Earlier this year, the US Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) issued a final rule, modifying PBGC regulations that apply to defined benefit pension plans. Among those changes were revisions to: (i) the reportable event notification requirements; (ii) annual financial and actuarial information (Form 4010) reporting; (iii) single-employer plan termination rules; and (iv) the premium rate calculation rules. The rule was generally effective on March 5, 2020, but some provisions have different applicability dates.
The UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) published on 4 July 2012 the final report from the Nuttall Review of Employee Ownership (the Nuttall Review). It identifies a number of barriers to the creation and uptake of employee ownership arrangements. The Nuttall Review identified significant economic and social benefits in employee ownership, which the UK Government has endorsed.
As a result, the UK Government has published new regulations to deregulate the current share buyback regime, which are to take effect later this year and intend to simplify the current overly burdensome rules.
Agreements that require a release or other signed document from an employee before payment should be reviewed to ensure compliance with Code Section 409A guidance. Transition relief ends on December 31, 2012, and the penalties for noncompliance can be harsh. Employers that conducted a fulsome Code Section 409A review in 2007 and 2008 should ensure their arrangements are in compliance with new guidance.
On September 14, 2011, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) issued a notice (Notice) that provides relief to pension plans from penalties associated with certain late payment of premiums and situations involving the failure to properly elect the alternative premium funding target (APFT) to calculate the variable rate premium (VRP). According to PBGC’s press release, the agency was granting premium-related relief as part of a continuing effort to ease regulatory burdens on its customers. Plan sponsors and industry groups continue to request that the PBGC expand premium penalty relief.
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