The test for whether a compromise is 'for the benefit of the absent persons' under r 16.01(4) requires weighing the benefit received by absent persons against their prospects of success at trial. 'Benefit' is not limited to financial benefit; a compromise may benefit persons who receive nothing financially where it ends litigation serving no valid purpose and removes potential costs exposure. The court looks to whether the settlement falls within a range of reasonable outcomes rather than deciding the most fair and reasonable outcome itself. For trustee approval under r 54.02(c), the court considers whether the trustee acted within power, without impropriety, in good faith, and with fair consideration of relevant issues.
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