Proposed Exemptions From Certain Prohibited Transaction Restrictions, 66769-66778 [2013-26506]

Agencies

• Employee Benefits Security Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66769-66778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26506]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration


Proposed Exemptions From Certain Prohibited Transaction 
Restrictions

AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of proposed exemptions.

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SUMMARY: This document contains notices of pendency before the 
Department of Labor (the Department) of proposed exemptions from 
certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA or the Act) and/or the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). This notice includes the 
following proposed exemptions: D-11729, Bank of America Corporation; 
and L-11760, Intel Corporation.

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

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for a hearing should state: (1) The 
name, address, and telephone number of the person making the comment or 
request, and (2) the nature of the person's interest in the exemption 
and the manner in which the person would be adversely affected by the 
exemption. A request for a hearing must also state the issues to be 
addressed and include a general description of the evidence to be 
presented at the hearing. All written comments and requests for a 
hearing (at least three copies) should be sent to the Employee Benefits 
Security Administration (EBSA), Office of Exemption Determinations, 
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 email or FAX. Any such 
comments or requests should be sent either by email to: 
moffitt.betty@dol.gov, or by FAX to (202) 219-0204 by the end of the 
scheduled comment period. The applications for exemption and the 
comments received will be available for public inspection in the Public 
Documents Room of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Room N-1513, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210.
    Warning: All comments will be made available to the public. Do not 
include any personally identifiable information (such as Social 
Security number, name, address, or other contact information) or 
confidential business information that you do not want publicly 
disclosed. All comments may be posted on the Internet and can be 
retrieved by most Internet search engines.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notice to Interested Persons

    Notice of the proposed exemptions will be provided to all 
interested persons in the manner agreed upon by the applicant and the 
Department within 15 days of the date of publication in the Federal 
Register. Such notice shall include a copy of the notice of proposed 
exemption as published in the Federal Register and shall inform 
interested persons of their right to comment and to request a hearing 
(where appropriate).
    The proposed exemptions were requested in applications filed 
pursuant to section 408(a) of the Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the 
Code, and in accordance with procedures set forth in 29 CFR Part 2570, 
Subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 2011).\1\ Effective December 
31, 1978, section 102 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, 5 U.S.C. 
App. 1 (1996), transferred the authority of the Secretary of the 
Treasury to issue exemptions of the type requested to the Secretary of 
Labor. Therefore, these notices of proposed exemption are issued solely 
by the Department.
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    \1\ The Department has considered exemption applications 
received prior to December 27, 2011 under the exemption procedures 
set forth in 29 CFR Part 2570, Subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 
10, 1990).
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    The applications contain representations with regard to the 
proposed exemptions which are summarized below. Interested persons are 
referred to the applications on file with the Department for a complete 
statement of the facts and representations.

Bank of America Corporation Located in Charlotte, NC

[Application No. D-11729]

Proposed Exemption

    The Department is considering granting an exemption under the 
authority of ERISA section 408(a) and Code section 4975(c)(2) in 
accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR Part 2570, subpart B 
(76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 2011).
Section I: Covered Transactions
    If this proposed exemption is granted, the restrictions of ERISA 
sections 406(a)(1)(D) and 406(b) and the sanctions resulting from the 
application of Code section 4975 (including the loss of exemption \2\ 
by reason of Code sections 4975(c)(1)(D), (E) and (F)) shall not apply 
to the receipt of Relationship Benefits by an individual for whose 
benefit a Covered Plan is established or maintained, or by his or her 
Family Members, from BAC pursuant to an arrangement in which the 
Account Value of, or the Fees incurred for services provided to, the 
Covered Plan is taken into account for purposes of determining 
eligibility to receive such Relationship Benefits, provided that each 
condition of Section II of this proposed exemption is satisfied.
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    \2\ Pursuant to Code section 408(e)(2)(A)(for an individual 
retirement account or individual retirement annuity); Code section 
530(e) (for a Coverdell education savings account); Code section 
220(e)(2) (for an Archer medical savings account); or Code section 
223(e)(2) (for a health savings account).

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[[Page 66770]]

Section II: Conditions
    (a) The Covered Plan whose Account Value, or whose Fees paid, are 
taken into account for purposes of determining eligibility to receive 
Relationship Benefits under the arrangement must 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 Relationship Benefits offered under the arrangement must be 
of a type that a Qualified Affiliate could offer consistent with all 
applicable federal and state banking laws and all applicable federal 
and state laws regulating Broker-Dealers.
    (c) Where Account Values are taken into account for purposes of 
determining eligibility to receive benefits under the arrangement, the 
Account Values of Covered Plan accounts shall be treated as favorably, 
for purposes of satisfying such eligibility requirements, as the 
Account Values of other types of customer accounts.
    (d) Where levels of Fees incurred are taken into account for 
purposes of determining eligibility to receive benefits under the 
arrangement, the levels of Fees incurred by Covered Plan accounts shall 
be treated as favorably, for purposes of satisfying such eligibility 
requirements, as the levels of Fees incurred by other types of customer 
accounts.
    (e) The Relationship Benefits offered under the arrangement must be 
provided by a Qualified Affiliate in the ordinary course of its 
business as a Bank or Broker-Dealer to customers who qualify for such 
benefits, but who do not maintain Covered Plans with a Qualified 
Affiliate.
    (f) The combined total of fees for the provision of services to a 
Covered Plan is not in excess of reasonable compensation within the 
meaning of ERISA section 408(b)(2) and Code section 4975(d)(2).
    (g) The investment performance of the investments made by the 
Covered Plan is no less favorable than the investment performance of 
identical investments that could have been made at the same time by a 
customer of BAC who is not eligible for (or who does not receive) 
Relationship Benefits.
    (h) The Relationship Benefits offered under the arrangement to the 
Covered Plan customer must be the same as are offered to non-Covered 
Plan customers of Qualified Affiliates having the same aggregate 
Account Value or the same amount of Fees generated.
Section III: Definitions
    The following definitions apply to this proposed exemption:
    (a) The term ``Account Value'' means investments in cash or 
securities held in the account for which market quotations are readily 
available. For purposes of the exemption, the term ``cash'' includes 
savings accounts that are insured by a federal deposit insurance agency 
and constitute deposits as that term is defined in 29 CFR 2550.408b-
4(c)(3). The term ``Account Value'' does not include investments that 
are offered by BAC (or a Qualified Affiliate) exclusively to Covered 
Plans.
    (b) The term ``affiliate'' includes any person directly or 
indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with 
Bank of America Corporation.
    (c) The term ``Bank'' means a bank described in Code section 
408(n).
    (d) The term ``BAC'' means Bank of America Corporation and any of 
its affiliates.
    (e) The term ``Broker-Dealer'' means a broker-dealer registered 
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
    (f) The term ``control'' means the power to exercise a controlling 
influence over the management or policies of a person other than an 
individual.
    (g) The term ``Covered Plan'' means an IRA or other savings account 
described in section III(j) of this proposed exemption or a Keogh Plan 
described in section III(k) of this proposed exemption that is 
established with BAC as trustee or custodian.
    (h) The term ``Family Members'' means beneficiaries of the 
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 a spouse of a 
brother or sister.
    (i) The term ``Fees'' means commissions and other fees received by 
a Broker-Dealer from the Covered Plan for the provision of services, 
including but not limited to: Brokerage commissions, investment 
management fees, investment advisory fees, custodial fees, and 
administrative fees.
    (j) The term ``IRA'' means an individual retirement account 
described in Code section 408(a), an individual retirement annuity 
described in Code section 408(b), a Coverdell education savings account 
described in Code section 530, an Archer MSA described in Code section 
220(d), or a health savings account described in Code section 223(d). 
For purposes of this proposed exemption, the term ``IRA'' does not 
include an employee benefit plan covered by Title I of ERISA, except 
for a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) described in Code section 
408(k) and a Simple Retirement Account described in Code section 408(p) 
that provides participants with the unrestricted authority to transfer 
their balances to IRAs or Simple Retirement Accounts sponsored by 
different financial institutions.
    (k) 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 Code section 401(c). For 
purposes of this proposed exemption, the term ``Keogh Plan'' does not 
include an employee benefit plan covered by Title I of ERISA.
    (l) The term ``Qualified Affiliate'' means any person directly or 
indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with BAC 
that is a Bank or Broker-Dealer.
    (m) The term ``Relationship Benefits'' means reduced or no cost 
financial products and services, including premium rates of account or 
investment interest, discounted rates of interest on loans, reductions 
or waivers of otherwise applicable fees and charges, and/or 
differentiated servicing.

Summary of Facts and Representations

    1. Bank of America Corporation (the Applicant) is a bank holding 
company and a financial holding company under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley 
Act of 1999 (GLBA). As of December 31, 2011, Bank of America 
Corporation and its subsidiaries had total consolidated assets of 
approximately $2.1 trillion. The consumer and corporate banking 
business of Bank of America Corporation and its affiliates (together, 
BAC) is conducted primarily through Bank of America, National 
Association (BANA). BANA is a national franchise that includes branch 
and electronic banking, consumer lending services, and credit and debit 
card services. BAC's brokerage business, conducted primarily through 
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch), 
provides investment services, securities trading, research, and 
brokerage services to consumer and corporate customers. Merrill Lynch 
is a retail brokerage firm with approximately 17,000 financial advisors 
and offices located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 
Together, BANA and Merrill Lynch serve approximately 57 million 
consumer and small business relationships and client accounts with more 
than $2.2 trillion in net assets. In

[[Page 66771]]

the ordinary course of its business, BAC (including BANA and Merrill 
Lynch) provide a range of financial products and services to 
individuals including individual retirement accounts (IRAs) described 
in Code section 408(a), individual retirement annuities described in 
Code section 408(b), Coverdell education savings accounts described in 
Code section 530, Archer MSAs described in Code section 220(d), health 
savings accounts described in Code section 223(d) and Keogh plans 
(i.e., pension, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plans 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 
Code section 401(c)) not covered by Title I of ERISA (each, a ``Covered 
Plan'' as defined in the proposed exemption and collectively, the 
``Covered Plans''). For purposes of this proposed exemption, the term 
``Covered Plan'' includes Simplified Employee Pensions (SEP) described 
in Code section 408(k) and Simple Retirement Accounts described in Code 
section 408(p) that provide participants with the unrestricted 
authority to transfer their balances to IRAs or Simple Retirement 
Accounts sponsored by different financial institutions.

Reduced or No Cost Services in Prohibited Transaction Exemptions 93-33 
and 97-11

    2. The Applicant wishes to offer relationship banking and brokerage 
benefits that are similar to the reduced or no cost services 
contemplated by Prohibited Transaction Exemptions (PTEs) 93-33 and 97-
11. PTE 93-33 \3\ permits an individual for whose benefit an IRA or 
Keogh Plan is established or maintained, or his or her family members, 
to receive services at reduced or no cost from a bank under an 
arrangement in which the account balance of the IRA or Keogh Plan is 
considered when determining eligibility to receive such services. PTE 
93-33 permits banks to offer their customers only those services 
allowed under applicable federal and state banking laws.\4\ When an 
affiliate of the bank offers the service, it must be a type of service 
that the bank can offer its own customers.
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    \3\ 58 FR 31053 (May 28, 1993), as amended at 59 FR 22686 (May 
2, 1994), and as amended at 64 FR 11044 (March 8, 1999).
    \4\ 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. 56 FR 
8365, 8366 (February 28, 1991). 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.
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    3. PTE 97-11 \5\ permits an individual for whose benefit an IRA or 
Keogh Plan is established or maintained, or his or her family members, 
to receive services at reduced or no cost from a broker-dealer 
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 under an 
arrangement in which the account value or the fees incurred for 
services provided to the IRA or Keogh Plan is considered when 
determining eligibility to receive such services. PTE 97-11 limits the 
services that broker-dealers may offer under a relationship brokerage 
program to services that are permitted under federal and state laws 
regulating broker-dealers.\6\ Furthermore, when an affiliate of the 
broker-dealer offers the services, the services must be a type that the 
broker-dealer can offer its own customers.
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    \5\ 62 FR 5855 (February 7, 1997), as amended at 64 FR 11042 
(March 8, 1999), and as amended at 67 FR 76425 (December 12, 2002).
    \6\ In the notice of proposed exemption for PTE 97-11, 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 centers, check writing privileges, debit/credit 
cards, special newsletters, and reduced brokerage and asset 
management fees. 61 FR 39996, 39997 (July 31, 1996). 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.
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    4. PTEs 93-33 and 97-11 provide relief from the restrictions of 
ERISA sections 406(a)(1)(D) and 406(b) and the sanctions resulting from 
the application of Code section 4975, including the loss of exemption 
of an individual retirement account under Code section 408(e)(2) by 
reason of Code section 4975(c)(1)(D), (E) and (F), for individuals for 
whose benefit an IRA or Keogh Plan is established or maintained.
    5. The Applicant states that BAC's decision to offer relationship 
banking and brokerage benefits reflects the important changes that have 
occurred in the financial industry since PTEs 93-33 and 97-11 were 
issued. In this regard, the Applicant notes that PTEs 93-33 and 97-11 
were granted by the Department prior to the enactment of the GLBA. The 
Applicant represents that the GLBA altered the U.S. legal and 
regulatory framework governing the operations of U.S. bank holding 
companies such as Bank of America Corporation. The GLBA permits bank 
holding companies that qualify as ``financial holding companies''--
including the Applicant--to affiliate broadly with various types of 
financial services firms, including full service broker-dealers. 
Furthermore, the enactment of the GLBA greatly facilitated financial 
services integration in the United States and growth of bank-affiliated 
securities operations.
    6. According to the Applicant, another significant U.S. regulatory 
development occurred in 1995 when the U.S. Federal Reserve Board (FRB) 
adopted a rule regarding inter-affiliate ``combined-balance discount 
service programs'' offered to individual customers of banks and bank 
affiliates. In particular, the rule established a safe harbor from the 
statutory restrictions on bank tying arrangements so that banks have 
greater flexibility to package products with their affiliates. The 
Applicant represents that the rule validated the ability of banks and 
their broker-dealer affiliates to offer combined-balance discount 
programs (that meet the safe harbor requirements) to their customers. 
Furthermore, the Applicant represents that in 1997, the FRB reaffirmed 
the safe harbor when it re-wrote its Regulation Y, which includes a 
section dealing with anti-tying restrictions. The Applicant represents 
that the relationship banking and brokerage benefits described in this 
proposed exemption meet the safe harbor.
    7. In 2008, the Department granted an individual exemption, PTE 
2008-02,\7\ to Citigroup Inc. (Citigroup) that provides relief similar 
to PTEs 93-33 and 97-11. Under the exemption, individuals for whose 
benefit an IRA or Keogh Plan is established or maintained, and their 
family members, can receive both banking and brokerage services at 
reduced or no cost under an arrangement in which the account value of, 
or the fees incurred for services provided to, the IRA or Keogh Plan is 
taken into account for purposes of determining eligibility to receive 
such services. As part of the arrangement, Citigroup contemplated 
providing services such as: Reductions or waivers of fees for services 
such as checking, ATM, investment advisory and account opening or 
maintenance fees; preferred lending rates; premium interest crediting 
rates; credit or debit cards providing services such as enhanced 
mileage accumulation and reward point features; and the provision of 
investment information and seminars

[[Page 66772]]

that are available on an invitation-only basis.
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    \7\ 73 FR 3280 (January 17, 2008).
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Proposed Transactions

    8. In 2009, the Applicant acquired Merrill Lynch, which operates a 
significant retail securities business. As a result, BAC developed 
programs that link retail banking services with retail brokerage 
services. Under these programs, the Applicant's affiliates are able to 
consider a customer's combined balance maintained with the Applicants's 
affiliates to determine the customer's eligibility to receive various 
benefits including bank and broker-dealer products and services at 
reduced or no cost. The Applicant does not believe these arrangements 
clearly fall within the relief provided by PTEs 93-33 and 97-11. 
Therefore, the Applicant requests an exemption to permit the receipt of 
certain benefits by an individual for whose benefit a Covered Plan is 
established or maintained, or his or her family members, from BAC, 
pursuant to an arrangement in which the account value of or the fees 
incurred for services provided to the Covered Plan, is taken into 
account for purposes of determining eligibility to receive such 
products and services. The Applicant represents that these products and 
services (Relationship Benefits) are defined as reduced or no cost 
financial products and services, including premium rates of account or 
investment interest, discounted rates of interest on loans, reductions 
or waivers of otherwise applicable fees and charges, and/or 
differentiated servicing. More specifically, the Relationship Benefits 
will include: (1) Higher interest rates on products such as checking 
accounts, savings accounts and certificates of deposit; (2) services 
with reduced cost or value added features such as reductions or waivers 
of fees on checking accounts and ATM access, reduced or waived 
investment advisory and account opening or maintenance fees, reduced or 
waived securities trading commissions, and preferred lending rates; (3) 
credit or debit cards that provide services such as enhanced mileage 
accumulation and reward points features; (4) access to enhanced 
customer support services; and/or (5) investment information and 
seminars that are available on an invitation-only basis. Differentiated 
servicing refers to the provision of an enhanced level of customer 
service relative to that which would otherwise be provided, such as 
reduced customer service wait times, access to specialized customer 
support representatives, specialized newsletters, and similar items.
    9. The Applicant offers the following example of a Relationship 
Benefits program that could be offered under the proposed exemption, if 
granted:

    An individual client of BAC is the beneficial owner of an IRA 
with assets of $25,000 in a 12-month certificate of deposit, and BAC 
is the IRA custodian. The client also maintains a savings account at 
BANA with a balance of $10,000; a BANA checking account with a 
balance of $5,000; and a brokerage account at Merrill Lynch with a 
balance of $20,000. BAC makes a Relationship Benefits program 
available to clients that maintain aggregate balances of $50,000 or 
more in accounts eligible to participate in the program. Under the 
Relationship Benefits program, certain account fees that might 
otherwise apply are waived for the eligible accounts of qualifying 
clients, and higher interest rates are paid on certain deposit 
accounts. Without the exemption proposed herein, the client's IRA is 
not an eligible account, so the client fails to qualify for the 
program. Consequently, the client's checking account may be charged 
a $10 fee for overdraft protection transfers, a $30 fee for stop 
payment requests, and/or a $3 fee for receiving images of paid 
checks. Additionally, the client's brokerage account will not be 
eligible for the 30 free trades per month that would otherwise be 
available through the program. Finally, if the client's IRA is not 
eligible to participate, the interest rate paid on the savings 
account will be 0.15% annual percentage yield (APY) rather than 
0.20% APY, and the interest rate paid on the IRA's 12-month 
certificate of deposit will be 0.35% APY rather than 0.45% APY. If 
the proposed exemption is granted, the client will qualify for 
program participation due to the IRA's inclusion as an eligible 
account. Therefore, the client will receive more favorable interest 
rates and waived fees under the program.

Statutory Findings

    10. The Applicant represents that the statutory criteria needed to 
grant an exemption under ERISA section 408(a) and Code section 
4975(c)(2) will be satisfied. First, the proposed exemption is 
administratively feasible because: (1) The conditions and relief of the 
requested exemption are comparable to those described in PTEs 93-33, 
97-11, and 2008-02; and (2) the requested exemption will not require 
continued monitoring or other involvement on behalf of the Department. 
Second, the Applicant claims that the proposed exemption is in the 
interest of the Covered Plans because the plans will benefit from 
access to better products and services available through the 
Relationship Benefits program. Finally, the Applicant claims that the 
proposed exemption is protective of the rights of the Covered Plan 
participants and beneficiaries because:
    (a) The Covered Plan whose account value, or whose fees paid, are 
taken into account for purposes of determining eligibility to receive 
Relationship Benefits 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 Relationship Benefits offered under the arrangement will be 
of a type that a qualified affiliate could offer consistent with all 
applicable federal and state banking laws and all applicable federal 
and state laws regulating broker-dealers.
    (c) Where account values are taken into account for purposes of 
determining eligibility to receive benefits under the arrangement, the 
account values of Covered Plan accounts will be treated as favorably, 
for purposes of satisfying such eligibility requirements, as the 
account values of other types of customer accounts.
    (d) Where levels of fees incurred are taken into account for 
purposes of determining eligibility to receive benefits under the 
arrangement, the levels of fees incurred by Covered Plan accounts will 
be treated as favorably for purposes of satisfying such eligibility 
requirements, as the levels of fees incurred by other types of customer 
accounts.
    (e) The Relationship Benefits offered under the arrangement will be 
provided by a BAC affiliate in the ordinary course of its business as a 
bank or broker-dealer to customers who qualify for such benefits, but 
who do not maintain Covered Plans with a BAC affiliate.
    (f) The combined total of fees for the provision of services to a 
Covered Plan will not be in excess of reasonable compensation within 
the meaning of ERISA section 408(b)(2) and Code section 4975(d)(2).
    (g) The investment performance of the investments made by the 
Covered Plan will be no less favorable than the investment performance 
of identical investments that could have been made at the same time by 
a customer of BAC who is not eligible for (or who does not receive) 
Relationship Benefits.
    (h) The Relationship Benefits offered under the arrangement to the 
Covered Plan customer will be the same as are offered to non-Covered 
Plan customers of BAC affiliates having the same aggregate account 
value or the same amount of fees generated.

Notice to Interested Persons

    The Applicant represents that since the number of interested 
persons is very large, it will post notice of this proposed exemption 
on its principal consumer banking and brokerage Web sites in addition 
to publication of this notice in

[[Page 66773]]

the Federal Register. The Department must receive written comments and/
or requests for a public hearing no later than 45 days from the date 
this notice is published in the Federal Register.

For Further Information Contact:  Mr. Erin Hesse, U.S. Department of 
Labor, telephone (202) 693-8546. (This is not a toll-free number.)

Intel Corporation (Intel or the Applicant) Located in Santa Clara, CA

[Application No. L-11760]

Proposed Exemption

    The Department is considering granting an exemption under the 
authority of section 408(a) of the Act and in accordance with the 
procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, Subpart B (76 FR 66637, 
66644, October 27, 2011).
Section I. Transactions
    If the proposed exemption is granted, the restrictions of sections 
406(a)(1)(D) and 406(b) of the Act shall not apply to:
    (a) The reinsurance of risks and the receipt of premiums therefrom 
by Technology Assurance Limited (TAL), an affiliate of Intel, as the 
term ``affiliate'' is defined in Section III(a) below, in connection 
with basic and supplemental group term life insurance sold by the 
Minnesota Life Insurance Company (MN Life), or any successor insurance 
company which is unrelated to Intel (the Fronting Insurer), to the 
Intel Group Life Insurance Plan (the Life Plan); and
    (b) The reinsurance of risks and the receipt of premiums therefrom 
by TAL, in connection with basic and supplemental accidental death and 
dismemberment (AD&D) insurance sold by the Fronting Insurer to the 
Intel Group Accidental Death and Dismemberment Plan (the AD&D Plan); 
\8\ provided the conditions set forth in Section II, below, are 
satisfied.
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    \8\ The AD&D Plan and the Life Plan are together referred to 
herein as the ``Plans.''
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Section II. Conditions
    (a) TAL--
    (1) Is a party in interest with respect to the Plans by reason of a 
stock or partnership affiliation with Intel that is described in 
section 3(14)(E) or 3(14)(G) of the Act;
    (2) Is licensed to sell insurance or conduct reinsurance operations 
in at least one ``State,'' as defined in section 3(10) of the Act;
    (3) Has obtained a Certificate of Authority from the Hawaii 
Department of Insurance (HIDOI), which has neither been revoked nor 
suspended;
    (4)(A) Will undergo an examination by an independent certified 
public accountant for its last completed taxable year immediately prior 
to the taxable year of the reinsurance transaction covered by this 
proposed exemption, if granted; or
    (B) Has undergone a financial examination by the HIDOI within five 
(5) years prior to the end of the year preceding the year in which such 
reinsurance transaction has occurred; and
    (5) Is licensed to conduct reinsurance transactions by Hawaii, 
whose law requires that an actuarial review of reserves be conducted 
annually by an independent firm of actuaries and reported to the 
appropriate regulatory authority.
    (b) The Plans pay no more than adequate consideration for the 
insurance contracts.
    (c) No commissions are paid by the Plans with respect to the direct 
sale of such contracts or the reinsurance thereof.
    (d) In the initial year of every reinsurance contract involving TAL 
and a Fronting Insurer, there is an immediate and objectively 
determined benefit to participants and beneficiaries of the Plans in 
the form of increased benefits, and such benefits continue in all 
subsequent years of each such contract of reinsurance and in every 
renewal of each such contract, and will at least approximate the 
increase in benefits that will be effective as of the publication of 
the final exemption in the Federal Register, as described in this 
Notice of Proposed Exemption (the Notice).
    (e) In the initial year and in subsequent years of coverage 
provided by a Fronting Insurer, the formula used by the Fronting 
Insurer to calculate premiums will be similar to formulae used by other 
insurers providing comparable coverage under similar programs. 
Furthermore, the premium charge calculated in accordance with the 
formula will be reasonable and will be comparable to the premium 
charged by the Fronting Insurer and its competitors with the same or a 
better rating providing the same coverage under comparable programs.
    (f) The Fronting Insurer has a financial strength rating of ``A'' 
or better from A. M. Best Company (A. M. Best). The reinsurance 
arrangement between the Fronting Insurer and TAL will be indemnity 
insurance only, (i.e., the Fronting Insurer will not be relieved of 
liability to the Plans should TAL be unable or unwilling to cover any 
liability arising from the reinsurance arrangement).
    (g) The Plans retain an independent, qualified fiduciary (the I/F) 
or successor to such fiduciary, as defined in Section III(c), below, to 
analyze the transactions and to render an opinion that the requirements 
of Section II(a) through (f) and (h) of this proposed exemption have 
been satisfied.
    (h) Participants and beneficiaries in the Plans will receive in 
subsequent years of every contract of reinsurance involving TAL and the 
Fronting Insurer no less than the immediate and objectively determined 
increased benefits such participants and beneficiaries received in the 
initial year of each such contract involving TAL and the Fronting 
Insurer.
    (i) The I/F will: Monitor the transactions proposed herein on 
behalf of the Plans on a continuing basis to ensure such transactions 
remain in the interest of the Plans; take all appropriate actions to 
safeguard the interests of the Plans; and enforce compliance with all 
conditions and obligations imposed on any party dealing with the Plans.
    (j) In connection with the provision to participants in the Plans 
of the insurance coverage provided by the Fronting Insurer which is 
reinsured by TAL, the I/F will review all contracts (and any renewal of 
such contracts) of the reinsurance of risks and the receipt of premiums 
therefrom by TAL and must determine that the requirements of this 
exemption, if granted, and the terms of the increased benefits continue 
to be satisfied.
Section III. Definitions
    (a) The term ``affiliate'' of a person includes any person directly 
or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controlling, 
controlled by, or under common control with the person;
    (b) The term ``control'' means the power to exercise a controlling 
influence over the management or policies of a person other than an 
individual.
    (c) The term ``I/F'' describes a person, or a successor to such 
person, who is not Intel or TAL or an affiliate of either entity; and:
    (1) Does not have an ownership interest in Intel, in TAL, or in an 
affiliate of either;
    (2) Is not a fiduciary with respect to the Plans prior to its 
appointment to serve as the I/F;
    (3) Has acknowledged in writing acceptance of fiduciary 
responsibility and has agreed not to participate in any decision with 
respect to any transaction in which it has an interest that might 
affect its best judgment as a fiduciary; and

[[Page 66774]]

    (4) Has appropriate training, experience, and facilities to act on 
behalf of the Plans regarding the subject transactions in accordance 
with the fiduciary duties and responsibilities prescribed by the Act.
    For purposes of this definition of an ``I/F,'' no organization or 
individual may serve as an I/F for any fiscal year if the gross income 
received by such organization or individual (or partnership or 
corporation of which such individual is an officer, director, or 10 
percent or more partner or shareholder) for that fiscal year exceeds 
two percent (2%) of that organization's or individual's annual gross 
income from all sources for the prior fiscal year from Intel or from 
TAL, or from an affiliate of either (including amounts received for 
services as I/F under any prohibited transaction exemption granted by 
the Department).
    In addition, no organization or individual who is an I/F, and no 
partnership or corporation of which such organization or individual is 
an officer, director, or 10 percent (10%) or more partner or 
shareholder, may acquire any property from, sell any property to, or 
borrow any funds from Intel or from TAL, or from any affiliate of 
either during the period that such organization or individual serves as 
an I/F, and continuing for a period of six (6) months after such 
organization or individual ceases to be the I/F, or negotiates any such 
transaction during the period that such organization or individual 
serves as the I/F.
    In the event a successor I/F is appointed to represent the 
interests of the Plans with respect to the subject transactions, there 
may be no lapse in time between the resignation or termination of the 
former I/F and the appointment of the successor I/F.

Summary of Facts and Representations

    1. Intel, which is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, 
develops advanced integrated digital technology products (primarily 
integrated circuits) for industries such as computing and 
communications. Intel also designs and manufactures computing and 
communications components, wireless and wired connectivity products, as 
well as platforms that incorporate these components.
    For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012, Intel earned revenue 
of $53.3 billion and net income of $11.0 billion. Intel reported a 
global employee workforce of 101,671 as of December 31, 2011 (with 
approximately 55,500 employees in the United States). Intel is a party 
in interest with respect to the Plans, pursuant to section 3(14)(C) of 
the Act, as an employer whose employees are covered by the Plans.
    2. TAL is an insurance company that is wholly owned by Intel. TAL 
was originally incorporated in Hawaii on August 5, 2004, and 
subsequently licensed to commence business on September 1, 2004, for 
the purpose of reinsuring property and casualty risks of Intel. TAL is 
a party in interest with respect to the Plans pursuant to section 
3(14)(G) of the Act because it is a corporation of which 50 percent 
(50%) or more of the combined voting power of all classes of stock 
entitled to vote is owned directly or indirectly held by Intel, an 
employer any of whose employees are covered by the Plans, as described 
in section 3(14)(C) of the Act.
    3. TAL writes Intel's Terrorism Risk Insurance Act coverage to 
Intel and its subsidiaries. For the period and year-to-date ended 
December 31, 2012, TAL reported total assets of $9,570,558, gross 
written premiums of $3,300,636, and earned premiums of $166,200. TAL is 
subject to regulation by HIDOI, which requires that at least 100% of 
TAL's reserves be in some combination of cash, letters of credit, 
investments in approved investment policy, premiums in the course of 
collection, or other forms approved by HIDOI.
    4. The Plans are welfare benefit plans that provide basic and 
supplemental group term life insurance and basic and supplemental AD&D 
coverage to active full-time and part-time employees of Intel. The 
Plans are funded through insurance.
    Intel's general full-time employees, part-time employees, and 
contract employees are automatically enrolled in the basic Life Plan 
and the basic AD&D Plan. These employees are eligible to participate in 
supplemental and dependent coverage, regardless of age, sex, salary or 
position. The Life Plan had approximately 48,717 participants, as of 
August 31, 2012. Basic group term life insurance is paid for by Intel 
through employer premium contributions.
    5. Under the terms of the Life Plan, basic group term life 
insurance is available to active full-time and contract employees at 
two times eligible annual earnings, multiplied by 100% and then rounded 
to the next higher $1,000 if not already a multiple thereof, subject to 
a maximum of $1,000,000 of coverage. For example, according to the 
Summary Plan Description (SPD) for the Life Plan, an employee earning 
$25,000 per year would have ``basic life amount'' coverage of $50,000, 
an employee earning $50,000 per year would have ``basic life amount'' 
coverage of $100,000, and so forth up to the maximum of $1,000,000.
    In addition, basic group term life insurance is available to active 
part-time employees at two times full-time equivalent eligible annual 
earnings, multiplied by 62.5% and then rounded to the next higher 
$1,000 if not already a multiple thereof, subject to a maximum of 
$1,000,000 of coverage. For example, an employee earning $25,000 per 
year would have ``basic life amount'' coverage of $32,000, an employee 
earning $50,000 per year would have ``basic life amount'' coverage of 
$63,000, and so forth up to the maximum of $1,000,000.
    6. The Life Plan also provides supplemental group term life 
coverage to full-time and part-time employees of Intel, but not to 
Intel contract employees. Under the current terms of the Life Plan, 
basic supplemental life insurance is available to active full-time 
employees at one to seven times annual earnings as elected by the 
employee, multiplied by 100% and then rounded to the next higher $1,000 
if not already a multiple thereof, subject to a maximum of $2,000,000. 
Basic supplemental life insurance is available to active part-time 
employees at one to seven times annual earnings as elected by the 
employee, multiplied by 62.5% and then rounded to the next higher 
$1,000, if not already a multiple thereof, subject to a maximum of 
$2,000,000.
    Supplemental insurance is paid for by Intel's employees through 
premium contributions. All insurance terminates at retirement, except 
as provided for under the portability provision found in the SPD of the 
Life Plan.
    7. The Life Plan further provides supplemental dependent term life 
insurance to full-time and part-time employees of Intel. Contract 
employees are not eligible for this coverage. Dependent term life 
insurance for the spouses and domestic partners of Intel's employees is 
available to active full-time and part-time employees in the following 
amounts: $20,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000 or $250,000, as 
elected by the employee. Dependent term life insurance for the children 
of Intel's employees is available to active full-time and part-time 
employees in the following amounts: $5,000, $10,000, $15,000 or 
$20,000, as elected by the employee.
    Dependent term life insurance coverage is paid for by Intel's 
employees through premium contributions. All dependent insurance 
terminates upon the employee's retirement except as provided under the 
portability provision found in the Plans' SPD.

[[Page 66775]]

    8. Under the terms of the AD&D Plan, basic AD&D insurance is 
available to active full-time and contract employees of Intel at two 
times the employee's eligible annual earnings, multiplied by 100%, and 
then rounded to the next higher $1,000, if not already a multiple 
thereof. Such AD&D coverage is subject to a maximum of $1,000,000 of 
coverage. In addition, basic AD&D insurance is available to active 
part-time employees of Intel at two times the employee's annual 
earnings, multiplied by 62.5% and then rounded to the next higher 
$1,000, if not already a multiple thereof. Such AD&D coverage is also 
subject to a maximum of $1,000,000. All basic AD&D insurance that is 
available to Intel employees is non-contributory insurance, which means 
that the employer is required to make premium contributions.
    9. The AD&D Plan also provides supplemental AD&D insurance to full-
time and part-time employees of Intel, but not to Intel's contract 
employees. AD&D supplemental coverage is available to an active full-
time employee at one to seven times the annual earnings as elected by 
the employee, multiplied by 100% and then rounded to the next higher 
$1,000 if not already a multiple thereof. The maximum amount of 
coverage for an active full-time Intel employee is $1,000,000. AD&D 
coverage is also available to an active part-time employee of Intel at 
one to seven times the employee's full-time equivalent eligible annual 
earnings, multiplied by 62.5% and then rounded to the next higher 
$1,000, if not already a multiple thereof. The maximum amount of 
coverage is capped at $1,000,000.
    Under the current terms of the AD&D Plan, all supplemental AD&D 
insurance is paid for by Intel's employees through premium 
contributions. Therefore, supplemental AD&D insurance is contributory 
insurance, which means that the employee is required to make premium 
contributions. All AD&D insurance terminates at retirement, except as 
provided for under the portability provision found in the SPD. There 
are 48,437 participants in the basic AD&D Plan, of which 21,202 
participants have elected supplemental AD&D coverage.
    10. The AD&D Plan further provides insurance coverage to dependents 
of full-time and part-time employees of Intel, but not to dependents of 
Intel's contract employees. Dependent AD&D insurance for the spouses, 
domestic partners and children of Intel's employees is available to 
active full-time and part-time employees in the following amounts: (a) 
Option 1: spouse/same sex domestic partner $50,000; child(ren) $10,000; 
(b) Option 2: spouse/same sex domestic partner $100,000; child(ren) 
$20,000; (c) Option 3: Spouse/same sex domestic partner $150,000; 
child(ren) $30,000; (d) Option 4: Spouse/same sex domestic partner 
$200,000; child(ren) $40,000; and (e) Option 5: spouse/same sex 
domestic partner $250,000; child(ren) $50,000. Dependent AD&D insurance 
coverage is paid for by Intel's employees through premium 
contributions. Benefits will terminate at the end of the calendar month 
in which the dependent is no longer eligible.
    11. From January 1, 2007, until December 31, 2012, the Plans' 
benefits were insured by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company 
(MetLife). Since January 1, 2013, MN Life has been providing direct 
insurance for the basic and supplemental group term life insurance and 
the basic and supplemental AD&D coverage offered under the Plans in 
accordance with an agreement MN Life entered into with Intel. As of 
September 30, 2012, MN Life had total assets of approximately $28.4 
billion. MN Life has agreed to a rate guarantee for a 7 year period 
beginning January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2019. It is represented 
that Intel selected MN Life based upon consideration of relevant 
factors to the arrangement, including the reasonableness of the fees 
and the quality and quantity of the benefits offered. Both MN Life and 
MetLife are rated ``A+'' by A. M. Best.
    The Applicant states that the change in insurance carriers from 
MetLife to MN Life has not reduced Intel's or the employees' overall 
costs for insurance benefits. The costs remain the same for both Intel 
and the employees. However, the Applicant represents that the change in 
carriers has resulted in several increased benefits for Intel 
employees, as described below.
    12. Also, on January 1, 2013, MN Life entered into a reinsurance 
agreement with TAL to reinsure up to 100% of the Plans' risks with TAL. 
However, TAL will not receive any premiums from MN Life until this 
proposed exemption is granted. MN Life's reinsurance agreement with TAL 
(the Reinsurance Agreement) is ``indemnity only''--that is, MN Life 
will not be relieved of its liability for benefits under the Plans if 
TAL is unable or unwilling to satisfy the liabilities arising from the 
reinsurance arrangement.
    13. As TAL is a party in interest with respect to the Plans, the 
reinsurance of the risks associated with the basic and supplemental 
group term life insurance and basic and supplemental AD&D coverage 
offered to the Plans by MN Life results in the indirect transfer to TAL 
of the Plans' premium payments, which are plan assets. Section 
406(a)(1)(D) of the Act prohibits the transfer to, or use by or for the 
benefit of, a party in interest, of any assets of a plan. Accordingly, 
this proposed exemption, if granted, would provide relief from the 
prohibitions set forth in section 406(a)(1)(D) of the Act for the 
reinsurance of risks and the receipt of premiums therefrom by TAL, in 
connection with basic and supplemental group term life insurance and 
basic and supplemental AD&D coverage.
    In addition, because the reinsurance by TAL of such insurance 
coverage was contemplated by Intel at the time that the Plans obtained 
insurance coverage from MN Life, such transactions could constitute 
violations by Intel of section 406(b) of the Act. In this regard, 
section 406(b)(1) of the Act prohibits a fiduciary from dealing with 
the assets of a plan in his own interest or for his own account. 
Section 406(b)(2) of the Act prohibits a fiduciary from acting in a 
transaction involving plan assets on behalf of a party whose interests 
are adverse to those of the plan. Section 406(b)(3) of the Act 
prohibits a fiduciary from receiving any consideration for his own 
personal account from any party dealing with a plan in connection with 
a transaction involving plan assets.
    14. With respect to the Reinsurance Agreement between MN Life and 
TAL, the Applicant represents that all eligible active full-time and 
part-time employee participants in the Plans have been receiving 
certain increases to their basic and supplemental group term life 
insurance since January 1, 2013. In this regard, the supplemental group 
term life and supplemental AD&D benefit coverage under the Plans has 
been increased. According to the Applicant, as noted above, Intel 
employees are currently eligible to elect up to seven times their 
annual salary for supplemental group term life insurance and up to six 
times or seven times their annual salaries for supplemental AD&D 
benefits. Formerly, employees who elected supplemental group term life 
insurance and supplemental AD&D coverage were eligible to elect up to 
five times and six times their annual earnings, respectively. The 
maximum amount of coverage for these benefits will remain the same 
(capped at $2,000,000 for the supplemental group term life insurance, 
and $1,000,000 for the supplemental AD&D insurance).
    The Applicant represents that the insurance premiums employees pay 
for these increases will not be raised unless the employees elect to 
increase their

[[Page 66776]]

supplemental life and/or supplemental AD&D coverage. The Applicant also 
explains that if Intel employees seek supplemental group term life 
insurance or AD&D insurance outside of their respective Plans, they 
would be doing so in the individual insurance market of the state in 
which they live. In most states, the employee would be subjected to 
individual underwriting, and would on average, pay higher premiums than 
on a group basis.
    15. Intel is providing all of its employees who are participants in 
the Plans with access to Ceridian's Will Preparation and Legal Services 
program. This benefit enhancement includes the following services: (a) 
A free 30-minute initial consultation per legal issue with an attorney 
in the Plan participant's state of residence; (b) the creation of 
various legal documents, such as a will or a financial power of 
attorney; (c) a referral to a local attorney, access to a variety of 
legal forms, and access to an online legal library; and (d) a 25% 
discount off an attorney's normal hourly rate should an employee retain 
an attorney after an initial consultation. Intel is bearing the cost of 
this benefit enhancement.
    According to the Applicant, previously, only Intel employees who 
were enrolled in the supplemental group term life insurance program had 
access to the free will preparation service offered by Hyatt Legal 
Plans.
    16. Further, Intel is providing legacy planning services to 
employees to assist them in their time of need. These services relate 
to: (a) Asset distributions; (b) last wishes; (c) estate planning; (d) 
last will and testament; (e) power of attorney; (f) healthcare 
directives; (g) beneficiary designations; and (h) document locator. 
Legacy planning services are provided to all active Intel employees 
through secure Web site access. Intel is bearing the full cost of this 
enhancement to the Plan.
    17. Finally, Intel is providing new beneficiary financial 
counseling services to beneficiaries of all active employees as part of 
the Plan. In effect, eligible individuals are able to receive financial 
services through PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP. The beneficiary financial 
counseling services (BFC Services) are available to all beneficiaries 
receiving life benefits at no additional cost. The BFC Services provide 
the following benefits to beneficiaries of Intel employees: (a) A 
beneficiary guide giving information on estate issues, survivor 
benefits, financial planning and non-financial issues; (b) eAdvisor, an 
integrated planning tool giving beneficiaries access to online 
financial calculators, life event guides and related services; (c) 
access to the bi-monthly electronic financial planning newsletter, 
``Your Money, Your Future;'' (d) a computer-generated personalized 
financial analysis; (e) ConseLine, an unlimited toll-free telephone 
access for one year on financial planning issues; and (f) six-months of 
personal financial counseling.
    Intel states that the benefit enhancements described above will 
impose a financial burden on the sponsor of the Plans because, with the 
exception of employees electing increased supplemental group term life 
and AD&D coverage, Intel will be bearing the $94,000 annual costs.
    18. In connection with this exemption request, Milliman, 
Incorporated (Milliman) has been engaged to act as the I/F on behalf of 
the Plans for the purpose of evaluating, and if appropriate, approving 
the subject transactions. Specifically, William J. Thomson, FSA, MAAA, 
Principal and Consulting Actuary with Milliman has been appointed to 
undertake the duties of the independent fiduciary. In this regard, 
Milliman is responsible for conducting a due diligence review and 
analysis of the proposed transactions and for providing a written 
opinion as to whether the arrangement complies with the Department's 
requirements for an administrative exemption. Milliman certifies that 
it is qualified to serve as the I/F and the personnel who comprise 
Milliman are experienced in prohibited transaction exemptions issued by 
the Department. Milliman represents that it is independent in that it 
does not have and has not previously had, any relationship with any 
party in interest (including any affiliates thereof) engaging in the 
transactions described above. Further, Milliman represents that the 
gross income it received from Intel, TAL or MN Life for its fiscal year 
does not exceed two percent of its gross annual income from all 
sources.
    19. In connection with the transactions that are the subject of 
this proposed exemption, Milliman, among other things: (a) Reviewed a 
draft of Intel's request for an administrative exemption from the 
Department; (b) conferred with Intel's representative to discuss the 
transactions and the Plans; and (c) conducted such other due diligence 
reviews as were deemed necessary. Milliman also considered the premiums 
to be paid by the Plans for the proposed coverage, and determined that 
the premiums were comparable to the premiums that would have been 
charged by a competitor insurer. Milliman notes that the premium rate 
agreed to with MN Life includes a percentage allocation for non-claims 
expenses, which expenses here include fronting fees, expenses and 
taxes.
    20. Milliman has determined that the reinsurance arrangement will 
result in an immediate and objectively determined benefit in the form 
of increased supplemental life insurance and AD&D benefits, enhanced 
will preparation and legal services, and new legacy planning and 
beneficiary financial counseling services to all participants and 
beneficiaries of the Plans. Milliman states that the benefit 
enhancements provide a means of reducing personal financial risks that 
may be unavailable to many of the Plans' participants as individuals, 
which provides a value to these persons even if they never file a 
claim.
    21. The Applicant represents that the proposed exemption is 
administratively feasible because the reinsurance of the Plans' risks 
under the terms of the group term life insurance and AD&D coverage is, 
among other things, subject to review by an I/F, which can be audited. 
In addition, the Applicant notes that Intel has and will bear the cost 
of the exemption application and of notifying the interested persons. 
Further, the Applicant explains that the proposed exemption does not 
require continued monitoring or other involvement by the Department.
    The Applicant also represents that the proposed exemption is in the 
interest of the Plans because the Plans will pay no more than adequate 
consideration for the insurance contracts with MN Life. The Applicant 
further represents that the proposed exemption is protective of the 
rights of the participants and beneficiaries of the Plans because the 
exemption requires the review and approval of an I/F, at Intel's 
expense. Specifically, the proposed exemption, if granted, requires 
that the I/F analyze the subject transactions and render an opinion 
regarding whether certain of the conditions of the exemption were 
satisfied, including that: (a) The Plans pay no more than adequate 
consideration for the insurance contracts; (b) the Plans pay no 
commissions with respect to the direct sale of such contracts or the 
reinsurance thereof; (c) in the initial year of every contract 
involving TAL and a Fronting Insurer, there is an immediate and 
objectively determined benefit to participants and beneficiaries of the 
Plans in the form of increased benefits approximating the increase in 
benefits that is effective January 1, 2013, as described herein, and 
such benefits continue in all subsequent years of each contract and in 
every renewal of each contract; and (d) in the initial year and in 
subsequent years of coverage

[[Page 66777]]

provided by a Fronting Insurer, the formula used by the Fronting 
Insurer to calculate premiums is similar to formulae used by other 
insurers providing comparable coverage under similar programs. 
Furthermore, the premium charge calculated in accordance with the 
formula will be reasonable and comparable to the premium charged by the 
Fronting Insurer and its competitors with the same or a better rating 
providing the same coverage under comparable programs.
    The Applicant states that if exemptive relief is granted, any 
Fronting Insurer will have a financial strength rating of ``A'' or 
better from A. M. Best, and the reinsurance arrangement between the 
Fronting Insurer and TAL will be indemnity insurance only.
    Finally, the Applicant notes that participants and beneficiaries in 
the Plans will receive in subsequent years of every contract of 
reinsurance involving TAL and the Fronting Insurer no less than the 
immediate and objectively determined increased benefits such 
participant and beneficiary received in the initial year of each such 
contract involving TAL and the Fronting Insurer.
    22. In summary, the Applicant represents that the reinsurance 
transactions will meet the criteria of section 408(a) of the Act since, 
among other things:
    (a) The Plans will pay no more than adequate consideration for the 
insurance contracts;
    (b) No commissions will be paid by the Plans with respect to the 
direct sales of such contracts or the reinsurance thereof;
    (c) In the initial year of every contract involving TAL and a 
Fronting Insurer, there will be an immediate and objectively determined 
benefit to participants and beneficiaries of the Plans in the form of 
increased benefits, and such benefits will continue in all subsequent 
years of each contract and in every renewal of each contract, and will 
approximate the increase in benefits that are effective January 1, 
2013, as described in the Notice;
    (d) In the initial year and in subsequent years of coverage 
provided by a Fronting Insurer, the formula used by the Fronting 
Insurer to calculate premiums will be similar to formulae used by other 
insurers providing comparable coverage under similar programs. 
Furthermore, the premium charge calculated in accordance with the 
formula will be reasonable and will be comparable to the premium 
charged by the Fronting Insurer and its competitors with the same or a 
better rating providing the same coverage under comparable programs;
    (e) The Fronting Insurer will have a financial strength rating of 
``A'' or better from A. M. Best. The reinsurance arrangement between 
the Fronting Insurer and TAL will be indemnity insurance only;
    (f) The Plans will retain an I/F or successor to such fiduciary to 
analyze the transactions and to render an opinion that certain relevant 
requirements of the proposed exemption, if granted, have been 
satisfied;
    (g) Participants and beneficiaries in the Plans will receive in 
subsequent years of every contract of reinsurance involving TAL and the 
Fronting Insurer no less than the immediate and objectively determined 
increased benefits such participant and beneficiary received in the 
initial year of each such contract involving TAL and the Fronting 
Insurer;
    (h) The I/F will: Monitor the transactions proposed herein on 
behalf of the Plans on a continuing basis to ensure such transactions 
remain in the interest of the Plans; take all appropriate actions to 
safeguard the interests of the Plans; and enforce compliance with all 
conditions and obligations imposed on any party dealing with the Plans; 
and
    (i) In connection with the provision to participants in the Plans 
of the insurance coverage provided by the Fronting Insurer which is 
reinsured by TAL, the I/F will review all contracts (and any renewal of 
such contracts) of the reinsurance of risks and the receipt of premiums 
therefrom by TAL and will determine that the requirements of this 
exemption, if granted, and the terms of the benefit enhancements 
continue to be satisfied.

Notice to Interested Persons

    It is represented that Intel will notify interested persons of the 
publication of the Notice in the Federal Register by email and then 
first class mail to each such interested person's most recent address 
maintained in the records of the administrator of the Plans, if the 
email is undeliverable. The Notice will also be posted on Intel's 
internal Web site. Such notification 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, as required pursuant to 29 CFR 
2570.43(a)(2) which will advise all interested persons of their right 
to comment and to request a hearing. Intel will provide such 
notification to all such interested persons within 10 days of the date 
of publication of the Notice in the Federal Register. Intel will mail 
the letters within 10 days of the undeliverable response being 
received. All written comments and/or requests for a hearing must be 
received by the Department from interested persons no later than 50 
days after publication of the Notice in the Federal Register.
    All comments will be made available to the public.
    Warning: Do not include any personally identifiable information 
(such as name, address, or other contact information) or confidential 
business information that you do not want publicly disclosed. All 
comments may be posted on the Internet and can be retrieved by most 
Internet search engines.

For Further Information Contact: Blessed Chuksorji-Keefe of the 
Department, telephone (202) 693-8567. (This is not a toll-free number.)

General Information

    The attention of interested persons is directed to the following:
    (1) The fact that a transaction is the subject of an exemption 
under section 408(a) of the Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the Code 
does not relieve a fiduciary or other party in interest or disqualified 
person from certain other provisions of the Act and/or the Code, 
including any prohibited transaction provisions to which the exemption 
does not apply and the general fiduciary responsibility provisions of 
section 404 of the Act, which, among other things, require a fiduciary 
to discharge his duties respecting the plan solely in the interest of 
the participants and beneficiaries of the plan and in a prudent fashion 
in accordance with section 404(a)(1)(b) of the Act; nor does it affect 
the requirement of section 401(a) of the Code that the plan must 
operate for the exclusive benefit of the employees of the employer 
maintaining the plan and their beneficiaries;
    (2) Before an exemption may be granted under section 408(a) of the 
Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the Code, the Department must find 
that the exemption is administratively feasible, in the interests of 
the plan and of its participants and beneficiaries, and protective of 
the rights of participants and beneficiaries of the plan;
    (3) The proposed exemptions, if granted, will be supplemental to, 
and not in derogation of, any other provisions of the Act and/or the 
Code, including statutory or administrative exemptions and transitional 
rules. Furthermore, the fact that a transaction is subject to an 
administrative or statutory exemption is not dispositive of whether the 
transaction is in fact a prohibited transaction; and

[[Page 66778]]

    (4) The proposed exemptions, if granted, will be subject to the 
express condition that the material facts and representations contained 
in each application are true and complete, and that each application 
accurately describes all material terms of the transaction which is the 
subject of the exemption.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 31st day of October 2013.
Lyssa E. Hall,
Director Office of Exemption Determinations, Employee Benefits Security 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2013-26506 Filed 11-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P