United States Code (Last Updated: May 24, 2014) |
Title 29. LABOR |
Chapter 18. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY PROGRAM |
SubChapter I. PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT RIGHTS |
SubTitle B. Regulatory Provisions |
Part 4. fiduciary responsibility |
§ 1108. Exemptions from prohibited transactions
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(a) Grant of exemptions The Secretary shall establish an exemption procedure for purposes of this subsection. Pursuant to such procedure, he may grant a conditional or unconditional exemption of any fiduciary or transaction, or class of fiduciaries or transactions, from all or part of the restrictions imposed by sections 1106 and 1107(a) of this title. Action under this subsection may be taken only after consultation and coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury. An exemption granted under this section shall not relieve a fiduciary from any other applicable provision of this chapter. The Secretary may not grant an exemption under this subsection unless he finds that such exemption is— (1) administratively feasible, (2) in the interests of the plan and of its participants and beneficiaries, and (3) protective of the rights of participants and beneficiaries of such plan. Before granting an exemption under this subsection from section 1106(a) or 1107(a) of this title, the Secretary shall publish notice in the Federal Register of the pendency of the exemption, shall require that adequate notice be given to interested persons, and shall afford interested persons opportunity to present views. The Secretary may not grant an exemption under this subsection from section 1106(b) of this title unless he affords an opportunity for a hearing and makes a determination on the record with respect to the findings required by paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection. (b) Enumeration of transactions exempted from section 1106 prohibitions The prohibitions provided in section 1106 of this title shall not apply to any of the following transactions: (1) Any loans made by the plan to parties in interest who are participants or beneficiaries of the plan if such loans (A) are available to all such participants and beneficiaries on a reasonably equivalent basis, (B) are not made available to highly compensated employees (within the meaning of section 414(q) of title 26) in an amount greater than the amount made available to other employees, (C) are made in accordance with specific provisions regarding such loans set forth in the plan, (D) bear a reasonable rate of interest, and (E) are adequately secured. A loan made by a plan shall not fail to meet the requirements of the preceding sentence by reason of a loan repayment suspension described under section 414(u)(4) of title 26. (2) Contracting or making reasonable arrangements with a party in interest for office space, or legal, accounting, or other services necessary for the establishment or operation of the plan, if no more than reasonable compensation is paid therefor. (3) A loan to an employee stock ownership plan (as defined in section 1107(d)(6) of this title), if— (A) such loan is primarily for the benefit of participants and beneficiaries of the plan, and (B) such loan is at an interest rate which is not in excess of a reasonable rate. If the plan gives collateral to a party in interest for such loan, such collateral may consist only of qualifying employer securities (as defined in section 1107(d)(5) of this title). (4) The investment of all or part of a plan’s assets in deposits which bear a reasonable interest rate in a bank or similar financial institution supervised by the United States or a State, if such bank or other institution is a fiduciary of such plan and if— (A) the plan covers only employees of such bank or other institution and employees of affiliates of such bank or other institution, or (B) such investment is expressly authorized by a provision of the plan or by a fiduciary (other than such bank or institution or affiliate thereof) who is expressly empowered by the plan to so instruct the trustee with respect to such investment. (5) Any contract for life insurance, health insurance, or annuities with one or more insurers which are qualified to do business in a State, if the plan pays no more than adequate consideration, and if each such insurer or insurers is— (A) the employer maintaining the plan, or (B) a party in interest which is wholly owned (directly or indirectly) by the employer maintaining the plan, or by any person which is a party in interest with respect to the plan, but only if the total premiums and annuity considerations written by such insurers for life insurance, health insurance, or annuities for all plans (and their employers) with respect to which such insurers are parties in interest (not including premiums or annuity considerations written by the employer maintaining the plan) do not exceed 5 percent of the total premiums and annuity considerations written for all lines of insurance in that year by such insurers (not including premiums or annuity considerations written by the employer maintaining the plan). (6) The providing of any ancillary service by a bank or similar financial institution supervised by the United States or a State, if such bank or other institution is a fiduciary of such plan, and if— (A) such bank or similar financial institution has adopted adequate internal safeguards which assure that the providing of such ancillary service is consistent with sound banking and financial practice, as determined by Federal or State supervisory authority, and (B) the extent to which such ancillary service is provided is subject to specific guidelines issued by such bank or similar financial institution (as determined by the Secretary after consultation with Federal and State supervisory authority), and adherence to such guidelines would reasonably preclude such bank or similar financial institution from providing such ancillary service (i) in an excessive or unreasonable manner, and (ii) in a manner that would be inconsistent with the best interests of participants and beneficiaries of employee benefit plans. Such ancillary services shall not be provided at more than reasonable compensation. (7) The exercise of a privilege to convert securities, to the extent provided in regulations of the Secretary, but only if the plan receives no less than adequate consideration pursuant to such conversion. (8) Any transaction between a plan and (i) a common or collective trust fund or pooled investment fund maintained by a party in interest which is a bank or trust company supervised by a State or Federal agency or (ii) a pooled investment fund of an insurance company qualified to do business in a State, if— (A) the transaction is a sale or purchase of an interest in the fund, (B) the bank, trust company, or insurance company receives not more than reasonable compensation, and (C) such transaction is expressly permitted by the instrument under which the plan is maintained, or by a fiduciary (other than the bank, trust company, or insurance company, or an affiliate thereof) who has authority to manage and control the assets of the plan. (9) The making by a fiduciary of a distribution of the assets of the plan in accordance with the terms of the plan if such assets are distributed in the same manner as provided under section 1344 of this title (relating to allocation of assets). (10) Any transaction required or permitted under part 1 of subtitle E of subchapter III of this chapter. (11) A merger of multiemployer plans, or the transfer of assets or liabilities between multiemployer plans, determined by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to meet the requirements of section 1411 of this title. (12) The sale by a plan to a party in interest on or after December 18, 1987 , of any stock, if—(A) the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (e) of this section are met with respect to such stock, (B) on the later of the date on which the stock was acquired by the plan, or January 1, 1975 , such stock constituted a qualifying employer security (as defined in section 1107(d)(5) of this title as then in effect), and(C) such stock does not constitute a qualifying employer security (as defined in section 1107(d)(5) of this title as in effect at the time of the sale). (13) Any transfer made before January 1, 2022 , of excess pension assets from a defined benefit plan to a retiree health account in a qualified transfer permitted under section 420 of title 26 (as in effect onJuly 6, 2012 ).(14) Any transaction in connection with the provision of investment advice described in section 1002(21)(A)(ii) of this title to a participant or beneficiary of an individual account plan that permits such participant or beneficiary to direct the investment of assets in their individual account, if— (A) the transaction is— (i) the provision of the investment advice to the participant or beneficiary of the plan with respect to a security or other property available as an investment under the plan, (ii) the acquisition, holding, or sale of a security or other property available as an investment under the plan pursuant to the investment advice, or (iii) the direct or indirect receipt of fees or other compensation by the fiduciary adviser or an affiliate thereof (or any employee, agent, or registered representative of the fiduciary adviser or affiliate) in connection with the provision of the advice or in connection with an acquisition, holding, or sale of a security or other property available as an investment under the plan pursuant to the investment advice; and (B) the requirements of subsection (g) are met. (15) (A) Any transaction involving the purchase or sale of securities, or other property (as determined by the Secretary), between a plan and a party in interest (other than a fiduciary described in section 1002(21)(A) of this title) with respect to a plan if— (i) the transaction involves a block trade, (ii) at the time of the transaction, the interest of the plan (together with the interests of any other plans maintained by the same plan sponsor), does not exceed 10 percent of the aggregate size of the block trade, (iii) the terms of the transaction, including the price, are at least as favorable to the plan as an arm’s length the manner, and under what circumstances, any participant or beneficiary information provided under the arrangement will be used or disclosed, (vi) of the types of services provided by the fiduciary adviser in connection with the provision of investment advice by the fiduciary adviser, (vii) that the adviser is acting as a fiduciary of the plan in connection with the provision of the advice, and (viii) that a recipient of the advice may separately arrange for the provision of advice by another adviser, that could have no material affiliation with and receive no fees or other compensation in connection with the security or other property, and (B) at all times during the provision of advisory services to the participant or beneficiary, the fiduciary adviser— (i) maintains the information described in subparagraph (A) in accurate form and in the manner described in paragraph (8), (ii) provides, without charge, accurate information to the recipient of the advice no less frequently than annually, (iii) provides, without charge, accurate information to the recipient of the advice upon request of the recipient, and (iv) provides, without charge, accurate information to the recipient of the advice concerning any material change to the information required to be provided to the recipient of the advice at a time reasonably contemporaneous to the change in information. (7) Other conditions The requirements of this paragraph are met if— (A) the fiduciary adviser provides appropriate disclosure, in connection with the sale, acquisition, or holding of the security or other property, in accordance with all applicable securities laws, (B) the sale, acquisition, or holding occurs solely at the direction of the recipient of the advice, (C) the compensation received by the fiduciary adviser and affiliates thereof in connection with the sale, acquisition, or holding of the security or other property is reasonable, and (D) the terms of the sale, acquisition, or holding of the security or other property are at least as favorable to the plan as an arm’s length 1 transaction would be. (8) Standards for presentation of information (A) In general The requirements of this paragraph are met if the notification required to be provided to participants and beneficiaries under paragraph (6)(A) is written in a clear and conspicuous manner and in a manner calculated to be understood by the average plan participant and is sufficiently accurate and comprehensive to reasonably apprise such participants and beneficiaries of the information required to be provided in the notification.
(B) Model form for disclosure of fees and other compensation The Secretary shall issue a model form for the disclosure of fees and other compensation required in paragraph (6)(A)(iii) which meets the requirements of subparagraph (A).
(9) Maintenance for 6 years of evidence of compliance The requirements of this paragraph are met if a fiduciary adviser who has provided advice referred to in paragraph (1) maintains, for a period of not less than 6 years after the provision of the advice, any records necessary for determining whether the requirements of the preceding provisions of this subsection and of subsection (b)(14) have been met. A transaction prohibited under section 1106 of this title shall not be considered to have occurred solely because the records are lost or destroyed prior to the end of the 6-year period due to circumstances beyond the control of the fiduciary adviser.
(10) Exemption for plan sponsor and certain other fiduciaries (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), a plan sponsor or other person who is a fiduciary (other than a fiduciary adviser) shall not be treated as failing to meet the requirements of this part solely by reason of the provision of investment advice referred to in section 1002(21)(A)(ii) of this title (or solely by reason of contracting for or otherwise arranging for the provision of the advice), if— (i) the advice is provided by a fiduciary adviser pursuant to an eligible investment advice arrangement between the plan sponsor or other fiduciary and the fiduciary adviser for the provision by the fiduciary adviser of investment advice referred to in such section, (ii) the terms of the eligible investment advice arrangement require compliance by the fiduciary adviser with the requirements of this subsection, and (iii) the terms of the eligible investment advice arrangement include a written acknowledgment by the fiduciary adviser that the fiduciary adviser is a fiduciary of the plan with respect to the provision of the advice. (B) Continued duty of prudent selection of adviser and periodic review Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed to exempt a plan sponsor or other person who is a fiduciary from any requirement of this part for the prudent selection and periodic review of a fiduciary adviser with whom the plan sponsor or other person enters into an eligible investment advice arrangement for the provision of investment advice referred to in section 1002(21)(A)(ii) of this title. The plan sponsor or other person who is a fiduciary has no duty under this part to monitor the specific investment advice given by the fiduciary adviser to any particular recipient of the advice.
(C) Availability of plan assets for payment for advice Nothing in this part shall be construed to preclude the use of plan assets to pay for reasonable expenses in providing investment advice referred to in section 1002(21)(A)(ii) of this title.
(11) Definitions For purposes of this subsection and subsection (b)(14)— (A) Fiduciary adviser The term “fiduciary adviser” means, with respect to a plan, a person who is a fiduciary of the plan by reason of the provision of investment advice referred to in section 1002(21)(A)(ii) of this title by the person to a participant or beneficiary of the plan and who is— (i) registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b–1 et seq.) or under the laws of the State in which the fiduciary maintains its principal office and place of business, (ii) a bank or similar financial institution referred to in subsection (b)(4) or a savings association (as defined in section 1813(b)(1) of title 12), but only if the advice is provided through a trust department of the bank or similar financial institution or savings association which is subject to periodic examination and review by Federal or State banking authorities, (iii) an insurance company qualified to do business under the laws of a State, (iv) a person registered as a broker or dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.), (v) an affiliate of a person described in any of clauses (i) through (iv), or (vi) an employee, agent, or registered representative of a person described in clauses (i) through (v) who satisfies the requirements of applicable insurance, banking, and securities laws relating to the provision of the advice. For purposes of this part, a person who develops the computer model described in paragraph (3)(B) or markets the investment advice program or computer model shall be treated as a person who is a fiduciary of the plan by reason of the provision of investment advice referred to in section 1002(21)(A)(ii) of this title to a participant or beneficiary and shall be treated as a fiduciary adviser for purposes of this subsection and subsection (b)(14), except that the Secretary may prescribe rules under which only 1 fiduciary adviser may elect to be treated as a fiduciary with respect to the plan. (B) Affiliate The term “affiliate” of another entity means an affiliated person of the entity (as defined in section 80a–2(a)(3) of title 15).
(C) Registered representative The term “registered representative” of another entity means a person described in section 3(a)(18) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(18)) (substituting the entity for the broker or dealer referred to in such section) or a person described in section 202(a)(17) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b–2(a)(17)) (substituting the entity for the investment adviser referred to in such section).
References In Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 93–406, known as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Titles I, III, and IV of such Act are classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1001 of this title and Tables.
The Investment Advisers Act of 1940, referred to in subsec. (g)(11)(A)(i), is title II of act Aug. 22, 1940, ch. 686, 54 Stat. 847, which is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 80b–1 et seq.) of chapter 2D of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 80b–20 of Title 15 and Tables.
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (g)(11)(A)(iv), is act June 6, 1934, ch. 404, 48 Stat. 881, which is classified principally to chapter 2B (§ 78a et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 78a of Title 15 and Tables.
Amendments
2012—Subsec. (b)(13). Pub. L. 112–141 substituted “
2008—Subsec. (b)(18)(C). Pub. L. 110–458, § 106(b)(1), struck out “or less” after “deviate by more”.
Subsec. (g)(3)(D)(ii). Pub. L. 110–458, § 106(a)(1)(A), substituted “subsection (b)(14)(A)(ii)” for “subsection (b)(14)(B)(ii)”.
Subsec. (g)(6)(A)(i). Pub. L. 110–458, § 106(a)(1)(B), substituted “fiduciary adviser” for “financial adviser”.
Subsec. (g)(11)(A). Pub. L. 110–458, § 106(a)(1)(C), substituted “a participant” for “the participant” in introductory and concluding provisions and “subsection (b)(4)” for “section 1108(b)(4) of this title” in cl. (ii).
2006—Subsec. (b)(13). Pub. L. 109–280, § 108(a)(11), formerly § 107(a)(11), as renumbered by Pub. L. 111–192, substituted “
Subsec. (b)(14). Pub. L. 109–280, § 601(a)(1), added par. (14).
Subsec. (b)(15) to (19). Pub. L. 109–280, § 611(a)(1), (c)(1), (d)(1), (e)(1), (g)(1), added pars. (15) to (19).
Subsec. (b)(20). Pub. L. 109–280, § 612(a), added par. (20).
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 109–280, § 601(a)(2), added subsec. (g).
2004—Subsec. (b)(13). Pub. L. 108–357 substituted “
Pub. L. 108–218 substituted “
2001—Subsec. (d)(2)(C). Pub. L. 107–16 added subpar. (C).
1999—Subsec. (b)(13). Pub. L. 106–170 substituted “made before
1997—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–34 amended subsec. (d) generally, substituting present provisions for provisions exempting transactions involving an owner-employee, a member of the family, or a corporation controlled by any such owner-employee through the ownership, directly or indirectly, of 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote or 50 percent or more of the total value of shares of all classes of stock of the corporation.
1996—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 104–188 inserted at end “A loan made by a plan shall not fail to meet the requirements of the preceding sentence by reason of a loan repayment suspension described under section 414(u)(4) of title 26.”
1994—Subsec. (b)(13). Pub. L. 103–465 substituted “2001” for “1996” and “1995” for “1991”.
1990—Subsec. (b)(13). Pub. L. 101–508 added par. (13).
1989—Subsec. (b)(12). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7881(l)(5), added par. (12).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7891(a)(1), in last sentence, substituted “section 401(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “section 401(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954”, which for purposes of codification was translated as “section 401(c)(3) of title 26” thus requiring no change in text.
Pub. L. 101–239, § 7891(a)(2), in last sentence, substituted “section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954” and “section 408(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “section 408(c) of such Code” which for purposes of codification were translated as “section 408 of title 26” and “section 408(c) of title 26”, respectively, thus requiring no change in text.
Pub. L. 101–239, § 7894(e)(4)(A), in last sentence, substituted “individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity described in section 408 of title 26 or a retirement bond described in section 409 of title 26 (as effective for obligations issued before
1986—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1114(b)(15)(B), substituted “highly compensated employees (within the meaning of section 414(q) of title 26)” for “highly compensated employees, officers, or shareholders”.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1898(i)(1), struck out “(a),” before “(b),” in introductory provisions.
1982—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–354 substituted “section 1379 of title 26 as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Subchapter S Revision Act of 1982” for “section 1379 of title 26”.
1980—Subsec. (b)(10), (11). Pub. L. 96–364, § 308(a), added pars. (10) and (11).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 96–364, § 308(b), added subsec. (f).
Effective Date Of Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 110–458 effective as if included in the provisions of Pub. L. 109–280 to which the amendment relates, except as otherwise provided, see section 112 of Pub. L. 110–458, set out as a note under section 72 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.
Amendment by section 108(a)(11) of Pub. L. 109–280 applicable to plan years beginning after 2007, see section 108(e) of Pub. L. 109–280, set out as a note under section 1021 of this title.
Pub. L. 109–280, title VI, § 601(a)(3),
Amendment by section 611(a)(1), (c)(1), (d)(1), (e)(1), (g)(1) of Pub. L. 109–280 applicable to transactions occurring after
Amendment by section 612(a) of Pub. L. 109–280 applicable to any transaction which the fiduciary or disqualified person discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, after
Amendment by Pub. L. 107–16 applicable to years beginning after
Amendment by Pub. L. 106–170 applicable to qualified transfers occurring after
Amendment by Pub. L. 105–34 applicable to taxable years beginning after
Amendment by Pub. L. 104–188 effective as of
Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 applicable to qualified transfers under section 420 of title 26 made after
Amendment by section 7881(l)(5) of Pub. L. 101–239 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Pension Protection Act, Pub. L. 100–203, §§ 9302–9346, to which such amendment relates, see section 7882 of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 401 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.
Amendment by section 7891(a) of Pub. L. 101–239 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 7891(f) of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 1002 of this title.
Section 7894(e)(4)(B) of Pub. L. 101–239 provided that:
Amendment by section 1114(b)(15)(B) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to years beginning after
Section 1898(i)(2) of Pub. L. 99–514 provided that:
Amendment by Pub. L. 97–354 applicable to taxable years beginning after
Amendment by Pub. L. 96–364 effective
Miscellaneous
Pub. L. 109–280, title VI, § 611(g)(3),
Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate to issue before
Secretary authorized, effective
For special rules on applicability of amendments by subtitles A (§§ 101–108) and B (§§ 111–116) of title I of Pub. L. 109–280 to certain eligible cooperative plans, PBGC settlement plans, and eligible government contractor plans, see sections 104, 105, and 106 of Pub. L. 109–280, set out as notes under section 401 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.
Any exemption under subsec. (b) of this section provided by amendment by section 601(a)(1), (2) of Pub. L. 109–280 not to alter existing individual or class exemptions provided by statute or administrative action, see section 601(c) of Pub. L. 109–280, set out as a note under section 4975 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.
For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§ 1101–1147 and 1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§ 1800–1899A] of Pub. L. 99–514 require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after