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Postretirement Plans | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract] |
Postretirement Plans |
Note 19. | Postretirement Plans
The following summarizes the company’s balance sheet related pension and other postretirement benefit plan accounts at December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016 (amounts in thousands):
|  | December 31, 2016 |  |  | January 2, 2016 |
Current benefit liability |  | $ | 979 |  |  | $ | 1,118 |
Noncurrent benefit liability |  | $ | 69,601 |  |  | $ | 76,541 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax |  | $ | 82,222 |  |  | $ | 86,610 |
The company amended our qualified defined benefit plans in October 2015 to allow retired and terminated vested pension plan participants not yet receiving benefit payments the option to elect to receive their benefit as a single lump sum payment. This amendment was effective as of January 1, 2016. This change supports our long-term pension risk management strategy. Settlement accounting, which accelerates recognition of a plan’s unrecognized net gain or loss, is triggered if the total lump sums paid during a year exceeds the sum of the plan’s service and interest cost. With no settlement charge recognized until the second quarter, the table below presents the recognized settlement charges by quarter for fiscal 2016 (amounts in thousands):
Fiscal 2016 |  | Settlement loss |
Quarter 2 |  | $ | 4,641 |
Quarter 3 |  |  | 1,832 |
Quarter 4 |  |  | 173 |
Total fiscal 2016 |  | $ | 6,646 |
The company used a measurement date of December 31, 2016 for the defined benefit and postretirement benefit plans described below. Pension Plans The company has trusteed, noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering certain current and former employees. Benefits under the company’s largest pension plan are frozen. The company continues to maintain an ongoing plan that covers a small number of certain union employees. The benefits in this plan are based on years of service and the employee’s career earnings. The qualified plans are funded at amounts deductible for income tax purposes but not less than the minimum funding required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (“PPA”). The company uses a calendar year end for the measurement date since the plans are based on a calendar year end and because it approximates the company’s fiscal year end. As of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the assets of the qualified plans included certificates of deposit, marketable equity securities, mutual funds, corporate and government debt securities, private and public real estate partnerships, other diversifying strategies and annuity contracts. The company expects pension income of approximately $5.0 million for fiscal 2017. The net periodic pension cost (income) for the company’s pension plans includes the following components for fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014 (amounts in thousands):
|  | Fiscal 2016 |  |  | Fiscal 2015 |  |  | Fiscal 2014 |
Service cost |  | $ | 830 |  |  | $ | 873 |  |  | $ | 640 |
Interest cost |  |  | 13,682 |  |  |  | 18,003 |  |  |  | 21,427 |
Expected return on plan assets |  |  | (26,644 | ) |  |  | (29,642 | ) |  |  | (33,817 | )
Settlement loss |  |  | 6,646 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 15,387 |
Amortization: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Prior service cost |  |  | 387 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Actuarial loss |  |  | 7,294 |  |  |  | 4,978 |  |  |  | 1,925 |
Net periodic pension cost (income) |  |  | 2,195 |  |  |  | (5,788 | ) |  |  | 5,562 |
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current year actuarial loss (gain) |  |  | 8,879 |  |  |  | (1,916 | ) |  |  | 74,510 |
Current year prior service cost |  |  | — |  |  |  | 6,199 |  |  |  | — |
Settlement loss |  |  | (6,646 | ) |  |  | — |  |  |  | (15,387 | )
Amortization of prior service cost |  |  | (387 | ) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Amortization of actuarial (loss) |  |  | (7,294 | ) |  |  | (4,978 | ) |  |  | (1,925 | )
Total recognized in other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  | (5,448 | ) |  |  | (695 | ) |  |  | 57,198 |
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive loss |  | $ | (3,253 | ) |  | $ | (6,483 | ) |  | $ | 62,760 |
Actual return on plan assets for fiscal years 2016, 2015, and 2014 was $4.7 million, $6.9 million, and $11.6 million, respectively. Approximately $6.8 million will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost in fiscal 2017 relating to the company’s pension plans. The funded status and the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the company’s pension plans are as follows (amounts in thousands):
|  | December 31, 2016 |  |  | January 2, 2016 |
Change in benefit obligation: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Benefit obligation at beginning of year |  | $ | 438,023 |  |  | $ | 462,639 |
Service cost |  |  | 830 |  |  |  | 873 |
Interest cost |  |  | 13,682 |  |  |  | 18,003 |
Actuarial loss (gain) |  |  | (13,076 | ) |  |  | (24,677 | )
Benefits paid |  |  | (25,130 | ) |  |  | (25,014 | )
Plan amendments |  |  | — |  |  |  | 6,199 |
Settlements |  |  | (15,734 | ) |  |  | — |
Benefit obligation at end of year |  | $ | 398,595 |  |  | $ | 438,023 |
Change in plan assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year |  | $ | 370,497 |  |  | $ | 378,194 |
Actual return on plan assets |  |  | 4,689 |  |  |  | 6,881 |
Employer contribution |  |  | 1,341 |  |  |  | 10,436 |
Benefits paid |  |  | (25,130 | ) |  |  | (25,014 | )
Settlements |  |  | (15,734 | ) |  |  | — |
Fair value of plan assets at end of year |  | $ | 335,663 |  |  | $ | 370,497 |
Funded status, end of year: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of plan assets |  | $ | 335,663 |  |  | $ | 370,497 |
Benefit obligations |  |  | (398,595 | ) |  |  | (438,023 | )
Unfunded status and amount recognized at end of year |  | $ | (62,932 | ) |  | $ | (67,526 | )
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current liability |  |  | (291 | ) |  |  | (402 | )
Noncurrent liability |  |  | (62,641 | ) |  |  | (67,124 | )
Amount recognized at end of year |  | $ | (62,932 | ) |  | $ | (67,526 | )
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net actuarial loss before taxes |  | $ | 132,886 |  |  | $ | 137,948 |
Prior service cost |  |  | 5,813 |  |  |  | 6,199 |
Amount recognized at end of year |  | $ | 138,699 |  |  | $ | 144,147 |
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year |  | $ | 397,224 |  |  | $ | 436,455 |
Assumptions used in accounting for the company’s pension plans at each of the respective fiscal years ending are as follows:
|  | Fiscal 2016 |  |  | Fiscal 2015 |  |  | Fiscal 2014 |
Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Measurement date |  | 12/31/2016 |  |  | 12/31/2015 |  |  | 12/31/2014 |
Discount rate |  |  | 4.00 | % |  |  | 4.25 | % |  |  | 4.00 | %
Rate of compensation increase |  |  | 3.00 | % |  |  | 3.00 | % |  |  | 4.00 | %
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income)/cost: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Measurement date |  | 1/1/2016 |  |  | 1/1/2015 |  |  | 1/1/2014 |
Discount rate |  |  | 4.25 | % |  |  | 4.00 | % |  |  | 4.75 | %
Expected return on plan assets |  |  | 8.00 | % |  |  | 8.00 | % |  |  | 8.00 | %
Rate of compensation increase |  |  | 3.00 | % |  |  | 4.00 | % |  |  | 4.00 | %
In developing the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets at each measurement date, the company considers the plan assets’ historical actual returns, targeted asset allocations, and the anticipated future economic environment and long-term performance of individual asset classes, based on the company’s investment strategy. While appropriate consideration is given to recent and historical investment performance, the assumption represents management’s best estimate of the long-term prospective return. Based on these factors the expected long-term rate of return assumption for the plans was set at 8.0% for fiscal 2016, as compared with the average annual return on the plan assets over the last 15 years of approximately 6.9% (net of expenses). The plan has an average annual rate of return since inception in 1987 of 8.9% (net of expenses) with consistently similar asset allocations where equities are targeted at 65%. The returns over the last five years of 8.5% have exceeded our expected return on asset estimates. We believe our asset allocation will meet our return estimates over time consistent with past performance and historical asset allocations. Plan Assets Effective January 1, 2014, the Finance Committee (“committee”) of the Board of Directors delegated its fiduciary and other responsibilities with respect to the plans to the newly established Investment Committee. The Investment Committee, which consists of certain members of management, establishes investment guidelines and strategies and regularly monitors the performance of the plans’ assets. The Investment Committee is responsible for executing these strategies and investing the pension assets in accordance with ERISA and fiduciary standards. The investment objective of the pension plans is to preserve the plans’ capital and maximize investment earnings within acceptable levels of risk and volatility. The Investment Committee meets on a regular basis with its investment advisors to review the performance of the plans’ assets. Based upon performance and other measures and recommendations from its investment advisors, the Investment Committee rebalances the plans’ assets to the targeted allocation when considered appropriate. The fair values of all of the company pension plan assets at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, by asset class are as follows (amounts in thousands):
|  | Fair value of Pension Plan Assets as of December 31, 2016 |
Asset Class |  | Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) |  |  | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |  |  | Total |
Short term investments and cash |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 4,712 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 4,712 |
Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. companies |  |  | 88,427 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 88,427 |
International companies |  |  | 1,427 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,427 |
Domestic equity funds(a) |  |  | 47,916 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 47,916 |
International equity funds(b) |  |  | — |  |  |  | 22,914 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 22,914 |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. government bonds |  |  | — |  |  |  | 8,796 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 8,796 |
U.S. government agency bonds |  |  | — |  |  |  | 5,909 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 5,909 |
U.S. mortgage backed securities |  |  | — |  |  |  | 5,512 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 5,512 |
U.S. corporate bonds |  |  | — |  |  |  | 10,539 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 10,539 |
Absolute return funds(c) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 25,737 |  |  |  | 25,737 |
Other types of investments measured at net asset value (*): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Hedged equity funds(d) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 32,095 |
Absolute return funds(c) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 24,299 |
International equity funds(b) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 24,987 |
Real estate funds(e) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 17,296 |
Other types of investments measured at contract value (^): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guaranteed insurance contracts(f) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 10,124 |
Pending sale orders(g) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 5,000 |
Other assets and (liabilities)(g) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 70 |
Accrued (expenses) income(g) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | (97 | )
Total |  | $ | 137,770 |  |  | $ | 58,382 |  |  | $ | 25,737 |  |  | $ | 335,663 |
|  | Fair value of Pension Plan Assets as of December 31, 2015 |
Asset Class |  | Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) |  |  | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |  |  | Total |
Short term investments and cash |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 5,200 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 5,200 |
Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. companies |  |  | 93,600 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 93,600 |
International companies |  |  | 1,957 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,957 |
Domestic equity funds(a) |  |  | 54,949 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 54,949 |
International equity funds(b) |  |  | — |  |  |  | 26,565 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 26,565 |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. government bonds |  |  | — |  |  |  | 5,257 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 5,257 |
U.S. government agency bonds |  |  | — |  |  |  | 3,215 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 3,215 |
U.S. mortgage backed securities |  |  | — |  |  |  | 7,201 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 7,201 |
U.S. corporate bonds |  |  | — |  |  |  | 21,202 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 21,202 |
Absolute return funds(c) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 28,964 |  |  |  | 28,964 |
Other types of investments measured at net asset value (*): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Hedged equity funds(d) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 40,582 |
Absolute return funds(c) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 27,473 |
International equity funds(b) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 27,406 |
Real estate funds(e) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 17,335 |
Other types of investments measured at contract value (^): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guaranteed insurance contracts(f) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 9,784 |
Other assets and (liabilities)(g) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | (376 | )
Accrued (expenses) income(g) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 183 |
Total |  | $ | 150,506 |  |  | $ | 68,640 |  |  | $ | 28,964 |  |  | $ | 370,497 |
(a) | This class includes funds with the principal strategy to invest primarily in long positions in domestic equity securities.
(b) | This class includes funds with the principal strategy to invest primarily in long positions in international equity securities.
(c) | This class invests primarily in absolute return strategy funds.
(d) | This class invests primarily in hedged equity funds.
(e) | This class includes funds that invest primarily in U.S. commercial real estate.
(f) | This class invests primarily guaranteed insurance contracts through various U.S. insurance companies.
(g) | This class includes accrued interest, dividends, and amounts receivable from asset sales and amounts payable for asset purchases. This class also includes pending sale requests.
(*) | Certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy.
(^) | Certain investments, which are fully-benefit responsive investment contracts, are measured at contract value and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy.
The following tables provide information on the pension plan assets that are reported using significant unobservable inputs in the estimation of fair value (amounts in thousands):
|  | 2016 Changes in Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
|  | Absolute Return Funds |
Balance at December 31, 2015 |  | $ | 28,964 |
Actual return on plan assets: |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses (realized and unrealized) |  |  | 1,773 |
Sales |  |  | (5,000 | )
Balance at December 31, 2016 |  | $ | 25,737 |
|  | 2015 Changes in Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
|  | Absolute Return Funds |
Balance at December 31, 2014 |  | $ | 32,411 |
Actual return on plan assets: |  |  |  |
Total gains or losses (realized and unrealized) |  |  | 553 |
Sales |  |  | (4,000 | )
Balance at December 31, 2015 |  | $ | 28,964 |
The company’s investment policy includes various guidelines and procedures designed to ensure the plan’s assets are invested in a manner necessary to meet expected future benefits earned by participants. The investment guidelines consider a broad range of economic conditions. The plan asset allocation as of the measurement dates December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, and target asset allocations for fiscal year 2017 are as follows:
|  | Target Allocation |  | Percentage of Plan Assets at the Measurement Date (As percent) |
Asset Category |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  |  | 2015 |
Equity securities |  | 40-60% |  |  | 51.1 |  |  |  | 55.6 |
Fixed income securities |  | 10-40% |  |  | 9.3 |  |  |  | 10.0 |
Real estate |  | 0-25% |  |  | 5.2 |  |  |  | 4.7 |
Other diversifying strategies(1) |  | 0-40% |  |  | 33.5 |  |  |  | 28.7 |
Short term investments and cash |  | 0-25% |  |  | 0.9 |  |  |  | 1.0 |
Total |  |  |  |  | 100.0 |  |  |  | 100.0 |
(1) | Includes absolute return funds, hedged equity funds, and guaranteed insurance contracts.
Equity securities include 2,030,363 shares and 2,030,363 shares of the company’s common stock in the amount of $40.5 million and $43.6 million (12.1% and 11.8% of total plan assets) as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The objectives of the target allocations are to maintain investment portfolios that diversify risk through prudent asset allocation parameters, achieve asset returns that meet or exceed the plans’ actuarial assumptions, and achieve asset returns that are competitive with like institutions employing similar investment strategies. Cash Flows Company contributions to qualified and nonqualified plans are as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year |  | Required |  |  | Discretionary |  |  | Total |
2016 |  | $ | 341 |  |  | $ | 1,000 |  |  | $ | 1,341 |
2015 |  | $ | 436 |  |  | $ | 10,000 |  |  | $ | 10,436 |
2014 |  | $ | 5,070 |  |  | $ | 8,365 |  |  | $ | 13,435 |
All contributions are made in cash. The required contributions made during fiscal 2016 include $0.3 million in nonqualified pension benefits paid from corporate assets. The discretionary contributions of $1.0 million made to qualified plans during fiscal 2016 were not required to be made by the minimum funding requirements of ERISA, but the company believed, due to its strong cash flow and financial position, this was an appropriate time at which to make the contribution in order to reduce the impact of future contributions. During fiscal 2017, the company expects to pay $0.3 million in nonqualified pension benefits from corporate assets. There are no expected contributions to the qualified pension plans required under ERISA and the PPA during fiscal 2017. These amounts represent estimates that are based on assumptions that are subject to change. Benefit Payments The following are benefits paid under the plans (including settlements) during fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014 and expected to be paid from fiscal 2017 through fiscal 2026. Estimated future payments include qualified pension benefits that will be paid from the plans’ assets (including potential payments for the lump sum option discussed above) and nonqualified pension benefits that will be paid from corporate assets (amounts in thousands):
Year |  | Pension Benefits |  |
2014 |  | $ | 75,459 |  | *
2015 |  | $ | 25,014 |  |
2016 |  | $ | 40,864 |  | ^
Estimated Future Payments: |  |  |  |  |
2017 |  | $ | 33,675 |  |
2018 |  | $ | 32,349 |  |
2019 |  | $ | 31,157 |  |
2020 |  | $ | 29,762 |  |
2021 |  | $ | 28,916 |  |
2022 – 2026 |  | $ | 128,858 |  |
* | Includes $48.4 million and $2.0 million from Plan No. 1 and Plan No. 2, respectively paid in December 2014, associated with a one-time voluntary lump sum offer.
^ | Includes $15.7 million and $1.6 million from Plan No. 1 and Plan No. 2, respectively, paid as lump sums. The plans were amended effective January 1, 2016 to allow participants not yet receiving benefit payments to elect to receive their benefit as a single lump sum.
Postretirement Benefit Plans The company sponsors postretirement benefit plans that provide health care and life insurance benefits to retirees who meet certain eligibility requirements. Generally, this includes employees with at least 10 years of service who have reached age 55 and participate in a Flowers retirement plan. Retiree medical coverage is provided for a period of three to five years, depending on the participant’s age and service at retirement. Participant premiums are determined using COBRA premium levels. Retiree life insurance benefits are offered to a closed group of retirees. The company also sponsors a medical, dental, and life insurance benefits plan to a limited and closed group of participants. The company delivers retiree medical and dental benefits for Medicare eligible retirees through a health-care reimbursement account. The company no longer sponsors a medical plan for Medicare eligible retirees and does not file for a Medicare Part D subsidy. The net periodic benefit (income) cost for the company’s postretirement benefit plans includes the following components for fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014 (amounts in thousands):
|  | Fiscal 2016 |  |  | Fiscal 2015 |  |  | Fiscal 2014 |
Service cost |  | $ | 401 |  |  | $ | 398 |  |  | $ | 377 |
Interest cost |  |  | 309 |  |  |  | 360 |  |  |  | 445 |
Amortization: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Prior service credit |  |  | (212 | ) |  |  | (267 | ) |  |  | (469 | )
Actuarial gain |  |  | (454 | ) |  |  | (583 | ) |  |  | (577 | )
Total net periodic benefit income |  |  | 44 |  |  |  | (92 | ) |  |  | (224 | )
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current year actuarial (gain) loss* |  |  | (2,354 | ) |  |  | (159 | ) |  |  | (497 | )
Amortization of actuarial gain |  |  | 454 |  |  |  | 583 |  |  |  | 577 |
Amortization of prior service credit |  |  | 212 |  |  |  | 267 |  |  |  | 469 |
Total recognized in other comprehensive loss |  |  | (1,688 | ) |  |  | 691 |  |  |  | 549 |
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive (income) loss |  | $ | (1,644 | ) |  | $ | 599 |  |  | $ | 325 |
* | In fiscal 2014 and 2015, includes (gain) loss related to (higher) lower than expected Medicare Part D subsidy receipts.
Approximately $(0.7) million will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost in fiscal year 2017 relating to the company’s postretirement benefit plans. The unfunded status and the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the company’s postretirement benefit plans are as follows (amounts in thousands):
|  | December 31, 2016 |  |  | January 2, 2016 |
Change in benefit obligation: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Benefit obligation at beginning of year |  | $ | 10,133 |  |  | $ | 10,229 |
Service cost |  |  | 401 |  |  |  | 398 |
Interest cost |  |  | 309 |  |  |  | 360 |
Participant contributions |  |  | 284 |  |  |  | 224 |
Actuarial gain |  |  | (2,354 | ) |  |  | (180 | )
Benefits paid |  |  | (1,125 | ) |  |  | (898 | )
Benefit obligation at end of year |  | $ | 7,648 |  |  | $ | 10,133 |
Change in plan assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Employer contributions |  |  | 841 |  |  |  | 674 |
Participant contributions |  |  | 284 |  |  |  | 224 |
Benefits paid |  |  | (1,125 | ) |  |  | (898 | )
Fair value of plan assets at end of year |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Funded status, end of year: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of plan assets |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Benefit obligations |  |  | (7,648 | ) |  |  | (10,133 | )
Unfunded status and amount recognized at end of year |  | $ | (7,648 | ) |  | $ | (10,133 | )
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current liability |  | $ | (688 | ) |  | $ | (716 | )
Noncurrent liability |  |  | (6,960 | ) |  |  | (9,417 | )
Amount recognized at end of year |  | $ | (7,648 | ) |  | $ | (10,133 | )
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net actuarial gain before taxes |  | $ | (4,531 | ) |  | $ | (2,631 | )
Prior service credit before taxes |  |  | (474 | ) |  |  | (686 | )
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss |  | $ | (5,005 | ) |  | $ | (3,317 | )
Assumptions used in accounting for the company’s postretirement benefit plans at each of the respective fiscal years ending are as follows:
|  | Fiscal 2016 |  |  | Fiscal 2015 |  |  | Fiscal 2014 |
Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Measurement date |  | 12/31/2016 |  |  | 12/31/2015 |  |  | 12/31/2014 |
Discount rate |  |  | 3.66 | % |  |  | 3.83 | % |  |  | 3.50 | %
Health care cost trend rate used to determine benefit obligations: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Initial rate |  |  | 6.50 | % |  |  | 8.00 | % |  |  | 8.00 | %
Ultimate rate |  |  | 5.00 | % |  |  | 5.00 | % |  |  | 5.00 | %
Year trend reaches the ultimate rate |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |  |  | 2021 |
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic cost: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Measurement date |  | 1/1/2016 |  |  | 1/1/2015 |  |  | 1/1/2014 |
Discount rate |  |  | 3.83 | % |  |  | 3.50 | % |  |  | 4.31 | %
Health care cost trend rate used to determine net periodic cost: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Initial rate |  |  | 8.00 | % |  |  | 8.00 | % |  |  | 8.50 | %
Ultimate rate |  |  | 5.00 | % |  |  | 5.00 | % |  |  | 5.00 | %
Year trend reaches the ultimate rate |  | 2022 |  |  | 2021 |  |  | 2021 |
Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the health care plans. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects for fiscal years 2016, 2015, and 2014 (amounts in thousands):
|  | One-Percentage-Point Decrease |  |  | One-Percentage-Point Increase |
|  | For the Year Ended |  |  | For the Year Ended |
|  | Fiscal 2016 |  |  | Fiscal 2015 |  |  | Fiscal 2014 |  |  | Fiscal 2016 |  |  | Fiscal 2015 |  |  | Fiscal 2014 |
Effect on total of service and interest cost |  | $ | (58 | ) |  | $ | (65 | ) |  | $ | (60 | ) |  | $ | 67 |  |  | $ | 76 |  |  | $ | 68 |
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation |  | $ | (427 | ) |  | $ | (554 | ) |  | $ | (558 | ) |  | $ | 480 |  |  | $ | 626 |  |  | $ | 629 |
Cash Flows Company contributions to postretirement plans are as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year |  | Employer Net Contribution |
2014 |  | $ | 478 |
2015 |  | $ | 674 |
2016 |  | $ | 841 |
2017 (Expected) |  | $ | 692 |
The table above reflects only the company’s share of the benefit cost. Since the company no longer receives reimbursement for Medicare Part D subsidies, the entire $0.7 million expected funding for postretirement benefit plans during 2017 the entire amount will be required to pay for benefits. Contributions by participants to postretirement benefits were $0.3 million, $0.2 million, and $0.2 million for fiscal years 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Benefit Payments The following are benefits paid by the company during fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014 and expected to be paid from fiscal 2017 through fiscal 2026. All benefits are expected to be paid from the company’s assets (amounts in thousands):
|  | Postretirement benefits |
Year |  | Employer gross contribution |
2014 |  | $ | 478 |
2015 |  | $ | 674 |
2016 |  | $ | 841 |
Estimated Future Payments: |  |  |  |
2017 |  | $ | 692 |
2018 |  | $ | 745 |
2019 |  | $ | 735 |
2020 |  | $ | 677 |
2021 |  | $ | 661 |
2022 – 2026 |  | $ | 3,291 |
Multiemployer Plans The company contributes to various multiemployer pension plans. Benefits provided under the multiemployer pension plans are generally based on years of service and employee age. Expense under these plans was $2.2 million for fiscal 2016, $2.1 million for fiscal 2015, and $2.1 million for fiscal 2014. The company contributes to several multiemployer defined benefit pension plans under the terms of collective-bargaining agreements that cover various union-represented employees. The risks of participating in these multiemployer plans are different from single-employer plans. Assets contributed to the multiemployer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers. If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers. If we choose to stop participating in some of these multiemployer plans, we may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability. None of the contributions to the pension funds was in excess of 5% or more of the total contributions for plan years 2016, 2015, and 2014. There are no contractually required minimum contributions to the plans as of December 31, 2016. The company’s participation in these multiemployer plans for fiscal 2016 is outlined in the table below. The EIN/Pension Plan Number column provides the Employer Identification Number (“EIN”) and the three-digit plan number, if applicable. Unless otherwise noted, the most recent PPA zone status available in 2016 and 2015 is for the plan’s year-end at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The zone status is based on information that the company received from the plan and is certified by the plan’s actuary. Among other factors, plans in the red zone are generally less than 65 percent funded, plans in the yellow zone are less than 80 percent funded, and plans in the green zone are at least 80 percent funded. The FIP/RP Status Pending/Implemented column indicates plans for which a financial improvement plan (“FIP”) or a rehabilitation plan (“RP”) is either pending or has been implemented. The last column lists the expiration date(s) of the collective-bargaining agreements to which the plans are subject. Finally, there have been no significant changes that affect the comparability of contributions. In December 2014, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 (the “2015 Appropriations Act”) was signed into law and materially amended the PPA funding rules. In general, the PPA funding rules were made more flexible in order to make more manageable the steps necessary for multi-employer plans to become or remain economically viable in the future. While in previous years we have been informed that several of the multi-employer pension plans to which our subsidiaries contribute have been labeled with a “critical” or “endangered” status as defined by the PPA, the changes made by the 2015 Appropriations Act will materially impact, on a going forward basis, these prior funding status assessments. In any event, it is unclear at this time what impact, if any, the 2015 Appropriations Act will have on our future obligations to the multi-employer pension plans in which we participate.
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Pension Protection Act |  |  |  | Contributions (Amounts in |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Zone Status |  |  |  | thousands) |  |  |  |  | Expiration Date of
|  |  |  | Pension |  |  |  |  |  |  | FIP/RP Status |  | 2016 |  |  | 2015 |  |  | 2014 |  |  | Surcharge |  | Collective Bargaining
Pension Fund |  | EIN |  | Plan No. |  |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | Pending/Implemented |  | ($) |  |  | ($) |  |  | ($) |  |  | Imposed |  | Agreement
IAM National Pension Fund |  | 51-6031295 |  |  | 002 |  |  | Green |  | Green |  | No |  |  | 121 |  |  |  | 113 |  |  |  | 99 |  |  | No |  | 4/30/2021
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store International Union and Industry Pension Fund |  | 63-0708442 |  |  | 001 |  |  | Red |  | Red |  | Yes |  |  | 156 |  |  |  | 130 |  |  |  | 132 |  |  | No |  | 8/12/2017
Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust* |  | 91-6145047 |  |  | 001 |  |  | Green |  | Green |  | No |  |  | 233 |  |  |  | 271 |  |  |  | 260 |  |  | No |  | 2/4/2017
BC&T International Pension Fund* |  | 52-6118572 |  |  | 001 |  |  | Red |  | Red |  | Yes |  |  | 1,194 |  |  |  | 1,121 |  |  |  | 1,077 |  |  | Yes |  | 10/31/2015
* | The collective bargaining agreement is currently under negotiation.
401(k) Retirement Savings Plans The Flowers Foods 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan covers substantially all of the company’s employees who have completed certain service requirements. During fiscal years 2016, 2015, and 2014, the total cost and employer contributions were as follows (amounts in thousands):
Contributions by fiscal year |  | Defined contribution plans expense |
Fiscal 2016 |  | $ | 27,057 |
Fiscal 2015 |  | $ | 25,473 |
Fiscal 2014 |  | $ | 24,799 |
The company acquired DKB and Alpine during fiscal 2015, at the time of each acquisition we assumed sponsorship of a 401(k) savings plan. We merged these two plans into the Flowers Foods 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan during fiscal 2016 after receipt of final determination letters.

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