Advisory Opinions

Requests for interpretations and other rulings under Title 1 of ERISA are handled by the Office of Regulations and Interpretations under the provisions established by ERISA Procedure 76-1.  The office answers inquiries from individuals and organizations in the form of advisory opinions, which apply the law to a specific set of facts, or information letters, which merely call attention to well established principles or interpretations.

Data Dictionary

1989
AO/ Date/ Reference Recipient Description of Request
09/27/1989
408(b)(2)

Charles Stewart, Esq.
Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue
1450 G Street NW
Metropolitan Square
Washington, DC 20005-2088

Whether the United Company Profit-Sharing and Retirement Plan Investment Committee may retain the United Investment Corporation (UIC) as investment manager for the Plan, and that the Plan may pay UIC for such services, without violating sections 404 and 406 of title I of ERISA or section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code.

09/25/1989

Mr. Richard P. Bogatto
Fulbright & Jaworski
1301 McKinney Avenue
Houston, Texas 77010

Whether certain loan transactions will affect the character of the Quanex Corporation Supplemental Benefit Plan under sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA" or the "Act").

10/25/1989
3(32)
4(b)(1)

Ms. Ellen M. Davis
Wise Carter Child & Caraway
600 Heritage Building
PO Box 651
Jackson, Mississippi 39205

Whether the Hinds County General Hospital's welfare benefit plans for employees are governmental plans within the meaning of section 3(32) of title I of ERISA.

09/21/1989
4(b)

Mr. Peter M. Kelly
Bell, Boyd & Boyd
Three First National Plaza
Suite 3200
70 West Madison Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602

Whether the operation of the Walgreen Co. Irrevocable Grantor Trust causes the Walgreen Co. Supplemental Profit-Sharing Plan to be other than "unfunded" under section 4(b)(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

09/08/1989
3(1)
3(4)
3(5)

Mr. H. James Gorman, Jr.
Coopers and Lybrand
One Post Office Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02109

Whether the Home Builders Association of New Hampshire Benefits Trust is an employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of section 3(1) of Title I of ERISA. Whether the Association is an employee organization or employer under sections 3(4) and 3(5) of ERISA.

08/18/1989
3(1)

Mr. Ernest P. Ritchey
Vice President
Federal Employee Association
1747 Citadel Plaza, #101
San Antonio, TX 78209

Whether the FEA/GEA Dental Health Care Plan is an employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of section 3(1) of Title I of ERISA.

08/18/1989
3(40)

Mr. Roy M. Larson
Tacoma Industrial Trust
808 No. 2nd
Tacoma, Washington 98403

Whether the Tacoma Industrial Trust, established to provide life and accident, dental, vision care, drugs, pharmaceutical supplies, health benefits and prepaid legal benefits for employees of participating employers, is an employee welfare benefit plan covered by Title I of ERISA. Whether each employer electing to provide benefits described in section 3(1) through the Trust has established its own separate employee welfare benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA.

08/18/1989

John M. Vine, Esq.
Covington & Burling
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
PO Box 7566
Washington, DC 20044

Whether a certain sale of securities from the General Electric Pension Trust to an underwriting syndicate of which Kidder, Peabody & Co. Incorporated was a member was a prohibited transaction within the meaning of section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

08/07/1989
3(40)

Mr. Homer Elliot
Drinker, Biddle & Reath
Philadelphia National Bank Building
Broad and Chestnut Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Whether the WBMA, Inc. Voluntary Employee Benefit Trust is an employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of section 3(1) of title I of ERISA and whether the Trust is a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) within the meaning of section 3(40) of title I of ERISA.

08/04/1989
3(32)
4(b)(1)

Ms. Ann Crawford
Butler & Binion
1600 First Interstate Bank Plaza
1000 Louisiana
Houston, TX 77002-5008

Whether the Police Plan is a governmental plan within the meaning of section 3(32) of Title I of ERISA and, thus, is excluded from the requirements of title I of ERISA; as well as the applicable requirements of section 414(d) of the Internal Revenue.