer (OCIO) services to a number of ERISA plan 
clients, one of which, to the Applicants knowledge, is the largest 
ERISA plan to enter into an OCIO arrangement. According to the 
Applicants, OCIO services generally provide that UBS has the authority 
to manage a plan's entire investment portfolio, including selecting and 
negotiating contracts with other investment managers, allocating 
assets, developing investment policies, assisting with regulatory 
reporting, and advising plan fiduciaries. The Applicants represent that 
PTE 84-14 is the only exemption the UBS QPAMs can rely on for the large 
OCIO ERISA plan client because no other exemptions are available for 
transactions involving futures, derivatives, and other investments that 
are not widely-traded.
    33. The Applicants represent that, if the exemption request is 
denied, and ERISA plan and IRA clients leave the UBS QPAMs, these 
clients would typically incur transition costs associated with 
identifying appropriate replacement investment managers and liquidating 
and re-investing the assets currently managed by the UBS QPAMs. The 
Applicants estimate that the aggregate transition costs for liquidating 
and re-investing of each asset class for UBS's ERISA plan and IRA 
clients would be approximately $280 million.\93\ These cost estimates 
are described below:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \93\ The Applicants state that the estimates that UBS developed 
do not assume a ``fire sale'' of any assets; rather, they assume 
that assets would be liquidated quickly as reasonably possible 
consistent with the UBS QPAMs' fiduciary obligations to their ERISA 
plan clients.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Real Estate. The Applicants estimate transition costs of 1,152 
basis points for the $1.4 billion of ERISA plan and IRA real estate 
assets under UBS QPAMs' management. These costs include the losses 
incurred from selling properties for 90 cents on the dollar, closing 
costs of 1.5 percent of the sale price and mortgage prepayment fees of 
one percent of the outstanding mortgages. This would result in a total 
estimated cost of $160 million for the real estate assets, all of which 
would be absorbed by one ERISA plan client.
    Alternative Investments. UBS states that, combined with early 
redemption penalties,\94\ the cost of liquidating the alternative 
investments managed by UBS QPAMs on behalf of ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs would be 212 basis points of the NAV for a total cost of about $69 
million (of which approximately $58 million would be to one ERISA plan 
client).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \94\ The Department notes that, if this exemption and the 
related temporary exemption were granted, compliance with the 
condition in Section I(j) would require the UBS QPAMs to clearly 
demonstrate that any ``early redemption penalties'' are 
``specifically designed to prevent generally recognized abusive 
investment practices or specifically designed to ensure equitable 
treatment of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such 
withdrawal or termination may have adverse consequences for all 
other investors . . . .'' In addition, under Section I(j), the UBS 
QPAMs would have to hold their plan customers harmless for any 
losses attributable to, inter alia, any prohibited transactions or 
violations of the duties of prudence and loyalty.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Fixed Income. According to the Applicants, the approximate 
transition costs for liquidating domestic and international fixed 
income investments is estimated by the Applicants to be $48 million. 
The Applicants explain that they estimated the costs of liquidating 
domestic and international bonds using Barclays Capital's ``liquidity 
cost score'' methodology (LCS), which reflects the percentage of a 
bond's price that is estimated to be incurred in transaction costs in a 
standard institutional transaction. The Applicants note that the LCS is 
primarily driven by the liquidity of the market, but is also impacted 
by other factors, including the time to maturity for the bond. Using 
LCS, the Applicants state that liquidating and re-investing fixed 
income products, emerging market debt securities, and fixed income 
funds would result in transition costs,

[[Page 83396]]

respectively, of 94, 91, and 97 basis points.\95\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \95\ The Applicants assume that the costs of liquidating and re-
investing cash equivalent and currency holdings would be negligible, 
given the liquidity associated with those assets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Equities. The Applicants state that UBS' investment professionals 
conducted trading simulations to determine the impact of selling the 
aggregate block of each class of equity securities currently held by 
the UBS QPAMs on behalf of their clients. According to the Applicants, 
the trading simulations yielded transition cost assumptions of 32 basis 
points for U.S. large-cap equities; 79 basis points for U.S. small-cap 
equities; 19 basis points for global equities; 40 basis points for 
emerging market equities; and 17 basis points for equity funds. The 
Applicants represent that the total estimated costs for liquidating 
equities held by UBS QPAMs' ERISA plan and IRA clients would be 
approximately $2.5 million.
    Derivatives. Lastly, the Applicants estimate the transition costs 
for derivative investments such as swaps, forwards, futures, and 
options would be approximately $2.3 million. The Applicants also used 
the LCS methodology to arrive at a transition cost assumption of 10 
basis points for credit default swaps; 6 basis points for interest rate 
swaps; 35 basis points for total return swaps; and 4 basis points for 
fixed income futures. Transition costs for equities futures were 
assumed to be 6 basis points given the liquidity of the indices 
underlying those transactions. Finally, the Applicants note that, 
because of the liquidity associated with currency forwards and the 
relatively small amount of the UBS QPAMs' investments in equity and 
fixed income options, UBS assumed that the costs of liquidating and re-
investing those assets would be negligible.
    OCIO Relationship. In the absence of granted relief, the Applicants 
estimate that it would take this large OCIO ERISA plan client 18 to 24 
months to find providers to replicate all the OCIO services provided by 
the UBS QPAMs. UBS represents that this estimate is consistent with the 
following projections for the steps this plan client would need to take 
to secure and fully implement replacement OCIO services: (i) 6-9 months 
to issue a Request for Proposals, receive and evaluate proposals, and 
select a new service provider(s); (ii) 3-6 months to negotiate a 
contract and complete other necessary transition tasks (e.g., 
establishing custodial accounts) with the new service provider(s); and 
(iii) 9-12 months for the new service provider(s) to implement its own 
investment program, which would include evaluating the client's 
existing investments and performing due diligence on existing sub-
managers. The Applicants note that the estimate is also consistent with 
the amount of time it took UBS to establish the current OCIO 
relationship with this client. The Applicants represent in addition to 
these transition costs, the ERISA plan client would pay substantially 
more in fees than it is currently paying if it had to obtain all these 
services from a variety of different providers.

Statutory Findings--Protective of the Rights of Participants of 
Affected Plans and IRAs

    34. The Applicants have proposed certain conditions it believes are 
protective of ERISA-covered plans and IRAs with respect to the 
transactions described herein. The Department has determined to revise 
and supplement the proposed conditions so that it can make its required 
finding that the requested five-year exemption is protective of the 
rights of participants and beneficiaries of affected plans and IRAs.
    35. Several of these conditions underscore the Department's 
understanding, based on the Applicant's representations, that the 
affected UBS QPAMs were not involved in the FX Misconduct or the 
misconduct that is the subject of the Convictions. For example, the 
five-year exemption, if granted as proposed, mandates that the UBS 
QPAMs (including their officers, directors, agents other than UBS, and 
employees of such UBS QPAMs) did not know of, have reason to know of, 
or participate in: (1) The FX Misconduct; or (2) the criminal conduct 
that is the subject of the Convictions (for purposes of this 
requirement, ``participate in'' includes an individual's knowing or 
tacit approval of the FX Misconduct and the misconduct that is the 
subject of the Convictions). Under this the proposed five-year 
exemption, the term ``Convictions'' includes the 2013 Conviction and 
the 2016 Conviction. The term ``2013 Conviction'' means the judgment of 
conviction against UBS Securities Japan Co. Ltd. in Case Number 3:12-
cr-00268-RNC in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut 
for one count of wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United Sates 
Code, sections 1343 and 2 in connection with submission of YEN London 
Interbank Offered Rates and other benchmark interest rates. The term 
``2016 Conviction'' means the anticipated judgment of conviction 
against UBS AG in Case Number 3:15-cr-00076-RNC in the U.S. District 
Court for the District of Connecticut for one count of wire fraud in 
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 2 in 
connection with UBS's submission of Yen London Interbank Offered Rates 
and other benchmark interest rates between 2001 and 2010. Furthermore, 
for all purposes under the proposed five-year exemption, ``conduct'' of 
any person or entity that is the ``subject of [a] Conviction'' 
encompasses any conduct of UBS and/or their personnel, that is 
described in the Plea Agreement, (including Exhibits 1 and 3 attached 
thereto), the plea agreement entered into between UBS Securities Japan 
and the Department of Justice Criminal Division, on December 19, 2012, 
in connection with Case Number 3:12-cr-00268-RNC (and attachments 
thereto), and other official regulatory or judicial factual findings 
that are a part of this record. The proposed five-year exemption 
defines the FX Misconduct as the conduct engaged in by UBS personnel 
described in Exhibit 1 of the Plea Agreement entered into between UBS 
AG and the Department of Justice Criminal Division, on May 20, 2015 in 
connection with Case Number 3:15-cr-00076-RNC filed in the US District 
Court for the District of Connecticut.
    36. Further, the UBS QPAMs (including their officers, directors, 
agents other than UBS, and employees of such UBS QPAMs) may not have 
received direct compensation, or knowingly have received indirect 
compensation, in connection with: (1) The FX Misconduct; or (2) the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Convictions.
    37. The Department expects that UBS QPAMs will rigorously ensure 
that the individuals associated with the UBS misconduct will not be 
employed or knowingly engaged by such QPAMs. In this regard, the 
proposed five-year exemption mandates that the UBS QPAMs will not 
employ or knowingly engage any of the individuals that participated in: 
(1) The FX Misconduct or (2) the criminal conduct that is the subject 
of the Convictions. For purposes of this condition, ``participated in'' 
includes an individual's knowing or tacit approval of the FX Misconduct 
or the conduct that is the subject of Convictions. Further, a UBS QPAM 
will not use its authority or influence to direct an ``investment 
fund,'' (as defined in Section VI(b) of PTE 84-14) that is subject to 
ERISA or the Code and managed by such UBS QPAM, to enter into any 
transaction with UBS or UBS Securities Japan, nor otherwise engage UBS 
or UBS Securities Japan to provide

[[Page 83397]]

additional services to such investment fund, for a direct or indirect 
fee borne by such investment fund, regardless of whether such 
transaction or services may otherwise be within the scope of relief 
provided by an administrative or statutory exemption.
    38. The UBS QPAMs must comply with each condition of PTE 84-14, as 
amended, with the sole exceptions of the violations of Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 that are attributable to the Convictions. Further, any 
failure of the UBS QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 must 
result solely from the Convictions.
    39. No relief will be provided by this five-year exemption to the 
extent a UBS QPAM exercised authority over the assets of any plan 
subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA (an ERISA-covered plan) or 
section 4975 of the Code (an IRA) in a manner that it knew or should 
have known would: Further the FX Misconduct or the criminal conduct 
that is the subject of the Convictions; or cause the UBS QPAM, its 
affiliates or related parties to directly or indirectly profit from the 
FX Misconduct or the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Convictions. The conduct that is the subject of the Convictions 
includes that which is described in the Plea Agreement (including 
Exhibits 1 and 3 attached thereto) and the plea agreement entered into 
between UBS Securities Japan and the Department of Justice Criminal 
Division, on December 19, 2012, in connection with Case Number 3:12-cr-
00268-RNC (and attachments thereto). The FX Misconduct engaged in by 
UBS personnel includes that which is described in Exhibit 1 of the Plea 
Agreement (Factual Basis for Breach) entered into between UBS AG and 
the Department of Justice Criminal Division, on May 20, 2015 in 
connection with Case Number 3:15-cr-00076-RNC filed in the US District 
Court for the District of Connecticut. Further, no five-year relief 
will be provided to the extent UBS, or UBS Securities Japan, provides 
any discretionary asset management services to ERISA-covered plans or 
IRAs or otherwise act as a fiduciary with respect to ERISA-covered plan 
or IRA assets.
    40. Policies. The Department believes that robust policies and 
training are warranted where, as here, extensive criminal misconduct 
has occurred within a corporate organization that includes one or more 
QPAMs managing plan investments in reliance on PTE 84-14. Therefore, 
this proposed five-year exemption requires that each UBS QPAM must 
immediately develop, implement, maintain, and follow written policies 
and procedures (the Policies) requiring and reasonably designed to 
ensure that: The asset management decisions of the UBS QPAM are 
conducted independently of UBS's corporate management and business 
activities, including the corporate management and business activities 
of the Investment Bank division and UBS Securities Japan; the UBS QPAM 
fully complies with ERISA's fiduciary duties and ERISA and the Code's 
prohibited transaction provisions and does not knowingly participate in 
any violations of these duties and provisions with respect to ERISA-
covered plans and IRAs; the UBS QPAM does not knowingly participate in 
any other person's violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to 
ERISA-covered plans and IRAs; any filings or statements made by the UBS 
QPAM to regulators, including but not limited to, the Department of 
Labor, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and 
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered 
plans or IRAs are materially accurate and complete, to the best of such 
QPAM's knowledge at that time; the UBS QPAM does not make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with such regulators with respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or 
make material misrepresentations or omit material information in its 
communications with ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients; and the UBS 
QPAM complies with the terms of this proposed five-year exemption. Any 
violation of, or failure to comply with, the Policies must be corrected 
promptly upon discovery, and any such violation or compliance failure 
not promptly corrected must be reported, upon the discovery of such 
failure to promptly correct, in writing, to appropriate corporate 
officers, the head of Compliance and the General Counsel of the 
relevant UBS QPAM (or their functional equivalent), the independent 
auditor responsible for reviewing compliance with the Policies, and an 
appropriate fiduciary of any affected ERISA-covered plan or IRA that is 
independent of UBS.\96\ A UBS QPAM will not be treated as having failed 
to develop, implement, maintain, or follow the Policies, provided that 
it corrects any instance of noncompliance promptly when discovered or 
when it reasonably should have known of the noncompliance (whichever is 
earlier), and provided that it reports such instance of noncompliance 
as explained above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \96\ With respect to any ERISA-covered plan or IRA sponsored by 
an ``affiliate'' (as defined in Part VI(d) of PTE 84-14) of UBS or 
beneficially owned by an employee of UBS or its affiliates, such 
fiduciary does not need to be independent of UBS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    41. Training. The Department has also imposed a condition that 
requires each UBS QPAM to immediately develop and implement a program 
of training (the Training), conducted at least annually, for all 
relevant UBS QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, 
compliance, and internal audit personnel. The Training must be set 
forth in the Policies and at a minimum, cover the Policies, ERISA and 
Code compliance (including applicable fiduciary duties and the 
prohibited transaction provisions) and ethical conduct, the 
consequences for not complying with the conditions of this proposed 
five-year exemption (including the loss of the exemptive relief 
provided herein), and prompt reporting of wrongdoing. Furthermore, the 
Training must be conducted by an independent professional who has been 
prudently selected and who has appropriate technical training and 
proficiency with ERISA and the Code.
    42. Independent Transparent Audit. The Department views a rigorous, 
transparent audit that is conducted by an independent party as 
essential to ensuring that the conditions for exemptive relief 
described herein are followed by the UBS QPAMs. Therefore, Section I(i) 
of this proposed five-year exemption requires that each UBS QPAM 
submits to an audit conducted annually by an independent auditor, who 
has been prudently selected and who has appropriate technical training 
and proficiency with ERISA and the Code, to evaluate the adequacy of, 
and the UBS QPAM's compliance with, the Policies and Training described 
herein. The audit requirement must be incorporated in the Policies. 
Each annual audit must cover a consecutive twelve month period starting 
with the twelve month period that begins on the date of the 2016 
Conviction (the Initial Audit Period). If this proposed five-year 
exemption is granted within one year of the effective date of the 
proposed temporary exemption for UBS QPAMs (Exemption Application No. 
D-11863), then the Initial Audit Period will cover the period of time 
during which such temporary exemption is effective and a portion of the 
time during which this proposed five-year exemption is effective. In 
such event, the audit terms contained in Section I(i) of this five-year 
exemption will supersede the terms of Section I(i) of the temporary 
exemption. Additionally, in determining compliance with the conditions 
for relief in the temporary exemption and this five-year exemption 
including the

[[Page 83398]]

Policies and Training requirements, for purposes of conducting the 
audit, the auditor will rely on the conditions for exemptive relief as 
then applicable to the respective periods under audit. For time periods 
prior to the Conviction Date and covered under PTE 2013-09, the audit 
requirements in Section (g) of PTE 2013-09 will remain in effect such 
for time periods. Each annual audit must be completed no later than six 
(6) months after the period to which the audit applies.
    43. The audit condition requires that, to the extent necessary for 
the auditor, in its sole opinion, to complete its audit and comply with 
the conditions for relief described herein, and as permitted by law, 
each UBS QPAM and, if applicable, UBS, will grant the auditor 
unconditional access to its business, including, but not limited to: 
Its computer systems; business records; transactional data; workplace 
locations; training materials; and personnel.
    44. The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor 
to determine whether each UBS QPAM has complied with the Policies and 
Training conditions described herein, and must further require the 
auditor to test each UBS QPAM's operational compliance with the 
Policies and Training.
    45. On or before the end of the relevant period described in 
Section I(i)(1) for completing the audit, the auditor must issue a 
written report (the Audit Report) to UBS and the UBS QPAM to which the 
audit applies that describes the procedures performed by the auditor 
during the course of its examination. The Audit Report must include the 
auditor's specific determinations regarding: The adequacy of the UBS 
QPAM's Policies and Training; the UBS QPAM's compliance with the 
Policies and Training; the need, if any, to strengthen such Policies 
and Training; and any instance of the respective UBS QPAM's 
noncompliance with the written Policies and Training.
    Any determination by the auditor regarding the adequacy of the 
Policies and Training and the auditor's recommendations (if any) with 
respect to strengthening the Policies and Training of the respective 
UBS QPAM must be promptly addressed by such UBS QPAM, and any action 
taken by such UBS QPAM to address such recommendations must be included 
in an addendum to the Audit Report. Any determination by the auditor 
that the respective UBS QPAM has implemented, maintained, and followed 
sufficient Policies and Training must not be based solely or in 
substantial part on an absence of evidence indicating noncompliance. In 
this last regard, any finding that the UBS QPAM has complied with the 
requirements under this subsection must be based on evidence that 
demonstrates the UBS QPAM has actually implemented, maintained, and 
followed the Policies and Training required by this proposed five-year 
exemption. Finally, the Audit Report must address the adequacy of the 
Annual Review required under this exemption and the resources provided 
to the Compliance Officer in connection with such Annual Review.
    46. Furthermore, the auditor must notify the respective UBS QPAM of 
any instance of noncompliance identified by the auditor within five (5) 
business days after such noncompliance is identified by the auditor, 
regardless of whether the audit has been completed as of that date.
    This proposed five-year exemption requires that certain senior 
personnel of UBS review the Audit Report, make certain certifications, 
and take various corrective actions. In this regard, the General 
Counsel, or one of the three most senior executive officers of the UBS 
QPAM to which the Audit Report applies, must certify in writing, under 
penalty of perjury, that the officer has reviewed the Audit Report and 
this proposed five-year exemption; addressed, corrected, or remedied 
any inadequacy identified in the Audit Report; and determined that the 
Policies and Training in effect at the time of signing are adequate to 
ensure compliance with the conditions of this proposed five-year 
exemption and with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code.
    47. The Risk Committee, the Audit Committee, and the Corporate 
Culture and Responsibility Committee of UBS's Board of Directors are 
provided a copy of each Audit Report; and a senior executive officer of 
UBS's Compliance and Operational Risk Control function must review the 
Audit Report for each UBS QPAM and must certify in writing, under 
penalty of perjury, that such officer has reviewed each Audit Report.
    In order to create a more transparent record in the event that the 
proposed relief is granted, each UBS QPAM must provide its certified 
Audit Report to the Department no later than 45 days following its 
completion. The Audit Report will be part of the public record 
regarding this proposed five-year exemption. Furthermore, each UBS QPAM 
must make its Audit Report unconditionally available for examination by 
any duly authorized employee or representative of the Department, other 
relevant regulators, and any fiduciary of an ERISA-covered plan or IRA, 
the assets of which are managed by such UBS QPAM.
    48. Additionally, each UBS QPAM and the auditor must submit to the 
Department any engagement agreement entered into pursuant to the 
engagement of the auditor under this proposed five-year exemption; and 
any engagement agreement entered into with any other entity retained in 
connection with such QPAM's compliance with the Training or Policies 
conditions of this proposed five-year exemption no later than six (6) 
months after the effective date of this five-year exemption (and one 
month after the execution of any agreement thereafter). Finally, if the 
five-year exemption is granted, the auditor must provide the 
Department, upon request, all of the workpapers created and utilized in 
the course of the audit, including, but not limited to: The audit plan; 
audit testing; identification of any instance of noncompliance by the 
relevant UBS QPAM; and an explanation of any corrective or remedial 
action taken by the applicable UBS QPAM.
    In order to enhance oversight of the compliance with the exemption, 
UBS must notify the Department at least 30 days prior to any 
substitution of an auditor, and UBS must demonstrate to the 
Department's satisfaction that any new auditor is independent of UBS, 
experienced in the matters that are the subject of the five-year 
exemption, and capable of making the determinations required of this 
five-year exemption.
    49. Contractual Obligations. This five-year exemption requires UBS 
QPAMs to enter into certain contractual obligations in connection with 
the provision of services to their clients. It is the Department's view 
that the condition in Section I(j) is essential to the Department's 
ability to make its findings that the proposed five-year exemption is 
protective of the rights of the participants and beneficiaries of 
ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients. In this regard, effective as of the 
effective date of this five-year exemption with respect to any 
arrangement, agreement, or contract between a UBS QPAM and an ERISA-
covered plan or IRA for which a UBS QPAM provides asset management or 
other discretionary fiduciary services, each UBS QPAM agrees and 
warrants: To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable with respect 
to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA; to refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions); to comply with the 
standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of ERISA, as 
applicable; and to indemnify and hold

[[Page 83399]]

harmless the ERISA-covered plan or IRA for any damages resulting from a 
UBS QPAM's violation of applicable laws, a UBS QPAM's breach of 
contract, or any claim brought in connection with the failure of such 
UBS QPAM to qualify for the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-14 as a 
result of a violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 other than the 
Convictions. Furthermore, UBS QPAMs must agree not to require (or 
otherwise cause) the ERISA-covered plan or IRA to waive, limit, or 
qualify the liability of the UBS QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code 
or engaging in prohibited transactions; not to require the ERISA-
covered plan or IRA (or sponsor of such ERISA-covered plan or 
beneficial owner of such IRA) to indemnify the UBS QPAM for violating 
ERISA or engaging in prohibited transactions, except for violations or 
prohibited transactions caused by an error, misrepresentation, or 
misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan 
fiduciary who is independent of UBS; not to restrict the ability of 
such ERISA-covered plan or IRA to terminate or withdraw from its 
arrangement with the UBS QPAM (including any investment in a separately 
managed account or pooled fund subject to ERISA and managed by such 
QPAM), with the exception of reasonable restrictions, appropriately 
disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to ensure 
equitable treatment of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such 
withdrawal or termination may have adverse consequences for all other 
investors as a result of an actual lack of liquidity of the underlying 
assets, provided that such restrictions are applied consistently and in 
like manner to all such investors; not to impose any fees, penalties, 
or charges for such termination or withdrawal with the exception of 
reasonable fees, appropriately disclosed in advance, that are 
specifically designed to prevent generally recognized abusive 
investment practices or specifically designed to ensure equitable 
treatment of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such 
withdrawal or termination may have adverse consequences for all other 
investors, provided that such fees are applied consistently and in like 
manner to all such investors; and not to include exculpatory provisions 
disclaiming or otherwise limiting liability of the UBS QPAMs for a 
violation of such agreement's terms, except for liability caused by an 
error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other 
party hired by the plan fiduciary who is independent of UBS.
    50. Within four (4) months of the effective date of this proposed 
five-year exemption each UBS QPAM will provide a notice of its 
obligations under this Section I(j) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA 
for which a UBS QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary 
fiduciary services. For all other prospective ERISA-covered plan and 
IRA clients for which a UBS QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services, the UBS QPAM will agree in writing to 
its obligations under this Section I(j) in an updated investment 
management agreement or advisory agreement between the UBS QPAM and 
such clients or other written contractual agreement.
    51. Notice Requirements. The proposed five-year exemption contains 
extensive notice requirements, some of which extend not only to ERISA-
covered plan and IRA clients of UBS QPAMs, but which also apply to the 
non-Plan clients of UBS QPAMs. In this regard, the Department 
understands that many firms may promote their ``QPAM'' designation in 
order to earn asset management business, including business from non-
ERISA plans. Therefore, in order to fully inform any clients that may 
have retained UBS QPAMs as asset managers because such UBS QPAMs have 
represented themselves as able to rely on PTE 84-14, the Department has 
determined to condition exemptive relief upon the following notice 
requirements.
    Within fifteen (15) days of the publication of this proposed five-
year exemption in the Federal Register, each UBS QPAM must provide a 
notice of the proposed five-year exemption, along with a separate 
summary describing the facts that led to the Convictions (the Summary), 
which have been submitted to the Department, and a prominently 
displayed statement (the Statement) that each Conviction separately 
results in a failure to meet a condition in PTE 84-14, to each sponsor 
of an ERISA-covered plan and each beneficial owner of an IRA for which 
a UBS QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary fiduciary 
services, or the sponsor of an investment fund in any case where a UBS 
QPAM acts only as a sub-advisor to the investment fund in which such 
ERISA-covered plan and IRA invests. In the event that this proposed 
five-year exemption is granted, the Federal Register copy of the notice 
of final five-year exemption must be delivered to such clients within 
sixty (60) days of its publication in the Federal Register, and may be 
delivered electronically (including by an email that has a link to the 
exemption). Any prospective clients for which a UBS QPAM provides asset 
management or other discretionary fiduciary services must receive the 
proposed and final five-year exemptions with the Summary and the 
Statement prior to, or contemporaneously with, the client's receipt of 
a written asset management agreement or other contractual agreement 
from the UBS QPAM.
    In addition, each UBS QPAM will provide a Federal Register copy of 
the proposed five-year exemption, a Federal Register copy of the final 
five-year exemption; the Summary; and the Statement to each: (A) 
Current Non-Plan Client within four (4) months of the effective date, 
if any, of a final five-year exemption; and (B) Future Non-Plan Client 
prior to, or contemporaneously with, the client's receipt of a written 
asset management agreement from the UBS QPAM. A ``Current Non-Plan 
Client'' is a client of a UBS QPAM that: Is neither an ERISA-covered 
plan nor an IRA; has assets managed by the UBS QPAM as of the effective 
date, if any, of a final five-year exemption; and has received a 
written representation (qualified or otherwise) from the UBS QPAM that 
such UBS QPAM qualifies as a QPAM or qualifies for the relief provided 
by PTE 84-14. A ``Future Non-Plan Client'' is a prospective client of a 
UBS QPAM that: Is neither an ERISA-covered plan nor an IRA; has assets 
managed by the UBS QPAM after (but not as of) the effective date, if 
any, of a final five-year exemption; and has received a written 
representation (qualified or otherwise) from the UBS QPAM that such UBS 
QPAM qualifies as a QPAM, or qualifies for the relief provided by PTE 
84-14.
    52. This proposed five-year exemption also requires UBS to 
designate a senior compliance officer (the Compliance Officer) who will 
be responsible for compliance with the Policies and Training 
requirements described herein. The Compliance Officer will have several 
obligations that it must comply with, as described in Section I(m) 
above. These include conducting an annual review (the Annual Review) to 
determine the adequacy and effectiveness of the implementation of the 
Policies and Training; preparing a written report for each Annual 
Review (each, an Annual Report) that, among other things, summarizes 
his or her material activities during the preceding year; and sets 
forth any instance of noncompliance discovered during the preceding 
year, and any related corrective action. Each Annual Report must be 
provided to appropriate corporate officers of UBS and each UBS QPAM to 
which such

[[Page 83400]]

report relates; the head of Compliance and the General Counsel (or 
their functional equivalent) of the relevant UBS QPAM; and must be made 
unconditionally available to the independent auditor described above.
    53. Each UBS QPAM must maintain records necessary to demonstrate 
that the conditions of this proposed five-year exemption have been met, 
for six (6) years following the date of any transaction for which such 
UBS QPAM relies upon the relief in the five-year exemption.
    54. Certain conditions of the proposed five-year exemption are 
directed UBS and UBS Securities Japan. These requirements were included 
in PTE 2013-09 as conditions to providing exemptive relief and have 
been included in this proposed five-year exemption. In this regard, UBS 
must impose internal procedures, controls, and protocols on UBS 
Securities Japan to: (1) Reduce the likelihood of any recurrence of 
conduct that that is the subject of the 2013 Conviction, and (2) comply 
in all material respects with the Business Improvement Order, dated 
December 16, 2011, issued by the Japanese Financial Services Authority. 
Additionally, UBS must comply in all material respects with the audit 
and monitoring procedures imposed on UBS by the United States Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission Order, dated December 19, 2012.
    55. The proposed five-year exemption requires that, during the 
effective period of this proposed five-year exemption UBS: (1) 
Immediately discloses to the Department any Deferred Prosecution 
Agreement (a DPA) or Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) that UBS or an 
affiliate enters into with the U.S. Department of Justice, to the 
extent such DPA or NPA involves conduct described in Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 or section 411 of ERISA; and (2) immediately provides the 
Department any information requested by the Department, as permitted by 
law, regarding the agreement and/or the conduct and allegations that 
led to the agreement. After review of the information, the Department 
may require UBS, its affiliates, or related parties, as specified by 
the Department, to submit a new application for the continued 
availability of relief as a condition of continuing to rely on this 
exemption. In this regard, the UBS QPAM (or other party submitting the 
application) will have the burden of justifying the relief sought in 
the application. If the Department denies the relief requested in the 
new application, or does not grant such relief within twelve months of 
application, the relief described herein is revoked as of the date of 
denial or as of the expiration of the twelve-month period, whichever 
date is earlier.
    56. Finally, each UBS QPAM, in its agreements with ERISA-covered 
plan and IRA clients, or in other written disclosures provided to 
ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients, within 60 days prior to the initial 
transaction upon which relief hereunder is relied, will clearly and 
prominently inform the ERISA-covered plan or IRA client that the client 
has the right to obtain copies of the QPAM's written Policies adopted 
in accordance with this five-year exemption.

Statutory Findings--Administratively Feasible

    57. The Applicants represents that the proposed five-year 
exemption, is administratively feasible because it does not require any 
monitoring by the Department but relies on an independent auditor to 
determine that the exemption conditions are being complied with. 
Furthermore, the requested five-year exemption does not require the 
Department's oversight because, as a condition of this proposed five-
year exemption, neither UBS nor UBS Securities Japan will provide any 
fiduciary or QPAM services to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs.
    58. Given the revised and new conditions described above, the 
Department has tentatively determined that the five-year relief sought 
by the Applicants satisfies the statutory requirements for an exemption 
under section 408(a) of ERISA.

Notice to Interested Persons

    Notice of the proposed exemption will be provided to all interested 
persons within fifteen (15) days of the publication of the notice of 
proposed five-year exemption in the Federal Register. The notice will 
be provided to all interested persons in the manner described in 
Section I(k)(1) of this proposed five-year exemption and will contain 
the documents described therein and a supplemental statement, as 
required pursuant to 29 CFR 2570.43(a)(2). The supplemental statement 
will inform interested persons of their right to comment on and to 
request a hearing with respect to the pending exemption. All written 
comments and/or requests for a hearing must be received by the 
Department within forty five (45) days of the date of publication of 
this proposed five-year exemption in the Federal Register. All comments 
will be made available to the public.
    Warning: If you submit a comment, EBSA recommends that you include 
your name and other contact information in the body of your comment, 
but DO NOT submit information that you consider to be confidential, or 
otherwise protected (such as Social Security number or an unlisted 
phone number) or confidential business information that you do not want 
publicly disclosed. All comments may be posted on the Internet and can 
be retrieved by most Internet search engines.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brian Mica of the Department, 
telephone (202) 693-8402. (This is not a toll-free number.)

Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (DIMA) and Certain Current 
and Future Asset Management Affiliates of Deutsche Bank AG 
(Collectively, the Applicant or the DB QPAMs), Located in New York, New 
York

[Exemption Application No. D-11908]

Proposed Five-Year Exemption

    The Department is considering granting a five-year exemption under 
the authority of section 408(a) of the Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA or the Act) and section 
4975(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), 
and in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, 
subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 2011).\97\
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    \97\ For purposes of this proposed five-year exemption, 
references to section 406 of Title I of the Act, unless otherwise 
specified, should be read to refer as well to the corresponding 
provisions of section 4975 of the Code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section I: Covered Transactions
    If the proposed five-year exemption is granted, certain asset 
managers with specified relationships to Deutsche Bank AG (hereinafter, 
the DB QPAMs, as further defined in Section II(b)) will not be 
precluded from relying on the exemptive relief provided by Prohibited 
Transaction Exemption 84-14 (PTE 84-14),\98\ notwithstanding: (1) The 
``Korean Conviction'' against Deutsche Securities Korea Co., a South 
Korean affiliate of Deutsche Bank AG (hereinafter, DSK, as further 
defined in Section II(f)), entered on January 23, 2016; and (2) the 
``US Conviction'' against DB Group Services UK Limited, an affiliate of 
Deutsche Bank based in the United Kingdom (hereinafter, DB Group 
Services, as

[[Page 83401]]

further defined in Section II(e)), scheduled to be entered on April 3, 
2017 (collectively, the Convictions, as further defined in Section 
II(a)),\99\ for a period of five years beginning on the later of: The 
U.S. Conviction Date (as further defined in Section II(d)); or the date 
on which a grant notice is published in the Federal Register, provided 
that the following conditions are satisfied:
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    \98\ 49 FR 9494 (March 13, 1984), as corrected at 50 FR 41430 
(October 10, 1985), as amended at 70 FR 49305 (August 23, 2005), and 
as amended at 75 FR 38837 (July 6, 2010).
    \99\ Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 generally provides that 
``[n]either the QPAM nor any affiliate thereof . . . nor any owner . 
. . of a 5 percent or more interest in the QPAM is a person who 
within the 10 years immediately preceding the transaction has been 
either convicted or released from imprisonment, whichever is later, 
as a result of'' certain criminal activity therein described.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (a) The DB QPAMs (including their officers, directors, agents other 
than Deutsche Bank, and employees of such DB QPAMs) did not know of, 
have reason to know of, or participate in the criminal conduct of DSK 
and DB Group Services that is the subject of the Convictions (for 
purposes of this Section I(a), ``participate in'' includes the knowing 
or tacit approval of the misconduct underlying the Convictions);
    (b) The DB QPAMs (including their officers, directors, agents other 
than Deutsche Bank, and employees of such DB QPAMs) did not receive 
direct compensation, or knowingly receive indirect compensation in 
connection with the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Convictions;
    (c) The DB QPAMs will not employ or knowingly engage any of the 
individuals that participated in the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Convictions (for the purposes of this Section I(c), 
``participated in'' includes the knowing or tacit approval of the 
misconduct underlying the Convictions);
    (d) A DB QPAM will not use its authority or influence to direct an 
``investment fund'' (as defined in Section VI(b) of PTE 84-14) that is 
subject to ERISA or the Code and managed by such DB QPAM to enter into 
any transaction with DSK or DB Group Services, or engage DSK or DB 
Group Services to provide any service to such investment fund, for a 
direct or indirect fee borne by such investment fund, regardless of 
whether such transaction or service may otherwise be within the scope 
of relief provided by an administrative or statutory exemption;
    (e) Any failure of the DB QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-
14 arose solely from the Convictions;
    (f) A DB QPAM did not exercise authority over the assets of any 
plan subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA (an ERISA-covered plan) or 
section 4975 of the Code (an IRA) in a manner that it knew or should 
have known would: Further the criminal conduct that is the subject of 
the Convictions; or cause the QPAM, affiliates, or related parties to 
directly or indirectly profit from the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Convictions;
    (g) DSK and DB Group Services will not provide discretionary asset 
management services to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, nor will otherwise 
act as a fiduciary with respect to ERISA-covered plan or IRA assets;
    (h)(1) Each DB QPAM must immediately develop, implement, maintain, 
and follow written policies and procedures (the Policies) requiring and 
reasonably designed to ensure that:
    (i) The asset management decisions of the DB QPAM are conducted 
independently of Deutsche Bank's corporate management and business 
activities, including the corporate management and business activities 
of DB Group Services and DSK;
    (ii) The DB QPAM fully complies with ERISA's fiduciary duties and 
with ERISA and the Code's prohibited transaction provisions, and does 
not knowingly participate in any violation of these duties and 
provisions with respect to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs;
    (iii) The DB QPAM does not knowingly participate in any other 
person's violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to ERISA-covered 
plans and IRAs;
    (iv) Any filings or statements made by the DB QPAM to regulators, 
including but not limited to, the Department, the Department of the 
Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty 
Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs are materially 
accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's knowledge at that 
time;
    (v) The DB QPAM does not make material misrepresentations or omit 
material information in its communications with such regulators with 
respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients;
    (vi) The DB QPAM complies with the terms of this five-year 
exemption; and
    (vii) Any violation of, or failure to comply with, an item in 
subparagraphs (ii) through (vi), is corrected promptly upon discovery, 
and any such violation or compliance failure not promptly corrected is 
reported, upon the discovery of such failure to promptly correct, in 
writing, to appropriate corporate officers, the head of compliance and 
the General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of the relevant DB 
QPAM, the independent auditor responsible for reviewing compliance with 
the Policies, and an appropriate fiduciary of any affected ERISA-
covered plan or IRA that is independent of Deutsche Bank; however, with 
respect to any ERISA-covered plan or IRA sponsored by an ``affiliate'' 
(as defined in Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14) of Deutsche Bank or 
beneficially owned by an employee of Deutsche Bank or its affiliates, 
such fiduciary does not need to be independent of Deutsche Bank. A DB 
QPAM will not be treated as having failed to develop, implement, 
maintain, or follow the Policies, provided that it corrects any 
instance of noncompliance promptly when discovered, or when it 
reasonably should have known of the noncompliance (whichever is 
earlier), and provided that it adheres to the reporting requirements 
set forth in this subparagraph (vii);
    (2) Each DB QPAM must immediately develop and implement a program 
of training (the Training), conducted at least annually, for all 
relevant DB QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, 
compliance, and internal audit personnel. The Training must:
    (i) Be set forth in the Policies and at a minimum, cover the 
Policies, ERISA and Code compliance (including applicable fiduciary 
duties and the prohibited transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the 
consequences for not complying with the conditions of this five-year 
exemption (including any loss of exemptive relief provided herein), and 
prompt reporting of wrongdoing; and
    (ii) Be conducted by an independent professional who has been 
prudently selected and who has appropriate technical training and 
proficiency with ERISA and the Code;
    (i)(1) Each DB QPAM submits to an audit conducted annually by an 
independent auditor, who has been prudently selected and who has 
appropriate technical training and proficiency with ERISA and the Code, 
to evaluate the adequacy of, and the DB QPAM's compliance with, the 
Policies and Training described herein. The audit requirement must be 
incorporated in the Policies. Each annual audit must cover a 
consecutive twelve month period beginning on the effective date of this 
five-year exemption and must be completed no later than six (6) months 
after the period to which the audit applies;

[[Page 83402]]

    (2) To the extent necessary for the auditor, in its sole opinion, 
to complete its audit and comply with the conditions for relief 
described herein, and as permitted by law, each DB QPAM and, if 
applicable, Deutsche Bank, will grant the auditor unconditional access 
to its business, including, but not limited to: Its computer systems; 
business records; transactional data; workplace locations; training 
materials; and personnel;
    (3) The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor 
to determine whether each DB QPAM has developed, implemented, 
maintained, and followed the Policies in accordance with the conditions 
of this five-year exemption, and has developed and implemented the 
Training, as required herein;
    (4) The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor 
to test each DB QPAM's operational compliance with the Policies and 
Training. In this regard, the auditor must test a sample of each QPAM's 
transactions involving ERISA-covered plans and IRAs sufficient in size 
and nature to afford the auditor a reasonable basis to determine the 
operational compliance with the Policies and Training;
    (5) For each audit, on or before the end of the relevant period 
described in Section I(i)(1) for completing the audit, the auditor must 
issue a written report (the Audit Report) to Deutsche Bank and the DB 
QPAM to which the audit applies that describes the procedures performed 
by the auditor during the course of its examination. The Audit Report 
must include the auditor's specific determinations regarding:
    (i) The adequacy of the DB QPAM's Policies and Training; the DB 
QPAM's compliance with the Policies and Training; the need, if any, to 
strengthen such Policies and Training; and any instance of the 
respective DB QPAM's noncompliance with the written Policies and 
Training described in Section I(h) above. Any determination by the 
auditor regarding the adequacy of the Policies and Training and the 
auditor's recommendations (if any) with respect to strengthening the 
Policies and Training of the respective DB QPAM must be promptly 
addressed by such DB QPAM, and any action taken by such DB QPAM to 
address such recommendations must be included in an addendum to the 
Audit Report (which addendum is completed prior to the certification 
described in Section I(i)(7) below). Any determination by the auditor 
that the respective DB QPAM has implemented, maintained, and followed 
sufficient Policies and Training must not be based solely or in 
substantial part on an absence of evidence indicating noncompliance. In 
this last regard, any finding that the DB QPAM has complied with the 
requirements under this subsection must be based on evidence that 
demonstrates the DB QPAM has actually implemented, maintained, and 
followed the Policies and Training required by this five-year 
exemption. Furthermore, the auditor must not rely on the Annual Report 
created by the Compliance Officer as described in Section I(m) below in 
lieu of independent determinations and testing performed by the auditor 
as required by Section I(i)(3) and (4) above; and
    (ii) The adequacy of the Annual Review described in Section I(m) 
and the resources provided to the Compliance officer in connection with 
such Annual Review;
    (6) The auditor must notify the respective DB QPAM of any instance 
of noncompliance identified by the auditor within five (5) business 
days after such noncompliance is identified by the auditor, regardless 
of whether the audit has been completed as of that date;
    (7) With respect to each Audit Report, the General Counsel, or one 
of the three most senior executive officers of the DB QPAM to which the 
Audit Report applies, must certify in writing, under penalty of 
perjury, that the officer has reviewed the Audit Report and this 
exemption; addressed, corrected, or remedied any inadequacy identified 
in the Audit Report; and determined that the Policies and Training in 
effect at the time of signing are adequate to ensure compliance with 
the conditions of this proposed five-year exemption and with the 
applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code;
    (8) The Risk Committee of Deutsche Bank's Board of Directors is 
provided a copy of each Audit Report; and a senior executive officer 
with a direct reporting line to the highest ranking legal compliance 
officer of Deutsche Bank must review the Audit Report for each DB QPAM 
and must certify in writing, under penalty of perjury, that such 
officer has reviewed each Audit Report;
    (9) Each DB QPAM provides its certified Audit Report, by regular 
mail to: The Department's Office of Exemption Determinations (OED), 200 
Constitution Avenue NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20210, or by private 
carrier to: 122 C Street NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20001-2109, no 
later than 45 days following its completion. The Audit Report will be 
part of the public record regarding this five-year exemption. 
Furthermore, each DB QPAM must make its Audit Report unconditionally 
available for examination by any duly authorized employee or 
representative of the Department, other relevant regulators, and any 
fiduciary of an ERISA-covered plan or IRA, the assets of which are 
managed by such DB QPAM;
    (10) Each DB QPAM and the auditor must submit to OED: (A) Any 
engagement agreement(s) entered into pursuant to the engagement of the 
auditor under this exemption; and (B) any engagement agreement entered 
into with any other entity retained in connection with such QPAM's 
compliance with the Training or Policies conditions of this proposed 
exemption, no later than six (6) months after the effective date of 
this five-year exemption (and one month after the execution of any 
agreement thereafter);
    (11) The auditor must provide OED, upon request, all of the 
workpapers created and utilized in the course of the audit, including, 
but not limited to: The audit plan; audit testing; identification of 
any instance of noncompliance by the relevant DB QPAM; and an 
explanation of any corrective or remedial action taken by the 
applicable DB QPAM; and
    (12) Deutsche Bank must notify the Department at least 30 days 
prior to any substitution of an auditor, except that no such 
replacement will meet the requirements of this paragraph unless and 
until Deutsche Bank demonstrates to the Department's satisfaction that 
such new auditor is independent of Deutsche Bank, experienced in the 
matters that are the subject of the exemption and capable of making the 
determinations required of this exemption;
    (j) Effective as of the effective date of this five-year exemption, 
with respect to any arrangement, agreement, or contract between a DB 
QPAM and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA for which a DB QPAM provides 
asset management or other discretionary fiduciary services, each DB 
QPAM agrees and warrants:
    (1) To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable with respect 
to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA; to refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions); and to comply with 
the standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of ERISA 
with respect to each such ERISA-covered plan and IRA;
    (2) Not to require (or otherwise cause) the ERISA-covered plan or 
IRA to waive, limit, or qualify the liability of the DB QPAM for 
violating ERISA or the Code or engaging in prohibited transactions;

[[Page 83403]]

    (3) Not to require the ERISA-covered plan or IRA (or sponsor of 
such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner of such IRA) to indemnify 
the DB QPAM for violating ERISA or engaging in prohibited transactions, 
except for violations or prohibited transactions caused by an error, 
misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party 
hired by the plan fiduciary who is independent of Deutsche Bank;
    (4) Not to restrict the ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
to terminate or withdraw from its arrangement with the DB QPAM 
(including any investment in a separately managed account or pooled 
fund subject to ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with the exception of 
reasonable restrictions, appropriately disclosed in advance, that are 
specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in 
a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have 
adverse consequences for all other investors as a result of an actual 
lack of liquidity of the underlying assets, provided that such 
restrictions are applied consistently and in like manner to all such 
investors;
    (5) Not to impose any fees, penalties, or charges for such 
termination or withdrawal with the exception of reasonable fees, 
appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to 
prevent generally recognized abusive investment practices or 
specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in 
a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have 
adverse consequences for all other investors, provided that such fees 
are applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors;
    (6) Not to include exculpatory provisions disclaiming or otherwise 
limiting liability of the DB QPAM for a violation of such agreement's 
terms, except for liability caused by an error, misrepresentation, or 
misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan 
fiduciary who is independent of Deutsche Bank and its affiliates; and
    (7) To indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
for any damages resulting from a violation of applicable laws, a breach 
of contract, or any claim arising out of the failure of such DB QPAM to 
qualify for the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-14 as a result of a 
violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 other than the Convictions;
    (8) Within four (4) months of the effective date of this proposed 
five-year exemption, each DB QPAM must provide a notice of its 
obligations under this Section I(j) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA 
for which the DB QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary 
fiduciary services. For all other prospective ERISA-covered plan and 
IRA clients for which a DB QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services, the DB QPAM must agree in writing to 
its obligations under this Section I(j) in an updated investment 
management agreement or advisory agreement between the DB QPAM and such 
clients or other written contractual agreement;
    (k)(1) Notice to ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients. Within fifteen 
(15) days of the publication of this proposed five-year exemption in 
the Federal Register, each DB QPAM will provide a notice of the 
proposed five-year exemption, along with a separate summary describing 
the facts that led to the Convictions (the Summary), which have been 
submitted to the Department, and a prominently displayed statement (the 
Statement) that each Conviction separately results in a failure to meet 
a condition in PTE 84-14, to each sponsor of an ERISA-covered plan and 
each beneficial owner of an IRA for which a DB QPAM provides asset 
management or other discretionary fiduciary services, or the sponsor of 
an investment fund in any case where a DB QPAM acts only as a sub-
advisor to the investment fund in which such ERISA-covered plan and IRA 
invests. In the event that this proposed five-year exemption is 
granted, the Federal Register copy of the notice of final five-year 
exemption must be delivered to such clients within sixty (60) days of 
its publication in the Federal Register, and may be delivered 
electronically (including by an email that has a link to the 
exemption). Any prospective clients for which a DB QPAM provides asset 
management or other discretionary fiduciary services must receive the 
proposed and final five-year exemptions with the Summary and the 
Statement prior to, or contemporaneously with, the client's receipt of 
a written asset management agreement from the DB QPAM; and
    (2) Notice to Non-Plan Clients. Each DB QPAM will provide a Federal 
Register copy of the proposed five-year exemption, a Federal Register 
copy of the final five-year exemption; the Summary; and the Statement 
to each: (A) Current Non-Plan Client within four (4) months of the 
effective date, if any, of a final five-year exemption; and (B) Future 
Non-Plan Client prior to, or contemporaneously with, the client's 
receipt of a written asset management agreement, or other written 
contractual agreement, from the DB QPAM. For purposes of this 
subparagraph (2), a Current Non-Plan Client means a client of a DB QPAM 
that: Is neither an ERISA-covered plan nor an IRA; has assets managed 
by the DB QPAM as of the effective date, if any, of a final five-year 
exemption; and has received a written representation (qualified or 
otherwise) from the DB QPAM that such DB QPAM qualifies as a QPAM or 
qualifies for the relief provided by PTE 84-14. For purposes of this 
subparagraph (2), a Future Non-Plan Client means a prospective client 
of a DB QPAM that: Is neither an ERISA-covered plan nor an IRA; has 
assets managed by the DB QPAM after the effective date, if any, of a 
final five-year exemption; and has received a written representation 
(qualified or otherwise) from the DB QPAM that such DB QPAM qualifies 
as a QPAM or qualifies for the relief provided by PTE 84-14;
    (l) The DB QPAMs must comply with each condition of PTE 84-14, as 
amended, with the sole exceptions of the violations of Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 that are attributable to the Convictions;
    (m)(1) Deutsche Bank designates a senior compliance officer (the 
Compliance Officer) who will be responsible for compliance with the 
Policies and Training requirements described herein. The Compliance 
Officer must conduct an annual review (the Annual Review) to determine 
the adequacy and effectiveness of the implementation of the Policies 
and Training. With respect to the Compliance Officer, the following 
conditions must be met:
    (i) The Compliance Officer must be a legal professional with 
extensive experience with, and knowledge of, the regulation of 
financial services and products, including under ERISA and the Code; 
and
    (ii) The Compliance Officer must have a direct reporting line to 
the highest-ranking corporate officer in charge of legal compliance 
that is independent of Deutsche Bank's other business lines;
    (2) With respect to each Annual Review, the following conditions 
must be met:
    (i) The Annual Review includes a review of: Any compliance matter 
related to the Policies or Training that was identified by, or reported 
to, the Compliance Officer or others within the compliance and risk 
control function (or its equivalent) during the previous year; any 
material change in the business activities of the DB QPAMs; and any 
change to ERISA, the Code, or regulations related to fiduciary duties 
and the prohibited transaction provisions that may be applicable to the 
activities of the DB QPAMs;

[[Page 83404]]

    (ii) The Compliance Officer prepares a written report for each 
Annual Review (each, an Annual Report) that (A) summarizes his or her 
material activities during the preceding year; (B) sets forth any 
instance of noncompliance discovered during the preceding year, and any 
related corrective action; (C) details any change to the Policies or 
Training to guard against any similar instance of noncompliance 
occurring again; and (D) makes recommendations, as necessary, for 
additional training, procedures, monitoring, or additional and/or 
changed processes or systems, and management's actions on such 
recommendations;
    (iii) In each Annual Report, the Compliance Officer must certify in 
writing that to his or her knowledge: (A) The report is accurate; (B) 
the Policies and Training are working in a manner which is reasonably 
designed to ensure that the Policies and Training requirements 
described herein are met; (C) any known instance of noncompliance 
during the preceding year and any related correction taken to date have 
been identified in the Annual Report; (D) the DB QPAMs have complied 
with the Policies and Training in all respects, and/or corrected any 
instances of noncompliance in accordance with Section I(h) above; and 
(E) Deutsche Bank has provided the Compliance Officer with adequate 
resources, including, but not limited to, adequate staffing;
    (iv) Each Annual Report must be provided to appropriate corporate 
officers of Deutsche Bank and each DB QPAM to which such report 
relates; the head of Compliance and the General Counsel (or their 
functional equivalent) of the relevant DB QPAM; and must be made 
unconditionally available to the independent auditor described in 
Section I(i) above;
    (v) Each Annual Review, including the Compliance Officer's written 
Annual Report, must be completed at least three (3) months in advance 
of the date on which each audit described in Section I(i) is scheduled 
to be completed;
    (n) Deutsche Bank disgorged all of its profits generated by the 
spot/futures-linked market manipulation activities of DSK personnel 
that led to the Conviction against DSK entered on January 25, 2016, in 
Seoul Central District Court;
    (o) Each DB QPAM will maintain records necessary to demonstrate 
that the conditions of this exemption have been met, for six (6) years 
following the date of any transaction for which such DB QPAM relies 
upon the relief in the exemption;
    (p)(1) During the effective period of this five-year exemption, 
Deutsche Bank immediately discloses to the Department any Deferred 
Prosecution Agreement (a DPA) or Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) 
entered into by Deutsche Bank or any of its affiliates with the U.S 
Department of Justice, in connection with conduct described in Section 
I(g) of PTE 84-14 or section 411 of ERISA; and (2) Immediately provides 
the Department any information requested by the Department, as 
permitted by law, regarding such agreement and/or conduct and 
allegations that led to the agreement. After review of the information, 
the Department may require Deutsche Bank or its affiliates, as 
specified by the Department, to submit a new application for the 
continued availability of relief as a condition of continuing to rely 
on this exemption. If the Department denies the relief requested in the 
new application, or does not grant such relief within twelve (12) 
months of the application, the relief described herein is revoked as of 
the date of denial or as of the expiration of the twelve month period, 
whichever date is earlier;
    (q) Each DB QPAM, in its agreements with ERISA-covered plan and IRA 
clients, or in other written disclosures provided to ERISA-covered plan 
and IRA clients, within 60 days prior to the initial transaction upon 
which relief hereunder is relied, and then at least once annually, will 
clearly and prominently inform the ERISA-covered plan and IRA client 
that the client has the right to obtain copies of the QPAM's written 
Policies adopted in accordance with this five-year exemption; and
    (r) A DB QPAM will not fail to meet the terms of this exemption, 
solely because a different DB QPAM fails to satisfy a condition for 
relief under this exemption described in Sections I(c), (d), (h), (i), 
(j), (k), (l), (o), and (q).
Section II: Definitions
    (a) The term ``Convictions'' means (1) the judgment of conviction 
against DB Group Services, in Case 3:15-cr-00062-RNC to be entered in 
the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut to a 
single count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, and (2) the 
judgment of conviction against DSK entered on January 25, 2016, in 
Seoul Central District Court, relating to charges filed against DSK 
under Articles 176, 443, and 448 of South Korea's Financial Investment 
Services and Capital Markets Act for spot/futures-linked market price 
manipulation. For all purposes under this exemption, ``conduct'' of any 
person or entity that is the ``subject of [a] Conviction'' encompasses 
any conduct of Deutsche Bank and/or their personnel, that is described 
in the Plea Agreement (including the Factual Statement thereto), Court 
judgments (including the judgment of the Seoul Central District Court), 
criminal complaint documents from the Financial Services Commission in 
Korea, and other official regulatory or judicial factual findings that 
are a part of this record;
    (b) The term ``DB QPAM'' means a ``qualified professional asset 
manager'' (as defined in Section VI(a) \100\ of PTE 84-14) that relies 
on the relief provided by PTE 84-14 and with respect to which DSK or DK 
Group Services is a current or future ``affiliate'' (as defined in 
Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14). For purposes of this exemption, Deutsche 
Bank Securities, Inc. (DBSI), including all entities over which it 
exercises control; and Deutsche Bank AG, including all of its branches, 
are excluded from the definition of a DB QPAM;
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    \100\ In general terms, a QPAM is an independent fiduciary that 
is a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or 
investment adviser that meets certain equity or net worth 
requirements and other licensure requirements and that has 
acknowledged in a written management agreement that it is a 
fiduciary with respect to each plan that has retained the QPAM.
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    (c) The term ``Deutsche Bank'' means Deutsche Bank AG but, unless 
indicated otherwise, does not include its subsidiaries or affiliates;
    (d) The term ``U.S. Conviction Date'' means the date that a 
judgment of conviction against DB Group Services, in Case 3:15-cr-
00062-RNC, is entered in the United States District Court for the 
District of Connecticut;
    (e) The term ``DB Group Services'' means DB Group Services UK 
Limited, an ``affiliate'' of Deutsche Bank (as defined in Section VI(c) 
of PTE 84-14) based in the United Kingdom;
    (f) The term ``DSK'' means Deutsche Securities Korea Co., a South 
Korean ``affiliate'' of Deutsche Bank (as defined in Section VI(c) of 
PTE 84-14); and
    (g) The term ``Plea Agreement'' means the Plea Agreement (including 
the Factual Statement thereto), dated April 23, 2015, between the 
Antitrust Division and Fraud Section of the Criminal Division of the 
U.S. Department of Justice (the DOJ) and DB Group Services resolving 
the actions brought by the DOJ in Case 3:15-cr-00062-RNC against DB 
Group Services for wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States 
Code, Section 1343 related to the manipulation of the London Interbank 
Offered Rate (LIBOR).

[[Page 83405]]

    Effective Date: This proposed five-year exemption will be effective 
beginning on the later of: The U.S. Conviction Date; or the date of 
publication of the grant notice in the Federal Register and ending on 
the date that is five years thereafter. Should the Applicant wish to 
extend the effective period of exemptive relief provided by this 
proposed five-year exemption, the Applicant must submit another 
application for an exemption. In this regard, the Department expects 
that, in connection with such application, the Applicant should be 
prepared to demonstrate compliance with the conditions for this 
exemption and that the DB QPAMs, and those who may be in a position to 
influence their policies, have maintained the high standard of 
integrity required by PTE 84-14.
    Department's Comment: As described in further detail below, on 
September 4, 2015, the Department published PTE 2015-15, which is a 
nine-month exemption that permits certain Deutsche Bank asset managers 
to continue to rely on PTE 84-14, notwithstanding the conviction of an 
affiliate in Korea. The effective period for PTE 2015-15 expired on 
October 24, 2016. On October 28, 2016, the Department issued PTE 2016-
12,\101\ a limited extension of PTE 2015-15 (the Extension), which 
extends the exemptive relief of PTE 2015-15 to the earlier of April 23, 
2017 or the effective date of a final agency action by the Department 
in connection with Exemption Application No. D-11856. Exemption 
Application No. D-11856 is a proposed temporary one-year exemption (the 
temporary exemption), being published today elsewhere in the Federal 
Register, that allows DB QPAMs to continue to rely on PTE 84-14 
notwithstanding the Korean Conviction and the U.S. Conviction, for a 
period of up to twelve months beginning on the date of the U.S. 
Conviction.
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    \101\ PTE 2016-12 is published in the Federal Register at 81 FR 
75153 (October 28, 2016).
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    The five-year exemption proposed herein would permit certain asset 
managers affiliated with Deutsche Bank and its affiliates to continue 
to rely on PTE 84-14 for a period of five years from its effective 
date. Upon the effective date of the proposed five-year exemption, the 
Temporary Exemption, if still effective, would expire.
    The proposed exemption would provide relief from certain of the 
restrictions set forth in sections 406 and 407 of ERISA. If granted, no 
relief from a violation of any other law would be provided by this 
exemption.
    Furthermore, the Department cautions that the relief in this 
proposed five-year exemption would terminate immediately if, among 
other things, an entity within the Deutsche Bank corporate structure is 
convicted of a crime described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 (other than 
the Convictions) during the effective period of the five-year 
exemption. While such an entity could apply for a new exemption in that 
circumstance, the Department would not be obligated to grant the 
exemption. The terms of this proposed five-year exemption have been 
specifically designed to permit plans to terminate their relationships 
in an orderly and cost effective fashion in the event of an additional 
conviction or a determination that it is otherwise prudent for a plan 
to terminate its relationship with an entity covered by the proposed 
five-year exemption.

Summary of Facts and Representations 102
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    \102\ The Summary of Facts and Representations is based on 
Deutsche Bank and DIMA's representations, unless indicated 
otherwise.
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Background

    1. Deutsche Bank AG (together with its current and future 
affiliates, Deutsche Bank) is a German banking corporation and a 
commercial bank. Deutsche Bank, with and through its affiliates, 
subsidiaries and branches, provides a wide range of banking, fiduciary, 
recordkeeping, custodial, brokerage and investment services to, among 
others, corporations, institutions, governments, employee benefit 
plans, government retirement plans and private investors. Deutsche Bank 
had [euro]68.4 billion in total shareholders' equity and [euro]1,709 
billion in total assets as of December 31, 2014.\103\
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    \103\ Deutsche Bank represents that its audited financial 
statements are expressed in Euros and are not converted to dollars.
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    2. Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (DIMA) is an 
investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment 
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. DIMA and other wholly-owned 
subsidiaries of Deutsche Bank provide discretionary asset-management 
services to employee benefit plans and IRAs. Such entities include: (A) 
DIMA; (B) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., which is a dual-registrant 
with the SEC under the Advisers Act as an investment adviser and 
broker-dealer; (C) RREEF America L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability 
company and investment adviser registered with the SEC under the 
Advisers Act; (D) Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a corporation 
organized under the laws of the State of New York and supervised by the 
New York State Department of Financial Services, a member of the 
Federal Reserve and an FDIC-insured bank; (E) Deutsche Bank National 
Trust Company, a national banking association, organized under the laws 
of the United States and supervised by the Office of the Comptroller of 
the Currency, and a member of the Federal Reserve; (F) Deutsche Bank 
Trust Company, NA, a national banking association, organized under the 
laws of the United States and supervised by the OCC; (G) Deutsche 
Alternative Asset Management (Global) Limited, a London-based 
investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Advisers Act; (H) 
Deutsche Investments Australia Limited, a Sydney, Australia-based 
investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Advisers Act; (I) 
DeAWM Trust Company (DTC), a limited purpose trust company organized 
under the laws of New Hampshire and subject to supervision of the New 
Hampshire Banking Department; and the four following entities which 
currently do not rely on PTE 84-14 for the management of any ERISA-
covered plan or IRA assets, but may in the future: (J) Deutsche Asset 
Management (Hong Kong) Ltd.; (K) Deutsche Asset Management 
International GmbH; (L) DB Investment Managers, Inc.; and (M) Deutsche 
Bank AG, New York Branch.
    3. Korean Conviction. On January 25, 2016, Deutsche Securities 
Korea, Co. (DSK), an indirectly held, wholly-owned subsidiary of 
Deutsche Bank, was convicted in Seoul Central District Court (the 
Korean Court) of violations of certain provisions of Articles 176, 443, 
and 448 of the Korean Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets 
Act (FSCMA) (the Korean Conviction) for spot/futures linked market 
manipulation in connection with the unwind of an arbitrage position 
which in turn caused a decline on the Korean market. Charges under 
Article 448 of the FSCMA stemmed from vicarious liability assigned to 
DSK for the actions of its employee, who was convicted of violations of 
certain provisions of Articles 176 and 443 of the FCMA. Upon 
conviction, the Korean Court sentenced DSK to pay a criminal fine of 
1.5 billion South Korean Won (KRW). Furthermore, the Korean Court 
ordered that Deutsche Bank forfeit KRW 43,695,371,124, while KRW 
1,183,362,400 was ordered forfeited by DSK.
    4. US Conviction. On April 23, 2015, the Antitrust Division and 
Fraud Section of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of 
Justice (collectively,

[[Page 83406]]

the DOJ) filed a one-count criminal information (the Criminal 
Information) in Case 3:15-cr-00062-RNC in the District Court for the 
District of Connecticut (the District Court) against DB Group Services 
UK Limited (DB Group Services). The Criminal Information charged DB 
Group Services with wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States 
Code, Section 1343 related to the manipulation of the London Interbank 
Offered Rate (LIBOR) for the purpose of creating favorable trading 
positions for Deutsche Bank traders. DB Group Services agreed to 
resolve the actions brought by the DOJ through a plea agreement, dated 
April 23, 2015 (the Plea Agreement), which is expected to result in the 
District Court issuing a judgment of conviction (the US Conviction and 
together with the Korean Conviction, the Convictions). Under the terms 
of the Plea Agreement, DB Group Services plead guilty to the charges 
set out in the Criminal Information and forfeited $150,000,000 to the 
United States. Furthermore, Deutsche Bank AG and the DOJ entered into a 
deferred prosecution agreement, dated April 23, 2015 (the DPA). 
Pursuant to the terms of the DPA, Deutsche Bank agreed to pay a penalty 
of $625,000,000.

PTE 84-14

    5. The Department notes that the rules set forth in section 406 of 
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA) 
and section 4975(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended 
(the Code) proscribe certain ``prohibited transactions'' between plans 
and related parties with respect to those plans, known as ``parties in 
interest.'' \104\ Under section 3(14) of ERISA, parties in interest 
with respect to a plan include, among others, the plan fiduciary, a 
sponsoring employer of the plan, a union whose members are covered by 
the plan, service providers with respect to the plan, and certain of 
their affiliates. The prohibited transaction provisions under section 
406(a) of ERISA prohibit, in relevant part, sales, leases, loans or the 
provision of services between a party in interest and a plan (or an 
entity whose assets are deemed to constitute the assets of a plan), as 
well as the use of plan assets by or for the benefit of, or a transfer 
of plan assets to, a party in interest.\105\
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    \104\ For purposes of the Summary of Facts and Representations, 
references to specific provisions of Title I of ERISA, unless 
otherwise specified, refer also to the corresponding provisions of 
the Code.
    \105\ The prohibited transaction provisions also include certain 
fiduciary prohibited transactions under section 406(b) of ERISA. 
These include transactions involving fiduciary self-dealing; 
fiduciary conflicts of interest, and kickbacks to fiduciaries.
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    6. Under the authority of section 408(a) of ERISA and section 
4975(c)(2) of the Code, the Department has the authority to grant 
exemptions from such ``prohibited transactions'' in accordance with the 
procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (76 FR 66637, 
66644, October 27, 2011).
    7. Class Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-14 (PTE 84-14) \106\ 
exempts certain prohibited transactions between a party in interest and 
an ``investment fund'' (as defined in Section VI(b)) \107\ in which a 
plan has an interest, if the investment manager satisfies the 
definition of ``qualified professional asset manager'' (QPAM) and 
satisfies additional conditions for the exemption. In this regard, PTE 
84-14 was developed and granted based on the essential premise that 
broad relief could be afforded for all types of transactions in which a 
plan engages only if the commitments and the investments of plan assets 
and the negotiations leading thereto are the sole responsibility of an 
independent, discretionary, manager.\108\ Deutsche Bank has corporate 
relationships with a wide range of entities that may act as QPAMs and 
utilize the exemptive relief provided in Class Prohibited Transaction 
Exemption 84-14 (PTE 84-14).
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    \106\ 49 FR 9494 (March 13, 1984), as corrected at 50 FR 41430 
(October 10, 1985), as amended at 70 FR 49305 (August 23, 2005), and 
as amended at 75 FR 38837 (July 6, 2010).
    \107\ An ``investment fund'' includes single customer and pooled 
separate accounts maintained by an insurance company, individual 
trusts and common, collective or group trusts maintained by a bank, 
and any other account or fund to the extent that the disposition of 
its assets (whether or not in the custody of the QPAM) is subject to 
the discretionary authority of the QPAM.
    \108\ See 75 FR 38837, 38839 (July 6, 2010).
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    8. However, Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 prevents an entity that may 
otherwise meet the definition of QPAM from utilizing the exemptive 
relief provided by PTE 84-14, for itself and its client plans, if that 
entity or an affiliate thereof or any owner, direct or indirect, of a 5 
percent or more interest in the QPAM has, within 10 years immediately 
preceding the transaction, been either convicted or released from 
imprisonment, whichever is later, as a result of certain specified 
criminal activity described in that section. The Department notes that 
Section I(g) was included in PTE 84-14, in part, based on the 
expectation that a QPAM, and those who may be in a position to 
influence its policies, maintain a high standard of integrity.\109\ 
Accordingly, as a result of the Korean Conviction and the US 
Conviction, QPAMs with certain corporate relationships to DSK and DB 
Group Services, as well as their client plans that are subject to Part 
4 of Title I of ERISA (ERISA-covered plans) or section 4975 of the Code 
(IRAs), will no longer be able to rely on PTE 84-14 without an 
individual exemption issued by the Department.
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    \109\ See 47 FR 56945, 56947 (December 21, 1982).
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The DB QPAMs

    9. Deutsche Bank represents that certain current and future 
``affiliates'' of DSK and DB Group Services, as that term is defined in 
section VI(d) of PTE 84-14, may act as QPAMs in reliance on the relief 
provided in PTE 84-14 (these entities are collectively referred to as 
the ``DB QPAMs'' or the ``Applicant''). The DB QPAMs are currently 
comprised of several wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries of 
Deutsche Bank including: (A) DIMA; (B) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 
which is a dual-registrant with the SEC under the Advisers Act as an 
investment adviser and broker-dealer; (C) RREEF America L.L.C., a 
Delaware limited liability company and investment adviser registered 
with the SEC under the Advisers Act; (D) Deutsche Bank Trust Company 
Americas, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New 
York and supervised by the New York State Department of Financial 
Services, a member of the Federal Reserve and an FDIC-insured bank; (E) 
Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, a national banking association, 
organized under the laws of the United States and supervised by the 
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and a member of the Federal 
Reserve; (F) Deutsche Bank Trust Company, NA, a national banking 
association, organized under the laws of the United States and 
supervised by the OCC; (G) Deutsche Alternative Asset Management 
(Global) Limited, a London-based investment adviser registered with the 
SEC under the Advisers Act; (H) Deutsche Investments Australia Limited, 
a Sydney, Australia-based investment adviser registered with the SEC 
under the Advisers Act; (I) DeAWM Trust Company (DTC), a limited 
purpose trust company organized under the laws of New Hampshire and 
subject to supervision of the New Hampshire Banking Department; and the 
four following entities which currently do not rely on PTE 84-14 for 
the management of any ERISA-covered plan or IRA assets, but may in the 
future: (J) Deutsche Asset Management (Hong Kong) Ltd.; (K) Deutsche 
Asset Management International GmbH; (L) DB Investment

[[Page 83407]]

Managers, Inc.; and (M) Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch.\110\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \110\ For reasons described below, exemptive relief is not being 
proposed for DBSI and the branches of Deutsche Bank AG (including 
the NY Branch), and as such, these entities are excluded from the 
definition of ``DB QPAM'' for purposes of the operative language of 
this proposed five-year exemption.
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    10. The Applicant notes that discretionary asset management 
services are provided to ERISA-covered plans, IRAs and others under the 
following Asset & Wealth Management (AWM) business lines, each of which 
may be served by one or more of the DB QPAMs: (A) Wealth Management--
Private Client Services and Wealth Management--Private Bank ($178.1 
million in ERISA assets, $643.9 million in IRA assets and $1.8 million 
in rabbi trust assets); (B) Active Management ($299 million in ERISA 
assets, $227.9 million in governmental plan assets, and $141.7 million 
in rabbi trust assets); (C) Alternative and Real Assets ($7.4 billion 
in ERISA-covered and governmental plan assets); \111\ (D) Alternatives 
& Fund Solutions ($20.8 million in ERISA accounts, $29 million in IRA 
holdings and $14.1 million in governmental plan holdings); and (E) 
Passive Management (no current ERISA or IRA assets).\112\ Finally, DTC 
manages the DWS Stock Index Fund, a collective investment trust with 
$192 million in assets as of March 31, 2015.
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    \111\ The Alternatives and Real Assets business line also 
provides discretionary asset management services, through a 
separately managed account, to one church plan with total assets 
under management of $168.6 million and, through a pooled fund 
subject to ERISA, to two church plans with total assets under 
management of $7.9 million. According to Deutsche Bank, with respect 
to governmental plan assets, most management agreements are 
contractually subject to ERISA standards.
    \112\ With the exception of Passive Management, the statistics 
for each of the individual business lines listed here have been 
updated by Deutsche Bank and are current as of June 30, 2015, to the 
best of Deutsche Bank's knowledge.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    11. The Applicant represents that the AWM business is separate from 
Group Services. The DB QPAMs that serve the AWM business have their own 
boards of directors. The Applicant represents that the AWM business has 
its own legal and compliance teams. The Applicant further notes that 
the DB QPAMs are subject to certain policies and procedures that are 
designed to, among other things, ensure that asset management decisions 
are made without inappropriate outside influence, applicable law and 
governing documents are followed, personnel act with professionalism 
and in the best interests of clients, clients are treated fairly, 
confidential information is protected, conflicts of interest are 
avoided, errors are reported and a high degree of integrity is 
maintained.

Market Manipulation Activities of DSK \113\
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    \113\ The Department has incorporated the facts related to the 
circumstances leading to the Korean Conviction as represented by 
Deutsche Bank in Application No. D-11696 and included in the Federal 
Register in the notice of proposed exemption for the aforementioned 
application at 80 FR 51314 (August 24, 2015).
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    12. Deutsche Securities Korea Co. (DSK), an indirect wholly-owned 
subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, is a broker-dealer organized in Korea and 
supervised by the Financial Supervisory Service in Korea. The Absolute 
Strategy Group (ASG) of Deutsche Bank's Hong Kong Branch (DB HK) 
conducts index arbitrage trading for proprietary accounts in Asian 
markets, including Korea. On January 25, 2016, DSK was convicted in 
Seoul Central District Court (the Korean Court), under Articles 176, 
443, and 448 of South Korea's Financial Investment Services and Capital 
Markets Act (FSCMA) for spot/futures-linked market price manipulation. 
The Korean Court issued a written decision (the Korean Decision) in 
connection with the Korean Conviction.
    13. Deutsche Bank represents that index arbitrage trading is a 
trading strategy through which an investor such as Deutsche Bank seeks 
to earn a return by identifying and exploiting a difference between the 
value of futures contracts in respect of a relevant equity index and 
the spot value of the index, as determined by the current market price 
of the constituent stocks. For instance, where the futures contracts 
are deemed to be overpriced by reference to the spot value of the index 
(i.e., if the premium is sufficiently large), then an index arbitrageur 
will short sell the relevant futures contracts (either the exchange-
traded contracts or the put and call option contracts which together 
synthetically replicate the exchange-traded futures contracts) and 
purchase the underlying stocks. The short and long positions offset 
each other in order to be hedged (although the positions may not always 
be perfectly hedged).
    14. Deutsche Bank represents that ASG pursued an index arbitrage 
trading strategy in various Asian markets, including Korea. In Korea, 
the index arbitrage position involved the Korean Composite Stock Price 
Index (KOSPI 200 Index), which reflects stocks commonly traded on the 
Korea Exchange (KRX). Deutsche Bank represents that, while ASG tried to 
track the KOSPI 200 Index as closely as possible, there is a limit on 
foreign ownership for certain shares such as telecommunication 
companies. Thus, once ASG's cash position reached this limitation, DSK 
carried the remainder; and ASG's book, combined with DSK's book for 
Korea telecommunication companies, reflected ASG's overall KOSPI 200 
index arbitrage position.
    15. On November 11, 2010, ASG unwound an arbitrage position on the 
KOSPI 200 Index through DSK. The ``unwind'' included a sale of $2.1 
billion worth of stocks in the KRX during the final 10 minutes of 
trading (i.e., the closing auction period) and comprised 88% of the 
volume of stock traded during this period. This large volume sale 
contributed to a drop of the KOSPI 200 Index by 2.7%.
    16. Prior to the unwinding, but after the decision to unwind was 
made, ASG had taken certain derivative positions, including put options 
on the KOSPI 200 Index. Thus, ASG earned a profit when the KOSPI 200 
Index declined as a result of the unwind trades (the derivative 
positions and unwind trades cumulatively referred to as the Trades). 
DSK had also purchased put options on that day that resulted in it 
earning a profit as a result of the drop of the KOSPI 200 Index. The 
aggregate amount of profit earned from such Trades was approximately 
$40 million.
    17. The Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office (the Korean 
Prosecutors) alleged that the Trades constitute spot/futures linked 
market manipulation, a criminal violation under Korean securities law. 
In this regard, the Korean Prosecutors alleged that ASG unwound its 
cash position of certain securities listed on the KRX (spot) through 
DSK, and caused a fluctuation in the market price of securities related 
to exchange-traded derivatives (the put options) for the purpose of 
gaining unfair profit from such exchange-traded derivatives. On August 
19, 2011, the Korean Prosecutors indicted DSK and four individuals on 
charges of stock market manipulation to gain unfair profits. Two of the 
individuals, Derek Ong and Bertrand Dattas, worked for ASG at DB HK. 
Mr. Ong was a Managing Director and head of ASG, with power and 
authority with respect to the KOSPI 200 Index arbitrage trading 
conducted by Deutsche Bank. Mr. Dattas served as a Director of ASG and 
was responsible for the direct operations of the KOSPI 200 Index 
arbitrage trading. Philip Lonergan, the third individual, was employed 
by Deutsche Bank Services (Jersey) Limited. At the time of the 
transaction, Mr. Lonergan was seconded to DB HK and served as Head of 
Global Market Equity, Trading and Risk. Mr. Lonergan

[[Page 83408]]

served as Mr. Ong's regional superior and was in charge of risk 
management for his team. The fourth individual charged, Do-Joon Park, 
was employed by DSK, serving as a Managing Director of Global Equity 
Derivatives (GED) at DSK and was in charge of the index arbitrage 
trading using DSK's book that had been integrated into and managed by 
ASG. Mr. Park was also a de facto chief officer of equity and 
derivative product operations of DSK.
    18. The Korean Prosecutors' case against DSK was based on Korea's 
criminal vicarious liability provision, under which DSK may be held 
vicariously liable for an act of its employee (i.e., Mr. Park) if it 
failed to exercise due care in the appointment and supervision of its 
employees.\114\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \114\ Article 448 of the FSCMA allows for charges against an 
employer stemming from vicarious liability for the actions of its 
employees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    19. The trial commenced in January 2012 in the Korean Court. The 
Korean Court convicted both DSK and Mr. Park on January 25, 2016. The 
Korean Court sentenced Mr. Park to five years imprisonment. Upon 
conviction, the Korean Court ordered DSK to pay a criminal fine of KRW 
1.5 billion. Furthermore, the Korean Court ordered that Deutsche Bank 
forfeit KRW 43,695,371,124, while KRW 1,183,362,400 was ordered 
forfeited by DSK.\115\
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    \115\ KRW refers to a South Korean Won.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

LIBOR Manipulation Activities by DB Group Services

    20. DB Group Services is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of 
Deutsche Bank located in the United Kingdom. On April 23, 2015, DB 
Group Services pled guilty in the United States District Court for the 
District of Connecticut to a single count of wire fraud, in violation 
of 18 U.S.C. 1343 (the Plea Agreement), related to the manipulation of 
the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) described below. In 
connection with the Plea Agreement with DB Group Services, the DOJ 
filed a Statement of Fact (the DOJ Plea Factual Statement) that details 
the underlying conduct that serves as the basis for the criminal 
charges and impending US Conviction.
    21. According to the DOJ Plea Factual Statement, LIBOR is a 
benchmark interest rate used in financial markets around the world. 
Futures, options, swaps, and other derivative financial instruments 
traded in the over-the-counter market. The LIBOR for a given currency 
is derived from a calculation based upon submissions from a panel of 
banks for that currency (the Contributor Panel) selected by the British 
Bankers' Association (BBA). Each member of the Contributor Panel would 
submit its rates electronically. Once each Contributor Panel bank had 
submitted its rate, the contributed rates were ranked. The highest and 
lowest quartiles were excluded from the calculation, and the middle two 
quartiles (i.e., 50% of the submissions) were averaged to formulate the 
LIBOR ``fix'' or ``setting'' for the given currency and maturity.
    22. The DOJ Plea Factual Statement states that, from 2006 to 2011, 
Deutsche Bank's Global Finance and Foreign Exchange business units 
(GFFX) had employees in multiple entities associated with Deutsche 
Bank, in multiple locations around the world including London and New 
York. Deutsche Bank, through the GFFX unit, employed traders in both 
its Pool Trading groups (Pool) and its Money Market Derivatives (MMD) 
groups. Many of the GFFX traders based in London were employed by DB 
Group Services.
    23. According to the DOJ Plea Factual Statement, Deutsche Bank's 
Pool traders engaged in, among other things, cash trading and 
overseeing Deutsche Bank's internal funding and liquidity. Deutsche 
Bank's Pool traders traded a variety of financial instruments. Deutsche 
Bank's Pool traders were primarily responsible for formulating and 
submitting Deutsche Bank's LIBOR and EURIBOR daily contributions. 
Deutsche Bank's MMD traders, on the other hand, were responsible for, 
among other things, trading a variety of financial instruments, some of 
which, such as interest rate swaps and forward rate agreements, were 
tied to LIBOR and EURIBOR. The DOJ Plea Factual Statement notes that 
both the Pool traders and the MMD traders worked in close proximity and 
reported to the same chain of command. DB Group Services employed many 
of Deutsche Bank's London-based Pool and MMD traders.
    24. Deutsche Bank and DB Group Services's derivatives traders (the 
Derivatives Traders) were responsible for trading a variety of 
financial instruments, some of which, such as interest rate swaps and 
forward rate agreements, were tied to reference rates such as LIBOR and 
EURIBOR. According to the DOJ Plea Factual Statement, from 
approximately 2003 through at least 2010, the Derivatives Traders 
defrauded their counterparties by secretly manipulating U.S. Dollar 
(USD), Yen, and Pound Sterling LIBOR, as well as the EURO Interbank 
Offered Rate (EURIBOR, and collectively, the IBORs or IBOR). The 
Derivatives Traders requested that the IBOR submitters employed by 
Deutsche Bank and other banks send in IBORs that would benefit the 
Derivatives Traders' trading positions, rather than rates that complied 
with the definitions of the IBORs. According to the DOJ, Deutsche Bank 
employees engaged in this collusion through face-to-face requests, 
electronic communications, which included both emails and electronic 
chats, and telephone calls.
    25. The DOJ Plea Factual Statement explains that when the 
Derivatives Traders' requests for favorable IBOR submissions were taken 
into account by the submitters, the resultant contributions affected 
the value and cash flows of derivatives contracts, including interest 
rate swap contracts. In accommodating these requests, the Derivatives 
Traders and submitters were engaged in a deceptive course of conduct in 
an effort to gain an advantage over their counterparties. As part of 
this effort: (1) The Deutsche Bank Pool and MMD Traders submitted 
materially false and misleading IBOR contributions; and (2) Derivatives 
Traders, after initiating and continuing their effort to manipulate 
IBOR contributions, entered into derivative transactions with 
counterparties that did not know that the Deutsche Bank personnel were 
often manipulating the relevant rate.
    26. The DOJ Plea Factual Statement notes that from 2003 through at 
least 2010, DB Group Services employees regularly sought to manipulate 
USD LIBOR to benefit their trading positions and thereby benefit 
themselves and Deutsche Bank. During most of this period, traders at 
Deutsche Bank who traded products linked to USD LIBOR were primarily 
located in London and New York. DB Group Services employed almost all 
of the USD LIBOR traders who were located in London and involved in the 
misconduct. Throughout the period during which the misconduct occurred, 
the Deutsche Bank USD LIBOR submitters in London sat within feet of the 
USD LIBOR traders. This physical proximity enabled the traders and 
submitters to conspire to make and solicit requests for particular 
LIBOR submissions.
    27. Pursuant to the Plea Agreement that DB Group Services entered 
into with the DOJ on April 23, 2015, pleading guilty to wire fraud for 
manipulation of LIBOR, DB Group Services also agreed: (A) To work with 
its parent company (Deutsche Bank) in fulfilling obligations undertaken 
by the Bank in connection with its own settlements; (B) to continue to 
fully cooperate with the DOJ and any other law enforcement or 
government agency

[[Page 83409]]

designated by the DOJ in a manner consistent with applicable laws and 
regulations; and (C) to pay a fine of $150 million.
    28. On April 23, 2015, Deutsche Bank AG entered into a deferred 
prosecution agreement (DPA) with the DOJ, as a disposition for a 2-
count criminal information charging Deutsche Bank with one count of 
wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, 
and one count of price-fixing, in violation of the Sherman Act, Title 
15, United States Code, Section 1. By entering into the DPA, Deutsche 
Bank AG agreed, among other things: (A) To continue to cooperate with 
the DOJ and any other law enforcement or government agency; (B) to 
retain an independent compliance monitor for three years, subject to 
extension or early termination, to be selected by the DOJ from among 
qualified candidates proposed by the Bank; (C) to further strengthen 
its internal controls as recommended by the monitor and as required by 
other settlements; and (D) to pay a penalty of $625 million.
    29. On April 23, 2015, Deutsche Bank AG and Deutsche Bank AG, New 
York Branch (DB NY) also entered into a consent order with the New York 
State Department of Financial Services (NY DFS) in which Deutsche Bank 
AG and DB NY agreed to pay a penalty of $600 million. Furthermore, 
Deutsche Bank AG and DB NY engaged an independent monitor selected by 
the NY DFS in the exercise of the NY DFS's sole discretion, for a 2-
year engagement. Finally, the NY DFS ordered that certain employees 
involved in the misconduct be terminated, or not be allowed to hold or 
assume any duties, responsibilities, or activities involving 
compliance, IBOR submissions, or any matter relating to U.S. or U.S. 
Dollar operations.
    30. Furthermore, the United States Commodities Futures Trading 
Commission (CFTC) entered a consent order, dated April 23, 2015, 
requiring Deutsche Bank AG to cease and desist from certain violations 
of the Commodity Exchange Act, to pay a fine of $800 million, and to 
agree to certain undertakings.
    31. The United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a 
final notice (Final Notice), dated April 23, 2015, imposing a fine of 
[pound]226.8 million on Deutsche Bank AG. In its Final Notice, the FCA 
cited Deutsche Bank's inadequate systems and controls specific to IBOR. 
The FCA noted that Deutsche Bank had defective systems to support the 
audit and investigation of misconduct by traders; and Deutsche Bank's 
systems for identifying and recording traders' telephone calls and for 
tracing trading books to individual traders were inadequate. The FCA's 
Final Notice provided that Deutsche Bank took over two years to 
identify and produce all relevant audio recordings requested by the 
FCA. Furthermore, according to the Final Notice, Deutsche Bank gave the 
FCA misleading information about its ability to provide a report 
commissioned by Bundesanstalt f[uuml]r Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, 
Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). In addition, 
the FCA notes in its Final Notice that Deutsche Bank provided it with a 
false attestation that stated that its systems and controls in relation 
to LIBOR were adequate, an attestation known to be false by the person 
who drafted it. The Final Notice provides that, in one instance, 
Deutsche Bank, in error, destroyed 482 tapes of telephone calls, 
despite receiving an FCA notice requiring their preservation, and 
provided inaccurate information to the regulator about whether other 
records existed.
    32. Finally, BaFin set forth preliminary findings based on an audit 
of LIBOR related issues in a May 15, 2015, letter to Deutsche Bank. At 
that time, BaFin raised certain questions about the extent of certain 
senior managers' possible awareness of wrongdoing within Deutsche Bank.

Prior and Anticipated Convictions and Failure To Comply With Section 
I(g) of PTE 84-14

    33. The Korean Conviction caused the DB QPAMs to violate Section 
I(g) of PTE 84-14. As a result, the Department granted PTE 2015-15, 
which allows the DB QPAMs to rely on the relief provided by PTE 84-14, 
notwithstanding the January 25, 2016 Korean Conviction. The Department 
granted PTE 2015-15 in order to protect ERISA-covered plans and IRAs 
from certain costs and/or investment losses that could have occurred to 
the extent the DB QPAMs lost their ability to rely on PTE 84-14 as a 
result of the Korean Conviction. On October 28, 2016, the Department 
published in the Federal Register PTE 2016-12 (81 FR 75153, October 28, 
2016) (the Extension), extending the effective period of 2015-15, which 
was about to expire. PTE 2015-15 and the Extension are subject to 
enhanced conditions that are protective of the rights of the 
participants and beneficiaries of affected ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs.
    34. The Applicant represents that the US Conviction, tentatively 
scheduled for April 3, 2017, will also cause DB QPAMs to violate 
Section I(g) of PTE 84-14. Therefore, Deutsche Bank requests a single, 
new exemption that would permit the DB QPAMs, and their ERISA-covered 
plan and IRA clients, to continue to utilize the relief in PTE 84-14, 
notwithstanding both the Korean Conviction and the US Conviction.
    35. The Department is proposing the five-year exemption herein to 
allow the DB QPAMs to rely on PTE 84-14 notwithstanding the Korean 
Conviction and the US Conviction, subject to a comprehensive suite of 
protective conditions designed to protect the rights of the 
participants and beneficiaries of the ERISA-covered plans and IRAs that 
are managed by DB QPAMs.
    36. Concurrently with this proposed five-year exemption, elsewhere 
in the Federal Register, the Department is publishing a proposed 
temporary exemption for DB QPAMs to rely on PTE 84-14 notwithstanding 
the Korean Conviction and the US Conviction, for a period of up to one 
year (the Temporary Exemption). The Temporary Exemption will allow the 
Department to determine whether to grant this five-year exemption, and 
will protect ERISA-covered plans and IRAs from potential losses if such 
DB QPAMs suddenly lose their ability to rely on PTE 84-14 with respect 
to such plans and IRAs. The Temporary Exemption will be effective from 
the date of the US Conviction until the earlier of twelve months from 
such date or until the effective date of a final agency action made by 
the Department in connection with this proposed five-year exemption. 
The exemptive relief set forth in the Temporary Exemption would be 
replaced by that in the proposed five-year exemption.
    37. This five-year exemption will not apply to Deutsche Bank 
Securities, Inc. (DBSI).\116\ Section I(a) of PTE 2015-15 and the 
Extension, requires that ``DB QPAMs (including their officers, 
directors, agents other than Deutsche Bank, and employees of such DB 
QPAMs) did not know of, have reason to know of, or participate in the 
criminal conduct of DSK that is the subject of the Korean Conviction.'' 
In a letter to the Department dated July 15, 2016, Deutsche Bank raised 
the possibility that an individual,\117\ while

[[Page 83410]]

employed at DBSI, may have known or had reason to know of the criminal 
conduct of DSK that is the subject of the Korean Conviction. In a 
letter to the Department dated August 19, 2016, Deutsche Bank further 
clarified that ``there is no evidence that anyone at DBSI other than 
Mr. Ripley knew in advance of the trades conducted by the Absolute 
Strategy Group on November 11, 2010.'' Deutsche Bank states that it had 
previously interpreted Section I(a) of PTE 2015-15 as requiring only 
that ``any current director, officer or employee did not know of, have 
reason to know of, or participate in the conduct.'' The Department 
notes that Deutsche Bank did not raise any interpretive questions 
regarding Section I(a) of PTE 2015-15, or express any concerns 
regarding DBSI's possible noncompliance, during the comment period for 
PTE 2015-15. Nor did Deutsche Bank seek a technical correction or other 
remedy to address such concerns between the time that PTE 2015-15 was 
granted and the date of the Korean Conviction. The Department notes 
that a period of approximately nine months passed before Deutsche Bank 
raised an interpretive question regarding Section I(a) of PTE 2015-15. 
Accordingly, the Department is not proposing exemptive relief for DBSI 
in this five-year exemption.
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    \116\ The Applicant represents that DBSI has not relied on the 
relief provided by PTE 84-14 since the date of the Korean 
Conviction.
    \117\ The Applicant identifies the individual as Mr. John 
Ripley, a senior global manager in DBSI who was based in the United 
States and who was a functional supervisor over the employees of DSK 
that were prosecuted for market manipulation. Furthermore, the 
Applicant states that Mr. Ripley was terminated by DBSI for ``loss 
of confidence'' in that he could have exercised more care and been 
more proactive in reviewing the trades at issue.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The five-year exemption will also not apply with respect to 
Deutsche Bank AG (the parent entity) or any of its branches. The 
Applicant represents that neither Deutsche Bank AG nor its branches 
have relied on the relief provided by PTE 84-14 since the date of the 
Korean Conviction.
    38. Finally, the Applicant represents that it currently does not 
have a reasonable basis to believe that any pending criminal 
investigation \118\ of any of Deutsche Bank's affiliated corporate 
entities would cause a reasonable plan or IRA customer not to hire or 
retain the Bank's affiliated managers as a QPAM. Furthermore, this 
five-year exemption will not apply to any other conviction(s) of 
Deutsche Bank or its affiliates for crimes described in Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14. The Department notes that, in such event, the Applicant and 
its ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients should be prepared to rely on 
exemptive relief other than PTE 84-14 for any prohibited transactions 
entered into after the date of such new conviction(s); withdraw from 
any arrangements that solely rely on PTE 84-14 for exemptive relief; or 
avoid engaging in any such prohibited transactions in the first place.
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    \118\ The Applicant references the Deutsche Bank AG Form 6-K, 
filed July 27, 2016, available at: https://www.db.com/ir/en/download/6_K_Jul_2016.pdf; and the Deutsche Bank AG Form 10-F filed 
March 11, 2016 and available at: https://www.db.com/ir/en/download/Deutsche_Bank_20_F_2015.pdf.
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Remedial Measures To Address Criminal Conduct of DSK

    39. Deutsche Bank represents that it has voluntarily disgorged its 
profits generated from exercising derivative positions and put options 
in connection with the activity associated with the Korean Conviction. 
DSK also suspended its proprietary trading from April 2011 to 2012, and 
thereafter DSK only engaged in limited proprietary trading (but not 
index arbitrage trading).\119\ Further, in response to the actions of 
the Korean Prosecutors, Deutsche Bank enhanced its compliance measures 
and implemented additional measures in order to ensure compliance with 
applicable laws in Korea and Hong Kong, as well as within other 
jurisdictions where Deutsche Bank conducts business.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \119\ Deutsche Bank notes that DSK was never permitted to trade 
on behalf of Deutsche Bank.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    40. Deutsche Bank states that Mr. Ong and Mr. Dattas were 
terminated for cause by DB HK on December 6, 2011, and Mr. Lonergan was 
terminated on January 31, 2012. In addition, Mr. Park was suspended for 
six months due to Korean administrative sanctions, and remained on 
indefinite administrative leave, until being terminated effective 
January 25, 2016. John Ripley, a New York-based employee of Deutsche 
Bank Securities Inc. (DBSI) who was not indicted, was also terminated 
in October 2011.\120\
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    \120\ According to the Korean prosecutors, Mr. Ripley served as 
a Head of Global ASG of Deutsche Bank, AG, and was a functional 
superior to Mr. Ong. Mr. Ripley was suspected of having advised to 
unwind all the KOSPI 200 index arbitrage trading for the purpose of 
management of the ending profits and losses of Global ASK and 
approved Mr. Ong's request to establish the speculative positions in 
the course of the unwinding. Though the Korean prosecutors named Mr. 
Ripley as a suspect, he was not named in the August 19, 2011, Writ 
of Indictment.
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Remedial Measures To Address Criminal Conduct of DB Group Services

    41. Deutsche Bank represents that it has significantly modified its 
compensation structure. Specifically, Deutsche Bank: Eliminated the use 
of ``percentage of trading profit'' contracts once held by two traders 
involved in the LIBOR case; extended the vesting/distribution period 
for deferred compensation arrangements; made compliance with its 
internal policies a significant determinant of bonus awards; and 
modified its compensation plans to facilitate forfeiture/clawback of 
compensation when employees are found after the fact to have engaged in 
wrongdoing. Deutsche Bank represents that the forfeiture/clawback 
provisions of its compensation plans have been altered so as to permit 
action against employees even when misconduct is discovered years 
later.
    42. With respect to the LIBOR-related misconduct, Deutsche Bank 
represents that it has separated from or disciplined the employees 
responsible. With the exceptions described below, none of the employees 
determined to be responsible for the misconduct remains employed by 
Deutsche Bank. Deutsche Bank represents that, during the initial phase 
of its internal investigation into the LIBOR matters, it terminated the 
two employees most responsible for the misconduct, including the Global 
Head of Money Market and Derivatives Trading.
    43. Deutsche Bank then terminated five benchmark submitters in its 
Frankfurt office, including the Head of Global Finance and Foreign 
Exchange in Frankfurt. Four of these employees successfully challenged 
their termination in a German Labor court, and one employee entered 
into a separation agreement with Deutsche Bank after initially 
indicating that he would challenge the termination decision. With 
respect to the four employees who challenged their termination, the 
Bank agreed to mediate the employee labor disputes and reached 
settlements with the four employees. Pursuant to the settlements, the 
two more senior employees remained on paid leave through the end of 
2015 and then have no association with Deutsche Bank. The two more 
junior employees have returned to the Bank in non-risk-taking roles. 
They do not work for any DB QPAMs and have no involvement in the Bank's 
AWM business or the setting of interest rate benchmarks. Deutsche Bank 
represents that it also terminated four additional individuals, and 
another eight individuals left the bank before facing disciplinary 
action.
    44. Deutsche Bank represents that it will take action to terminate 
any additional employees who are determined to have been involved in 
the improper benchmark manipulation conduct, as well as those who knew 
about it and approved it. Moreover, the Applicant states that Deutsche 
Bank has taken further steps, both on its own and in consultation with 
U.S. and foreign regulators, to discipline those whose performance fell 
short of DB's

[[Page 83411]]

expectations in connection with the above-described conduct.

Statutory Findings--In the Interests of Affected Plans and IRAs

    45. The Applicant represents that the proposed exemption is in the 
interests of affected ERISA-covered plans and IRAs. Deutsche Bank 
represents that the DB QPAMS provide discretionary asset management 
services under several business lines, including (A) Alternative and 
Real Assets (ARA); (B) Alternatives & Fund Solutions (AFS); (C) Active 
Management (AM); and (D) Wealth Management--Private Client Services and 
Wealth Management--Private Bank. Deutsche Bank asserts that plans will 
incur direct transaction costs in liquidating and reinvesting their 
portfolios. According to Deutsche Bank, the direct transaction costs of 
liquidating and reinvesting ERISA-covered plan, IRA and ERISA-like 
assets under the various business lines (other than core real estate) 
could range from 2.5 to 25 basis points, resulting in an estimated 
dollar cost of approximately $5-7 million. Deutsche Bank also states 
that an unplanned liquidation of the Alternatives and Real Assets 
business' direct real estate portfolios could result in portfolio 
discounts of 10-20% of gross asset value, in addition to transaction 
costs ranging from 30 to 100 basis points, for estimated total cost to 
plan investors of between $281 million and $723 million, depending on 
the liquidation period.
    46. Deutsche Bank states that its managers provide discretionary 
asset management services, through both separately managed accounts and 
four pooled funds subject to ERISA, to a total of 46 ERISA-covered plan 
accounts, with total assets under management (AuM) of $1.1 billion. 
Deutsche Bank estimates that the underlying plans cover in total at 
least 640,000 participants. Deutsche Bank represents that its managers 
provide asset management services, through both separately managed 
accounts and pooled funds subject to ERISA, to a total of 22 
governmental plan accounts, with total AuM of $7.1 billion. The 
underlying plans cover at least 3 million participants. With respect to 
church plans and rabbi trust accounts, Deutsche Bank investment 
managers separately manage accounts and a pooled fund subject to ERISA, 
to a total of 4 church plan and rabbi trust accounts, with total AuM of 
$318.3 million. With respect to ERISA-covered Plan, IRA, Governmental 
Plan and Church Plan Accounts in Non-Plan Asset Pooled Funds, Deutsche 
Bank represents that its asset managers manages 175 ERISA-covered plan 
accounts with interests totaling $4.23 billion, 178 IRAs with interests 
totaling $29 million, 66 governmental plan accounts with interests 
totaling $2.08 billion, and 14 church plan accounts with interests 
totaling $67.1 million.
    47. Deutsche Bank contends that ERISA-covered, IRA, governmental 
plan and other plan investors that terminate or withdraw from their 
relationship with their DB QPAM manager may be harmed in several 
specific ways, including: The costs of searching for and evaluating a 
new manager; the costs of leaving a pooled fund and finding a 
replacement fund or investment vehicle; and the lack of a secondary 
market for certain investments and the costs of liquidation.\121\
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    \121\ The Department notes that, if this temporary exemption is 
granted, compliance with the condition in Section I(j) of the 
exemption would require the DB QPAMs to hold their plan customers 
harmless for any losses attributable to, inter alia, any prohibited 
transactions or violations of the duty of prudence and loyalty.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    48. Deutsche Bank represents that its ARA business line provides 
discretionary asset management services to, among others, 17 ERISA 
accounts and 18 governmental plan accounts. The largest account has 
$1.6 billion in AuM. ERISA-covered and governmental plans total $7.4 
billion in AuM. Deutsche Bank estimates that the underlying plans cover 
at least 2.7 million participants. ARA provides these services through 
separately managed accounts and pooled funds subject to ERISA. ARA also 
provides discretionary asset management services, through a separately 
managed account, to one church plan with total AuM of $168.6 million 
and, through a pooled fund subject to ERISA, to two church plans with 
total AuM of $7.9 million.
    49. Deutsche Bank argues that PTE 84-14 is the sole exemption 
available to ARA for investments in direct real estate for separately 
managed accounts. Deutsche Bank represents that, as a result of 
terminating ARA's management, a typical plan client may incur $30,000 
to $40,000 in consulting fees in searching for a new manager as well as 
$10,000 to $30,000 in legal fees. Furthermore, with respect to direct 
real estate investments, Deutsche Bank states that plan clients may 
face direct transaction costs of 30-100 basis points for early 
liquidation, or a $4.8 million to $16 million loss for its largest ARA 
governmental plan client; as well as a 10-20% discount for early 
liquidation, or a $162.5 million to $325 million loss for the largest 
ARA governmental plan client. With respect to non-direct real estate 
investments, Deutsche Bank states that plan clients may face direct 
transaction costs of 20-60 basis points, or $933,000 for ARA's largest 
ERISA client.
    50. Deutsche Bank notes that ARA manages seven unregistered real 
estate investment trusts and other funds that currently rely on one or 
more exceptions to the Department's plan asset regulation. Interests in 
the funds are held by 131 ERISA-covered plan accounts, 63 governmental 
plan accounts and 14 church plan accounts. Deutsche Bank represents 
that the largest holding in these funds by an ERISA-covered plan 
account is $647.4 million. Holdings by all ERISA plan accounts in these 
funds total $4.21 billion. The underlying ERISA-covered plans cover at 
least 2 million participants. The largest holding by a governmental 
plan account in these funds is $286.5 million. Holdings of all 
governmental plan accounts in these funds total $2.07 billion. The 
underlying plans cover at least 6.1 million participants. The largest 
holding by a church plan is $16 million. Holdings of all church plans 
in these funds total $67.1 million.
    51. Deutsche Bank represents that its AFS business line manages 28 
unregistered, closed-end, private equity funds, with $2.8 billion in 
total assets, in which ERISA-covered, IRA and governmental plans 
invest. Interests in these funds are held by, among others, 44 ERISA-
covered plan accounts, 178 IRAs and 3 governmental plan accounts. 
Holdings by all ERISA-covered plan accounts total $20.8 million. 
Deutsche Bank notes that the underlying plans cover at least 57,000 
participants. Holdings by all IRAs total $29 million. Holdings by all 
governmental plans total $14.1 million. These funds invest primarily in 
equity interests issued by other private equity funds. The funds 
currently rely on the 25% benefit plan investor participation exception 
under the Department's plan asset regulation.
    52. Deutsche Bank contends that, in the event the AFS business line 
cannot rely upon the exemptive relief of PTE 84-14, all plans would 
have to undertake the time and expense of identifying suitable 
transferees, accept a discounted sale price, comply with applicable 
transfer rules and pay the funds a transfer fee, which may run to 
$5,000 or more. Deutsche Bank states that, in locating a replacement 
fund, a typical plan could incur 6-8 months of delay, $30,000-$40,000 
in consultant fees for a private manager/fund search, 25-50 hours in 
client time and $10,000-$30,000 in legal fees to review subscription 
agreements and negotiate side letters.

[[Page 83412]]

    53. Deutsche Bank represents that its AM business line provides 
discretionary asset management services to separately managed plan 
accounts, including five ERISA-covered plan accounts and three 
governmental plan accounts. The largest ERISA account is $164.2 
million. Total ERISA AuM is $299.2 million. The underlying ERISA-
covered plans cover at least 143,000 participants. The largest 
governmental plan account is $164.3 million. Total governmental plan 
AuM is $227.9 million. The underlying plans cover at least 731,000 
participants. Deutsche Bank notes that AM also provides such services 
to one rabbi trust with total AuM of $141.7 million.
    54. Deutsche Bank represents that the AM line manages these 
accounts with a variety of strategies, including: (A) Equities, (B) 
fixed income, (C) overlay, (D) commodities, and (E) cash. These 
strategies involve a range of asset classes and types, including: (A) 
U.S. and foreign fixed income (Treasuries, Agencies, corporate bonds, 
asset-backed securities, mortgage and commercial mortgage-backed 
securities, deposits); (B) US and foreign mutual funds and ETFs; (C) US 
and foreign futures, (D) currency; (E) swaps (interest rate and credit 
default); (F) US and foreign equities; and (G) short term investment 
funds.
    55. Deutsche Bank estimates that, in the event the AM business line 
cannot rely upon the exemptive relief of PTE 84-14, plan clients would 
typically incur $30,000 to $40,000 in consulting fees related to a new 
manager search, up to 5 basis points in direct transaction costs, and 
$15,000-$30,000 in legal costs to negotiate each new futures, cleared 
derivatives, swap or other trading agreements.
    56. Deutsche Bank represents that its Wealth Management--Private 
Client Services and Wealth Management--Private Bank business lines 
manage $178.1 million in ERISA assets, $643.9 million in IRA assets, 
and $1.8 million of rabbi trust assets (Wealth Management--Private 
Bank). Deutsche Bank asserts that causing plan clients to change 
managers will lead the plans and IRAs to incur transaction costs, 
estimated at 2.5 basis points overall.

Statutory Findings--Protective of the Rights of Participants of 
Affected Plans and IRAs

    57. The Applicant has proposed certain conditions it believes are 
protective of plans and IRAs with respect to the transactions described 
herein. The Department has determined to revise and supplement the 
proposed conditions so that it can make its required finding that the 
requested exemption is protective of the rights of participants and 
beneficiaries of affected plans and IRAs.
    58. Several of the conditions underscore the Department's 
understanding, based on Deutsche Bank's representations, that the 
affected DB QPAMs were not involved in the misconduct that is the 
subject of the Convictions. The five-year exemption, if granted as 
proposed, mandates that the DB QPAMs (including their officers, 
directors, agents other than Deutsche Bank, and employees of such DB 
QPAMs) did not know of, have reason to know of, or participate in the 
criminal conduct of DSK and DB Group Services that is the subject of 
the Convictions (for purposes of this requirement, ``participate in'' 
includes an individual's knowing or tacit approval of the misconduct 
underlying the Convictions). Furthermore, the DB QPAMs (including their 
officers, directors, employees, and agents other than Deutsche Bank) 
cannot have received direct compensation, or knowingly received 
indirect compensation, in connection with the criminal conduct that is 
the subject of the Convictions.
    59. The proposed five-year exemption defines the Convictions as: 
(1) The judgment of conviction against DB Group Services, in Case 3:15-
cr-00062-RNC to be entered in the United States District Court for the 
District of Connecticut to a single count of wire fraud, in violation 
of 18 U.S.C. 1343 (the US Conviction); and (2) the judgment of 
conviction against DSK entered on January 25, 2016, in Seoul Central 
District Court, relating to charges filed against DSK under Articles 
176, 443, and 448 of South Korea's Financial Investment Services and 
Capital Markets Act for spot/futures-linked market price manipulation 
(the Korean Conviction). The Department notes that the ``conduct'' of 
any person or entity that is the ``subject of [a] Conviction'' 
encompasses any conduct of Deutsche Bank and/or their personnel, that 
is described in the Plea Agreement (including the Factual Statement), 
Court judgments (including the judgment of the Seoul Central District 
Court), criminal complaint documents from the Financial Services 
Commission in Korea, and other official regulatory or judicial factual 
findings that are a part of this record.
    60. The Department expects that DB QPAMs will rigorously ensure 
that the individuals associated with the misconduct will not be 
employed or knowingly engaged by such QPAMs. In this regard, the five-
year exemption mandates that the DB QPAMs will not employ or knowingly 
engage any of the individuals that participated in the spot/futures-
linked market manipulation or LIBOR manipulation activities that led to 
the Convictions, respectively. For purposes of this condition, 
``participated in'' includes an individual's knowing or tacit approval 
of the misconduct that is the subject of the Convictions. Further, a DB 
QPAM will not use its authority or influence to direct an ``investment 
fund,'' (as defined in Section VI(b) of PTE 84-14) that is subject to 
ERISA or the Code and managed by such DB QPAM, to enter into any 
transaction with DSK or DB Group Services, nor otherwise engage DSK or 
DB Group Services to provide additional services to such investment 
fund, for a direct or indirect fee borne by such investment fund, 
regardless of whether such transaction or services may otherwise be 
within the scope of relief provided by an administrative or statutory 
exemption.
    61. The DB QPAMs must comply with each condition of PTE 84-14, as 
amended, with the sole exceptions of the violations of Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 that are attributable to the Convictions. Further, any 
failure of the DB QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 must 
result solely from the LIBOR Conviction and the Korean Conviction.
    62. No relief will be provided by this five-year exemption to the 
extent that a DB QPAM exercised authority over the assets of any plan 
subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA (an ERISA-covered plan) or 
section 4975 of the Code (an IRA) in a manner that it knew or should 
have known would: Further the criminal conduct that is the subject of 
the Convictions; or cause the QPAM, affiliates, or related parties to 
directly or indirectly profit from the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Convictions. The conduct that is the subject of the 
Convictions includes that which is described in the plea agreement with 
the U.S. Department of Justice, dated April 23, 2015 (the Plea 
Agreement), which is expected to result in the District Court issuing 
the US Conviction; the deferred prosecution agreement between Deutsche 
Bank AG and the DOJ, dated April 23, 2015 (the DPA); and in connection 
with the January 25, 2016 conviction (the Korean Conviction) of DSK, in 
Seoul Central District Court (the Korean Court) for spot/futures linked 
market manipulation. Further, no five-year relief will be provided to 
the extent DSK or DB Group Services provide any discretionary asset 
management services to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs or

[[Page 83413]]

otherwise act as a fiduciary with respect to ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
assets.
    63. Policies. The Department believes that robust policies and 
training are warranted where, as here, extensive criminal misconduct 
has occurred within a corporate organization that includes one or more 
QPAMs managing plan investments in reliance on PTE 84-14. Therefore, 
this proposed five-year exemption requires each DB QPAM to immediately 
develop, implement, maintain, and follow written policies and 
procedures (the Policies) requiring and reasonably designed to ensure 
that: The asset management decisions of the DB QPAM are conducted 
independently of Deutsche Bank's corporate management and business 
activities, including the corporate management and business activities 
of DB Group Services and DSK; the DB QPAM fully complies with ERISA's 
fiduciary duties and ERISA and the Code's prohibited transaction 
provisions and does not knowingly participate in any violations of 
these duties and provisions with respect to ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs; the DB QPAM does not knowingly participate in any other person's 
violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs; any filings or statements made by the DB QPAM to regulators, 
including but not limited to, the Department, the Department of the 
Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty 
Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs are materially 
accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's knowledge at that 
time; the DB QPAM does not make material misrepresentations or omit 
material information in its communications with such regulators with 
respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients; and the DB QPAM complies with 
the terms of this proposed exemption. Any violation of, or failure to 
comply with, the Policies must be corrected promptly upon discovery, 
and any such violation or compliance failure not promptly corrected 
must be reported, upon the discovery of such failure to promptly 
correct, in writing, to appropriate corporate officers, the head of 
Compliance and the General Counsel of the relevant DB QPAM (or their 
functional equivalent), the independent auditor responsible for 
reviewing compliance with the Policies, and an appropriate fiduciary of 
any affected ERISA-covered plan or IRA that is independent of Deutsche 
Bank.\122\ A DB QPAM will not be treated as having failed to develop, 
implement, maintain, or follow the Policies, provided that it corrects 
any instance of noncompliance promptly when discovered or when it 
reasonably should have known of the noncompliance (whichever is 
earlier), and provided that it reports such instance of noncompliance 
as explained above.
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    \122\ With respect to any ERISA-covered plan or IRA sponsored by 
an ``affiliate'' (as defined in Part VI(d) of PTE 84-14) of Deutsche 
Bank or beneficially owned by an employee of Deutsche Bank or its 
affiliates, such fiduciary does not need to be independent of 
Deutsche Bank.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    64. Training. The Department has also imposed a condition that 
requires each DB QPAM to immediately develop and implement a program of 
training (the Training) for all relevant DB QPAM asset/portfolio 
management, trading, legal, compliance, and internal audit personnel. 
The Training must be set forth in the Policies and at a minimum, cover 
the Policies, ERISA and Code compliance (including applicable fiduciary 
duties and the prohibited transaction provisions) and ethical conduct, 
the consequences for not complying with the conditions of this proposed 
exemption (including the loss of the exemptive relief provided herein), 
and prompt reporting of wrongdoing. Furthermore, the Training must be 
conducted by an independent professional who has been prudently 
selected and who has appropriate technical training and proficiency 
with ERISA and the Code.
    65. Independent Transparent Audit. The Department views a rigorous, 
transparent audit that is conducted by an independent party as 
essential to ensuring that the conditions for exemptive relief 
described herein are followed by the DB QPAMs. Therefore, Section I(i) 
of this proposed exemption requires that each DB QPAM submits to an 
audit conducted annually by an independent auditor, who has been 
prudently selected and who has appropriate technical training and 
proficiency with ERISA and the Code, to evaluate the adequacy of, and 
the DB QPAM's compliance with, the Policies and Training described 
herein. The audit requirement must be incorporated in the Policies. 
Each annual audit must cover a consecutive twelve month period and must 
be completed no later than six (6) months after the period to which the 
audit applies. The first twelve-month audit period hereunder begins on 
the effective date of this proposed five-year exemption.
    The audit condition requires that, to the extent necessary for the 
auditor, in its sole opinion, to complete its audit and comply with the 
conditions for relief described herein, and as permitted by law, each 
DB QPAM and, if applicable, Deutsche Bank, will grant the auditor 
unconditional access to its business, including, but not limited to: 
Its computer systems; business records; transactional data; workplace 
locations; training materials; and personnel. The auditor's engagement 
must specifically require the auditor to determine whether each DB QPAM 
has complied with the Policies and Training conditions described 
herein, and must further require the auditor to test each DB QPAM's 
operational compliance with the Policies and Training. On or before the 
end of the relevant period described in Section I(i)(1) for completing 
the audit, the auditor must issue a written report (the Audit Report) 
to Deutsche Bank and the DB QPAM to which the audit applies that 
describes the procedures performed by the auditor during the course of 
its examination. The Audit Report must include the auditor's specific 
determinations regarding: The adequacy of the DB QPAM's Policies and 
Training; the DB QPAM's compliance with the Policies and Training; the 
need, if any, to strengthen such Policies and Training; and any 
instance of the respective DB QPAM's noncompliance with the written 
Policies and Training.
    Any determination by the auditor regarding the adequacy of the 
Policies and Training and the auditor's recommendations (if any) with 
respect to strengthening the Policies and Training of the respective DB 
QPAM must be promptly addressed by such DB QPAM, and any action taken 
by such DB QPAM to address such recommendations must be included in an 
addendum to the Audit Report. Any determination by the auditor that the 
respective DB QPAM has implemented, maintained, and followed sufficient 
Policies and Training must not be based solely or in substantial part 
on an absence of evidence indicating noncompliance. In this last 
regard, any finding that the DB QPAM has complied with the requirements 
under this subsection must be based on evidence that demonstrates the 
DB QPAM has actually implemented, maintained, and followed the Policies 
and Training required by this five-year exemption. Finally, the Audit 
Report must address the adequacy of the Annual Review required under 
this exemption and the resources provided to the Compliance officer in 
connection with such Annual Review. Furthermore, the auditor must 
notify the respective DB QPAM of any

[[Page 83414]]

instance of noncompliance identified by the auditor within five (5) 
business days after such noncompliance is identified by the auditor, 
regardless of whether the audit has been completed as of that date.
    This five-year exemption requires that certain senior personnel of 
Deutsche Bank review the Audit Report, make certifications, and take 
various corrective actions. In this regard, the General Counsel, or one 
of the three most senior executive officers of the DB QPAM to which the 
Audit Report applies, must certify in writing, under penalty of 
perjury, that the officer has reviewed the Audit Report and this 
exemption; addressed, corrected, or remedied any inadequacy identified 
in the Audit Report; and determined that the Policies and Training in 
effect at the time of signing are adequate to ensure compliance with 
the conditions of this proposed five-year exemption and with the 
applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code. The Risk Committee of 
Deutsche Bank's Board of Directors is provided a copy of each Audit 
Report; and a senior executive officer with a direct reporting line to 
the highest ranking legal compliance officer of Deutsche Bank must 
review the Audit Report for each DB QPAM and must certify in writing, 
under penalty of perjury, that such officer has reviewed each Audit 
Report.
    In order to create a more transparent record in the event that the 
proposed relief is granted, each DB QPAM must provide its certified 
Audit Report to the Department no later than 45 days following its 
completion. The Audit Report will be part of the public record 
regarding this five-year exemption. Furthermore, each DB QPAM must make 
its Audit Report unconditionally available for examination by any duly 
authorized employee or representative of the Department, other relevant 
regulators, and any fiduciary of an ERISA-covered plan or IRA, the 
assets of which are managed by such DB QPAM. Additionally, each DB QPAM 
and the auditor must submit to the Department any engagement 
agreement(s) entered into pursuant to the engagement of the auditor 
under this exemption; and any engagement agreement entered into with 
any other entity retained in connection with such QPAM's compliance 
with the Training or Policies conditions of this proposed exemption, no 
later than six (6) months after the effective date of this five-year 
exemption (and one month after the execution of any agreement 
thereafter). Finally, if the exemption is granted, the auditor must 
provide the Department, upon request, all of the workpapers created and 
utilized in the course of the audit, including, but not limited to: The 
audit plan; audit testing; identification of any instance of 
noncompliance by the relevant DB QPAM; and an explanation of any 
corrective or remedial action taken by the applicable DB QPAM.
    In order to enhance oversight of the compliance with the exemption, 
Deutsche Bank must notify the Department at least 30 days prior to any 
substitution of an auditor, and Deutsche Bank must demonstrate to the 
Department's satisfaction that any new auditor is independent of 
Deutsche Bank, experienced in the matters that are the subject of the 
exemption, and capable of making the determinations required of this 
exemption.
    66. Contractual Obligations. This five-year exemption requires DB 
QPAMs to enter into certain contractual obligations in connection with 
the provision of services to their clients. It is the Department's view 
that the condition in Section I(j) is essential to the Department's 
ability to make its findings that the proposed five-year exemption is 
protective of the rights of the participants and beneficiaries of 
ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients. In this regard, effective as of the 
effective date of this five-year exemption with respect to any 
arrangement, agreement, or contract between a DB QPAM and an ERISA-
covered plan or IRA for which a DB QPAM provides asset management or 
other discretionary fiduciary services, each DB QPAM agrees and 
warrants: To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable with respect 
to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA; to refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions); to comply with the 
standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of ERISA 
with respect to each such ERISA-covered plan and IRA; and to indemnify 
and hold harmless the ERISA-covered plan and IRA for any damages 
resulting from a DB QPAM's violation of applicable laws, a DB QPAM's 
breach of contract, or any claim brought in connection with the failure 
of such DB QPAM to qualify for the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-
14 as a result of a violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 other than 
the Convictions. Furthermore, DB QPAMs must agree not to require (or 
otherwise cause) the ERISA-covered plan or IRA to waive, limit, or 
qualify the liability of the DB QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code or 
engaging in prohibited transactions; not to require the ERISA-covered 
plan or IRA (or sponsor of such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner 
of such IRA) to indemnify the DB QPAM for violating ERISA or engaging 
in prohibited transactions, except for violations or prohibited 
transactions caused by an error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a 
plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan fiduciary who is 
independent of Deutsche Bank; not to restrict the ability of such 
ERISA-covered plan or IRA to terminate or withdraw from its arrangement 
with the DB QPAM (including any investment in a separately managed 
account or pooled fund subject to ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with 
the exception of reasonable restrictions, appropriately disclosed in 
advance, that are specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment 
of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or 
termination may have adverse consequences for all other investors as a 
result of an actual lack of liquidity of the underlying assets, 
provided that such restrictions are applied consistently and in like 
manner to all such investors; not to impose any fees, penalties, or 
charges for such termination or withdrawal with the exception of 
reasonable fees, appropriately disclosed in advance, that are 
specifically designed to prevent generally recognized abusive 
investment practices or specifically designed to ensure equitable 
treatment of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such 
withdrawal or termination may have adverse consequences for all other 
investors, provided that such fees are applied consistently and in like 
manner to all such investors; and not to include exculpatory provisions 
disclaiming or otherwise limiting liability of the DB QPAM for a 
violation of such agreement's terms, except for liability caused by an 
error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other 
party hired by the plan fiduciary who is independent of Deutsche Bank.
    Within four (4) months of the effective date of this proposed five-
year exemption, each DB QPAM will provide a notice of its obligations 
under this Section I(j) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA for which a 
DB QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary fiduciary 
services. For all other prospective ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients 
for which a DB QPAM provides asset management or discretionary other 
fiduciary services, the DB QPAM will agree in writing to its 
obligations under this Section I(j) in an updated investment management 
agreement or advisory agreement between the DB QPAM and such clients or 
other written contractual agreement.
    67. Notice Requirements. The proposed exemption contains extensive 
notice requirements, some of which

[[Page 83415]]

extend not only to ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients of DB QPAMs, but 
which also apply to the non-Plan clients of DB QPAMs. In this regard, 
the Department understands that many firms may promote their ``QPAM'' 
designation in order to earn asset management business, including 
business from non-ERISA plans. Therefore, in order to fully inform any 
clients that may have retained DB QPAMs as asset managers because such 
DB QPAMs have represented themselves as able to rely on PTE 84-14, the 
Department has determined to condition exemptive relief upon the 
following notice requirements.
    Within fifteen (15) days of the publication of this proposed five-
year exemption in the Federal Register, each DB QPAM will provide a 
notice of the proposed five-year exemption, along with a separate 
summary describing the facts that led to the Convictions (the Summary), 
which have been submitted to the Department, and a prominently 
displayed statement (the Statement) that each Conviction separately 
results in a failure to meet a condition in PTE 84-14, to each sponsor 
of an ERISA-covered plan and each beneficial owner of an IRA for which 
a DB QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary fiduciary 
services, or the sponsor of an investment fund in any case where a DB 
QPAM acts only as a sub-advisor to the investment fund in which such 
ERISA-covered plan and IRA invests. In the event that this proposed 
five-year exemption is granted, the Federal Register copy of the notice 
of final five-year exemption must be delivered to such clients within 
sixty (60) days of its publication in the Federal Register, and may be 
delivered electronically (including by an email that has a link to the 
exemption). Any prospective clients for which a DB QPAM provides asset 
management or other discretionary fiduciary services must receive the 
proposed and final five-year exemptions with the Summary and the 
Statement prior to, or contemporaneously with, the client's receipt of 
a written asset management agreement or other contractual agreement 
from the DB QPAM.
    In addition, each DB QPAM will provide a Federal Register copy of 
the proposed five-year exemption, a Federal Register copy of the final 
five-year exemption; the Summary; and the Statement to each: (A) 
Current Non-Plan Client within four (4) months of the effective date, 
if any, of a final five-year exemption; and (B) Future Non-Plan Client 
prior to, or contemporaneously with, the client's receipt of a written 
asset management agreement or other contractual agreement from the DB 
QPAM. A ``Current Non-Plan Client'' is a client of a DB QPAM that: Is 
neither an ERISA-covered plan nor an IRA; has assets managed by the DB 
QPAM as of the effective date, if any, of a final five-year exemption; 
and has received a written representation (qualified or otherwise) from 
the DB QPAM that such DB QPAM qualifies as a QPAM or qualifies for the 
relief provided by PTE 84-14. A ``Future Non-Plan Client'' is a 
prospective client of a DB QPAM that is neither an ERISA-covered plan 
nor an IRA that has assets managed by the DB QPAM after the effective 
date, if any, of a final five-year exemption, and has received a 
written representation (qualified or otherwise) from the DB QPAM that 
such DB QPAM is a QPAM, or qualifies for the relief provided by PTE 84-
14.
    68. This proposed five-year exemption also requires Deutsche Bank 
to designate a senior compliance officer (the Compliance Officer) who 
will be responsible for compliance with the Policies and Training 
requirements described herein. The Compliance Officer will have several 
obligations that it must comply with, as described in Section I(m) 
above. These include conducting an annual review (the Annual Review) to 
determine the adequacy and effectiveness of the implementation of the 
Policies and Training; and preparing a written report for each Annual 
Review (each, an Annual Report) that, among other things, summarizes 
his or her material activities during the preceding year and sets forth 
any instance of noncompliance discovered during the preceding year, and 
any related corrective action. Each Annual Report must be provided to 
appropriate corporate officers of Deutsche Bank and each DB QPAM to 
which such report relates; the head of Compliance and the General 
Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of the relevant DB QPAM; and 
must be made unconditionally available to the independent auditor 
described above.
    69. Each DB QPAM must maintain records necessary to demonstrate 
that the conditions of this proposed five-year exemption have been met, 
for six (6) years following the date of any transaction for which such 
DB QPAM relies upon the relief in the five-year exemption.
    70. In order for DB QPAMs to rely on the exemption provided herein, 
Deutsche Bank must have disgorged all of its profits generated by the 
spot/futures-linked market manipulation activities of DSK personnel 
that led to the Conviction against DSK entered on January 25, 2016, in 
Seoul Central District Court.
    71. The proposed five-year exemption mandates that, during the 
effective period of this five-year exemption, Deutsche Bank discloses 
to the Department any Deferred Prosecution Agreement (a DPA) or Non-
Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) entered into by Deutsche Bank or any of 
its affiliates with the U.S Department of Justice, in connection with 
conduct described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 or section 411 of ERISA. 
Furthermore, Deutsche Bank must immediately provide the Department any 
information requested by the Department, as permitted by law, regarding 
the agreement and/or conduct and allegations that led to the agreement. 
After review of the information, the Department may require Deutsche 
Bank or its affiliates, as specified by the Department, to submit a new 
application for the continued availability of relief as a condition of 
continuing to rely on this exemption. In this regard, the QPAM (or 
other party submitting the application) will have the burden of 
justifying the relief sought in the application. If the Department 
denies the relief requested in the new application, or does not grant 
such relief within twelve (12) months of the application, the relief 
described herein is revoked as of the date of denial or as of the 
expiration of the twelve month period, whichever date is earlier.
    72. Finally, each DB QPAM, in its agreements with ERISA-covered 
plan and IRA clients, or in other written disclosures provided to 
ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients, within 60 days prior to the initial 
transaction upon which relief hereunder is relied, will clearly and 
prominently inform the ERISA-covered plan or IRA client that the client 
has the right to obtain copies of the QPAM's written Policies adopted 
in accordance with this five-year exemption.

Statutory Findings--Administratively Feasible

    73. Deutsche Bank represents that the proposed five-year exemption 
is administratively feasible because it does not require any monitoring 
by the Department but relies on an independent auditor to determine 
that the exemption conditions are being complied with. Furthermore, the 
requested five-year exemption does not require the Department's 
oversight because, as a condition of this proposed five-year exemption, 
neither DB Group Services nor DSK will provide any fiduciary or QPAM 
services to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs.

[[Page 83416]]

    74. Given the revised and new conditions described above, the 
Department has tentatively determined that the five-year relief sought 
by the Applicant satisfies the statutory requirements for an exemption 
under section 408(a) of ERISA.

Notice to Interested Persons

    Notice of the proposed exemption will be provided to all interested 
persons within 15 days of the publication of the notice of proposed 
five-year exemption in the Federal Register. The notice will be 
provided to all interested persons in the manner described in Section 
I(k)(1) of this proposed exemption and will contain the documents 
described therein and a supplemental statement, as required pursuant to 
29 CFR 2570.43(a)(2). The supplemental statement will inform interested 
persons of their right to comment on and to request a hearing with 
respect to the pending exemption. All written comments and/or requests 
for a hearing must be received by the Department within forty five (45) 
days of the date of publication of this proposed exemption in the 
Federal Register. All comments will be made available to the public.
    All comments will be made available to the public. Warning: If you 
submit a comment, EBSA recommends that you include your name and other 
contact information in the body of your comment, but DO NOT submit 
information that you consider to be confidential, or otherwise 
protected (such as Social Security number or an unlisted phone number) 
or confidential business information that you do not want publicly 
disclosed. All comments may be posted on the Internet and can be 
retrieved by most Internet search engines.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Ness of the Department, 
telephone (202) 693-8561. (This is not a toll-free number.)

Citigroup, Inc. (Citigroup or the Applicant), Located in New York, New 
York

[Application No. D-11909]

Proposed Five Year Exemption

    The Department is considering granting a five-year exemption under 
the authority of section 408(a) of the Act (or ERISA) and section 
4975(c)(2) of the Code, and in accordance with the procedures set forth 
in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 
2011).\123\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \123\ For purposes of this proposed five-year exemption, 
references to section 406 of Title I of the Act, unless otherwise 
specified, should be read to refer as well to the corresponding 
provisions of section 4975 of the Code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section I: Covered Transactions
    If the proposed five-year exemption is granted, certain asset 
managers with specified relationships to Citigroup (the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAMs and the Citigroup Related QPAMs, as defined further in 
Sections II(a) and II(b), respectively) will not be precluded from 
relying on the exemptive relief provided by Prohibited Transaction 
Class Exemption 84-14 (PTE 84-14 or the QPAM Exemption),\124\ 
notwithstanding the judgment of conviction against Citicorp (the 
Conviction), as defined in Section II(c)),\125\ for engaging in a 
conspiracy to: (1) Fix the price of, or (2) eliminate competition in 
the purchase or sale of the euro/U.S. dollar currency pair exchanged in 
the Foreign Exchange (FX) Spot Market, for a period of five years 
beginning on the date the exemption is granted, provided the following 
conditions are satisfied:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \124\ 49 FR 9494 (March 13, 1984), as corrected at 50 FR 41430 
(October 10, 1985), as amended at 70 FR 49305 (August 23, 2005), and 
as amended at 75 FR 38837 (July 6, 2010).
    \125\ Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 generally provides that 
``[n]either the QPAM nor any affiliate thereof . . . nor any owner . 
. . of a 5 percent or more interest in the QPAM is a person who 
within the 10 years immediately preceding the transaction has been 
either convicted or released from imprisonment, whichever is later, 
as a result of'' certain felonies including violation of the Sherman 
Antitrust Act, Title 15 United States Code, Section 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (a) Other than a single individual who worked for a non-fiduciary 
business within Citigroup's Markets and Securities Services business, 
and who had no responsibility for, and exercised no authority in 
connection with, the management of plan assets, the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAMs and the Citigroup Related QPAMs (including their 
officers, directors, agents other than Citicorp, and employees of such 
QPAMs who had responsibility for, or exercised authority in connection 
with the management of plan assets) did not know of, did not have 
reason to know of, or participate in the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Conviction (for purposes of this paragraph (a), 
``participate in'' includes the knowing or tacit approval of the 
misconduct underlying the Conviction);
    (b) Other than a single individual who worked for a non-fiduciary 
business within Citigroup's Markets and Securities Services business, 
and who had no responsibility for, and exercised no authority in 
connection with, the management of plan assets, the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAMs and the Citigroup Related QPAMs (including their 
officers, directors, and agents other than Citigroup, and employees of 
such Citigroup QPAMs) did not receive direct compensation, or knowingly 
receive indirect compensation in connection with the criminal conduct 
that is the subject of the Conviction;
    (c) The Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs will not employ or knowingly 
engage any of the individuals that participated in the criminal conduct 
that is the subject of the Conviction (for the purposes of this 
paragraph (c), ``participated in'' includes the knowing or tacit 
approval of the misconduct underlying Conviction);
    (d) A Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will not use its authority or 
influence to direct an ``investment fund'' (as defined in Section VI(b) 
of PTE 84-14), that is subject to ERISA or the Code and managed by such 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM, to enter into any transaction with Citicorp 
or the Markets and Securities Services business of Citigroup, or to 
engage Citicorp or the Markets and Securities Services business of 
Citigroup, to provide any service to such investment fund, for a direct 
or indirect fee borne by such investment fund, regardless of whether 
such transaction or service may otherwise be within the scope of relief 
provided by an administrative or statutory exemption;
    (e) Any failure of a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM or a Citigroup 
Related QPAM to satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 arose solely from the 
Conviction;
    (f) A Citigroup Affiliated QPAM or a Citigroup Related QPAM did not 
exercise authority over the assets of any plan subject to Part 4 of 
Title I of ERISA (an ERISA-covered plan) or section 4975 of the Code 
(an IRA) in a manner that it knew or should have known would: Further 
the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction; or cause 
the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM or the Citigroup Related QPAM or its 
affiliates or related parties to directly or indirectly profit from the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction;
    (g) Citicorp and the Markets and Securities Services business of 
Citigroup will not provide discretionary asset management services to 
ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or otherwise act as a fiduciary with 
respect to ERISA-covered plan or IRA assets;
    (h)(1) Within four (4) months of the Conviction, each Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM must develop, implement, maintain, and follow written 
policies and procedures (the Policies) requiring and reasonably 
designed to ensure that:
    (i) The asset management decisions of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM 
are

[[Page 83417]]

conducted independently of the corporate management and business 
activities, including the corporate management and business activities 
of the Markets and Securities Services business of Citigroup;
    (ii) The Citigroup Affiliated QPAM fully complies with ERISA's 
fiduciary duties, and with ERISA and the Code's prohibited transaction 
provisions, and does not knowingly participate in any violation of 
these duties and provisions with respect to ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs;
    (iii) The Citigroup Affiliated QPAM does not knowingly participate 
in any other person's violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to 
ERISA-covered plans and IRAs;
    (iv) Any filings or statements made by the Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM to regulators, including, but not limited to, the Department, the 
Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Pension 
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, 
are materially accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's 
knowledge at that time;
    (v) The Citigroup Affiliated QPAM does not make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with such regulators with respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or 
make material misrepresentations or omit material information in its 
communications with ERISA-covered plans and IRA clients;
    (vi) The Citigroup Affiliated QPAM complies with the terms of this 
five-year exemption; and
    (vii) Any violation of, or failure to comply with an item in 
subparagraphs (ii) through (vi), is corrected promptly upon discovery, 
and any such violation or compliance failure not promptly corrected is 
reported, upon the discovery of such failure to promptly correct, in 
writing, to appropriate corporate officers, the head of compliance, and 
the General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of the relevant 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM, the independent auditor responsible for 
reviewing compliance with the Policies, and an appropriate fiduciary of 
any affected ERISA-covered plan or IRA that is independent of 
Citigroup; however, with respect to any ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
sponsored by an ``affiliate'' (as defined in Section VI(d) of PTE 84-
14) of Citigroup or beneficially owned by an employee of Citigroup or 
its affiliates, such fiduciary does not need to be independent of 
Citigroup. A Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will not be treated as having 
failed to develop, implement, maintain, or follow the Policies, 
provided that it corrects any instance of noncompliance promptly when 
discovered, or when it reasonably should have known of the 
noncompliance (whichever is earlier), and provided that it adheres to 
the reporting requirements set forth in this subparagraph (vii);
    (2) Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM must develop and implement a program of 
training (the Training), conducted at least annually, for all relevant 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, 
compliance, and internal audit personnel. The Training must:
    (i) Be set forth in the Policies and, at a minimum, cover the 
Policies, ERISA and Code compliance (including applicable fiduciary 
duties and the prohibited transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the 
consequences for not complying with the conditions of this five-year 
exemption (including any loss of exemptive relief provided herein), and 
prompt reporting of wrongdoing; and
    (ii) Be conducted by an independent professional who has been 
prudently selected and who has appropriate technical and training and 
proficiency with ERISA and the Code;
    (i)(1) Each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM submits to an audit conducted 
annually by an independent auditor, who has been prudently selected and 
who has appropriate technical training and proficiency with ERISA and 
the Code, to evaluate the adequacy of, and the Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM's compliance with, the Policies and Training described herein. The 
audit requirement must be incorporated in the Policies. Each annual 
audit must cover a consecutive twelve (12) month period starting with 
the twelve (12) month period that begins on the effective date of the 
five-year exemption, and each annual audit must be completed no later 
than six (6) months after the period to which the audit applies;
    (2) To the extent necessary for the auditor, in its sole opinion, 
to complete its audit and comply with the conditions for relief 
described herein, and as permitted by law, each Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM and, if applicable, Citigroup, will grant the auditor 
unconditional access to its business, including, but not limited to: 
Its computer systems; business records; transactional data; workplace 
locations; training materials; and personnel;
    (3) The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor 
to determine whether each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM has developed, 
implemented, maintained, and followed the Policies in accordance with 
the conditions of this five-year exemption, and has developed and 
implemented the Training, as required herein;
    (4) The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor 
to test each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM's operational compliance with 
the Policies and Training. In this regard, the auditor must test a 
sample of each QPAM's transactions involving ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs sufficient in size and nature to afford the auditor a reasonable 
basis to determine the operational compliance with the Policies and 
Training;
    (5) For each audit, on or before the end of the relevant period 
described in Section I(i)(1) for completing the audit, the auditor must 
issue a written report (the Audit Report) to Citigroup and the 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM to which the audit applies that describes the 
procedures performed by the auditor during the course of its 
examination. The Audit Report must include the auditor's specific 
determinations regarding:
    (i) The adequacy of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM's Policies and 
Training; the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM's compliance with the Policies 
and Training; the need, if any, to strengthen such Policies and 
Training; and any instance of the respective Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM's noncompliance with the written Policies and Training described 
in Section I(h) above. Any determination by the auditor regarding the 
adequacy of the Policies and Training and the auditor's recommendations 
(if any) with respect to strengthening the Policies and Training of the 
respective Citigroup Affiliated QPAM must be promptly addressed by such 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM, and any action taken by such Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM to address such recommendations must be included in an 
addendum to the Audit Report (which addendum is completed prior to the 
certification described in Section I(i)(7) below). Any determination by 
the auditor that the respective Citigroup Affiliated QPAM has 
implemented, maintained, and followed sufficient Policies and Training 
must not be based solely or in substantial part on an absence of 
evidence indicating noncompliance. In this last regard, any finding 
that the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM has complied with the requirements 
under this subsection must be based on evidence that demonstrates the 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM has actually implemented, maintained, and 
followed the Policies and Training required by this five-year 
exemption. Furthermore, the auditor must not rely on the Annual

[[Page 83418]]

Report created by the compliance officer (the Compliance Officer) as 
described in Section I(m) below in lieu of independent determinations 
and testing performed by the auditor as required by Section I(i)(3) and 
(4) above; and
    (ii) The adequacy of the Annual Review described in Section I(m) 
and the resources provided to the Compliance Officer in connection with 
such Annual Review;
    (6) The auditor must notify the respective Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM of any instance of noncompliance identified by the auditor within 
five (5) business days after such noncompliance is identified by the 
auditor, regardless of whether the audit has been completed as of that 
date;
    (7) With respect to each Audit Report, the General Counsel, or one 
of the three most senior executive officers of the Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM to which the Audit Report applies, must certify in writing, under 
penalty of perjury, that the officer has reviewed the Audit Report and 
this exemption; addressed, corrected, or remedied any inadequacy 
identified in the Audit Report; and determined that the Policies and 
Training in effect at the time of signing are adequate to ensure 
compliance with the conditions of this proposed five-year exemption, 
and with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code;
    (8) The Risk Committee of Citigroup's Board of Directors is 
provided a copy of each Audit Report; and a senior executive officer 
with a direct reporting line to the highest ranking legal compliance 
officer of Citigroup must review the Audit Report for each Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM and must certify in writing, under penalty of perjury, 
that such officer has reviewed each Audit Report;
    (9) Each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM provides its certified Audit 
Report, by regular mail to: The Department's Office of Exemption 
Determinations (OED), 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Suite 400, 
Washington, DC 20210, or by private carrier to: 122 C Street NW., Suite 
400, Washington, DC 20001-2109, no later than 30 days following its 
completion. The Audit Report will be part of the public record 
regarding this five-year exemption. Furthermore, each Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM must make its Audit Report unconditionally available 
for examination by any duly authorized employee or representative of 
the Department, other relevant regulators, and any fiduciary of an 
ERISA-covered plan or IRA, the assets of which are managed by such 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM;
    (10) Each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM and the auditor must submit to 
OED: (A) Any engagement agreement(s) entered into pursuant to the 
engagement of the auditor under this five-year exemption; and (B) any 
engagement agreement entered into with any other entity retained in 
connection with such QPAM's compliance with the Training or Policies 
conditions of this five-year exemption, no later than six (6) months 
after the Conviction Date (and one month after the execution of any 
agreement thereafter);
    (11) The auditor must provide OED, upon request, all of the 
workpapers created and utilized in the course of the audit, including, 
but not limited to: The audit plan; audit testing; identification of 
any instance of noncompliance by the relevant Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM; and an explanation of any corrective or remedial action taken by 
the applicable Citigroup Affiliated QPAM; and
    (12) Citigroup must notify the Department at least thirty (30) days 
prior to any substitution of an auditor, except that no such 
replacement will meet the requirements of this paragraph unless and 
until Citigroup demonstrates to the Department's satisfaction that such 
new auditor is independent of Citigroup, experienced in the matters 
that are the subject of the exemption, and capable of making the 
determinations required of this exemption;
    (j) Effective as of the effective date of this five-year exemption, 
with respect to any arrangement, agreement, or contract between a 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA for which a 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services, each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM agrees 
and warrants:
    (1) To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable with respect 
to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA; to refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions); and to comply with 
the standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of 
ERISA, as applicable, with respect to each such ERISA-covered plan and 
IRA;
    (2) To indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
for any damages resulting from a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM's violation 
of applicable laws, a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM's breach of contract, 
or any claim brought in conection with the failure of such Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM to qualify for the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-
14 as a result of a violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 other than 
the Conviction;
    (3) Not to require (or otherwise cause) the ERISA-covered plan or 
IRA to waive, limit, or qualify the liability of the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code or engaging in 
prohibited transactions;
    (4) Not to require the ERISA-covered plan or IRA (or sponsor of 
such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner of such IRA) to indemnify 
the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or engaging in 
prohibited transactions, except for violations or prohibited 
transactions caused by an error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a 
plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan fiduciary who is 
independent of Citigroup, and its affiliates;
    (5) Not to restrict the ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
to terminate or withdraw from its arrangement with the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM (including any investment in a separately managed 
account or pooled fund subject to ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with 
the exception of reasonable restrictions, appropriately disclosed in 
advance, that are specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment 
of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or 
termination may have adverse consequences for all other investors as a 
result of an actual lack of liquidity of the underlying assets, 
provided that such restrictions are applied consistently and in like 
manner to all such investors;
    (6) Not to impose any fees, penalties, or charges for such 
termination or withdrawal with the exception of reasonable fees, 
appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to 
prevent generally recognized abusive investment practices or 
specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in 
a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have 
adverse consequences for all other investors, provided that such fees 
are applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors;
    (7) Not to include exculpatory provisions disclaiming or otherwise 
limiting liability of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM for a violation of 
such agreement's terms, except for liability caused by an error, 
misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party 
hired by the plan fiduciary which is independent of Citigroup, and its 
affiliates; and
    (8) Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM must provide a notice of its obligations 
under this Section I(j) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA for which a 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM

[[Page 83419]]

provides asset management or other discretionary fiduciary services. 
For all other prospective ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients for which 
a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary services, the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will agree in 
writing to its obligations under this Section I(j) in an updated 
investment management agreement between the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM 
and such clients or other written contractual agreement;
    (k)(1) Notice to ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients. Within fifteen 
(15) days of the publication of this proposed five-year exemption in 
the Federal Register, each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will provide a 
notice of the proposed five-year exemption, along with a separate 
summary describing the facts that led to the Conviction (the Summary), 
which have been submitted to the Department, and a prominently 
displayed statement (the Statement) that the Conviction results in a 
failure to meet a condition in PTE 84-14, to each sponsor of an ERISA-
covered plan and each beneficial owner of an IRA for which a Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary 
services, or the sponsor of an investment fund in any case where a 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM acts only as a sub-advisor to the investment 
fund in which such ERISA-covered plan and IRA invests. In the event 
that this proposed five-year exemption is granted, the Federal Register 
copy of the notice of final five-year exemption must be delivered to 
such clients within sixty (60) days of its publication in the Federal 
Register, and may be delivered electronically (including by an email 
that has a link to the exemption). Any prospective clients for which a 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary services must receive the proposed and final five-year 
exemptions with the Summary and the Statement prior to, or 
contemporaneously with, the client's receipt of a written asset 
management agreement from the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM; and
    (2) Notice to Non-Plan Clients. Each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will 
provide a Federal Register copy of the proposed five-year exemption, a 
Federal Register copy of the final five-year exemption; the Summary; 
and the Statement to each: (A) Current Non-Plan Client within four (4) 
months of the effective date, if any, of a final five-year exemption; 
and (B) Future Non-Plan Client prior to, or contemporaneously with, the 
client's receipt of a written asset management agreement from the 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM. For purposes of this subparagraph (2), a 
Current Non-Plan Client means a client of a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM 
that: Is neither an ERISA-covered plan nor an IRA; has assets managed 
by the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM as of the effective date, if any, of a 
final five-year exemption; and has received a written representation 
(qualified or otherwise) from the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM that such 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM qualifies as a QPAM or qualifies for the 
relief provided by PTE 84-14. For purposes of this subparagraph (2), a 
Future Non-Plan Client means a client of a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM 
that is neither an ERISA-covered plan nor an IRA that, has assets 
managed by the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM as of the effective date, if 
any, of a final five-year exemption, and has received a written 
representation (qualified or otherwise) from the Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM that such Citigroup Affiliated QPAM is a QPAM, or qualifies for 
the relief provided by PTE 84-14;
    (l) The Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs must comply with each condition 
of PTE 84-14, as amended, with the sole exception of the violation of 
Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 that is attributable to the Conviction;
    (m)(1) Citigroup designates a senior compliance officer (the 
Compliance Officer) who will be responsible for compliance with the 
Policies and Training requirements described herein. The Compliance 
Officer must conduct an annual review (the Annual Review) to determine 
the adequacy and effectiveness of the implementation of the Policies 
and Training. With respect to the Compliance Officer, the following 
conditions must be met:
    (i) The Compliance Officer must be a legal professional with 
extensive experience with, and knowledge of, the regulation of 
financial services and products, including under ERISA and the Code; 
and
    (ii) The Compliance Officer must have a direct reporting line to 
the highest-ranking corporate officer in charge of legal compliance 
that is independent of Citigroup's other business lines;
    (2) With respect to each Annual Review, the following conditions 
must be met:
    (i) The Annual Review includes a review of: Any compliance matter 
related to the Policies or Training that was identified by, or reported 
to, the Compliance Officer or others within the compliance and risk 
control function (or its equivalent) during the previous year; any 
material change in the business activities of the Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAMs; and any change to ERISA, the Code, or regulations related to 
fiduciary duties and the prohibited transaction provisions that may be 
applicable to the activities of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs;
    (ii) The Compliance Officer prepares a written report for each 
Annual Review (each, an Annual Report) that (A) summarizes his or her 
material activities during the preceding year; (B) sets forth any 
instance of noncompliance discovered during the preceding year, and any 
related corrective action; (C) details any change to the Policies or 
Training to guard against any similar instance of noncompliance 
occurring again; and (D) makes recommendations, as necessary, for 
additional training, procedures, monitoring, or additional and/or 
changed processes or systems, and management's actions on such 
recommendations;
    (iii) In each Annual Report, the Compliance Officer must certify in 
writing that to his or her knowledge: (A) The report is accurate; (B) 
the Policies and Training are working in a manner which is reasonably 
designed to ensure that the Policies and Training requirements 
described herein are met; (C) any known instance of noncompliance 
during the preceding year and any related correction taken to date have 
been identified in the Annual Report; (D) the Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAMs have complied with the Policies and Training in all respects, 
and/or corrected any instances of noncompliance in accordance with 
Section I(h) above; and (E) Citigroup has provided the Compliance 
Officer with adequate resources, including, but not limited to, 
adequate staffing;
    (iv) Each Annual Report must be provided to appropriate corporate 
officers of Citigroup and each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM to which such 
report relates; the head of compliance and the General Counsel (or 
their functional equivalent) of the relevant Citigroup Affiliated QPAM; 
and must be made unconditionally available to the independent auditor 
described in Section I(i) above;
    (v) Each Annual Review, including the Compliance Officer's written 
Annual Report, must be completed at least three (3) months in advance 
of the date on which each audit described in Section I(i) is scheduled 
to be completed;
    (n) Each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will maintain records necessary 
to demonstrate that the conditions of this exemption have been met, for 
six (6) years following the date of any transaction for which such 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM relies upon the relief in the exemption;

[[Page 83420]]

    (o) During the effective period of the five-year exemption, 
Citigroup: (1) Immediately discloses to the Department any Deferred 
Prosecution Agreement (a DPA) or a Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) 
with the U.S. Department of Justice, entered into by Citigroup or any 
of its affiliates in connection with conduct described in Section I(g) 
of PTE 84-14 or section 411 of ERISA; and
    (2) Immediately provides the Department any information requested 
by the Department, as permitted by law, regarding the agreement and/or 
conduct and allegations that led to the agreement. The Department may, 
following its review of that information, require Citigroup or a party 
specified by the Department, to submit a new application for the 
continued availability of relief as a condition of continuing to rely 
on this exemption. If the Department denies the relief requested in 
that application, or does not grant such relief within twelve (12) 
months of the application, the relief described herein would be revoked 
as of the date of denial or as of the expiration of the twelve month 
period, whichever date is earlier;
    (p) Each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM, in its agreements with ERISA-
covered plan and IRA clients, or in other written disclosures provided 
to ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients, within 60 days prior to the 
initial transaction upon which relief hereunder is relied, and then at 
least once annually, will clearly and prominently: Inform the ERISA-
covered plan and IRA client that the client has the right to obtain 
copies of the QPAM's written Policies adopted in accordance with the 
exemption; and
    (q) A Citigroup Affiliated QPAM or a Citigroup Related QPAM will 
not fail to meet the terms of this exemption, solely because a 
different Citigroup Affiliated QPAM or Citigroup Related QPAM fails to 
satisfy a condition for relief described in Sections I(c), (d), (h), 
(i), (j), (k), (l), (n) and (p).
Section II: Definitions
    (a) The term ``Citigroup Affiliated QPAM'' means a ``qualified 
professional asset manager'' (as defined in section VI(a) \126\ of PTE 
84-14) that relies on the relief provided by PTE 84-14 and with respect 
to which Citigroup is a current or future ``affiliate'' (as defined in 
section VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14). The term ``Citigroup Affiliated QPAM'' 
excludes the parent entity, Citigroup and Citigroup's Banking Division.
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    \126\ In general terms, a QPAM is an independent fiduciary that 
is a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or 
investment adviser that meets certain equity or net worth 
requirements and other licensure requirements, and has acknowledged 
in a written management agreement that it is a fiduciary with 
respect to each plan that has retained the QPAM.
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    (b) The term ``Citigroup Related QPAM'' means any current or future 
``qualified professional asset manager'' (as defined in section VI(a) 
of PTE 84-14) that relies on the relief provided by PTE 84-14, and with 
respect to which Citigroup owns a direct or indirect five percent or 
more interest, but with respect to which Citigroup is not an 
``affiliate'' (as defined in Section VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14).
    (c) The terms ``ERISA-covered plan'' and ``IRA'' mean, 
respectively, a plan subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA and a plan 
subject to section 4975 of the Code;
    (d) The term ``Citicorp'' means Citicorp, Inc., the parent entity, 
but does not include any subsidiaries or other affiliates;
    (e) The term ``Conviction'' means the judgment of conviction 
against Citigroup for violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 
1, which is scheduled to be entered in the District Court for the 
District of Connecticut (the District Court) (Case Number 3:15-cr-78-
SRU), in connection with Citigroup, through one of its euro/U.S. dollar 
(EUR/USD) traders, entering into and engaging in a combination and 
conspiracy to fix, stabilize, maintain, increase or decrease the price 
of, and rig bids and offers for, the EUR/USD currency pair exchanged in 
the FX spot market by agreeing to eliminate competition in the purchase 
and sale of the EUR/USD currency pair in the United States and 
elsewhere. For all purposes under this five-year, ``conduct'' of any 
person or entity that is the ``subject of [a] Conviction'' encompasses 
any conduct of Citigroup and/or their personnel, that is described in 
the Plea Agreement, (including the Factual Statement), and other 
official regulatory or judicial factual findings that are a part of 
this record; and
    (f) The term ``Conviction Date'' means the date that a judgment of 
Conviction against Citicorp is entered by the District Court in 
connection with the Conviction.
    Effective Date: This proposed five-year exemption, will be 
effective beginning on the date of publication of such grant in the 
Federal Register and ending on the date that is five years thereafter. 
Should the Applicant wish to extend the effective period of exemptive 
relief provided by this proposed five-year exemption, the Applicant 
must submit another application for an exemption. In this regard, the 
Department expects that, in connection with such application, the 
Applicant should be prepared to demonstrate compliance with the 
conditions for this exemption and that the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs, 
and those who may be in a position to influence their policies, have 
maintained the high standard of integrity required by PTE 84-14.
    Department's Comment: Concurrently with this proposed five-year 
exemption, the Department is publishing a proposed one-year exemption 
for Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs to continue to rely on PTE 84-14. That 
one-year exemption is intended to allow the Department sufficient time, 
including a longer comment period, to determine whether to grant this 
five-year exemption. The proposed one-year exemption is designed to 
protect ERISA-covered plans and IRAs from the potential costs and 
losses, described below, that would be incurred if such Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAMs were to suddenly lose their ability to rely on PTE 84-
14 as of the Conviction date.
    The proposed five-year exemption would provide relief from certain 
of the restrictions set forth in sections 406 and 407 of ERISA. No 
relief from a violation of any other law would be provided by this 
exemption, including any criminal conviction described herein.
    The Department cautions that the relief in this proposed five-year 
exemption would terminate immediately if, among other things, an entity 
within the Citigroup corporate structure is convicted of a crime 
described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 (other than the Conviction) 
during the effective period of the exemption. While such an entity 
could apply for a new exemption in that circumstance, the Department 
would not be obligated to grant the exemption. The terms of this 
proposed five-year exemption have been specifically designed to permit 
plans to terminate their relationships in an orderly and cost effective 
fashion in the event of an additional conviction or a determination 
that it is otherwise prudent for a plan to terminate its relationship 
with an entity covered by the proposed exemption.

Summary of Facts and Representations 127
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    \127\ The Summary of Facts and Representations is based on the 
Applicant's representations, unless indicated otherwise.
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Background

    1. Citigroup is a global diversified financial services holding 
company incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in New York, New 
York. Citigroup and its affiliates provide

[[Page 83421]]

consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad 
range of financial products and services, including consumer banking 
and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, 
trade and securities services and wealth management. Citigroup has 
approximately 241,000 employees and operations in over 160 countries 
and jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2014, Citigroup had approximately 
$1.8 trillion of assets under management and held $889 billion in 
deposits.
    2. Citigroup currently operates, for management reporting purposes, 
via two primary business segments which include: (a) Citigroup's Global 
Consumer Banking businesses (GCB); and (b) Citigroup's Institutional 
Clients Group (ICG).
    GCB includes a global, full-service consumer franchise delivering a 
wide array of retail banking, commercial banking, Citi-branded credit 
cards and investment services through a network of local branches, 
offices and electronic delivery systems. GCB had 3,280 branches in 35 
countries around the world. For the year ended December 31, 2014, GCB 
had $399 billion of average assets and $331 billion of average 
deposits.
    ICG provides a broad range of banking and financial products and 
services to corporate, institutional, public sector and high-net-worth 
clients in approximately 100 countries. ICG transacts with clients in 
both cash instruments and derivatives, including fixed income, foreign 
currency, equity and commodity products. ICG is divided into several 
business lines including: (a) Citi Corporate and Investment Banking; 
(b) Treasury and Trade Solutions; (c) Markets and Securities Services; 
and (d) Citi Private Bank (CPB).
    3. The Applicant represents that Citigroup has several affiliates 
that provide investment management services.\128\ Citigroup provides 
investment advisory services to clients world-wide through a number of 
different programs offered by various businesses that are tailored to 
meet the needs of its diverse clientele. Within the United States, 
Citigroup offers its investment advisory programs primarily through the 
following: (a) CPB and Citigroup's Global Consumers Group (GCG), acting 
through Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (CGMI); and (b) Citibank, N.A. 
(Citibank) and Citi Private Advisory, LLC (CPA) (collectively, the 
Advisory Businesses). The Applicant represents that CPA and CGMI are 
each investment advisers, registered under the Advisers Act. The 
Applicant also represents that CPB, CGMI, Citibank, and CPA are QPAMs.
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    \128\ Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14 defines an ``affiliate'' of a 
person, for purposes of Section I(g), as: (1) Any person directly or 
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling, 
controlled by, or under common control with the person, (2) any 
director of, relative of, or partner in, any such person, (3) any 
corporation, partnership, trust or unincorporated enterprise of 
which such person is an officer, director, or a 5 percent or more 
partner or owner, and (4) any employee or officer of the person 
who--(A) is a highly compensated employee (as defined in section 
4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) or officer (earning 10 percent or more of 
the yearly wages of such person), or (B) has direct or indirect 
authority, responsibility or control regarding the custody, 
management or disposition of plan assets.
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    Within the United States, Citigroup's Advisory Businesses are 
conducted within CPB and GCG. Together, CPB and GCG provide services to 
over 44,000 customer advisory accounts with assets under management 
totaling over $33 billion. Of these, there are over 20,000 accounts for 
ERISA pension plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs) 
(collectively, Retirement Accounts), with assets under management of 
approximately $3.8 billion.
    Although each of the advisory programs offered by the Advisory 
Businesses is unique, most utilize independent third-party managers on 
a discretionary or nondiscretionary basis, as determined by the client. 
Other programs such as Citi Investment Management (CIM), which operates 
through both the CGMI and CPB business units, primarily provide advice 
concerning the selection of individual securities for CPB clients.
    CPB, GCG, CBNA, CGMI and their affiliates provide administrative, 
management and/or technical services designed to implement and monitor 
client's investment guidelines, and in certain nondiscretionary 
programs, offer recommendations on investing and re-investing portfolio 
assets for the client's consideration. CPB provides private banking 
services, and offers its clients access to a broad array of products 
and services available through bank and non-bank affiliates of 
Citigroup. GCG services include U.S. and international retail banking, 
U.S. consumer lending, international consumer finance, and commercial 
finance. Citibank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Citigroup and a 
national banking association which provides fiduciary advisory 
services.
    4. CGMI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Citigroup whose principal 
activities include retail and institutional private client services 
which include: (a) Advice with respect to financial markets; (b) the 
execution of securities and commodities transactions as a broker or 
dealer; (c) securities underwriting; (d) investment banking; (e) 
investment management (including fiduciary and administrative 
services); and (f) trading and holding securities and commodities for 
its own account. CGMI holds a number of registrations, including 
registration as an investment adviser, a securities broker-dealer, and 
a futures commission merchant.
    CPA is also a wholly-owned subsidiary of Citigroup and provides 
advisory services to private investment funds that are organized to 
invest primarily in other private investment funds advised by third-
party managers.
    The Applicant represents that trading decisions and investment 
strategy of current Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs for their clients is not 
shared with Citigroup employees outside of the Advisory Business, nor 
do employees of the Advisory Business consult with other Citigroup 
affiliates prior to making investment decisions on behalf of clients.
    5. On May 20, 2015, the Applicant filed an application for 
exemptive relief in connection with a conviction that would make the 
relief in PTE 84-14 unavailable to any current or future Citigroup-
related investment managers. In this regard, the U.S. Department of 
Justice (Department of Justice) conducted an investigation of certain 
conduct and practices of Citigroup in the FX spot market. Thereafter, 
Citicorp, a Delaware corporation that is a financial services holding 
company and the direct parent company of Citibank, entered into a plea 
agreement with the Department of Justice (the Plea Agreement), to be 
approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut 
(the District Court), pursuant to which Citicorp has pleaded guilty to 
one count of an antitrust violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 
U.S.C. 1 (15 U.S.C. 1).
    As set forth in the Plea Agreement, from at least December 2007 and 
continuing to at least January 2013 (the Relevant Period), Citicorp, 
through one London-based euro/U.S. dollar (EUR/USD) trader employed by 
Citibank, entered into and engaged in a conspiracy to fix, stabilize, 
maintain, increase or decrease the price of, and rig bids and offers 
for, the EUR/USD currency pair exchanged in the FX spot market by 
agreeing to eliminate competition in the purchase and sale of the EUR/
USD currency pair in the United States and elsewhere. The criminal 
conduct that is the subject of the Conviction included near daily 
conversations, some of which were in code, in an exclusive electronic 
chat room used by certain EUR/USD traders, including the EUR/USD trader

[[Page 83422]]

employed by Citibank. The criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Conviction forms the basis for the Department of Justice's antitrust 
charge that Citicorp violated 15 U.S.C. 1.
    Under the terms of the Plea Agreement, the Department of Justice 
and Citicorp have agreed that the District Court should impose a 
sentence requiring Citicorp to pay a criminal fine of $925 million. The 
Plea Agreement also provides for a three-year term of probation, with 
conditions to include, among other things, Citigroup's continued 
implementation of a compliance program designed to prevent and detect 
the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction throughout 
its operations, as well as Citigroup's further strengthening of its 
compliance and internal controls as required by other regulatory or 
enforcement agencies that have addressed the criminal conduct that is 
the subject of the Conviction, including: (a) The U.S. Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC), pursuant to its settlement with 
Citibank on November 11, 2014, requiring remedial measures to 
strengthen the control framework governing Citigroup's FX trading 
business; (b) the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant 
to its settlement with Citibank on November 11, 2014, requiring 
remedial measures to improve the control framework governing 
Citigroup's wholesale trading and benchmark activities; (c) the U.K. 
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), pursuant to its settlement with 
Citibank on November 11, 2014; and (d) the U.S. Board of Governors of 
the Federal Reserve System (FRB), pursuant to its settlement with 
Citigroup entered into concurrently with the Plea Agreement with 
Department of Justice, requiring remedial measures to improve 
Citigroup's controls for FX trading and activities involving 
commodities and interest rate products.
    6. The Applicant states that in January 2016, Nigeria's Federal 
Director of Public Prosecutions filed charges against a Nigerian 
subsidiary of Citibank and fifteen individuals (some of whom are 
current or former employees of that subsidiary) relating to specific 
credit facilities provided to a certain customer in 2000 to finance the 
import of goods. The Applicant represents that these charges are the 
latest of a series of charges that were filed and then withdrawn 
between 2007 and 2011. The Applicant also represents that to its best 
knowledge, it does not have a reasonable basis to believe that the 
discretionary asset management activities of any Citigroup QPAMs are 
subject to these charges. Further, the Applicant represents that it 
does not have a reasonable basis to believe that there are any pending 
criminal investigations involving Citigroup or any of its affiliates 
that would cause a reasonable plan or IRA customer not to hire or 
retain the institution as a QPAM.
    7. Notwithstanding the aforementioned charges, once the Conviction 
is entered, the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs and the Citigroup Related 
QPAMs, as well as their client plans that are subject to Part 4 of 
Title I of ERISA (ERISA-covered plans) or section 4975 of the Code 
(IRAs), will no longer be able to rely on PTE 84-14, pursuant to the 
anti-criminal rule set forth in section I(g) of the class exemption, 
absent an individual exemption. The Applicant is seeking an individual 
exemption that would permit the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs and the 
Citigroup Related QPAMs, and their ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients 
to continue to utilize the relief in PTE 84-14, notwithstanding the 
anticipated Conviction, provided that such QPAMs satisfy the additional 
conditions imposed by the Department in the proposed five-year 
exemption herein.
    8. The Applicant represents that the criminal conduct that is the 
subject of the Conviction was neither widespread nor pervasive. The 
Applicant states that such criminal conduct consisted of isolated acts 
perpetrated by a single EUR/USD trader employed in Citigroup's Markets 
and Securities Services business in the United Kingdom who was removed 
from the activities of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs, both 
geographically and organizationally. The Applicant represents that this 
London-based EUR/USD trader was not an officer or director of 
Citigroup, and did not have any involvement in, or influence over, 
Citigroup or any of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs. The Applicant 
states that this London-based EUR/USD trader had minimal management 
responsibilities, which related exclusively to Citigroup's G10 Spot FX 
trading business, outside of the United States. As represented by the 
Applicant, once senior management became aware of the criminal conduct 
that is the subject of the Conviction, Citibank took action to 
terminate the employee.
    9. The Applicant represents that the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs, 
did not know of, did not have reason to know of, and did not 
participate in the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Conviction. The Applicant also represents that no current or former 
employee of Citigroup or of any Citigroup Affiliated QPAM who 
previously has been or who subsequently may be identified by Citigroup, 
or any U.S. or non-U.S. regulatory or enforcement agencies, as having 
been responsible for the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Conviction will have any involvement in providing asset management 
services to plans and IRAs or will be an officer, director, or employee 
of the Applicant or of any Citigroup Affiliated QPAM.

Citigroup's Business Separation/Compliance/Training

    10. The Applicant represents that Citigroup's Advisory Businesses 
are operated independently from Citigroup's Markets and Securities 
Services, the segment of Citigroup in which foreign exchange trading is 
conducted.\129\ Although the Advisory Business falls under the 
umbrellas of ICG and GCG, it operates separately in all material 
respects from the sales and trading businesses that comprise that 
business segment. The Advisory Business maintains separate: (a) 
Management and reporting lines; (b) compliance programs; (c) 
compensation arrangements; (d) profit and loss reporting (with 
different comptrollers), (e) human resources and training programs, and 
(f) legal coverage. The Applicant represents that the Advisory 
Businesses maintain a separate, dedicated compliance function, and have 
protocols to preserve the separation between employees in the Advisory 
Business and those in Markets and Securities Services.
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    \129\ The Applicant represents that each of Citigroup's primary 
business units operates a large number of separate and independent 
businesses. These lines of business generally have: (a) A group of 
employees working solely on matters specific to its line of 
business, (b) separate management and reporting lines; (c) tailored 
compliance regimens; (d) separate compensation arrangements; (e) 
separate profit and loss reporting; (vi) separate human resources 
personnel and training, (f) dedicated risk and compliance officers 
and (g) dedicated legal coverage.
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    11. The Applicant represents that Citigroup's independent control 
functions, including Compliance, Finance, Legal and Risk, set standards 
according to which Citigroup and its businesses are expected to manage 
and oversee risks, including compliance with applicable laws, 
regulatory requirements, policies and standards of ethical conduct. 
Among other things, the independent control functions provide advice 
and training to Citigroup's businesses and establish tools, 
methodologies, processes and oversight of controls used by the 
businesses to foster a culture of compliance and control and to satisfy 
those standards.

[[Page 83423]]

    12. The Applicant represents that compliance at Citigroup is an 
independent control function within Franchise Risk and Strategy that is 
designed to protect Citigroup not only by managing adherence to 
applicable laws, regulations and other standards of conduct, but also 
by promoting business behavior and activity that is consistent with 
global standards for responsible finance. The Applicant states that 
Citigroup has implemented company-wide initiatives designed to further 
embed ethics in Citigroup's culture. This includes training for more 
than 40,000 senior employees that fosters ethical decision-making and 
underscores the importance of escalating issues, a video series 
featuring senior leaders discussing ethical decisions, regular 
communications on ethics and culture, and the development of enhanced 
tools to support ethical decision-making.

Statutory Findings--In the Interest of Affected Plans and IRAs

    13. The Applicant represents that, if the exemption is denied, the 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs may be unable to effectively manage assets 
subject to ERISA or the prohibited transaction provisions of the Code 
where PTE 84-14 is needed to avoid engaging in a prohibited 
transaction. The Applicant further represents that plans and 
participants would be harmed because they would be unnecessarily 
deprived of the current and future opportunity to utilize the 
Applicant's experience in and expertise with respect to the financial 
markets and investing. The Applicant anticipates that, if the exemption 
is denied, some of Citigroup's 20,000 existing Retirement Account 
clients may feel forced to terminate their advisory relationship with 
Citigroup, incurring expenses related to: (a) Consultant fees and other 
due diligence expenses for identifying new managers; (b) transaction 
costs associated with a change in investment manager, including the 
sale and purchase of portfolio investments to accommodate the 
investment policies and strategy of the new manager, and the cost of 
entering into new custodial arrangements; and (c) lost investment 
opportunities in connection with the change.\130\
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    \130\ The Department notes that, if this five-year exemption is 
granted, compliance with the condition in Section I(j) of the 
exemption would require the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs to hold their 
plan customers harmless for any losses attributable to, inter alia, 
any prohibited transactions or violations of the duty of prudence 
and loyalty.
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Statutory Findings--Protective of the Rights of Participants of 
Affected Plans and IRAs

    14. The Applicant has proposed certain conditions it believes are 
protective of participants and beneficiaries of ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs with respect to the transactions described herein. The Department 
has determined that it is necessary to modify and supplement the 
conditions before it can tentatively determine that the requested 
exemption meets the statutory requirements of section 408(a) of ERISA. 
In this regard, the Department has tentatively determined that the 
following conditions adequately protect the rights of participants and 
beneficiaries of affected plans and IRAs with respect to the 
transactions that would be covered by this proposed five-year 
exemption.
    The five-year exemption, if granted as proposed, is only available 
to the extent: (a) Other than with respect to a single individual who 
worked for a non-fiduciary business within Citigroup's Markets and 
Securities Services business and who had no responsibility for, and 
exercised no authority in connection with, the management of plan 
assets, Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs, including their officers, 
directors, agents other than Citigroup, and employees, did not know of, 
have reason to know of, or participate in the criminal conduct of 
Citigroup that is the subject of the Conviction (for purposes of this 
requirement, the term ``participate in'' includes an individual's 
knowing or tacit approval of the misconduct underlying the Conviction); 
(b) any failure of those QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 
arose solely from the Conviction; and (c) other than a single 
individual who worked for a non-fiduciary business within Citigroup's 
Markets and Securities Services business, and who had no responsibility 
for, and exercised no authority in connection with, the management of 
plan assets, the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs and the Citigroup Related 
QPAMs (including their officers, directors, agents other than 
Citigroup, and employees of such Citigroup QPAMs) did not receive 
direct compensation, or knowingly receive indirect compensation, in 
connection with the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Conviction.
    15. The Department expects the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs will 
rigorously ensure that the individual associated with the misconduct 
will not be employed or knowingly engaged by such QPAMs. In this 
regard, the five-year exemption mandates that the Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAMs will not employ or knowingly engage any of the individuals that 
participated in the FX manipulation that is the subject of the 
Conviction. For purposes of this condition, the term ``participated 
in'' includes an individual's knowing or tacit approval of the behavior 
that is the subject of the Conviction.
    16. Further, the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will not use its 
authority or influence to direct an ``investment fund,'' (as defined in 
Section VI(b) of PTE 84-14), that is subject to ERISA or the Code and 
managed by such Citigroup Affiliated QPAM to enter into any transaction 
with Citigroup or the Markets and Securities Services business of 
Citigroup, or to engage Citigroup or the Markets and Securities 
Services business of Citigroup to provide any service to such 
investment fund, for a direct or indirect fee borne by such investment 
fund, regardless of whether such transaction or service may otherwise 
be within the scope of relief provided by an administrative or 
statutory exemption.
    17. The Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs and the Citigroup Related QPAMs 
must comply with each condition of PTE 84-14, as amended, with the sole 
exception of the violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 that is 
attributable to the Conviction. Further, any failure of the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAMs or the Citigroup Related QPAMs to satisfy Section I(g) 
of PTE 84-14 arose solely from the Conviction.
    No relief will be provided by this five-year exemption, if a 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM or a Citigroup Related QPAM exercised 
authority over plan assets in a manner that it knew or should have 
known would: Further the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Conviction; or cause the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM or the Citigroup 
Related QPAM or its affiliates or related parties to directly or 
indirectly profit from the criminal conduct that is the subject of the 
Conviction. Also, no relief will be provided by this five-year 
exemption to the extent Citigroup or the Markets and Securities 
Services business of Citigroup provides any discretionary asset 
management services to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or otherwise acts 
as a fiduciary with respect to ERISA-covered plan or IRA assets.
    18. The Department believes that robust policies and training are 
warranted where, as here, the criminal misconduct has occurred within a 
corporate organization that is affiliated with one or more QPAMs 
managing plan or IRA assets. Therefore, this proposed five-year 
exemption requires

[[Page 83424]]

that within four (4) months of the Conviction, each Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM must develop, implement, maintain, and follow written 
policies (the Policies) requiring and reasonably designed to ensure 
that: The asset management decisions of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM 
are conducted independently of the management and business activities 
of Citigroup, including the management and business activities of the 
Markets and Securities business of Citigroup; the Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM fully complies with ERISA's fiduciary duties, and with ERISA and 
the Code's prohibited transaction provisions, and does not knowingly 
participate in any violation of these duties and provisions with 
respect to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs; the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM 
does not knowingly participate in any other person's violation of ERISA 
or the Code with respect to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs; any filings 
or statements made by the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM to regulators, 
including, but not limited to, the Department of Labor, the Department 
of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Pension Benefit 
Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, are 
materially accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's knowledge 
at that time; the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM does not make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with such regulators with respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or 
make material misrepresentations or omit material information in its 
communications with ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients; and the 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM complies with the terms of this five-year 
exemption.
    Any violation of, or failure to comply with these Policies must be 
corrected promptly upon discovery, and any such violation or compliance 
failure not promptly corrected is reported, upon discovering the 
failure to promptly correct, in writing, to appropriate corporate 
officers, the head of compliance, and the General Counsel (or their 
functional equivalent) of the relevant Citigroup Affiliated QPAM, the 
independent auditor responsible for reviewing compliance with the 
Policies, and an appropriate fiduciary of any affected ERISA-covered 
plan or IRA, which such fiduciary is independent of Citigroup. A 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will not be treated as having failed to 
develop, implement, maintain, or follow the Policies, provided that it 
corrects any instance of noncompliance promptly when discovered or when 
it reasonably should have known of the noncompliance (whichever is 
earlier), and provided that it reports such instance of noncompliance 
as explained above.
    19. The Department has also imposed a condition that requires each 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM, within four (4) months of the date of the 
Conviction, to develop and implement a program of training (the 
Training), conducted at least annually, for all relevant Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, compliance, 
and internal audit personnel. The Training must be set forth in the 
Policies and, at a minimum, cover the Policies, ERISA and Code 
compliance (including applicable fiduciary duties and the prohibited 
transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the consequences for not 
complying with the conditions of this five-year exemption (including 
any loss of exemptive relief provided herein), and prompt reporting of 
wrongdoing. Further, the Training must be conducted by an independent 
professional who has been prudently selected and who has appropriate 
technical training and proficiency with ERISA and the Code.
    20. Independent Transparent Audit. The Department views a rigorous 
and transparent audit that is conducted annually by an independent 
party, as essential to ensuring that the conditions for exemptive 
relief described herein are followed by the Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs. 
Therefore, Section I(i) of this proposed five-year exemption requires 
that each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM submits to an audit, conducted 
annually by an independent auditor, who has been prudently selected and 
who has appropriate technical training and proficiency with ERISA and 
the Code, to evaluate the adequacy of, and the Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM's compliance with, the Policies and Training described herein. The 
audit requirement must be incorporated in the Policies. In addition, 
each annual audit must cover a consecutive twelve (12) month period 
starting with the twelve (12) month period that begins on the effective 
date of the five-year exemption. Each annual audit must be completed no 
later than six (6) months after the period to which the audit applies.
    21. Among other things, the audit condition requires that, to the 
extent necessary for the auditor, in its sole opinion, to complete its 
audit and comply with the conditions for relief described herein, and 
as permitted by law, each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM and, if applicable, 
Citigroup, will grant the auditor unconditional access to its business, 
including, but not limited to: Its computer systems; business records; 
transactional data; workplace locations; training materials; and 
personnel.
    In addition, the auditor's engagement must specifically require the 
auditor to determine whether each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM has 
complied with the Policies and Training conditions described herein, 
and must further require the auditor to test each Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM's operational compliance with the Policies and Training. The 
auditor must issue a written report (the Audit Report) to Citigroup and 
the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM to which the audit applies that describes 
the procedures performed by the auditor during the course of its 
examination. The Audit Report must include the auditor's specific 
determinations regarding: The adequacy of the Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM's Policies and Training; the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM's 
compliance with the Policies and Training; the need, if any, to 
strengthen such Policies and Training; and any instance of the 
respective Citigroup Affiliated QPAM's noncompliance with the written 
Policies and Training.
    Any determination by the auditor regarding the adequacy of the 
Policies and Training and the auditor's recommendations (if any) with 
respect to strengthening the Policies and Training of the respective 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM must be promptly addressed by such Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM, and any action taken by such Citigroup Affiliated QPAM 
to address such recommendations must be included in an addendum to the 
Audit Report. Further, any determination by the auditor that the 
respective Citigroup Affiliated QPAM has implemented, maintained, and 
followed sufficient Policies and Training must not be based solely or 
in substantial part on an absence of evidence indicating noncompliance. 
In this last regard, any finding that the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM has 
complied with the requirements, as described above, must be based on 
evidence that demonstrates the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM has actually 
implemented, maintained, and followed the Policies and Training 
required by this five-year exemption. Finally, the Audit Report must 
address the adequacy of the Annual Review required under this exemption 
and the resources provided to the Compliance Officer in connection with 
such Annual Review. Moreover, the auditor must notify the respective 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM of any instance of noncompliance identified 
by the auditor

[[Page 83425]]

within five (5) business days after such noncompliance is identified by 
the auditor, regardless of whether the audit has been completed as of 
that date.
    22. This exemption requires that certain senior personnel of 
Citigroup review the Audit Report and make certain certifications and 
take various corrective actions. In this regard, the General Counsel, 
or one of the three most senior executive officers of the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM to which the Audit Report applies, must certify, in 
writing, under penalty of perjury, that the officer has reviewed the 
Audit Report and this five-year exemption; addressed, corrected, or 
remedied an inadequacy identified in the Audit Report; and determined 
that the Policies and Training in effect at the time of signing are 
adequate to ensure compliance with the conditions of this proposed 
five-year exemption and with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the 
Code. The Risk Committee of Citigroup's Board of Directors is provided 
a copy of each Audit Report; and a senior executive officer with a 
direct reporting line to the highest ranking legal compliance officer 
of Citigroup must review the Audit Report for each Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM and must certify in writing, under penalty of perjury, that such 
officer has reviewed each Audit Report.
    23. In order to create a more transparent record in the event that 
the proposed relief is granted, each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM must 
provide its certified Audit Report to the Department no later than 
thirty (30) days following its completion. The Audit Report will be 
part of the public record regarding this five-year exemption.
    Further, each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM must make its Audit Report 
unconditionally available for examination by any duly authorized 
employee or representative of the Department, other relevant 
regulators, and any fiduciary of an ERISA-covered plan or IRA, the 
assets of which are managed by such Citigroup Affiliated QPAM. 
Additionally, each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM and the auditor must 
submit to the Department any engagement agreement(s) entered into 
pursuant to the engagement of the auditor under this five-year 
exemption. Also, they must submit to the Department any engagement 
agreement entered into with any other entity retained in connection 
with such QPAM's compliance with the Training or Policies conditions of 
this proposed five-year exemption, no later than six (6) months after 
the Conviction Date (and one month after the execution of any agreement 
thereafter).
    Finally, if the exemption is granted, the auditor must provide the 
Department, upon request, all of the workpapers created and utilized in 
the course of the audit, including, but not limited to: The audit plan; 
audit testing; identification of any instance of noncompliance by the 
relevant Citigroup Affiliated QPAM; and an explanation of any 
corrective or remedial action taken by the applicable Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM.
    In order to enhance oversight of the compliance with the exemption, 
Citigroup must notify the Department at least thirty (30) days prior to 
any substitution of an auditor, and Citigroup must demonstrate to the 
Department's satisfaction that any new auditor is independent of 
Citigroup, experienced in the matters that are the subject of the 
exemption, and capable of making the determinations required of this 
five-year exemption.
    24. Contractual Obligations. This five-year exemption requires the 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs to enter into certain contractual 
obligations in connection with the provision of services to their 
clients. It is the Department's view that the condition in Section I(j) 
is essential to the Department's ability to make its findings that the 
proposed five-year exemption is protective of the rights of the 
participants and beneficiaries of ERISA-covered and IRA plan clients of 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs under section 408(a) of ERISA. In this 
regard, effective as of the effective date of this five-year exemption, 
with respect to any arrangement, agreement, or contract between a 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA for which a 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services, each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM must 
agree and warrant: (a) To comply with ERISA and the Code, as 
applicable, with respect to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA, and refrain 
from engaging in prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt 
(and to promptly correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions), and 
to comply with the standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in 
section 404 of ERISA, as applicable, with respect to each such ERISA-
covered plan and IRA; (b) to indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-
covered plan or IRA for any damages resulting from a violation of 
applicable laws, a breach of contract, or any claim arising out of the 
failure of such Citigroup Affiliated QPAM to qualify for the exemptive 
relief provided by PTE 84-14 as a result of a violation of Section I(g) 
of PTE 84-14 other than the Conviction; (c) not to require (or 
otherwise cause) the ERISA-covered plan or IRA to waive, limit, or 
qualify the liability of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM for violating 
ERISA or the Code or engaging in prohibited transactions; (d) not to 
require the ERISA-covered plan or IRA (or sponsor of such ERISA-covered 
plan or beneficial owner of such IRA) to indemnify the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code, or engaging in 
prohibited transactions, except for a violation or a prohibited 
transaction caused by an error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a 
plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan fiduciary which is 
independent of Citigroup, and its affiliates; (e) not to restrict the 
ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA to terminate or withdraw from 
its arrangement with the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM (including any 
investment in a separately-managed account or pooled fund subject to 
ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with the exception of reasonable 
restrictions, appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically 
designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in a pooled 
fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have adverse 
consequences for all other investors as a result of the actual lack of 
liquidity of the underlying assets, provided that such restrictions are 
applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors; and (f) 
not to impose any fee, penalty, or charge for such termination or 
withdrawal with the exception of reasonable fees, appropriately 
disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to prevent 
generally recognized abusive investment practices or specifically 
designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in a pooled 
fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have adverse 
consequences for all other investors, provided that each such fee is 
applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors. 
Furthermore, any contract, agreement or arrangement between a Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM and its ERISA-covered plan or IRA client must not 
contain exculpatory provisions disclaiming or otherwise limiting 
liability of the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM for a violation of such 
agreement's terms, except for liability caused by error, 
misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party 
hired by the plan fiduciary which is independent of Citigroup, and its 
affiliates.
    30. With respect to current ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients for 
which

[[Page 83426]]

a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services, within four (4) months of the date of 
publication of this notice of five-year exemption in the Federal 
Register, the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will provide a notice of its 
obligations under Section I(j) to each such ERISA-covered plan and IRA 
client. For all other prospective ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients 
for which a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or 
other discretionary services, the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will agree 
in writing to its obligations under this Section I(j) in an updated 
investment management agreement between the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM 
and such clients or other written contractual agreement.
    31. Notice Requirements. The proposed exemption contains extensive 
notice requirements, some of which extend not only to ERISA-covered 
plan and IRA clients of Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs, but which also go 
to non-Plan clients of Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs. In this regard, the 
Department understands that many firms may promote their ``QPAM'' 
designation in order to earn asset management business, including from 
non-ERISA plans. Therefore, in order to fully inform any clients that 
may have retained Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs as asset managers because 
such Citigroup Affiliated QPAMs have represented themselves as able to 
rely on PTE 84-14, the Department has determined to condition exemptive 
relief upon the following notice requirements.
    Within fifteen (15) days of the publication of this proposed five-
year exemption in the Federal Register, each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM 
will provide a notice of the proposed five-year exemption, along with a 
separate summary describing the facts that led to the Conviction (the 
Summary), which have been submitted to the Department, and a 
prominently displayed statement (the Statement) that the Conviction 
results in the failure to meet a condition in PTE 84-14, to each 
sponsor of an ERISA-covered plan and each beneficial owner of an IRA 
for which a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or 
other discretionary services, or the sponsor of an investment fund in 
any case where a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM acts only as a sub-adviser 
to the investment fund in which such ERISA-covered plan and IRA 
invests. In the event that this proposed five-year exemption is 
granted, the Federal Register copy of the notice of final five-year 
exemption must be delivered to such clients within sixty (60) days of 
its publication in the Federal Register, and may be delivered 
electronically (including by an email that has a link to the 
exemption). Any prospective clients for which a Citigroup Affiliated 
QPAM provides asset management or other discretionary services must 
receive the proposed and final five-year exemptions with the Summary 
and the Statement prior to, or contemporaneously with, the client's 
receipt of a written asset management agreement from the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM.
    In addition, each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM will provide a Federal 
Register copy of the proposed five-year exemption, a Federal Register 
copy of the final five-year exemption; the Summary; and the Statement 
to each: (A) Current Non-Plan Client within four (4) months of the 
effective date, if any, of a final five-year exemption; and (B) Future 
Non-Plan Client prior to, or contemporaneously with, the client's 
receipt of a written asset management agreement from the Citigroup 
Affiliated QPAM. A ``Current Non-Plan Client'' is a client of a 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM that: Is neither an ERISA-covered plan nor an 
IRA; has assets managed by the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM after the 
effective date, if any, of a final five-year exemption; and has 
received a written representation (qualified or otherwise) from the 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM that such Citigroup Affiliated QPAM qualifies 
as a QPAM or qualifies for the relief provided by PTE 84-14. A ``Future 
Non-Plan Client'' is a client of a Citigroup Affiliated QPAM that is 
neither an ERISA-covered plan nor an IRA that has assets managed by the 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM after the effective date, if any, of a final 
five-year exemption, and has received a written representation 
(qualified or otherwise) from the Citigroup Affiliated QPAM that such 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM is a QPAM, or qualifies for the relief 
provided by PTE 84-14.
    32. This proposed five-year exemption also requires Citigroup to 
designate a senior compliance officer (the Compliance Officer) who will 
be responsible for compliance with the Policies and Training 
requirements described herein. The Compliance Officer will have several 
obligations that it must comply with, as described in Section I(m) 
above. These include conducting an annual review (the Annual Review) to 
determine the adequacy and effectiveness of the implementation of the 
Policies and Training; the preparation of a written report for each 
Annual Review (each, an Annual Report) that, among other things, 
summarizes his or her material activities during the preceding year; 
and sets forth any instance of noncompliance discovered during the 
preceding year, and any related corrective action. Each Annual Report 
must be provided to appropriate corporate officers of Citigroup and 
each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM to which such report relates; the head 
of compliance and the General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) 
of the relevant Citigroup Affiliated QPAM; and must be made 
unconditionally available to the independent auditor described above.
    33. Each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM must maintain records necessary 
to demonstrate that the conditions of this exemption have been met for 
six (6) years following the date of any transaction for which such 
Citigroup Affiliated QPAM relies upon the relief in the proposed five-
year exemption.
    34. The proposed five-year exemption mandates that, during the 
effective period of this five-year exemption, Citigroup must 
immediately disclose to the Department any Deferred Prosecution 
Agreement (a DPA) or Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) that Citigroup 
or an affiliate enters into with the Department of Justice, to the 
extent such DPA or NPA involved conduct described in Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 or section 411 of ERISA. In addition, Citigroup must 
immediately provide the Department any information requested by the 
Department, as permitted by law, regarding the agreement and/or the 
conduct and allegations that led to the agreement. The Department may, 
following its review of that information, require Citigroup or a party 
specified by the Department, to submit a new application for the 
continued availability of relief as a condition of continuing to rely 
on this exemption. In this regard, the QPAM (or other party submitting 
the application) will have the burden of justifying the relief sought 
in the application. If the Department denies the relief requested in 
that application, or does not grant such relief within twelve (12) 
months of the application, the relief described herein would be revoked 
as of the date of denial or as of the expiration of the twelve (12) 
month period, whichever date is earlier.
    35. Finally, each Citigroup Affiliated QPAM, in its agreements with 
ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients, or in other written disclosures 
provided to ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients, within sixty (60) days 
prior to the initial transaction upon which relief hereunder is relied, 
will clearly and prominently: Inform the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
client that the client has the right to obtain copies of the QPAM's 
written

[[Page 83427]]

Policies adopted in accordance with this five-year exemption.

Statutory Findings--Administratively Feasible

    36. The Applicant represents that the proposed exemption is 
administratively feasible because it does not require any monitoring by 
the Department. Furthermore, the requested five-year exemption does not 
require the Department's oversight because, as a condition of this 
proposed five-year exemption, neither Citigroup nor the Markets and 
Securities Services business of Citigroup will provide any fiduciary or 
QPAM services to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs.

Summary

    37. Given the revised and new conditions described above, the 
Department has tentatively determined that the relief sought by the 
Applicant satisfies the statutory requirements for a five-year 
exemption under section 408(a) of ERISA.

Notice to Interested Persons

    Notice of the proposed exemption will be provided to all interested 
persons within 15 days of the publication of the notice of proposed 
five-year exemption in the Federal Register. The notice will be 
provided to all interested persons in the manner described in Section 
I(k)(1) of this proposed five-year exemption and will contain the 
documents described therein and a supplemental statement, as required 
pursuant to 29 CFR 2570.43(a)(2). The supplemental statement will 
inform interested persons of their right to comment on and to request a 
hearing with respect to the pending exemption. All written comments 
and/or requests for a hearing must be received by the Department within 
forty five (45) days of the date of publication of this proposed 
exemption in the Federal Register. All comments will be made available 
to the public.
    Warning: If you submit a comment, EBSA recommends that you include 
your name and other contact information in the body of your comment, 
but DO NOT submit information that you consider to be confidential, or 
otherwise protected (such as a Social Security number or an unlisted 
phone number) or confidential business information that you do not want 
publicly disclosed. All comments may be posted on the Internet and can 
be retrieved by most Internet search engines.

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

Barclays Capital Inc. (BCI or the Applicant), Located in New York, New 
York

[Application No. D-11910]

Proposed Five Year Exemption

    The Department is considering granting a five-year exemption under 
the authority of section 408(a) of the Act (or ERISA) and section 
4975(c)(2) of the Code, and in accordance with the procedures set forth 
in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 
2011).\131\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \131\ For purposes of this proposed exemption, references to 
section 406 of the Act should be read to refer as well to the 
corresponding provisions of section 4975 of the Code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section I: Covered Transactions
    If the proposed five-year exemption is granted, certain asset 
managers with specified relationships to Barclays PLC (BPLC) (the 
Barclays Affiliated QPAMs and the Barclays Related QPAMs, as defined 
further in Sections II(a) and II(b), respectively) will not be 
precluded from relying on the exemptive relief provided by Prohibited 
Transaction Class Exemption 84-14 (PTE 84-14 or the QPAM 
Exemption),\132\ notwithstanding the judgment of conviction against 
BPLC (the Conviction), as defined in Section II(c)),\133\ for engaging 
in a conspiracy to: (1) Fix the price of, or (2) eliminate competition 
in the purchase or sale of the euro/U.S. dollar currency pair exchanged 
in the Foreign Exchange (FX) Spot Market, for a period of five years 
beginning on the date the exemption is granted, provided the following 
conditions are satisfied:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \132\ 49 FR 9494 (March 13, 1984), as corrected at 50 FR 41430 
(October 10, 1985), as amended at 70 FR 49305 (August 23, 2005), and 
as amended at 75 FR 38837 (July 6, 2010).
    \133\ Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 generally provides that 
``[n]either the QPAM nor any affiliate thereof . . . nor any owner . 
. . of a 5 percent or more interest in the QPAM is a person who 
within the 10 years immediately preceding the transaction has been 
either convicted or released from imprisonment, whichever is later, 
as a result of'' certain felonies including violation of the Sherman 
Antitrust Act, Title 15 United States Code, Section 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (a) Other than certain individuals who: Worked for a non-fiduciary 
business within BCI; had no responsibility for, and exercised no 
authority in connection with, the management of plan assets; and are no 
longer employed by BPLC, the Barclays Affiliated QPAMs and the Barclays 
Related QPAMs (including their officers, directors, agents other than 
BPLC, and employees of such QPAMs who had responsibility for, or 
exercised authority in connection with the management of plan assets) 
did not know of, did not have reason to know of, or participate in the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction (for purposes of 
this paragraph (a), ``participate in'' includes the knowing or tacit 
approval of the misconduct underlying the Conviction);
    (b) The Barclays Affiliated QPAMs and the Barclays Related QPAMs 
(including their officers, directors, agents other than BPLC, and 
employees of such Barclays QPAMs) did not receive direct compensation, 
or knowingly receive indirect compensation, in connection with the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction;
    (c) A Barclays Affiliated QPAM will not employ or knowingly engage 
any of the individuals that participated in the criminal conduct that 
is the subject of the Conviction (for purposes of this paragraph (c), 
``participated in'' includes the knowing or tacit approval of the 
misconduct underlying the Conviction);
    (d) A Barclays Affiliated QPAM will not use its authority or 
influence to direct an ``investment fund,'' (as defined in Section 
VI(b) of PTE 84-14) that is subject to ERISA or the Code and managed by 
such Barclays Affiliated QPAM to enter into any transaction with BPLC 
or BCI, or engage BPLC to provide any service to such investment fund, 
for a direct or indirect fee borne by such investment fund, regardless 
of whether such transaction or service may otherwise be within the 
scope of relief provided by an administrative or statutory exemption;
    (e) Any failure of a Barclays Affiliated QPAM or a Barclays Related 
QPAM to satisfy Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 arose solely from the 
Conviction;
    (f) A Barclays Affiliated QPAM or a Barclays Related QPAM did not 
exercise authority over the assets of any plan subject to Part 4 of 
Title I of ERISA (an ERISA-covered plan) or section 4975 of the Code 
(an IRA) in a manner that it knew or should have known would: Further 
the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction; or cause 
the Barclays Affiliated QPAM or the Barclays Related QPAM or its 
affiliates or related parties to directly or indirectly profit from the 
criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction;
    (g) BPLC and BCI will not provide discretionary asset management 
services to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, nor will otherwise act as a 
fiduciary with respect to ERISA-covered plan or IRA assets;

[[Page 83428]]

    (h)(1) Prior to a Barclays Affiliated QPAM's engagement by any 
ERISA-covered plan or IRA for discretionary asset management services, 
where the QPAM represents that it qualifies as a QPAM, the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM must develop, implement, maintain, and follow written 
policies and procedures (the Policies) requiring and reasonably 
designed to ensure that:
    (i) The asset management decisions of the Barclays Affiliated QPAM 
are conducted independently of the corporate management and business 
activities of BPLC and BCI;
    (ii) The Barclays Affiliated QPAM fully complies with ERISA's 
fiduciary duties and with ERISA and the Code's prohibited transaction 
provisions, and does not knowingly participate in any violation of 
these duties and provisions with respect to ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs;
    (iii) The Barclays Affiliated QPAM does not knowingly participate 
in any other person's violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to 
ERISA-covered plans and IRAs;
    (iv) Any filings or statements made by the Barclays Affiliated QPAM 
to regulators, including, but not limited to, the Department, the 
Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Pension 
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, 
are materially accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's 
knowledge at that time;
    (v) The Barclays Affiliated QPAM does not make material 
misrepresentations or omit material information in its communications 
with such regulators with respect to ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, or 
make material misrepresentations or omit material information in its 
communications with ERISA-covered plans and IRA clients;
    (vi) The Barclays Affiliated QPAM complies with the terms of this 
five-year exemption, if granted; and
    (vii) Any violation of, or failure to comply with, an item in 
subparagraphs (ii) through (vi), is corrected promptly upon discovery, 
and any such violation or compliance failure not promptly corrected is 
reported, upon the discovery of such failure to promptly correct, in 
writing, to appropriate corporate officers, the head of compliance, and 
the General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of the relevant 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM, the independent auditor responsible for 
reviewing compliance with the Policies, and an appropriate fiduciary of 
any affected ERISA-covered plan or IRA that is independent of BPLC; 
however, with respect to any ERISA-covered plan or IRA sponsored by an 
``affiliate'' (as defined in Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14) of BPLC or 
beneficially owned by an employee of BPLC or its affiliates, such 
fiduciary does not need to be independent of BPLC. A Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM will not be treated as having failed to develop, 
implement, maintain, or follow the Policies, provided that it corrects 
any instance of noncompliance promptly when discovered, or when it 
reasonably should have known of the noncompliance (whichever is 
earlier), and provided that it adheres to the reporting requirements 
set forth in this subparagraph (vii);
    (2) Prior to a Barclays Affiliated QPAM's engagement by any ERISA 
covered plan or IRA for discretionary asset management services, the 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM must develop and implement a program of 
training (the Training), conducted at least annually, for all relevant 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM asset/portfolio management, trading, legal, 
compliance, and internal audit personnel. The Training must:
    (i) Be set forth in the Policies and, at a minimum, cover the 
Policies, ERISA and Code compliance (including applicable fiduciary 
duties and the prohibited transaction provisions), ethical conduct, the 
consequences for not complying with the conditions of this five-year 
exemption, if granted (including any loss of exemptive relief provided 
herein), and prompt reporting of wrongdoing; and
    (ii) Be conducted by an independent professional who has been 
prudently selected and who has appropriate technical training and 
proficiency with ERISA and the Code;
    (i)(1) Each Barclays Affiliated QPAM submits to an audit conducted 
annually by an independent auditor, who has been prudently selected and 
who has appropriate technical training and proficiency with ERISA and 
the Code, to evaluate the adequacy of, and the Barclays Affiliated 
QPAM's compliance with, the Policies and Training described herein. The 
audit requirement must be incorporated in the Policies. Each annual 
audit must cover a consecutive twelve (12) month period starting with 
the twelve (12) month period that begins on the date that a Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM is first engaged by any ERISA-covered plan or IRA for 
discretionary asset management services reliant on PTE 84-14, and each 
annual audit must be completed no later than six (6) months after the 
period to which the audit applies;
    (2) To the extent necessary for the auditor, in its sole opinion, 
to complete its audit and comply with the conditions for relief 
described herein, and as permitted by law, each Barclays Affiliated 
QPAM and, if applicable, BPLC, will grant the auditor unconditional 
access to its business, including, but not limited to: Its computer 
systems; business records; transactional data; workplace locations; 
training materials; and personnel;
    (3) The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor 
to determine whether each Barclays Affiliated QPAM has developed, 
implemented, maintained, and followed the Policies in accordance with 
the conditions of this five-year exemption, if granted, and has 
developed and implemented the Training, as required herein;
    (4) The auditor's engagement must specifically require the auditor 
to test each Barclays Affiliated QPAM's operational compliance with the 
Policies and Training. In this regard, the auditor must test a sample 
of each QPAM's transactions involving ERISA-covered plans and IRAs 
sufficient in size and nature to afford the auditor a reasonable basis 
to determine the operational compliance with the Policies and Training;
    (5) For each audit, on or before the end of the relevant period 
described in Section I(i)(1) for completing the audit, the auditor must 
issue a written report (the Audit Report) to BPLC and the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM to which the audit applies that describes the 
procedures performed by the auditor during the course of its 
examination. The Audit Report must include the auditor's specific 
determinations regarding:
    (i) The adequacy of the Barclays Affiliated QPAM's Policies and 
Training; the Barclays Affiliated QPAM's compliance with the Policies 
and Training; the need, if any, to strengthen such Policies and 
Training; and any instance of the respective Barclays Affiliated QPAM's 
noncompliance with the written Policies and Training described in 
Section I(h) above. Any determination by the auditor regarding the 
adequacy of the Policies and Training and the auditor's recommendations 
(if any) with respect to strengthening the Policies and Training of the 
respective Barclays Affiliated QPAM must be promptly addressed by such 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM, and any action taken by such Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM to address such recommendations must be included in an 
addendum to the Audit Report (which addendum is completed prior to the 
certification described in Section I(i)(7) below). Any determination by 
the auditor that the respective Barclays Affiliated QPAM

[[Page 83429]]

has implemented, maintained, and followed sufficient Policies and 
Training must not be based solely or in substantial part on an absence 
of evidence indicating noncompliance. In this last regard, any finding 
that the Barclays Affiliated QPAM has complied with the requirements 
under this subsection must be based on evidence that demonstrates the 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM has actually implemented, maintained, and 
followed the Policies and Training required by this five-year 
exemption. Furthermore, the auditor must not rely on the Annual Report 
created by the compliance officer (the Compliance Officer) as described 
in Section I(m) below in lieu of independent determinations and testing 
performed by the auditor as required by Section I(i)(3) and (4) above; 
and
    (ii) The adequacy of the Annual Review described in Section I(m) 
and the resources provided to the Compliance Officer in connection with 
such Annual Review;
    (6) The auditor must notify the respective Barclays Affiliated QPAM 
of any instance of noncompliance identified by the auditor within five 
(5) business days after such noncompliance is identified by the 
auditor, regardless of whether the audit has been completed as of that 
date;
    (7) With respect to each Audit Report, the General Counsel or one 
of the three most senior executive officers of the Barclays Affiliated 
QPAM to which the Audit Report applies, must certify in writing, under 
penalty of perjury, that the officer has: reviewed the Audit Report and 
this exemption, if granted; addressed, corrected, or remedied any 
inadequacy identified in the Audit Report; and determined that the 
Policies and Training in effect at the time of signing are adequate to 
ensure compliance with the conditions of this proposed five-year 
exemption, if granted, and with the applicable provisions of ERISA and 
the Code;
    (8) The Risk Committee of BPLC's Board of Directors is provided a 
copy of each Audit Report; and a senior executive officer with a direct 
reporting line to the highest ranking legal compliance officer of BPLC 
must review the Audit Report for each Barclays Affiliated QPAM and must 
certify in writing, under penalty of perjury, that such officer has 
reviewed each Audit Report;
    (9) Each Barclays Affiliated QPAM provides its certified Audit 
Report by regular mail to: The Department's Office of Exemption 
Determinations (OED), 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Suite 400, 
Washington, DC 20210, or by private carrier to: 122 C Street NW., Suite 
400, Washington, DC 20001-2109, no later than 30 days following its 
completion. The Audit Report will be part of the public record 
regarding this five-year exemption, if granted. Furthermore, each 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM must make its Audit Report unconditionally 
available for examination by any duly authorized employee or 
representative of the Department, other relevant regulators, and any 
fiduciary of an ERISA-covered plan or IRA, the assets of which are 
managed by such Barclays Affiliated QPAM;
    (10) Each Barclays Affiliated QPAM and the auditor must submit to 
OED: (A) Any engagement agreement(s) entered into pursuant to the 
engagement of the auditor under this five-year exemption, if granted; 
and (B) any engagement agreement entered into with any other entity 
retained in connection with such QPAM's compliance with the Training or 
Policies conditions of this five-year exemption, if granted, no later 
than six (6) months after the Conviction Date (and one month after the 
execution of any agreement thereafter);
    (11) The auditor must provide OED, upon request, all of the 
workpapers created and utilized in the course of the audit, including, 
but not limited to: The audit plan; audit testing; identification of 
any instance of noncompliance by the relevant Barclays Affiliated QPAM; 
and an explanation of any corrective or remedial action taken by the 
applicable Barclays Affiliated QPAM; and
    (12) BPLC must notify the Department at least thirty (30) days 
prior to any substitution of an auditor, except that no such 
replacement will meet the requirements of this paragraph unless and 
until BPLC demonstrates to the Department's satisfaction that such new 
auditor is independent of BPLC, experienced in the matters that are the 
subject of the exemption, if granted, and capable of making the 
determinations required of this exemption, if granted;
    (j) Effective as of the effective date of this five-year exemption, 
if granted, with respect to any arrangement, agreement, or contract 
between a Barclays Affiliated QPAM and an ERISA-covered plan or IRA for 
which a Barclays Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services, each Barclays Affiliated QPAM agrees 
and warrants:
    (1) To comply with ERISA and the Code, as applicable with respect 
to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA, to refrain from engaging in 
prohibited transactions that are not otherwise exempt (and to promptly 
correct any inadvertent prohibited transactions); and to comply with 
the standards of prudence and loyalty set forth in section 404 of ERISA 
with respect to each such ERISA-covered plan and IRA;
    (2) To indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
for any damages resulting from a Barclays Affiliated QPAM's violation 
of applicable laws, a Barclays Affiliated QPAM's breach of contract, or 
any claim brought in connection with the failure of such Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM to qualify for the exemptive relief provided by PTE 84-
14 as a result of a violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 other than 
the Conviction;
    (3) Not to require (or otherwise cause) the ERISA covered plan or 
IRA to waive, limit, or qualify the liability of the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code or engaging in 
prohibited transactions;
    (4) Not to require the ERISA-covered plan or IRA (or sponsor of 
such ERISA-covered plan or beneficial owner of such IRA) to indemnify 
the Barclays Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or engaging in 
prohibited transactions, except for violations or prohibited 
transactions caused by an error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a 
plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan fiduciary who is 
independent of BPLC, and its affiliates;
    (5) Not to restrict the ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
to terminate or withdraw from its arrangement with the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM (including any investment in a separately managed 
account or pooled fund subject to ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with 
the exception of reasonable restrictions, appropriately disclosed in 
advance, that are specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment 
of all investors in a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or 
termination may have adverse consequences for all other investors as a 
result of an actual lack of liquidity of the underlying assets, 
provided that such restrictions are applied consistently and in like 
manner to all such investors;
    (6) Not to impose any fees, penalties, or charges for such 
termination or withdrawal with the exception of reasonable fees, 
appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to 
prevent generally recognized abusive investment practices or 
specifically designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in 
a pooled fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have 
adverse consequences for all other investors, provided that such fees 
are applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors;

[[Page 83430]]

    (7) Not to include exculpatory provisions disclaiming or otherwise 
limiting liability of the Barclays Affiliated QPAM for a violation of 
such agreement's terms, except for liability caused by an error, 
misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party 
hired by the plan fiduciary which is independent of BPLC; and
    (8) Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM must provide a notice of its obligations under 
this Section I(j) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA for which a 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services. For all other prospective ERISA-
covered plan and IRA clients for which a Barclays Affiliated QPAM 
provides asset management or other discretionary services, the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM will agree in writing to its obligations under this 
Section I(j) in an updated investment management agreement between the 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM and such clients or other written contractual 
agreement;
    (k) Notice to Future Covered Clients. Each BPLC affiliated asset 
manager provides each Future Covered Client with a Federal Register 
copy of the proposed five-year exemption, along with a separate summary 
describing the facts that led to the Conviction (the Summary), which 
have been submitted to the Department, and a prominently displayed 
statement that the Conviction resulted in a failure to meet a condition 
of PTE 84-14. The provision of these documents must occur prior to, or 
contemporaneously with, the client's receipt of a written asset 
management agreement from the BPLC affiliated asset manager. For 
purposes of this paragraph, a ``Future Covered Client'' means a client 
of the BPLC affiliated asset manager that, beginning after the date, if 
any, that a final exemption is published in the Federal Register, has 
assets managed by such asset manager, and has received a representation 
from the asset manager that the asset manager is a QPAM, or qualifies 
for the relief provided by PTE 84-14; \134\
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    \134\ The Applicant states that there are no pooled funds 
subject to ERISA or section 4975 of the Code with respect to which 
the QPAM cannot identify plan and IRA investors. However, the 
Applicant states that if, at the time of the publication of the 
proposed exemption there are such funds, the Applicant will send a 
copy of the notice of the proposed exemption to each distribution 
agent for such fund, requesting that such agent forward the Notice 
to Interested Persons to its clients.
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    (l) The Barclays QPAMs must comply with each condition of PTE 84-
14, as amended, with the sole exception of the violation of Section 
I(g) of PTE 84-14 that is attributable to the Conviction;
    (m)(1) BPLC designates a senior compliance officer (the Compliance 
Officer) who will be responsible for compliance with the Policies and 
Training requirements described herein. The Compliance Officer must 
conduct an annual review (the Annual Review) to determine the adequacy 
and effectiveness of the implementation of the Policies and Training. 
With respect to the Compliance Officer, the following conditions must 
be met:
    (i) The Compliance Officer must be a legal professional with 
extensive experience with, and knowledge of, the regulation of 
financial services and products, including under ERISA and the Code; 
and
    (ii) The Compliance Officer must have a direct reporting line to 
the highest-ranking corporate officer in charge of legal compliance 
that is independent of BPLC's other business lines;
    (2) With respect to each Annual Review, the following conditions 
must be met:
    (i) The Annual Review includes a review of: Any compliance matter 
related to the Policies or Training that was identified by, or reported 
to, the Compliance Officer or others within the compliance and risk 
control function (or its equivalent) during the previous year; any 
material change in the business activities of the Barclays Affiliated 
QPAMs; and any change to ERISA, the Code, or regulations related to 
fiduciary duties and the prohibited transaction provisions that may be 
applicable to the activities of the Barclays Affiliated QPAMs;
    (ii) The Compliance Officer prepares a written report for each 
Annual Review (each, an Annual Report) that (A) summarizes his or her 
material activities during the preceding year; (B) sets forth any 
instance of noncompliance discovered during the preceding year, and any 
related corrective action; (C) details any change to the Policies or 
Training to guard against any similar instance of noncompliance 
occurring again; and (D) makes recommendations, as necessary, for 
additional training, procedures, monitoring, or additional and/or 
changed processes or systems, and management's actions on such 
recommendations;
    (iii) In each Annual Report, the Compliance Officer must certify in 
writing that to his or her knowledge: (A) The report is accurate; (B) 
the Policies and Training are working in a manner which is reasonably 
designed to ensure that the Policies and Training requirements 
described herein are met; (C) any known instance of noncompliance 
during the preceding year and any related correction taken to date have 
been identified in the Annual Report; (D) the Barclays Affiliated QPAMs 
have complied with the Policies and Training in all respects, and/or 
corrected any instances of noncompliance in accordance with Section 
I(h) above; and (E) Barclays has provided the Compliance Officer with 
adequate resources, including, but not limited to, adequate staffing;
    (iv) Each Annual Report must be provided to appropriate corporate 
officers of BPLC and each Barclays Affiliated QPAM to which such report 
relates; the head of compliance and the General Counsel (or their 
functional equivalent) of the relevant Barclays Affiliated QPAM; and 
must be made unconditionally available to the independent auditor 
described in Section I(i) above;
    (v) Each Annual Review, including the Compliance Officer's written 
Annual Report, must be completed at least three (3) months in advance 
of the date on which each audit described in Section I(i) is scheduled 
to be completed;
    (n) Each Barclays Affiliated QPAM will maintain records necessary 
to demonstrate that the conditions of this exemption, if granted, have 
been met, for six (6) years following the date of any transaction for 
which such Barclays Affiliated QPAM relies upon the relief in the 
exemption, if granted;
    (o) During the effective period of this five-year exemption, if 
granted, BPLC: (1) Immediately discloses to the Department any Deferred 
Prosecution Agreement (a DPA) or a Non-Prosecution Agreement (an NPA) 
entered into by BPLC or any of its affiliates with the U.S. Department 
of Justice, in connection with conduct described in Section I(g) of PTE 
84-14 or section 411 of ERISA; and
    (2) Immediately provides the Department any information requested 
by the Department, as permitted by law, regarding the agreement and/or 
conduct and allegations that led to the agreement. After review of the 
information, the Department may require BPLC, its affiliates, or 
related parties, as specified by the Department, to submit a new 
application for the continued availability of relief as a condition of 
continuing to rely on this exemption. If the Department denies the 
relief requested in the new application, or does not grant such relief 
within twelve (12) months of application, the relief described herein 
is revoked as of the date of denial or as of the expiration of the 
twelve (12) month period, whichever date is earlier;
    (p) Each Barclays Affiliated QPAM, in its agreements with ERISA-
covered plan

[[Page 83431]]

and IRA clients, or in other written disclosures provided to ERISA-
covered plan and IRA clients, within 60 days prior to the initial 
transaction upon which relief hereunder is relied, and then at least 
once annually, will clearly and prominently: Inform the ERISA-covered 
plan and IRA client that the client has the right to obtain copies of 
the QPAM's written Policies adopted in accordance with this exemption, 
if granted; and
    (q) A Barclays Affiliated QPAM or a Barclays Related QPAM will not 
fail to meet the terms of this exemption, if granted, solely because a 
different Barclays Affiliated QPAM or a Barclays Related QPAM fails to 
satisfy a condition for relief described in Sections I(c), (d), (h), 
(i), (j), (k), (n) and (p).
Section II: Definitions
    (a) The term ``Barclays Affiliated QPAM'' means a ``qualified 
professional asset manager'' (as defined in Section VI(a) \135\ of PTE 
84-14) that relies on the relief provided by PTE 84-14 and with respect 
to which BPLC is a current or future ``affiliate'' (as defined in 
Section VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14). The term ``Barclays Affiliated QPAM'' 
excludes the parent entity, BPLC and BCI's Investment Bank division.
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    \135\ In general terms, a QPAM is an independent fiduciary that 
is a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or 
investment adviser that meets certain equity or net worth 
requirements and other licensure requirements and that has 
acknowledged in a written management agreement that it is a 
fiduciary with respect to each plan that has retained the QPAM.
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    (b) The term ``Barclays Related QPAM'' means any current or future 
``qualified professional asset manager'' (as defined in Section VI(a) 
of PTE 84-14) that relies on the relief provided by PTE 84-14, and with 
respect to which BPLC owns a direct or indirect five percent or more 
interest, but with respect to which BPLC is not an ``affiliate'' (as 
defined in Section VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14).
    (c) The term ``BPLC'' means Barclays PLC, the parent entity, and 
does not include any subsidiaries or other affiliates.
    (d) The terms ``ERISA-covered plan'' and ``IRA'' mean, 
respectively, a plan subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA and a plan 
subject to section 4975 of the Code.
    (e) The term ``Conviction'' means the judgment of conviction 
against BPLC in the United States District Court for the District of 
Connecticut (the Court), Case No. 3:15-cr-00077-SRU-1, for 
participating in a combination and conspiracy to fix, stabilize, 
maintain, increase or decrease the price of, and rig bids and offers 
for, euro/U.S. dollar currency pairs exchanged in the foreign currency 
exchange spot market by agreeing to eliminate competition in the 
purchase and sale of such currency pairs in the United States and 
elsewhere, in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 1.
    (f) The term ``Conviction Date'' means the date that a judgment of 
conviction against BCI is entered by the Court in connection with the 
Conviction.
    Effective Date: This proposed five-year exemption, if granted, will 
be effective beginning on the date of publication of such grant in the 
Federal Register and ending on the date that is five years thereafter. 
Should the Applicant wish to extend the effective period of exemptive 
relief provided by this proposed five-year exemption, the Applicant 
must submit another application for an exemption. In this regard, the 
Department expects that, in connection with such application, the 
Applicant should be prepared to demonstrate compliance with the 
conditions for this exemption and that the Barclays Affiliated QPAMs, 
and those who may be in a position to influence their policies, have 
maintained the high standard of integrity required by PTE 84-14.
    Department's Comment: Concurrently with this proposed five-year 
exemption, the Department is publishing a proposed one-year exemption 
for Barclays Affiliated QPAMs to continue to rely on PTE 84-14. That 
one-year exemption, if granted, is intended to allow the Department 
sufficient time, including a longer comment period, to determine 
whether to grant this five-year exemption. The proposed one-year 
exemption, if granted, is designed to protect ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs from the potential costs and losses, described below, that would 
be incurred if such Barclays Affiliated QPAMs were to suddenly lose 
their ability to rely on PTE 84-14 as of the Conviction date.
    The proposed five-year exemption, if granted, would provide relief 
from certain of the restrictions set forth in sections 406 and 407 of 
ERISA. No relief from a violation of any other law would be provided by 
this exemption, if granted, including any criminal conviction described 
herein.
    The Department cautions that the relief in this proposed five-year 
exemption, if granted, would terminate immediately if, among other 
things, an entity within the BPLC corporate structure is convicted of a 
crime described in Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 (other than the 
Conviction) during the effective period of the exemption. While such an 
entity could apply for a new exemption in that circumstance, the 
Department would not be obligated to grant the exemption. The terms of 
this proposed five-year exemption have been specifically designed to 
permit plans to terminate their relationships in an orderly and cost 
effective fashion in the event of an additional conviction or a 
determination that it is otherwise prudent for a plan to terminate its 
relationship with an entity covered by the proposed exemption.

Summary of Facts and Representations 136
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    \136\ The Summary of Facts and Representations is based on the 
Applicant's representations, unless indicated otherwise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Background

    1. BCI is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934, as amended, and was, until December 28, 2015, an 
investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 
1940, as amended. As a registered broker-dealer, BCI is regulated by 
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Financial Industry 
Regulatory Authority.
    BCI is incorporated in the State of Connecticut and headquartered 
in New York, with 18 U.S. branch offices. BCI is wholly-owned by 
Barclays Group US Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC, 
which, in turn, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BPLC, a non-operating 
holding company.
    Barclays Bank PLC wholly owns, indirectly, one bank subsidiary in 
the United States--Barclays Bank Delaware, a Delaware chartered 
commercial bank supervised and regulated by the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation, the Delaware Office of the State Bank 
Commissioner and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Barclays 
Bank Delaware does not manage ERISA plan or IRA assets currently, but 
may do so in the future.
    BPLC's asset management business, Barclays Wealth and Investment 
Management (BWIM), offers wealth management products and services for 
many types of clients, including individual and institutional clients. 
BWIM operates through over 20 offices worldwide. Prior to December 4, 
2015, BWIM functioned in the United States through BCI.
    On December 4, 2015, BCI consummated a sale of its U.S. operations 
of BWIM, including Barclays Wealth Trustees, to Stifel Financial Corp. 
As a result of the transaction, as of that date, neither BCI nor any of 
its affiliates continued to manage ERISA-covered plan or IRA assets. 
However,

[[Page 83432]]

BCI or its current or future affiliates could manage such assets in the 
future.
    2. On May 20, 2015, the Department of Justice filed a one-count 
criminal information (the Information) in the United States District 
Court for the District of Connecticut charging BPLC, an affiliate of 
BCI, with participating in a combination and a conspiracy to fix, 
stabilize, maintain, increase or decrease the price of, and rig bids 
and offers for, Euro/USD currency pairs exchanged in the foreign 
currency exchange spot market by agreeing to eliminate competition in 
the purchase and sale of such currency pairs in the United States and 
elsewhere, in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 1. For 
example, BPLC engaged in communications with other financial services 
firms in an electronic chat room limited to specific EUR/USD traders, 
each of whom was employed, at certain times, by one of the financial 
services firms engaged in the FX Spot Market.
    BPLC also participated in a conspiracy to decrease competition in 
the purchase and sale of the EUR/USD currency pair. BPLC and other 
financial services firms coordinated the trading of the EUR/USD 
currency pair in connection with certain benchmark currency ``fixes'' 
which occurred at specific times each trading day. In addition, BPLC 
and other financial services firms refrained from certain trading 
behavior, by withholding bids and offers, when another firm held an 
open risk position, so that the price of the currency traded would not 
move in a direction adverse to the firm with the open risk position.
    Also, on May 20, 2015, pursuant to a plea agreement (the Plea 
Agreement), BPLC entered a plea of guilty for the violation of Sherman 
Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 1. Under the Plea Agreement, BPLC pled guilty 
to the charge set out in the Information. The judgment of Conviction 
has not yet been entered.
    BPLC agreed to pay a criminal fine of $710 million to the 
Department of Justice, of which $650 million is attributable to the 
charge set out in the Information. The remaining $60 million is 
attributable to conduct covered by the non-prosecution agreement that 
BPLC entered into on June 26, 2012, with the Criminal Division, Fraud 
Section of the Department of Justice related to BPLC's submissions of 
benchmark interest rates, including the London InterBank Offered Rate 
(known as LIBOR). In addition, Barclays Bank PLC, a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of BPLC, entered into a settlement agreement with the U.K. 
Financial Conduct Authority to pay a monetary penalty of [pound]284.432 
million ($440.9 million).
    As part of the settlement, Barclays Bank PLC consented to the entry 
of an Order Instituting Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 6(c)(4)(A) and 
6(d) of the Commodity Exchange Act, Making Findings, and Imposing 
Remedial Sanctions by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) 
imposing a civil money penalty of $400 million (the CFTC Order). In 
addition, Barclays Bank PLC and its New York branch consented to the 
entry of an Order to Cease and Desist and Order of Assessment of a 
Civil Money Penalty Issued Upon Consent Pursuant to the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act, as Amended, by the Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System (the Federal Reserve) imposing a civil money penalty of 
$342 million (the Board Order). Barclays Bank PLC and its New York 
branch also consented to the entry of a Consent Order under New York 
Bank Law 44 and 44-a by the New York Department of Financial Services 
(DFS) imposing a civil money penalty of $485 million \137\ (the DFS 
Order and, together with the Plea Agreement, the CFTC Order and the 
Board Order, the FX Settlements).
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    \137\ On November 17, 2015, Barclays Bank PLC (BBPLC) announced 
that it had reached a subsequent settlement with DFS in respect of 
its investigation into BBPLC's electronic trading of FX and FX 
electronic trading system, that it had agreed to pay a civil money 
penalty of $150 million and that BBPLC would take certain remedial 
steps, including submission of a proposed remediation plan 
concerning the underlying conduct to the independent consultant who 
was initially installed pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding 
entered between BBPLC and DFS, and whose engagement terminated 
February 19, 2016.
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Failure To Comply With Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 and Proposed Relief

    3. PTE 84-14 is a class exemption that permits certain transactions 
between a party in interest with respect to an employee benefit plan 
and an investment fund in which the plan has an interest and which is 
managed by a ``qualified professional asset manager'' (QPAM), if the 
conditions of the exemption are satisfied. These conditions include 
Section I(g), which precludes a person who may otherwise meet the 
definition of a QPAM from relying on the relief provided by PTE 84-14 
if that person or its ``affiliate'' \138\ has, within 10 years 
immediately preceding the transaction, been either convicted or 
released from imprisonment, whichever is later, as a result of certain 
specified criminal activity described therein.\139\ The Department 
notes that a QPAM, and those who may be in a position to influence its 
policies, are expected to maintain a high standard of integrity.
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    \138\ Section VI(d) of PTE 84-14 defines the term ``affiliate'' 
for purposes of Section I(g) as ``(1) Any person directly or 
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling, 
controlled by, or under common control with the person, (2) Any 
director of, relative of, or partner in, any such person, (3) Any 
corporation, partnership, trust or unincorporated enterprise of 
which such person is an officer, director, or a 5 percent or more 
partner or owner, and (4) Any employee or officer of the person 
who--(A) Is a highly compensated employee (as defined in Section 
4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) or officer (earning 10 percent or more of 
the yearly wages of such person), or (B) Has direct or indirect 
authority, responsibility or control regarding the custody, 
management or disposition of plan assets.''
    \139\ For purposes of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14, a person shall 
be deemed to have been ``convicted'' from the date of the judgment 
of the trial court, regardless of whether that judgment stands on 
appeal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. The Applicant represents that BPLC is currently affiliated 
(within the meaning of Part VI(d) of PTE 84-14) with only two entities 
that could meet the definition of ``QPAM'' in Part VI(a) of PTE 84-14, 
namely Barclays Bank Delaware and Barclays Bank PLC, New York Branch, 
both of which are subject to its control (within the meaning of Part 
VI(d)(1) of PTE 84-14). The Applicant states that BPLC or a subsidiary 
may, in the future, invest in non-controlled, minimally related QPAMs 
that could constitute Barclays Related QPAMs, as defined in the 
proposed exemption.\140\ The Applicant states that it may acquire a new 
affiliate at any time, and creates new affiliates frequently, in either 
case that could constitute Barclays Affiliated QPAMs or Barclays 
Related QPAMs, as defined in the proposed exemption. To the extent that 
these new affiliates manage ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, these future 
affiliates would also be covered by the exemption, if granted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \140\ For example, the Applicant states that BPLC may provide 
seed investments for new managers in exchange for minority 
interests. However, the Applicant points out that these managers, 
which had nothing to do with the conduct underlying the Conviction, 
would be unable to rely on PTE 84-14 for the benefit of their plan 
clients absent such relief.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remedial Actions To Address the Misconduct of BPLC--Pursuant to the 
Plea Agreement

    5. The Applicant states that the Department of Justice and BPLC 
negotiated a settlement reflected in the Plea Agreement, in which BPLC 
agreed to lawfully undertake the following pursuant to the Plea 
Agreement:
    (a) Pay a total monetary penalty in the amount of $710 million;
    (b) Not commit another crime under U.S. federal law or engage in 
the conduct that gave rise to the Plea Agreement, during a probation 
term of three years;
    (c) Notify the probation officer upon learning of the commencement 
of any

[[Page 83433]]

federal criminal investigation in which BPLC is a target, or federal 
criminal prosecution against it;
    (d) Prominently post and maintain on its Web site and, within 30 
days after pleading guilty, make best efforts to send spot FX customers 
and counterparties (other than customers and counterparties who BPLC 
can establish solely engaged in buying or selling foreign currency 
through its consumer bank units and not its spot FX sales or trading 
staff) a retrospective disclosure notice regarding certain historical 
conduct involving FX Spot Market transactions with customers via 
telephone, email and/or electronic chat, during the probation term;
    (e) Implement a compliance program designed to prevent and detect 
the conduct underlying the Plea Agreement throughout its operations 
including those of its affiliates and subsidiaries and provide an 
annual progress report to the Department of Justice and the probation 
officer;
    (f) Further strengthen its compliance and internal controls as 
required by the CFTC and the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority and any 
other regulatory or enforcement agencies that have addressed the 
conduct underlying the Plea Agreement, which shall include, but not be 
limited to, a thorough review of the activities and decision-making by 
employees of BPLC's legal and compliance functions with respect to the 
historical conduct underlying he Plea Agreement, and promptly report to 
the Department of Justice and the probation officer all of its 
remediation efforts required by these agencies, as well as remediation 
and implementation of any compliance program and internal controls, 
policies and procedures related to the misconduct underlying he Plea 
Agreement;
    (g) Report to the Department of Justice all credible information 
regarding criminal violations of U.S. antitrust laws and of U.S. law 
concerning fraud, including securities or commodities fraud, by BPLC or 
any of its employees, as to which BPLC's Board of Directors, management 
(that is, all supervisors within the bank), or legal and compliance 
personnel are aware;
    (h) Bring to the Antitrust Division's attention all federal 
criminal investigations in which BPLC is identified as a subject or a 
target, and all administrative or regulatory proceedings or civil 
actions brought by any federal or state governmental authority in the 
United States against BPLC or its employees, to the extent that such 
investigations, proceedings or actions allege facts that could form the 
basis of a criminal violation of U.S. antitrust laws, and also bring to 
the Criminal Division, Fraud Section's attention all federal criminal 
or regulatory investigations in which BPLC is identified as a subject 
or a target, and all administrative or regulatory proceedings or civil 
actions brought by any federal governmental authority in the United 
States against BPLC or its employees, to the extent that such 
investigations, proceedings or actions allege violation of U.S. law 
concerning fraud, including securities or commodities fraud;
    (i) Cooperate fully and truthfully (along with certain related 
entities in which it had, indirectly or directly, a greater than 50% 
ownership interest as of the date of the Plea Agreement) with the 
Department of Justice in its investigation and prosecution of the 
conduct underlying the Plea Agreement, or any other currency pair in 
the FX Spot Market, or any foreign exchange forward, foreign exchange 
option or other foreign exchange derivative, or other financial 
product, to the extent such other financial product has been disclosed 
to the Department of Justice (excluding a certain sealed 
investigation). This would include producing non-privileged non-
protected materials, wherever located; using its best efforts to secure 
continuing cooperation of the current or former directors, officers and 
employees of BPLC and its Related Entities; and identifying witnesses 
who, to BPLC's knowledge, may have material information regarding the 
matters under investigation;
    (j) Cooperate fully with the Department of Justice and any other 
law enforcement authority or government agency designated by the 
Department of Justice, in a manner consistent with applicable law and 
regulations, with regard to a certain sealed investigation; and
    (k) Expeditiously seek relief from the Department by filing an 
application for the QPAM Exemption and will provide all information 
requested by the Department in a timely manner.

Remedial Actions To Address the Misconduct of BPLC--Structural 
Enhancements

    6. The Applicant represents that BPLC and its subsidiaries and 
affiliates, including Barclays Bank PLC and its New York branch 
(collectively, the Bank) have implemented and will continue to 
implement policies and procedures designed to prevent the recurrence of 
the conduct that is the subject of the FX Settlements as required by 
the Plea Agreement. The Applicant states that the Bank's efforts in 
this regard are recognized in the Plea Agreement itself, which 
acknowledges ``the substantial improvements to [BPLC's] compliance and 
remediation program to prevent recurrence of the charged offense.''
    The Applicant states that the Bank's efforts in this regard also 
have been recognized by the CFTC, the Federal Reserve, the DFS and the 
U.K. Financial Conduct Authority. For example, the Applicant states 
that the Board Order notes that the Bank recently completed a number of 
initiatives aimed at strengthening its governance and controls 
framework to control and monitor risk in the FX business, and that the 
Federal Reserve Bank of New York concluded that the current design of 
the Bank's FX governance and controls framework is generally sound. The 
Applicant further states that the DFS Order notes that the Bank has 
implemented remedial measures to address the conduct identified in the 
Order.
    The Applicant also states that the U.K. Financial Conduct 
Authority, in its settlement agreement, also acknowledges that the Bank 
has undertaken and is continuing to undertake remedial action and 
recognizes that the Bank has committed significant resources to 
improving the business practices and associated controls relating to 
its FX operations.
    The Applicant states that the CFTC Order notes the Bank's review of 
its business practices and systems and controls, which included 
remedial efforts across the Bank at the Group, Compliance and Front 
Office levels. The Applicant represents that at the Group level, an 
independent review of the Bank's business practices was conducted, 
which, among other things, led to the introduction of a new code of 
conduct which sets out the ethical and professional behaviors expected 
of employees. The Applicant states that at the Group level and with 
respect to its investment banking operations, the Bank has undertaken 
significant work to strengthen the role of Compliance. The Applicant 
represents that the work has included increasing Compliance's 
visibility on board and management committees, developing a process and 
reporting framework to support monitoring and verification activity 
undertaken by Compliance, holding standardized and structured monthly 
business line meetings between Compliance and the Global Head of the 
business they cover, formalizing a breach review process to ensure 
consistent and effective treatment of Compliance policy breaches, 
enhancing and transitioning to a centralized model for trade 
surveillance and e-

[[Page 83434]]

communications surveillance, and increasing Compliance's budget for 
staff and training.

Remedial Actions To Address the Misconduct of BPLC--Additional 
Structural Enhancements

    7. The Applicant states that the Bank has made substantial 
investments in the independent, external review of its governance, 
operational model, and risk and control programs, conducted by Sir 
Anthony Salz, including interviews of more than 600 employees, clients, 
and competitors, as well as consideration of more than 9,000 responses 
to an internal staff survey.
    The Applicant represents that the Bank has taken steps to clearly 
articulate its policies and values and disseminate that information 
firm-wide through trainings.
    The Applicant states that the Bank continues to develop a strong 
institutionalized framework of supervision and accountability running 
from the desk level to the top of the organization. For example, the 
Applicant states that Barclays established in 2013 a dedicated Board-
level committee, the Board Conduct, Operational and Reputation Risk 
Committee, that is responsible for ensuring, on behalf of the Board, 
the efficiency of the processes for identification and management of 
conduct risk, reputation risk and operational risk. This committee 
reports to the BPLC's Board of Directors. In addition, the Applicant 
states that the Bank has established numerous business-specific 
committees--comprising senior business personnel and regional 
executives, among others--that are responsible for considering the 
principal risks as they relate to the associated businesses. The 
Applicant represents that each of these committees meets on a quarterly 
basis, and all report up to the Board Conduct, Operational and 
Reputation Risk Committee.
    The Applicant represents that the Bank continues to institute an 
enhanced global compliance and controls system, supported by 
substantial financial and human resources, and charged with enforcing 
and continually monitoring adherence to BPLC's policies. The Applicant 
states that Junior Compliance employees receive approximately 600 hours 
of Compliance-related training over a two-year period. The Applicant 
states that more senior Compliance personnel receive additional 
training.

Statutory Findings--Protective of the Rights of Participants of 
Affected Plans and IRAs

    8. The Applicant has proposed certain conditions it believes are 
protective of participants and beneficiaries of ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs with respect to the transactions described herein. The Department 
has determined that it is necessary to modify and supplement the 
conditions before it can tentatively determine that the requested 
exemption meets the statutory requirements of section 408(a) of ERISA. 
In this regard, the Department has tentatively determined that the 
following conditions adequately protect the rights of participants and 
beneficiaries of affected plans and IRAs with respect to the 
transactions that would be covered by this proposed five-year 
exemption, if granted.
    The five-year exemption, if granted, as proposed, is only available 
to the extent that, (a) other than certain individuals who: (i) Worked 
for a non-fiduciary business within BCI; (ii) had no responsibility 
for, and exercised no authority in connection with, the management of 
plan assets; and (iii) are no longer employed by BPLC, the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAMs and the Barclays Related QPAMs (including their 
officers, directors, agents other than BPLC, and employees of such 
QPAMs who had responsibility for, or exercised authority in connection 
with the management of plan assets) did not know of, did not have 
reason to know of, or participate in the criminal conduct of BPLC that 
is the subject of the Conviction (for purposes of this requirement, the 
term ``participate in'' includes the knowing or tacit approval of the 
misconduct underlying the Conviction); (b) any failure of the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM or a Barclays Related QPAM to satisfy Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 arose solely from the Conviction; and (c) the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAMs and (including their officers, directors, agents other 
than BPLC, and employees of such Barclays QPAMs) did not receive direct 
compensation, or knowingly receive indirect compensation, in connection 
with the criminal conduct that is the subject of the Conviction.
    9. The Department expects the Barclays Affiliated QPAMs will 
rigorously ensure that the individuals associated with the misconduct 
will not be employed or knowingly engaged by such QPAMs. In this 
regard, the five-year exemption, if granted, mandates that the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAMs will not employ or knowingly engage any of the 
individuals that participated in the FX manipulation that is the 
subject of the Conviction. For purposes of this condition, the term 
``participated in'' includes an individual's knowing or tacit approval 
of the behavior that is the subject of the Conviction.
    10. Further, a Barclays Affiliated QPAM will not use its authority 
or influence to direct an ``investment fund,'' (as defined in Section 
VI(b) of PTE 84-14) that is subject to ERISA or the Code and managed by 
such Barclays Affiliated QPAM to enter into any transaction with BPLC 
or BCI or engage BPLC or BCI to provide any service to such investment 
fund, for a direct or indirect fee borne by such investment fund, 
regardless of whether such transaction or service may otherwise be 
within the scope of relief provided by an administrative or statutory 
exemption.
    11. The Barclays Affiliated QPAMs and the Barclays Related QPAMs 
must comply with each condition of PTE 84-14, as amended, with the sole 
exception of the violation of Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 that is 
attributable to the Conviction. Further, any failure of a Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM or a Barclays Related QPAM to satisfy Section I(g) of 
PTE 84-14 arose solely from the Conviction.
    No relief will be provided by this five-year exemption, if granted, 
if a Barclays Affiliated QPAM or a Barclays Related QPAM exercised 
authority over the assets of an ERISA-covered plan or an IRA in a 
manner that it knew or should have known would: Further the criminal 
conduct that is the subject of the Conviction; or cause the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM or the Barclays Related QPAM, or its affiliates or 
related parties to directly or indirectly profit from the criminal 
conduct that is the subject of the Conviction. Also, no relief will be 
provided by this five-year exemption, if granted, to the extent BPLC or 
BCI provides any discretionary asset management services to ERISA-
covered plans or IRAs, or otherwise acts as a fiduciary with respect to 
ERISA-covered plan or IRA assets.
    12. The Department believes that robust policies and training are 
warranted where, as here, the criminal misconduct has occurred within a 
corporate organization that is affiliated with one or more QPAMs 
managing plan or IRA assets. Therefore, this proposed five-year 
exemption, if granted, requires that prior to a Barclays Affiliated 
QPAM's engagement by any ERISA-covered plan or IRA for discretionary 
asset management services, where the QPAM represents that it qualifies 
as a QPAM, the Barclays Affiliated QPAM must develop,

[[Page 83435]]

implement, maintain, and follow written policies and procedures (the 
Policies) requiring and reasonably designed to ensure that: The asset 
management decisions of the Barclays Affiliated QPAM are conducted 
independently of the corporate management and business activities of 
BPLC, including the management and business activities of BCI; the 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM fully complies with ERISA's fiduciary duties 
and with ERISA and the Code's prohibited transaction provisions, and 
does not knowingly participate in any violation of these duties and 
provisions with respect to ERISA-covered plans and IRAs; the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM does not knowingly participate in any other person's 
violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to ERISA-covered plans and 
IRAs; any filings or statements made by the Barclays Affiliated QPAM to 
regulators, including, but not limited to, the Department of Labor, the 
Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Pension 
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, on behalf of ERISA-covered plans or IRAs, 
are materially accurate and complete, to the best of such QPAM's 
knowledge at that time; the Barclays Affiliated QPAM does not make 
material misrepresentations or omit material information in its 
communications with such regulators with respect to ERISA-covered plans 
or IRAs, or make material misrepresentations or omit material 
information in its communications with ERISA-covered plan and IRA 
clients; and the Barclays Affiliated QPAM complies with the terms of 
this five-year exemption, if granted.
    13. Any violation of, or failure to comply with, these Policies 
must be corrected promptly upon discovery, and any such violation or 
compliance failure not promptly corrected is reported, upon discovering 
the failure to promptly correct, in writing, to appropriate corporate 
officers, the head of compliance, and the General Counsel (or their 
functional equivalent) of the relevant Barclays Affiliated QPAM, the 
independent auditor responsible for reviewing compliance with the 
Policies, and an appropriate fiduciary of any affected ERISA-covered 
plan or IRA, which fiduciary is independent of BPLC. A Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM will not be treated as having failed to develop, 
implement, maintain, or follow the Policies, provided that it corrects 
any instance of noncompliance promptly when discovered, or when it 
reasonably should have known of the noncompliance (whichever is 
earlier), and provided that it reports such instance of noncompliance 
as explained above.
    14. The Department has also imposed a condition that requires each 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM, prior to its engagement by any ERISA covered 
plan or IRA, to develop and implement a Training program, conducted at 
least annually, for all relevant Barclays Affiliated QPAM asset/
portfolio management, trading, legal, compliance, and internal audit 
personnel. The Training must be set forth in the Policies and, at a 
minimum, cover the Policies, ERISA and Code compliance (including 
applicable fiduciary duties and the prohibited transaction provisions), 
ethical conduct, the consequences for not complying with the conditions 
of this five-year exemption, if granted, (including any loss of 
exemptive relief provided herein), and prompt reporting of wrongdoing. 
Further, the Training must be conducted by an independent professional 
who has been prudently selected and who has appropriate technical 
training and proficiency with ERISA and the Code.
    15. Independent Transparent Audit. The Department views a rigorous 
and transparent audit that is conducted annually by an independent 
party, as essential to ensuring that the conditions for exemptive 
relief described herein are followed by the Barclays Affiliated QPAMs. 
Therefore, Section I(i) of this proposed five-year exemption, if 
granted, requires that each Barclays Affiliated QPAM submits to an 
audit, conducted annually by an independent auditor, who has been 
prudently selected and who has appropriate technical training and 
proficiency with ERISA and the Code, to evaluate the adequacy of, and 
the Barclays Affiliated QPAM's compliance with, the Policies and 
Training described herein. The audit requirement must be incorporated 
in the Policies. In addition, each annual audit must cover a 
consecutive twelve (12) month period starting with the twelve (12) 
month period that begins on the date that a Barclays Affiliated QPAM is 
first engaged by any ERISA-covered plan or IRA for discretionary asset 
management services reliant on PTE 84-14 and each annual audit must be 
completed no later than six (6) months after the period to which the 
audit applies.
    16. Among other things, the audit condition requires that, to the 
extent necessary for the auditor, in its sole opinion, to complete its 
audit and comply with the conditions for relief described herein, and 
as permitted by law, each Barclays Affiliated QPAM and, if applicable, 
BPLC, will grant the auditor unconditional access to its business, 
including, but not limited to: Its computer systems, business records, 
transactional data, workplace locations, training materials, and 
personnel.
    In addition, the auditor's engagement must specifically require the 
auditor to determine whether each Barclays Affiliated QPAM has complied 
with the Policies and Training conditions described herein, and must 
further require the auditor to test each Barclays Affiliated QPAM's 
operational compliance with the Policies and Training. The auditor must 
issue a written report (the Audit Report) to BPLC and the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM to which the audit applies that describes the 
procedures performed by the auditor during the course of its 
examination. The Audit Report must include the auditor's specific 
determinations regarding: The adequacy of the Barclays Affiliated 
QPAM's Policies and Training; the Barclays Affiliated QPAM's compliance 
with the Policies and Training; the need, if any, to strengthen such 
Policies and Training; and any instance of the respective Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM's noncompliance with the written Policies and Training.
    17. Any determination by the auditor regarding the adequacy of the 
Policies and Training and the auditor's recommendations (if any) with 
respect to strengthening the Policies and Training of the respective 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM must be promptly addressed by such Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM, and any action taken by such Barclays Affiliated QPAM 
to address such recommendations must be included in an addendum to the 
Audit Report. Further, any determination by the auditor that the 
respective Barclays Affiliated QPAM has implemented, maintained, and 
followed sufficient Policies and Training must not be based solely or 
in substantial part on an absence of evidence indicating noncompliance. 
In this last regard, any finding that the Barclays Affiliated QPAM has 
complied with the requirements, as described above, must be based on 
evidence that demonstrates the Barclays Affiliated QPAM has actually 
implemented, maintained, and followed the Policies and Training 
required by this five-year exemption. Finally, the Audit Report must 
address the adequacy of the Annual Review required under this exemption 
and the resources provided to the Compliance Officer in connection with 
such Annual Review. Moreover, the auditor must notify the respective 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM of any instance of

[[Page 83436]]

noncompliance identified by the auditor within five (5) business days 
after such noncompliance is identified by the auditor, regardless of 
whether the audit has been completed as of that date.
    18. This exemption, if granted, requires that certain senior 
personnel of BPLC review the Audit Report and make certain 
certifications and take various corrective actions. In this regard, the 
General Counsel or one of the three most senior executive officers of 
the Barclays Affiliated QPAM to which the Audit Report applies, must 
certify, in writing, under penalty of perjury, that the officer has 
reviewed the Audit Report and this five-year exemption, if granted; 
addressed, corrected, or remedied an inadequacy identified in the Audit 
Report; and determined that the Policies and Training in effect at the 
time of signing are adequate to ensure compliance with the conditions 
of this proposed five-year exemption, if granted, and with the 
applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code. The Risk Committee of 
BPLC's Board of Directors is provided a copy of each Audit Report; and 
a senior executive officer with a direct reporting line to the highest 
ranking legal compliance officer of BPLC must review the Audit Report 
for each Barclays Affiliated QPAM and must certify in writing, under 
penalty of perjury, that such officer has reviewed each Audit Report.
    19. In order to create a more transparent record in the event that 
the proposed relief is granted, each Barclays Affiliated QPAM must 
provide its certified Audit Report to the Department no later than 
thirty (30) days following its completion. The Audit Report will be 
part of the public record regarding this five-year exemption, if 
granted. Further, each Barclays Affiliated QPAM must make its Audit 
Report unconditionally available for examination by any duly authorized 
employee or representative of the Department, other relevant 
regulators, and any fiduciary of an ERISA-covered plan or IRA, the 
assets of which are managed by such Barclays Affiliated QPAM. 
Additionally, each Barclays Affiliated QPAM and the auditor must submit 
to the Department any engagement agreement(s) entered into pursuant to 
the engagement of the auditor under this five-year exemption, if 
granted. Also, they must submit to the Department any engagement 
agreement entered into with any other entity retained in connection 
with such QPAM's compliance with the Training or Policies conditions of 
this proposed five-year exemption, if granted, no later than six (6) 
months after the Barclays Affiliated QPAM is first engaged by any ERISA 
covered plan or IRA for discretionary asset management services reliant 
on PTE 84-14 (and one month after the execution of any agreement 
thereafter).
    Finally, if the exemption is granted, the auditor must provide the 
Department, upon request, all of the workpapers created and utilized in 
the course of the audit, including, but not limited to: The audit plan; 
audit testing; identification of any instance of noncompliance by the 
relevant Barclays Affiliated QPAM; and an explanation of any corrective 
or remedial action taken by the applicable Barclays Affiliated QPAM.
    In order to enhance oversight of the compliance with the exemption, 
if granted, BPLC must notify the Department at least thirty (30) days 
prior to any substitution of an auditor, and BPLC must demonstrate to 
the Department's satisfaction that any new auditor is independent of 
BPLC, experienced in the matters that are the subject of the exemption, 
if granted, and capable of making the determinations required of this 
five-year exemption, if granted.
    20. Contractual Obligations. This five-year exemption, if granted, 
requires the Barclays Affiliated QPAMs to enter into certain 
contractual obligations in connection with the provision of services to 
their clients. It is the Department's view that the condition in 
Section I(j) is essential to the Department's ability to make its 
findings that the proposed five-year exemption is protective of the 
rights of the participants and beneficiaries of ERISA-covered and IRA 
plan clients of Barclays Affiliated QPAMs under section 408(a) of 
ERISA. In this regard, effective as of the effective date of this five-
year exemption, if granted, with respect to any arrangement, agreement, 
or contract between a Barclays Affiliated QPAM and an ERISA-covered 
plan or IRA for which a Barclays Affiliated QPAM provides asset 
management or other discretionary fiduciary services, each Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM must agree: (a) To comply with ERISA and the Code, as 
applicable, with respect to such ERISA-covered plan or IRA, and to 
refrain from engaging in prohibited transactions that are not otherwise 
exempt (and to promptly correct any inadvertent prohibited 
transactions), and to comply with the standards of prudence and loyalty 
set forth in section 404 of ERISA with respect to each such ERISA-
covered plan and IRA; (b) to indemnify and hold harmless the ERISA-
covered plan or IRA for any damages resulting from a violation of 
applicable laws, a breach of contract, or any claim arising out of the 
failure of such Barclays Affiliated QPAM to qualify for the exemptive 
relief provided by PTE 84-14 as a result of a violation of Section I(g) 
of PTE 84-14 other than the Conviction; (c) not to require (or 
otherwise cause) the ERISA-covered plan or IRA to waive, limit, or 
qualify the liability of the Barclays Affiliated QPAM for violating 
ERISA or the Code or engaging in prohibited transactions; (d) not to 
require the ERISA-covered plan or IRA (or sponsor of such ERISA-covered 
plan or beneficial owner of such IRA) to indemnify the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM for violating ERISA or the Code, or engaging in 
prohibited transactions, except for a violation or a prohibited 
transaction caused by an error, misrepresentation, or misconduct of a 
plan fiduciary or other party hired by the plan fiduciary which is 
independent of BPLC, and its affiliates; (e) not to restrict the 
ability of such ERISA-covered plan or IRA to terminate or withdraw from 
its arrangement with the Barclays Affiliated QPAM (including any 
investment in a separately managed account or pooled fund subject to 
ERISA and managed by such QPAM), with the exception of reasonable 
restrictions, appropriately disclosed in advance, that are specifically 
designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in a pooled 
fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have adverse 
consequences for all other investors as a result of the actual lack of 
liquidity of the underlying assets, provided that such restrictions are 
applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors; and (f) 
not to impose any fees, penalties, or charges for such termination or 
withdrawal with the exception of reasonable fees, appropriately 
disclosed in advance, that are specifically designed to prevent 
generally recognized abusive investment practice, or specifically 
designed to ensure equitable treatment of all investors in a pooled 
fund in the event such withdrawal or termination may have adverse 
consequences for all other investors, provided that such fees are 
applied consistently and in like manner to all such investors. 
Furthermore, any contract, agreement or arrangement between a Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM and its ERISA-covered plan or IRA client must not 
contain exculpatory provisions disclaiming or otherwise limiting 
liability of the Barclays Affiliated QPAM for a violation of such 
agreement's terms, except for liability caused by error, 
misrepresentation, or misconduct of a plan fiduciary or other party 
hired by the plan fiduciary which

[[Page 83437]]

is independent of BPLC and its affiliates.
    21. Within four (4) months of the date of the Conviction, each 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM must provide a notice of its obligations under 
this Section I(j) to each ERISA-covered plan and IRA for which a 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM provides asset management or other 
discretionary fiduciary services. For all other prospective ERISA-
covered plan and IRA clients for which a Barclays Affiliated QPAM 
provides asset management or other discretionary services, the Barclays 
Affiliated QPAM will agree in writing to its obligations under this 
Section I(j) in an updated investment management agreement between the 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM and such clients or other written contractual 
agreement. In no event may any of these obligations be waived, 
qualified, or limited by any other agreement, side letter, or 
investment term.
    22. Notice Requirements. The proposed exemption contains extensive 
notice requirements, some of which extend not only to ERISA-covered 
plan and IRA clients of Barclays Affiliated QPAMs, but which also go to 
non-Plan clients of Barclays Affiliated QPAMs. In this regard, the 
Department understands that many firms may promote their ``QPAM'' 
designation in order to earn asset management business, including from 
non-ERISA plans. Therefore, each BPLC affiliated asset manager will 
provide each Future Covered Client with a Federal Register copy of the 
proposed five-year exemption, along with a separate summary describing 
the facts that led to the Conviction (the Summary), which have been 
submitted to the Department, and a prominently displayed statement that 
the Conviction resulted in a failure to meet a condition of PTE 84-14. 
The provision of these documents must occur prior to, or 
contemporaneously with, the client's receipt of a written asset 
management agreement from the BPLC affiliated asset manager. For 
purposes of this paragraph, a ``Future Covered Client'' means a client 
of the BPLC affiliated asset manager that, beginning after the date, if 
any, that a final exemption is published in the Federal Register, has 
assets managed by such asset manager, and has received a representation 
from the asset manager that the asset manager is a QPAM, or qualifies 
for the relief provided by PTE 84-14.
    23. This proposed five-year exemption, if granted, also requires 
BPLC to designate a senior compliance officer (the Compliance Officer) 
who will be responsible for compliance with the Policies and Training 
requirements described herein. The Compliance Officer will have several 
obligations that it must comply with, as described in Section I(m) 
above. These include conducting an annual review (the Annual Review) to 
determine the adequacy and effectiveness of the implementation of the 
Policies and Training; the preparation of a written report for each 
Annual Review (each, an Annual Report) that, among other things, 
summarizes his or her material activities during the preceding year; 
and sets forth any instance of noncompliance discovered during the 
preceding year, and any related corrective action. Each Annual Report 
must be provided to appropriate corporate officers of BPLC and each 
Barclays Affiliated QPAM to which such report relates; the head of 
compliance and the General Counsel (or their functional equivalent) of 
the relevant Barclays Affiliated QPAM; and must be made unconditionally 
available to the independent auditor described above.
    24. Each Barclays Affiliated QPAM must maintain records necessary 
to demonstrate that the conditions of this exemption, if granted, have 
been met, for six (6) years following the date of any transaction for 
which such Barclays Affiliated QPAM relies upon the relief in the 
proposed five-year exemption, if granted.
    25. The Department stresses that it is proposing this five-year 
exemption based on representations from BCI that it has changed and 
improved its corporate culture and compliance capabilities. Consistent 
with this, the proposed five-year exemption mandates that, during the 
effective period, BPLC must immediately disclose to the Department any 
Deferred Prosecution Agreement (a DPA) or Non-Prosecution Agreement (an 
NPA) that BPLC or an affiliate enters into with the U.S. Department of 
Justice, to the extent such DPA or NPA involved conduct described in 
Section I(g) of PTE 84-14 or section 411 of ERISA. In addition, BPLC 
must immediately provide the Department any information requested by 
the Department, as permitted by law, regarding the agreement and/or the 
conduct and allegations that led to the agreement.
    The Department may, following its review of that information, 
require BPLC or a party specified by the Department, to submit a new 
application for the continued availability of relief as a condition of 
continuing to rely on this exemption. In this regard, the QPAM (or 
other party submitting the application) will have the burden of 
justifying the relief sought in the application. If the Department 
denies the relief requested in that application, or does not grant such 
relief within twelve (12) months of the application, the relief 
described herein would be revoked as of the date of denial or as of the 
expiration of the twelve (12) month period, whichever date is earlier.
    26. Finally, each Barclays Affiliated QPAM, in its agreements with 
ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients, or in other written disclosures 
provided to ERISA-covered plan and IRA clients, within sixty (60) days 
prior to the initial transaction upon which relief hereunder is relied, 
will clearly and prominently: Inform the ERISA-covered plan or IRA 
client that the client has the right to obtain copies of the QPAM's 
written Policies adopted in accordance with this five-year exemption, 
if granted.

Statutory Findings--Administratively Feasible

    27. The Applicant represents that the proposed exemption, if 
granted, is administratively feasible because it does not require any 
ongoing monitoring by the Department. Furthermore, the requested five-
year does not require the Department's oversight because, as a 
condition of this proposed five-year exemption, neither BPLC nor BCI 
may provide any fiduciary or QPAM services to ERISA-covered plan or 
IRAs.

Summary

    28. Given the revised and new conditions described above, the 
Department has tentatively determined that the relief sought by the 
Applicant satisfies the statutory requirements for an exemption under 
section 408(a) of ERISA.

Notice to Interested Persons

    As BCI ceased acting as a discretionary asset manager as of 
December 4, 2015, notice of the proposed exemption (the Notice) will be 
given solely by publication of the Notice in the Federal Register. All 
written comments and/or requests for a hearing must be received by the 
Department within thirty (30) days of the publication of the Notice in 
the Federal Register.
    All comments will be made available to the public. Warning: Do not 
include any personally identifiable information (such as name, address, 
or other contact information) or confidential business information that 
you do not want publicly disclosed. All comments may be posted on the 
Internet and can be retrieved by most Internet search engines.

[[Page 83438]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Anna Mpras Vaughan of the 
Department at (202) 693-8565. (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 of the Act and/or the Code, 
including any prohibited transaction 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) Before an exemption may be granted under section 408(a) of the 
Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the Code, the Department must find 
that the exemption is administratively feasible, in the interests of 
the plan and of its participants and beneficiaries, and protective of 
the rights of participants and beneficiaries of the plan;
    (3) The proposed exemptions, if granted, will be supplemental to, 
and not in derogation of, any other provisions of the Act and/or the 
Code, including statutory or administrative exemptions and transitional 
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
    (4) The proposed exemptions, if granted, will be subject to the 
express condition that the material facts and representations contained 
in each application are true and complete, and that each application 
accurately describes all material terms of the transaction which is the 
subject of the exemption.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 10th day of November 2016.
 Lyssa E. Hall,
Director, Office of Exemption Determinations, Employee Benefits 
Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2016-27563 Filed 11-18-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-29-P