LIMRA Reports 8 out of 10 Plan Sponsors Want to De-Risk

According to a recent press release from LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute, eight out of ten defined benefit plan sponsors are “at least somewhat interested” in pension de-risking via the purchase of a group annuity contract.  LIMRA reports that the first half of 2019 saw over 160 new pension risk transfer deals, totaling over $10 billion […]

Class Action Filed on behalf of DuPont retirees

  The class action lawsuit, Thondukolam v. Corteva, Inc., was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, case number 3:19-cv-03857-SK. The proposed class includes more than 100,000 people, including retirees and beneficiaries in the pension plan. Edward Stone Law PC is working with Beasley Allen, Kantor & Kantor, and […]

Volatile Markets Influence Pension De-Risking

According to a recent survey by Mercer, more defined benefit plan (DBP) sponsors seek to de-risk due to volatile markets and uncertain costs. Mercer also reported that risking Pension Benefit Guaranty (PBGC) premiums have a significant impact on funding decisions. In a June 25, 2019 press release, Matt McDaniel, head of Mercer’s US Financial Strategy […]

Pacific Life Takes On Pension Obligations for S&P Global and Lennox International

Earlier this year two companies announced the purchase of group annuity contracts from Pacific Life Insurance Company for the purpose of pension de-risking.  In a $370 million transaction, S&P Global transferred its obligations to 4,600 retirees to Pacific Life.  Lennox International, the heating and cooling company transferred $100 million in pension obligations to Pacific Life […]

Dana Incorporated – Transfers Pensions to Athene and Companion Life Insurance Company

Dana Incorporated, the Maumee, Ohio based maker of power-conveyance and energy management solutions for vehicles and machinery has now transferred all liabilities associated with the Dana Retirement Plan, by purchasing group annuity contracts for the remaining plan participants.  The company contributed approximately $62 million in cash to the Retirement Plan in order to facilitate the […]

Avery Dennison Transfers Pension Obligations

Avery Dennison, the global manufacturer and distributor of adhesive materials, apparel branding labels, and specialty medical products headquartered in Glendale, California transferred approximately $750 million of its pension obligations to American General Life Insurance Co. in May 2019. This pension de-risking transfer affects about 8,500 retirees.  In July 2018, Avery Dennison terminated its US defined […]

3/4 of Companies Plan to Transfer Pension Risk

According to the 2019 Pension Risk Transfer Poll sponsored by MetLife, most companies plan to rid themselves of their pension liabilities in the future.  Pension de-risking transfers topped $26 Billion in 2018, up 14% from 2017.  Pension de-risking since 2012 exceeds $125 Billion.  2019 is on-track to be a big year for pension de-risking.  According […]

Senator Gounardes Sponsors “Same As” Bill in NY

Senator Andrew Gounardes (D. 22nd) has sponsored a “same as” bill – S4864 to accompany A5818 – “AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to providing protection to certain retirees from pension de-risking transactions; and to amend the civil practice law and rules, in relation to statutorily exempt payments” sponsored by Assemblyman Peter Abbate.  […]

IRS Reverses Its Position on Lump Sum Buyouts

The IRS released a new notice earlier this month, which will allow defined benefit plan (DBP) sponsors to once again offer lump-sum buyouts to retirees who are receiving pension benefits. This practice of lump-sum buyouts was effectively halted in 2015  with the release of IRS Notice 2015-49. Prior to the 2015 IRS Notice, DBP’s regularly […]

Prudential Takes on W.R. Grace Pensions

In its 2018 10-K, Maryland based chemical conglomerate, W.R. Grace & Co. reported that it has purchased a group annuity contract from Prudential Life Insurance Co. of America, transferring $117.4 million in pension liabilities.  W.R. Grace recognized a $1.0 million gain on that transaction. Earlier in 2018, W.R. Grace’s U.S. pension plans paid $42.2 million in lump […]