Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; Prohibited Transaction Exemption 97-41, Collective Investment Funds Conversion Transactions, 19545-19546 [E6-5567]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 72 / Friday, April 14, 2006 / Notices exemption, sections 406 and 407(a) of ERISA and section 4975(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code might prohibit a party in interest to a plan from furnishing goods or services to an insurance company pooled separate account in which the plan has an interest, or prohibit engaging in other transactions. Under the exemption, persons who are parties in interest to a plan that invests in a pooled separate account, such as a service provider, may engage in otherwise prohibited transactions with the separate account if the plan’s participation in the separate account does not exceed specified limits and other conditions are met. These other conditions include a requirement that the party in interest not be the insurance company, or an affiliate thereof, that holds the plan assets in its pooled separate account or other separate account. The terms of the transaction to which the exemption is applied must be at least as favorable to the pooled separate account as those that would be obtained in a separate arms-length transaction with an unrelated party, and the insurance company must maintain records of any transaction to which the exemption applies for a period of six years. This ICR covers this recordkeeping requirement. The Department previously submitted this information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in an ICR that was approved under the OMB Control Number 1210–0083. The current approval is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2006. wwhite on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES II. Desired Focus of Comments The Department is particularly interested in comments that: • Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; • Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; • Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and • Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., by permitting electronic submission of responses. VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:37 Apr 13, 2006 Jkt 208001 III. Current Action This notice requests comments on the proposed extension of the ICR included in PTE 90–1. The Department is not proposing or implementing changes to the existing ICR at this time. The following summarizes the ICR and the current burden estimates: Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of information. Agency: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor. Title: PTE 90–1—Pooled Separate Accounts. OMB Number: 1210–0083. Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions. Respondents: 130. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Responses: 130. Estimated Total Burden Hours: 12. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the information collection request; they will also become a matter of public record. Dated: April 10, 2006. Susan G. Lahne, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security Administration. [FR Doc. E6–5566 Filed 4–13–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–29–P DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employee Benefits Security Administration Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; Prohibited Transaction Exemption 97– 41, Collective Investment Funds Conversion Transactions Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95). This program helps to ensure that the Department can properly assess the impact of its information collection requirements on respondents and minimize the reporting burden (in both time and financial resources) on the public and that the public can clearly PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19545 understand the Department’s information collection instruments and provide the requested data in the desired format. Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments on a proposed extension of the information collection provisions of Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 97–41, Collective Investment Funds Conversion Transactions. A copy of the Information Collection Request (ICR) may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the Addresses section of this notice. DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office shown in the ADDRESSES section below on or before June 13, 2006. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Susan G. Lahne, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N–5718, Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693–8410, FAX (202) 219–4745 (the foregoing are not toll-free numbers). Comments may also be submitted electronically to the following Internet e-mail address: ebsa.opr@dol.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Prohibited Transaction Exemption (PTE) 97–41 provides an exemption from the prohibited transaction provisions of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and from certain taxes imposed by the by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The exemption permits employee benefit plans to purchase shares of one or more open-end investment companies (funds) registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 by transferring in-kind, to the investment company, assets of the plan that are part of a collective investment fund (CIF) maintained by a bank or plan advisor that is both a fiduciary of the plan and an investment advisor to the investment company offering the fund. The exemption requires that an independent fiduciary receive advance written notice of any covered transaction, as well as specific written information concerning the mutual funds to be purchased. The independent fiduciary must also provide written advance approval of conversion transactions and receive written confirmation of each transaction, as well as additional on-going disclosures as defined in PTE 97–41. These disclosures are the basis for this ICR. II. Desired Focus of Comments The Department is particularly interested in comments that: E:\FR\FM\14APN1.SGM 14APN1 19546 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 72 / Friday, April 14, 2006 / Notices • Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; • Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; • Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and • Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. III. Current Action wwhite on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES This notice requests comments on the extension of the ICR included in PTE 97–41. The Department is not proposing or implementing changes to the existing ICR at this time. The following summarizes the ICR and the current burden estimates: Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of information. Agency: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor. Titles: Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 97–41, Collective Investment Funds Conversion Transactions. OMB Number: 1210–0104. Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions. Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2,625. Respondents: 75. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Responses: 75. Total Burden Cost (Operating and Maintenance): $187,000. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the ICR; they will also become a matter of public record. Dated: April 10, 2006. Susan G. Lahne, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security Administration. [FR Doc. E6–5567 Filed 4–13–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–20–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:37 Apr 13, 2006 Jkt 208001 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employee Benefits Security Administration Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 94–20, Foreign Exchange Transactions Employee Benefit Security Administration, DOL. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95). This program helps to ensure that the Department can properly assess the impact of its information collection requirements on respondents and minimize the reporting burden (time and financial resources) on the public and that the public can understand the Department’s collection instruments and provide the requested data in the desired format. Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments on the proposed extension of the information collection provisions of Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption (PTE) 94– 20, Foreign Exchange Transactions. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the Addresses section of this notice. DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office shown in the ADDRESSES section below on or before June 13, 2006. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Susan G. Lahne, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N–5718, Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693–8410, FAX (202) 219–4745 (the foregoing are not toll-free numbers). Comments may also be submitted electronically to the following Internet e-mail address: ebsa.opr@dol.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background PTE 94–20 permits the purchase and sale of foreign currencies between an employee benefit plan and a bank, broker-dealer, or an affiliate thereof, that is a trustee, custodian, fiduciary, or other party in interest with respect to PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the plan. The exemption is available provided that the transaction is directed (within the meaning of section IV(e) of the exemption) by a plan fiduciary that is independent of the bank, brokerdealer, or affiliate and all other conditions of the exemption are satisfied. Without this exemption, certain aspects of these transactions might be prohibited by section 406(a) of ERISA. To protect the interests of participants and beneficiaries of the employee benefit plan, the exemption requires that the party wishing to take advantage of the exemption (1) develop written policies and procedures applicable to trading in foreign currencies on behalf of an employee benefit plan; (2) provide a written confirmation with respect to each transaction in foreign currency to the independent plan fiduciary, disclosing specified information; and (3) maintain records pertaining to the transaction for a period of six years. This ICR relates to the foregoing disclosure and recordkeeping requirements. II. Desired Focus of Comments The Department is particularly interested in comments that: • Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; • Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; • Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and • Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., by permitting electronic submission of responses. III. Current Action This notice requests comments on the extension of the ICR included in PTE 94–20. The Department is not proposing or implementing changes to the existing ICR at this time. The following summarizes the ICR and the current burden estimates: Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of information. Agency: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor. E:\FR\FM\14APN1.SGM 14APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 72 (Friday, April 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19545-19546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5567]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; 
Prohibited Transaction Exemption 97-41, Collective Investment Funds 
Conversion Transactions

AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections 
of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA 95). This program helps to ensure that the Department can properly 
assess the impact of its information collection requirements on 
respondents and minimize the reporting burden (in both time and 
financial resources) on the public and that the public can clearly 
understand the Department's information collection instruments and 
provide the requested data in the desired format. Currently, the 
Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments 
on a proposed extension of the information collection provisions of 
Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 97-41, Collective Investment 
Funds Conversion Transactions. A copy of the Information Collection 
Request (ICR) may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the 
Addresses section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office shown in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before June 13, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Susan G. Lahne, Office of 
Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-5718, 
Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-8410, FAX (202) 219-4745 (the foregoing 
are not toll-free numbers). Comments may also be submitted 
electronically to the following Internet e-mail address: 
ebsa.opr@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Prohibited Transaction Exemption (PTE) 97-41 provides an exemption 
from the prohibited transaction provisions of the Employment Retirement 
Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and from certain taxes imposed by 
the by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The exemption permits 
employee benefit plans to purchase shares of one or more open-end 
investment companies (funds) registered under the Investment Advisers 
Act of 1940 by transferring in-kind, to the investment company, assets 
of the plan that are part of a collective investment fund (CIF) 
maintained by a bank or plan advisor that is both a fiduciary of the 
plan and an investment advisor to the investment company offering the 
fund.
    The exemption requires that an independent fiduciary receive 
advance written notice of any covered transaction, as well as specific 
written information concerning the mutual funds to be purchased. The 
independent fiduciary must also provide written advance approval of 
conversion transactions and receive written confirmation of each 
transaction, as well as additional on-going disclosures as defined in 
PTE 97-41. These disclosures are the basis for this ICR.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Department is particularly interested in comments that:

[[Page 19546]]

     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.

III. Current Action

    This notice requests comments on the extension of the ICR included 
in PTE 97-41. The Department is not proposing or implementing changes 
to the existing ICR at this time. The following summarizes the ICR and 
the current burden estimates:
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    Agency: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of 
Labor.
    Titles: Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 97-41, Collective 
Investment Funds Conversion Transactions.
    OMB Number: 1210-0104.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2,625.
    Respondents: 75.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Responses: 75.
    Total Burden Cost (Operating and Maintenance): $187,000.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the ICR; they will 
also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 10, 2006.
Susan G. Lahne,
Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security 
Administration.
 [FR Doc. E6-5567 Filed 4-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-20-P

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