Proposed Exemptions Involving D-11396-Popular, Inc.; D-11424-Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC; D-11459-Calpine Corporation and D-11467-Merritts Antiques, Inc. Employees Pension Plan, 51516-51527 [E8-20277]

Agencies

• Employee Benefits Security Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51516-51527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20277]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration

[Application No. D-11396, D-11424, D-11459 & D-11467]


Proposed Exemptions Involving D-11396--Popular, Inc.; D-11424--
Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC; D-11459--Calpine Corporation and D-
11467--Merritts Antiques, Inc. Employees Pension Plan

AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of proposed exemption.

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SUMMARY: This document contains a notice 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).

Written Comments and Hearing Requests

    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. 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.

ADDRESSES: 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, Room N-5700, 
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 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 e-mail or FAX. Any such 
comments or requests should be sent either by e-mail to: 
moffitt.betty@dol.gov, or by FAX to (202) 219-0204 by the end of the 
scheduled comment period. The application 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-1513, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210.

Notice to Interested Persons

    Notice of the proposed exemption 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

[[Page 51517]]

comment and to request a hearing (where appropriate).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed exemption was 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 (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 10, 1990). 
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.
    The application contains representations with regard to the 
proposed exemption which is summarized below. Interested persons are 
referred to the application on file with the Department for a complete 
statement of the facts and representations.

Popular, Inc.,
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, and
Popular Financial Holdings, Inc. (collectively, the Applicants)
Located in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
[Exemption Application No. D-11396]

Proposed Exemption

    The Department of Labor is considering granting an exemption under 
the authority of section 408(a) of the Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act of 1974, as amended (the Act) and section 4975(c)(2) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the U.S. Code) and in accordance 
with procedures set forth in 29 CFR Part 2570, subpart B (55 FR 32836, 
32847, August 10, 1990).

Section I: Transactions

    If the proposed exemption is granted:
    (a) The restrictions of sections 406(a), 406(b)(1), 406(b)(2), and 
407(a) of the Act shall not apply, effective November 23, 2005, to:
    (1) The acquisition of stock rights (the Rights) by certain plans, 
described, below, in Section I(a)(1)(A) through (D) of this proposed 
exemption, in connection with an offering of such Rights (the Offering) 
by Popular, Inc. (Popular), a party in interest with respect to such 
plans:
    (A) Popular, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan for Puerto Rico 
Subsidiaries (the Popular PR Plan);
    (B) Banco Popular de Puerto Rico Savings and Stock Plan (the BPPR 
Savings Plan),
    (C) Popular, Inc. U.S.A. Profit Sharing/401(k) Plan (the Popular 
USA Plan) \1\,
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    \1\ The BPPR Savings Plan, the Popular PR Plan, the Popular USA 
Plan, and the PFH Savings Plan are referred to, herein, 
collectively, as the Participant Directed Plans.
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    (D) Popular Financial Holdings, Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan 
(the PFH Savings Plan), and
    (2) The holding of the Rights by the certain plans, described, 
above, in Section I(a)(1)(A) through (D) of this proposed exemption, 
until the expiration of such Rights; provided that the conditions in 
Section II of this proposed exemption, as set forth below, are 
satisfied, and
    (b) The sanctions resulting from the application of section 4975 of 
the U.S. Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1)(A) through (E) shall not 
apply, effective November 23, 2005, to the acquisition of the Rights by 
certain plans, described, above, in Section I(a)(1)(C), and Section 
I(a)(1)(D) of this proposed exemption; \2\ provided that the conditions 
in Section II of this proposed exemption, as set forth below, are 
satisfied.
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    \2\ The Applicants represent that, because the fiduciaries for 
the BPPR Savings Plan, and the Popular PR Plan have not made an 
election under section 1022(i)(2) of the Act, whereby such plans 
would be treated as a trust created and organized in the United 
States for purposes of tax qualification under section 401(a) of the 
U.S. Code, that jurisdiction under Title II of the Act does not 
apply. Accordingly, the Department is not providing any relief for 
the prohibitions, as set forth in Title II of the Act, for the 
acquisition of the Rights by these plans.
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Section II: Conditions

    The relief proposed, herein, is conditioned upon adherence to the 
material facts and representations described herein and as set forth in 
the application file and upon compliance with the conditions, as set 
forth in this proposed exemption.
    a. The receipt by each of the Participant Directed Plans of the 
Rights occurred in connection with the Offering made available by 
Popular on the same terms to all shareholders of the common stock of 
Popular (the Popular Stock);
    b. The acquisition of the Rights by the Participant Directed Plans 
resulted from an independent act of Popular as a corporate entity, and 
all holders of the Rights, including the Participant Directed Plans, 
were treated in the same manner with respect to the acquisition of the 
Rights;
    c. All shareholders of the Popular Stock, including the Participant 
Directed Plans received the same proportionate number of Rights based 
on the number of shares of Popular Stock held by such Participant 
Directed Plans;
    d. The acquisition of the Rights by the Participant Directed Plans 
was made pursuant to provisions of each such plan for individually-
directed investment of participant accounts (the Account(s));
    e. All decisions regarding the Rights made by the Participant 
Directed Plans were made in accordance with the provisions of each such 
plan for individually-directed investment of participant Accounts, by 
the individual participants whose Accounts in each such plan received 
the Rights in connection with the Offering; and
    f. Popular must refund to the Banco Popular de Puerto Rico Profit 
Sharing Plan and the Banco Popular de Puerto Rico Profit Restoration 
Plan (collectively, the P/S Plans), and to the Accounts of each of the 
participants in the Participant Directed Plans, the pro rata portion of 
a dealer manager/solicitation fee (the Fee) in the aggregate amount of 
$81,261.34. This Fee was received by Popular Securities, Inc., the co-
dealer/manager of the Rights Offering, as a result of the exercise of 
the Rights by each such plan and by each such Account, and the payment 
by each such plan and each such Account of the subscription price of 
$21.00 per share for the Popular Stock. Furthermore, Popular must 
refund to each such plan and to each such Account an additional amount 
attributable to lost earnings experienced by each such plan and each 
such Account on the pro rata portion of such Fee, and interest on such 
lost earnings, for the period from December 19, 2005, to the date when 
Popular has refunded the pro rata portion of the Fee attributable to 
each such plan and each such Account, the lost earnings amount, plus 
interest on such lost earnings. For the purpose of calculating the lost 
earnings on the pro rata portion of the Fee attributable to each such 
plan and each such Account, plus interest, on such lost earnings, 
Popular will use the Online Calculator for the Voluntary Fiduciary 
Correction Program \3\ that appears on the Web site of the Employee 
Benefits Security Administration.
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    \3\ 70 FR 17516, April 6, 2005.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This proposed exemption, if granted, will be effective 
as of November 23, 2005, the date of the announcement of the Offering.

Summary of Facts and Representations (SFR)

    1. Popular is a corporation organized under the laws of the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Popular is a diversified,

[[Page 51518]]

publicly owned bank holding company, registered under the Bank Holding 
Company Act of 1956, as amended, and, accordingly, is subject to the 
supervision and regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System. Popular is a full service financial services provider 
with operations in Puerto Rico, the United States, the Caribbean, and 
Latin America. As of September 30, 2005, Popular had consolidated total 
assets of $47.1 billion, total deposits of $22.6 billion, and 
stockholders' equity of $3.2 billion.
    Principal subsidiaries of Popular include: (a) Popular Securities, 
Inc., a securities broker-dealer; (b) Popular International Bank, an 
international banking entity; (c) EVERTEC, Inc., a provider of 
electronic transaction, processing, and programming services; and (d) 
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (BPPR), a banking subsidiary of Popular.
    2. BPPR is a corporation which was organized under the laws of the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 1893. BPPR, the largest bank in Puerto 
Rico, offers retail and commercial banking services. As of September 
30, 2005, BPPR had total assets of $25.4 billion, deposits of $14.2 
billion, and stockholders' equity of $1.6 billion.
    3. Popular Financial Holdings, Inc. (PFH) is a corporation 
organized under the laws of Delaware and is an indirect subsidiary of 
Popular. PFH is engaged in consumer lending services. As of September 
30, 2005, PFH had total assets of $8.6 billion.
    4. Popular sponsors two (2) of the Participant Directed Plans 
involved in the transactions for which an exemption has been requested. 
These two plans are described, as follows:

(a) The Popular PR Plan

    The Popular PR Plan is a defined contribution profit sharing plan 
which includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement intended to 
meet the requirements of Section 1165(e) of the Puerto Rico Internal 
Revenue Code of 1994, as amended (the PR Code). The Popular PR Plan was 
established for the exclusive benefit of the eligible employees and 
beneficiaries of Puerto Rican subsidiaries of affiliates of Popular. 
The Popular PR Plan is not intended to meet, and has never in practice 
met, the requirements of Section 401(a) of the U.S. Code. The Popular 
PR Plan is subject to Title I of the Act.
    The Popular PR Plan, allows participants to direct investments of 
their own contributions and employer contributions into several 
investment alternatives, including Popular Stock.
    The Popular PR Plan is funded through a trust. The trustee of the 
Popular PR Plan is BPPR. The Popular Puerto Rico Subsidiaries Benefits 
Committee (the PR Benefits Committee), a committee appointed by 
Popular, is the Plan Administrator of the Popular PR Plan.
    As of November 7, 2005, (the Record Date), the Popular PR Plan had 
approximately 3,000 participants and total assets of $102,281,000. As 
of the Record Date, the shares of Popular Stock held by the Popular PR 
Plan were valued at $56,542,469 and comprised approximately fifty-five 
percent (55%) of the total assets of the Popular PR Plan. These shares 
represented approximately one percent (1%) of the total shares of 
Popular Stock outstanding as of the Record Date.
    Effective as of January 1, 2006, the Popular PR Plan changed its 
name to the Popular, Inc. Puerto Rico Savings and Investment Plan.

(b) The Popular USA Plan

    The Popular USA Plan is a defined contribution profit sharing plan 
which includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement intended to 
meet the requirements of Section 401(k) of the U.S. Code. The Popular 
USA Plan was adopted for the exclusive benefit of employees and their 
beneficiaries of Popular's indirect subsidiary, Banco Popular North 
America (BPNA), and certain of its affiliates. The Popular USA Plan is 
not intended to meet the requirements of Section 1165(a) of the PR 
Code. The Popular USA Plan is subject to Title I and Title II of the 
Act.
    The Popular USA Plan allows participants to direct investments of 
their own contributions and a portion of the employer contributions 
into several investment alternatives, including Popular Stock. The 
employer bonus matching contributions are invested in Popular Stock.
    The Popular USA Plan is funded through a trust of which BPNA is the 
trustee. The Popular USA Benefits Committee, a committee appointed by 
Popular, is the Plan Administrator of the Popular USA Plan.
    As of the Record Date, the Popular USA Plan had approximately 2,400 
participants and total assets of $59,700,000. The shares of Popular 
Stock held by the Popular USA Plan were valued at $31,748,657, as of 
the Record Date, and comprised approximately fifty-three percent (53%) 
of the total assets in the Popular USA Plan. These shares represented 
less than one percent (<1%) of the total shares of Popular Stock 
outstanding as of that date.
    Effective as of April 1, 2006, the Popular USA Plan changed its 
name to Popular, Inc. USA 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan.
    5. BPPR sponsors one (1) of the Participant Directed Plans involved 
in the transactions for which an exemption has been requested. The BPPR 
Savings Plan is a profit sharing plan with a qualified cash or deferred 
arrangement intended to meet the requirements of Section 1165(e) of the 
PR Code covering employees of BPPR who are residents of Puerto Rico. 
This plan is not intended to meet, and has never in practice met, the 
requirements of Section 401(a) of the U.S. Code. This plan is subject 
to Title I of the Act.
    The BPPR Savings Plan allows participants to direct investments of 
their own contributions into several investment alternatives, including 
Popular Stock. All employer contributions are invested in Popular 
Stock.
    The BPPR Savings Plan is funded through a trust. BPPR is the 
trustee. BPPR also acts as custodian of this plan's assets, holding 
legal title to such assets. The PR Benefits Committee is the Plan 
Administrator of the BPPR Savings Plan.
    As of the Record Date, the BPPR Savings Plan had approximately 
7,050 participants and total assets of $68,794,200. As of the Record 
Date, the shares of Popular Stock held by this plan were valued at 
$65,569,487 and comprised approximately ninety-five percent (95%) of 
the total assets in such plan. These shares represented 1.2 percent 
(1.2%) of the total shares of Popular Stock outstanding as of that 
date.
    Effective as of July 1, 2006, the BPPR Savings Plan merged with and 
into the Popular PR Plan which on January 1, 2006, had changed its name 
to the Popular, Inc. Puerto Rico Savings and Investment Plan, as 
discussed above in paragraph 4(a) of the SFR of this proposed 
exemption.
    6. PFH sponsors one (1) of the Participant Directed Plans, which is 
involved in the transactions for which an exemption has been requested. 
The PFH Savings Plan is a defined contribution plan which includes a 
qualified cash or deferred arrangement intended to meet the 
requirements of Section 401(k) of the U.S. Code. The PFH Savings Plan 
was adopted for the exclusive benefit of the employees and their 
beneficiaries of PFH and its subsidiaries. The PFH Savings Plan is not 
intended to meet the requirements of Section 1165(a) of the PR Code. 
The PFH Savings Plan is subject to Title I and Title II of the Act.

[[Page 51519]]

    The PFH Savings Plan allows participants to direct investments of 
their own contributions and employer contributions into several 
investment alternatives, including Popular Stock.
    The PFH Savings Plan is funded through two trusts of which Banker's 
Trust and Delaware Charter Guarantee & Trust Company d/b/a Principal 
Trust Company serve as the trustees. PFH is the Plan Administrator of 
the PFH Savings Plan.
    As of the record date, the PFH Savings Plan had approximately 2,000 
participants and total assets of $35,200,000. As of the same date, the 
shares of Popular Stock held by the PFH Savings Plan were valued at 
$2,793,982 and comprised approximately eight percent (8%) of the total 
assets of the PFH Savings Plan. These shares represented less than one 
percent (<1%) of the total shares of Popular Stock outstanding as of 
that date.
    Effective as of April 1, 2006, the PFH Plan merged with and into 
the Popular USA Plan, which had changed its name on the same date to 
the Popular, Inc. USA 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan, described in 
paragraph (4)(b), above, of the SFR of this proposed exemption.
    7. On November 23, 2005, Popular announced an offering of up to 
10,500,000 shares of Popular Stock to shareholders of record of such 
stock, as of the close of business on the Record Date, November 7, 
2005, pursuant to the grant of Rights to such shareholders to acquire 
Popular Stock. Shareholders did not have to pay any amount to receive 
such Rights. As of the Record date, Popular had 10,856 shareholders of 
record. As of the Record Date, there were 267,427,050 shares of Popular 
Stock outstanding.
    The authorized capital stock of Popular consists of 470 million 
shares of common stock, with a par value $6.00 per share, and 30 
million shares of preferred stock, without a par value per share. The 
Popular Stock is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol of 
BPOP. It is represented that the last reported sale price of the 
Popular Stock on November 22, 2005, before the Offering was $22.59 per 
share.
    The Rights were non-transferable and were not evidenced by 
certificates. No fractional Rights were issued. The number of Rights 
granted to each shareholder was rounded up to the next whole number. 
There was no market for the Rights.
    For each twenty-six (26) shares of Popular Stock held, each 
shareholder received one (1) right to acquire one (1) share of Popular 
Stock. Each shareholder was entitled to subscribe for all or any 
portion of the Popular Stock underlying each shareholder's Rights. Each 
shareholder who subscribed for the full number of shares of Popular 
Stock received an oversubscription right to subscribe for additional 
shares of Popular Stock that were not otherwise subscribed for by other 
shareholders. It is represented that if insufficient shares of the 
Popular Stock were available to satisfy fully all elections, the 
available shares were prorated among those who elected to exercise the 
oversubscription rights. In November 2005, it was anticipated that all 
or a portion of the Popular Stock not subscribed for in the Rights 
Offering would be offered to the public through an underwritten public 
offering. However, it is represented that all of the Popular Stock 
available for purchase through exercise of the Rights were subscribed 
for by the holders of such Rights.
    Even though holders of the Rights could exercise the Rights at any 
time between November 23, 2005, and December 19, 2005, the exercise of 
the Rights was effective as of December 19, 2005. After December 19, 
2005, the Rights expired with no value.
    To exercise the Rights, shareholders had to return a Subscription 
Rights Order Form to Mellon Bank, N.A., the subscription agent, along 
with payment in full by either a cashier's check or official check of 
the initial subscription price of $21.00 per share (the Initial 
Subscription Price), as determined by the Board of Directors of 
Popular. It is represented that as a public offering did not occur 
within thirty (30) calendar days after the end of the Rights Offering, 
the actual subscription price was the lesser of: (i) the Initial 
Subscription Price, or (ii) the average closing price at 4 p.m., New 
York City time, of Popular Stock for the five (5) trading days up to 
and including the expiration date of the Rights offering on December 
19, 2005. The closing prices for the Popular Stock for the five (5) 
trading days, December 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 2005, respectively, were 
$21.60; $21.69; $21.52; $21.32; and $21.13 per share. The average 
closing price was $21.45 per share. It is represented that if the 
actual subscription price were lower than the Initial Subscription 
Price, the difference would be refunded, without interest, to the 
shareholder.
    Shareholders that held Popular Stock through the book entry system 
of the Depository Trust Company received credit for the Popular Stock 
purchased through the exercise of the Rights on December 29, 2005. 
Shareholders holding physical certificates received delivery of the 
Popular Stock purchased through the exercise of the Rights during 
January 2006. The Popular Stock acquired upon exercise of the Rights 
did not have any restriction on transferability.
    In connection with the subscription Offering, UBS Securities LLC 
(UBS) and Popular Securities, Inc. (Popular Securities), an affiliate 
of Popular, acting as dealer managers, received a Fee in connection 
with solicitation services equal to 2.5% of the aggregate subscription 
price per share for shares issued pursuant to the Offering.\4\ It is 
represented that UBS and Popular Securities split such Fee on a fifty/
fifty basis. In addition, Popular reimbursed the dealer managers up to 
$25,000 for expenses incurred in connection with the Offering.
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    \4\ The Department, herein, is not providing any relief for the 
receipt of any fees by Popular or any of its affiliates.
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    As a condition of this exemption, Popular must refund to the P/S 
Plans and to the Accounts of each of the participants in the 
Participant Directed Plans, the pro rata portion of the Fee, a dealer 
manager/solicitation fee, in the aggregate amount of $81,261.34. This 
Fee was received by Popular Securities, Inc., the co-dealer/manager of 
the Rights Offering, as a result of the exercise of the Rights by each 
such plan and by each such Account, and the payment by each such plan 
and each such Account of the subscription price of $21.00 per share for 
the Popular Stock. Furthermore, Popular must refund to each such plan 
and to each such Account an additional amount attributable to lost 
earnings experienced by each such plan and each such Account on the pro 
rata portion of such Fee, and interest on such lost earnings, for the 
period from December 19, 2005, to the date when Popular has refunded 
the pro rata portion of the Fee attributable to each such plan and each 
such Account, the lost earnings amount, plus interest on such lost 
earnings. For the purpose of calculating the lost earnings on the pro 
rata portion of the Fee attributable to each such plan and each such 
Account, plus interest, on such lost earnings, Popular will use the 
Online Calculator for the Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program \5\ 
that appears on the Web site of the Employee Benefit Security 
Administration.
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    \5\ 70 FR 17516, April 6, 2005.
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    In addition, the Applicants have represented that in the future, 
Popular, BPPR, and PFH will request a prohibited transaction exemption 
from the Department prior to entering into any transaction in which a 
fee will be paid to an affiliate of Popular, BPPR,

[[Page 51520]]

and/or PFH by any plan sponsored by Popular, BPPR, and/or PFH.
    8. Each of the Applicants, as employers any of whose employees are 
covered by one or more of the Participant Directed Plans, subject to 
Title I of the Act, and as fiduciaries of one or more of the 
Participant Directed Plans, are parties in interest with respect to 
each such plan, pursuant to section 3(14)(C) and section 3(14)(A) of 
the Act, respectively. In addition, the Applicants, as employers any of 
whose employees are covered by one or more of the Participant Directed 
Plans, which are subject to Title II of the Act, and as fiduciaries 
with respect to one or more of such Participant Directed Plans are 
disqualified persons with respect to each such plan, pursuant to 
section 4975(e)(2)(C) and section 4975(e)(2)(A) of the U.S. Code, 
respectively. Further, Popular as the owner of BPPR and the indirect 
owner of PFH is a party in interest, pursuant to section 3(14)(E) of 
the Act and a disqualified person, pursuant to section 4975(e)(2)(E) of 
the U.S. Code, with respect to the Participant Directed Plans.
    9. The Popular Stock and the Rights satisfy the definition of 
``employer securities,'' as set forth under section 407(d)(1) of the 
Act.\6\ The Popular Stock satisfies the definition of a ``qualifying 
employer security,'' as set forth in section 407(d)(5) of the Act.'' 
However, the Rights do not satisfy the definition of ``qualifying 
employer securities,'' as defined under section 407(d)(5) of the 
Act.\7\ Under section 407(a)(1) of the Act, a plan may not acquire or 
hold any ``employer security'' which is not a ``qualifying employer 
security.'' Further, section 406(a)(1)(E) of the Act prohibits the 
acquisition, on behalf of a plan, of any ``employer security'' in 
violation of section 407(a) of the Act. Further, section 406(a)(2) of 
the Act prohibits a fiduciary who has authority or discretion to 
control or manage the assets of a plan to permit the plan to hold any 
``employer security'' that violates section 407(a) of the Act.
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    \6\ Section 407((d)(1) of the Act defines the term, ``employer 
security,'' as ``a security issued by an employer of employees 
covered by the plan, or by an affiliate of such employer.''
    \7\ Section 407(d)(5) of the Act defines the term, ``qualifying 
employer security,'' as an employer security which is stock, a 
marketable obligation (as defined in subsection (e)), or an interest 
in a publicly traded partnership.
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    The Applicants have requested retroactive relief, from the 
prohibitions, as set forth in Title I of the Act, for the acquisition 
and holding of the Rights by the Participant Directed Plans.
    The Applicants have also requested retroactive relief from the 
prohibitions, as set forth in section 4975(c)(1)(A) through (E) of the 
U.S. Code, for the acquisition of the Rights by the Popular USA Plan 
and the PFH Saving Plan.
    10. With regard to the Rights acquired by the Participant Directed 
Plans, it is represented by plan design that the participants of the 
Participant Directed Plans controlled the assets in their Accounts in 
such plans and that no plan fiduciary had the authority to exercise any 
control over such assets. Therefore, upon receipt of the Rights by the 
Participant Directed Plans, the Rights were allocated to the Accounts 
of the participants in such plans in proportion to the Popular Stock 
beneficially owned by each such Account. In addition, it is represented 
that each participant in the Participant Directed Plans was given the 
opportunity to exercise the Rights. Accordingly, each participant was 
able to make an independent decision whether to liquidate his or her 
Account assets to purchase additional shares of Popular Stock.\8\
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    \8\ The Applicants initially requested an administrative 
exemption from the prohibitions, as set forth in Title I and Title 
II of the Act, as applicable, for the exercise of the Rights by the 
Participant Directed Plans and the P/S Plans. Subsequently, the 
Applicants withdrew the request for such administrative exemption 
and represented that they would rely on the relief provided by the 
statutory exemption, pursuant to section 408(e) of the Act for such 
transactions. The Department is offering no view, as to whether the 
Applicants have satisfied the requirements of the statutory 
exemption provided in section 408(e) of the Act. Further, the 
Department, herein, is not providing any relief with respect to the 
exercise of the Rights by the Participant Directed Plans and the P/S 
Plans.
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    All shareholders, including the participants in the Participant 
Directed Plans, could exercise the Rights through the close of business 
(4 p.m., San Juan, Puerto Rico time) on December 19, 2005. This 
deadline for exercising the Rights was implemented by Popular as the 
issuer of the Rights. Neither the shareholders nor the participants in 
the Participant Directed Plans had any voice in setting the deadline 
with respect to the Rights.
    On December 19, 2005, the necessary funds for the exercise of the 
Rights were transferred by the trustees to the subscription agent for 
the purchase of the Popular Stock. Upon receipt of the new shares, the 
newly received shares were allocated to the Account of each participant 
in the respective plan.
    11. Under the Rights Offering, shareholders were entitled to 
subscribe to purchase additional shares of Popular Stock up to the 
number of shares that were not purchased by the other shareholders (the 
Oversubscription Privilege). In order to participate in the 
Oversubscription Privilege, every Right issued on every share of 
Popular Stock held in the Participant Directed Plans would have had to 
have been exercised. Because this did not occur, the Oversubscription 
Privilege was not available to the Participant Directed Plans.
    12. It is represented that the acquisition and holding of the 
Rights by the Participant Directed Plans, pursuant to the Offering, was 
in the interests of and beneficial to such plans and to the 
participants and beneficiaries of such plans. In this regard, the 
Participant Directed Plans were given an opportunity to purchase 
additional shares of the Popular Stock at a discount from the market 
price.
    13. It is represented that the acquisition and holding of the 
Rights by the Participant Directed Plans was protective of such plans 
and of the participants and beneficiaries of such plans in that all of 
the shareholders of Popular Stock, including the Participant Directed 
Plans, were treated in a similar manner with respect to the Rights.
    14. It is represented that the acquisition and holding of the 
Rights by the Participant Directed Plans was feasible, in that the 
Offering was a one-time transaction, and all shareholders of the 
Popular Stock, including the Participant Directed Plans, were treated 
in the same manner with respect to the acquisition and holding of the 
Rights. With regard to the fact that the subject transactions were 
consummated prior to obtaining an exemption due to the timing of the 
Rights Offering, it is represented that the fiduciaries were required 
to engage in the Rights Offering before requesting the proposed 
exemption, because such fiduciaries had no control over the timing of 
the transactions.
    Popular will bear all costs of the exemption application, and of 
the notification of interested persons.
    15. In summary, the Applicants represent that the proposed 
transactions satisfy the statutory requirements for an exemption under 
section 408(a) of the Act and section 4975(c)(2) of the U.S. Code 
because:
    a. The receipt by each of the Participant Directed Plans of the 
Rights occurred in connection with the Offering made available by 
Popular on the same terms to all shareholders of the Popular Stock;
    b. The acquisition of the Rights by the Participant Directed Plans 
resulted from an independent act of Popular as a corporate entity, and 
all holders of the Rights, including the Participant Directed Plans, 
were treated in the same manner with respect to the acquisition of the 
Rights;

[[Page 51521]]

    c. All shareholders of the Popular Stock, including the Participant 
Directed Plans, received the same proportionate number of Rights;
    d. All decisions regarding the acquisition and holding of the 
Rights by the Participant Directed Plans were made in accordance with 
the provisions of each such plan for individually directed investment 
of participant Accounts, by the individual participants whose Accounts 
in each such plan received the Rights in connection with the Offering; 
and
    e. Popular will refund to the P/S Plans and to the Accounts of each 
of the participants in the Participant Directed Plans, the pro rata 
portion of the Fee in the aggregate mount of $81,261.34 received by 
Popular Securities, Inc., as a result of the exercise of the Rights by 
each such plan and by each such Account, and the payment by each such 
plan and each such Account of the subscription price of $21.00 per 
share for the Popular Stock. Furthermore, Popular will refund to each 
such plan and to each such Account an additional amount attributable to 
lost earnings experienced by each such plan and each such Account on 
the pro rata portion of such Fee, and interest on such lost earnings, 
for the period from December 19, 2005, to the date when Popular has 
refunded the pro rata portion of the Fee attributable to each such plan 
and each such Account, the lost earnings amount, plus interest on such 
lost earnings.

Notice To Interested Persons

    Those persons who may be interested (the Interested Persons) in the 
publication in the Federal Register of the Notice of Proposed Exemption 
(the Notice) include:
    (1) All participants in the Participant Directed Plans at the time 
of the transactions for which relief is proposed (including former 
employees with vested account balances in those plans);
    (2) all retirees and beneficiaries currently receiving benefits 
from the Participant Directed Plans;
    (3) all employers with employees who participated in the 
Participant Directed Plans at the time of the transactions for which 
relief is proposed; and
    (4) all the fiduciaries of the Participant Directed Plans.
    It is represented that notification will be provided to all such 
Interested Persons by first-class mail, within fifteen (15) calendar 
days of publication of the Notice in the Federal Register. Such mailing 
will contain a copy of the Notice, as it appears in the Federal 
Register on the date of publication, plus a copy of the supplemental 
statement (the Supplemental Statement), as required, pursuant to 29 CFR 
2570.43(b)(2), which will advise all Interested Persons of their right 
to comment and to request a hearing.
    The Department must receive all written comments and requests for a 
hearing no later than thirty (30) days from the last date of the 
mailing of copies of the Notice and copies of the Supplemental 
Statement to all Interested Persons.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angelena C. Le Blanc of the 
Department, telephone (202) 693-8540 (This is not a toll-free number).
    Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC (FBS), Fidelity Management 
Corporation (together Fidelity) Located Boston, Massachusetts 
[Application No. D-11424]

Proposed Exemption

    The Department is considering granting an 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 (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 10, 1990.)

Section I: Covered Transactions

    Effective (the date the final exemption is published in the Federal 
Register), the restrictions of sections 406(a)(1)(D) and 406(b) of 
ERISA, and the sanctions resulting from the application of section 4975 
of the Code, including the loss of exemption of an individual 
retirement account or annuity pursuant to section 408(e)(2)(A) of the 
Code, of a Coverdell education savings account pursuant to section 
530(d) of the Code, of a Archer medical savings account pursuant to 
section 220(e)(2) of the Code, or of a health savings account pursuant 
to section 223(e)(2) of the Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1)(D), 
(E), and (F) of the Code, shall not apply to the receipt of an 
Applicable Benefit by an individual for whose benefit a Covered Plan is 
established or maintained, or by his or her Family Members, with 
respect to a Tiered Product, pursuant to an arrangement offered by 
Fidelity under which the Account Value of the Covered Plan is taken 
into account for purposes of determining eligibility to receive such 
Applicable Benefit, provided that each condition of Section II of this 
exemption is satisfied.

Section II: Conditions

    (a) The Covered Plan whose Account Value is taken into account for 
purposes of determining eligibility to receive the Applicable Benefit 
under the arrangement is established and maintained for the exclusive 
benefit of the participant covered under the Covered Plan, his or her 
spouse, or their beneficiaries.
    (b) The Applicable Benefit with respect to the Tiered Product must 
be of the type that Fidelity itself could offer consistent with all 
applicable federal and state banking laws and all applicable federal 
and state laws regulating broker-dealers.
    (c) The Applicable Benefit with respect to the Tiered Product must 
be provided by Fidelity or its affiliate in the ordinary course of its 
business as a bank or broker-dealer to customers of Fidelity who 
qualify for such arrangement, but who do not maintain Covered Plans 
with Fidelity or its affiliate.
    (d) For purposes of determining eligibility to receive the 
Applicable Benefit, the Account Value required by Fidelity for the 
Covered Plan is as favorable as any such requirement based on the value 
of any type of account used by Fidelity to determine eligibility to 
receive the Applicable Benefit.
    (e) The rate of interest paid with respect to any assets of the 
Covered Plan invested in a Tiered Interest Product is reasonable.
    (f) The combined total of all fees for the provision of services to 
the Covered Plan is not in excess of reasonable compensation within the 
meaning of section 4975(d)(2) of the Code and section 408(b)(2) of 
ERISA.
    (g) The investment performance of the Covered Plan's investment(s) 
is no less favorable than the investment performance of an identical 
investment(s) that could have been made at the same time by a customer 
of Fidelity who is not eligible for (or who does not receive) any 
Applicable Benefit.
    (h) The Applicable Benefits offered with respect to any Tiered 
Product under the arrangement to a Covered Plan customer must be the 
same as is offered by Fidelity with respect to such Tiered Product to 
non-Covered Plan customers of Fidelity having the same aggregate 
Account Value.
    (i) If the Covered Plan is established at a broker-dealer or bank 
that is unrelated to Fidelity, the assets of the Covered Plan must be 
custodied with Fidelity and at the time the Covered Plan is 
established, disclosures must be made to the owner of the Covered Plan 
specifying that under the arrangement, services are being provided by 
Fidelity to the Covered Plan.

III. Definitions

    (a) The term ``Fidelity'' means Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC 
(FBS) or any of its affiliates. An ``affiliate'' of Fidelity Brokerage 
Services LLC

[[Page 51522]]

includes any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, 
or under common control with FBS. The term control means the power to 
exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a 
person other than an individual.
    (b) The term ``Covered Plan'' means a plan sponsored by Fidelity or 
a plan with respect to which Fidelity maintains custody of its assets, 
and is an Individual Retirement Plan or other savings account described 
in section III(c), or a Keogh Plan described in section III(d).
    (c) The term ``Individual Retirement Plan'' means an individual 
retirement account (``IRA'') described in Code section 408(a), an 
individual retirement annuity described in Code section 408(b), a 
Coverdell education savings account described in section 530 of the 
Code, an Archer MSA described in section 220(d) of the Code, or a 
health savings account described in section 223(d) of the Code. For 
purposes of this exemption, the term Individual Retirement Plan shall 
not include an Individual Retirement Plan which is an employee benefit 
plan covered by Title I of ERISA, except for a Simplified Employee 
Pension (SEP) described in section 408(k) of the Code or a Simple 
Retirement Account described in section 408(p) of the Code which 
provides participants with the unrestricted authority to transfer their 
balances to IRAs or Simple Retirement Accounts sponsored by different 
financial institutions.
    (d) The term ``Keogh Plan'' means a pension, profit-sharing or 
stock bonus plan qualified under Code section 401(a) and exempt from 
taxation under Code section 501(a) under which some or all of the 
participants are employees described in section 401(c) of the Code. For 
purposes of this exemption, the term Keogh Plan shall not include a 
Keogh Plan which is an employee benefit plan covered by Title I of 
ERISA.
    (e) The term ``Account Value'' means the dollar value of 
investments in cash or securities held in the account for which market 
quotations are readily available. For purposes of this exemption, the 
term ``cash'' shall include (without limitation) savings accounts that 
are federally-insured and deposits as that term is defined in section 
29 CFR Section 2550.408b-4(c)(3). The term ``Account Value'' shall not 
include investments in securities that are offered by Fidelity 
exclusively to Covered Plans.
    (f) The term ``Tiered Product'' means an arrangement that is a 
``Tiered Interest Product'' or a ``Tiered Loan Product.''
    (g) The term ``Tiered Interest Product'' means a bank deposit, an 
arrangement for payment of interest on free cash held in a brokerage 
account, or any other arrangement under which assets in an individual's 
account that is eligible for the arrangement (including Covered Plans) 
are invested, and with respect to which interest is paid at a specified 
rate based on the aggregate amount of the accounts maintained with 
Fidelity by an individual and by his or her Family Members that are 
eligible to be taken into account for purposes of the arrangement, 
including the Account Value of the Covered Plans.
    (h) The term ``Tiered Loan Product'' means any arrangement for the 
extension of credit to an individual, with respect to which the 
interest and/or Loan Expenses required to be paid are reduced to a 
specified rate or amount based on the aggregate amount of the accounts 
and other financial relationships of the individual (and his or her 
Family Members) eligible to be taken into account for purposes of the 
arrangement, including the Account Value of the Covered Plans.
    (i) The term ``Loan Expenses'' means application fees, points, 
attorneys' fees, appraisal fees, title insurance, and any other fees or 
costs that an individual is required to pay in connection with the 
origination or maintenance of an extension of credit pursuant to a 
Tiered Loan Product.
    (j) The term ``Applicable Benefit'' means: (i) in the case of a 
Tiered Interest Product, an increase in the interest paid on an account 
established or maintained by an individual or any of his or her Family 
Members (including, in either case, through a Covered Plan); and (ii) 
in the case of a Tiered Loan Product, a reduction in the interest and/
or Loan Expenses that an individual or any of his or her Family Members 
is required to pay.
    (k) The term ``Family Members'' means beneficiaries of an 
individual for whose benefit the Covered Plan is established or 
maintained who would be members of the family as that term is defined 
in Code Section 4975(e)(6), or a brother, a sister, or spouse of a 
brother or sister.

EFFECTIVE DATE: If granted, this exemption will be effective as of (the 
date of publication of the final exemption in the Federal Register).

Summary of Facts and Representations

    1. FBS is a limited liability company with its principal office 
located in Boston, Massachusetts. FBS is wholly owned by FMR Corp. 
which is the parent company of the group of entities that together 
constitute Fidelity Investments (FBS and its affiliates are 
collectively referred to as Fidelity.) Fidelity is a financial services 
company that provides investment management, custody, brokerage, and 
other services to a wide variety of individuals and entities, including 
IRAs and other accounts and plans subject to Section 4975 of the Code 
and/or ERISA. Fidelity has approximately $1.7 million trillion assets 
under administration.
    2. PTE 93-33 as amended (64 FR 11044, March 8, 1999), provides 
relief from the restrictions of sections 406(a)(1)(D) and 406(b) of 
ERISA and the sanctions resulting from the application of sections 
4975(a) and (b), 4975(c)(3) and 408(e)(2) of the Code by reason of 
section 4975(c)(1)(D), (E) and (F) of the Code, and permits the receipt 
of services at reduced or no cost by an individual for whose benefit an 
IRA or Keogh Plan is established or maintained or by members of his or 
her family, from a bank pursuant to an arrangement in which the account 
balance of the IRA or Keogh Plan is taken into account for purposes of 
determining eligibility to receive such services, provided the 
conditions of the exemption are met. PTE 93-33 permitted banks to count 
IRAs and Keogh Plan established and maintained at the bank to determine 
a customer's eligibility to receive reduced or not cost services. Under 
PTE 93-33, as amended, banks are permitted to offer its customers only 
those services that may be offered by banks under applicable federal 
and state banking laws.\9\ In the case where the service is offered by 
an affiliate of the bank, the service must be of the type that the bank 
itself could offer customers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ In the notice of proposed exemption for PTE 93-2 (PTE 93-33 
subsequently amended PTE 93-2) the following examples of 
relationship banking services were listed: free checking services, 
discounted safe deposit box rents, or free loan closing costs. (52 
FR 8365 (February 28, 1992)). In addition, the Department notes that 
a bank may offer other services or benefits to customers as part of 
its relationship banking program. For example, under PTE 93-33 a 
bank may offer its relationship banking customers a higher interest 
rate on their investments, provided the conditions of the exemption 
are met.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    PTE 97-11 as amended, (67 FR 76425, December 12, 2002) permits the 
receipt of services at reduced or no cost by an individual for whose 
benefit an IRA or Keogh Plan is established or maintained or by members 
of his or her family, from a broker-dealer registered under the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 pursuant to an arrangement in which the 
account value of, or the fees incurred for services provided to, the 
IRA or Keogh Plan is/are taken into account for purposes of determining 
eligibility to receive such services,

[[Page 51523]]

provided that certain conditions are met. Under PTE 97-11 relief is 
provided from the restrictions of sections 406(a)(1)(D) and 406(b) of 
ERISA and the sanctions resulting from the application of sections 
4975(a) and (b), 4975(c)(3) and 408(e)(2) of the Code by reason of 
section 4975(c)(1)(D), (E) and (F) of the Code. PTE 97-11 limits the 
services that may be offered by broker-dealers under a relationship 
brokerage program to those services that the broker-dealer itself may 
offer consistent with federal and state laws regulating broker-
dealers.\10\ Furthermore, in those cases where the services are 
provided by an affiliate of the broker-dealer, the service must the 
type that the broker-dealer itself could offer customers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ In the notice of proposed exemption for PTE 97-11 (61 FR 
39996 (July 31, 1996), the following examples of relationship 
brokerage services were listed: financial planning services, direct 
deposit/debit and automatic fund transfer privileges, enhanced 
account statements, toll-free access to client service center, check 
writing privileges, debit/credit cards, special newsletter and 
reduced brokerage and asset management fees. In addition, the 
Department notes that a broker-dealer may offer its customers 
additional services and benefits as part of its relationship 
brokerage program. For example, under PTE 97-11, a broker-dealer may 
offer its relationship brokerage customers a higher interest rate on 
their investments, provided the conditions of the exemption are met.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Fidelity seeks an exemption that would allow the balance in a 
customer's Covered Plan to be taken into account in setting the 
interest rate earned on deposits or other similar investments of that 
person and family members. Similarly, the requested exemption would 
allow such person's Covered Plan balance to be taken into account in 
setting the interest or expenses to be charged on a loan to such person 
or any of the eligible relatives. The applicant represents that the 
exemption is necessary and appropriate because if the exemption is 
granted, Covered Plans would be able to receive favorable interest 
rates or reductions in borrowing costs based on the total amount that 
an individual and certain members of his or her family have in various 
relationships with FBS and its affiliates.
    These arrangements are similar to those contemplated in PTEs 93-33 
and 97-11. However, Fidelity does not believe that the arrangement 
described in its application falls within the relief provided by PTEs 
93-33 or 97-11 because its arrangement involves the payment of enhanced 
rates of interest on deposits or the charging of reduced rates of 
interest on loans would constitute ``the receipt of services at reduced 
or no cost'' within the meaning of the class exemptions.\11\ In 
addition, Fidelity requests exemptive relief to permit plans that are 
outside the term ``IRA'' as defined in PTEs 93-33 and 97-11, to engage 
in the covered transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ In this regard, both of the Class Exemptions define the 
term ``service'' to include incidental products of a de minimus 
value which are directly related to the provision of services 
covered by the exemption. It is noted that in footnote 26 of the 
Summary of Facts and Representations related to a recently proposed 
exemption sought by Citigroup, Inc. (Application No. D-11417, 72 FR 
207, p 60905 (Oct. 26, 2007)), the Department indicated that 
offering a higher interest rate on investments and other benefits 
could fall within the Class Exemptions. Fidelity does not believe it 
can reasonably rely on this notation and requests this exemption.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. The transaction covered by the proposed exemption would apply to 
a plan sponsored by Fidelity or a plan to which Fidelity maintains 
custody of its assets, and is an IRA or other savings account as 
described in section III(c) of the exemption, or a Keogh Plan described 
in section III(d) of the exemption. Under section III(c) of the 
exemption, the term IRA or other savings account is defined as IRAs 
described in section 408(a) of the Code, Individual Retirement 
Annuities described in section 408(b) of the Code, Archer Medical 
Savings Accounts described in section 220(d) of the Code, health 
savings accounts described in section 223(d) of the Code, Coverdell 
education savings account described in section 530 of the Code. 
However, the relief provided by the exemption, if granted, does not 
apply to an IRA that is an employee benefit plan that is covered by 
Title I of ERISA except for those IRAs that are part of a Simplified 
Employee Pension (SEP) described in section 408(k) of the Code or a 
Simple Retirement Account described in section 408(p) of the Code which 
provides participants with the unrestricted authority to transfer their 
balances to IRAs or Simple Retirement Accounts sponsored by different 
financial institutions.
    Under section III(d), the term Keogh means a pension, profit-
sharing or stock bonus plan qualified under Code section 401(a) and 
exempt from taxation under Code section 501(a) under which some or all 
of the participants are employees described in section 401(c) of the 
Code. The relief provided by the exemption, if granted, does not apply 
to a Keogh Plan which is an employee benefit plan covered by Title I of 
ERISA.
    Fidelity proposes to take into account the Account Value of the 
assets of Covered Plans of a customer or Family Members in calculating 
a customer's eligibility to receive Tiered Interest Products. In 
addition to situations in which the customer establishes the Covered 
Plan with Fidelity, Fidelity requests that the exemption permit 
Fidelity to take into account the Account Value of a Covered Plan that 
is established with an unrelated bank or broker-dealer, and is 
custodied with Fidelity. For example, an individual may establish an 
IRA with a broker-dealer that is unaffiliated with Fidelity under an 
arrangement which specifies that Fidelity will act as clearing broker 
for the account and will have custody of assets of the IRA. In such a 
case, the IRA and IRA owner may not be in privity of contract with 
Fidelity, but, under its agreement with the unaffiliated broker-dealer, 
Fidelity would be providing services to the IRA. Fidelity represents 
that disclosures provided to the IRA owner made by the unaffiliated 
broker would clearly specify the arrangement that services are being 
provided by Fidelity. Further, Fidelity's records would identify each 
such IRA and indicate that such brokerage and custodial services are 
being performed for the benefit of such IRA. Fidelity states there 
would be a significant relationship between Fidelity and the IRA. Such 
arrangements would operate under the exemption as arrangements 
involving those Covered Plans that are established directly with 
Fidelity.
    5. According to Fidelity, offering tiered interest rate 
arrangements to customers who have a variety of relationships with a 
financial institution, have become a standard practice. Under a tiered 
interest rate arrangement, the total amount of all of the relationships 
that the individual and his or her eligible family members have with 
the financial institution is determined, and the rate of interest paid 
with respect to the individual's investment in any specified interest-
bearing product (e.g., a CD or other deposit, or a free credit balance 
arrangement) will increase, at certain breakpoints, based on that total 
amount. The relationships taken into account in determining that total 
amount may include, for example, trust, custody, or brokerage accounts 
with the institution, loans borrowed from the institution, or bank 
deposits with the institution.
    Fidelity offers the following example of a tiered arrangement: (a) 
If the total amount of the relationships that an individual and his or 
her eligible family members have with the financial institution is less 
than $100,000, the interest rate paid on amounts held in one of those 
accounts and invested in a specific type of CD may be 2.5%; (b) if the 
total amount is at least $100,000 but less than $250,000, the interest 
rate may be 3.0%; (c) if the total amount is at least $250,000 but less 
than $1 million, the interest rate may be 3.5%; and (d)

[[Page 51524]]

if the total amount is $1 million or greater, the interest rate may be 
4.0%.
    6. Fidelity states that tiered interest rate arrangements have 
become prevalent in, e.g., savings, money market, and checking vehicles 
because they provide substantial benefits to both the financial 
institutions that offer them and the individuals who take advantage of 
them. From the perspective of the financial institution, tiered 
interest rate arrangements allow the business to offer incentives to 
individuals to consolidate assets at that institution and to reward an 
individual for making that decision. From the perspective of the 
customer, the institution can reward the individual as the relationship 
grows. Amounts held in a variety of accounts may earn more favorable 
rates of interest through investment in the tiered interest products 
than would be earned if the individual's accounts were spread among 
various financial institutions. If these tiered arrangements are 
extended to Covered Plan, the assets of the Covered Plans would benefit 
from favorable rates of interests.
    For example, an IRA owner may lock in an interest rate over a 
specified period by investing amounts held in the IRA in a certificate 
of deposit, or idle cash held in a brokerage account may earn interest 
under a free credit balance arrangement with the broker. Obtaining a 
favorable interest rate in any situation where an account is invested 
in an interest-bearing arrangement will help to maximize the overall 
return on the assets held or maintained in the account.
    7. Fidelity proposes to offer Tiered Interest Products to certain 
eligible accounts, held in the name of customers (and Family Members), 
with respect to which management, advisory, custody, brokerage, or 
other services are provided by Fidelity. The interest rates to be paid, 
based upon the applicable breakpoints, would be established for each 
Tiered Interest Product based on the nature of the product, regulatory 
requirements applicable to that particular Tiered Interest Product, and 
relevant market considerations.
    8. In addition, Fidelity proposes to offer customers tiered 
arrangements under which the costs of borrowing are reduced in 
connection with the relationships the borrower and his or her eligible 
family members have with Fidelity. Under such an arrangement, the 
aggregate amount the borrower and his or her Family Members have in 
relationships (i.e., assets maintained with Fidelity) with Fidelity is 
determined, and the interest rate and/or Loan Expenses charged with 
respect to the loan will be decreased, at certain breakpoints, based on 
that total amount.
    9. If the exemption is granted, Fidelity would be able to consider 
account balances of Covered Plans in determining a customer's 
eligibility to receive: (i) an increased rate of interest with respect 
to a Tiered Interest Product, and to other eligible accounts held or 
maintained in the name of the customer (or the name of his or her 
Family Members); or (ii) a reduction in the interest rate or Loan 
Expenses charged to a customer (or one of his or her Family Members) 
under a Tiered Loan Product.
    10. In summary, and for the reasons stated in the Application, 
Fidelity represents the transactions will satisfy statutory criteria of 
Section 4975(c)(2) of the Code and Section 408(a) of ERISA since, among 
other things:
    (a) The Covered Plan whose Account Value is taken into account for 
purposes of determining eligibility to receive the Applicable Benefit 
under the arrangement will be established and maintained for the 
exclusive benefit of the participant covered under the Covered Plan, 
his or her spouse, or their beneficiaries.
    (b) The Applicable Benefit with respect to the Tiered Product will 
be of the type that Fidelity could offer consistent with all applicable 
federal and state banking laws and all applicable federal and state 
laws regulating broker-dealers.
    (c) The Applicable Benefit with respect to the Tiered Product will 
be provided by Fidelity or its affiliate in the ordinary course of 
business as a bank or broker-dealer to customers of Fidelity who 
qualify for such arrangement but who do not maintain Covered Plans with 
Fidelity or its affiliate.
    (d) For purposes of determining eligibility to receive the 
Applicable Benefit, the Account Value of the Covered Plan required by 
Fidelity will be as favorable any requirement based on the value of any 
type of account used by Fidelity to determine eligibility to receive 
the Applicable Benefit.
    (e) The rate of interest paid with respect to any assets of the 
Covered Plan invested in a Tiered Interest Product will be reasonable.
    (f) The combined total of all fees for the provision of services to 
the Covered Plan will not be in excess of reasonable compensation 
within the meaning of section 4975 (d)(2) of the Code and 408(b)(2) of 
ERISA.
    (g) The investment performance of the Covered Plan's investment(s) 
will be no less favorable than the investment performance of an 
identical investment(s) that could have been made at the same time by a 
customer of Fidelity who is not eligible for (or who does not receive) 
any Applicable Benefit.
    (h) The Applicable Benefits offered with respect to any Tiered 
Product under the arrangement to a Covered Plan customer will be the 
same as is offered with respect to such Tiered Product to non-Covered 
Plan customers having the same aggregate Account Value.
    (i) When the Covered Plan is established at a broker-dealer or bank 
that is unrelated to Fidelity, the assets of the Covered Plan will be 
custodied with Fidelity, and at the time the Covered Plan is 
established, disclosures will be made to the owner of the Covered Plan 
specifying that under the arrangement, services will be provided by 
Fidelity to the Covered Plan.

Notice to Interested Persons

    The applicant represents that because those potentially interested 
persons cannot all be identified at the time this proposed exemption is 
published in the Federal Register, the only practical means of 
notifying the public is by publication of the notice of pendency in the 
Federal Register. Therefore, written comments and/or requests for a 
public hearing must be received by the Department not later than 45 
days from the date of publication of this notice of proposed exemption 
in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Padams-Lavigne, U.S. 
Department of Labor, telephone (202) 693-8564. (This is not a toll-fre