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

1980
AO/ Date/ Reference Recipient Description of Request
06/09/1980
201(a)
3(3)

Mr. James N. Schuth
Miles & Stockbridge
10 Light Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Whether the Plan is an “employee welfare benefit plan” within the meaning of section 3(1) of ERISA. Whether the Plan is an “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of ERISA section 3(3). Whether the Plan is an “employee benefit plan” as provided in ERISA section 514(b)(2)(B); Whether the Plan is exempt from the participation and vesting requirements of part 2 of title I of ERISA as an “employee welfare benefit plan” within the meaning of section 201(1). Whether the Plan is exempt from the funding requirements of part 3 of title I of ERISA as an “employee welfare benefit plan” as defined in ERISA section 301(a)(1).

06/03/1980
403
404(a)(1)
406
407

Mr. John Thomas Kenney
Manager, Benefit Programs
Chrysler Corporation
P.O. Box 1919
Detroit, Michigan 48288

cc: Mr. Marc Stepp

Whether a certain understanding denominated the “Letter Agreement” or “Agreement” between the Chrysler Corporation (Chrysler) and the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) raises issues under part 4 of Title I of ERISA.

05/23/1980
104(b)

Mr. David Durfee
Corporate Trust Officer
Exchange National Bank of Tampa
P.O. Box 1469
Tampa, Florida 33601

Whether a document providing notification of a plan trustee’s change in name must be furnished to plan participants and beneficiaries in accordance with section 104(b)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and 29 C.F.R. §2520.104b-3.

05/22/1980
3(1)
3(2)

Abraham M. Stanger, Esq.
Trubin Sillcocks Edelman & Knapp
375 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022

Whether neither the Existing Plans nor the Consolidated Plan are (1) employee welfare benefit plans within the meaning of section 3(1) of ERISA, (2) employee pension benefit plans within the meaning of section 3(2) of ERISA, or (3) employee benefit plans within the meaning of section 3(3) of ERISA.

05/21/1980
406

PRO Administrators, Inc.
PRO Services, Inc.
Cannon & Company, Inc.
PRO Funds, Inc.
1107 Bethlehem Pike
Flourtown, PA 19031

Whether under the affiliations among Cannon, Services and Administrators: (1) Administrators may continue to serve as the “nominal” plan administrator, (despite the limitation on the availability of Prohibited Transaction Exemption 77-9 (PTE 77-9),1 and (2) Cannon and Services may continue to rely on PTE 77-9 with respect to the classes of transactions described in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) of Section III of the exemption.

05/12/1980
3(2)

Mr. Richard C. Schiller
Tax Attorney
MCA, Inc.
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, California 91608

Whether the 1973 Incentive Stock Plan (the Plan) maintained by MCA, Inc. (the Employer) constitutes an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

05/07/1980
404(a)(1)(A)
408(b)(2)

Mr. William J. Nellis
Coghlan, Joyce and Nellis
Fortieth Floor
One North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602

Whether the compensation being paid by the Fund to Victor Palmieri and Company Incorporated (“VPCO”), an investment manager employed by the Trustees pursuant to two agreements (more fully described in the request), and concerning the effect and lawfulness of certain provisions in those agreements would raise issues under section 404 of ERISA.

04/24/1980
403(c )(1)
403(d)(2)

Steven Bloom
Kaplan, Sicking, Hessen, Sugarman, Rosenthal & Zientz, P.A.
P.O. Drawer 520337
Miami, Florida 33152

cc: Mr. Herbert B. Mintz
Muller, Mintz, Kornreich, Caldwell and Casey, P.A.
Suite 1800, One Biscayne Tower
Two South Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33131

Whether various provisions of Part 4 of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) apply to three alternative proposals for the distribution of the assets upon termination of the Painters Palm Coast District Council No. 76 Health and Hospitalization Trust Fund (Health Trust) and the Painters Palm Coast District Council No. 76 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund (Apprenticeship Trust).

04/23/1980
406
408(b)(2)

Mr. David L. Raish
Ropes & Gray
225 Franklin Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Whether the appointment of Harvard as trustee of the Trusts, the performance by Harvard of the functions of trustee of the Trusts, and contributions by Harvard and THU under the terms of each plan to Harvard, as trustee of the Trusts do not constitute prohibited transactions within the meaning of section 406(a) or (b) of ERISA.

1979
AO/ Date/ Reference Recipient Description of Request
11/30/1979
3(32)
4(b)(1)

Kevin McGarvey
Director, Transport Workers Union
NYC Transit Authority
MABSTOA Health Benefit Trust
1995 Broadway
12th Floor
New York, NY 10023

Whether the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) -New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) ¬Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (MABSTOA) Health Benefit Trust (the Plan) is a "governmental plan," within the meaning of section 3(32) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).