v3.3.1.900
Pension Benefits
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Pension Benefits
PENSION BENEFITS
Certain of Delphi’s non-U.S. subsidiaries sponsor defined benefit pension plans, which generally provide benefits based on negotiated amounts for each year of service. Delphi’s primary non-U.S. plans are located in France, Germany, Mexico, Portugal and the United Kingdom (“U.K.”). The U.K. and certain Mexican plans are funded. In addition, Delphi has defined benefit plans in South Korea, Turkey and Italy for which amounts are payable to employees immediately upon separation. The obligations for these plans are recorded over the requisite service period.
Delphi sponsors a Supplemental Executive Retirement Program (“SERP”) for those employees who were U.S. executives of DPHH prior to September 30, 2008 and were still U.S. executives of Delphi on October 7, 2009, the effective date of the program. This program is unfunded. Executives receive benefits over 5 years after an involuntary or voluntary separation from Delphi. The SERP is closed to new members.
Amounts disclosed within this note include amounts attributable to the Company's discontinued operations, which were not significant in any period disclosed.
Funded Status
The amounts shown below reflect the change in the U.S. defined benefit pension obligations during 2015 and 2014.
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in millions)
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
$
60

 
$
69

Interest cost
1

 
2

Actuarial loss

 
2

Benefits paid
(11
)
 
(13
)
Benefit obligation at end of year
50

 
60

Change in plan assets:
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

 

Delphi contributions
11

 
13

Benefits paid
(11
)
 
(13
)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

Underfunded status
(50
)
 
(60
)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of:
 
 
 
Current liabilities
(12
)
 
(9
)
Non-current liabilities
(38
)
 
(51
)
Total
(50
)
 
(60
)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of (pre-tax):
 
 
 
Actuarial loss
11

 
13

Total
$
11

 
$
13


The amounts shown below reflect the change in the non-U.S. defined benefit pension obligations during 2015 and 2014.
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in millions)
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
$
2,238

 
$
2,105

Obligation assumed in HellermannTyton acquisition
12

 

Divestitures
(40
)
 

Service cost
57

 
57

Interest cost
77

 
94

Actuarial (gain) loss
(71
)
 
255

Benefits paid
(80
)
 
(100
)
Impact of curtailments
(10
)
 
2

Exchange rate movements and other
(151
)
 
(175
)
Benefit obligation at end of year
2,032

 
2,238

Change in plan assets:
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
1,264

 
1,199

Assets acquired in HellermannTyton acquisition
13

 

Actual return on plan assets
8

 
156

Delphi contributions
80

 
97

Benefits paid
(80
)
 
(100
)
Exchange rate movements and other
(76
)
 
(88
)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
1,209

 
1,264

Underfunded status
(823
)
 
(974
)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of:
 
 
 
Non-current assets
2

 

Current liabilities
(11
)
 
(19
)
Non-current liabilities
(814
)
 
(955
)
Total
(823
)
 
(974
)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of (pre-tax):
 
 
 
Actuarial loss
341

 
409

Prior service cost
1

 

Total
$
342

 
$
409


The projected benefit obligation (“PBO”), accumulated benefit obligation (“ABO”), and fair value of plan assets for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets and with plan assets in excess of accumulated benefit obligations are as follows:
 
U.S. Plans
 
Non-U.S. Plans
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in millions)
Plans with ABO in Excess of Plan Assets
PBO
$
50

 
$
60

 
$
1,899

 
$
2,092

ABO
50

 
60

 
1,713

 
1,870

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

 
1,087

 
1,133

 
Plans with Plan Assets in Excess of ABO
PBO
$

 
$

 
$
133

 
$
146

ABO

 

 
92

 
98

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

 
122

 
131

 
Total
PBO
$
50

 
$
60

 
$
2,032

 
$
2,238

ABO
50

 
60

 
1,805

 
1,968

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

 
1,209

 
1,264


Benefit costs presented below were determined based on actuarial methods and included the following:
 
U.S. Plans
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(in millions)
Interest cost
$
1

 
$
2

 
$
2

Amortization of actuarial losses
1

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost
$
2

 
$
2

 
$
2


 
Non-U.S. Plans
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(in millions)
Service cost
$
57

 
$
57

 
$
53

Interest cost
77

 
94

 
85

Expected return on plan assets
(77
)
 
(77
)
 
(70
)
Settlement loss (1)
11

 
3

 
2

Curtailment (gain) loss
(3
)
 
2

 

Amortization of actuarial losses
18

 
8

 
7

Other

 

 
1

Net periodic benefit cost
$
83

 
$
87

 
$
78


(1)
Settlement loss for the year ended December 31, 2015 primarily relates to amounts recognized related to the divestiture of the Company's Reception Systems business, as further described in Note 20. Acquisitions and Divestitures.
Other postretirement benefit obligations were approximately $3 million and $5 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Experience gains and losses, as well as the effects of changes in actuarial assumptions and plan provisions are recognized in other comprehensive income. Cumulative gains and losses in excess of 10% of the PBO for a particular plan are amortized over the average future service period of the employees in that plan. The estimated actuarial loss for the defined benefit pension plans that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost in 2016 is $15 million.
The principal assumptions used to determine the pension expense and the actuarial value of the projected benefit obligation for the U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans were:
Assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at December 31:
 
Pension Benefits
 
U.S. Plans
 
Non-U.S. Plans
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Weighted-average discount rate
2.70
%
 
2.50
%
 
3.81
%
 
3.67
%
Weighted-average rate of increase in compensation levels
N/A

 
N/A

 
3.67
%
 
3.65
%
Assumptions used to determine net expense for years ended December 31:
 
Pension Benefits
 
U.S. Plans
 
Non-U.S. Plans
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Weighted-average discount rate
2.50
%
 
3.00
%
 
2.40
%
 
3.67
%
 
4.58
%
 
4.41
%
Weighted-average rate of increase in compensation levels
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
3.65
%
 
3.85
%
 
3.50
%
Weighted-average expected long-term rate of return on plan assets
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
6.34
%
 
6.35
%
 
6.44
%

Delphi selects discount rates by analyzing the results of matching each plan’s projected benefit obligations with a portfolio of high-quality fixed income investments rated AA-or higher by Standard and Poor’s.
Delphi does not have any U.S. pension assets; therefore no U.S. asset rate of return calculation was necessary. The primary funded non-U.S. plans are in the U.K. and Mexico. For the determination of 2015 expense, Delphi assumed a long-term expected asset rate of return of approximately 6.25% and 7.50% for the U.K. and Mexico, respectively. Delphi evaluated input from local actuaries and asset managers, including consideration of recent fund performance and historical returns, in developing the long-term rate of return assumptions. The assumptions for the U.K. and Mexico are primarily long-term, prospective rates. To determine the expected return on plan assets, the market-related value of approximately 50% of our plan assets is actual fair value. The expected return on the remainder of our plan assets is determined by applying the expected long-term rate of return on assets to a calculated market-related value of these plan assets, which recognizes changes in the fair value of the plan assets in a systematic manner over five years.
Delphi’s pension expense for 2016 is determined at the 2015 year end measurement date. For purposes of analysis, the following table highlights the sensitivity of the Company’s pension obligations and expense to changes in key assumptions:
Change in Assumption
 
Impact on
Pension Expense
 
Impact on PBO
25 basis point (“bp”) decrease in discount rate
 
+ $8 million
 
+ $88 million
25 bp increase in discount rate
 
- $6 million
 
- $81 million
25 bp decrease in long-term expected return on assets
 
+ $3 million
 
25 bp increase in long-term expected return on assets
 
- $3 million
 

The above sensitivities reflect the effect of changing one assumption at a time. It should be noted that economic factors and conditions often affect multiple assumptions simultaneously and the effects of changes in key assumptions are not necessarily linear. The above sensitivities also assume no changes to the design of the pension plans and no major restructuring programs.
Pension Funding
The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:
 
Projected Pension Benefit Payments
 
U.S. Plans
 
Non-U.S. Plans
 
(in millions)
2016
$
12

 
$
77

2017
10

 
69

2018
9

 
75

2019
7

 
80

2020
4

 
85

2021 – 2025
8

 
508


Delphi anticipates making pension contributions and benefit payments of approximately $89 million in 2016.
Delphi sponsors defined contribution plans for certain hourly and salaried employees. Expense related to the contributions for these plans was $51 million, $55 million, and $49 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Plan Assets
Certain pension plans sponsored by Delphi invest in a diversified portfolio consisting of an array of asset classes that attempts to maximize returns while minimizing volatility. These asset classes include developed market equities, emerging market equities, private equity, global high quality and high yield fixed income, real estate and absolute return strategies.
The fair values of Delphi’s pension plan assets weighted-average asset allocations at December 31, 2015 and 2014, by asset category, are as follows:
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2015
Asset Category
 
Total
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
 
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 
 
(in millions)
Cash
 
$
31

 
$
31

 
$

 
$

Time deposits
 
9

 

 
9

 

Equity mutual funds
 
457

 

 
457

 

Bond mutual funds
 
230

 

 
230

 

Real estate trust funds
 
39

 

 

 
39

Hedge Funds
 
102

 

 

 
102

Insurance contracts
 
1

 

 

 
1

Debt securities
 
286

 
282

 
4

 

Equity securities
 
54

 
54

 

 

Total
 
$
1,209

 
$
367

 
$
700

 
$
142

 
 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014
Asset Category
 
Total
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
 
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 
 
(in millions)
Cash
 
$
29

 
$
29

 
$

 
$

Time deposits
 
8

 

 
8

 

Equity mutual funds
 
461

 

 
461

 

Bond mutual funds
 
265

 

 
265

 

Real estate trust funds
 
41

 

 

 
41

Hedge Funds
 
102

 

 

 
102

Insurance contracts
 
1

 

 

 
1

Debt securities
 
307

 
291

 
16

 

Equity securities
 
50

 
50

 

 

Total
 
$
1,264

 
$
370

 
$
750

 
$
144


Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for pension assets measured at fair value.
Time deposits—The fair value of fixed-maturity certificates of deposit was estimated using the rates offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.
Equity mutual funds—The fair value of the equity mutual funds is determined by the indirect quoted market prices on regulated financial exchanges of the underlying investments included in the fund.
Bond mutual funds—The fair value of the bond mutual funds is determined by the indirect quoted market prices on regulated financial exchanges of the underlying investments included in the fund.
Real estate—The fair value of real estate properties is estimated using an annual appraisal provided by the administrator of the property investment. Management believes this is an appropriate methodology to obtain the fair value of these assets.
Hedge funds—The fair value of the hedge funds is accounted for by a custodian. The custodian obtains valuations from the underlying hedge fund managers based on market quotes for the most liquid assets and alternative methods for assets that do not have sufficient trading activity to derive prices. Management and the custodian review the methods used by the underlying managers to value the assets. Management believes this is an appropriate methodology to obtain the fair value of these assets.
Insurance contracts—The insurance contracts are invested in a fund with guaranteed minimum returns. The fair values of these contracts are based on the net asset value underlying the contracts.
Debt securities—The fair value of debt securities is determined by direct quoted market prices on regulated financial exchanges.
Equity securities—The fair value of equity securities is determined by direct quoted market prices on regulated financial exchanges.
 
Fair Value Measurements Using Significant
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 
Real Estate Trust Fund
 
Hedge Funds
 
Insurance Contracts
 
(in millions)
Beginning balance at December 31, 2013
$
45

 
$
90

 
$
4

Actual return on plan assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Relating to assets still held at the reporting date
(2
)
 
9

 

Purchases, sales and settlements
1

 
7

 
(3
)
Foreign currency translation and other
(3
)
 
(4
)
 

Ending balance at December 31, 2014
$
41

 
$
102

 
$
1

Actual return on plan assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Relating to assets still held at the reporting date
$
(3
)
 
$
5

 
$

Purchases, sales and settlements
2

 

 

Foreign currency translation and other
(1
)
 
(5
)
 

Ending balance at December 31, 2015
$
39

 
$
102

 
$
1