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Employee Benefits
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee Benefits Employee Benefits
Defined Contribution Plans

Defined contribution or profit sharing style plans ("the Plans") are offered in a number of countries. In some cases, these plans are required by local laws or regulations. Certain employees are eligible to participate in the Plans and participants in the Plans may elect to defer a portion of their pre-tax earnings into a pension plan, which is run by an independent party. The Company matches participant's contributions up to certain levels of the participant's annual compensation.

The Company's United States operations maintain retirement plans (the "U.S. Plans") that qualify as a deferred salary arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Participants in the U.S. Plans may elect to defer a portion of their earnings, up to the Internal Revenue Service annual contribution limit. The Company matches participant's contributions at varying amounts, subject to a maximum of 4.5% of the participant's annual compensation. Contributions to this U.S. Plan are recorded, in the year contributed, as an expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Contributions for the years ended December 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were $30.2 million, $23.7 million and $17.0 million respectively.

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans

The Company maintains various retirement plans across the Group, many of which are required by local employment laws. The balances recorded to the balance sheet are as follows:

December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
Other receivables$6,492 $— 
Non-current other liabilities (note 16)(13,033)(16,262)
In addition to the specific defined-benefit schemes shown separately below, the Company maintains several other retirement plans which have a cumulative total net obligation of $11.6 million and $8.0 million recorded to non-current liabilities as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

ICON Development Solutions Limited pension plan

One of the Company's subsidiaries, ICON Development Solutions Limited, operates a defined benefit pension plan in the United Kingdom for its employees. The plan is managed externally and the related pension costs and liabilities are assessed in accordance with the advice of a professionally qualified actuary. Plan assets at December 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, consist of units held in independently administered funds. The pension costs of this plan are presented in the following tables in accordance with the requirements of ASC 715-60 'Defined Benefit Plans – Other Postretirement'. The plan has been closed to new entrants with effect from July 1, 2003.
Funded status
 
December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
 (in thousands)
Projected benefit obligation$(19,558)$(41,813)
Fair value of plan assets26,050 36,198 
 Funded status$6,492 $(5,615)

The funded status as at December 31, 2022 is included in other long-term receivables on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The funded status as at December 31, 2021 is included in non-current other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Change in benefit obligation
 		December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
 (in thousands)
Benefit obligation at beginning of year$41,813 $43,988 
Service cost117 134 
Interest cost672 665 
Plan participants' contributions19 23 
Benefits paid(514)(489)
Actuarial gain(18,636)(2,097)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes(3,913)(411)
 
Benefit obligation at end of year
$19,558 $41,813 

Change in plan assets
 
December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
 (in thousands)
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year$36,198 $34,612 
Expected return on plan assets1,258 1,171 
Actual return on plan assets(7,305)1,176 
Employer contributions70 91 
Plan participants' contributions19 23 
Benefits paid(514)(489)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes(3,676)(386)
 Fair value of plan assets at end of year$26,050 $36,198 

The fair values of the assets above do not include any of the Company's own financial instruments, property occupied by, or other assets used by, the Company.
The following amounts were recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as components of the net periodic benefit cost:
December 31, 2022December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
 (in thousands)
Service cost$117 $134 $100 
Interest cost672 665 746 
Expected return on plan assets(1,258)(1,171)(1,214)
Amortization of net loss228 625 160 
Net periodic benefit cost$(241)$253 $(208)
    
The following assumptions were used at the commencement of the year in determining the net periodic pension benefit cost for the years ended December 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

December 31, 2022December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Discount rate1.8 %1.5 %2.1 %
Rate of compensation increase3.7 %3.4 %3.3 %
Expected rate of return on plan assets3.8 %3.4 %4.0 %

Other comprehensive income
 
December 31, 2022December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
 (in thousands)
Actuarial (gain)/loss - benefit obligation$(18,636)$(2,097)$5,294 
Actuarial loss/(gain) – plan assets7,305 (1,176)(878)
Actuarial loss recognized in net periodic benefit cost(228)(625)(160)
 Total$(11,559)$(3,898)$4,256 

The estimated net loss and prior service cost for the defined benefit pension plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost over the next year are $0.3 million and $Nil respectively.

Benefit Obligation

The following assumptions were used in determining the benefit obligation at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021:
December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
Discount rate4.9 %1.8 %
Rate of compensation increase3.6 %3.7 %

A single discount rate is used which, when used to discount the projected benefit cash flows underlying a pension scheme with a 19 year duration, gives the same result as a full AA corporate bond yield curve.

Actuarial gains on the benefit obligation during 2022 resulted from changes in the assumptions compared to those adopted at December 2021. Changes in the assumptions reflect the changes in market conditions from December 2021 to December 2022 and the actuarial gain is primarily due to the change in the discount rate.
Plan Assets

The Company's pension plan asset allocation is as follows:
Asset Category
 
December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
Government Bonds88 %— %
Diversified Bonds12 %— %
Equities— %24 %
Corporate Bonds (including 50% high yield bonds)— %37 %
Secured Loans and Multi Asset Credit— %39 %
 100 %100 %

During 2022, the scheme's asset strategy changed to align the plan assets more closely with government and diversified bonds. There is no self-investment in employer related assets. The Company’s assumption for the expected return on plan assets was determined by the weighted average of the long-term expected rate of return on each of the asset classes invested as of the balance sheet date. The expected long-term rate of return on assets is 3.8% at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.


Plan Asset Fair Value Measurements
 December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
(in thousands)
Government Bonds$22,887 $— 
Diversified Bonds$3,163 $— 
Equities$— $8,782 
Corporate Bonds (including 50% high yield bonds)$— $13,434 
Secured Loans and Multi Asset Credit$— $13,982 
 $26,050 $36,198 

The value of assets held by the plan are represented by quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and are therefore classified as level 1 investments.

Cash Flows
    
The Company expects to contribute $0.1 million to the pension fund in the year ending December 31, 2023.

The following annual benefit payments, which reflect expected future service as appropriate, are expected to be paid.
(in thousands)
2023$302 
2024371 
2025402 
2026703 
2027643 
Years 2028 - 20323,614 

The expected cash flows are estimated figures based on the members expected to retire over the next 10 years assuming no early retirements, withdrawals or commutation of pension for cash. At the present time it is not clear whether annuities will be purchased when members reach retirement or whether pensions will be paid each month out of scheme assets. The cash flows above have been estimated on the assumption that pensions will be paid monthly out of scheme assets. If annuities are purchased, then the expected benefit payments will be significantly different from those shown above.
Aptiv Solutions pension plan

On May 7, 2014 the Company acquired 100% of the common stock of Aptiv Solutions ("Aptiv"). The Company has a defined benefit plan covering its employees in Switzerland as mandated by the Swiss government. Benefits are based on the employee's years of service and compensation. Benefits are paid directly by the Company when they become due, in conformity with the funding requirements of applicable government regulations. The plan is managed externally and the related pension costs and liabilities are assessed in accordance with the advice of a professionally qualified actuary. Plan assets at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 consist of units held in independently administered funds. The pension costs of this plan are presented in the following tables in accordance with the requirements of ASC 715-60 'Defined Benefit Plans – Other Postretirement'.

Funded surplus/(deficit)
 
December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
 (in thousands)
Projected benefit obligation$(5,806)$(7,643)
Fair value of plan assets5,681 6,964 
 Funded deficit$(125)$(679)

The funded deficit at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are included in non-current other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The change in benefit obligation is presented in the following table. The discount rates used in calculating the benefit obligation in years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 were 2.3% and 0.4%, respectively.

Change in benefit obligation
 		December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
 (in thousands)
Benefit obligation at beginning of year$7,643 $8,620 
Service cost146 150 
Interest cost30 12 
Plan participants' contributions82 95 
Settlement(218)(483)
Prior service cost(23)(82)
Benefits paid and transferred balances(182)76 
Actuarial gain(1,527)(484)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes(145)(261)
Benefit obligation at end of year$5,806 $7,643 

Change in plan assetsDecember 31,December 31,
20222021
(in thousands)
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year$6,964 $7,601 
Expected return on plan assets29 15 
Actual return on plan assets(987)(238)
Scheme contributions114 128 
Plan participants' contributions82 95 
Benefits paid and transferred balances(182)76 
Settlement(218)(483)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes(121)(230)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year$5,681 $6,964 

The fair values of the assets above do not include any of the Company's own financial instruments, property occupied by, or other assets used by, the Company.
PRA Switzerland AG pension plan

On July 1, 2021, the Company completed the Acquisition of PRA. PRA Switzerland AG, a subsidiary of the Company has a defined benefit plan covering its employees in Switzerland as mandated by the Swiss government. Benefits are based on the employee's years of service and compensation. Benefits are paid directly by the Company when they become due, in conformity with the funding requirements of applicable government regulations. The plan is managed externally and the related pension costs and liabilities are assessed in accordance with the advice of a professionally qualified actuary. Plan assets at December 31, 2022 consist of units held in independently administered funds. The pension costs of this plan are presented in the following tables in accordance with the requirements of ASC 715-60 'Defined Benefit Plans – Other Postretirement'.

Funded surplus/(deficit)
 
December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
 (in thousands)
Projected benefit obligation$(5,345)$(4,990)
Fair value of plan assets4,059 3,017 
 Funded deficit$(1,286)$(1,973)

The funded deficit at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are included in non-current other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The change in benefit obligation is presented in the following table. The discount rate used in calculating the benefit obligation in years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 was 2.3% and 0.4%, respectively.

Change in benefit obligation
 		December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
 (in thousands)
Benefit obligation at beginning of period$4,990 $4,890 
Service cost404 207 
Interest cost20 19 
Plan participants’ contributions2,396 135 
Settlement(844)— 
Benefits paid(946)(113)
Actuarial (gain)/loss(627)1 
Foreign currency exchange rate changes(48)(149)
Benefit obligation at end of year$5,345 $4,990 

Change in plan assets
 
December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
(in thousands)
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period$3,017 $2,849 
Expected return on plan assets29 15 
Actual return on plan assets87 — 
Scheme contributions325 135 
Plan participants’ contributions2,396 135 
Benefits paid(946)(113)
Settlement(844)— 
Foreign currency exchange rate changes(5)(4)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year$4,059 $3,017 

The fair values of the assets above do not include any of the Company's own financial instruments, property occupied by, or other assets used by, the Company.