E8-16150. Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans; Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans; Interest Assumptions for Valuing and Paying Benefits  

  • Start Preamble

    AGENCY:

    Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

    ACTION:

    Final rule.

    SUMMARY:

    The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans and Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans prescribe interest assumptions for valuing and paying benefits under terminating single-employer plans. This final rule amends the regulations to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in August 2008. Interest assumptions are also published on the PBGC's Web site (http://www.pbgc.gov).

    DATES:

    Effective August 1, 2008.

    Start Further Info

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Catherine B. Klion, Manager, Regulatory and Policy Division, Legislative and Regulatory Department, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005, 202-326-4024. (TTY/TDD users may call the Federal relay service toll-free at 1-800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 202-326-4024.)

    End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental Information

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    The PBGC's regulations prescribe actuarial assumptions—including interest assumptions—for valuing and paying plan benefits of terminating single-employer plans covered by title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The interest assumptions are intended to reflect current conditions in the financial and annuity markets.

    Three sets of interest assumptions are prescribed: (1) A set for the valuation of benefits for allocation purposes under section 4044 (found in Appendix B to part 4044), (2) a set for the PBGC to use to determine whether a benefit is payable as a lump sum and to determine lump-sum amounts to be paid by the PBGC (found in Appendix B to part 4022), and (3) a set for private-sector pension practitioners to refer to if they wish to use lump-sum interest rates determined using the PBGC's historical methodology (found in Appendix C to part 4022).

    This amendment (1) adds to Appendix B to part 4044 the interest assumptions for valuing benefits for allocation purposes in plans with valuation dates during August 2008, (2) adds to Appendix B to part 4022 the interest assumptions for the PBGC to use for its own lump-sum payments in plans with valuation dates during August 2008, and (3) adds to Appendix C to part 4022 the interest assumptions for private-sector pension practitioners to refer to if they wish to use lump-sum interest rates determined using the PBGC's historical methodology for valuation dates during August 2008.

    For valuation of benefits for allocation purposes, the interest assumptions that the PBGC will use (set forth in Appendix B to part 4044) will be 6.05 percent for the first 20 years following the valuation date and 5.12 percent thereafter. These interest assumptions represent an increase (from those in effect for July 2008) of 0.10 percent for the first 20 years following the valuation date and 0.10 percent for all years thereafter.

    The interest assumptions that the PBGC will use for its own lump-sum payments (set forth in Appendix B to part 4022) will be 3.25 percent for the period during which a benefit is in pay status and 4.00 percent during any years preceding the benefit's placement in pay status. These interest assumptions represent a decrease (from those in effect for July 2008) of 0.25 percent in the immediate annuity rate and are otherwise unchanged. For private-sector payments, the interest assumptions (set forth in Appendix C to part 4022) will be the same as those used by the PBGC for determining and paying lump sums (set forth in Appendix B to part 4022).

    The PBGC has determined that notice and public comment on this amendment are impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This finding is based on the need to determine and issue new interest assumptions promptly so that the assumptions can reflect current market conditions as accurately as possible. Start Printed Page 40465

    Because of the need to provide immediate guidance for the valuation and payment of benefits in plans with valuation dates during August 2008, the PBGC finds that good cause exists for making the assumptions set forth in this amendment effective less than 30 days after publication.

    The PBGC has determined that this action is not a “significant regulatory action” under the criteria set forth in Executive Order 12866.

    Because no general notice of proposed rulemaking is required for this amendment, the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 does not apply. See 5 U.S.C. 601(2).

    Start List of Subjects

    List of Subjects

    29 CFR Part 4022

    • Employee benefit plans
    • Pension insurance
    • Pensions
    • Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

    29 CFR Part 4044

    • Employee benefit plans
    • Pension insurance
    • Pensions
    End List of Subjects Start Amendment Part

    In consideration of the foregoing, 29 CFR parts 4022 and 4044 are amended as follows:

    End Amendment Part Start Part

    PART 4022—BENEFITS PAYABLE IN TERMINATED SINGLE-EMPLOYER PLANS

    End Part Start Amendment Part

    1. The authority citation for part 4022 continues to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part Start Authority

    Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1302, 1322, 1322b, 1341(c)(3)(D), and 1344.

    End Authority Start Amendment Part

    2. In appendix B to part 4022, Rate Set 178, as set forth below, is added to the table.

    End Amendment Part

    Appendix B to Part 4022—Lump Sum Interest Rates for PBGC Payments

    * * * * *
    Rate setFor plans with a valuation dateImmediate annuity rate (percent)Deferred annuities (percent)
    On or afterBeforei1i2i3n1n2
    *         *         *         *         *         *         *
    17808-1-0809-1-083.254.004.004.0078
    Start Amendment Part

    3. In appendix C to part 4022, Rate Set 178, as set forth below, is added to the table.

    End Amendment Part

    Appendix C to Part 4022—Lump Sum Interest Rates for Private-Sector Payments

    * * * * *
    Rate setFor plans with a valuation dateImmediate annuity rate (percent)Deferred annuities (percent)
    On or afterBeforei1i2i3n1n2
    *         *         *         *         *         *         *
    17808-1-0809-1-083.254.004.004.0078
    Start Part

    PART 4044—ALLOCATION OF ASSETS IN SINGLE-EMPLOYER PLANS

    End Part Start Amendment Part

    4. The authority citation for part 4044 continues to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part Start Authority

    Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1301(a), 1320(b)(3), 1341, 1344, 1362.

    End Authority Start Amendment Part

    5. In appendix B to part 4044, a new entry for August 2008, as set forth below, is added to the table.

    End Amendment Part

    Appendix B to Part 4044—Interest Rates Used to Value Benefits

    * * * * *
    For valuation dates occurring in the month—The values of it are:
    itfor t =itfor t =itfor t =
    *         *         *         *         *         *         *
    August 2008.06051-20.0512>20N/AN/A
    Start Signature

    Issued in Washington, DC, on this 8th day of July 2008.

    Vincent K. Snowbarger,

    Deputy Director for Operations, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

    End Signature End Supplemental Information

    [FR Doc. E8-16150 Filed 7-14-08; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 7709-01-P