BENEFIT PLANS

The Company maintains a number of retirement and other post-retirement employee benefit plans.

Certain subsidiaries sponsor defined contribution plans. Benefits are determined and funded annually based upon the terms of the plans. Amounts recognized as cost under these plans amounted to $17.2 million, $15.4 million, and $16 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

Certain subsidiaries sponsor defined benefit plans. Benefits are provided to employees primarily based upon years of service and employees’ compensation for certain periods during the last years of employment. Prior to 2002, the Company’s U.S. operations also provided post-retirement medical benefits to their employees. Contributions for medical benefits are related to employee years of service.

The following tables set forth the change in benefit obligation, the change in plan assets, the funded status, and amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements for the Company’s defined benefit plans and post-retirement plan at December 31, 2017 and 2016:



	U.S. Pension Benefits						Non-U.S. Pension Benefits						Other Benefits						Total
	2017			2016			2017			2016			2017			2016			2017			2016
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	138,155		$	154,415		$	838,277		$	818,269		$	2,985		$	3,272		$	979,417		$	975,956
Service cost, gross	565			432			29,600			29,936			—			—			30,165			30,368
Interest cost	4,374			4,428			8,511			10,664			70			76			12,955			15,168
Actuarial losses (gains)	6,979			845			33,036			42,786			18			318			40,033			43,949
Plan amendments and other	—			—			(15,153		)	—			137			150			(15,016		)	150
Benefits paid	(7,502		)	(21,965		)	(30,356		)	(33,977		)	(537		)	(831		)	(38,395		)	(56,773		)
Impact of foreign currency	—			—			54,563			(29,401		)	—			—			54,563			(29,401		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	142,571		$	138,155		$	918,478		$	838,277		$	2,673		$	2,985		$	1,063,722		$	979,417
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	104,103		$	119,118		$	716,169		$	725,597		$	—		$	—		$	820,272		$	844,715
Actual return on plan assets	14,869			6,876			49,055			15,927			—			—			63,924			22,803
Employer contributions	97			74			22,961			22,291			400			681			23,458			23,046
Plan participants’ contributions	—			—			13,503			13,277			137			150			13,640			13,427
Benefits paid	(7,502		)	(21,965		)	(30,356		)	(33,977		)	(537		)	(831		)	(38,395		)	(56,773		)
Impact of foreign currency and other	—			—			36,883			(26,946		)	—			—			36,883			(26,946		)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	111,567		$	104,103		$	808,215		$	716,169		$	—		$	—		$	919,782		$	820,272
Funded status	$	(31,004	)	$	(34,052	)	$	(110,263	)	$	(122,108	)	$	(2,673	)	$	(2,985	)	$	(143,940	)	$	(159,145	)

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of:



	U.S. Pension Benefits						Non-U.S. Pension Benefits						Other Benefits						Total
	2017			2016			2017			2016			2017			2016			2017			2016
Other non-current assets	$	—		$	—		$	40,493		$	10,530		$	—		$	—		$	40,493		$	10,530
Accrued and other liabilities	(88		)	(92		)	(4,990		)	(4,293		)	(411		)	(467		)	(5,489		)	(4,852		)
Pension and other post-retirement liabilities	(30,916		)	(33,960		)	(145,766		)	(128,345		)	(2,262		)	(2,518		)	(178,944		)	(164,823		)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (income)	61,819			69,528			254,870			255,855			(2,365		)	(5,057		)	314,324			320,326
Total	$	30,815		$	35,476		$	144,607		$	133,747		$	(5,038	)	$	(8,042	)	$	170,384		$	161,181

The following amounts have been recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before taxes, at December 31, 2017 and have not yet been recognized as a component of net periodic pension cost:



	U.S. Pension Benefits		Non-U.S. Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Total			Total, After Tax
Plan amendments and prior service cost	$	—	$	(30,698	)	$	(372	)	$	(31,070	)	$	(24,289	)
Actuarial losses (gains)	61,819		285,568			(1,993		)	345,394			257,274
Total	$	61,819	$	254,870		$	(2,365	)	$	314,324		$	232,985

The following changes in plan assets and benefit obligations were recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), before taxes, for the year ended December 31, 2017:



	U.S. Pension Benefits			Non-U.S. Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Total			Total, After Tax
Net actuarial losses (gains)	$	(1,153	)	$	14,330		$	18	$	13,195		$	10,378
Plan amendment	—			(15,153		)	—		(15,153		)	(12,056		)
Amortization of:
Actuarial (losses) gains	(6,556		)	(23,144		)	1,895		(27,805		)	(20,821		)
Plan amendments and prior service cost	—			6,897			779		7,676			5,948
Impact of foreign currency	—			16,085			—		16,085			12,092
Total	$	(7,709	)	$	(985	)	$	2,692	$	(6,002	)	$	(4,459	)

The accumulated benefit obligations at December 31, 2017 and 2016 were $142.6 million and $138.2 million, respectively, for the U.S. defined benefit pension plan and $785.7 million and $818.9 million, respectively, for all non-U.S. plans. Certain of the plans included within non-U.S. pension benefits have accumulated benefit obligations which exceed the fair value of plan assets. The projected benefit obligation, the accumulated benefit obligation, and fair value of assets of these plans as of December 31, 2017 were $202.3 million, $192.0 million, and $50.0 million, respectively.

The assumed discount rates and rates of increase in future compensation levels used in calculating the projected benefit obligations vary according to the economic conditions of the country in which the retirement plans are situated. The weighted average rates used for the purposes of the Company’s plans are as follows:



	U.S.				Non-U.S.
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Discount rate	3.49	%	3.97	%	0.97	%	0.98	%
Compensation increase rate	n/a		n/a		0.87	%	0.85	%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	6.50	%	6.75	%	3.86	%	4.09	%

The assumed discount rates, rates of increase in future compensation levels, and the long-term rate of return used in calculating the net periodic pension cost vary according to the economic conditions of the country in which the retirement plans are situated. The weighted average rates used for the purposes of the Company’s plans are as follows:



	U.S.						Non-U.S.
	2017		2016		2015		2017		2016		2015
Discount rate	3.97	%	4.27	%	4.00	%	0.98	%	1.31	%	1.65	%
Compensation increase rate	n/a		n/a		n/a		0.85	%	1.03	%	1.61	%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	6.75	%	7.25	%	7.50	%	4.09	%	4.58	%	4.82	%

Net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit for the defined benefit plans and U.S. post-retirement plan include the following components for the years ended December 31:



	U.S.									Non-U.S.									Other Benefits									Total
	2017			2016			2015			2017			2016			2015			2017			2016			2015			2017			2016			2015
Service cost, net	$	565		$	432		$	837		$	16,341		$	16,804		$	18,664		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	16,906		$	17,236		$	19,501
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations	4,374			4,428			6,431			8,511			10,664			14,071			70			76			139			12,955			15,168			20,641
Expected return on plan assets	(6,737		)	(7,781		)	(9,575		)	(30,349		)	(33,168		)	(36,832		)	—			—			—			(37,086		)	(40,949		)	(46,407		)
Recognition of actuarial losses/(gains) and prior service costs	6,556			7,606			7,626			16,247			12,923			10,639			(2,674		)	(4,567		)	(5,247		)	20,129			15,962			13,018
Settlement charge	—			7,963			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			7,963			—
Net periodic pension cost / (benefit)	$	4,758		$	12,648		$	5,319		$	10,750		$	7,223		$	6,542		$	(2,604	)	$	(4,491	)	$	(5,108	)	$	12,904		$	15,380		$	6,753

The amounts remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) that are expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic pension cost during 2018 are as follows:



	U.S. Pension Benefits		Non-U.S. Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Total
Plan amendments and prior service costs	$	—	$	(6,966	)	$	(372	)	$	(7,338	)
Actuarial losses (gains)	5,804		21,620			(1,250		)	26,174
Total	$	5,804	$	14,654		$	(1,622	)	$	18,836

The projected post-retirement benefit obligation was principally determined using discount rates of 2.55% in 2017 and 3.41% in 2016. Net periodic post-retirement benefit cost was principally determined using discount rates of 3.41% in 2017, 3.54% in 2016, and 4.00% in 2015. The health care cost trend rate was 7.0% in 2017, 7.5% in 2016, and 8.00% in 2015, decreasing to 5.00% in 2022. A one-percentage-point change in health care cost trend rates would have an immaterial impact on total service and interest cost components and the post-retirement benefit obligation.

The Company’s overall asset investment strategy is to achieve long-term growth while minimizing volatility by widely diversifying among asset types and strategies. Target asset allocations and investment return criteria are established by the pension committee or designated officers of each plan. Target asset allocation ranges for the U.S. pension plan include 35-55% in equity securities, 18-28% in fixed income securities, and 20-40% in other types of investments. International plan assets relate primarily to the Company’s Swiss plan with target allocations of 24-45% in equities, 35-55% in fixed income securities, and 15-25% in other types of investments. Actual results are monitored against targets and the trustees are required to report to the members of each plan, including an analysis of investment performance on an annual basis at a minimum. Day-to-day asset management is typically performed by third-party asset managers, reporting to the pension committees or designated officers.

The long-term rate of return on plan asset assumptions used to determine pension expense under U.S. GAAP is generally based on estimated future returns for the target investment mix determined by the trustees as well as historical investment performance.

The following table presents the fair value measurement of the Company’s plan assets by hierarchy level:



	December 31, 2017								December 31, 2016
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Observable Inputs for Identical Assets (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Observable Inputs for Identical Assets (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
Asset Category:
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	154,751	$	—	$	—	$	154,751	$	131,468	$	—	$	—	$	131,468
Equity Securities:
Mettler-Toledo Stock	3,154		—		—		3,154		2,846		—		—		2,846
Equity Mutual Funds:
U.S.⁽¹⁾	6,011		27,984		—		33,995		5,860		24,257		—		30,117
International⁽²⁾	80,836		61,341		—		142,177		54,760		52,404		—		107,164
Emerging Markets⁽³⁾	100,346		1,096		—		101,442		78,999		793		—		79,792
Fixed Income Securities:
Corporate/Government Bonds⁽⁴⁾	72,334		—		—		72,334		69,578		—		—		69,578
Fixed Income Mutual Funds:
Insurance Contracts⁽⁵⁾	—		23,421		1,514		24,935		—		19,955		1,300		21,255
Core Bond⁽⁶⁾	136,157		57,499		—		193,656		121,884		52,955		—		174,839
Real Asset Mutual Funds:
Real Estate⁽⁷⁾	79,218		8,836		—		88,054		69,284		—		—		69,284
Commodities⁽⁸⁾	37,302		—		—		37,302		22,964		—		5,594		28,558
Other Types of Investments:
Global Allocation Funds⁽⁹⁾	11,781		12,545		—		24,326		11,981		11,285		—		23,266
Insurance Linked Securities⁽¹⁰⁾	12,147		—		—		12,147		—		—		—		—
Total assets in fair value hierarchy	$	694,037	$	192,722	$	1,514	$	888,273	$	569,624	$	161,649	$	6,894	$	738,167
Investments measured at net asset value:
Emerging Markets ⁽³⁾							5,950								4,407
Multi-Strategy Fund of Hedge Funds ⁽¹¹⁾							25,559								77,698
Total pension assets at fair value							$	919,782							$	820,272

_______________________________________


(1)	Represents primarily large capitalization equity mutual funds tracking the S&P 500 Index.


(2)	Represents all capitalization core and value equity mutual funds located primarily in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Canada.


(3)	Represents core and growth mutual funds and funds of mutual funds invested in emerging markets primarily in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Asia.


(4)	Represents investments in high-grade corporate and government bonds located in Switzerland and the European Union.


(5)	Represents fixed and variable rate annuity contracts provided by insurance companies.


(6)	Represents fixed income mutual funds invested in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and European government bonds, high-grade corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations.


(7)	Represents mutual funds invested in real estate located primarily in Switzerland.


(8)	Represents commodity funds invested across a broad range of sectors.


(9)	Represents mutual funds invested globally in both equities and fixed income securities.


(10)	Represents a broadly diversified portfolio of assets that carry exposure to insurance risks, particularly insurance linked securities.

(11)

Represents investments in underlying globally diversified hedge funds. Investments that are measured using the net asset value (NAV) per share practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The amounts presented above are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the fair value of total plan assets in order to determine the amounts included in the consolidated balance sheet.

The fair value of the Company’s stock and corporate and government bonds are valued at the year-end closing price as reported on the securities exchange on which they are traded. Mutual funds are valued at the exchange-listed year end closing price or at the net asset value of shares held by the fund at the end of the year. Insurance contracts are valued by discounting the related cash flows using a current year end market rate or at cash surrender value, which is presumed to equal fair value. Funds of hedge funds are valued at the net asset value of shares held by the fund at the end of the year.

The following table presents a roll-forward of activity for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 for Level 3 asset categories:



	Commodities			Insurance Contract			Total
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	33,505		$	1,367		$	34,872
Actual return on plan assets:
Related to assets held at end of year	—			25			25
Related to assets sold during the year	(2,857		)	—			(2,857		)
Sales	(21,278		)	(38		)	(21,316		)
Impact of foreign currency	(3,776		)	(54		)	(3,830		)
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	5,594		$	1,300		$	6,894
Actual return on plan assets:
Related to assets held at end of year	—			21			21
Related to assets sold during the year	—			—			—
Sales	(5,711		)	(98		)	(5,809		)
Purchases	—			108			108
Impact of foreign currency	117			183			300
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	—		$	1,514		$	1,514

There were no transfers between any asset levels during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service as appropriate, are expected to be paid:



	U.S. Pension Benefits		Non-U.S. Pension Benefits		Other Benefits Net of Subsidy		Total
2018	$	7,972	$	45,118	$	411	$	53,501
2019	8,140		43,125		400		51,665
2020	8,344		45,352		265		53,961
2021	8,453		42,561		249		51,263
2022	8,641		43,990		227		52,858
2023-2028	43,855		219,011		769		263,635

In 2018, the Company expects to make employer pension contributions of approximately $25.9 million to its non-U.S. pension plan and employer contributions of approximately $0.4 million to its U.S. post-retirement medical plan.

In February 2016, the Company offered former employees a one-time option to receive a lump sum distribution of their vested pension plan benefits. Based upon the eligible participant acceptance, $14.6 million was paid from plan assets to these former employees in the second quarter of 2016 with a corresponding decrease in the benefit obligation. The Company incurred a one-time non-cash settlement charge recorded in other charges (income), net during the second quarter of 2016 of approximately $8.2 million, of which $8.0 million, $4.9 million after tax, was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income.