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RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS BENEFIT PLANS | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 30, 2017
Retirement Benefits [Abstract] |
RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS BENEFIT PLANS | RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS BENEFIT PLANS VF has several retirement and savings benefit plans covering eligible employees. VF retains the right to curtail or discontinue any of the plans, subject to local regulations. Defined Benefit Pension Plans Defined benefit plans provide pension benefits based on participant compensation and years of service. VF sponsors a noncontributory qualified defined benefit pension plan covering most full-time U.S. employees employed before 2005 (the “U.S. qualified plan”) and an unfunded supplemental defined benefit pension plan that provides benefits in excess of limitations imposed by income tax regulations (the “U.S. nonqualified plan”). The U.S. qualified plan is fully funded at the end of 2017, and VF’s net underfunded status primarily relates to obligations under the unfunded U.S. nonqualified plan. The U.S. qualified and nonqualified plans comprise 91% of VF’s total defined benefit plan assets and 90% of VF’s total projected benefit obligations at December 2017, and the remainder relates to non-U.S. defined benefit plans. A December 31 measurement date is used to value plan assets and obligations for all pension plans. The amounts reported in these disclosures have not been segregated between continuing and discontinued operations. The components of pension cost for VF’s defined benefit plans were as follows:
(In thousands) |  | 2017 |  |  | 2016 |  | 2015
Service cost — benefits earned during the year |  | $ | 24,890 |  |  |  | $ | 25,839 |  |  | $ | 29,223 |
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations |  | 58,989 |  |  |  | 68,020 |  |  | 77,620 |
Expected return on plan assets |  | (94,807 | ) |  |  | (99,540 | ) |  | (111,095 | )
Settlement charges |  | — |  |  |  | 50,922 |  |  | 4,062 |
Curtailments |  | 1,671 |  |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Amortization of deferred amounts: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net deferred actuarial losses |  | 41,440 |  |  |  | 65,212 |  |  | 61,966 |
Deferred prior service costs |  | 2,646 |  |  |  | 2,584 |  |  | 3,038 |
Total pension expense |  | $ | 34,829 |  |  |  | $ | 113,037 |  |  | $ | 64,814 |
Weighted average actuarial assumptions used to determine pension expense: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate in effect for determining service cost |  | 4.08 | % |  |  | 4.54 | % |  | 3.93 | %
Discount rate in effect for determining interest cost |  | 3.26 | % |  |  | 3.56 | % |  | 3.93 | %
Expected long-term return on plan assets |  | 5.72 | % |  |  | 5.81 | % |  | 6.05 | %
Rate of compensation increase |  | 3.78 | % |  |  | 3.90 | % |  | 3.91 | %
In 2017, the Company recorded curtailment charges of $1.7 million which comprised (i) $1.1 million within the U.S. qualified plan related to the sale of the Licensing Business (recorded in the income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax line item) and (ii) $0.6 million within the U.S. nonqualified plan related to restructuring initiatives. The following provides a reconciliation of the changes in fair value of VF’s defined benefit plan assets and projected benefit obligations for each year, and the funded status at the end of each year:
(In thousands) |  | 2017 |  |  | 2016
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year |  | $ | 1,673,297 |  |  |  | $ | 1,755,374 |
Actual return on plan assets |  | 204,017 |  |  |  | 191,219 |
VF contributions |  | 9,807 |  |  |  | 24,031 |
Participant contributions |  | 4,011 |  |  |  | 3,644 |
Benefits paid |  | (93,900 | ) |  |  | (286,271 | )
Currency translation |  | 12,417 |  |  |  | (14,700 | )
Fair value of plan assets, end of year |  | 1,809,649 |  |  |  | 1,673,297 |
Projected benefit obligations, beginning of year |  | 1,808,327 |  |  |  | 1,912,015 |
Service cost |  | 24,890 |  |  |  | 25,839 |
Interest cost |  | 58,989 |  |  |  | 68,020 |
Participant contributions |  | 4,011 |  |  |  | 3,644 |
Actuarial loss |  | 131,040 |  |  |  | 100,242 |
Benefits paid |  | (93,900 | ) |  |  | (286,271 | )
Curtailments |  | (5,664 | ) |  |  | — |
Currency translation |  | 16,128 |  |  |  | (15,162 | )
Projected benefit obligations, end of year |  | 1,943,821 |  |  |  | 1,808,327 |
Funded status, end of year |  | $ | (134,172 | ) |  |  | $ | (135,030 | )
Pension benefits are reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a net asset or liability based on the overfunded or underfunded status of the defined benefit plans, assessed on a plan-by-plan basis.
(In thousands) |  | 2017 |  |  | 2016
Amounts included in Consolidated Balance Sheets: |  |  |  |  |
Other assets (Note I) |  | $ | 82,296 |  |  |  | $ | 41,281 |
Accrued liabilities (Note K) |  | (27,277 | ) |  |  | (10,669 | )
Other liabilities (Note M) |  | (189,191 | ) |  |  | (165,642 | )
Funded status |  | $ | (134,172 | ) |  |  | $ | (135,030 | )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, pretax: |  |  |  |  |
Net deferred actuarial losses |  | $ | 454,463 |  |  |  | $ | 476,071 |
Deferred prior service costs |  | 10,533 |  |  |  | 14,883 |
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss, pretax |  | $ | 464,996 |  |  |  | $ | 490,954 |
Accumulated benefit obligations |  | $ | 1,837,776 |  |  |  | $ | 1,717,786 |
Weighted average actuarial assumptions used to determine pension obligations: |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate |  | 3.46 | % |  |  | 3.87 | %
Rate of compensation increase |  | 3.73 | % |  |  | 3.78 | %
Accumulated benefit obligations at any measurement date are the present value of vested and unvested pension benefits earned, without considering projected future compensation increases. Projected benefit obligations are the present value of vested and unvested pension benefits earned, considering projected future compensation increases. At the end of 2015, the Company changed to the spot rate approach to measure service and interest costs for our defined benefit plans. Previously, the same single equivalent discount rate determined for measuring the projected benefit obligation was also used to determine service cost and interest cost. Under the spot rate approach, the full yield curve is applied separately to cash flows for each projected benefit obligation, service cost, and interest cost for a more precise calculation. The Company has applied the spot rate approach in calculating 2016 and 2017 pension expense. In 2016, the Company offered former employees in the U.S. qualified plan a one-time option to receive a distribution of their deferred vested benefits. Approximately 9,400 participants accepted a distribution, representing 66% of eligible participants and a 23% reduction in the total number of plan participants at the beginning of the year. In December 2016, the plan paid $197.1 million in lump-sum distributions to settle $224.7 million of projected benefit obligations related to these participants. VF recorded $50.9 million in settlement charges during 2016 to recognize the related deferred actuarial losses in accumulated OCI. VF recorded $4.1 million in settlement charges during 2015, related to the recognition of deferred actuarial losses resulting from lump-sum payments of retirement benefits to participants in VF’s supplemental defined benefit pension plan. Deferred actuarial gains and losses are changes in the amount of either the benefit obligation or the value of plan assets resulting from differences between expected amounts for a year using actuarial assumptions and the actual results for that year. These amounts are deferred as a component of accumulated OCI and amortized to pension expense in future years. For the U.S. qualified plan, amounts in excess of 20% of projected benefit obligations at the beginning of the year are amortized over five years; amounts between (i) 10% of the greater of projected benefit obligations or plan assets and (ii) 20% of projected benefit obligations are amortized over the expected average remaining years of service of active participants; and amounts less than the greater of 10% of projected benefit obligations or plan assets are not amortized. For the U.S. nonqualified plan, amounts in excess of 10% of the pension benefit obligations are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected average remaining years of service of active participants. Deferred prior service costs related to plan amendments are also recorded in accumulated OCI and amortized to pension expense on a straight-line basis over the average remaining years of service for active employees. The estimated amounts of accumulated OCI to be amortized to pension expense in calendar year 2018 are $34.1 million of deferred actuarial losses and $2.6 million of deferred prior service costs. Management’s investment objectives are to invest plan assets in a diversified portfolio of securities to provide long-term growth, minimize the volatility of the value of plan assets relative to plan liabilities, and to ensure plan assets are sufficient to pay the benefit obligations. Investment strategies focus on diversification among multiple asset classes, a balance of long-term investment return at an acceptable level of risk and liquidity to meet benefit payments. The primary objective of the investment strategies is to more closely align plan assets with plan liabilities by utilizing dynamic asset allocation targets dependent upon changes in the plan’s funded ratio, capital market expectations and risk tolerance. Plan assets are primarily composed of common collective trust funds that invest in liquid securities diversified across equity, fixed-income, real estate and other asset classes. Fund assets are allocated among independent investment managers who have full discretion to manage their portion of the fund’s assets, subject to strategy and risk guidelines established with each manager. The overall strategy, the resulting allocations of plan assets and the performance of funds and individual investment managers are continually monitored. Derivative financial instruments may be used by investment managers for hedging purposes to gain exposure to alternative asset classes through the futures markets. There are no direct investments in VF debt or equity securities and no significant concentrations of security risk. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was based on an evaluation of the weighted average expected returns for the major asset classes in which the plans have invested. Expected returns by asset class were developed through analysis of historical market returns, current market conditions, inflation expectations and equity and credit risks. Inputs from various investment advisors on long-term capital market returns and other variables were also considered where appropriate. The fair value of investments held by VF’s defined benefit plans at December 2017 and 2016, by asset class, is summarized below. Refer to Note U for a description of the three levels of the fair value measurement hierarchy.
| Total Plan Assets |  | Fair Value Measurements
(In thousands) | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3
December 2017 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Plan assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash equivalents | $ | 8,191 |  |  | $ | 8,191 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Treasury and government agencies | 8 |  |  | — |  |  | 8 |  |  | — |
Insurance contracts | 69,448 |  |  | — |  |  | 69,448 |  |  | — |
Commodities | (372 | ) |  | (372 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Total plan assets in the fair value hierarchy | 77,275 |  |  | $ | 7,819 |  |  | $ | 69,456 |  |  | $ | — |
Plan assets measured at net asset value |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash equivalents | 36,313 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Domestic | 152,154 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
International | 173,608 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Corporate and international bonds | 1,215,558 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Alternative investments | 154,741 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total plan assets measured at net asset value | 1,732,374 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total plan assets | $ | 1,809,649 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Total Plan Assets |  | Fair Value Measurements
(In thousands) | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3
December 2016 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Plan assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash equivalents | $ | 2,896 |  |  | $ | 2,896 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Treasury and government agencies | 10 |  |  | — |  |  | 10 |  |  | — |
Insurance contracts | 63,013 |  |  | — |  |  | 63,013 |  |  | — |
Commodities | 506 |  |  | 506 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total plan assets in the fair value hierarchy | 66,425 |  |  | $ | 3,402 |  |  | $ | 63,023 |  |  | $ | — |
Plan assets measured at net asset value |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash equivalents | 27,486 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Domestic | 134,254 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
International | 142,772 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Corporate and international bonds | 1,140,894 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Alternative investments | 161,466 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total plan assets measured at net asset value | 1,606,872 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total plan assets | $ | 1,673,297 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash equivalents include cash held by individual investment managers of other asset classes for liquidity purposes (Level 1), and an institutional fund that invests primarily in short-term U.S. government securities measured at their daily net asset value. The fair values of insurance contracts are provided by the insurance companies and are primarily based on accumulated contributions plus returns guaranteed by the insurers (Level 2). Commodities consist of derivative commodity futures contracts (Level 1). Equity and fixed-income securities generally represent institutional funds measured at their daily net asset value derived from quoted prices of the underlying investments. Alternative investments are primarily in funds of hedge funds (“FoHFs”), which are comprised of different and independent hedge funds with various investment strategies. The administrators of the FoHFs utilize unobservable inputs to calculate the net asset value of the FoHFs on a monthly basis. VF makes contributions to its defined benefit plans sufficient to meet minimum funding requirements under applicable laws, plus discretionary amounts as determined by management. VF made a discretionary contribution of $250.0 million to the U.S. qualified plan during 2015. VF does not currently plan to make any contributions to the U.S. qualified plan during calendar year 2018, and intends to make approximately $35.1 million of contributions to its other defined benefit plans during calendar year 2018. The estimated future benefit payments for all of VF’s defined benefit plans, on a calendar year basis, are approximately $105.7 million in 2018, $97.7 million in 2019, $95.5 million in 2020, $99.4 million in 2021, $104.1 million in 2022 and $546.8 million for the years 2023 through 2027. Other Retirement and Savings Plans VF sponsors a nonqualified retirement savings plan for employees whose contributions to a 401(k) plan would be limited by provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. This plan allows participants to defer a portion of their compensation and to receive matching contributions for a portion of the deferred amounts. Participants earn a return on their deferred compensation based on their selection of a hypothetical portfolio of publicly traded mutual funds, a separately managed fixed-income fund and VF Common Stock. Changes in the fair value of the participants’ hypothetical investments are recorded as an adjustment to deferred compensation liabilities and compensation expense. Expense under this plan was $1.3 million in 2017, $1.7 million in 2016 and $2.2 million in 2015. Deferred compensation, including accumulated earnings, is distributable in cash at participant-specified dates upon retirement, death, disability or termination of employment. VF sponsors a similar nonqualified plan that permits nonemployee members of the Board of Directors to defer their Board compensation and invest in hypothetical shares of VF Common Stock. VF also has remaining obligations under other deferred compensation plans, primarily related to acquired companies. At December 2017, VF’s liability to participants under all deferred compensation plans was $240.0 million, of which $38.9 million was recorded in accrued liabilities (Note K) and $201.1 million was recorded in other liabilities (Note M). VF has purchased (i) publicly traded mutual funds, a separately managed fixed-income fund and VF Common Stock in the same amounts as most of the participant-directed hypothetical investments underlying the deferred compensation liabilities and (ii) variable life insurance contracts that invest in institutional funds that are substantially the same as the participant-directed hypothetical investments. These investment securities and earnings thereon (other than VF Common Stock) are intended to provide a source of funds to meet the deferred compensation obligations, and serve as an economic hedge of the financial impact of changes in deferred compensation liabilities. They are held in an irrevocable trust but are subject to claims of creditors in the event of VF’s insolvency. VF also has assets related to deferred compensation plans of acquired companies, which are primarily invested in life insurance contracts. At December 2017, the fair value of investments held for all deferred compensation plans was $234.3 million, of which $32.6 million was recorded in other current assets and $201.7 million was recorded in other assets (Note I). The VF Common Stock purchased to match participant-directed hypothetical investments is treated as treasury stock for financial reporting purposes (Note O), which is the primary reason for the difference in carrying value of the deferred compensation assets and liabilities. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on these deferred compensation assets (other than VF Common Stock) are recorded in compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income and substantially offset losses and gains resulting from changes in deferred compensation liabilities to participants. VF sponsors 401(k) plans as well as other domestic and foreign retirement and savings plans. Expense for these plans totaled $41.2 million in 2017, $39.7 million in 2016 and $40.0 million in 2015.

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