Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; Prohibited Transaction Exemption 97-41, Collective Investment Funds Conversion Transactions, 17986-17987 [E9-8908]

Download as PDF 17986 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 74 / Monday, April 20, 2009 / Notices plan fiduciary and provide the plan with an opportunity to withdraw from the program. For Large Accounts, prior to the cross-trade, the Manager must provide information about the crosstrading program and obtain written authorization from the fiduciary of a Large Account to engage in cross-trading in connection with a portfolio restructuring program. Following completion of the Large Account’s restructuring, information must be provided by the Manager about all cross-trades executed in connection with a portfolio-restructuring program. Finally, the exemption requires that Managers maintain for a period of 6 years from the date of each cross-trade the records necessary to enable plan fiduciaries and certain other persons specified in the exemption (e.g., Department representatives or contributing employers), to determine whether the conditions of the exemption have been met. EBSA previously submitted the information collection provisions of PTE 2002–12 to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review in connection with promulgation of the prohibited transaction exemption. OMB approved the information collection request (ICR) under OMB Control No. 1210–0115. The ICR approval is currently scheduled to expire on August 31, 2009. rmajette on PRODPC74 with NOTICES II. Desired Focus of Comments The Department of Labor (Department) is particularly interested in comments that: • Provide information related to the number of entities offering Index and Model-Driven Funds and their client plans, and the number of Large Accounts that may make use of the exemption; • Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; • Evaluate the accuracy of the Department’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, VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:02 Apr 17, 2009 Jkt 217001 e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses. III. Current Actions This notice requests comments on an extension of the information collections in PTE 2002–12. After considering comments received in response to this notice, the Department intends to submit the ICR to OMB for continuing approval. Extension of the information collection provision of the exemption is important because, without the disclosures and recordkeeping provided for in the exemption, participants’ and beneficiaries’ investments in a pension plan might not be adequately protected. In addition, Managers that cross trade securities among Funds or cross trade securities in connection with the restructuring of a portfolio of a Large Account would be subject to statutorily imposed sanctions under ERISA. Lastly, the exemption provides a benefit to plans and participants through savings that result from index/model crosstrading. No change to the existing ICR is being proposed or made at this time. A summary of the ICR and the current burden estimates follows: Agency: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor. Title: Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 2002–12, Cross-Trades of Securities by Index and Model-Driven Funds. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of information. OMB Number: 1210–0115. Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions. Respondents: 60. Responses: 960. Estimated Total Burden Hours: 855. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the ICR submitted to OMB for approval; they will also become a matter of public record. Dated: April 13, 2009. Joseph S. Piacentini, Director, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security Administration. [FR Doc. E9–8904 Filed 4–17–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–29–P PO 00000 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 19, 2009. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to G. Christopher Cosby 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 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 74 / Monday, April 20, 2009 / Notices Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and from certain taxes imposed 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. EBSA previously submitted the information collection provisions of PTE 2002–12 to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review in connection with promulgation of the prohibited transaction exemption. OMB approved the information collection request (ICR) under OMB Control No. 1210–0115. The ICR approval is currently scheduled to expire on June 30, 2009. rmajette on PRODPC74 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., permitting electronic submission of responses. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:02 Apr 17, 2009 Jkt 217001 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: 1,756. Respondents: 105. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Responses: 105. Total Burden Cost (Operating and Maintenance): $282,000. 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 13, 2009. Joseph S. Piacentini, Director, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security Administration. [FR Doc. E9–8908 Filed 4–17–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–20–P DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employee Benefits Security Administration Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 2004–07, Transactions With Trust REIT Shares AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (the Department), 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) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This helps to ensure that the Department can properly assess the impact of its information collection requirements on respondents and PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17987 minimize the reporting burden (in both time and financial resources) on the public and that the public can clearly 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 a proposed extension of the information collection provisions in Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption (PTE) 2004–07, which concerns publicly traded shares of beneficial interest in real estate investment trusts structured under State law as business trusts. 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 on or before June 19, 2009. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to G. Christopher Cosby, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N–5647, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693–8410; Fax: (202) 219–4745. These 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 2004–07 exempts from certain prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and from certain taxes imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code), the acquisition, holding, sale, and contribution in kind of publicly traded shares of beneficial interest in a real estate investment trust that is structured under State law as a business trust (Trust REIT), on behalf of and to individual account plans sponsored by the REIT or its affiliates, provided that certain conditions are met. The exemption allows individual account plans (Plans) established by Trust REITs to offer a beneficial interest in the Trust REIT in the form of Qualifying REIT Shares, as defined in the exemption, to participants in Plans sponsored by the REIT or its employer affiliates, to require that employer contributions be used to purchase such shares, and to permit ‘‘contributions in kind’’ of such shares to these Plans by employers. The exemption conditions relief on compliance with a number of information collection requirements. These information collections are to be provided or made available to plan E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 74 (Monday, April 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17986-17987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8908]


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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 19, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to G. Christopher Cosby 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

[[Page 17987]]

Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and from certain taxes 
imposed 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.
    EBSA previously submitted the information collection provisions of 
PTE 2002-12 to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review in 
connection with promulgation of the prohibited transaction exemption. 
OMB approved the information collection request (ICR) under OMB Control 
No. 1210-0115. The ICR approval is currently scheduled to expire on 
June 30, 2009.

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., 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: 1,756.
    Respondents: 105.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Responses: 105.
    Total Burden Cost (Operating and Maintenance): $282,000.
    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 13, 2009.
Joseph S. Piacentini,
Director, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-8908 Filed 4-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-20-P

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