Labor Allows Liquidity Loans To Pension Plans

By Steven Brostoff

October 02, 2001 at 08:00 PM

Share & Print

NU Online News Service, Oct. 2, 9:55 a.m. — Washington

Insurance companies will be able to provide interest-free loans to pension plans facing short-term liquidity problems under a Labor Department action.

The action, announced on Sept. 26, permits pension plans to receive interest-free loans from "interested parties," including insurers that provide service to pension plans, with repayment periods of up to 120 days as a way to address liquidity problems stemming from the Sept. 11 attacks.

The action is retroactive to loans beginning on Sept. 11 and will remain in effect until Jan. 9, 2002.

The loan will be permitted if no interest or fee is charged to the plan, and the proceeds are used only for purposes incidental to the ordinary operation of the plan.

In addition, the loan would have to address difficulties in liquidating or accessing assets resulting from the attacks.

In its notice, the Labor Department says the attacks led to temporary disruptions in the financial and securities markets that may affect pension plans.

"Temporary impairments to communication systems, pricing and valuation operations and marketplace liquidity could interfere with the operation of employee benefit plans," the department says.

For example, satisfaction of a plan participant's withdrawal instructions may require the plan fiduciary to liquidate portfolio assets during a period of fluctuating market conditions, the department says.

The proposal, department says, would provide plans with added flexibility in satisfying participant withdrawal requests.

The American Council of Life Insurers, Washington, requested the relief.

NOT FOR REPRINT