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Course Details

Course Information
  • smart_display Format

    On-Demand

  • signal_cellular_alt Difficulty Level

  • work Practice Area

    ERISA

Date & Time
  • event Date

    Thursday, January 21, 2021

  • schedule Time

    1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT

  • timer Program Length

    90 minutes

Credit Information

  • This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.

$347.00
CLE
ALL

This CLE course will provide guidance to ERISA counsel on the recently issued DOL Information Letter and final regulations for private equity investments in defined contribution plans.

Faculty

David C. Olstein
Partner
Hogan Lovells

Mr. Olstein’s practice focuses on the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA and the prohibited transaction excise tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. He has an extensive background advising financial institutions, plan sponsors, and investment committees on ERISA matters, including compliance with ERISA’s fiduciary duty and prohibited transaction rules, in connection with the investment of pension plan assets. Mr. Olstein regularly advises fund sponsors on the application of ERISA’s “plan asset” rules as they relate to the establishment and operation of private investment funds. From representing issuers and underwriters in connection with marketing securities to investors, to advising plan sponsors and independent fiduciaries in connection with the selection of annuity providers, he offers substantial experience at the intersection of ERISA and fiduciary responsibility. Mr. Olstein is an active member of the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation and the New York City Bar Associati

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Jeffrey A. Lieberman
Counsel
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP

Mr. Lieberman has more than 25 years of experience advising a broad range of clients on ERISA, employee benefits, and executive compensation matters, including counseling on the design and operation of compensation and benefit arrangements and on issues under IRS Code Sections 280G, 162(m), 409A, and 457A; advising on employee benefits and ERISA issues in M&As and other corporate transactions; advising on plan compliance, corporate governance, and reporting matters; and providing support for ERISA controversies and litigation.

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Eric Requenez
Partner
Strooch, Strooch & Lavay

Mr. Requenez represents fund sponsors, distributors  and investors in connection with the formation, structuring and capitalization of private investment funds  as well as other securities offerings, regulatory and compliance matters, transactions and other corporate matters.

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Description

The DOL has recently issued guidance and final regulations that would significantly impact retirement plan investments. The guidance addresses the selection of investment options with private equity components, the consideration of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors and other non-pecuniary factors when investing plan assets and the exercise of proxy voting and other shareholder rights associated with stock held by pension plans. ERISA fiduciaries and their counsel will need to develop an in-depth understanding of the new guidance and regulations in order to take appropriate steps to avoid unintended liability and potential claims.

In an Information Letter dated June 3, 2020, the DOL concluded that a fiduciary of an individual account plan may, consistent with ERISA requirements, offer as an investment option under the plan a professionally managed asset allocation fund with a private equity component. However, due to the greater complexity and limited transparency and liquidity of private equity investments, including a private equity component in an investment option can increase the potential liability for fiduciaries, who have a legal duty to select prudent investment options. ERISA also requires fiduciaries to monitor designated investment alternatives under the plan. Fiduciaries are liable for any losses resulting from the failure to prudently monitor these investments.

On October 30, 2020, the DOL announced the issuance of final regulations, subsequently published in the Federal Register on November 13, 2020, addressing the application of certain ERISA fiduciary duties to the selection of pension plan investments based on non-pecuniary factors. The regulations clarify that a fiduciary, when selecting plan investments, may not subordinate the interests of plan participants and beneficiaries in their retirement income to non-pecuniary goals. In addition, the regulations would require a fiduciary to document their investment process when using non-pecuniary factors to choose among investments that the fiduciary cannot distinguish based on pecuniary factors alone. The regulations also prohibit the selection or retention of a fund or managed portfolio as a qualified default investment alternative, or as a component within a QDIA, if the fund or portfolio’s objectives, goals, or primary investment strategies contemplate the use of non-pecuniary factors.

On December 11, 2020, the DOL announced the issuance of final regulations, to be published in the Federal Register, addressing the application of certain ERISA fiduciary duties to the exercise of proxy voting and other shareholder rights associated with stock held as a pension plan investment. The regulations clarify that fiduciaries are not obligated to vote every proxy or exercise every shareholder right, and, in deciding whether to vote proxies or exercise other shareholder rights, must act solely in accordance with the economic interests of the plan, taking into consideration the costs to the plan. The regulations also require the maintenance of records on proxy voting activities and other exercises of shareholder rights.

Listen as our panel discusses recent DOL guidance for private equity in retirement plans, amendments to the definition of "investment duties" and final regulations for "financial factors", and fiduciary liability, as well as offer strategies and best practices for ERISA counsel and plan sponsors.

Outline

  1. Recent DOL Information Letter on private equity
  2. DOL final rules; financial factors, investment duties
  3. ESG investments
  4. Fiduciary duties and primary considerations
  5. Notice and disclosure
  6. Best practices for plan sponsors and administrators

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key issues:

  • What is the likely impact of the DOL Information Letter on private equity in individual account plans?
  • What are the ramifications of recently issued DOL final rules addressing the application of the fiduciary duties of prudence and loyalty to the use of non-pecuniary factors in selecting investments and to the voting of proxies and exercise of other shareholder rights?
  • What are the key considerations for plan fiduciaries?
  • What are the key considerations for sponsors of private equity and ESG funds?
  • What are the key considerations for proxy advisory firms?