Compliance December 22, 2010

EBSA Plans Hearing About Fiduciary Definition Change

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has announced a March 2011 hearing on a proposed rule changing the scope of the term “fiduciary.”
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An EBSA news release said the session will be March 1 and, if necessary, March 2 in Washington. According to the announcement, the Department expects to issue a formal notice with details on the public hearing and the submission of requests to testify in early January 2011.

To ensure that all interested persons have the opportunity to prepare and submit comments on the proposed rule, EBSA will be accepting public comments until February 3, 2011, two weeks after the close of the January 20, 2011 comment period provided in the proposed regulation (see “DoL Broadens Fiduciary Net“).

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“We recognize the significance of the proposed rule for plans, participants, beneficiaries and many plan service providers and therefore believe the steps we are announcing today will ensure broad consideration of all the issues and interests in this regulation,” said EBSA Assistant Secretary Phyllis C. Borzi.
 

Deals & People December 22, 2010

MMA Acquires Employee Benefits Firm

Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC (MMA), a subsidiary of insurance broker Marsh Inc., has acquired Trion Group Inc.
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Established in 1999, Trion offers consulting, brokerage, group disability and life, absence management, voluntary benefits, and benefit administration services.

A news release said Trion, based in suburban Philadelphia, has $74 million in annual revenues. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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Trion’s four principals, Ed Garno, Jr., Ed Garno III, Dave Oberkircher, and Chris Veno will continue to lead Trion as part of MMA. All of Trion’s employees are expected to join MMA.

According to an announcement about the deal, Trion represents the sixth acquisition MMA has made since embarking on its strategy in November 2009 to build a platform serving the property and casualty insurance and employee benefits needs of companies across the United States. Over the last 13 months, MMA has acquired Insurance Alliance, The NIA Group, Haake Companies, Thomas Rutherfoord, Inc., and Bostonian Group. With the addition of Trion, MMA has grown to become the nation’s 12th largest insurance agency with annual revenue of approximately $260 million, the company said.

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