Proposed Exemptions From Certain Prohibited Transaction Restrictions, 52209-52222 [2021-20237]

Agencies

• Employee Benefits Security Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 179 (Monday, September 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52209-52222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20237]


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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). If granted, these proposed 
exemptions allow designated parties to engage in transactions that 
would otherwise be prohibited provided the conditions stated there in 
are met. This notice includes the following proposed exemptions: L-
12008, Phillips 66 Company; L-12021, Comcast 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, by November 4, 2021.

ADDRESSES: All written comments and requests for a hearing should be 
sent to the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Office of 
Exemption Determinations, Attention: Application No. D-12003 via email 
to [email protected] or online through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
https://www.regulations.gov 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-1515, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below for additional information regarding 
comments.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments

    In light of the current circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 
pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus which may result in disruption 
to the receipt of comments by U.S. Mail or hand delivery/courier, 
persons are encouraged to submit all comments electronically and not to 
follow with paper copies. Comments should state the nature of the 
person's interest in the proposed exemption and the manner in which the 
person would be adversely affected by the exemption, if granted. A 
request for a hearing can be requested by any interested person who may 
be adversely affected by an exemption. A request for a hearing must 
state: (1) The name, address, telephone number, and email address of 
the person making the request; (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; and (3) a statement of the issues to be 
addressed and a general description of the evidence to be presented at 
the hearing. The Department will grant a request for a hearing made in 
accordance with the requirements above where a hearing is necessary to 
fully explore material factual issues identified by the person 
requesting the hearing. A notice of such hearing shall be published by 
the Department in the Federal Register. The Department may decline to 
hold a hearing where: (1) The request for the hearing does not meet the 
requirements above; (2) the only issues identified for exploration at 
the hearing are matters of law; or (3) the factual issues identified 
can be fully explored through the submission of evidence in written 
(including electronic) form.
    Warning: All comments received will be included in the public 
record without change and may be made available online at https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, 
unless the comment includes information claimed to be confidential or 
other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. If you 
submit a comment, EBSA recommends that you include your name and other 
contact

[[Page 52210]]

information in the body of your comment, but DO NOT submit information 
that you consider to be confidential, or otherwise protected (such as 
Social Security number or an unlisted phone number) or confidential 
business information that you do not want publicly disclosed. However, 
if EBSA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and 
cannot contact you for clarification, EBSA might not be able to 
consider your comment. Additionally, the https://www.regulations.gov 
website is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EBSA will not 
know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the 
body of your comment. If you send an email directly to EBSA without 
going through https://www.regulations.gov, your email address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public record and made available on the internet.

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, unless otherwise stated in the Notice of Proposed 
Exemption, 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.

Phillips 66 Company

Located in Houston, TX

[Application No. L-12008]

Proposed Exemption

    The Department is considering granting an exemption under the 
authority of Section 408(a) of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 
1974, as amended (ERISA or the Act) to the Phillips 66 Group Life 
Insurance Plan (the Plan). As described in more detail below, under the 
proposed exemption, the Plan would enter into an insurance contract 
with an unrelated A-rated insurance company (the Fronting Insurer) that 
would, in turn, enter into a reinsurance contract with Spirit Insurance 
Company (Spirit), an affiliate of Phillips 66 (the Reinsurance 
Arrangement). Under the Reinsurance Arrangement, Spirit would reinsure 
the Plan's risks. Importantly, the Fronting Insurer would remain fully 
responsible for the Plan's risks in the event that Spirit does not 
fulfill its contractual obligations to the Fronting Insurer.
    Phillips 66, through its ownership of Spirit, is expected to 
receive a net income increase from the Reinsurance Arrangement.\2\ To 
ensure that the majority of Spirit's additional net income is passed 
through to the Plan and its participants and beneficiaries, this 
proposed exemption requires Phillips 66 to fund certain new Plan 
benefit enhancements (the Benefit Enhancements). Specifically, for 
every dollar increase in net income that Spirit (and indirectly, 
Phillips 66) receives from the Reinsurance Arrangement, Phillips 66 
must pay at least $0.51 to fund Benefit Enhancements.
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    \2\ This proposed exemption requires a qualified independent 
fiduciary to review the Reinsurance Arrangement to determine if 
Phillips 66 is deriving any benefits other than an increase in 
Spirit's net income, such as a benefit from a further 
diversification of Spirit's risks. Any such benefit(s) must be 
quantified to the extent possible, and the majority of all benefits 
to Phillips 66 from the Reinsurance Arrangement must ultimately be 
paid to fund Benefit Enhancements in the manner described below.
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    This proposed exemption also would require Phillips 66 to delegate 
fiduciary oversight of the Plan to a qualified fiduciary that is 
independent of Phillips 66 and its affiliates (the Independent 
Fiduciary). The exemption conditions require the Independent Fiduciary 
to approve the Reinsurance Arrangement in advance, ensure that the 
Reinsurance Arrangement is in the interest and protective of the Plan 
and its participants and beneficiaries, and submit annual and five-year 
``look-back'' reports to the Department.\3\
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    \3\ The Department notes that the Independent Fiduciary's annual 
written report is essential to the Department's tentative finding 
that this proposed exemption is, and will continue to be, in the 
interest and protective of the Plan and its participants and 
beneficiaries. The Independent Fiduciary must clearly, prudently and 
loyally determine whether Phillips 66 and its affiliates have 
complied with each term and condition of the exemption and include 
its finding in the report. The relief provided in this proposed 
exemption is conditioned upon the independent fiduciary's compliance 
with this requirement.
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Summary of Facts and Representations 4
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    \4\ The Department notes that availability of this exemption is 
subject to the express condition that the material facts and 
representations contained in application L-12008 are true and 
complete, and accurately describe all material terms of the 
transactions covered by the exemption. If there is any material 
change in a transaction covered by the exemption, or in a material 
fact or representation described in the application, the exemption 
will cease to apply as of the date of such change.
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The Parties

    1. Phillips 66. Phillips 66 is a multinational energy company 
headquartered in Houston, Texas that processes, transports, stores and 
markets fuel products.
    2. The Plan. The Plan is sponsored by Phillips 66 and provides life 
insurance, travel assistance, occupational accidental death, and 
accidental death and dismemberment benefits. As of December 31, 2019, 
the Plan covered more than 12,500 participants.
    3. Zurich Life Insurance Company. The Plan's benefits are insured 
by Zurich American Life Insurance Company (hereinafter, either Zurich 
or the Fronting Insurer), which has received an ``A'' financial 
strength rating from A.M. Best Company (A.M. Best). Zurich is unrelated 
to Phillips 66 and, per the conditions of the exemption, must remain so 
throughout the duration of the Reinsurance Arrangement.
    4. Spirit Insurance Company. Spirit is an insurance company that is 
100 percent owned by Phillips 66. Spirit currently writes Property 
Damage, Business Interruption, Excess Casualty, and Terrorism insurance 
policies for Phillips 66 and several of Phillips 66's joint ventures. 
Spirit has received an ``A'' financial strength rating from A.M. Best 
since its formation in 2012.\5\ For the fiscal year ending December 31,

[[Page 52211]]

2018, Spirit reported earned premiums of $33.0 million and total assets 
of $285.2 million.
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    \5\ On March 7, 2012, Vermont issued Spirit a license to 
transact business as a single-parent captive insurance company. 
Vermont captive insurance law allows captive insurance companies to 
conduct reinsurance operations. In 2017, Spirit converted from a 
pure captive insurance company to a sponsored captive insurance 
company and formed 3P Capital Insurance Company IC, an incorporated 
protected cell of Spirit.
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The Prohibited Transaction Arrangement

    4. Phillips 66 intends to use Spirit to reinsure the Plan's benefit 
claims under the Reinsurance Arrangement. The Reinsurance Arrangement 
would be structured as follows: (a) The Plan would enter into an 
insurance arrangement with Zurich to insure the Plan's risks; and (b) 
Zurich would enter into a reinsurance agreement with Spirit, whereby 
Spirit would reinsure up to 100 percent of the Plan's risks.
    In general terms, the Plan would make premium payments to Zurich, 
and Zurich would make corresponding payments to Spirit in an amount 
less than the premiums it is paid by the Plan. The difference between 
the premiums the Plan pays Zurich and the amounts Zurich pays Spirit 
comprises Zurich's fee to Spirit. In return, Spirit would be 
responsible for administering the Plan participants' benefit claims 
filed with Zurich. The Reinsurance Agreement between Zurich and Spirit 
would be ``indemnity only,'' which means that Zurich, as the Fronting 
Insurer, would maintain the responsibility to pay benefit claims to 
participants and beneficiaries in the event Spirit does not satisfy any 
of its contractual obligations to Zurich for any reason.

Benefit to Phillips 66

    5. As noted in the Independent Fiduciary discussion below, Spirit 
(and Phillips 66 indirectly) expects to receive a $1,484,000 increase 
to its net income in the first year of the Reinsurance Arrangement.
    Department's Note: The Department developed this proposed exemption 
based on the Applicant's representation that Phillips 66 is not 
expected to receive any benefit from the Reinsurance Arrangement other 
than the net income increase described herein, which must be verified 
annually by the Independent Fiduciary. If Phillips 66 or a related 
party directly or indirectly receives any other benefit from the 
captive reinsurance arrangement, the benefit must be quantified by the 
Independent Fiduciary and included in the Primary Benefit Test 
described below.\6\ Consistent with this condition, the proposed 
exemption expressly prohibits Phillips 66 (or a related entity) from, 
among other things: (1) Using any participant-related data or 
information that is generated by (or derived from) the Reinsurance 
Arrangement in any manner that benefits Phillips 66 or a related 
entity; or (2) transferring any portion of Spirit's reserves that are 
attributable to Plan participants' contributions to Phillips 66 or a 
related entity.
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    \6\ This includes any benefit to Phillips 66 or a related party 
arising from a further diversification of Spirit's risks in 
connection with the addition of the Plan's employee benefit 
insurable risks to One Belmont's other insurable risks.
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Benefit to the Plan

    6. As discussed in further detail below, Phillips 66 must pay all 
costs associated with providing the Benefit Enhancements in an amount 
that exceeds one-half of the sum of all direct or indirect benefits 
that Phillips 66 and any related party derives from the Reinsurance 
Arrangement. In other words, for every dollar that Phillips 66 or a 
related party directly or indirectly benefits from the Reinsurance 
Arrangement, Phillips 66 must pay at least $0.51 toward Benefit 
Enhancements (the Primary Benefit Test).
    Department's Note: Both the benefit to Phillips 66 and the cost to 
Phillips 66 from the Reinsurance Arrangement are based on projections. 
Therefore, this proposed exemption requires an Independent Fiduciary to 
look back over successive five-year periods to determine whether the 
Primary Benefit Test has been met based on actual results. If the 
Independent Fiduciary finds that the Primary Benefit Test has not been 
met during a prior five-year period, Phillips 66 must immediately 
implement a prospective reduction to the participants' portion of the 
Plan premiums in an amount that is sufficient to make up for the 
shortfall. The amount of the prospective reduction must include an 
additional payment of interest on the shortfall, at the Code's federal 
underpayment rate set forth in Code section 6621(b). Further, Phillips 
66 may not offset or reduce any benefits provided to Plan participants 
and beneficiaries in connection with its implementation of the captive 
reinsurance arrangement.

Exemptive Relief and Analysis

    7. ERISA Analysis. Phillips 66 is a party in interest with respect 
to the Plan pursuant to ERISA section 3(14) (C), because it is an 
employer whose employees are covered by the Plan. In addition, the 
captive reinsurer, Spirit, is a party in interest with respect to the 
Plan pursuant to ERISA section 3(14)(G) because it is wholly owned by 
Phillips 66.
    8. ERISA section 406(a) prohibits a wide variety of transactions 
between plans and parties in interest. For example, ERISA section 
406(a)(l)(D) prohibits a plan fiduciary from causing a plan to engage 
in a transaction that results in the transfer of plan assets to a party 
in interest. The Reinsurance Arrangement would violate ERISA section 
406(a)(1)(D), because it would result in Plan premium payments (which 
are plan assets) being indirectly transferred to Spirit who is a party 
in interest with respect to the Plan.
    9. ERISA section 406(b)(1) prohibits a fiduciary from dealing with 
plan assets for its own interest or own account, and ERISA section 
406(b)(3) prohibits a fiduciary from receiving any consideration for 
the fiduciary's personal account from any party dealing with the plan 
in connection with a transaction involving the plan's assets. The 
Reinsurance Arrangement would violate ERISA sections 406(b)(1) and 
406(b)(3), because the plan fiduciary would cause Plan premiums to be 
paid to Zurich with knowledge that the premiums ultimately would be 
paid to Spirit.

Description of Plan Benefit Enhancements

    10. In order to satisfy the Primary Benefit Test, Phillips 66 must 
fund the following Plan Benefit Enhancements:
    a. The New Care Advocacy Service Benefit. Participants and 
beneficiaries of the Plan must receive a New Care Advocacy Service 
Benefit at no additional cost. The Applicant represents that under the 
New Care Advocacy Service, master's degree-level licensed social 
workers would seek out participants and beneficiaries in need of 
medical assistance, including those who have been diagnosed with a 
terminal or chronic illness and those managing a chronic condition that 
has confined them to their home or a rehabilitation center. Care 
Advocacy support services include providing participants with education 
and assistance regarding available community resources, scheduling and 
navigating doctor's appointments, completing forms, and coordinating 
care between doctors and specialists.
    b. The Enhanced Funeral Concierge Service Benefit. The Plan 
currently provides a Funeral Concierge Service Benefit to participants. 
Under the conditions of the exemption, Phillips 66 would extend the 
Funeral Concierge Service Benefit to cover participants' and 
beneficiaries' family members at no additional cost. The Applicant 
represents that participants and beneficiaries could use the Funeral 
Concierge Service Benefit to compare prices among funeral homes through 
the use of a nationwide database of funeral

[[Page 52212]]

home prices. Additionally, participants or their family members can 
receive assistance from licensed funeral home directors when 
negotiating funeral service pricing.
    c. The Enhanced Accelerated Death Benefit. The Plan currently 
provides an Accelerated Death Benefit that allows a terminally-ill 
participant with a life expectancy of 24 months or less to receive an 
accelerated life insurance benefit payment before death in an amount up 
to 50 percent of his or her total life insurance benefit amount. If 
this exemption is granted, the amount of the Plan's Accelerated Death 
Benefit would increase from 50 percent to 80 percent of a participant's 
life insurance benefit amount.
    d. The Enhanced Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefit. Under the 
Plan currently, if a participant suffers an injury resulting in 
Hemiplegia, the Plan will pay a benefit equal to 66 percent of the 
participant's incurred losses from such injury. If the exemption is 
granted, the Plan would increase this payment from 66 percent to 75 
percent of the participant's incurred losses from such injury.
    e. The New Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefit. Currently, the 
Plan does not provide an additional benefit to a participant's 
beneficiary if the participant dies in an automobile accident while 
seated in an air bag-protected position after the air bag system 
deploys during an accident. If the exemption is granted, the Plan would 
pay an additional ten percent of the death benefit upon the occurrence 
of this event up to a maximum amount of $25,000.
    Further, the Plan currently does not cover costs associated with 
transporting a participant's body from his or her place of death to a 
mortuary near the participant's primary residence if the participant 
dies 100 miles or more from such residence. If this exemption is 
granted, the Plan would pay five percent of the AD&D policy coverage 
amount to cover the costs associated with transporting a deceased 
participant's body to a mortuary near his or her primary residence up 
to a maximum benefit amount of $5,000.
    Finally, the Plan currently does not cover medical costs incurred 
by a participant who suffers third degree burns. If this exemption is 
granted, the Plan would pay a percentage of the principal sum based on 
the body area(s) and the percentage of the body surface affected.

The Independent Fiduciary

    11. Kathleen Ely, FSA, MAAA, a Consulting Actuary with Milliman of 
Windsor, Connecticut will serve as the Plan's Independent Fiduciary 
with respect to the Reinsurance Arrangement. Ms. Ely represents that 
she and Milliman are independent of all parties associated with the 
Reinsurance Arrangement, including Phillips 66, Spirit, and the Plan. 
In this regard, Ms. Ely represents that she and Milliman do not have: 
(a) An interest in any party involved in the Reinsurance Arrangement; 
(b) an ownership interest in Phillips 66, Spirit, or the Plan, nor are 
they directly or indirectly, controlled by, or under common control 
with them; and (c) any economic stake or financial interest that is 
contingent upon the implementation of the Reinsurance Arrangement. This 
exemption requires that no party related to this exemption request has, 
or will, indemnify Ms. Ely or Milliman, in whole or in part, for 
negligence and/or for any violation of state or federal law that may be 
attributable to the Independent Fiduciary in performing its duties 
under the captive reinsurance arrangement. In addition, no contract or 
instrument may purport to waive any liability under state or federal 
law for any such violation.
    Ms. Ely represents that Milliman's gross income received from 
Phillips 66, Spirit, and the Plan is less than 0.1 percent of 
Milliman's gross annual income from all sources. Further, as a 
condition of the exemption, neither Ms. Ely nor Milliman would enter 
into any agreement or instrument that violates ERISA section 410 or 
section 2509.75-4 of the Department's regulations.\7\
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    \7\ ERISA section 410 provides, in part, that ``except as 
provided in ERISA sections 405(b)(1) and 405(d), any provision in an 
agreement or instrument which purports to relieve a fiduciary from 
responsibility or liability for any responsibility, obligation, or 
duty under this part [meaning Part 4 of Title I of ERISA] shall be 
void as against public policy.''
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    12. Independent Fiduciary Analysis. In the course of conducting a 
preliminary assessment of the merits of the Reinsurance Arrangement, 
Ms. Ely reviewed the following documents: (a) A draft application to 
the Department requesting exemptive relief; \8\ (b) a memo dated July 
11, 2019, from the Applicant's representative, Spring Consulting Group, 
LLC (Spring Consulting), describing the Benefit Enhancements, including 
the funding of the Benefit Enhancements and the expected costs Phillips 
66 would incur to provide the Benefit Enhancements; (c) a draft 
Employee Benefits Study prepared by Spring Consulting that details 
projected 2020 financial statement results for Spirit; (d) a 
Certificate of Authority from the Vermont Department of Banking, 
Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration authorizing Spirit 
to transact business as a captive insurance company in Vermont; (e) a 
copy of Phillips 66's Life and AD&D insurance certificates; (f) a draft 
of the Reinsurance Arrangement contract between Spirit and Zurich; (g) 
documentation of the pricing of the subject coverages, expense charges, 
and related underwriting information; (h) 2018 audited financial 
statements for Spirit; (i) a 2018 Actuarial Opinion for Spirit; and (j) 
a declaration by Phillips 66 that the Plan would pay no commissions 
with respect to the Reinsurance Arrangement.
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    \8\ Given that, among other things, some of the documents 
reviewed by the Independent Fiduciary were draft documents and/or 
documents that are no longer current, this proposed exemption 
requires the Independent Fiduciary to: Review the terms of the 
exemption; obtain and review all current objective, reliable, third-
party documentation necessary to make the determinations required of 
the Independent Fiduciary under the exemption; and confirm in 
writing that all of the exemption terms and conditions have been met 
(or, due to timing requirements, can reasonably be expected to be 
met consistent with the terms of this proposed exemption). The 
Independent Fiduciary must send this written confirmation to the 
Department's Office of Exemption Determinations at least 30 days 
before Phillips 66 engages in the Reinsurance Arrangement. The 
confirmation must include: Copies of each document relied on by the 
Independent Fiduciary; and the steps the Independent Fiduciary took 
to make its confirmation.
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    Based on the foregoing, Ms. Ely completed two Independent Fiduciary 
Reports, dated November 15, 2019 and October 22, 2020. In the first 
report, Ms. Ely provided a preliminary assessment that, among other 
things, the Plan Benefit Enhancements would represent an immediate and 
objectively determined benefit to the Plan's participants and 
beneficiaries. In the second Independent Fiduciary Report, Ms. Ely 
provided preliminary estimates with regard to the costs that Phillips 
66 would incur to fund the Benefit Enhancements, which are discussed 
below.
    (a) Care Advocacy Service. Ms. Ely estimated high-end and low-end 
potential ranges of costs for Phillips 66 to provide the Care Advocacy 
Service. Ms. Ely relied upon information obtained from Zurich's total 
book of business and experience for the high-end estimate. Based upon 
its book of business, Zurich estimated that the cost to provide the 
Care Advocacy Service ranged from $200-$500 per hour and that, on 
average, a care advocate would spend 25 hours on a case. Zurich further 
estimated that two percent of Plan participants would use the 
service.\9\

[[Page 52213]]

Based on the foregoing, Ms. Ely estimates that, assuming a cost of $200 
per hour for 25 hours, the annual estimated cost for Phillips 66 to 
provide the Care Advocacy Service would be $1.3 million ($200 * 25 * 2% 
* 13,000 employees).
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    \9\ Zurich's book of business indicates the take up is assessed 
through a pro-active review of claims reports to identify those 
individuals who may require assistance. Zurich then connects with 
those individuals to assess what types of service may be required. 
In addition, the employer's HR department may bring employees in 
need of such assistance to Zurich's attention. The service also is 
advertised at Phillips 66 benefits fairs and employee meetings 
whenever possible.
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    Ms. Ely also researched non-Zurich data.\10\ Based on this data, 
Ms. Ely concluded that it would be reasonable to reduce the average 
number of hours spent on a case to 10 hours at a cost of $200 per hour. 
Under this formula, Ms. Ely estimates that the annual cost incurred by 
Phillips 66 to provide the Care Advocacy Service would be $520,000 
($2,000 * 2% * 13,000). Based on the foregoing, Ms. Ely concluded that 
$520,000 represents a reasonable low-end estimate for the cost to 
provide the Care Advocacy Service.
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    \10\ This research included data taken from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-power-of-a-health-care-advocate; and https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-much-does-a-private-patient-advocate-cost-2614909.
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    (b) Funeral Concierge Services. Ms. Ely relied on information from 
Zurich's book of business to estimate the cost for Phillips 66 to fund 
the additional Funeral Concierge Services to the Plan. Ms. Ely notes 
that Zurich estimated the cost to provide the Funeral Concierge 
Services would be $995 per use and that two percent of employees would 
use the service. Ms. Ely notes that, while Phillips 66 already provides 
the Funeral Concierge Benefit to Plan participants, it does not provide 
the benefit to participants' family members. Therefore, Ms. Ely's 
estimate only includes the additional costs that Phillips 66 would 
incur based on participants' family members' use of the benefit. Ms. 
Ely represents that a reasonable additional utilization estimate for 
participants' family members would be two percent, which is in line 
with Zurich's estimate. Assuming this two percent utilization rate, Ms. 
Ely estimated that the annual cost for Phillips 66 to provide the 
Funeral Concierge Benefit would be $258,700 ($995 * 2% * 13,000).
    (c) AD&D. Ms. Ely relied on data provided by Zurich to estimate the 
annual cost for Phillips 66 to provide the increased accelerated AD&D 
benefits and the new AD&D benefit. Ms. Ely notes that Zurich estimated 
that the aggregate cost of the increased accelerated death benefits 
would be $4.50 per employee per year, and the cost of the new AD&D 
benefit enhancement would be $6.11 per employee per year. Ms. Ely 
states that, assuming 13,000 eligible employees, the total estimated 
cost for Phillips 66 to fund these benefit enhancements would be 
$137,930 per year ($4.5 + $6.11 * 13,000).
    13. The Primary Benefit Test: Ms. Ely states that a reasonable low-
end estimate of the expected annual costs for Phillips 66 to fund the 
Benefit Enhancements would be $916,630. This includes $137,930 for 
accidental death benefit enhancements, $520,000 for Care Advocacy 
Service, and $258,700 for additional Funeral Concierge Services. Given 
that Spirit expects to realize a net income increase of $1,484,000 from 
the Reinsurance Arrangement, the estimated cost to fund the Benefit 
Enhancements represents 62 percent of the projected benefit that would 
inure to Phillips 66 ($916,630/$1,484,000). Thus, Ms. Ely preliminarily 
estimated that the Primary Benefit Test would be met in the initial 
year of the Reinsurance Arrangement.
    Department's Note. Even though Ms. Ely's prior findings suggest the 
conditions of this exemption will be met, those findings would not be 
current as of the effective date of this proposed exemption. Therefore, 
Ms. Ely must again engage in a prudent/loyal analysis in accordance 
with ERISA Section 404(a)(1)(A) and (B), to verify that she has 
reviewed the terms of the exemption and all of the necessary documents 
and evidence, and has concluded that: The majority of the net benefits 
from the proposed captive reinsurance arrangement can reasonably be 
expected to inure to the Plan; and all of the exemption's other terms 
and conditions have been met (or, due to timing requirements, can 
reasonably be expected to be met consistent with the terms and 
conditions of the proposed exemption). This confirmation must be 
submitted to the Department's Office of Exemption Determinations at 
least 30 days before the Plan engages in the captive reinsurance 
arrangement. The confirmation must include copies of each document 
relied on by Milliman and the steps it took to make its confirmation.
    Further, the exemption requires the Independent Fiduciary to ``look 
back'' over successive five-year periods to determine whether the 
Primary Benefit Test has been met based on actual financial results and 
actual cost incurred by Phillips 66 to provide the Plan Benefit 
Enhancements rather than projections. The Independent Fiduciary must 
provide the Department with a written report of the actual costs and 
benefits, along with the underlying sources for such data. The 
Department notes that this information would be included in the public 
record. The Department is proposing this exemption based on its 
understanding that the Independent Fiduciary would be able to quantify 
the necessary information based on reliable and verifiable information, 
including audited financials and information obtained from the 
unrelated Fronting Insurer. The Department retains the right to propose 
a revocation or amendment to this exemption if it is unable to confirm 
the reliability of the underlying financial data supporting the 
Independent Fiduciary's ``look-back'' findings. Any failure by the 
Department to propose a revocation or amendment to the exemption is not 
an endorsement or conclusion by the Department that the conditions of 
the exemption were, in fact, met.
    14. Benefit Enhancements Adjustment. Before the end of a five-year 
period, Phillips 66 may change Benefit Enhancements at its own expense 
to ensure that the Primary Benefit Test would be satisfied. The 
exemption requires any new Benefit Enhancement to be: (a) Widely 
available to Plan participants on an equal basis; and (b) approved, in 
advance, by the Independent Fiduciary, after the Independent Fiduciary 
has determined that each Benefit Enhancement is in the interest of the 
Plan's participants and beneficiaries and widely available to them on 
an equal basis.\11\ A complete description of any new Benefit 
Enhancement and the Independent Fiduciary's prior determination 
regarding why the new enhancement is in the interest of the Plan's 
participants and beneficiaries must be included in the next annual 
Independent Fiduciary report submitted to the Department.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ If the Primary Benefit Test has not been met and Phillips 
66 seeks to terminate the captive reinsurance arrangement, the 
relief in the exemption will terminate at the end of the year in 
which the Primary Benefit Test was not met, as long as Plan 
participants receive a reduction in their portion of the Plan 
premium. The premium reduction amount must be at least equal to the 
amount by which the prior five-year Primary Benefit Test was not 
met, as verified by the Independent Fiduciary and reported to the 
Department as part of the Independent Fiduciary's annual report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Department's Note. Notwithstanding a determination by the 
Independent Fiduciary that a Benefit Enhancement meets the terms of 
this exemption, the Department may propose to revoke or amend the 
exemption to the extent that, among other things, the Department 
determines that a Benefit Enhancement is not sufficiently protective or 
in the

[[Page 52214]]

interest of the Plan and its participants and beneficiaries. Any 
failure by the Department to propose to modify or revoke the exemption 
is not an endorsement or conclusion by the Department that the 
conditions of the exemption were, in fact, met.

The Department's Findings

    15. The Department has the authority under ERISA section 408(a) 
ERISA to grant exemptions from the prohibition transaction provisions 
of ERISA section 406 if the Department finds that the transaction is in 
the interest and protective of the rights of the affected plan and its 
participants and beneficiaries, and is administratively feasible.\12\ 
The Department's findings required under ERISA section 408(a) are 
discussed below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Specifically, ERISA section 408(a) provides that the 
Department may not grant an exemption unless it finds that the 
exemption is administratively feasible, in the interests of the plan 
and it participants and beneficiaries, and protective of the rights 
of the plan participants and beneficiaries.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    16. The Proposed Exemption is ``Protective of the Plan.'' The 
Department has tentatively determined that the proposed exemption is 
protective of the rights of Plan participants and beneficiaries. In 
addition to the requirements described above, no commissions would be 
paid by the Plan with respect to the sale of any third party insurance 
contract and/or any reinsurance contract, and Phillips 66 would only 
contract with insurers with a financial strength rating of ``A'' or 
better from A.M. Best Company or an equivalent rating from another 
rating company, in the year the contract is entered into. Further, for 
each taxable year, the gross premiums received by Spirit for benefit 
insurance provided to Phillips 66 and its employees with respect to 
which Spirit is a party in interest by reason of the relationship to 
Phillips 66 described in ERISA sections 3(14)(G), would not exceed 50 
percent of the gross premiums received for all lines of its insurance 
business (i.e., benefit insurance and non-benefit insurance) in that 
taxable year.
    Ms. Ely, the Independent Fiduciary must review the Reinsurance 
Arrangement and confirm and determine: (a) The total economic benefit 
derived by Phillips 66 and its related parties from the Reinsurance 
Arrangement; (b) that the majority of the economic benefits derived by 
Phillips 66 and related parties from the Reinsurance Arrangement were 
transferred to the Plan in the form of Benefit Enhancements and/or 
reduced premiums; (c) the Reinsurance Arrangement created real and 
substantial additional benefits for the Plan and its participants; (d) 
the Reinsurance Arrangement did not result in an offset or reduction in 
participants' other benefits and was otherwise consistent with ERISA. 
Ms. Ely has confirmed that: (i) She has the requisite knowledge 
regarding the Reinsurance Arrangement to fulfill her duties under ERISA 
section 404 as a prudent and independent plan fiduciary; (ii) she will 
monitor the Reinsurance Arrangement throughout the duration of the 
exemption; and (iii) the Reinsurance Arrangement is consistent with 
ERISA, including the prudence and loyalty provisions of ERISA section 
404.
    The exemption would require Ms. Ely to file annual certified 
reports to the Department, under penalty of perjury, confirming whether 
all terms and conditions of the exemption have been met. She must 
complete each report within six months from the end of the 12-month 
period to which it relates (the first 12-month period begins on the 
effective date of the exemption).
    20. The Proposed Exemption is ``In the Interest of the Plan.'' The 
Department has tentatively determined that the proposed exemption would 
be in the Plan's interest. Among other things, the Plan must receive 
the majority of the total benefit generated from the Reinsurance 
Arrangement, as verified by the Independent Fiduciary and reported to 
the Department.
    21. The Proposed Exemption is ``Administratively Feasible.'' The 
Department has tentatively determined that the proposed exemption would 
be administratively feasible, because the proposed reinsurance 
arrangement is subject to robust annual reviews by Ms. Ely that must be 
filed with the Department's Office of Exemption Determinations.
    22. Based on the conditions that are included in this proposed 
exemption, the Department has tentatively determined that the relief 
sought by the Applicant would satisfy the statutory requirements for an 
individual exemption under ERISA section 408(a).

Proposed Exemption

Section I. Definitions

    (a) An ``affiliate'' of Phillips 66 or Spirit includes: (1) Any 
person or entity who controls Phillips 66 or Spirit or is controlled by 
or under common control with Phillips 66 or Spirit; (2) Any officer, 
director, employee, relative, or partner with respect to Phillips 66 or 
Spirit; and (3) Any corporation or partnership of which the person in 
(2) of this paragraph is an officer, director, partner, or employee;
    (b) The term Benefit Enhancements means the following benefits, 
unless adjusted consistent with the terms of this proposed exemption:
    (i) The New Care Advocacy Service Benefit. Under this new benefit, 
master's degree-level licensed social workers would proactively find 
participants needing specialized assistance, including those diagnosed 
with a terminal or chronic illness or who are managing a chronic 
condition that has confined them to their home or a rehabilitation 
center. Care Advocacy support service includes participant education 
and assistance with respect to available community resources, and 
assistance with scheduling and navigating doctor's appointments, 
completing forms, and coordinating care with doctors and specialists.
    (ii) The Enhanced Funeral Concierge Service Benefit. Under this 
enhancement, the Plan would extend its existing Funeral Concierge 
Service Benefit to provide coverage for Plan participants' family 
members.
    (iii) The Enhanced Accelerated Death Benefit. The Plan currently 
provides an Accelerated Death Benefit for a terminally-ill participants 
with life expectancy of 24 months or less to receive an accelerated 
life insurance benefit payment in advance of her death of up to 50 
percent of the participant's total life insurance benefit amount. Under 
this enhancement, the amount of the Accelerated Death Benefit would 
increase to 80 percent of a participant's life insurance benefit.
    (iv) The Enhanced Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefit. The 
Plan currently provides that if a participant suffers an injury 
resulting in Hemiplegia, the Plan would pay such participant a benefit 
equal to 66 percent of the participant's incurred losses from such 
injury. Under this enhancement, the payment would increase to 75 
percent of the participant's incurred losses from such injury.
    (v) The New Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefit. Under the 
current terms of the Plan, if a participant dies in an automobile 
accident while seated in an air bag-protected position and such air bag 
system deployed during the accident, the Plan would not pay any 
additional benefit to the participant. Under this enhancement, the Plan 
would provide a new benefit that pays ten percent of the principal sum, 
up to $25,000, upon the occurrence of this event.
    Further, under the current terms of the Plan, if a participant dies 
100 miles away from his or her primary place of

[[Page 52215]]

residence, the Plan would not cover costs incurred to transport the 
participant's body from the place of death to a mortuary near the 
participant's primary residence. Under this enhancement, the Plan would 
provide a new benefit to participants covering up to five percent of 
the AD&D policy amount, up to a maximum of $5,000, of the cost 
associated with transporting the deceased participant's body to a 
mortuary near her primary residence. Finally, the Plan currently does 
not cover medical costs incurred by a participant who suffers third 
degree burns. If this exemption is granted, the Plan would enhance the 
AD&D benefit by paying a percentage of the principal sum based on the 
body area(s) and the percentage of the body surface affected.
    (c) The term ``control'' means the power to exercise a controlling 
influence over the management or policies of a person other than an 
individual; and
    (d) The term ``Independent Fiduciary'' means a person who:
    (1) Is not Phillips 66 or an affiliate of Phillips 66 or Spirit and 
does not hold an ownership interest in Phillips 66, Spirit or their 
affiliates;
    (2) Was not a fiduciary with respect to the Plan before its 
appointment to serve as the Independent Fiduciary;
    (3) Has acknowledged in writing that:
    (i) It is a fiduciary 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
    (ii) Has appropriate technical training or experience to perform 
the services contemplated by the exemption;
    (4) For purposes of this definition, no organization or individual 
may serve as Independent Fiduciary for any fiscal year if the gross 
income received by such organization or individual from Phillips 66, 
Spirit, or their affiliates for that fiscal year exceeds two percent of 
such organization's or individual's gross income from all sources for 
the prior fiscal year. This provision also applies to a partnership or 
corporation of which such organization or individual is an officer, 
director, or 10 percent or more partner or shareholder and includes as 
gross income amounts received as compensation for services provided as 
an independent fiduciary under any prohibited transaction exemption 
granted by the Department;
    (5) No organization or individual that is an Independent Fiduciary 
and no partnership or corporation of which such organization or 
individual is an officer, director or ten percent or more partner or 
shareholder may acquire any property from, sell any property to, or 
borrow any funds from Phillips 66, Spirit, or their affiliates while 
the individual serves as an Independent Fiduciary. This prohibition 
would continue for a period of six months after either (1) the party 
ceases to be an Independent Fiduciary or (2) the Independent Fiduciary 
negotiates on behalf of the Plan during the period that such 
organization or the individual serves as an Independent Fiduciary; and
    (6) In the event a successor Independent Fiduciary is appointed to 
represent the interests of the Plan with respect to the subject 
transaction, no time should elapse between the resignation or 
termination of the former Independent Fiduciary and the appointment of 
the successor Independent Fiduciary.

Section II. Proposed Transactions

    The exemption would provide relief from the prohibited transactions 
provisions of ERISA sections 406(a)(1)(A), (D), and 406(b)(1) and 
(b)(3), and the excise tax imposed by Code section 4975(a) and (b) (due 
to the operation of parallel prohibited transaction provisions 
contained in Code section 4975(c)(1)(A), (D), (E), and (F)) with 
respect to: (1) The reinsurance of risks; and (2) the receipt of 
premiums by Spirit in connection with insurance contracts sold by 
Zurich (or any successor Fronting Insurer) to provide Group Term Life 
and Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefits to Plan participants. 
In order to receive such relief, the conditions in Section III must be 
met in conformance with the definitions set forth in Section I.

Section III. Conditions

    (a) Phillips 66 must improve the Plan with Benefit Enhancements 
that are funded solely by Phillips 66 in compliance with (b) through 
(e) below;
    (b) For every dollar that Phillips 66 and its related parties 
directly and indirectly benefit from the Captive Reinsurance 
arrangement, Phillips 66 must pay at least $0.51 towards the Benefit 
Enhancements, as may be adjusted under condition (e) below (the Primary 
Benefit Test);
    (c) The Independent Fiduciary must determine whether the Primary 
Benefit Test has been met with respect to each successive five-year 
period covered by the exemption. The Independent Fiduciary must report 
its determinations as part of the Independent Fiduciary's next annual 
report. For purposes of the initial five-year period, the Independent 
Fiduciary may test only the costs and benefits that inure to Phillips 
66 during years two through five of the initial five-year period.
    (d)(1) If the Primary Benefit Test has not been met with respect to 
a five-year period, Phillips 66 must reduce the participants' portion 
of the Plan's premium in the next consecutive year by an amount that is 
at least equal to the amount by which the prior five-year Primary 
Benefit Test was not met, plus an additional payment of interest on the 
shortfall, at the Code's federal underpayment rate set forth in Code 
section 6621(b). The premium reduction must benefit all plan 
participants equally, be fully implemented during the course of the 
year following the last year of the five-year period to which it 
relates, and be verified by the Independent Fiduciary; (2) If the 
captive reinsurance arrangement is terminated before the end of a five-
year period (a Shorter Term), and if the Primary Benefit Test has not 
been met during the Shorter Term, Phillips 66 must reduce the 
participants' portion of the Plan's premium in the following year by an 
amount at least equal to the amount by which the Shorter Term Primary 
Benefit Test was not met. The premium reduction must benefit all plan 
participants equally, be fully implemented during the course of the 
year following the last year of the Shorter Term, and be verified by 
the Independent Fiduciary. Relief in this proposed exemption does not 
extend to prohibited transactions described in this proposed exemption 
that occur during the Shorter Term unless the requirements in this 
subsection (d)(2) have been met. The Independent Fiduciary must ensure 
the premium reduction was properly implemented, notwithstanding that 
the captive reinsurance arrangement has already been terminated;
    (e) Phillips 66 may adjust the Benefit Enhancements to the Plan at 
any time, if such adjustment is approved in advance by the Independent 
Fiduciary after the Independent Fiduciary first determines that each 
adjusted Benefit Enhancement is in the interest of the Plan's 
participants and beneficiaries and available to them on an equal basis. 
The cost incurred by Phillips 66 to fund the Benefit Enhancement may be 
used to determine whether the Primary Benefit Test has been met. A 
complete description of any new Benefit Enhancements and the 
Independent Fiduciary's rationale and determinations regarding such 
enhancements must be included in the next Independent Fiduciary report 
submitted to the Department.
    (f) Spirit must:
    (1) Be a party in interest with respect to the Plan based on its 
affiliation with

[[Page 52216]]

Phillips 66 that is described in ERISA Section 3(14)(G); \13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ Under ERISA section 3(14)(G), a corporation is a ``party in 
interest'' with respect to an employee benefit plan if 50 percent or 
more of the combined voting power of all classes of the 
corporation's stock entitled to vote, or the total value of shares 
of all classes of stock of the corporation, is owned by an employer 
any of whose employees are covered by the employee benefit plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Be licensed to sell insurance or conduct reinsurance operations 
in the Vermont;
    (3) Have obtained a Certificate of Authority from the insurance 
commissioner of Vermont to transact business as a captive insurance 
company. Such certificate must not have been revoked or suspended;
    (4) Have undergone a financial examination (within the meaning of 
the law of its domiciliary State, Vermont) by the Insurance 
Commissioner of Vermont within five years before the end of the year 
preceding the year in which the reinsurance transaction occurred;
    (4) Have undergone, and continue to undergo, an examination by an 
independent certified public accountant for its last completed taxable 
year immediately before the taxable year of the Reinsurance Arrangement 
covered by this exemption; and
    (5) Be licensed to conduct reinsurance transactions by a state 
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;
    (g) In each year of coverage provided by a Fronting Insurer, the 
formulae used by the Fronting Insurer to calculate premiums will be 
similar to formulae used by other insurers providing comparable life 
insurance coverage under similar programs. Furthermore, the premium 
charges calculated in accordance with the formulae will be reasonable 
and comparable to the premiums charged by the Fronting Insurer and its 
competitors with the same or a better financial strength rating 
providing the same coverage under comparable programs;
    (h) The Plan must pay no commissions with respect to the sale of 
such contracts or the Reinsurance Arrangement;
    (i) The Fronting Insurer must have a financial strength rating of 
``A'' or better from A.M. Best Company (A.M. Best) or an equivalent 
rating from another rating agency;
    (j) The Reinsurance Arrangement between Spirit and Zurich or any 
successor Fronting Insurer must be indemnity insurance only. The 
arrangement must not relieve a Fronting Insurer from any responsibility 
or liability to the Plan, including liability that would result if 
Spirit fails to meet any of its contractual obligations to Zurich or 
any successor Fronting Insurer under the Reinsurance Arrangement;
    (k) Phillips 66 will not offset or reduce any benefits provided to 
Plan participants and beneficiaries in relation to its implementation 
of the Proposed Benefit Enhancements;
    (l) The Independent Fiduciary must:
    (1) In compliance with the fiduciary obligations of prudence and 
loyalty under ERISA Sections 404(a)(1)(A) and (B) (i) review the 
Reinsurance Arrangement and the terms of the exemption; (ii) obtain and 
review all current objective, reliable, third-party documentation 
necessary to make the determinations required of the Independent 
Fiduciary by the exemption; and (iii) confirm in writing that all of 
the exemption's terms and conditions have been met (or, due to timing 
requirements, can reasonably be expected to be met consistent with the 
terms of this proposed exemption) and send this confirmation to the 
Department's Office of Exemption Determinations at least 30 days before 
Phillips 66 engages in the Reinsurance Arrangement. The confirmation 
must include: Copies of each document relied on by the Independent 
Fiduciary and the steps the Independent Fiduciary took to make its 
confirmation;
    (2) Monitor, enforce and ensure compliance with all conditions of 
this exemption, in accordance with its obligations of prudence and 
loyalty under ERISA Sections 404(a)(1)(A) and (B), including all 
conditions and obligations imposed on any party dealing with the Plan, 
throughout the period during which Spirit's assets are directly or 
indirectly used in connection with a transaction covered by this 
exemption.
    (3) Report any instance of non-compliance immediately to the 
Department's Office of Exemption Determinations;
    (4) Take all appropriate actions to safeguard the interests of the 
Plan;
    (5) Review all contracts pertaining to the Reinsurance Arrangement, 
and any renewals of such contracts, to determine whether the 
requirements of this proposed exemption and the terms of Benefit 
Enhancements continue to be satisfied;
    (6) Submit an annual Independent Fiduciary Report to the Department 
certifying under penalty of perjury whether each term and condition of 
the proposed exemption is met over the applicable period. Each report 
must be: (i) Completed within six months after the end of the twelve-
month period to which it relates (the first twelve-month period would 
begin on the effective date of the exemption grant); and (ii) submitted 
to the Department within 60 days thereafter. The relevant report must 
include all of the objective data necessary to demonstrate that the 
Primary Benefit Test has been met;
    (o) Neither Phillips 66 nor any related entity may use participant-
related data or information generated by or derived from the 
Reinsurance Arrangement in a manner that benefits Phillips 66 or a 
related entity;
    (p) No amount of Spirit's reserves that are attributable to the 
Plan participants' contributions may be transferred to Phillips 66 or a 
related party;
    (q) All the facts and representations set forth in the Summary of 
Facts and Representation must be true and accurate; and
    (r) No party related to this exemption request has or will, 
indemnify the Independent Fiduciary, in whole or in part, for 
negligence and/or for any violation of state or federal law that may be 
attributable to the Independent Fiduciary in performing its duties 
under the captive reinsurance arrangement. In addition, no contract or 
instrument may purport to waive any liability under state or federal 
law for any such violations.
    Effective Date: This proposed exemption would become effective on 
the date the Department publishes a grant notice in the Federal 
Register.

Notice to Interested Persons

    Persons who may be interested in the publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register include Plan participants and beneficiaries. The 
Applicant will provide notification to such interested persons by 
electronic and first-class mail within fifteen (15) calendar days after 
the publication date of the Notice in the Federal Register. Such 
mailing will contain a copy of the Notice as it appears in the Federal 
Register on the date of publication and a copy of the Supplemental 
Statement required, by 29 CFR 2570.43(b)(2), which will advise 
interested persons of their right to comment on the proposed exemption 
and request a hearing.
    The Department must receive all written comments and requests for a 
hearing no later than forty-five (45) days after the date the Notice is 
published in the Federal Register.
    All comments will be made available to the public.
    Warning: Please do not include any personally identifiable 
information (such as your name, address, or other

[[Page 52217]]

contact information) or confidential business information that you do 
not want publicly disclosed. All comments may be posted on the internet 
and are retrievable by most internet search engines.
    Further Information Contact: Mr. Joseph Brennan of the Department, 
telephone (202) 693-8456. (This is not a toll-free number.)

Comcast Corporation (Comcast)

Located in Philadelphia, PA

[Application No. L-12021]

Proposed Exemption

    The Department is considering granting an exemption under the 
authority of section 408(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Security 
Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and in accordance with the procedures 
set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 
27, 2011). As more fully explained below, this proposed exemption would 
allow an affiliate of Comcast, One Belmont Insurance Company, to 
reinsure the life insurance risks of the Comcast Corporation 
Comprehensive Health and Welfare Benefit Plan. Comcast expects to 
benefit by approximately $375,000 per year from the proposed 
arrangement, and participants in the Plan's Dental Component will 
receive at least a $375,000 yearly reduction in their portion of the 
premium payments. If Comcast benefits by more than $375,000 in a 
particular year (e.g., $500,000), participants in the Plan's Dental 
Component will receive that same reduction ($500,000) in their premium 
payments in the subsequent plan year. This exemption requires, among 
other things, annual reports by a qualified, independent fiduciary, 
submitted to the Department of Labor confirming whether the 
requirements of the exemption have been met.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ The Department notes that the independent fiduciary's 
annual written report is essential to the Department's tentative 
finding that this proposed exemption is, and will continue to be, in 
the interest and protective of the Plan and its participants and 
beneficiaries. Each report must clearly, prudently, and loyally 
determine whether Comcast and its affiliates have complied with each 
term and condition of the exemption. The exemption's relief is 
conditioned on the independent fiduciary's compliance with this 
requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary of Facts and Representations 15
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ The Department notes that availability of this exemption, 
is subject to the express condition that the material facts and 
representations contained in application L-12021 are true and 
complete, and accurately describe all material terms of the 
transactions covered by the exemption. If there is any material 
change in a transaction covered by the exemption, or in a material 
fact or representation described in the application, the exemption 
will cease to apply to the covered transactions as of the date of 
such change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Applicants

    1. Comcast is an American telecommunications conglomerate 
headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Comcast wholly owns One 
Belmont Insurance Company (One Belmont), a captive insurance and 
reinsurance corporation regulated by the State of Vermont. One Belmont 
currently provides the following insurance coverage to Comcast and its 
subsidiaries: Workers compensation, general liability, automobile 
liability deductible reimbursement, production insurance, and 
international employee health & welfare benefits. As of December 31, 
2019, One Belmont had total assets of $271,114,394 and gross written 
premiums of $50.0 million.
    2. Comcast sponsors the Comcast Corporation Comprehensive Health 
and Welfare Benefit Plan (the Plan), which provides eligible employees 
with medical, life insurance, dental, disability, death benefits and 
other welfare benefits. As of December 31, 2020, the Plan provided 
benefits to approximately 110,657 active participants. Comcast provides 
life insurance and death benefits to eligible employees through the 
Life Insurance and Death Benefit Plan, which is a component of the Plan 
(the Life Insurance Component). Benefits of the Life Insurance 
Component include basic life insurance, for which Comcast pays one 
hundred percent (100%) of the premium cost, and optional (supplemental) 
group term life insurance benefits, for which employees pay one hundred 
percent (100%) of the premium cost. The Plan also has a dental 
component (the Dental Component), for which Comcast pays 60% of the 
premium cost.
    3. The basic and optional (supplemental) life insurance benefits 
provided under the Life Insurance Component are insured by the 
Prudential Insurance Company (Prudential), which is unrelated to 
Comcast and its affiliates. Prudential recently received an ``A+'' 
financial strength rating from A.M. Best Company.
    4. The Applicants are requesting an exemption that would permit One 
Belmont to reinsure the basic and optional (supplemental) life 
insurance provided under the Plan's Life Insurance Component. As 
described below, the proposed exemption is subject to a number of 
conditions, each of which must be verified by a qualified, independent 
fiduciary (the Independent Fiduciary). Among other things, the 
Independent Fiduciary must submit an annual report in which, in 
accordance with ERISA Sections 404(a)(1)(A) and (B), it prudently and 
loyally determines that the Applicants have met the terms of the 
exemption, including the requirement that the Plan's Dental Component 
has received all the financial benefits and cost savings associated 
with the reinsurance arrangement that would otherwise have gone to the 
Applicants.
    5. The arrangement is expected to generate an annual financial 
benefit to Comcast. In particular, Comcast currently anticipates that 
the arrangement will result in $375,000 annual cost savings, as 
compared to the current benefit structure.\16\ Therefore, the proposed 
exemption requires Comcast to provide participants in the Plan's Dental 
Component with at least an annual aggregate $375,000 reduction in their 
portion of the premium for the Plan's Dental Component, without any 
offsetting change or reduction in employee benefits.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ According to the Applicants, Prudential has agreed to 
reduce the Plan's basic life insurance premiums by $375,000 in 
return for transferring the Plan's basic life insurance risks to One 
Belmont. The result is a cost savings to Comcast, since Comcast pays 
100% of these premiums.
    \17\ Based on the number of participants currently enrolled in 
the Plan's Dental Component, that amount currently translates to 
$3.84 per participant per year in employee premium savings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    6. Comcast states that reducing the premiums of the Plan's Dental 
Component would benefit a higher percentage of Plan participants than 
would benefit from reducing the premiums paid by Plan participants for 
supplemental life insurance. Comcast states that 85% of Plan 
participants participate in the Plan's Dental Component, while only 35% 
of Plan participants who contribute towards the supplemental life 
insurance offered by the Plan.
    7. In no event may the reduction in the participants' portion of 
the Dental Component's premium be less than the amount that Comcast or 
any of its affiliates ultimately benefits from the captive reinsurance 
arrangement. Further, Comcast must continue to contribute no less than 
60% of the Dental Component's premiums after the captive reinsurance 
arrangement takes effect.
    8. If this proposed exemption is granted, Prudential will continue 
to be the ``fronting'' insurer for the basic and optional 
(supplemental) group term life insurance. Prudential will contract with 
One Belmont for One Belmont to

[[Page 52218]]

provide reinsurance coverage for 90% of the risks insured with 
Prudential (up to $1,500,000 in coverage for each individual employee 
under the Plan). This captive reinsurance agreement between Prudential 
and One Belmont will be ``indemnity only,'' which means that Prudential 
will not be relieved of any of its liabilities with respect to benefits 
provided under the Plan's Life Insurance Component, even if One Belmont 
is unable or unwilling in any way to satisfy its contractual 
obligations to Prudential.
    9. Comcast and its affiliates, including One Belmont, may not 
retain any profit, tax or other benefit from the captive reinsurance 
arrangement. If Comcast or any of its affiliates ultimately receive a 
tax, profit or other benefit in connection with the captive reinsurance 
arrangement, including any benefit arising from a further 
diversification of One Belmont's risks in connection with adding the 
Insurance Component's risks to One Belmont's other risks Comcast must 
ensure, and the Independent Fiduciary must verify, that participants in 
the Plan's Dental Component receive a corresponding dollar-for-dollar 
additional reduction to their portion of the premiums. For example, if 
Comcast's savings from the captive reinsurance arrangement for a year 
is $375,000, and One Belmont realizes a $25,000 net income increase 
from the captive reinsurance arrangement in that same year, the Plan's 
participants must receive a $400,000 reduction in their portion of the 
Plan's Dental Component premium in the following year. Comcast may not 
offset or reduce any employee benefits in connection with this premium 
reduction.

ERISA Analysis

    11. Comcast is a party in interest with respect to the Plan 
pursuant to ERISA section 3(14)(C), because it is an employer whose 
employees are covered by the Plan. In addition, the captive reinsurer, 
One Belmont, is a party in interest with respect to the Plan pursuant 
to ERISA section 3(14)(G) because it is 100% owned by the Comcast.\18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Under ERISA section 3(14)(G), a corporation is a ``party in 
interest'' with respect to an employee benefit plan if 50% or more 
of the combined voting power of all classes of the corporation's 
stock entitled to vote, or the total value of shares of all classes 
of stock of the corporation, is owned by an employer any of whose 
employees are covered by the employee benefit plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    12. ERISA section 406(a) prohibits a wide variety of transactions 
between plans and parties in interest. For example, ERISA section 
406(a)(l)(D) prohibits a plan fiduciary from causing a plan to engage 
in a transaction that results in the transfer of plan assets to a party 
in interest. The proposed captive reinsurance arrangement would violate 
ERISA section 406(a)(1)(D), because it would result in the Plan's 
premium payments (which are plan assets) being indirectly transferred 
to One Belmont, which is a party in interest with respect to the Plan.
    13. ERISA section 406(b)(1) prohibits a fiduciary from dealing with 
plan assets for its own interest or own account. The proposed captive 
reinsurance arrangement would violate ERISA section 406(b)(1), because 
the plan fiduciary would cause the Life Insurance Component's premiums 
to be paid to Prudential with knowledge that corresponding payments 
ultimately would be paid to One Belmont, and Comcast may benefit from a 
diversification of One Belmont's risks.
    14. Comcast must fund the reserves that will be established by One 
Belmont for the reinsurance arrangement. This amount is estimated to be 
$180,000 for the first year. Comcast will be fully and solely 
responsible for funding any future reserves required in connection with 
the captive reinsurance arrangement. In this respect, Comcast may not 
pass along the cost of funding the reserves to the Plan or its 
participants.
    15. In connection with this exemption request, the Applicants 
engaged Milliman Actuarial Services (Milliman) to act as the 
independent fiduciary (the Independent Fiduciary) on behalf of the Plan 
to evaluate, and if appropriate, approve or reject the subject 
transactions. Milliman is responsible for the prudent and loyal review 
and analysis of the proposed transactions on the Plan's behalf and for 
providing a written opinion as to whether the arrangement complies with 
the Department's requirements for an administrative exemption. Milliman 
must have access to the captive insurance company's financial 
statements, which will show premiums, claims, reserves and other 
relevant financial items, and Milliman must use this information to 
determine ongoing savings and any other benefits to the Applicants that 
result from the reinsurance transaction. In addition, Milliman must: 
(1) Review all contracts (and any renewal of such contracts) of the 
reinsurance of risks and the receipt of premiums therefrom by One 
Belmont and determine that the requirements of the exemption continue 
to be satisfied; and (2) quantify (in dollars) all savings and other 
benefits that Comcast receives from the proposed captive reinsurance 
arrangement, and ensure that the Plan's participants receive a 
corresponding benefit, at Comcast's expense, in the manner described 
above.
    16. Milliman represents that it has extensive experience overseeing 
captive reinsurance arrangements. Milliman represents that it does not 
have, and has not previously had, any relationship with any party in 
interest (including any affiliates thereof) engaging in the proposed 
transactions. Milliman does not have any financial interest with 
respect to their work as an independent fiduciary regarding this 
proposed transaction, or the captive reinsurance arrangement, apart 
from the express fees paid for their work as an independent fiduciary 
for the Plan. Gross income received by Milliman from Comcast, One 
Belmont, or Prudential for this fiscal year is less than 0.1% of 
Milliman's gross annual income from all sources. Under this exemption, 
the gross income Milliman receives from Comcast, One Belmont and 
Prudential in a fiscal year must not exceed two percent of Milliman's 
gross annual income from all sources for that year. As a condition of 
the exemption, neither Milliman nor any of its representatives will 
enter into any agreement or instrument that violates the prohibitions 
on exculpatory provisions in ERISA section 410 or the Department's 
regulation relating to indemnification of fiduciaries at 29 CFR 
2509.75-4.\19\ Finally, Comcast and its related parties have not, and 
will not, indemnify Milliman, in whole or in part, for negligence and/
or for any violations of state or federal law that may be attributable 
to Milliman performing its duties under the captive reinsurance 
arrangement. In addition, no contract or instrument may purport to 
waive any liability under state or federal law for any such violations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ ERISA section 410 provides, in relevant part, that ``except 
as provided in [ERISA] sections 405(b)(1) and 405(d), any provision 
in an agreement or instrument which purports to relieve a fiduciary 
from responsibility or liability for any responsibility, obligation, 
or duty under this part [meaning Part 4 of Title I of ERISA] shall 
be void as against public policy.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    17. In connection with the transactions that are the subject of 
this proposed exemption, Milliman represents that it has, among other 
things, in full accordance with its prudence and loyalty obligations 
under ERISA sections 404(a)(1)(A) and (B): (a) Reviewed a draft of 
Comcast's application for an administrative exemption that was 
submitted to the Department; (b) conferred with Comcast's 
representative to discuss the transactions involved in the reinsurance 
arrangement; (c) conducted such other

[[Page 52219]]

due diligence reviews as were prudent to determine that the conditions 
of the proposed exemption would be met, including the premiums to be 
paid by the Life Insurance Component for the proposed coverage.
    Department's Note. If the Department grants an exemption, 
Milliman's findings would not be current as of the exemption's 
effective date. Therefore, as a condition of the exemption, Milliman 
must engage in another analysis of the proposed transactions in full 
accordance with ERISA Section 404(a)(1)(A) and (B). As part of this 
analysis, Milliman must review the terms of the exemption and verify 
that it has concluded based on its review of all of the relevant 
documents and evidence that all of the exemption's terms and conditions 
have been met (or, due to timing requirements, can reasonably expected 
to be met consistent with the time requirements set forth in this 
proposed exemption)). Milliman must document the basis for its 
conclusions in a written report submitted to the Department's Office of 
Exemption Determinations at least 30 days before the Plan engages in 
the reinsurance arrangement. The report must include copies of all 
documents and evidence Milliman relied on when conducting its review.
    18. For the duration of the captive reinsurance arrangement, 
Milliman must: (a) Monitor, enforce and ensure compliance with all 
conditions of the exemption, including all conditions and obligations 
imposed on any party dealing with the Plan, throughout the period 
during which One Belmont's assets are directly or indirectly used in 
connection with a transaction covered by this exemption; (b) report any 
instance of non-compliance immediately to the Department's Office of 
Exemption Determinations; (c) monitor the transactions covered by the 
exemption on a continuing basis, to ensure the transactions remain in 
the interest of the Plan; and (d) take all appropriate actions to 
safeguard the interests of the Plan and its participants and 
beneficiaries. Milliman must also review all contracts and agreements 
(and any renewal of such contracts) relevant to the captive reinsurance 
arrangement and exemption.
    19. Additionally, Milliman must file annual certified reports to 
the Department, under penalty of perjury, confirming that all of the 
terms and conditions of the exemption have been met and explaining the 
bases for that conclusion.
    20. In the initial year of this proposed transaction, there will be 
an immediate and objectively determined benefit in the form of reduced 
employee contributions for the Dental Component of the Plan in the 
amount of $375,000. Milliman must ensure that all participants in the 
Plan's Dental Component will receive: The premium savings they are 
entitled to under the exemption; and the full amount of any other 
benefit Comcast receives from the proposed arrangement. The Department 
retains the right to propose a revocation or amendment to this 
exemption if it is unable to confirm the reliability of the underlying 
financial data supporting the Independent Fiduciary's ``look-back'' 
findings. The Department notes that its failure to revoke an exemption 
is not an endorsement or conclusion that the conditions of the 
exemption are, in fact, met.
    21. In addition to the protections and conditions discussed above, 
this proposed exemption requires, and Milliman must verify that: (a) 
Neither the Plan nor any plan participant pays any commissions with 
respect to the direct insurance agreement between Comcast and 
Prudential and the reinsurance agreement between Prudential and One 
Belmont; (b) the formula used by Prudential, or any successor insurer, 
to calculate premiums will be similar to the formula used by other 
insurers providing comparable coverage under similar programs that are 
not captive reinsured; (c) the premium charged to the Life Insurance 
Component will be reasonable and comparable to the premiums charged by 
the insurer and its competitors with the same or a better financial 
strength rating providing the same coverage under comparable insurance 
programs that are not captive reinsured; (d) the Life Insurance 
Component will only contract with insurers with a financial strength 
rating of ``A'' or better from A. M. Best; (e) the Plan pays no more 
than adequate consideration with respect to insurance that is part of 
the captive reinsurance arrangement covered by the proposed exemption 
and (f) the captive reinsurance arrangement between the insurer and One 
Belmont will be indemnity reinsurance only (i.e., the Fronting Insurer 
will not be relieved of any liability to the Plan should the reinsurer 
be unable or unwilling for any reason to cover any liability arising 
from the reinsurance arrangement).
    22. This proposed exemption expressly prohibits Comcast (or a 
related entity) from using any participant-related data or information 
that is generated by (or derived from) the proposed captive reinsurance 
arrangement in any manner that benefits Comcast or a related entity. 
Comcast may not reduce or offset any benefits provided to Plan 
participants and beneficiaries in connection with its implementation of 
the proposed captive reinsurance arrangement. Further, all expenses 
associated with the exemption and the exemption application, including 
any payment to the Independent Fiduciary, must be paid by Comcast and 
not the Plan.

The Department's Findings

    23. The Department has the authority under ERISA section 408(a) to 
grant an exemption from the prohibition transaction provisions of ERISA 
section 406 if the Department finds that the transaction is in the 
interest and protective of the rights of the affected plan and its 
participants and beneficiaries, and is administratively feasible.\20\ 
The Department's findings required under ERISA section 408(a) with 
respect the proposed captive reinsurance arrangement are discussed 
below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ Specifically, ERISA section 408(a) provides that the 
Secretary of Labor may not grant an exemption unless the Secretary 
finds that the exemption is administratively feasible, in the 
interests of the plan and it participants and beneficiaries, and 
protective of the rights of the plan participants and beneficiaries 
of such plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    24. The Proposed Exemption is ``Administratively Feasible.'' The 
Department has tentatively determined that the proposed exemption would 
be administratively feasible, because the proposed captive reinsurance 
arrangement is subject to robust annual reviews by Milliman that must 
be filed with the Department's Office of Exemption Determinations.
    25. The Proposed Exemption is ``In the Interests of the Plan.'' The 
Department has tentatively determined that the proposed exemption would 
be in the interest of the Plan because, among other things, 100% of the 
benefit to Comcast from the proposed captive reinsurance arrangement 
must be transferred to participants in the Plan's Dental Component by 
reducing their premiums in an amount equal to any and all cost savings 
and benefits Comcast derives from the proposed captive reinsurance 
arrangement. At no point during the proposed captive reinsurance 
arrangement will the aggregate benefit to the Plan's participants in 
the Dental Component be less than $375,000 per year, and Comcast may 
not contribute less than 60% towards the premium for the Plan's Dental 
Component after entering into the proposed reinsurance arrangement.
    26. The Proposed Exemption is ``Protective of the Plan.'' The 
Department has tentatively determined that the proposed exemption is

[[Page 52220]]

protective of the rights of the Plan participants and beneficiaries 
because, among other things: (a) The premium charged to the Life 
Insurance Component will be reasonable and comparable to the premiums 
charged by the insurer and its competitors with the same or a better 
financial strength rating providing the same coverage under comparable 
insurance programs that are not captive reinsured; (b) the Life 
Insurance Component will only contract with insurers with a financial 
strength rating of ``A'' or better from A. M. Best; (c) the Plan pays 
no more than adequate consideration with respect to insurance that is 
part of the captive reinsurance arrangement covered by the proposed 
exemption; and (d) the reinsurance arrangement between the insurer and 
One Belmont will be indemnity reinsurance only (i.e., the Fronting 
Insurer will not be relieved of any liability to the Plan should the 
reinsurer become unable or unwilling for any reason to cover any 
liability arising from the reinsurance arrangement).

Summary

    27. Based on Comcast satisfying the conditions described above, the 
Department has tentatively determined that the relief sought by Comcast 
satisfies the statutory requirements for an exemption under ERISA 
section 408(a).

Proposed Exemption

    The relief described in Section II of this proposed exemption is 
conditioned upon adherence to the material facts and representations 
described herein and as presented to the Department by Comcast, as well 
as satisfaction of the Definitions in Section I and the Conditions in 
Section III.

Section I. Definitions

    (a) An ``affiliate'' of Comcast or One Belmont includes: (1) Any 
person who controls the person or is controlled by or under common 
control with Comcast or One Belmont; (2) Any officer, director, 
employee, relative, or partner in Comcast or One Belmont; and (3) Any 
corporation or partnership of which the person in (2) of this paragraph 
is an officer, director, partner, or employee;
    (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 ``Independent Fiduciary'' means a person who:
    (1) Is not an affiliate of Comcast or One Belmont and does not hold 
an ownership interest in Comcast or One Belmont or their affiliates;
    (2) Is not a fiduciary with respect to the Plan before its 
appointment to serve as the Independent Fiduciary;
    (3) Has acknowledged in writing that it:
    (i) Is a fiduciary with respect to the plan and has agreed not to 
participate in any decision regarding any transaction in which it has 
an interest that might affect its best judgment as a fiduciary; and
    (ii) has appropriate technical training or experience to perform 
the services contemplated by the exemption;
    (4) has not entered into any agreement or instrument that violates 
the prohibitions on exculpatory provisions in ERISA section 410 or the 
Department's regulation relating to indemnification of fiduciaries at 
29 CFR 2509.75-4.
    (5) For purposes of this definition, no organization or individual 
may serve as Independent Fiduciary for any fiscal year if the gross 
income received by such organization or individual from Comcast, One 
Belmont or their affiliates for that fiscal year exceeds two percent 
(2%) of such organization's or individual's gross income from all 
sources for the prior fiscal year. This provision also applies to a 
partnership or corporation of which such organization or individual is 
an officer, director, or 10 percent (10%) or more partner or 
shareholder, and includes as gross income amounts received as 
compensation for services provided as an independent fiduciary under 
any prohibited transaction exemption granted by the Department; and
    (6) No organization or individual that is an Independent Fiduciary 
and no partnership or corporation of which such organization or 
individual is an officer, director or ten percent (10%) or more partner 
or shareholder may acquire any property from, sell any property to, or 
borrow any funds from Comcast or One Belmont or their affiliates while 
serving as an Independent Fiduciary. This prohibition will continue for 
a period of six months after: The party ceases to be an Independent 
Fiduciary; and/or the Independent Fiduciary negotiates any transaction 
on behalf of the Plan during the period that the organization or 
individual serves as an Independent Fiduciary.

Section II: Covered Transactions

    If this proposed exemption is granted, the restrictions of ERISA 
sections 406(a)(1)(D) and 406(b)(1) will not apply to the reinsurance 
of risks and the receipt of premiums therefrom by One Belmont Insurance 
Company, an affiliate of Comcast Corporation (Comcast), in connection 
with insurance contracts sold by Prudential Insurance Company 
(Prudential), or any successor fronting insurer meeting the 
requirements of this proposed exemption (a Fronting Insurer), to 
provide group term life insurance benefits to participants in the life 
insurance component (the Life Insurance Component) of the Comcast 
Corporation Comprehensive Health and Welfare Benefit Plan (the Plan).

Section III. Conditions

    (a) In the initial year and each subsequent year of the captive 
reinsurance arrangement, the participants' portion of the premium for 
the dental component of the Plan (the Dental Component) must be reduced 
by at least $375,000. If Comcast's savings from the captive reinsurance 
arrangement are greater than $375,000 in any year, Comcast must reduce 
the participants' portion of the Dental Component's premium by that 
greater amount in the next subsequent year. If Comcast or any of its 
affiliates ultimately receive some other benefit in connection with the 
captive insurance arrangement, such as a tax reduction or a profit or 
any benefit arising from a further diversification of One Belmont's 
risks in connection with adding the Insurance Component's risks to One 
Belmont's other risks, participants in the Dental Component must 
receive an additional corresponding dollar-for-dollar reduction to 
their portion of the Dental Component's premiums in the subsequent 
year.
    (b) No commissions are paid by the Plan with respect to the direct 
sale of such contracts or the reinsurance thereof;
    (c) In the initial year and in subsequent years of coverage 
provided by a Fronting Insurer, the formulae used by the Fronting 
Insurer to calculate premiums will be similar to formulae used by other 
insurers providing comparable life insurance coverage under similar 
programs that are not captive reinsured. Furthermore, the premium 
charges calculated in accordance with the formulae will be reasonable 
and will be comparable to the premiums charged by the Fronting Insurer 
and its competitors with the same or a better financial strength rating 
providing the same coverage under comparable programs that are not 
captive reinsured;
    (d) Comcast is solely and fully responsible for funding One 
Belmont's reserves with respect to the reinsurance arrangement covered 
by this proposed exemption;
    (e) One Belmont:

[[Page 52221]]

    (1) Is a party in interest with respect to the Plan by reason of a 
stock or partnership affiliation with Comcast that is described in 
ERISA section 3(14)(E) or (G);
    (2) Is licensed to sell insurance or conduct reinsurance operations 
in at least one State as such term is defined in ERISA section 3(10);
    (3) Has obtained a Certificate of Authority from the state of 
Vermont, its domiciliary state, that has neither been revoked nor 
suspended;
    (4) (A) Has undergone and shall continue to undergo an examination 
by an independent certified public accountant for its last completed 
taxable year immediately before the taxable year of the reinsurance 
transaction covered by this exemption; or
    (B) Has undergone a financial examination (within the meaning of 
the law of Vermont) by the Commissioner of Banking, Insurance, 
Securities and Health Care Administration of the State of Vermont 
within five (5) years before the end of the year preceding the year in 
which the reinsurance transaction occurred; and
    (5) Is licensed to conduct reinsurance transactions under Vermont 
law, which requires an actuarial review of reserves to be conducted 
annually by an independent firm of actuaries and reported to the 
appropriate regulatory authority;
    (f) The Plan retained and will continue to retain an independent, 
qualified fiduciary or successor to such fiduciary, as defined in 
Section I(c), (the Independent Fiduciary) to analyze the transactions 
covered by this proposed exemption, and render an opinion that the 
requirements of this exemption have been satisfied;
    (g) The Independent Fiduciary must, in full accordance with its 
obligations of prudence and loyalty under ERISA sections 404(a)(1)(A) 
and (B), review the terms of the exemption, engage in a prudent and 
loyal analysis of the covered transactions, and verify that based on 
its review of all relevant documents and evidence, it has concluded 
that all of the exemption's terms and conditions have been met (or can 
be reasonably be expected to be met consistent with the time 
requirements set forth in this proposed exemption). This conclusion 
must be documented in a written report submitted to the Department's 
Office of Exemption Determinations at least 30 days before the Plan 
engages in a transaction covered by the exemption. The report must 
include copies of each document relied on by the Independent Fiduciary 
and discuss the bases for its conclusion;
    (3) Monitor, enforce and ensure compliance with all conditions of 
this exemption, including all conditions and obligations imposed on any 
party dealing with the Plan, throughout the period during which One 
Belmont's assets are directly or indirectly used in connection with a 
transaction covered by this exemption;
    (4) Report any instance of non-compliance immediately to the 
Department's Office of Exemption Determinations;
    (5) Monitor the transactions described in the exemption on a 
continuing basis, to ensure the transactions remain in the interest of 
the Plan;
    (6) Take all appropriate actions to safeguard the interests of the 
Plan;
    (7) Review all contracts pertaining to the Reinsurance Arrangement, 
and any renewals of such contracts, to determine whether the 
requirements of this proposed exemption continue to be satisfied;
    (8) Determine that the Reinsurance Arrangement is in no way 
detrimental to the Plan and its participants and beneficiaries;
    (9) Confirm that the Plan's Dental Component has received all the 
financial benefits and cost savings associated with the proposed 
captive reinsurance arrangement that otherwise would have been retained 
by Comcast or a party related to Comcast;
    (10) Provide an annual report to the Department, under penalty of 
perjury, certifying that each term and condition of this exemption is 
satisfied and setting forth the bases for the certification. Each 
report must be: (i) Completed within six months after the end of the 
twelve month period to which it relates (the first twelve month period 
begins on the first day of the implementation of the captive 
reinsurance arrangement covered by this proposed exemption); and (ii) 
submitted to the Department within six months thereafter;
    (h) Comcast and its related parties have not, and will not, 
indemnify the Independent Fiduciary, in whole or in part, for 
negligence and/or for any violations of state or federal law that may 
be attributable to the Independent Fiduciary in performing its duties 
under the captive reinsurance arrangement. In addition, no contract or 
instrument will purport to waive any liability under state or federal 
law for any such violations.
    (i) Neither Comcast nor a related entity may use participant-
related data or information generated by, or derived from, the 
Reinsurance Arrangement, in a manner that benefits Comcast or a related 
entity;
    (j) All the facts and representations set forth in the Summary of 
Facts and Representation are true and accurate;
    (k) Comcast will not offset or reduce any benefits provided to Plan 
participants and beneficiaries in connection with its implementation of 
the captive reinsurance arrangement;
    (l) The Plan will only contract with a Fronting Insurer with a 
financial strength rating of ``A'' or better from A.M. Best;
    (m) The Plan pays no more than adequate consideration with respect 
to insurance that is part of the captive reinsurance arrangement 
covered by the proposed exemption;
    (n) In the event a successor Independent Fiduciary is appointed to 
represent the interests of the Plan with respect to the subject 
transaction, no time shall elapse between the resignation or 
termination of the former Independent Fiduciary and the appointment of 
the successor Independent Fiduciary; and
    (o) All expenses associated with the exemption and the exemption 
application, including any payment to the Independent Fiduciary, must 
be paid by Comcast and not the Plan.
    Effective Date: The proposed exemption is effective as of the date 
a final exemption is published in the Federal Register.

Notice to Interested Persons

    Persons who may be interested in the publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register include Plan participants and beneficiaries. The 
Applicants will provide notification to such interested persons by 
electronic and first-class mail within fifteen (15) calendar days after 
the date the Notice is published in the Federal Register. Such mailing 
will contain a copy of the Notice as it appears in the Federal Register 
on the publication date and a copy of the Supplemental Statement 
required by 29 CFR 2570.43(b)(2) that advises interested persons of 
their right to comment on the proposed exemption and request a hearing.
    The Department must receive all written comments and requests for a 
hearing no later than forty-five (45) days after publication date of 
the date of the Notice in the Federal Register.
    All comments will be made available to the public.
    Warning: Please do not include any personally identifiable 
information (such as your 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 are

[[Page 52222]]

retrievable by most internet search engines.
    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
    (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.
G. Christopher Cosby,
Acting Director, Office of Exemption Determinations, Employee Benefits 
Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2021-20237 Filed 9-17-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P