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Note 14 - Benefit Plans
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

14. Benefit Plans


Medical and Dental Plan


The Company maintains medical and dental benefit plans covering full-time domestic employees of the Company and their dependents. Certain plans are partially or fully self-funded plans under which participant claims are obligations of the plan. These plans are funded through employer and employee contributions at a level sufficient to pay for the benefits provided by the plan. The Company’s contributions to the plans were $11,701, $9,500, and $8,741 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. During 2014, the Company paid premiums of $2,700 for other standard medical benefits covering certain full-time employees.


The Company’s foreign subsidiaries participate in government sponsored medical benefit plans. In certain cases, the Company purchases supplemental medical coverage for certain employees at these foreign locations. The expenses related to these plans are not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.


Savings Plan


The Company maintains a defined-contribution 401(k) savings plan for eligible domestic employees. Under the plan, employees may defer receipt of a portion of their eligible compensation. The Company amended the 401(k) savings plans effective January 1, 2009, to add Company matching and non-elective contributions. The Company may contribute a matching contribution of 50% of the first 6% of eligible compensation of employees. The Company may also contribute a non-elective contribution for eligible employees employed on December 31, 2008. Both Company matching contributions and non-elective contributions are subject to vesting. Forfeitures may be applied against plan expenses. The Company recognized $3,400, $3,300 and $3,000 of expense related to this plan in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.


Pension Plans


The Company has a frozen noncontributory salaried and hourly pension plans (Pension Plans) covering certain domestic employees. The benefits under the salaried plan are based upon years of service and the participants’ defined final average monthly compensation. The benefits under the hourly plan are based on a unit amount at the date of termination multiplied by the participant’s years of credited service. The Company’s funding policy for the Pension Plans is to contribute amounts at least equal to the minimum annual amount required by applicable regulations.


The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for the Pension Plans. The table that includes the accumulated benefit obligation; and reconciliation of the changes in projected benefit obligation, changes in plan assets and the funded status of the Pension Plans is as follows:


    Year Ended December 31,  
   

2014

   

2013

 
                 

Accumulated benefit obligation at end of period

  $ 68,376     $ 52,825  
                 

Change in projected benefit obligation

               

Projected benefit obligation at beginning of period

  $ 52,825     $ 59,744  

Interest cost

    2,591       2,423  

Net actuarial loss (gain)

    14,791       (7,695 )

Benefits paid

    (1,831       (1,647 )

Projected benefit obligation at end of period

  $ 68,376     $ 52,825  
                 

Change in plan assets

               

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period

  $ 42,440     $ 36,570  

Actual return on plan assets

    3,110       6,465  

Company contributions

    1,733       1,052  

Benefits paid

    (1,831       (1,647 )

Fair value of plan assets at end of period

  $ 45,452     $ 42,440  
                 

Funded status: accrued pension liability included in other long-term liabilities

  $ (22,924     $ (10,385 )
                 

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income

               

Net actuarial loss

  $ (13,243     $ (4,393 )

The actuarial loss for the Pension Plans that was amortized from AOCI into net periodic (benefit) cost during 2014 is $106. The amount in AOCI as of December 31, 2014 that is expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic pension expense during the next fiscal year is $1,228.


The components of net periodic pension (benefit) cost is as follows:


   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

Components of net periodic pension (benefit) cost:

                       

Interest cost

  $ 2,591     $ 2,423     $ 2,453  

Expected return on plan assets

    (2,933 )     (2,520 )     (2,398 )

Amortization of net loss

    106       1,108       909  

Net periodic pension (benefit) cost

  $ (236 )   $ 1,011     $ 964  

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations are as follows:


   

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

Discount rate - salaried pension plan

    3.97 %     4.98 %

Discount rate - hourly pension plan

    3.99 %     5.01 %

Rate of compensation increase (1)

    n/a       n/a  

 

(1)

No compensation increase was assumed as the plans were frozen effective December 31, 2008.


Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic pension (benefit) cost are as follows:


   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

Discount rate

    5.01 %     4.14 %     4.65 %

Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets

    6.88       6.95       7.57  

Rate of compensation increase (1)

    n/a       n/a       n/a  

 

(1)

No compensation increase was assumed as the plans were frozen effective December 31, 2008.


To determine the long-term rate of return assumption for plan assets, the Company studies historical markets and preserves the long-term historical relationships between equities and fixed-income securities consistent with the widely accepted capital market principle that assets with higher volatility generate a greater return over the long run. The Company evaluates current market factors such as inflation and interest rates before it determines long-term capital market assumptions and reviews peer data and historical returns to check for reasonableness and appropriateness.


The Pension Plan’s weighted-average asset allocation at December 31, 2014 and 2013, by asset category, is as follows:


           

December 31, 2014

   

December 31, 2013

 

Asset Category

 

Target

   

Dollars

   

%

   

Dollars

   

%

 

Fixed Income

    24 %   $ 7,400       16 %   $ 7,307       17 %

Domestic equity

    49 %     24,373       54 %     23,903       56 %

International equity

    17 %     8,869       19 %     7,424       18 %

Real estate

    10 %     4,810       11 %     3,806       9 %

Total

    100 %   $ 45,452       100 %   $ 42,440       100 %

The fair values of the Pension Plan's assets at December 31, 2014 are as follows:


   

Total

   

Quoted Prices in

Active Markets for

Identical Asset

(Level 1)

   

Significant

Observable

Inputs

(Level 2)

   

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

 

Mutual fund

  $ 42,267     $ 42,267     $ -     $ -  

Other investments

    3,185       -       -       3,185  

Total

  $ 45,452     $ 42,267     $ -     $ 3,185  

The fair values of the Pension Plan's assets at December 31, 2013 are as follows:


   

Total

   

Quoted Prices in

Active Markets for

Identical Asset

(Level 1)

   

Significant

Observable

Inputs

(Level 2)

   

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

 

Mutual fund

  $ 39,759     $ 39,759     $ -     $ -  

Collective trust

    2,681       -       2,681       -  

Total

  $ 42,440     $ 39,759     $ 2,681     $ -  

A reconciliation of beginning and ending balances for Level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:


   

Other Investments

 

Balance as of December 31, 2013

  $ -  

Purchases

    3,100  

Realized gains

    85  

Balance as of December 31, 2014

  $ 3,185  

Mutual Funds - This category includes investments in mutual funds that encompass both equity and fixed income securities that are designed to provide a diverse portfolio. The plan’s mutual funds are designed to track exchange indices, and invest in diverse industries. Some mutual funds are classified as regulated investment companies. Investment managers have the ability to shift investments from value to growth strategies, from small to large capitalization funds, and from U.S. to international investments. These investments are valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded. These investments are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.


Other Investments - This category includes investments in limited partnerships and are valued at estimated fair value, as determined with the assistance of each respective limited partnership, based on the net asset value of the investment as of the balance sheet date, which is subject to judgment. The Net Asset Value (NAV) is classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.


Collective Trusts - This category includes public investment vehicles valued using the NAV provided by the administrator of the trust. The NAV is based on the value of the underlying assets owned by the trust, minus its liabilities, and then divided by the number of shares outstanding. The NAV of the trust is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.


The Company’s target allocation for equity securities and real estate is generally between 65% - 85%, with the remainder allocated primarily to bonds. The Company regularly reviews its actual asset allocation and periodically rebalances its investments to the targeted allocation when considered appropriate.


The Company expects to make estimated contributions of $1,187 to the Pension Plans in 2015.


The following benefit payments are expected to be paid from the Pension Plans:


Year

         

2015

  $ 1,888  

2016

    1,998  

2017

    2,185  

2018

    2,319  

2019

    2,430  
2020 - 2024     14,500  

Certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries participate in local defined benefit or other post-employment benefit plans. These plans provide benefits that are generally based on years of credited service and a percentage of the employee’s eligible compensation earned throughout the applicable service period. Liabilities recorded under these plans are included in accrued wages and employee benefits in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and are not material.