EXHIBIT 99.1 NOTICE TO PLAN PARTICIPANTS
Published on
Welcome to Prepared USA (Service Mark)
Financial Strength and Stability
As part of the MassMutual Financial Group (Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance
Company and its affiliates), MassMutual has been providing retirement plan
services for nearly 60 years. The Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
continues to earn some of the highest financial strength ratings* from four
leading independent analytical rating services.
Standard & Poor's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AAA (Extremely strong)
A.M. Best Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A++ (Superior)
Moody's Investors Service Inc. . . . . . . . . . .Aa1 (Excellent)
Fitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AAA (Exceptionally strong)
*Ratings, an indication of financial strength and stability, apply to
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and are subject
to change. This information is current as of May 2005. Ratings do
not apply to separate investment accounts or mutual funds
offered under the contract.
Prepared USA is a place of comfort, confidence. It is knowing that you are
taking positive steps toward reaching your retirement goal.
We all dream of a time when we can stop working, retire, and do some of the
things we don't have the time or the money to do now. Good news. R&B, Inc.
401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust has chosen a new service provider for the plan
to help ensure your journey to Prepared USASM is a pleasant and productive one.
Introducing MassMutual
To provide you with the best plan and quality services, we recently chose
MassMutual as the plan's new service provider and we are excited to offer you
new investment opportunities and enhanced services.
An Investment Strategy That's Right For You
MassMutual knows that each investoris different. Through the plan, you can
choose from 18 quality investment options. You may want to build your own
investment portfolio or receive guidance on what investments to choose. Or, you
may want experts to do the work. Through MassMutual, you'll find a robust
combination of expertise, services, and innovation to help you find the path
to Prepared USASM that is right for you.
Timing and Action Steps for the Transition
July - Communications and Information - Educational meetings will be held
during the month of July. At that time, you will receive additional information
from MassMutual about your retirement plan. Communications and information
about this valuable benefit will be available to you on an ongoing basis.
Week of July 17, 2005 - Week of August 7, 2005 - Blackout Period - While your
plan is transitioning to MassMutual, there will be a short period of time when
your account activity will be frozen, called a "blackout period." Your account
will continue to be invested and contributions will continue to be allocated
during this blackout period, but you will not be able to request loans or
withdrawals, make changes to your investment selections or transfer monies
until the move is completed and balances are reconciled. Therefore, before
July 21, 2005, which is the start of the blackout period, it is very important
that you review and consider the appropriateness of your current investments
since you cannot direct or diversify those investments during the blackout
period. Remember, a well-balanced and diversified investment portfolio is
important for your long-term retirement security.
If your money is not invested where you want it and you want to change your
investment selection or transfer your existing balance prior to the start of
the blackout period, please call 800-253-2287 at CIGNA/Prudential or log on to
mycigna.com prior to July 21, 2005. This number will be available for inquiry
only after July 21, 2005 until the end of July.
You should be aware that there is a risk to holding a substantial portion of
your assets in the securities of any one company, as individual securities tend
to have wider price swings up and down, in short periods of time, than
diversified investments. Stocks that have wide price swings could experience
significant losses during the blackout period, when you cannot direct the sale
of such stocks from your account. Directors or executive officers of any equity
security may not trade (purchase, sell, acquire, transfer) employer securities
during the blackout period.
Please call MassMutual at (***) ***-**** between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.ET if
you have any questions about the beginning and ending dates of the blackout
period. (Reference Plan number ******). If you have general questions about
the plan, this notice or the transition process, please contact Roslyn Schlupp
at (***) ***-****.
August 1, 2005- Transfer of Investments - Your plan assets and current
investment selection percentages are being transferred to investments at
MassMutual that have similar objectives. This allows you to continue to be
invested through this transition period. Money currently in the plan will
transfer to investment options at MassMutual as follows: (contact Roslyn
Schlupp for details).
August- Access your Account - During the week of August 7, 2005, you will
receive a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from MassMutual and you will
have access to your retirement account and comprehensive planning tools through
MassMutual's participant Web site - The JourneySM. At this time, you will be
able to select investments or transfer existing balances. You will also be able
to call MassMutual using the toll-free telephone service (***) ***-****.