Treatment of Certain Interests in Corporations as Stock or Indebtedness; Correction, 8165-8169 [2017-00498]

Agencies

• Internal Revenue Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8165-8169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00498]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[TD 9790]
RIN 1545-BN40


Treatment of Certain Interests in Corporations as Stock or 
Indebtedness; Correction

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Correcting amendments.

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SUMMARY: This document contains corrections to the final and temporary 
regulations (T.D. 9790) that were published in the Federal Register on 
Friday, October 21, 2016 (81 FR 72858). The regulations relate to the 
determination of whether an interest in a corporation is treated as 
stock or indebtedness for all purposes of the Internal Revenue Code.

DATES: These corrections are effective on January 23, 2017, and 
applicable October 21, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Austin M. Diamond-Jones, (202) 317-
5363, or Joshua G. Rabon, (202) 317-6938 (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The final and temporary regulations that are the subject of this 
correction are under sections 385 and 752 of the Internal Revenue Code.

[[Page 8166]]

Need for Correction

    As published, the final and temporary regulations contain errors 
which may prove to be misleading and need to be clarified.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

    Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Correction of Publication

    Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is corrected by making the following 
correcting amendments:

PART 1--INCOME TAXES

0
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read in 
part as follows:

    Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *


0
Par. 2. Section 1.385-1 is amended by revising the fifth sentence of 
paragraph (c)(4)(vii) Example 2 (i) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.385-1  General provisions.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (vii) * * *

    Example 2.  * * *
    (i) * * * In addition to other assets representing 85% of the 
value of its total assets, S2 owns all of the stock of S3, which has 
elected to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary of S2 under 
section 856(l)(1). * * *
* * * * *

0
Par. 3. Section 1.385-2 is amended by:
0
1. Revising paragraph (a)(3)(ii)(C)(3).
0
2. Revising the third sentence of paragraph (a)(5)(i).
0
3. Revising the first sentence of paragraph (a)(5)(ii).
0
4. Revising the third sentence of paragraph (b)(1).
0
5. Revising the third sentence of paragraph (c)(2)(ii).
0
6. Revising the second sentence of paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(A).
0
7. Revising the third sentence of paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(E).
0
8. Revising the paragraph (c)(3)(i)(A) subject heading.
0
9. Revising the first sentence of paragraph (c)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i).
0
10. Revising the third sentence of paragraph (c)(4)(ii)(A).
0
11. Revising the second sentence of paragraph (c)(4)(ii)(B)(1).
0
12. Adding a subject heading to paragraph (c)(4)(ii)(B)(2)(i).
0
13. Revising the paragraph (c)(4)(ii)(E) subject heading.
0
14. Revising paragraph (c)(4)(ii)(E)(3).
0
15. Revising paragraph (d)(2)(i)(A).
0
16. Revising the second sentence of paragraph (e)(3)(ii).
0
17. Revising the paragraph (h)(4) Example introductory text.
0
18. Revising the second sentence of paragraph (h)(4)(ii)(A).
0
19. Revising the first sentence of paragraph (h)(4)(ii)(C).
    The addition and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.385-2  Treatment of certain interests between members of an 
expanded group.

    (a) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (C) * * *
    (3) Overlapping assets and revenue. If there are multiple 
applicable financial statements that reflect the assets, portion of the 
assets, or revenue of the same expanded group member, any duplication 
(by stock, consolidation, or otherwise) of that expanded group member's 
assets or revenue may be disregarded for purposes of paragraph 
(a)(3)(ii) of this section such that the total assets or annual total 
revenue of that expanded group member is only reflected once.
* * * * *
    (5) * * *
    (i) * * * An issuer is also considered to have characterized an EGI 
as indebtedness if the issuer claims any federal income tax benefit 
with respect to an EGI resulting from characterizing the EGI as 
indebtedness for federal tax purposes, such as by claiming an interest 
deduction under section 163 with respect to interest paid or accrued on 
the EGI on a federal income tax return (or, if the issuer is a member 
of a consolidated group, the issuer or the common parent of the 
consolidated group claims a federal income tax benefit by claiming such 
an interest deduction), or if the issuer reports the EGI as 
indebtedness or amounts paid or accrued on the EGI as interest on an 
applicable financial statement. * * *
    (ii) * * * The consistency rule in paragraph (a)(5)(i) of this 
section and section 385(c)(1) does not apply with respect to an EGI to 
the extent that the EGI is treated as stock under this section or Sec.  
1.385-3, or it has been determined that the EGI is treated as stock 
under applicable federal tax principles. * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * * If the documentation and information described in 
paragraph (c) of this section are not prepared and maintained with 
respect to an EGI in accordance with this section, and no exception 
listed in paragraph (b)(2) of this section applies, the EGI is treated 
as stock for all federal tax purposes. * * *
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) * * * The rights of a creditor must include rights that 
superior to the rights of shareholders (other than holders of interests 
treated as stock solely by reason of Sec.  1.385-3 and holders of 
interests with creditor's rights under commercial law treated as stock 
under this section) to receive assets of the issuer in case of 
dissolution. * * *
    (iii) * * *
    (A) * * * Documentation with respect to an EGI that is nonrecourse 
under its terms must include information on any cash and property that 
secures the EGI, including--
* * * * *
    (E) * * * Documentation required under paragraph (c)(2) of this 
section may be prepared by employees of expanded group members, by 
agents of expanded group members, or by third parties.
    (3) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (A) Revolving credit, omnibus, umbrella, master, cash pool, and 
similar agreements--
    (3) * * *
    (i) * * * If an EGI is issued under an agreement described in 
paragraph (c)(3)(i)(A) of this section, written documentation must be 
prepared with respect to the analysis date and written documentation 
with a new analysis date must be prepared at least annually to satisfy 
the requirements in paragraph (c)(2)(iii) of this section for EGIs 
issued under such an agreement on or after the most recent analysis 
date. * * *
* * * * *
    (4) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) * * * In the case of an applicable interest that becomes an EGI 
subsequent to issuance, including an intercompany obligation, as 
defined in Sec.  1.1502-13(g)(2)(ii), that ceases to be an intercompany 
obligation, the relevant date is the date on which the applicable 
interest becomes an EGI.
    (B) * * *
    (1) * * * In the case of an applicable interest that becomes an EGI 
subsequent to issuance, the relevant date is the date on which the 
applicable interest becomes an EGI and any relevant date after the date 
that the applicable interest becomes an EGI.
    (2) * * *
    (i) In general. * * *
* * * * *
    (E) Revolving credit, omnibus, umbrella, master, cash pool, and 
similar agreements--
* * * * *
    (3) Relevant dates for EGIs documented under an overall

[[Page 8167]]

arrangement. A relevant date of an EGI under paragraphs (c)(4)(ii)(A) 
through (C) of this section is also a relevant date for each EGI 
documented under an overall arrangement described in paragraph (c)(3) 
of this section.
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (A) Any interest that is issued or deemed issued in the legal form 
of a debt instrument (including a draw or separate amount borrowed 
under an overall arrangement described in paragraph (c)(3) of this 
section regardless of whether a separate legal document is issued in 
connection with the draw or separate amount borrowed), which therefore 
does not include, for example, a sale-repurchase agreement treated as 
indebtedness under federal tax principles; or
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (ii) * * * For purposes of determining whether an EGI originally 
treated as indebtedness ceases to be treated as indebtedness by reason 
of this section, the rules of this section apply before the rules of 
Sec.  1.1001-3. * * *
* * * * *
    (h) * * *
    (4) * * *
    Example.  Application of paragraphs (c)(2)(iii) and (c)(4) of 
this section to an EGI. * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) * * * Because FP is traded on an established financial market 
within the meaning of Sec.  1.1092(d)-1(b) and USS1 is a covered 
member, EGI A, EGI B, and EGI C are subject to the rules of this 
section.
* * * * *
    (C) The credit analysis was prepared with an analysis date of Date 
B of Year 1. * * *
* * * * *

0
Par. 4. Section 1.385-3 is amended by:
0
1. Revising paragraph (b)(3)(iii)(E)(2).
0
2. Revising the paragraph (b)(5) subject heading.
0
3. Revising the first sentence of paragraph (c)(3)(i)(C)(1).
0
4. Revising the paragraph (c)(3)(i)(C)(3) subject heading.
0
5. Revising paragraph (c)(3)(i)(C)(3)(i).
0
6. Adding subject headings to paragraphs (g)(3)(ii) introductory text, 
(g)(3)(iii) introductory text, and (g)(3)(iv) introductory text.
0
7. Revising paragraph (g)(3)(iv)(B)(1).
0
8. Adding a subject heading to paragraph (g)(3)(v).
0
10. Revising paragraphs (g)(24)(ii)(B) and (C)
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.385-3  Transactions in which debt proceeds are distributed or 
that have a similar effect.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iii) * * *
    (E) * * *
    (2) Effect of certain modifications. Notwithstanding paragraph 
(b)(3)(iii)(E)(1) of this section, if a covered debt instrument is 
treated as exchanged for a modified covered debt instrument pursuant to 
Sec.  1.1001-3(b) and the modification, or one of the modifications, 
that results in the deemed exchange includes the substitution of an 
obligor on the covered debt instrument, the addition or deletion of a 
co-obligor on the covered debt instrument, or the material deferral of 
scheduled payments due under the covered debt instrument, then the 
modified covered debt instrument is treated as issued on the date of 
the deemed exchange for purposes of paragraph (b)(3)(iii)(A) of this 
section.
* * * * *
    (5) Coordination between general rule and funding rule. * * *
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (C) * * *
    (1) * * * The term expanded group earnings means, with respect to a 
covered member and an expanded group period of the covered member, the 
earnings and profits accumulated by the covered member during the 
expanded group period, computed as of the close of the taxable year of 
the covered member, without diminution by reason of any distributions 
or acquisitions by the covered member described in paragraphs (b)(2) 
and (b)(3)(i) of this section. * * *
* * * * *
    (3) Look-through rule for dividends--(i) In general. For purposes 
of paragraph (c)(3)(i)(C)(1) of this section, a dividend from a member 
of the same expanded group (distributing member) is not taken into 
account for purposes of calculating a covered member's expanded group 
earnings, except to the extent the dividend is attributable to earnings 
and profits accumulated by the distributing member in a taxable year 
ending after April 4, 2016, during its expanded group period (qualified 
earnings and profits). For purposes of the preceding sentence, a 
dividend received from a member (intermediate distributing member) is 
not taken into account for purposes of calculating the qualified 
earnings and profits of a distributing member (or another intermediate 
distributing member), except to the extent the dividend is attributable 
to qualified earnings and profits of the intermediate distributing 
member. A dividend from a distributing member or an intermediate 
distributing member is considered to be attributable to qualified 
earnings and profits to the extent thereof. If the distributing member 
or the intermediate distributing member is not a covered member, the 
expanded group period of the member is determined under the principles 
of paragraph (c)(3)(i)(E) of this section. If a controlled partnership 
receives a dividend from a distributing member and a portion of the 
dividend is allocated (including through one or more partnerships) to a 
covered member, then, for purposes of this paragraph (c)(3)(i)(C)(3), 
the covered member is treated as receiving the dividend from the 
distributing member.
* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (ii) Qualified dealer debt instrument. * * *
    (iii) Excluded statutory or regulatory debt instrument. * * *
    (iv) Excepted regulated financial company. * * *
    (B) * * *
    (1) General rule. For purposes of paragraph (g)(3)(iv) of this 
section, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (g)(3)(iv)(B)(2) of 
this section, the term regulated financial group means any expanded 
group of which a covered member that is a regulated financial company 
within the meaning of paragraphs (g)(3)(iv)(A)(1) through (10) of this 
section would be the expanded group parent if no person owned, directly 
or indirectly (as defined in Sec.  1.385-1(c)(4)(iii)), the regulated 
financial company. A domestic eligible entity (within the meaning of 
Sec.  301.7701-5(a) of this chapter) treated as a partnership or 
disregarded as an entity separate from its owner is, for purposes of 
this paragraph (g)(3)(iv)(B), also treated as a covered member.
* * * * *
    (v) Regulated insurance company. * * *
    (24) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (B) A distribution or acquisition by either the seller or a 
successor seller to or from either the acquirer, the seller, or a 
successor seller is not treated as described in paragraph (b)(3) of 
this section for purposes of applying

[[Page 8168]]

paragraph (b)(3) of this section to a covered debt instrument of the 
acquirer. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term successor 
seller means a member of the expanded group that receives property 
(other than expanded group stock) in a distribution or acquisition from 
the seller or another successor seller and is controlled by the 
acquirer as determined under the principles of paragraph (c)(2)(i) of 
this section. A successor seller is treated as a successor to the 
acquirer to the extent of the value of the property received in a 
distribution or acquisition described in the preceding sentence and, 
for purposes of applying this paragraph (g)(24)(ii)(B).
    (C) To the extent that a covered debt instrument of the acquirer is 
treated as funding a distribution or acquisition by the seller or 
successor seller described in paragraphs (b)(3)(i)(A) through (C) of 
this section, or would be treated but for the exceptions described in 
paragraphs (c)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section, the value of the 
expanded group stock described in paragraph (g)(24)(ii)(A) of this 
section is reduced by an amount equal to the distribution or 
acquisition for purposes of any further application of paragraph 
(g)(24)(ii)(A) of this section with respect to the acquirer and seller.
* * * * *

0
Par. 5. Section 1.385-3T is amended by:
0
1. Revising the third sentence of paragraph (b)(3)(vii)(A)(1)(iii).
0
2. Revising the fifth sentence and adding a new sixth sentence to 
paragraph (h) Example 13(i).
0
3. Revising the third sentence of paragraph (h) Example 13(ii)(D).
0
4. Revising the third sentence of paragraph (h) Example 14(ii)(D).
0
5. Revising paragraph (h) Example 15(i).
0
6. Revising the fifth sentence of paragraph (h) Example 18(ii)(A).
0
7. Revising paragraph (l).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.385-3T  Certain distributions of debt instruments and similar 
transactions (temporary).

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (vii) * * *
    (A) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) * * * Additionally, the amount owed by any issuer shall be 
reduced by the amount of the issuer's deposits with a qualified cash 
pool header, but only to the extent of amounts borrowed from the same 
qualified cash pool header that satisfy the requirements of paragraph 
(b)(3)(vii)(A)(2) (if the covered debt instrument was issued in a prior 
taxable year) or (b)(3)(vii)(A)(1)(ii) of this section.
* * * * *
    (h) * * *
    Example 13.  * * *
    (i) * * * On Date A in Year 1, FP lends $200x to PRS in exchange 
for PRS Note with stated principal amount of $200x, which is payable 
at maturity. PRS Note also provides for annual payments of interest 
that are qualified stated interest. * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (D) * * * Similarly, FP is deemed to transfer a portion of PRS 
Note with a principal amount equal to $90x (the adjusted issue price 
of the specified portion with respect to USS2) to USS2 in exchange 
for deemed partner stock in USS2 with a fair market value of $90x. * 
* *
    Example 14.  * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (D) * * * Similarly, FP is deemed to transfer a portion of PRS 
Note with a principal amount equal to $90x (the adjusted issue price 
of the specified portion with respect to USS2) to USS2 in exchange 
for stock of USS2 with a fair market value of $90x. * * *
    Example 15.  * * *
    (i) Facts. The facts are the same as in Example 13 of this 
paragraph (h)(3), except that USS2 does not distribute $90x to FP 
until Date C in Year 2, which is less than 36 months after Date A in 
Year 1. On Date C in Year 2, DS's, USS2's, and USP's issuance 
percentages under paragraph (g)(16) of this section are unchanged at 
45%, 45%, and 10%, respectively.
* * * * *
    Example 18.  * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) * * * DS's distribution to USS1 is a disregarded 
distribution because it is a distribution between members of a 
consolidated group that is disregarded under the one-corporation 
rule described in Sec.  1.385-4T(b)(1). * * *
* * * * *
    (l) Expiration date. This section expires on October 13, 2019.

0
Par. 6. Section 1.385-4T is amended by:
0
1. Revising the first sentence of paragraph (b)(2).
0
2. Revising the first sentence of paragraph (b)(3)(i).
0
3. Revising paragraphs (b)(3)(ii) and (iii).
0
4. Revising paragraph (b)(4)(ii)(A)(1).
0
5. Revising paragraph (b)(5)(i).
0
6. Revising the first sentence of paragraph (b)(6).
0
7. Revising the first sentence of paragraph (c)(1)(i).
0
8. Revising the first sentence of paragraph (d)(3).
0
9. Revising the first sentence of paragraph (d)(4) introductory text.
0
10. Revising paragraphs (d)(4)(i) and (ii).
0
11. Revising paragraph (e)(3).
0
12. Revising paragraph (e)(5).
0
13. Revising the second sentence of paragraph (f)(3) Example 1(ii).
0
14. Revising the seventh sentence of paragraph (f)(3) Example 4(ii).
0
15. Revising the sixth sentence of paragraph (f)(3) Example 5(ii).
0
16. Revising paragraph (h).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.385-4T  Treatment of consolidated groups.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) * * * The one-corporation rule described in paragraph (b)(1) of 
this section does not apply in determining the members of an expanded 
group. * * *
    (3) * * *
    (i) * * * If a covered debt instrument treated as issued by a 
consolidated group under the one-corporation rule described in 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section is treated as stock under Sec. Sec.  
1.385-3 or 1.385-3T, the covered debt instrument is treated as stock in 
the member of the consolidated group that would be the issuer of such 
debt instrument without regard to this section. * * *
    (ii) Application of the covered debt instrument exclusions. For 
purposes of determining whether a debt instrument issued by a member of 
a consolidated group is a covered debt instrument, each test described 
in Sec.  1.385-3(g)(3) is applied on a separate member basis without 
regard to the one-corporation rule described in paragraph (b)(1) of 
this section.
    (iii) Qualified short-term debt instrument. The determination of 
whether a member of a consolidated group has issued a qualified short-
term debt instrument for purposes of Sec.  1.385-3(b)(3)(vii) is made 
on a separate member basis without regard to the one-corporation rule 
described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (4) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) * * *
    (1) A qualified contribution to any member of a consolidated group 
that remains a member of the consolidated group immediately after the 
qualified contribution from a person other than a member of the same 
consolidated group is treated as made to the one corporation described 
in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;
* * * * *
    (5) * * *
    (i) First, determine the characterization of the transaction under 
federal tax law without regard to the one-corporation rule described in 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
* * * * *

[[Page 8169]]

    (6) * * * For purposes of this section and Sec. Sec.  1.385-3 and 
1.385-3T, and notwithstanding the one-corporation rule described in 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section, a partnership that is wholly owned by 
members of a consolidated group is treated as a partnership. * * *
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) * * * For purposes of this section and Sec. Sec.  1.385-3 and 
1.385-3T, when a debt instrument ceases to be a consolidated group debt 
instrument as a result of a transaction in which the member of the 
consolidated group that issued the instrument (the issuer) or the 
member of the consolidated group holding the instrument (the holder) 
ceases to be a member of the same consolidated group but both the 
issuer and the holder continue to be members of the same expanded 
group, the issuer is treated as issuing a new debt instrument to the 
holder in exchange for property immediately after the debt instrument 
ceases to be a consolidated group debt instrument. * * *
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (3) * * * If a departing member has issued a covered debt 
instrument (determined without regard to the one-corporation rule 
described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section) that is not a 
consolidated group debt instrument and that is not treated as stock 
immediately before the departing member ceases to be a consolidated 
group member, then the departing member (and not the consolidated 
group) is treated as issuing the covered debt instrument on the date 
and in the manner the covered debt instrument was issued. * * *
    (4) * * * This paragraph (d)(4) applies when a departing member 
ceases to be a consolidated group member in a transaction other than a 
distribution to which section 355 (or so much of section 356 as relates 
to section 355) applies, and the consolidated group has made a regarded 
distribution or acquisition. * * *
    (i) If the departing member made the regarded distribution or 
acquisition (determined without regard to the one-corporation rule 
described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section), the departing member 
(and not the consolidated group) is treated as having made the regarded 
distribution or acquisition.
    (ii) If the departing member did not make the regarded distribution 
or acquisition (determined without regard to the one-corporation rule 
described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section), then the consolidated 
group (and not the departing member) continues to be treated as having 
made the regarded distribution or acquisition.
    (e) * * *
    (3) Disregarded distribution or acquisition. The term disregarded 
distribution or acquisition means a distribution or acquisition 
described in Sec.  1.385-3(b)(2) or (b)(3)(i) between members of a 
consolidated group that is disregarded under the one-corporation rule 
described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
* * * * *
    (5) Regarded distribution or acquisition. The term regarded 
distribution or acquisition means a distribution or acquisition 
described in Sec.  1.385-3(b)(2) or (b)(3)(i) that is not disregarded 
under the one-corporation rule described in paragraph (b)(1) of this 
section.
    (f) * * *
    (3) * * *
    Example 1.  * * *
    (ii) * * * Pursuant to paragraph (b)(5)(i) of this section, the 
transaction is first analyzed without regard to the one-corporation 
rule described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, and therefore 
UST is treated as issuing a covered debt instrument in exchange for 
expanded group stock. * * *
* * * * *
    Example 4.  * * *
    (ii) * * * Under paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section, for 
purposes of Sec.  1.385-3, DS1 is treated as issuing a new debt 
instrument to USS1 in exchange for property immediately after DS1 
Note ceases to be a consolidated group debt instrument. * * *
    Example 5.  * * *
    (ii) * * * Under paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section, for 
purposes of Sec.  1.385-3, DS1 is treated as issuing a new debt 
instrument to USS1 in exchange for property immediately after DS1 
Note ceases to be a consolidated group debt instrument. * * *
* * * * *
    (h) Expiration date. This section expires on October 13, 2019.

0
Par. 7. Section 1.752-2T is amended by revising paragraph (m)(2) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  1.752-2T  Partner's share of recourse liabilities (temporary).

* * * * *
    (m) * * *
    (2) Paragraphs (c)(3) and (l)(4) of this section expire on October 
13, 2019.

Martin V. Franks,
Chief, Publications and Regulations Branch, Legal Processing Division, 
Associate Chief Counsel, Procedure and Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-00498 Filed 1-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4830-01-P