Final Rule Relating to Notice of Blackout Periods to Participants and Beneficiaries

This document contains a final rule under new section 101(i) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act or ERISA). Section 101(i) of ERISA, which was enacted into law on July 30, 2002 as part of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the SOA), provides that written notice is to be provided to affected participants and beneficiaries of individual account plans of any "blackout period" during which their right to direct or diversify investments, obtain a loan or obtain a distribution under the plan may be temporarily suspended. The final rules provide guidance to plan sponsors, administrators, participants and beneficiaries regarding the requirements for furnishing notices of blackout periods in individual account pension plans.

This is a factual description of what was issued or decided, not an assessment of it.