Fiduciary Counselors and its advisors negotiated with Northwest and Pinnacle concerning the ability of the Plans to transfer the Pinnacle Stock and the rights of the Plans to cause Northwest to register the shares of Pinnacle Stock under Federal and State securities laws for resale to third parties. Since September 10, 2001, regional airlines have lost 48% of their value while the major airlines have lost 78% (excluding U.S. Airways and United that have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection). The amount of the Initial Contribution is equal to the amount that was required to meet the quarterly funding requirements under ERISA section 302 and Code section 412(l) for the Contract Plan due on January 15, 2003. establishing the XML-based Federal Register as an ACFR-sanctioned The company and labor leaders have been pushing a law change that would give Northwest 20 years to make contributions to three pension plans underfunded by $3.7 billion. (c) A statement that the appraisal is being conducted to determine the fair market value of Pinnacle Stock, which is defined as the price at which the stock would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller when the former is not under any compulsion to buy and the latter is not under any compulsion to sell, and both parties are able, as well as willing, to trade and are well informed about the stock and the market for the stock. (k) A statement of past transactions involving Pinnacle Stock, including dates, amounts, price, and whether the transactions were at arms-length, as well as a description of any attempts to buy or sell Pinnacle Stock over the last five years, including a description of any previous plans for initial public offerings. *PBGC Benefit Application - When a participant terminates employment with United and wants to start their pension s/he needs to contact the Field Benefit Administrator (FBA). Start Printed Page 49808. The ASA also was revised to eliminate the unilateral right of Northwest to terminate the ASA in the event of the bankruptcy of Northwest. Northwest noted that, as is the case for sponsors of defined benefit plans, Northwest has adopted investment guidelines and asset allocation strategies that guide the investment of the Plans' assets. 4. In response to the solicitation of comments from interested persons, the Department received over 1,700 letters, e-mails, faxes and phone calls, of which more than 1,000 requested that a public hearing be held on the Proposed Exemption. The exemption affects participants and beneficiaries of, and fiduciaries with respect to, the Plans. In the case of United Airlines, for example, the airline has not rejected the ASAs it has entered into with its regional airline partners Atlantic Coast Airlines, SkyWest and Air Wisconsin. A provision providing that the exercise price of any options on Pinnacle Stock granted to its executive employees under its stock incentive plan at the time of an IPO would be at the greater of the value of the stock at the time it was contributed to the Plans or the IPO price. In particular, subparagraph (i) at 68 FR 2580 of the Proposed Exemption should reflect that, prior to an IPO, the Plans will be entitled to the greatest of (1) the value of the stock when contributed, (2) the fair market value of the stock on the date that the determination of fair market value is made (e.g., with respect to the Put Option, the date the Put Option is exercised), or, if greater, (3) the value as of the closing date of the Put Option. does steven weber have a brother; charlie bears lantern; My Cart. More frequent notice will be required based on Northwest's liquidity and the value of the Pinnacle Stock contributed to the Plans. Start Printed Page 49803Northwest stated [i]n the absence of an exemption, Northwest would have to consider the contribution of NWA Corp. stock or an IRS waiver. The documents posted on this site are XML renditions of published Federal Websurrey accident today 176 street; Servicios. documents in the last year, 19 He also filed a claim for long-term disability benefits under Northwest Airlines Long Term Disability Plan ("LTD Plan"). ALPA and Northwest informed the Department that the Letter Agreement will be executed by the parties in connection with a proposed voluntary contribution of Pinnacle Stock (described below). Northwest expects that the Start Printed Page 49807board, like any board fulfilling its fiduciary duties, will seek to maximize the value of the enterprise. In this regard, section 404(a)(1)(A) and (B) of ERISA requires that fiduciaries discharge their duties to a plan solely in the interests of the participants and beneficiaries, for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to participants and beneficiaries and defraying reasonable administrative expenses, and with the care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims. Webnorthwest airlines pension plan for contract employees united states district court for the northern district of california san jose division willie f. ticzon, plaintiff, northwest airlines pension plan for contract employees, defendants. Many of the commenters expressed concern about the effect of the Proposed Exemption on the Plans. The Contract Plan, the Salaried Plan and the Pilot Plan will have the same registration rights provided in the Omnibus Agreement dated January 15, 2003 between Pinnacle Airlines Corp., Northwest and Fiduciary Counselors. As a condition of the Proposed Exemption, Fiduciary Counselors, using the services of its independent appraisal firm Eclat, Start Printed Page 49802determined the value of Pinnacle Stock. Eclat provided additional information in support of its view that the discount rates, and other factors used in determining the fair market value of the Pinnacle Stock were reasonable and theoretically sound. As also mentioned in the March 3 Comment, the Independent Fiduciary notes that at the fifth paragraph of the Voting Provisions section in the Proposed Exemption at column 2 of 68 FR 2585, the description of the required affirmative vote of the director designated by the Plans should be expanded to include the approval of: amending the Note, amending Pinnacle's charter or by-laws in certain respects, implementing certain changes in Pinnacle's capital structure, or issuing capital stock prior to an IPO, as set forth in the Omnibus Agreement. Webfunny ways to say home run grassroots elite basketball Menu . Northwest noted that the Pinnacle Stock is being held in an Investment Fund established in connection with the Master Trust, and the amounts were allocated to the Contract Plan and Salaried Plan consistent with the provisions of the Master Trust, as described in the Proposed Exemption. The Delaware law does not apply to the repurchase of Pinnacle Stock, which is not treated as NWA Corp.'s own stock. In determining the fair market value of the Pinnacle Stock, the Independent Fiduciary obtains an appraisal from an independent qualified appraiser selected by the Independent Fiduciary, and ensures that the appraisal and the Independent Fiduciary's analysis of the appraisal are consistent with sound principles of valuation and with the elements described by the Department in the Preamble to this final exemption in the section entitled Duties of the Independent Fiduciary; (g) The terms of (1) the Put Option granted by Northwest; (2) any exercise of the Put Option by the Plans; and (3) any sale of the Pinnacle Stock by the Plans to Northwest other than through the exercise of the Put Option will be in accordance with the terms set forth in the Term Sheet and the Omnibus Agreement; (h) Immediately after each contribution, employer securities and employer real property, including the Pinnacle Stock, will represent no more than 10 percent (10%) of the value of each Plan's assets. This exemption is conditioned upon adherence to the material facts and representations described herein and upon satisfaction of the following requirements: (a) The Plans acquire the Pinnacle Stock through one or more contributions by Northwest during the calendar years 2003 and 2004; (b) An independent qualified fiduciary (the Independent Fiduciary), acting on behalf of the Plans, represents the Plans' interests for all purposes with respect to the Pinnacle Stock, and determines, prior to entering into any of the transactions described herein, that each such transaction, including the contribution of the Pinnacle Stock, is in the interests of the Plans; (c) The Independent Fiduciary negotiates and approves the terms of any of the transactions between the Plans and Northwest that relate to the Pinnacle Stock; (d) The Independent Fiduciary manages the holding and disposition of the Pinnacle Stock and takes whatever actions it deems necessary to protect the rights of the Plans with respect to the Pinnacle Stock; (e) The terms of any transactions between the Plans and Northwest are no less favorable to the Plans than terms negotiated at arm's-length under similar circumstances between unrelated third parties; (f) The Independent Fiduciary determines the fair market value of the Pinnacle Stock contributed to each plan as of the date of each such contribution. The Term Sheet formed the basis for the Omnibus Agreement, which was executed on January 15, 2003, after the Independent Fiduciary received confirmation from the Department that the Proposed Exemption had been issued. Additionally, the Independent Fiduciary corrects language in the fifth paragraph of the Voting Provisions of the Proposed Exemption that states a majority of Pinnacle's board is needed for the approval of compensation of Pinnacle's CEO. Statement Income Company. Other employee groups at the carrier are left with a 401(k) plan that offers no guarantee and places the investment risk on employ-ees themselves. The Term Sheet did not provide for the Additional Initial Contribution. United pilots' pension was terminated in its 2002 bankruptcy and taken over by the pension oversight agency. Northwest responded that no similar legal restriction would apply to the repurchase of Pinnacle Stock pursuant to the exercise of the Put Option. NWAI then transferred the shares of Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. to Pinnacle in exchange for its issuance to NWAI of (i) 15,000,000 shares of Pinnacle's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (Pinnacle Stock), and one share of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Pinnacle (the Series A Preferred Share), which, upon issuance and together with the Pinnacle Stock, constitutes all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Pinnacle. Northwest Airlines: Employee Benefits and Perks | Glassdoor better and aid in comparing the online edition to the print edition. The Proposed Exemption included specific conditions that ensure that the independent fiduciary is free from conflicts of interest. northwest airlines pension 484 F3d 1211 Opeta v. Northwest Airlines Pension Plan for Northwest Response: Northwest notes that like other major airlines, Northwest is in a temporary period of extraordinary airline revenue weakness and volatility. 04/28/2023, 258 that agencies use to create their documents. See Omnibus Agreement at section 6.3. NORTHWEST AIRLINES RETIREMENT The Independent Fiduciary notes that the Proposed Exemption, in the first column of 68 FR 2580 (first full paragraph), makes reference to voting restrictions and limits on the ability of the Plans to dispose of the Pinnacle Stock, except pursuant to an initial public offering (IPO) initiated by Northwest or by exercise of the Put Option. publication in the future. Regional airlines play an indispensable role in providing major airlines with important access to passengers, largely from markets too small to be serviced by a major airline. 5. Once Pinnacle Stock is publicly traded, the Put Option will be suspended if all of the remaining shares of Pinnacle Stock held by the Plans have a market value not less than 110% of the Floor Price and such shares are freely tradable. (m) An analysis of the marketability, or lack thereof of the Pinnacle Stock, with specific reference to any restrictions, understandings, agreements, or obligations limiting the Plans' ability to dispose of the Pinnacle Stock. grassroots elite basketball ; why does ted lasso have a southern accent . ; In its determinations, the Independent Fiduciary has also taken into account Northwest's request for a minimum funding waiver with respect to Plan contributions in 2003 and 2004, and considered the likelihood that such waiver will be granted. Agencies - Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration 04/28/2023, 858 Such techniques were employed by Fiduciary Counselors and Eclat in this circumstance. C:$' J{FR]L,`;\&P**yjTR0HqFxc"P8byLFNo?#k3NLzYX^|pNbdh>&b!CvICe%PD\Dm:9Q,ml}O Federal Register issue. Northwest explained that the Omnibus Agreement granted the Plans additional rights in order to protect their interest in the Pinnacle Stock. Pursuant to its engagement letter with Northwest, the scope of Fiduciary Counselors' engagement includes determining whether to accept the Contribution on behalf of the Plans, and if so, to value the Pinnacle Stock for Plan funding purposes. The Independent Fiduciary negotiated voting and governance rights to be accorded to the Plans that protect the interests of the Plans (. In addition, Northwest shall provide it with copies of any amendments to the credit agreement. documents in the last year, by the Justice Department Participants and beneficiaries of the Plans stand to benefit from an IPO of the Pinnacle Stock. Details Ellen A. Hennessy will continue to be the primary person at Fiduciary Counselors handling its responsibilities as independent fiduciary to the Northwest Airlines defined benefit plans. If, on August 1, 2003, NWA Corp. decides not to repurchase the Series C Preferred Stock, beginning on August 1, 2003 and on each succeeding quarter end date, NWA Corp. must use all Available Cash (a defined term in the Agreements) to effect partial repurchases of the Series C Preferred Stock, but only if and to the extent NWA Corp. is not prohibited from making such repurchases under applicable Delaware corporate law or any loan agreement to which NWA Corp. is a party. These guidelines contemplate that a certain amount of assets will be allocated to securities with risk and return characteristics similar to Pinnacle Stock. The Series C Preferred Stock ranks senior to Common Stock with respect to liquidation and certain dividend rights. In the Proposed Exemption, it was noted that the length of the Deferral would be shortened if Pinnacle Stock was publicly traded at the time that the Put Option is exercised. Ms. DuVaney is a participant in the Conclude Plan, one defined benefit blueprint for unity members traditional by Far Airlines Corp. in 1970, covering every Northwest employees before Oct. 1, 2006. for better understanding how a document is structured but The Independent Fiduciary must ensure that all of the conditions above are satisfied with respect to any past contributions of Pinnacle Stock, as well as any future contributions. If Pinnacle in fact achieves the maximum operating margin provided under the ASA, Eclat estimated that the value of Pinnacle would be approximately 20 percent greater than the value used for purposes of the contribution. Pinnacle itself had revenues of approximately $345.2 million for 2002. District 143 members at northwest airlines pension information endstream endobj 4 0 obj<> endobj 5 0 obj[/Separation/PANTONE#20368#20C/DeviceCMYK 3 0 R] endobj 6 0 obj<> endobj 7 0 obj<> endobj 9 0 obj<>stream Fiduciary Counselors sent additional information to the Department on July 11, 2003. northwest airlines pension information Representativesconduct frequent employee meetings to explain plan provisions or recent plan changes.
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