Sec. 301 Hybrid plans
“(IV) Reasonable minimum guaranteed rates for investment-based interest credits—In the case of an interest credit (or equivalent amount) that is based on an actual investment (or on an index that is structured to have effects similar to the effects of an actual investment), a fixed annual crediting rate equal to 3 percent (or a lower rate not less than zero that is specified in the plan) with respect to all contribution credits credited to a participant’s account balance or similar amount during the guarantee period shall be treated as a reasonable minimum guaranteed rate of return. For purposes of this subclause, the guarantee period begins on the prospective date that such reasonable minimum guaranteed rate applies to the participant’s benefit under the plan and ends on the date that such reasonable minimum guaranteed rate ceases to apply to the participant’s benefit.
“(V) Reasonable minimum rates for other interest crediting bases—In the case of an interest credit (or equivalent amount) that is not described in subclause (IV), an annual interest rate equal to the lowest interest rate permitted with respect to any plan under section 415(b)(2)(E)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (without regard to section 415(b)(2)(E)(ii) of such Code) shall be treated as a reasonable minimum guaranteed rate of return described in such subclause.”
“(VI) Permitted fixed rate of return—An annual interest crediting rate that is a fixed annual crediting rate and that does not exceed the rate described in subclause (V) plus one percentage point shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of subclause (I).”
“(iii) Special rules relating to market rate of return—For purposes of clause (i)(III)—
“(I) In general—Except as provided in this subclause, any rate of return available in the market, shall, under the regulation under clause (i)(III), be permitted as a market rate of return under clause (i)(I).
“(II) Secretarial authority—Except as provided in subclause (III), the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe by regulation that a rate of return available in the market is not permitted under clause (i)(I) if such rate is designed to evade the purposes of clause (i)(I) and is not consistent with the purposes of a defined benefit plan. Such authority shall apply only to a rate of return based exclusively or primarily on the returns on employer securities (as defined in section 407(d)(1)), on alternative investments generally not appropriate as an exclusive or primary investment for retirement, or on other similar investments.
“(III) Specified safe harbor rates—The following rates of return and any combination of such rates shall be deemed to be market rates of return that satisfy clause (i)(I):
“(aa) The first, second, or third segment rate (as defined in section 430(h)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (without regard to clause (iv) thereof)) or any combination of such rates.
“(bb) The discount rate on 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month Treasury bills with appropriate margins determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
“(cc) The yield on 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 5-year, 7-year, 10-year, and 30-year Treasury Constant Maturities with appropriate margins determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
“(dd) The actual return on all or a diversified portion of the assets of the plan.
“(ee) Any total return index or price index commonly used as an investment benchmark, as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
“(ff) The rate of return on an annuity contract for a participant issued by an insurance company licensed under the laws of a State.
“(gg) A cost of living index with appropriate margin, as determined under regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury.
“(hh) The rate of return on a broad-based regulated investment company, as determined under regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury.
“(ii) Any investment in which participants may elect to invest under a defined contribution plan maintained by the sponsor of the plan other than an investment with a rate of return prohibited under clause (i), a stable value fund, or an investment available only through a brokerage account (or similar arrangement).”
“(IV) Reasonable minimum guaranteed rates for investment-based interest credits—In the case of an interest credit (or equivalent amount) that is based on an actual investment (or on an index that is structured to have effects similar to the effects of an actual investment), a fixed annual crediting rate equal to 3 percent (or a lower rate not less than zero that is specified in the plan) with respect to all contribution credits credited to a participant’s account balance or similar amount during the guarantee period shall be treated as a reasonable minimum guaranteed rate of return. For purposes of this subclause, the guarantee period begins on the prospective date that such reasonable minimum guaranteed rate applies to the participant’s benefit under the plan and ends on the date that such reasonable minimum guaranteed rate ceases to apply to the participant’s benefit.
“(V) Reasonable minimum rates for other interest crediting bases—In the case of an interest credit (or equivalent amount) that is not described in subclause (IV), an annual interest rate equal to the lowest interest rate permitted with respect to any plan under section 415(b)(2)(E)(i) (without regard to section 415(b)(2)(E)(ii)) shall be treated as a reasonable minimum guaranteed rate of return described in such subclause.”
“(VI) Permitted fixed rate of return—An annual interest crediting rate that is a fixed annual crediting rate and that does not exceed the rate described in subclause (V) plus one percentage point shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of subclause (I).”
“(iii) Special rules relating to market rate of return—For purposes of clause (i)(III)—
“(I) In general—Except as provided in this subclause, any rate of return available in the market, shall, under the regulation under clause (i)(III), be permitted as a market rate of return under clause (i)(I).
“(II) Secretarial authority—Except as provided in subclause (III), the Secretary may prescribe by regulation that a rate of return available in the market is not permitted under clause (i)(I) if such rate is designed to evade the purposes of clause (i)(I) and is not consistent with the purposes of a defined benefit plan. Such authority shall apply only to a rate of return based exclusively or primarily on the returns on employer securities (as defined in section 407(d)(1)), on alternative investments generally not appropriate as an exclusive or primary investment for retirement, or on other similar investments.
“(III) Specified safe harbor rates—The following rates of return and any combination of such rates shall be deemed to be market rates of return that satisfy clause (i)(I):
“(aa) The first, second, or third segment rate (as defined in section 430(h)(2)(C) (without regard to clause (iv) thereof)) or any combination of such rates.
“(bb) The discount rate on 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month Treasury bills with appropriate margins determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
“(cc) The yield on 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 5-year, 7-year, 10-year, and 30-year Treasury Constant Maturities with appropriate margins determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
“(dd) The actual return on all or a diversified portion of the assets of the plan.
“(ee) Any total return index or price index commonly used as an investment benchmark, as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
“(ff) The rate of return on an annuity contract for a participant issued by an insurance company licensed under the laws of a State.
“(gg) A cost of living index with appropriate margin, as determined under regulations promulgated by the Secretary.
“(hh) The rate of return on a broad-based regulated investment company, as determined under regulations promulgated by the Secretary.
“(ii) Any investment in which participants may elect to invest under a defined contribution plan maintained by the sponsor of the plan other than an investment with a rate of return prohibited under clause (i), a stable value fund, or an investment available only through a brokerage account (or similar arrangement).”