[Federal Register: March 19, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 53)]
[Proposed Rules] 
[Page 12982]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19mr97-15] 

[[Page 12982]] 

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PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION 

29 CFR Part 4044 

RIN 1212-AA61 

Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans; Valuation of Benefits and Assets 

AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to propose rulemaking. 

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SUMMARY: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is considering amending its 
benefit valuation and asset allocation regulations to adopt more current mortality tables. 
This notice invites public comment on this and any other issue under the regulations. 

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 19, 1997. 

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Office of the General Counsel, Pension 
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005-4026, or 
delivered to Suite 340 at the above address. Comments also may be sent by Internet e-
mail to reg.comments@pbgc.gov. Comments will be available for public inspection at the 
PBGC's Communications and Public Affairs Department, Suite 240. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harold J. Ashner, Assistant General 
Counsel, or James L. Beller, Attorney, Office of the General Counsel, PBGC, 1200 K 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005-4026, 202-326-4024 (202- 326-4179 for TTY and 
TDD). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PBGC's interest assumption for valuing 
benefits, when combined with the PBGC's mortality assumption, is intended to reflect the 
market price of single-premium, nonparticipating group annuity contracts for terminating 
plans. In developing its interest assumptions, the PBGC uses data from surveys 
conducted by the American Council of Life Insurance. The PBGC currently uses a 
mortality assumption based on the 1983 Group Annuity Mortality Table in its benefit 
valuation and asset allocation regulations (29 CFR parts 4044 and 4281).
In May 1995, the Society of Actuaries Group Annuity Valuation Table Task Force issued 
a report that recommends new mortality tables for a new Group Annuity Reserve 
Valuation Standard and a new Group Annuity Mortality Valuation Standard. In 
December 1996, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners adopted the new 
tables as models for determining reserve liabilities for group annuities.
The PBGC is now considering incorporating the new tables into its regulations. The 
PBGC invites comments on the appropriateness of adopting the new tables and any need 
for modifications.
The PBGC also invites comments on any other issues relating to its valuation and 
allocation regulations. In particular, the PBGC is interested in the following areas:
(1) What additional annuity pricing information is available that the PBGC could use in 
reviewing its valuation assumptions?
(2) What steps could the PBGC take to simplify the valuation and allocation process? 

Issued in Washington, D.C., this 14th day of March 1997.
John Seal,
Acting Executive Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
[FR Doc. 97-6908 Filed 3-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7708-01-P