EX-5.3 5 dex53.htm EXHIBIT 5.3 EXHIBIT 5.3

EXHIBIT 5.3

 

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury

Washington, DC 20224

 

Plan Description: Prototype Non-Standardized Safe Harbor Profit Sharing Plan with CODA

FFN: 503A1760001-004 Case: 200001215                EIN: 36-2453176

Letter Serial No: K339049a    
McDermott Will & Emery   Contact Person: Ms. Arrington 50-00197
227 West Monroe Street   Telephone Number: (202) 283-8811
Chicago, IL 60606   In Reference to: T:EP:RA:T2
    Date: 9/24/2001

 

Dear Applicant:

 

In our opinion, the form of the plan identified above is acceptable under section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code for use by employers for the benefit of their employees. This opinion relates only to the acceptability of the form of the plan under the Internal Revenue Code. It is not an opinion of the effect of other Federal or local statutes.

 

You must furnish a copy of this letter to each employer who adopts this plan. You are also required to send a copy of the approved form of the plan, any approved amendments and related documents to Employee Plans Determinations in Cincinnati at the address specified in section 9.11 of Rev. Proc. 2000-20, 2000-6 I.R.B. 553.

 

This letter considers the changes in qualifications requirements made by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (GATT), Pub. L. 103-465, the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-188, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, Pub. L. 103-353, the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105-34, the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-206 and the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000, Pub. L. 106-554. These laws are referred to collectively as GUST.

 

Our opinion on the acceptability of the form of the plan is not a ruling or determination as to whether an employer’s plan qualifies under Code section 401(a). However, an employer that adopts this plan may rely on this letter with respect to the qualification of its plan under Code section 401(a), as provided for in Announcement 2001-77, 2001-30 I.R.B. and outlined below. The terms of the plan must be followed in operation.

 

Except as provided below, our opinion does not apply with respect to the requirements of: (a) Code sections 401(a)(4), 401(a)(26), 401(1), 410(b) and 414(s). Our opinion does not apply for purposes of Code section 401(a)(10)(B) and section 401(a)(16) if an employer ever maintained another qualified plan for one or more employees who are covered by this plan. For this purpose, the employer will not be considered to have maintained another plan merely because the employer has maintained another defined contribution plan(s), provided such other plan(s) has been terminated prior to the effective date of this plan and no annual additions have been credited to the account of any participant under such other plan(s) as of any date within the limitation year of this plan. Likewise, if this plan is first effective on or after the effective date of the repeal of Code section 415(e), the employer will not be considered to have maintained another plan merely because the employer has maintained a defined benefit plan(s), provided the defined benefit plan(s) has been

 

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terminated prior to the effective date of this plan. Our opinion also does not apply for purposes of Code section 401(a)(16) if, after December 31, 1985, the employer maintains a welfare benefit fund defined in Code section 419(e), which provides postretirement medical benefits allocated to separate accounts for key employees as defined in Code section 419A(d)(3).

 

Our opinion applies with respect to the requirements of Code section 410(b) if 100 percent of all nonexcludable employees benefit under the plan. Employers that elect a safe harbor allocation formula and a safe harbor compensation definition can also rely on an opinion letter with respect to the nondiscriminatory amounts requirement under section 401(a)(4) and the requirements of sections 401(k) and 401(m) (except where the plan is a safe harbor plan under section 401(k)(12) that provides for the safe harbor contribution to be made under another plan).

 


MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY

 

FFN: 503A1760001-004

 

Page 2

 

An employer that elects to continue to apply the pre-GUST family aggregation rules in years beginning after December 31, 1996, or the combined plan limit of section 415(e) in years beginning after December 31, 1999, will not be able to rely on the opinion letter without a determination letter. The employer may request a determination letter by filing an application with Employee Plans Determinations on Form 5307, Application for Determination for Adopters of Master or Prototype or Volume Submitter Plans.

 

The form of the plan is a nonstandardized safe harbor plan that meets the requirements of section 4.14 of Rev Proc. 2000-20, 2000-6 I.R.S. 553.

 

If you, the master or prototype sponsor, have any questions concerning the IRS processing of this case, please call the above telephone number. This number is only for use of the sponsor. Individual participants and/or adopting employers with questions concerning the plan should contact the master or prototype sponsor. The plan’s adoption agreement must include the sponsor’s address and telephone number for inquiries by adopting employers.

 

If you write to the IRS regarding this plan, please provide your telephone number and the most convenient time for us to call in case we need more information. Whether you call or write, please refer to the Letter Serial Number and File Folder Number shown in the heading of this letter.

 

You should keep this letter as a permanent record. Please notify us if you modify or discontinue sponsorship of this plan.

 

Sincerely yours,
    /s/    PAUL T. SHULTZ       
    Director
    Employee Plans Rulings & Agreements

 

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