Employee benefit plans; prohibited transaction exemptions: Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., et al.,

[Federal Register: November 13, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 219)]

[Notices]

[Page 67765-67774]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr13no00-135]

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration

[Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2000-58]

Amendment to Prohibited Transaction Exemption (PTE) 97-34 Involving Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Prudential Securities Incorporated, et al. (D-10829)

AGENCY: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Grant of an amendment to the Underwriter Exemptions.\1\

\1\ The term ``Underwriter Exemptions'' refers to the following individual Prohibited Transaction Exemptions (PTEs): PTE 89-88, 54 FR 42582 (October 17, 1989); PTE 89-89, 54 FR 42569 (October 17, 1989); PTE 89-90, 54 FR 42597 (October 17, 1989); PTE 90-22, 55 FR 20542 (May 17, 1990); PTE 90-23, 55 FR 20545 (May 17, 1990); PTE 90- 24, 55 FR 20548 (May 17, 1990); PTE 90-28, 55 FR 21456 (May 24, 1990); PTE 90-29, 55 FR 21459 (May 24, 1990); PTE 90-30, 55 FR 21461 (May 24, 1990); PTE 90-31, 55 FR 23144 (June 6, 1990); PTE 90-32, 55 FR 23147 (June 6, 1990); PTE 90-33, 55 FR 23151 (June 6, 1990); PTE 90-36, 55 FR 25903 (June 25, 1990); PTE 90-39, 55 FR 27713 (July 5, 1990); PTE 90-59, 55 FR 36724 (September 6, 1990); PTE 90-83, 55 FR 50250 (December 5, 1990); PTE 90-84, 55 FR 50252 (December 5, 1990); PTE 90-88, 55 FR 52899 (December 24, 1990); PTE 91-14, 55 FR 48178 (February 22, 1991); PTE 91-22, 56 FR 03277 (April 18, 1991); PTE 91-23, 56 FR 15936 (April 18, 1991); PTE 91-30, 56 FR 22452 (May 15, 1991); PTE 91-62, 56 FR 51406 (October 11, 1991); PTE 93-31, 58 FR 28620 (May 5, 1993); PTE 93-32, 58 FR 28623 (May 14, 1993); PTE 94- 29, 59 FR 14675 (March 29, 1994); PTE 94-64, 59 FR 42312 (August 17, 1994); PTE 94-70, 59 FR 50014 (September 30, 1994); PTE 94-73, 59 FR 51213 (October 7, 1994); PTE 94-84, 59 FR 65400 (December 19, 1994); PTE 95-26, 60 FR 17586 (April 6, 1995); PTE 95-59, 60 FR 35938 (July 12, 1995); PTE 95-89, 60 FR 49011 (September 21, 1995); PTE 96-22, 61 FR 14828 (April 3, 1996); PTE 96-84, 61 FR 58234 (November 13, 1996); PTE 96-92, 61 FR 66334 (December 17, 1996); PTE 96-94, 61 FR 68787 (December 30, 1996); PTE 97-05, 62 FR 1926 (January 14, 1997); PTE 97-28, 62 FR 28515 (May 23, 1997); PTE 97-34, 62 FR 39021 (July 21, 1997); PTE 98-08, 63 FR 8498 (February 19, 1998); PTE 99-11, 64 FR 11046 (March 8, 1999); PTE 2000-19, 65 FR 25950 (May 4, 2000); PTE 2000-33, 65 FR 37171 (June 13, 2000); PTE 2000-41, 65 FR 51039 (August 22, 2000); and PTE 2000-55 (November, 2000).

In addition, the Department notes that it is also granting individual exemptive relief for: Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch and Deutsche Morgan Grenfell/C.J. Lawrence Inc., Final Authorization Number (FAN) 97-03E (December 9, 1996); Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc., FAN 97-21E (September 10, 1997); ABN AMRO Inc., FAN 98- 08E (April 27, 1998); and Ironwood Capital Partners Ltd., FAN 99-31E (December 20, 1999), which received the approval of the Department to engage in transactions substantially similar to the transactions described in the Underwriter Exemptions pursuant to PTE 96-62.

SUMMARY: This document contains a final exemption issued by the Department of Labor (the Department) which amends the Underwriter Exemptions. The Underwriter Exemptions are individual exemptions that provide relief for the origination and operation of certain asset pool investment trusts and the acquisition, holding and disposition of certain asset-backed pass-through certificates representing undivided interests in those investment trusts. The amendment: (1) Permits, for certain categories of transactions, the offering of ``investment grade'' mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities which are either senior or subordinated; (2) permits the use of eligible interest rate swaps (both ratings dependent and non-ratings dependent) under circumstances described in this amendment; (3) permits the use of yield supplement agreements which involve notional principal amounts; and (4) makes certain changes to the Underwriter Exemptions that reflects the Department's current interpretation of the Underwriter Exemptions.

Finally, the amendment provides exemptive relief for transactions involving: (1) An Issuer of mortgage-backed securities or asset-backed securities which is a trust (including a grantor or owner trust), REMIC, FASIT, special purpose corporation, limited liability company or partnership and (2) mortgage-backed securities or asset-backed securities issued which are either debt or equity investments.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: This amendment to the Underwriter Exemptions is effective for transactions occurring on or after August 23, 2000, except as otherwise provided in sections I.C., II.A.(4)(b), and III.JJ. of the amendment to the Underwriter Exemptions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wendy McColough of the Department, telephone (202) 219-8971. (This is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 23, 2000, notice was published in the Federal Register (65 FR 51454) of the pendency before the Department of a proposed exemption to amend PTE 97-34, 62 FR 39021 (July 21, 1997) (the 1997 Amendment). The 1997 Amendment amended over forty individual Underwriter Exemptions. The Underwriter Exemptions are a group of individual exemptions that provide substantially identical relief for the operation of certain asset pool investment trusts and the acquisition and holding by plans of certain asset-backed pass- through certificates representing interests in those trusts. These exemptions provide relief from certain of the restrictions of sections 406(a), 406(b) and 407(a) of the Act and from the taxes imposed by section 4975(a) and (b) of the Code, by reason of certain provisions of section 4975(c)(1) of the Code.

The amendment was requested by application dated October 22, 1999, and as restated in later submissions on behalf of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated \2\ (the Applicant). In preparing the application, the Applicant received input from members of The Bond Market Association (TBMA).

\2\ PTE 90-24, 55 FR 20548 (May 17, 1990).

The Department proposed the amendment to this individual exemption pursuant to section 408(a) of the Act and section 4975(c)(2) of the Code, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570 (Subpart B) 55 FR 32836, 32847 (August 10, 1990).\3\ In addition, the Department proposed to provide the same relief on its own motion pursuant to the authority described above for many of the other Underwriter Exemptions which have substantially similar terms and conditions.\4\ The Department notes that it also proposed the same individual exemptive relief for: Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch and Deutsche Morgan Grenfell/C.J. Lawrence Inc., FAN 97-03E (December 9, 1996); Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc., FAN 97-21E (September 10, 1997); ABN AMRO Inc., FAN 98-08E (April 27, 1998); and Ironwood Capital Partners Ltd., FAN 99-31E (December 20, 1999), which received the approval of the Department to engage in transactions substantially similar to the transactions described in the Underwriter Exemptions pursuant to PTE 96-62.

\3\ Section 102 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978 (43 FR 47713, October 17, 1978, 5 U.S.C. App. 1 [1995]) generally transferred the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to issue exemptions under section 4975(c)(2) of the Code to the Secretary of Labor. In the discussion of the exemption, references to sections 406 and 408 of the Act should be read to refer as well to the corresponding provisions of section 4975 of the Code.

\4\ In this regard, the entities who received the other Underwriter Exemptions were contacted concerning their participation in this amendment process.

The notice set forth a summary of facts and representations contained in the application for exemption and referred interested persons to the application for a complete statement of the facts and representations. The application has been available for public inspection at the Department in Washington, DC.

The notice also invited interested persons to submit comments on the requested exemption to the Department. In addition, the notice stated that any interested person might submit a written request that a public hearing be held. The Department received three written comments in response to the proposed amendment. No requests for a hearing were received by the Department in regard to the proposed amendment.

The first commentator observed that it has been his experience that certain trustees of collectively bargained qualified plans may incur unnecessary risk with plan assets when they allow investment managers to purchase debt securities that can only be priced by the underwriter or manually priced by the investment manager. Plans that by their nature are ``marked to market'' for annual valuations, i.e., defined contribution plans, may find that assets are unintentionally misstated for plan participants when there is a general disruption in the debt market. Similarly, defined benefit plans may be forced to hold assets to maturity when an investment manager buys a ``BBB'' securitization vehicle and the general interest rate market rises. According to the commentator, the underwriter may not make a secondary market when there is an absence of bidders for such issues.

The Department notes that the fiduciary responsibility provisions of the Act would apply to any decision made by a plan fiduciary or investment manager to purchase asset-backed securities or other debt securities as part of its investment program. In this regard, section 404(a) of the Act requires, among other things, that a fiduciary of a plan act prudently, solely in the interest of the plan's participants and beneficiaries, and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to participants and beneficiaries when making investment decisions on behalf of the plan. The Department's determination to expand the Underwriter Exemptions to permit the offering of ``investment grade'' asset backed securities, which may be senior or subordinated, should not be viewed as an endorsement by the Department of the suitability of specific securities for a particular plan. Rather, it is the responsibility of the plan fiduciary to act ``prudently'' with respect to the selection of suitable investments, taking into account the plan's particular facts and circumstances. The Department further notes that plan fiduciaries would be liable for any losses to the plan resulting from a decision to purchase asset-backed securities or other debt securities if such purchase was not prudent at the time the decision was made.

Another commentator was concerned that the proposed amendment may in some way limit the exemptive relief available under the previously granted Underwriter Exemptions and the 1997 Amendment. The commentator proposed that the following language be added to the preamble of the final exemption:

Nothing in this final exemption limits the exemptive relief otherwise available under any of the Underwriter Exemptions, as in effect prior to the effective date of this final exemption, to transactions related to any securitization transaction that closed prior to the date of publication of this final exemption in the Federal Register.

In response to this comment, the Department notes that this amendment does not limit the exemptive relief otherwise available under any of the Underwriter Exemptions, the 1997 Amendment or the individual exemptive relief for entities which received the approval of the Department to engage in transactions substantially similar to the transactions described in the Underwriter Exemptions pursuant to PTE 96-62. In fact, the Department notes that this amendment expands the relief available under the Underwriter Exemptions. In the Department's view, those transactions which meet the requirements of the 1997 Amendment, would fall within the scope of the relief provided by this amendment.

The third commentator posed a question regarding the application of the

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proposed amendment to subordinated and ``BBB'' rated securities that were issued prior to August 23, 2000. The Department notes that the amendment is applicable to the purchase by plans of subordinated and ``BBB'' rated securities after August 23, 2000, provided that these transactions meet the requirements set forth in the amendment.

The commentator further noted that the Department proposed to expand the scope of the Underwriter Exemptions to cover securitization transactions that use ``special purpose'' corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and owner trust structures. As part of the proposed amendment, the Department required, under section II.A.(8), that certain provisions be included in the documents establishing the Issuer. The commentator was concerned that some of the new requirements under section II.A.(8) would also be applicable to securitization transactions that use traditional ``common law'' trust structures. As a result, the commentator requested that the Department clarify the requirements set forth in section II.A.(8) of the proposed amendment. The Department believes the following explanation will clarify the intended scope of the requirements of section II.A.(8) of the amendment.

The Applicant provided the following information to the Department during the comment period. Trusts are generally of two types under local or state law. Those referred to as ``common law trusts,'' and those referred to as ``owner trusts'' (or ``business trusts,'' for example, Delaware business trusts). While both types of trusts are created by contract between a settlor and a trustee for the benefit of beneficiaries, a common law trust does not exist as a separate entity and is governed under common law; whereas an owner trust is created under state statutes and is a separate legal entity. The terms ``grantor trust,'' ``REMIC,'' and ``FASIT'' are tax classifications.

The Department notes that this amendment generally is effective for transactions occurring on or after August 23, 2000. On that date, this amendment would apply to the expanded list of Issuers defined in section III.B. of the amendment. Accordingly, it is the view of the Department that section II.A.(8) is applicable to those Issuers that are owner trusts, partnerships, special purpose corporations or limited liability companies which meet the conditions of the amendment on or after August 23, 2000 including the requirements contained in section II.A.(8). Conversely, it is the view of the Department that section II.A.(8) would not apply to grantor trusts, REMICs or FASITs which were eligible for relief under the 1997 Amendment, provided that the conditions of that exemption were met.

Finally, the commentator requested that the Department clarify whether offshore entities (special purpose corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and trusts organized under non-United States law) are permissible securitization vehicles under the amendment. The Department does not believe that a sufficient showing has been made that inclusion of offshore entities as securitization vehicles would be protective of the interests of participants and beneficiaries. Accordingly, it is the view of the Department that offshore entities are beyond the scope of relief provided by this amendment.

The Department notes that it has modified the definition of ``Qualified Plan Investor,'' at section III.HH. of the amendment, to clarify that this definition refers only to the swap agreements described at section II.A.(10) of the amendment.

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 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 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 require, among other things, a fiduciary to discharge his or her 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 requirements of section 401(a) of the Code that the plan operate for the exclusive benefit of the employees of the employer maintaining the plan and their beneficiaries;

(2) In accordance with section 408(a) of the Act and section 4975(c)(2) of the Code and the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, Subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 10, 1990) and based upon the entire record, the Department finds that the exemption is administratively feasible, in the interests of the plans and their participants and beneficiaries and protective of the rights of the participants and beneficiaries;

(3) This exemption is 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 availability of this exemption is subject to the express condition that the material facts and representations contained in the application are true and complete and accurately describe all material terms of the transactions which are the subjects of the exemption.

Exemption

Under section 408(a) of ERISA and section 4975(c)(2) of the Code and in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR Part 2570, subpart B (55 FR 32836, August 10, 1990), the Department amends the following individual Prohibited Transaction Exemptions (PTEs): PTE 89- 88, 54 FR 42582 (October 17, 1989); PTE 89-89, 54 FR 42569 (October 17, 1989); PTE 89-90, 54 FR 42597 (October 17, 1989); PTE 90-22, 55 FR 20542 (May 17, 1990); PTE 90-23, 55 FR 20545 (May 17, 1990); PTE 90-24, 55 FR 20548 (May 17, 1990); PTE 90-28, 55 FR 21456 (May 24, 1990); PTE 90-29, 55 FR 21459 (May 24, 1990); PTE 90-30, 55 FR 21461 (May 24, 1990); PTE 90-31, 55 FR 23144 (June 6, 1990); PTE 90-32, 55 FR 23147 (June 6, 1990); PTE 90-33, 55 FR 23151 (June 6, 1990); PTE 90-36, 55 FR 25903 (June 25, 1990); PTE 90-39, 55 FR 27713 (July 5, 1990); PTE 90- 59, 55 FR 36724 (September 6, 1990); PTE 90-83, 55 FR 50250 (December 5, 1990); PTE 90-84, 55 FR 50252 (December 5, 1990); PTE 90-88, 55 FR 52899 (December 24, 1990); PTE 91-14, 55 FR 48178 (February 22, 1991); PTE 91-22, 56 FR 03277 (April 18, 1991); PTE 91-23, 56 FR 15936 (April 18, 1991); PTE 91-30, 56 FR 22452 (May 15, 1991); PTE 91-62, 56 FR 51406 (October 11, 1991); PTE 93-31, 58 FR 28620 (May 5, 1993); PTE 93- 32, 58 FR 28623 (May 14, 1993); PTE 94-29, 59 FR 14675 (March 29, 1994); PTE 94-64, 59 FR 42312 (August 17, 1994); PTE 94-70, 59 FR 50014 (September 30, 1994); PTE 94-73, 59 FR 51213 (October 7, 1994); PTE 94- 84, 59 FR 65400 (December 19, 1994); PTE 95-26, 60 FR 17586 (April 6, 1995); PTE 95-59, 60 FR 35938 (July 12, 1995); PTE 95-89, 60 FR 49011 (September 21, 1995); PTE 96-22, 61 FR 14828 (April 3, 1996); PTE 96- 84, 61 FR 58234 (November 13, 1996); PTE 96-92, 61 FR 66334 (December 17, 1996); PTE 96-94, 61 FR 68787 (December 30, 1996); PTE 97-05, 62 FR 1926 (January 14, 1997); PTE 97-28, 62 FR 28515 (May

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23, 1997); PTE 97-34, 62 FR 39021 (July 21, 1997); PTE 98-08, 63 FR 8498 (February 19, 1998); PTE 99-11, 64 FR 11046 (March 8, 1999); PTE 2000-19, 65 FR 25950 (May 4, 2000); PTE 2000-33, 65 FR 37171 (June 13, 2000); PTE 2000-41, 65 FR 51039 (August 22, 2000); and PTE 2000-55 (November, 2000).

In addition, the Department notes that it is also granting individual exemptive relief for: Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch and Deutsche Morgan Grenfell/C.J. Lawrence Inc., Final Authorization Number (FAN) 97-03E (December 9, 1996); Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc., FAN 97-21E (September 10, 1997); ABN AMRO Inc., FAN 98-08E (April 27, 1998); and Ironwood Capital Partners Ltd., FAN 99-31E (December 20, 1999), which received the approval of the Department to engage in transactions substantially similar to the transactions described in the Underwriter Exemptions pursuant to PTE 96-62.

I. Transactions

1. Effective for transactions occurring on or after August 23, 2000, the restrictions of sections 406(a) and 407(a) of the Act, and the taxes imposed by sections 4975(a) and (b) of the Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1)(A) through (D) of the Code shall not apply to the following transactions involving Issuers and Securities evidencing interests therein:

   (1) The direct or indirect sale, exchange or transfer of Securities in the initial issuance of Securities between the Sponsor or Underwriter and an employee benefit plan when the Sponsor, Servicer, Trustee or Insurer of an Issuer, the Underwriter of the Securities representing an interest in the Issuer, or an Obligor is a party in interest with respect to such plan;

   (2) The direct or indirect acquisition or disposition of Securities by a plan in the secondary market for such Securities; and

   (3) The continued holding of Securities acquired by a plan pursuant to subsection I.A.(1) or (2).

   Notwithstanding the foregoing, section I.A. does not provide an exemption from the restrictions of sections 406(a)(1)(E), 406(a)(2) and 407 of the Act for the acquisition or holding of a Security on behalf of an Excluded Plan by any person who has discretionary authority or renders investment advice with respect to the assets of that Excluded Plan.\5\

   \5\ Section I.A. provides no relief from sections 406(a)(1)(E), 406(a)(2) and 407 of the Act for any person rendering investment advice to an Excluded Plan within the meaning of section 3(21)(A)(ii) of the Act, and regulation 29 CFR 2510.3-21(c).

2. Effective for transactions occurring on or after August 23, 2000, the restrictions of sections 406(b)(1) and 406(b)(2) of the Act and the taxes imposed by sections 4975(a) and (b) of the Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1)(E) of the Code, shall not apply to:

   (1) The direct or indirect sale, exchange or transfer of Securities in the initial issuance of Securities between the Sponsor or Underwriter and a plan when the person who has discretionary authority or renders investment advice with respect to the investment of plan assets in the Securities is (a) an Obligor with respect to 5 percent or less of the fair market value of obligations or receivables contained in the Issuer, or (b) an Affiliate of a person described in (a); if:

   (i) The plan is not an Excluded Plan;

   (ii) Solely in the case of an acquisition of Securities in connection with the initial issuance of the Securities, at least 50 percent of each class of Securities in which plans have invested is acquired by persons independent of the members of the Restricted Group and at least 50 percent of the aggregate interest in the Issuer is acquired by persons independent of the Restricted Group;

   (iii) A plan's investment in each class of Securities does not exceed 25 percent of all of the Securities of that class outstanding at the time of the acquisition; and

   (iv) Immediately after the acquisition of the Securities, no more than 25 percent of the assets of a plan with respect to which the person has discretionary authority or renders investment advice are invested in Securities representing an interest in an Issuer containing assets sold or serviced by the same entity.\6\ For purposes of this paragraph (iv) only, an entity will not be considered to service assets contained in an Issuer if it is merely a Subservicer of that Issuer;

   \6\ For purposes of this Underwriter Exemption, each plan participating in a commingled fund (such as a bank collective trust fund or insurance company pooled separate account) shall be considered to own the same proportionate undivided interest in each asset of the commingled fund as its proportionate interest in the total assets of the commingled fund as calculated on the most recent preceding valuation date of the fund.

   (2) The direct or indirect acquisition or disposition of Securities by a plan in the secondary market for such Securities, provided that the conditions set forth in paragraphs (i), (iii) and (iv) of subsection I.B.(1) are met; and

   (3) The continued holding of Securities acquired by a plan pursuant to subsection I.B.(1) or (2).

3. Effective for transaction occurring on or after August 23, 2000, the restrictions of sections 406(a), 406(b) and 407(a) of the Act, and the taxes imposed by section 4975(a) and (b) of the Code by reason of section 4975(c) of the Code, shall not apply to transactions in connection with the servicing, management and operation of an Issuer, including the use of any Eligible Swap transaction; or, effective January 1, 1999, the defeasance of a mortgage obligation held as an asset of the Issuer through the substitution of a new mortgage obligation in a commercial mortgage-backed Designated Transaction, provided:

   (1) Such transactions are carried out in accordance with the terms of a binding Pooling and Servicing Agreement;

   (2) The Pooling and Servicing Agreement is provided to, or described in all material respects in the prospectus or private placement memorandum provided to, investing plans before they purchase Securities issued by the Issuer; \7\ and

   \7\ In the case of a private placement memorandum, such memorandum must contain substantially the same information that would be disclosed in a prospectus if the offering of the securities were made in a registered public offering under the Securities Act of 1933. In the Department's view, the private placement memorandum must contain sufficient information to permit plan fiduciaries to make informed investment decisions. For purposes of this exemption, references to ``prospectus'' include any related prospectus supplement thereto, pursuant to which Securities are offered to investors.

   (3) The defeasance of a mortgage obligation and the substitution of a new mortgage obligation in a commercial mortgage-backed Designated Transaction meet the terms and conditions for such defeasance and substitution as are described in the prospectus or private placement memorandum for such Securities, which terms and conditions have been approved by a Rating Agency and does not result in the Securities receiving a lower credit rating from the Rating Agency than the current rating of the Securities.

   Notwithstanding the foregoing, section I.C. does not provide an exemption from the restrictions of section 406(b) of the Act or from the taxes imposed by reason of section 4975(c) of the Code for the receipt of a fee by a Servicer of the Issuer from a person other than the Trustee or Sponsor, unless such fee constitutes a Qualified Administrative Fee.

4. Effective for transactions occurring on or after August 23, 2000, the restrictions of sections 406(a) and 407(a) of the Act, and the taxes imposed by section 4975(a) and (b) of the Code by reason of section 4975(c)(1)(A) through

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   (D) of the Code, shall not apply to any transactions to which those restrictions or taxes would otherwise apply merely because a person is deemed to be a party in interest or disqualified person (including a fiduciary) with respect to a plan by virtue of providing services to the plan (or by virtue of having a relationship to such service provider described in section 3(14)(F), (G), (H) or (I) of the Act or section 4975(e)(2)(F), (G), (H) or (I) of the Code), solely because of the plan's ownership of Securities.

   II. General Conditions

1. The relief provided under section I. is available only if the following conditions are met:

   (1) The acquisition of Securities by a plan is on terms (including the Security price) that are at least as favorable to the plan as they would be in an arm's-length transaction with an unrelated party;

   (2) The rights and interests evidenced by the Securities are not subordinated to the rights and interests evidenced by other Securities of the same Issuer, unless the Securities are issued in a Designated Transaction;

   (3) The Securities acquired by the plan have received a rating from a Rating Agency at the time of such acquisition that is in one of the three (or in the case of Designated Transactions, four) highest generic rating categories;

   (4) The Trustee is not an Affiliate of any member of the Restricted Group. For purposes of this requirement:

   (a) The Trustee shall not be considered to be an Affiliate of a Servicer solely because the Trustee has succeeded to the rights and responsibilities of the Servicer pursuant to the terms of a Pooling and Servicing Agreement providing for such succession upon the occurrence of one or more events of default by the Servicer; and

   (b) Effective for transactions occurring on or after January 1, 1998, subsection II.A.(4) will be deemed satisfied notwithstanding a Servicer becoming an Affiliate of the Trustee as the result of a merger or acquisition involving the Trustee, such Servicer and/or their Affiliates which occurs after the initial issuance of the Securities, provided that:

   (i) such Servicer ceases to be an Affiliate of the Trustee no later than six months after the later of August 23, 2000 or the date such Servicer became an Affiliate of the Trustee; and

   (ii) such Servicer did not breach any of its obligations under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, unless such breach was immaterial and timely cured in accordance with the terms of such agreement, during the period from the closing date of such merger or acquisition transaction through the date the Servicer ceased to be an Affiliate of the Trustee;

   (5) The sum of all payments made to and retained by the Underwriters in connection with the distribution or placement of Securities represents not more than Reasonable Compensation for underwriting or placing the Securities; the sum of all payments made to and retained by the Sponsor pursuant to the assignment of obligations (or interests therein) to the Issuer represents not more than the fair market value of such obligations (or interests); and the sum of all payments made to and retained by the Servicer represents not more than Reasonable Compensation for the Servicer's services under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and reimbursement of the Servicer's reasonable expenses in connection therewith;

   (6) The plan investing in such Securities is an ``accredited investor'' as defined in Rule 501(a)(1) of Regulation D of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933; and

   (7) In the event that the obligations used to fund a Issuer have not all been transferred to the Issuer on the Closing Date, additional obligations of the types specified in subsection III.B.(1) may be transferred to the Issuer during the Pre-Funding Period in exchange for amounts credited to the Pre-Funding Account, provided that:

   (a) The Pre-Funding Limit is not exceeded;

   (b) All such additional obligations meet the same terms and conditions for determining the eligibility of the original obligations used to create the Issuer (as described in the prospectus or private placement memorandum and/or Pooling and Servicing Agreement for such Securities), which terms and conditions have been approved by a Rating Agency. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms and conditions for determining the eligibility of an obligation may be changed if such changes receive prior approval either by a majority vote of the outstanding securityholders or by a Rating Agency;

   (c) The transfer of such additional obligations to the Issuer during the Pre-Funding Period does not result in the Securities receiving a lower credit rating from a Rating Agency upon termination of the Pre-Funding Period than the rating that was obtained at the time of the initial issuance of the Securities by the Issuer;

   (d) The weighted average annual percentage interest rate (the average interest rate) for all of the obligations held by the Issuer at the end of the Pre-Funding Period will not be more than 100 basis points lower than the average interest rate for the obligations which were transferred to the Issuer on the Closing Date;

   (e) In order to ensure that the characteristics of the receivables actually acquired during the Pre-Funding Period are substantially similar to those which were acquired as of the Closing Date, the characteristics of the additional obligations will either be monitored by a credit support provider or other insurance provider which is independent of the Sponsor or an independent accountant retained by the Sponsor will provide the Sponsor with a letter (with copies provided to the Rating Agency, the Underwriter and the Trustee) stating whether or not the characteristics of the additional obligations conform to the characteristics of such obligations described in the prospectus, private placement memorandum and/or Pooling and Servicing Agreement. In preparing such letter, the independent accountant will use the same type of procedures as were applicable to the obligations which were transferred as of the Closing Date;

   (f) The Pre-Funding Period shall be described in the prospectus or private placement memorandum provided to investing plans; and

   (g) The Trustee of the Trust (or any agent with which the Trustee contracts to provide Trust services) will be a substantial financial institution or trust company experienced in trust activities and familiar with its duties, responsibilities and liabilities as a fiduciary under the Act. The Trustee, as the legal owner of the obligations in the Trust or the holder of a security interest in the obligations held by the Issuer, will enforce all the rights created in favor of securityholders of the Issuer, including employee benefit plans subject to the Act;

   (8) In order to insure that the assets of the Issuer may not be reached by creditors of the Sponsor in the event of bankruptcy or other insolvency of the Sponsor:

   (a) The legal documents establishing the Issuer will contain:

   (i) Restrictions on the Issuer's ability to borrow money or issue debt other than in connection with the securitization;

   (ii) Restrictions on the Issuer merging with another entity, reorganizing, liquidating or selling assets (other than in connection with the securitization);

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   (iii) Restrictions limiting the authorized activities of the Issuer to activities relating to the securitization;

   (iv) If the Issuer is not a Trust, provisions for the election of at least one independent director/partner/member whose affirmative consent is required before a voluntary bankruptcy petition can be filed by the Issuer; and

   (v) If the Issuer is not a Trust, requirements that each independent director/partner/member must be an individual that does not have a significant interest in, or other relationships with, the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates; and

   (b) The Pooling and Servicing Agreement and/or other agreements establishing the contractual relationships between the parties to the securitization transaction will contain covenants prohibiting all parties thereto from filing an involuntary bankruptcy petition against the Issuer or initiating any other form of insolvency proceeding until after the Securities have been paid; and

   (c) Prior to the issuance by the Issuer of any Securities, a legal opinion is received which states that either:

   (i) A ``true sale'' of the assets being transferred to the Issuer by the Sponsor has occurred and that such transfer is not being made pursuant to a financing of the assets by the Sponsor; or

   (ii) In the event of insolvency or receivership of the Sponsor, the assets transferred to the Issuer will not be part of the estate of the Sponsor;

   (9) If a particular class of Securities held by any plan involves a Ratings Dependent or Non-Ratings Dependent Swap entered into by the Issuer, then each particular swap transaction relating to such Securities:

   (a) Shall be an Eligible Swap;

   (b) Shall be with an Eligible Swap Counterparty;

   (c) In the case of a Ratings Dependent Swap, shall provide that if the credit rating of the counterparty is withdrawn or reduced by any Rating Agency below a level specified by the Rating Agency, the Servicer (as agent for the Trustee) shall, within the period specified under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement:

   (i) Obtain a replacement swap agreement with an Eligible Swap Counterparty which is acceptable to the Rating Agency and the terms of which are substantially the same as the current swap agreement (at which time the earlier swap agreement shall terminate); or

   (ii) Cause the swap counterparty to establish any collateralization or other arrangement satisfactory to the Rating Agency such that the then current rating by the Rating Agency of the particular class of Securities will not be withdrawn or reduced.

   In the event that the Servicer fails to meet its obligations under this subsection II.A.(9)(c), plan securityholders will be notified in the immediately following Trustee's periodic report which is provided to securityholders, and sixty days after the receipt of such report, the exemptive relief provided under section I.C. will prospectively cease to be applicable to any class of Securities held by a plan which involves such Ratings Dependent Swap; provided that in no event will such plan securityholders be notified any later than the end of the second month that begins after the date on which such failure occurs.

   (d) In the case of a Non-Ratings Dependent Swap, shall provide that, if the credit rating of the counterparty is withdrawn or reduced below the lowest level specified in section III.GG., the Servicer (as agent for the Trustee) shall within a specified period after such rating withdrawal or reduction:

   (i) Obtain a replacement swap agreement with an Eligible Swap Counterparty, the terms of which are substantially the same as the current swap agreement (at which time the earlier swap agreement shall terminate); or

   (ii) Cause the swap counterparty to post collateral with the Trustee in an amount equal to all payments owed by the counterparty if the swap transaction were terminated; or

   (iii) Terminate the swap agreement in accordance with its terms; and

   (e) Shall not require the Issuer to make any termination payments to the counterparty (other than a currently scheduled payment under the swap agreement) except from Excess Spread or other amounts that would otherwise be payable to the Servicer or the Sponsor;

   (10) Any class of Securities, to which one or more swap agreements entered into by the Issuer applies, may be acquired or held in reliance upon this Underwriter Exemption only by Qualified Plan Investors; and

   (11) Prior to the issuance of any debt securities, a legal opinion is received which states that the debt holders have a perfected security interest in the Issuer's assets.

2. Neither any Underwriter, Sponsor, Trustee, Servicer, Insurer or any Obligor, unless it or any of its Affiliates has discretionary authority or renders investment advice with respect to the plan assets used by a plan to acquire Securities, shall be denied the relief provided under section I., if the provision of subsection II.A.(6) is not satisfied with respect to acquisition or holding by a plan of such Securities, provided that (1) such condition is disclosed in the prospectus or private placement memorandum; and (2) in the case of a private placement of Securities, the Trustee obtains a representation from each initial purchaser which is a plan that it is in compliance with such condition, and obtains a covenant from each initial purchaser to the effect that, so long as such initial purchaser (or any transferee of such initial purchaser's Securities) is required to obtain from its transferee a representation regarding compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, any such transferees will be required to make a written representation regarding compliance with the condition set forth in subsection II.A.(6).

   III. Definitions

   For purposes of this exemption:

1. ``Security'' means:

   (1) A pass-through certificate or trust certificate that represents a beneficial ownership interest in the assets of an Issuer which is a Trust and which entitles the holder to payments of principal, interest and/or other payments made with respect to the assets of such Trust; or

   (2) A security which is denominated as a debt instrument that is issued by, and is an obligation of, an Issuer; with respect to which the Underwriter is either (i) the sole underwriter or the manager or co-manager of the underwriting syndicate, or (ii) a selling or placement agent.

2. ``Issuer'' means an investment pool, the corpus or assets of which are held in trust (including a grantor or owner Trust) or whose assets are held by a partnership, special purpose corporation or limited liability company (which Issuer may be a Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) or a Financial Asset Securitization Investment Trust (FASIT) within the meaning of section 860D(a) or section 860L, respectively, of the Code); and the corpus or assets of which consist solely of:

   (1)(a) Secured consumer receivables that bear interest or are purchased at a discount (including, but not limited to, home equity loans and obligations secured by shares issued by a cooperative housing association); and/or

   (b) Secured credit instruments that bear interest or are purchased at a discount in transactions by or between business entities (including, but not limited to, Qualified Equipment Notes Secured by Leases); and/or

   (c) Obligations that bear interest or are purchased at a discount and which are

   [[Page 67771]]

   secured by single-family residential, multi-family residential and/or commercial real property (including obligations secured by leasehold interests on residential or commercial real property); and/or

   (d) Obligations that bear interest or are purchased at a discount and which are secured by motor vehicles or equipment, or Qualified Motor Vehicle Leases; and/or

   (e) Guaranteed governmental mortgage pool certificates, as defined in 29 CFR 2510.3-101(i)(2) \8\; and/or

   (f) Fractional undivided interests in any of the obligations described in clauses (a)-(e) of this subsection B.(1).\9\

   \8\ In Advisory Opinion 99-05A (Feb. 22, 1999), the Department expressed its view that mortgage pool certificates guaranteed and issued by the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (``Farmer Mac'') meet the definition of a guaranteed governmental mortgage pool certificate as defined in 29 CFR 2510.3-101(i)(2).

   \9\ The Department wishes to take the opportunity to clarify its view that the definition of Issuer contained in subsection III.B. includes a two-tier structure under which Securities issued by the first Issuer, which contains a pool of receivables described above, are transferred to a second Issuer which issues Securities that are sold to plans. However, the Department is of the further view that, since the Underwriter Exemption generally provides relief only for the direct or indirect acquisition or disposition of Securities that are not subordinated, no relief would be available if the Securities held by the second Issuer were subordinated to the rights and interests evidenced by other Securities issued by the first Issuer, unless such Securities were issued in a Designated Transaction.

   Notwithstanding the foregoing, residential and home equity loan receivables issued in Designated Transactions may be less than fully secured, provided that: (i) The rights and interests evidenced by the Securities issued in such Designated Transactions (as defined in section III.DD.) are not subordinated to the rights and interests evidenced by Securities of the same Issuer; (ii) such Securities acquired by the plan have received a rating from a Rating Agency at the time of such acquisition that is in one of the two highest generic rating categories; and (iii) any obligation included in the corpus or assets of the Issuer must be secured by collateral whose fair market value on the Closing Date of the Designated Transaction is at least equal to 80% of the sum of: (I) the outstanding principal balance due under the obligation which is held by the Issuer; and (II) the outstanding principal balance(s) of any other obligation(s) of higher priority (whether or not held by the Issuer) which are secured by the same collateral.

   (2) Property which had secured any of the obligations described in subsection III.B.(1);

   (3)(a) Undistributed cash or temporary investments made therewith maturing no later than the next date on which distributions are made to securityholders; and/or

   (b) Cash or investments made therewith which are credited to an account to provide payments to securityholders pursuant to any Eligible Swap Agreement meeting the conditions of subsection II.A.(9) or pursuant to any Eligible Yield Supplement Agreement; and/or

   (c) Cash transferred to the Issuer on the Closing Date and permitted investments made therewith which:

   (i) Are credited to a Pre-Funding Account established to purchase additional obligations with respect to which the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a)-(g) of subsection II.A.(7) are met; and/or

   (ii) Are credited to a Capitalized Interest Account; and

   (iii) Are held by the Issuer for a period ending no later than the first distribution date to securityholders occurring after the end of the Pre-Funding Period.

   For purposes of this paragraph (c) of subsection III.B.(3), the term ``permitted investments'' means investments which: (i) are either: (x) direct obligations of, or obligations fully guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by, the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, provided that such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or (y) have been rated (or the Obligor has been rated) in one of the three highest generic rating categories by a Rating Agency; (ii) are described in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement; and (iii) are permitted by the Rating Agency.

   (4) Rights of the Trustee under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, and rights under any insurance policies, third-party guarantees, contracts of suretyship, Eligible Yield Supplement Agreements, Eligible Swap Agreements meeting the conditions of subsection II.A.(9) or other credit support arrangements with respect to any obligations described in subsection III.B.(1).

   Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term ``Issuer'' does not include any investment pool unless: (i) the assets of the type described in paragraphs (a)-(f) of subsection III.B.(1) which are contained in the investment pool have been included in other investment pools, (ii) Securities evidencing interests in such other investment pools have been rated in one of the three (or in the case of Designated Transactions, four) highest generic rating categories by a Rating Agency for at least one year prior to the plan's acquisition of Securities pursuant to this Underwriter Exemption, and (iii) Securities evidencing interests in such other investment pools have been purchased by investors other than plans for at least one year prior to the plan's acquisition of Securities pursuant to this Underwriter Exemption.

3. ``Underwriter'' means:

   (1) An entity defined as an Underwriter in subsection III.C.(1) of each of the Underwriter Exemptions that are being amended by this exemption. In addition, the term Underwriter includes Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch and Deutsche Morgan Grenfell/C.J. Lawrence Inc, Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc., ABN AMRO Inc. and Ironwood Capital Partners Ltd. (which received the approval of the Department to engage in transactions substantially similar to the transactions described in the Underwriter Exemptions pursuant to PTE 96-62);

   (2) Any person directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controlling, controlled by or under common control with such entity; or

   (3) Any member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group of which a person described in subsections III.C.(1) or (2) is a manager or co-manager with respect to the Securities.

4. ``Sponsor'' means the entity that organizes an Issuer by depositing obligations therein in exchange for Securities.

5. ``Master Servicer'' means the entity that is a party to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement relating to assets of the Issuer and is fully responsible for servicing, directly or through Subservicers, the assets of the Issuer.

6. ``Subservicer'' means an entity which, under the supervision of and on behalf of the Master Servicer, services loans contained in the Issuer, but is not a party to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.

7. ``Servicer'' means any entity which services loans contained in the Issuer, including the Master Servicer and any Subservicer.

8. ``Trust'' means an Issuer which is a trust (including an owner trust, grantor trust or a REMIC or FASIT which is organized as a Trust).

   I. ``Trustee'' means the Trustee of any Trust which issues Securities and also includes an Indenture Trustee. ``Indenture Trustee'' means the Trustee appointed under the indenture pursuant to which the subject Securities are issued, the rights of holders of the Securities are set forth and a security interest in the Trust assets in favor of

   [[Page 67772]]

   the holders of the Securities is created. The Trustee or the Indenture Trustee is also a party to or beneficiary of all the documents and instruments transferred to the Issuer, and as such, has both the authority to, and the responsibility for, enforcing all the rights created thereby in favor of holders of the Securities, including those rights arising in the event of default by the servicer.

10. ``Insurer'' means the insurer or guarantor of, or provider of other credit support for, an Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person is not an insurer solely because it holds Securities representing an interest in an Issuer which are of a class subordinated to Securities representing an interest in the same Issuer.

11. ``Obligor'' means any person, other than the Insurer, that is obligated to make payments with respect to any obligation or receivable included in the Issuer. Where an Issuer contains Qualified Motor Vehicle Leases or Qualified Equipment Notes Secured by Leases, ``Obligor'' shall also include any owner of property subject to any lease included in the Issuer, or subject to any lease securing an obligation included in the Issuer.

    L. ``Excluded Plan'' means any plan with respect to which any member of the Restricted Group is a ``plan sponsor'' within the meaning of section 3(16)(B) of the Act.

13. ``Restricted Group'' with respect to a class of Securities means:

    (1) Each Underwriter;

    (2) Each Insurer;

    (3) The Sponsor;

    (4) The Trustee;

    (5) Each Servicer;

    (6) Any Obligor with respect to obligations or receivables included in the Issuer constituting more than 5 percent of the aggregate unamortized principal balance of the assets in the Issuer, determined on the date of the initial issuance of Securities by the Issuer;

    (7) Each counterparty in an Eligible Swap Agreement; or

    (8) Any Affiliate of a person described in subsections III.M.(1)- (7).

14. ``Affiliate'' of another person includes:

    (1) Any person directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such other person;

    (2) Any officer, director, partner, employee, relative (as defined in section 3(15) of the Act), a brother, a sister, or a spouse of a brother or sister of such other person; and

    (3) Any corporation or partnership of which such other person is an officer, director or partner.

15. ``Control'' means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a person other than an individual.

16. A person will be ``independent'' of another person only if:

    (1) Such person is not an Affiliate of that other person; and

    (2) The other person, or an Affiliate thereof, is not a fiduciary who has investment management authority or renders investment advice with respect to any assets of such person.

17. ``Sale'' includes the entrance into a Forward Delivery Commitment, provided:

    (1) The terms of the Forward Delivery Commitment (including any fee paid to the investing plan) are no less favorable to the plan than they would be in an arm's-length transaction with an unrelated party;

    (2) The prospectus or private placement memorandum is provided to an investing plan prior to the time the plan enters into the Forward Delivery Commitment; and

    (3) At the time of the delivery, all conditions of this Underwriter Exemption applicable to sales are met.

18. ``Forward Delivery Commitment'' means a contract for the purchase or sale of one or more Securities to be delivered at an agreed future settlement date. The term includes both mandatory contracts (which contemplate obligatory delivery and acceptance of the Securities) and optional contracts (which give one party the right but not the obligation to deliver Securities to, or demand delivery of Securities from, the other party).

19. ``Reasonable Compensation'' has the same meaning as that term is defined in 29 CFR 2550.408c-2.

20. ``Qualified Administrative Fee'' means a fee which meets the following criteria:

    (1) The fee is triggered by an act or failure to act by the Obligor other than the normal timely payment of amounts owing in respect of the obligations;

    (2) The Servicer may not charge the fee absent the act or failure to act referred to in subsection III.T.(1);

    (3) The ability to charge the fee, the circumstances in which the fee may be charged, and an explanation of how the fee is calculated are set forth in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement; and

    (4) The amount paid to investors in the Issuer will not be reduced by the amount of any such fee waived by the Servicer.

21. ``Qualified Equipment Note Secured By A Lease'' means an equipment note:

    (1) Which is secured by equipment which is leased;

    (2) Which is secured by the obligation of the lessee to pay rent under the equipment lease; and

    (3) With respect to which the Issuer's security interest in the equipment is at least as protective of the rights of the Issuer as the Issuer would have if the equipment note were secured only by the equipment and not the lease.

    V. ``Qualified Motor Vehicle Lease'' means a lease of a motor vehicle where:

    (1) The Issuer owns or holds a security interest in the lease;

    (2) The Issuer owns or holds a security interest in the leased motor vehicle; and

    (3) The Issuer's security interest in the leased motor vehicle is at least as protective of the Issuer's rights as the Issuer would receive under a motor vehicle installment loan contract.

23. ``Pooling and Servicing Agreement'' means the agreement or agreements among a Sponsor, a Servicer and the Trustee establishing a Trust. ``Pooling and Servicing Agreement'' also includes the indenture entered into by the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee.

    X. ``Rating Agency'' means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co., Fitch ICBA, Inc. or any successors thereto.

25. ``Capitalized Interest Account'' means an Issuer account: (i) Which is established to compensate securityholders for shortfalls, if any, between investment earnings on the Pre-Funding Account and the interest rate payable under the Securities; and (ii) which meets the requirements of paragraph (c) of subsection III.B.(3).

26. ``Closing Date'' means the date the Issuer is formed, the Securities are first issued and the Issuer's assets (other than those additional obligations which are to be funded from the Pre-Funding Account pursuant to subsection II.A.(7)) are transferred to the Issuer.

    AA. ``Pre-Funding Account'' means an Issuer account: (i) Which is established to purchase additional obligations, which obligations meet the conditions set forth in paragraph (a)-(g) of subsection II.A.(7); and (ii) which meets the requirements of paragraph (c) of subsection III.B.(3).

    BB. ``Pre-Funding Limit'' means a percentage or ratio of the amount allocated to the Pre-Funding Account, as compared to the total principal amount of the Securities being offered, which is less than or equal to: (i) 40 percent, effective for transactions occurring on or after January 1, 1992, but prior to May 23, 1997; and (ii) 25 percent, for transactions occurring on or after May 23, 1997.

    [[Page 67773]]

    CC. ``Pre-Funding Period'' means the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending no later than the earliest to occur of: (i) The date the amount on deposit in the Pre-Funding Account is less than the minimum dollar amount specified in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement; (ii) the date on which an event of default occurs under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement or (iii) the date which is the later of three months or ninety days after the Closing Date.

    DD. ``Designated Transaction'' means a securitization transaction in which the assets of the Issuer consist of secured consumer receivables, secured credit instruments or secured obligations that bear interest or are purchased at a discount and are: (i) Motor vehicle, home equity and/or manufactured housing consumer receivables; and/or (ii) motor vehicle credit instruments in transactions by or between business entities; and/or (iii) single-family residential, multi-family residential, home equity, manufactured housing and/or commercial mortgage obligations that are secured by single-family residential, multi-family residential, commercial real property or leasehold interests therein. For purposes of this section III.DD., the collateral securing motor vehicle consumer receivables or motor vehicle credit instruments may include motor vehicles and/or Qualified Motor Vehicle Leases.

    EE. ``Ratings Dependent Swap'' means an interest rate swap, or (if purchased by or on behalf of the Issuer) an interest rate cap contract, that is part of the structure of a class of Securities where the rating assigned by the Rating Agency to any class of Securities held by any plan is dependent on the terms and conditions of the swap and the rating of the counterparty, and if such Security rating is not dependent on the existence of the swap and rating of the counterparty, such swap or cap shall be referred to as a ``Non-Ratings Dependent Swap''. With respect to a Non-Ratings Dependent Swap, each Rating Agency rating the Securities must confirm, as of the date of issuance of the Securities by the Issuer, that entering into an Eligible Swap with such counterparty will not affect the rating of the Securities.

    FF. ``Eligible Swap'' means a Ratings Dependent or Non-Ratings Dependent Swap:

    (1) Which is denominated in U.S. dollars;

    (2) Pursuant to which the Issuer pays or receives, on or immediately prior to the respective payment or distribution date for the class of Securities to which the swap relates, a fixed rate of interest, or a floating rate of interest based on a publicly available index (e.g., LIBOR or the U.S. Federal Reserve's Cost of Funds Index (COFI)), with the Issuer receiving such payments on at least a quarterly basis and obligated to make separate payments no more frequently than the counterparty, with all simultaneous payments being netted;

    (3) Which has a notional amount that does not exceed either: (i) The principal balance of the class of Securities to which the swap relates, or (ii) the portion of the principal balance of such class represented solely by those types of corpus or assets of the Issuer referred to in subsections III.B.(1), (2) and (3);

    (4) Which is not leveraged (i.e., payments are based on the applicable notional amount, the day count fractions, the fixed or floating rates designated in subsection III.FF.(2), and the difference between the products thereof, calculated on a one to one ratio and not on a multiplier of such difference);

    (5) Which has a final termination date that is either the earlier of the date on which the Issuer terminates or the related class of securities is fully repaid; and

    (6) Which does not incorporate any provision which could cause a unilateral alteration in any provision described in subsections III.FF.(1) through (4) without the consent of the Trustee.

    GG. ``Eligible Swap Counterparty'' means a bank or other financial institution which has a rating, at the date of issuance of the Securities by the Issuer, which is in one of the three highest long- term credit rating categories, or one of the two highest short-term credit rating categories, utilized by at least one of the Rating Agencies rating the Securities; provided that, if a swap counterparty is relying on its short-term rating to establish eligibility under the Underwriter Exemption, such swap counterparty must either have a long- term rating in one of the three highest long-term rating categories or not have a long-term rating from the applicable Rating Agency, and provided further that if the class of Securities with which the swap is associated has a final maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance of the Securities, and such swap is a Ratings Dependent Swap, the swap counterparty is required by the terms of the swap agreement to establish any collateralization or other arrangement satisfactory to the Rating Agencies in the event of a ratings downgrade of the swap counterparty.

    HH. ``Qualified Plan Investor'' means a plan investor or group of plan investors on whose behalf the decision to purchase Securities is made by an appropriate independent fiduciary that is qualified to analyze and understand the terms and conditions of any swap transaction used by the Issuer and the effect such swap would have upon the credit ratings of the Securities. For purposes of the Underwriter Exemption, such a fiduciary is either:

    (1) A ``qualified professional asset manager'' (QPAM),\10\ as defined under Part V(a) of PTE 84-14, 49 FR 9494, 9506 (March 13, 1984);

    \10\ PTE 84-14 provides a class exemption for transactions between a party in interest with respect to an employee benefit plan and an investment fund (including either a single customer or pooled separate account) in which the plan has an interest, and which is managed by a QPAM, provided certain conditions are met. QPAMs (e.g., banks, insurance companies, registered investment advisers with total client assets under management in excess of $50 million) are considered to be experienced investment managers for plan investors that are aware of their fiduciary duties under ERISA.

    (2) An ``in-house asset manager'' (INHAM),\11\ as defined under Part IV(a) of PTE 96-23, 61 FR 15975, 15982 (April 10, 1996); or

    \11\ PTE 96-23 permits various transactions involving employee benefit plans whose assets are managed by an INHAM, an entity which is generally a subsidiary of an employer sponsoring the plan which is a registered investment adviser with management and control of total assets attributable to plans maintained by the employer and its affiliates which are in excess of $50 million.

    (3) A plan fiduciary with total assets under management of at least $100 million at the time of the acquisition of such Securities.

    II. ``Excess Spread'' means, as of any day funds are distributed from the Issuer, the amount by which the interest allocated to Securities exceeds the amount necessary to pay interest to securityholders, servicing fees and expenses.

    JJ. ``Eligible Yield Supplement Agreement'' means any yield supplement agreement, similar yield maintenance arrangement or, if purchased by or on behalf of the Issuer, an interest rate cap contract to supplement the interest rates otherwise payable on obligations described in subsection III.B.(1). Effective for transactions occurring on or after April 7, 1998, such an agreement or arrangement may involve a notional principal contract provided that:

    (1) It is denominated in U.S. dollars;

    (2) The Issuer receives on, or immediately prior to the respective payment date for the Securities covered by such agreement or arrangement, a fixed rate of interest or a floating rate of interest based on a publicly available index (e.g., LIBOR or COFI), with the

    [[Page 67774]]

    Issuer receiving such payments on at least a quarterly basis;

    (3) It is not ``leveraged'' as described in subsection III.FF.(4);

    (4) It does not incorporate any provision which would cause a unilateral alteration in any provision described in subsections III.JJ.(1)-(3) without the consent of the Trustee;

    (5) It is entered into by the Issuer with an Eligible Swap Counterparty; and

    (6) It has a notional amount that does not exceed either: (i) the principal balance of the class of Securities to which such agreement or arrangement relates, or (ii) the portion of the principal balance of such class represented solely by those types of corpus or assets of the Issuer referred to in subsections III.B.(1), (2) and (3).

    IV. Modifications

    For the Underwriter Exemptions provided to Residential Funding Corporation, Residential Funding Mortgage Securities, Inc., et al. and GE Capital Mortgage Services, Inc. and GECC Capital Markets (the Applicants) (PTEs 94-29 and 94-73, respectively);

1. Section III.A. of this exemption is modified to read as follows:

1. ``Security'' means:

   (1) A pass-through certificate or trust certificate that represents a beneficial ownership interest in the assets of an Issuer which is a Trust and which entitles the holder to payments of principal, interest and/or other payments made with respect to the assets of such Trust; or

   (2) A security which is denominated as a debt instrument that is issued by, and is an obligation of, an Issuer; with respect to which (i) one of the Applicants or any of its Affiliates is the Sponsor,

   [and] an entity which has received from the Department an individual prohibited transaction exemption relating to Securities which is similar to this exemption, is the sole underwriter or the manager or co-manager of the underwriting syndicate or a selling or placement agent or (ii) one of the Applicants or any of its Affiliates is the sole underwriter or the manager or co-manager of the underwriting syndicate, or a selling or placement agent.

2. Section III.C. of this exemption is modified to read as follows:

3. Underwriter means:

   (1) An entity defined as an Underwriter in subsection III.C.(1) of each of the Underwriter Exemptions that are being amended by this exemption. In addition, the term Underwriter includes Ironwood Capital Partners Ltd., Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch and Deutsche Morgan Grenfell/C.J. Lawrence Inc.; ABN AMRO and Credit Lyonnais Securities, Inc. (which received the approval of the Department to engage in transactions substantially similar to the transactions described in the Underwriter Exemptions pursuant to PTE 96-62);

   (2) Any person directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controlling, controlled by or under common control with such entity;

   (3) Any member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group of which a person described in subsections III.C.(1) or (2) above is a manager or co-manager with respect to the Securities; or

   (4) Any entity which has received from the Department an individual prohibited transaction exemption relating to Securities which is similar to this exemption.

   I. Effective Date

   This exemption is effective for transactions occurring on or after August 23, 2000, except as otherwise provided in section I.C., subsection II.A.(4)(b), and section III.JJ. of the exemption. Section I.C., relating to the defeasance of mortgage obligations, is applicable to transactions occurring on or after January 1, 1999; subsection II.A.(4)(b) is applicable to transactions occurring on or after January 1, 1998; and section III.JJ., relating to Eligible Yield Supplement Agreements involving notional principal contracts, is applicable to transactions occurring on or after April 7, 1998.

   Signed at Washington, D.C., this day of November, 2000. Ivan L. Strasfeld, Director of Exemption, Determinations, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.

   [FR Doc. 00-28855Filed11-9-00; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 4510-29-P