29 C.F.R. PART 4211—ALLOCATING UNFUNDED VESTED BENEFITS TO WITHDRAWING EMPLOYERS
Title 29 - Labor
Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1302(b)(3); 1391(c)(1), (c)(2)(D), (c)(5)(A), (c)(5)(B), (c)(5)(D), and (f).
Source: 61 FR 34097, July 1, 1996, unless otherwise noted.
(a) Purpose. Section 4211 of ERISA provides four methods for allocating unfunded vested benefits to employers that withdraw from a multiemployer plan: the presumptive method (section 4211(b)); the modified presumptive method (section 4211(c)(2)); the rolling-5 method (section 4211(c)(3)); and the direct attribution method (section 4211(c)(4)). With the minor exceptions covered in §4211.3, a plan determines the amount of unfunded vested benefits allocable to a withdrawing employer in accordance with the presumptive method, unless the plan is amended to adopt an alternative allocative method. Generally, the PBGC must approve the adoption of an alternative allocation method. On September 25, 1984, 49 FR 37686, the PBGC granted a class approval of all plan amendments adopting one of the statutory alternative allocation methods. Subpart C sets forth the criteria and procedures for PBGC approval of nonstatutory alternative allocation methods. Section 4211(c)(5) of ERISA also permits certain modifications to the statutory allocation methods. The PBGC is to prescribe these modifications in a regulation, and plans may adopt them without PBGC approval. Subpart B contains the permissible modifications to the statutory methods. Plans may adopt other modifications subject to PBGC approval under subpart C. Finally, under section 4211(f) of ERISA, the PBGC is required to prescribe rules governing the application of the statutory allocation methods or modified methods by plans following merger of multiemployer plans. Subpart D sets forth alternative allocative methods to be used by merged plans. In addition, such plans may adopt any of the allocation methods or modifications described under subparts B and C in accordance with the rules under subparts B and C. (b) Scope. This part applies to all multiemployer plans covered by title IV of ERISA. The following terms are defined in §4001.2 of this chapter: Code, employer, IRS, multiemployer plan, nonforfeitable benefit, PBGC, plan, and plan year. In addition, for purposes of this part: Initial plan year means a merged plan's first complete plan year that begins after the establishment of the merged plan. Initial plan year unfunded vested benefits means the unfunded vested benefits as of the close of the initial plan year, less the value as of the end of the initial plan year of all outstanding claims for withdrawal liability that can reasonably be expected to be collected from employers that had withdrawn as of the end of the initial plan year. Merged plan means a plan that is the result of the merger of two or more multiemployer plans. Merger means the combining of two or more multiemployer plans into one multiemployer plan. Prior plan means the plan in which an employer participated immediately before that plan became a part of the merged plan. Unfunded vested benefits means an amount by which the value of nonforfeitable benefits under the plan exceeds the value of the assets of the plan. Withdrawing employer means the employer for whom withdrawal liability is being calculated under section 4201 of ERISA. Withdrawn employer means an employer who, prior to the withdrawing employer, has discontinued contributions to the plan or covered operations under the plan and whose obligation to contribute has not been assumed by a successor employer within the meaning of section 4204 of ERISA. A temporary suspension of contributions, including a suspension described in section 4218(2) of ERISA, is not considered a discontinuance of contributions. (a) Construction plans. Except as provided in §§4211.11(b) and 4211.21(b), a plan that primarily covers employees in the building and construction industry shall use the presumptive method for allocating unfunded vested benefits. (b) Section 404(c) plans. A plan described in section 404(c) of the Code or a continuation of such a plan shall allocate unfunded vested benefits under the rolling-5 method unless the plan, by amendment, adopts an alternative method or modification. (a) General rule. A plan, other than a plan that primarily covers employees in the building and construction industry, may adopt, by amendment, any of the statutory allocation methods and any of the modifications set forth in §§4211.12 and 4211.13, without the approval of the PBGC. (b) Building and construction industry plans. A plan that primarily covers employees in the building and construction industry may adopt, by amendment, any of the modifications to the presumptive rule set forth in §4211.12 without the approval of the PBGC. (a) “Contributions made” and “total amount contributed”. Each of the allocation fractions used in the presumptive, modified presumptive and rolling-5 methods is based on contributions that certain employers have made to the plan for a five-year period. For purposes of these methods, and except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, “the sum of all contributions made” or “total amount contributed” by employers for a plan year means the amounts (other than withdrawal liability payments) considered contributed to the plan for the plan year for purposes of section 412(b)(3)(A) of the Code. For plan years before section 412 applies to the plan, “the sum of all contributions made” or “total amount contributed” means the amount reported to the IRS or the Department of Labor as total contributions for the plan year; for example, for plan years in which the plan filed the Form 5500, the amount reported as total contributions on that form. Employee contributions, if any, shall be excluded from the totals. (b) Changing the period for counting contributions. A plan sponsor may amend a plan to modify the denominators in the presumptive, modified presumptive and rolling-5 methods in accordance with one of the alternatives described in this paragraph. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, any amendment adopted under this paragraph shall be applied consistently to all plan years. Contributions counted for one plan year may be not counted for any other plan year. If a contribution is counted as part of the “total amount contributed” for any plan year used to determine a denominator, that contribution may not also be counted as a contribution owed with respect to an earlier year used to determine the same denominator, regardless of when the plan collected that contribution. (1) A plan sponsor may amend a plan to provide that “the sum of all contributions made” or “total amount contributed” for a plan year means the amount of contributions that the plan actually received during the plan year, without regard to whether the contributions are treated as made for that plan year under section 412(b)(3)(A) of the Code. (2) A plan sponsor may amend a plan to provide that “the sum of all contributions made” or “total amount contributed” for a plan year means the amount of contributions actually received during the plan year, increased by the amount of contributions received during a specified period of time after the close of the plan year not to exceed the period described in section 412(c)(10) of the Code and regulations thereunder. (3) A plan sponsor may amend a plan to provide that “the sum of all contributions made” or “total amount contributed” for a plan year means the amount of contributions actually received during the plan year, increased by the amount of contributions accrued during the plan year and received during a specified period of time after the close of the plan year not to exceed the period described in section 412(c)(10) of the Code and regulations thereunder. (4) A plan sponsor may amend a plan to provide that— (i) For plan years ending before September 26, 1980, “the sum of all contributions made” or “total amount contributed” means the amount of total contributions reported on Form 5500 and, for years before the plan was required to file Form 5500, the amount of total contributions reported on any predecessor reporting form required by the Department of Labor or the IRS; and (ii) For subsequent plan years, “the sum of all contributions made” or “total amount contributed” means the amount described in paragraph (a) of this section, or the amount described in paragraph (b)(1), (b)(2) or (b)(3) of this section. (c) Excluding contributions of significant withdrawn employers. Contributions of certain withdrawn employers are excluded from the denominator in each of the fractions used to determine a withdrawing employer's share of unfunded vested benefits under the presumptive, modified presumptive and rolling-5 methods. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, contributions of all employers that permanently cease to have an obligation to contribute to the plan or permanently cease covered operations before the end of the period of plan years used to determine the fractions for allocating unfunded vested benefits under each of those methods (and contributions of all employers that withdrew before September 26, 1980) are excluded from the denominators of the fractions. (1) The plan sponsor of a plan using the presumptive, modified presumptive or rolling-5 method may amend the plan to provide that only the contributions of significant withdrawn employers shall be excluded from the denominators of the fractions used in those methods. (2) For purposes of this paragraph (c), “significant withdrawn employer” means— (i) An employer to which the plan has sent a notice of withdrawal liability under section 4219 of ERISA; or (ii) A withdrawn employer that in any plan year used to determine the denominator of a fraction contributed at least $250,000 or, if less, 1% of all contributions made by employers for that year. (3) If a group of employers withdraw in a concerted withdrawal, the plan shall treat the group as a single employer in determining whether the members are significant withdrawn employers under paragraph (c)(2) of this section. A “concerted withdrawal” means a cessation of contributions to the plan during a single plan year— (i) By an employer association; (ii) By all or substantially all of the employers covered by a single collective bargaining agreement; or (iii) By all or substantially all of the employers covered by agreements with a single labor organization. (a) Error in direct attribution method. The unfunded vested benefits allocated to a withdrawing employer under the direct attribution method are the sum of the employer's attributable liability, determined under section 4211(c)(4)(A)(i) and (B) of ERISA, and the employer's share of the plan's unattributable liability, determined under section 4211(c)(4)(E) and allocated to the employer under section 4211(c)(4)(F). Plan sponsors should allocate unattributable liabilities on the basis of the employer's share of the attributable liabilities. However, section 4211(c)(4)(F) of ERISA, which describes the allocation of unattributable liabilities, contains a typographical error. Therefore, plans adopting the direct attribution method shall modify the phrase “as the amount determined under subparagraph (C) for the employer bears to the sum of the amounts determined under subparagraph (C) for all employers under the plan” in section 4211(c)(4)(F) by substituting “subparagraph (B)” for “subparagraph (C)” in both places it appears. (b) Allocating unattributable liability based on contributions in period before withdrawal. A plan that is amended to adopt the direct attribution method may provide that instead of allocating the unattributable liability in accordance with section 4211(c)(4)(F) of ERISA, the employer's share of the plan's unattributable liability shall be determined by multiplying the plan's unattributable liability determined under section 4211(c)(4)(E) by a fraction— (1) The numerator of which is the total amount of contributions required to be made by the withdrawing employer over a period of consecutive plan years (not fewer than five) ending before the withdrawal; and (2) The denominator of which is the total amount contributed under the plan by all employers for the same period of years used in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, decreased by any amount contributed by an employer that withdrew from the plan during those plan years. (a) General rule. Subject to the approval of the PBGC pursuant to this subpart, a plan, other than a plan that primarily covers employees in the building and construction industry, may adopt, by amendment, any allocation method or modification to an allocation method that is not permitted under subpart B of this part. (b) Building and construction industry plans. Subject to the approval of the PBGC pursuant to this subpart, a plan that primarily covers employees in the building and construction industry may adopt, by amendment, any allocation method or modification to an allocation method that is not permitted under §4211.12 if the method or modification is applicable only to its employers that are not construction industry employers within the meaning of section 4203(b)(1)(A) of ERISA. (c) Substantial overallocation not allowed. No plan may adopt an allocation method or modification to an allocation method that results in a systematic and substantial overallocation of the plan's unfunded vested benefits. (d) Use of method prior to approval. A plan may implement an alternative allocation method or modification to an allocation method that requires PBGC approval before that approval is given. However, the plan sponsor shall assess liability in accordance with this paragraph. (1) Demand for payment. Until the PBGC approves the allocation method or modification, a plan may not demand withdrawal liability under section 4219 of ERISA in an amount that exceeds the lesser of the amount calculated under the amendment or the amount calculated under the allocation method that the plan would be required to use if the PBGC did not approve the amendment. The plan must inform each withdrawing employer of both amounts and explain that the higher amount may become payable depending on the PBGC's decision on the amendment. (2) Adjustment of liability. When necessary because of the PBGC decision on the amendment, the plan shall adjust the amount demanded from each employer under paragraph (c)(1) of this section and the employer's withdrawal liability payment schedule. The length of the payment schedule shall be increased, as necessary. The plan shall notify each affected employer of the adjusted liability and payment schedule and shall collect the adjusted amount in accordance with the adjusted schedule. (a) Filing of request—(1) In general. A plan shall submit a request for approval of an alternative allocation method or modification to an allocation method to the PBGC in accordance with the requirements of this section as soon as practicable after the adoption of the amendment. (2) Method of filing. The PBGC applies the rules in subpart A of part 4000 of this chapter to determine permissible methods of filing with the PBGC under this subpart. (b) Who shall submit. The plan sponsor, or a duly authorized representative acting on behalf of the plan sponsor, shall sign the request. (c) Where to submit. See §4000.4 of this chapter for information on where to file. (d) Content. Each request shall contain the following information: (1) The name, address and telephone number of the plan sponsor, and of the duly authorized representative, if any, of the plan sponsor. (2) The name of the plan. (3) The nine-digit Employer Identification Number (EIN) that the Internal Revenue Service assigned to the plan sponsor and the three-digit Plan Identification Number (PIN) that the plan sponsor assigned to the plan, and, if different, also the EIN-PIN that the plan last filed with the PBGC. If the plan has no EIN-PIN, the request shall so indicate. (4) The date the amendment was adopted. (5) A copy of the amendment, setting forth the full text of the alternative allocation method or modification. (6) The allocation method that the plan currently uses and a copy of the plan amendment (if any) that adopted the method. (7) A statement certifying that notice of the adoption of the amendment has been given to all employers that have an obligation to contribute under the plan and to all employee organizations that represent employees covered by the plan. (e) Additional information. In addition to the information listed in paragraph (d) of this section, the PBGC may require the plan sponsor to submit any other information that the PBGC determines is necessary for the review of an alternative allocation method or modification to an allocation method. [61 FR 34097, July 1, 1996, as amended at 68 FR 61355, Oct. 28, 2003] (a) General. The PBGC shall approve an alternative allocation method or modification to an allocation method if the PBGC determines that adoption of the method or modification would not significantly increase the risk of loss to plan participants and beneficiaries or to the PBGC. (b) Criteria. An alternative allocation method or modification to an allocation method satisfies the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section if it meets the following three conditions: (1) The method or modification allocates a plan's unfunded vested benefits, both for the adoption year and for the five subsequent plan years, to the same extent as any of the statutory allocation methods, or any modification to a statutory allocation method permitted under subpart B. (2) The method or modification allocates unfunded vested benefits to each employer on the basis of either the employer's share of contributions to the plan or the unfunded vested benefits attributable to each employer. The method or modification may take into account differences in contribution rates paid by different employers and differences in benefits of different employers' employees. (3) The method or modification fully reallocates among employers that have not withdrawn from the plan all unfunded vested benefits that the plan sponsor has determined cannot be collected from withdrawn employers, or that are not assessed against withdrawn employers because of section 4209, 4219(c)(1)(B) or 4225 of ERISA. (c) PBGC action on request. The PBGC's decision on a request for approval shall be in writing. If the PBGC disapproves the request, the decision shall state the reasons for the disapproval and shall include a statement of the sponsor's right to request a reconsideration of the decision pursuant to part 4003 of this chapter. A plan may not apply to any employer withdrawing on or after November 25, 1987, an allocation method approved by the PBGC before that date that allocates to the employer the greater of the amounts of unfunded vested benefits determined under two different allocation rules. Until a plan that has been using such a method is amended to adopt a valid allocation method, its allocation method shall be deemed to be the statutory allocation method that would apply if it had never been amended. (a) General rule. Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section, when two or more multiemployer plans merge, the merged plan shall adopt one of the statutory allocation methods, in accordance with subpart B of this part, or one of the allocation methods prescribed in §§4211.32 through 4211.35, and the method adopted shall apply to all employer withdrawals occurring after the initial plan year. Alternatively, a merged plan may adopt its own allocation method in accordance with subpart C of this part. If a merged plan fails to adopt an allocation method pursuant to this subpart or subpart B or C, it shall use the presumptive allocation method prescribed in §4211.32. In addition, a merged plan may adopt any of the modifications prescribed in §4211.36 or in subpart B of this part. (b) Construction plans. Except as provided in the next sentence, a merged plan that primarily covers employees in the building and construction industry shall use the presumptive allocation method prescribed in §4211.32. However, the plan may, with respect to employers that are not construction industry employers within the meaning of section 4203(b)(1)(A) of ERISA, adopt, by amendment, one of the alternative methods prescribed in §§4211.33 through 4211.35 or any other allocation method. Any such amendment shall be adopted in accordance with subpart C of this part. A construction plan may, without the PBGC's approval, adopt by amendment any of the modifications set forth in §4211.36 or any of the modifications to the statutory presumptive method set forth in §4211.12. (c) Section 404(c) plans. A merged plan that is a continuation of a plan described in section 404(c) of the Code shall use the rolling-5 allocation method prescribed in §4211.34, unless the plan, by amendment, adopts an alternative method. The plan may adopt one of the statutory allocation methods or one of the allocation methods set forth in §§4211.32 through 4211.35 without PBGC approval; adoption of any other allocation method is subject to PBGC approval under subpart B of this plan. The plan may, without the PBGC's approval, adopt by amendment any of the modifications set forth in §4211.36 or in subpart B of this part. (d) Withdrawals before the end of the initial plan year. For employer withdrawals after the effective date of a merger and prior to the end of the initial plan year, the amount of unfunded vested benefits allocable to a withdrawing employer shall be determined in accordance with §4211.37. (a) General rule. Under this section, the amount of unfunded vested benefits allocable to an employer that withdraws from a merged plan after the initial plan year is the sum (but not less than zero) of— (1) The employer's proportional share, if any, of the unamortized amount of the plan's initial plan year unfunded vested benefits, as determined under paragraph (b) of this section; (2) The employer's proportional share of the unamortized amount of the change in the plan's unfunded vested benefits for plan years ending after the initial plan year, as determined under paragraph (c) of this section; and (3) The employer's proportional share of the unamortized amounts of the reallocated unfunded vested benefits (if any) as determined under paragraph (d) of this section. (b) Share of initial plan year unfunded vested benefits. An employer's proportional share, if any, of the unamortized amount of the plan's initial plan year unfunded vested benefits is the sum of the employer's share of its prior plan's liabilities (determined under paragraph (b)(1) of this section) and the employer's share of the adjusted initial plan year unfunded vested benefits (determined under paragraph (b)(2) of this section), with such sum reduced by five percent of the original amount for each plan year subsequent to the initial year. (1) Share of prior plan liabilities. An employer's share of its prior plan's liabilities is the amount of unfunded vested benefits that would have been allocable to the employer if it had withdrawn on the first day of the initial plan year, determined as if each plan had remained a separate plan. (2) Share of adjusted initial plan year unfunded vested benefits. An employer's share of the adjusted initial plan year unfunded vested benefits equals the plan's initial plan year unfunded vested benefits, less the amount that would be determined under paragraph (b)(1) of this section for each employer that had not withdrawn as of the end of the initial plan year, multiplied by a fraction— (i) The numerator of which is the amount determined under paragraph (b)(1) of this section; and (ii) The denominator of which is the sum of the amounts that would be determined under paragraph (b)(1) of this section for each employer that had not withdrawn as of the end of the initial plan year. (c) Share of annual changes. An employer's proportional share of the unamortized amount of the change in the plan's unfunded vested for the plan years ending after the end of the initial plan year is the sum of the employer's proportional shares (determined under paragraph (c)(2) of this section) of the unamortized amount of the change in unfunded vested benefits (determined under paragraph (c)(1) of this section) for each plan year in which the employer has an obligation to contribute under the plan ending after the initial plan year and before the plan year in which the employer withdraws. (1) Change in plan's unfunded vested benefits. The change in a plan's unfunded vested benefits for a plan year is the amount by which the unfunded vested benefits at the end of a plan year, less the value as of the end of such year of all outstanding claims for withdrawal liability that can reasonably be expected to be collected from employers that had withdrawn as of the end of the initial plan year, exceed the sum of the unamortized amount of the initial plan year unfunded vested benefits (determined under paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section) and the unamortized amounts of the change in unfunded vested benefits for each plan year ending after the initial plan year and preceding the plan year for which the change is determined (determined under paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section). (i) Unamortized amount of initial plan year unfunded vested benefits. The unamortized amount of the initial plan year unfunded vested benefits is the amount of those benefits reduced by five percent of the original amount for each succeeding plan year. (ii) Unamortized amount of the change. The unamortized amount of the change in a plan's unfunded vested benefits with respect to a plan year is the change in unfunded vested benefits for the plan year, reduced by five percent of such change for each succeeding plan year. (2) Employer's proportional share. An employer's proportional share of the amount determined under paragraph (c)(1) of this section is computed by multiplying that amount by a fraction— (i) The numerator of which is the total amount required to be contributed under the plan (or under the employer's prior plan) by the employer for the plan year in which the change arose and the four preceding full plan years; and (ii) The denominator of which is the total amount contributed under the plan (or under employer's prior plan) for the plan year in which the change arose and the four preceding full plan years by all employers that had an obligation to contribute under the plan for the plan year in which such change arose, reduced by any amount contributed by an employer that withdrew from the plan in the year in which the change arose. (d) Share of reallocated amounts. An employer's proportional share of the unamortized amounts of the reallocated unfunded vested benefits, if any, is the sum of the employer's proportional shares (determined under paragraph (d)(2) of this section) of the unamortized amount of the reallocated unfunded vested benefits (determined under paragraph (d)(1) of this section) for each plan year ending before the plan year in which the employer withdrew from the plan. (1) Unamortized amount of reallocated unfunded vested benefits. The unamortized amount of the reallocated unfunded vested benefits with respect to a plan year is the sum of the amounts described in paragraphs (d)(1)(i), (d)(1)(ii), and (d)(1)(iii) of this section for the plan year, reduced by five percent of such sum for each succeeding plan year. (i) Uncollectible amounts. Amounts included as reallocable under this paragraph are those that the plan sponsor determines in that plan year to be uncollectible for reasons arising out of cases or proceedings under title 11, United States Code, or similar proceedings, with respect to an employer that withdrew after the close of the initial plan year. (ii) Relief amounts. Amounts included as reallocable under this paragraph are those that the plan sponsor determines in that plan year will not be assessed as a result of the operation of section 4209, 4219(c)(1)(B), or 4225 of ERISA with respect to an employer that withdrew after the close of the initial plan year. (iii) Other amounts. Amounts included as reallocable under this paragraph are those that the plan sponsor determines in that plan year to be uncollectible or unassessable for other reasons under standards not inconsistent with regulations prescribed by the PBGC. (2) Employer's proportional share. An employer's proportional share of the amount of the reallocated unfunded vested benefits with respect to a plan year is computed by multiplying the unamortized amount of the reallocated unfunded vested benefits (as of the end of the year preceding the plan year in which the employer withdraws) by the allocation fraction described in paragraph (c)(2) of this section for the same plan year. (a) General rule. Under this section, the amount of unfunded vested benefits allocable to an employer that withdraws from a merged plan after the initial plan year is the sum of the employer's proportional share, if any, of the unamortized amount of the plan's initial plan year unfunded vested benefits (determined under paragraph (b) of this section) and the employer's proportional share of the unamortized amount of the unfunded vested benefits arising after the initial plan year (determined under paragraph (c) of this section). (b) Share of initial plan year unfunded vested benefits. An employer's proportional share, if any, of the unamortized amount of the plan's initial plan year unfunded vested benefits is the sum of the employer's share of its prior plan's liabilities, as determined under §4211.32(b)(1), and the employer's share of the adjusted initial plan year unfunded vested benefits, as determined under §4211.32(b)(2), with such sum reduced as if it were being fully amortized in level annual installments over fifteen years beginning with the first plan year after the initial plan year. (c) Share of unfunded vested benefits arising after the initial plan year. An employer's proportional share of the amount of the plan's unfunded vested benefits arising after the initial plan year is the employer's proportional share (determined under paragraph (c)(2) of this section) of the plan's unfunded vested benefits as of the end of the plan year preceding the plan year in which the employer withdraws, reduced by the amount of the plan's unfunded vested benefits as of the close of the initial plan year (determined under paragraph (c)(1) of this section). (1) Amount of unfunded vested benefits. The plan's unfunded vested benefits as of the end of the plan year preceding the plan year in which the employer withdraws shall be reduced by the sum of— (i) The value as of that date of all outstanding claims for withdrawal liability that can reasonably be expected to be collected, with respect to employers that withdrew before that plan year; and (ii) The sum of the amounts that would be allocable under paragraph (b) of this section to all employers that have an obligation to contribute in the plan year preceding the plan year in which the employer withdraws and that also had an obligation to contribute in the first plan year ending after the initial plan year. (2) Employer's proportional share. An employer's proportional share of the amount determined under paragraph (c)(1) of this section is computed by multiplying that amount by a fraction— (i) The numerator of which is the total amount required to be contributed under the plan (or under the employer's prior plan) by the employer for the last five full plan years ending before the date on which the employer withdraws; and (ii) The denominator of which is the total amount contributed under the plan (or under each employer's prior plan) by all employers for the last five full plan years ending before the date on which the employer withdraws, increased by the amount of any employer contributions owed with respect to earlier periods that were collected in those plan years, and decreased by any amount contributed by an employer that withdrew from the plan (or prior plan) during those plan years. (a) General rule. Under this section, the amount of unfunded vested benefits allocable to an employer that withdraws from a merged plan after the initial plan year is the sum of the employer's proportional share, if any, of the unamortized amount of the plan's initial plan year unfunded vested benefits (determined under paragraph (b) of this section) and the employer's proportional share of the unamortized amount of the unfunded vested benefits arising after the initial plan year (determined under paragraph (c) of this section). (b) Share of initial plan year unfunded vested benefits. An employer's proportional share, if any, of the unamortized amount of the plan's initial plan year unfunded vested benefits is the sum of the employer's share of its prior plan's liabilities, as determined under §4211.32(b)(1), and the employer's share of the adjusted initial plan year unfunded vested benefits, as determined under §4211.32(b)(2), with such sum reduced as if it were being fully amortized in level annual installments over five years beginning with the first plan year after the initial plan year. (c) Share of unfunded vested benefits arising after the initial plan year. An employer's proportional share of the amount of the plan's unfunded vested benefits arising after the initial plan year is the employer's proportional share determined under §4211.33(c). The allocation method under this section is the allocation method described in section 4211(c)(4) of ERISA. (a) General rule. A plan using any of the allocation methods described in §§4211.32 through 4211.34 may, by plan amendment and without PBGC approval, adopt any of the modifications described in this section. (b) Restarting initial liabilities. A plan may be amended to allocate the initial plan year unfunded vested benefits under §4211.32(b), §4211.33(b), or §4211.34(b) without separately allocating to employers the liabilities attributable to their participation under their prior plans. An amendment under this paragraph must include an allocation fraction under paragraph (d) of this section for determining the employer's proportional share of the total unfunded benefits as of the close of the initial plan year. (c) Amortizing initial liabilities. A plan may by amendment modify the amortization of initial liabilities in either of the following ways: (1) If two or more plans that use the presumptive allocation method of section 4211(b) of ERISA merge, the merged plan may adjust the amortization of initial liabilities under §4211.32(b) to amortize those unfunded vested benefits over the remaining length of the prior plans' amortization schedules. (2) A plan that has adopted the allocation method under §4211.33 or §4211.34 may adjust the amortization of initial liabilities under §4211.33(b) or §4211.34(b) to amortize those unfunded vested benefits in level annual installments over any period of at least five and not more than fifteen years. (d) Changing the allocation fraction. A plan may by amendment replace the allocation fraction under §4211.32(b), §4211.33(b), or §4211.34(b) with any of the following contribution-based fractions— (1) A fraction, the numerator of which is the total amount required to be contributed under the merged and prior plans by the withdrawing employer in the 60-month period ending on the last day of the initial plan year, and the denominator of which is the sum for that period of the contributions made by all employers that had not withdrawn as of the end of the initial plan year; (2) A fraction, the numerator of which is the total amount required to be contributed by the withdrawing employer for the initial plan year and the four preceding full plan years of its prior plan, and the denominator of which is the sum of all contributions made over that period by employers that had not withdrawn as of the end of the initial plan year; or (3) A fraction, the numerator of which is the total amount required to be contributed to the plan by the withdrawing employer since the effective date of the merger, and the denominator of which is the sum of all contributions made over that period by employers that had not withdrawn as of the end of the initial plan year. If an employer withdraws after the effective date of a merger and before the end of the initial plan year, the amount of unfunded vested benefits allocable to the employer shall be determined as if each plan had remained a separate plan. In making this determination, the plan sponsor shall use the allocation method of the withdrawing employer's prior plan and shall compute the employer's allocable share of the plan's unfunded vested benefits as if the day before the effective date of the merger were the end of the last plan year prior to the withdrawal.
Title 29: Labor
PART 4211—ALLOCATING UNFUNDED VESTED BENEFITS TO WITHDRAWING EMPLOYERS
Section Contents
§ 4211.1 Purpose and scope.
§ 4211.2 Definitions.
§ 4211.3 Special rules for construction industry and IRC section 404(c) plans.
§ 4211.11 Changes not subject to PBGC approval.
§ 4211.12 Modifications to the presumptive, modified presumptive and rolling-5 methods.
§ 4211.13 Modifications to the direct attribution method.
§ 4211.21 Changes subject to PBGC approval.
§ 4211.22 Requests for PBGC approval.
§ 4211.23 Approval of alternative method.
§ 4211.24 Special rule for certain alternative methods previously approved.
§ 4211.31 Allocation of unfunded vested benefits following the merger of plans.
§ 4211.32 Presumptive method for withdrawals after the initial plan year.
§ 4211.33 Modified presumptive method for withdrawals after the initial plan year.
§ 4211.34 Rolling-5 method for withdrawals after the initial plan year.
§ 4211.35 Direct attribution method for withdrawals after the initial plan year.
§ 4211.36 Modifications to the determination of initial liabilities, the amortization of initial liabilities, and the allocation fraction.
§ 4211.37 Allocating unfunded vested benefits for withdrawals before the end of the initial plan year.
Subpart A—General
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§ 4211.1 Purpose and scope.
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§ 4211.2 Definitions.
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§ 4211.3 Special rules for construction industry and IRC section 404(c) plans.
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Subpart B—Changes Not Subject to PBGC Approval
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§ 4211.11 Changes not subject to PBGC approval.
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§ 4211.12 Modifications to the presumptive, modified presumptive and rolling-5 methods.
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§ 4211.13 Modifications to the direct attribution method.
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Subpart C—Changes Subject to PBGC Approval
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§ 4211.21 Changes subject to PBGC approval.
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§ 4211.22 Requests for PBGC approval.
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§ 4211.23 Approval of alternative method.
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§ 4211.24 Special rule for certain alternative methods previously approved.
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Subpart D—Allocation Methods for Merged Multiemployer Plans
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§ 4211.31 Allocation of unfunded vested benefits following the merger of plans.
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§ 4211.32 Presumptive method for withdrawals after the initial plan year.
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§ 4211.33 Modified presumptive method for withdrawals after the initial plan year.
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§ 4211.34 Rolling-5 method for withdrawals after the initial plan year.
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§ 4211.35 Direct attribution method for withdrawals after the initial plan year.
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§ 4211.36 Modifications to the determination of initial liabilities, the amortization of initial liabilities, and the allocation fraction.
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§ 4211.37 Allocating unfunded vested benefits for withdrawals before the end of the initial plan year.
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