[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2299-2300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-873]


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PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION

29 CFR Parts 4022 and 4044


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

AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

ACTION: Final rule.

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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 February 2004. Interest assumptions 
are also published on the PBGC's Web site (http://www.pbgc.gov).

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 1, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harold J. Ashner, Assistant General 
Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, 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: 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).
    Accordingly, 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 February 2004, (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 February 2004, 
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 February 2004.
    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 4.10 percent for the first 20 years following the 
valuation date and 5.00 percent thereafter. These interest assumptions 
represent a decrease (from those in effect for January 2004) of 0.10 
percent for the first 20 years following the valuation date and are 
otherwise unchanged.
    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 are unchanged from those in effect 
for January 2004.
    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, as accurately 
as possible, current market conditions.
    Because of the need to provide immediate guidance for the valuation 
and payment of benefits in plans with valuation dates during February 
2004, 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).

[[Page 2300]]

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.

    In consideration of the foregoing, 29 CFR parts 4022 and 4044 are 
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 124, as set forth below, is 
added to the table. (The introductory text of the table is omitted.)

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

* * * * *

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                For plans with a valuation                              Deferred annuities (percent)
                           date                Immediate   -----------------------------------------------------
   Rate set   ------------------------------  annuity rate
                On or after       Before       (percent)          i1             i2             i3        n1  n2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
124                  2-1-04         3-1-04           3.25           4.00           4.00           4.00    7   8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


0
3. In appendix C to part 4022, Rate Set 124, as set forth below, is 
added to the table. (The introductory text of the table is omitted.)

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

* * * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                For plans with a valuation                              Deferred annuities (percent)
                           date                Immediate   -----------------------------------------------------
   Rate set   ------------------------------  annuity rate
                On or after       Before       (percent)          i1             i2             i3        n1  n2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
124                  2-1-04         3-1-04           3.25           4.00           4.00           4.00    7   8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART 4044--ALLOCATION OF ASSETS IN SINGLE-EMPLOYER PLANS

0
4. The authority citation for part 4044 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1301(a), 1302(b)(3), 1341, 1344, 1362.


0
5. In appendix B to part 4044, a new entry, as set forth below, is 
added to the table. (The introductory text of the table is omitted.)

Appendix B to Part 4044--Interest Rates Used To Value Benefits

* * * * *

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                                                             The values of it are:
For valuation dates occurring ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        in the month--              it        for t =         it        for t =          it           for t =
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
February 2004                        .0410         1-20        .0500    N/A...........  N/A
                                                                               20
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    Issued in Washington, DC, on this 9th day of January 2004.
Joseph H. Grant,
Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Pension Benefit 
Guaranty Corporation.
[FR Doc. 04-873 Filed 1-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7708-01-P