[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 199 (Thursday, October 15, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61981-61983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [http://www.gpo.gov/]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26241]
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PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION
29 CFR Part 4022
Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans; Interest
Assumptions for Paying Benefits
AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This final rule amends the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation's regulation on Benefits Payable in
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Terminated Single-Employer Plans to prescribe interest assumptions
under the regulation for valuation dates in November 2015. The interest
assumptions are used for paying benefits under terminating single-
employer plans covered by the pension insurance system administered by
PBGC.
DATES: Effective November 1, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine B. Klion
(Klion.Catherine@pbgc.gov), Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory
Affairs, 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.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PBGC's regulation on Benefits Payable in
Terminated Single-Employer Plans (29 CFR part 4022) prescribes
actuarial assumptions--including interest assumptions--for paying plan
benefits under terminating single-employer plans covered by title IV of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The interest
assumptions in the regulation are also published on PBGC's Web site
(http://www.pbgc.gov/).
PBGC uses the interest assumptions in appendix B to part 4022 to
determine whether a benefit is payable as a lump sum and to determine
the amount to pay. Appendix C to part 4022 contains interest
assumptions for private-sector pension practitioners to refer to if
they wish to use lump-sum interest rates determined using PBGC's
historical methodology. Currently, the rates in appendices B and C of
the benefit payment regulation are the same.
The interest assumptions are intended to reflect current conditions
in the financial and annuity markets. Assumptions under the benefit
payments regulation are updated monthly. This final rule updates the
benefit payments interest assumptions for November 2015.\1\
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\1\ Appendix B to PBGC's regulation on Allocation of Assets in
Single-Employer Plans (29 CFR part 4044) prescribes interest
assumptions for valuing benefits under terminating covered single-
employer plans for purposes of allocation of assets under ERISA
section 4044. Those assumptions are updated quarterly.
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The November 2015 interest assumptions under the benefit payments
regulation will be 1.25 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. In comparison with the interest
assumptions in effect for October 2015, these interest assumptions are
unchanged.
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.
Because of the need to provide immediate guidance for the payment
of benefits under plans with valuation dates during November 2015, PBGC
finds that good cause exists for making the assumptions set forth in
this amendment effective less than 30 days after publication.
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).
List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 4022
Employee benefit plans, Pension insurance, Pensions, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
In consideration of the foregoing, 29 CFR part 4022 is amended as
follows:
PART 4022--BENEFITS PAYABLE IN TERMINATED SINGLE-EMPLOYER PLANS
0
1. The authority citation for part 4022 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1302, 1322, 1322b, 1341(c)(3)(D), and
1344.
0
2. In appendix B to part 4022, Rate Set 265 is added to the table to
read as follows:
Appendix B to Part 4022--Lump Sum Interest Rates for PBGC Payments
* * * * *
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For plans with a valuation date Immediate Deferred annuities (percent)
Rate set ---------------------------------- annuity rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On or after Before (percent) i1 i2 i3 n1 n2
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* * * * * * *
265 11-1-15 12-1-15 1.25 4.00 4.00 4.00 7 8
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0
3. In appendix C to part 4022, Rate Set 265 is added to the table to
read as follows:
Appendix C to Part 4022--Lump Sum Interest Rates for Private-Sector
Payments
* * * * *
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For plans with a valuation date Immediate Deferred annuities (percent)
Rate set ---------------------------------- annuity rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On or after Before (percent) i1 i2 i3 n1 n2
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* * * * * * *
265 11-1-15 12-1-15 1.25 4.00 4.00 4.00 7 8
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Issued in Washington, DC, on this 7th day of October 2015.
Judith Starr,
General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2015-26241 Filed 10-14-15; 8:45 am]
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