[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 201 (Thursday, October 16, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61352-61354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24651]


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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 November 2008. Interest assumptions 
are also published on the PBGC's Web site (http://www.pbgc.gov).

DATES: Effective November 1, 2008.

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.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PBGC's regulations prescribe actuarial 
assumptions--including interest

[[Page 61353]]

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 November 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 November 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 November 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 7.09 percent for the first 20 years following the 
valuation date and 6.16 percent thereafter. These interest assumptions 
represent an increase (from those in effect for October 2008) of 0.91 
percent for the first 20 years following the valuation date and 0.91 
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 3.75 
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 an increase (from those in 
effect for October 2008) of 0.50 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.
    Because of the need to provide immediate guidance for the valuation 
and payment of benefits in plans with valuation dates during November 
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).

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.

0
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 181, as set forth below, is 
added to the table.

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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
          181           11-1-08          12-1-08             3.75             4.00             4.00             4.00                7                8
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0
3. In appendix C to part 4022, Rate Set 181, as set forth below, is 
added to the table.

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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
          181           11-1-08          12-1-08             3.75             4.00             4.00             4.00                7                8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 61354]]

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 for November 2008, as set 
forth below, is added to the table.

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 =
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
November 2008...............        .0709          1-20         .0616           >20           N/A           N/A
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    Issued in Washington, DC, on this 9th day of October 2008.
Vincent K. Snowbarger,
Deputy Director for Operations,Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
 [FR Doc. E8-24651 Filed 10-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7709-01-P