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Employee Benefit Plans
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee Benefit Plans

Note 12. Employee Benefit Plans

 

401(k) Plan. The Company sponsors a retirement savings plan pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. New employees who have met the age requirement are automatically enrolled in the plan at a 5% deferral rate. The automatic deferral can be modified by the employee at any time. An eligible employee may contribute up to 15% of annual salary to the plan. For 2017 and 2016, the Company contributed an amount equal to the sum of 1) 100% of the employee’s salary contributed up to 3% and 2) 50% of the employee’s salary contributed between 3% and 5%. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company’s matching contribution was increased to 100% of the employee’s salary contribution up to 6%. The Company’s matching contribution expense was $3.6 million, $2.3 million and $1.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Although discretionary contributions by the Company are permitted by the plan, the Company did not make any such contributions in 2018, 2017 or 2016. The Company’s matching and discretionary contributions are made according to the same investment elections each participant has established for their deferral contributions.

 

Pension Plan. Historically, the Company offered a noncontributory defined benefit retirement plan (the “Pension Plan”) that qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Pension Plan provided for a monthly payment, at normal retirement age of 65, equal to one-twelfth of the sum of (i) 0.75% of Final Average Annual Compensation (five highest consecutive calendar years’ earnings out of the last ten years of employment) multiplied by the employee’s years of service not in excess of 40 years, and (ii) 0.65% of Final Average Annual Compensation in excess of the average social security wage base multiplied by years of service not in excess of 35 years. Benefits were fully vested after five years of service. Effective December 31, 2012, the Company froze the Pension Plan for all participants.

 

The Company’s contributions to the Pension Plan are based on computations by independent actuarial consultants and are intended to be deductible for income tax purposes. As discussed below, the contributions are invested to provide for benefits under the Pension Plan. The Company did not make any contributions to the Pension Plan in 2018, 2017 or 2016. The Company does not expect to contribute to the Pension Plan in 2019.

 

The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of the Pension Plan’s benefit obligation, as computed by the Company’s independent actuarial consultants, and its plan assets, with the difference between the two amounts representing the funded status of the Pension Plan as of the end of the respective year.

 

($ in thousands)  2018   2017   2016 
Change in benefit obligation               
Benefit obligation at beginning of year  $38,150    36,840    36,164 
Service cost            
Interest cost   1,312    1,449    1,502 
Actuarial (gain) loss   (1,160)   1,941    1,288 
Benefits paid   (1,948)   (2,080)   (2,114)
Benefit obligation at end of year   36,354    38,150    36,840 
Change in plan assets               
Plan assets at beginning of year   41,306    36,950    35,489 
Actual return on plan assets   (188)   6,436    3,575 
Employer contributions            
Benefits paid   (1,948)   (2,080)   (2,114)
Plan assets at end of year   39,170    41,306    36,950 
                
Funded status at end of year  $2,816    3,156    110 

 

The accumulated benefit obligation related to the Pension Plan was $36,354,000, $38,150,000, and $36,840,000 at December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

 

The following table presents information regarding the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2018 and 2017 as it relates to the Pension Plan, excluding the related deferred tax assets.

 

($ in thousands)  2018   2017 
         
Other assets  $2,816    3,156 
Other liabilities        
   $2,816    3,156 

 

The following table presents information regarding the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) at December 31, 2018 and 2017, as it relates to the Pension Plan.

 

($ in thousands)  2018   2017 
         
Net gain (loss)  $(4,034)   (3,925)
Prior service cost        
Amount recognized in AOCI before tax effect   (4,034)   (3,925)
Tax (expense) benefit   943    1,452 
Net amount recognized as increase (decrease) to AOCI  $(3,091)   (2,473)

 

The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of AOCI at December 31, 2018 and 2017, as it relates to the Pension Plan:

 

($ in thousands)  2018   2017 
         
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at beginning of fiscal year  $(2,909)   (3,692)
Net gain (loss) arising during period   (143)   1,686 
Amortization of unrecognized actuarial loss   34    244 
Tax (expense) benefit of changes during the year, net   (73)   (711)
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)   (3,091)   (2,473)
Reclassification from AOCI to Retained Earnings due to statutory tax changes       (436)
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss) at end of fiscal year  $(3,091)   (2,909)

 

The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of the prepaid pension cost related to the Pension Plan:

 

($ in thousands)  2018   2017 
         
Prepaid pension cost as of beginning of fiscal year  $7,082    5,965 
Net periodic pension income (cost) for fiscal year   (231)   1,117 
Actual employer contributions        
Prepaid pension asset as of end of fiscal year  $6,851    7,082 

 

Net pension (income) cost for the Pension Plan included the following components for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016:

 

($ in thousands)  2018   2017   2016 
             
Service cost – benefits earned during the period  $         
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation   1,312    1,449    1,502 
Expected return on plan assets   (1,115)   (2,810)   (2,698)
Net amortization and deferral   34    244    238 
     Net periodic pension (income) cost  $231    (1,117)   (958)

 

The following table is an estimate of the benefits that will be paid in accordance with the Pension Plan during the indicated time periods, assuming the Pension Plan is operated on an ongoing basis.

 

($ in thousands)  Estimated
benefit
payments
 
Year ending December 31, 2019  $1,735 
Year ending December 31, 2020   1,792 
Year ending December 31, 2021   1,898 
Year ending December 31, 2022   1,957 
Year ending December 31, 2023   2,000 
Years ending December 31, 2024-2028   10,582 

 

The investment objective of the Company’s Pension Plan is to ensure that there are sufficient assets to fund regular pension benefits payable to employees over the long-term life of the plan. The Plan seeks to allocate plan assets in a manner that is closely duration-matched with the actuarial projected cash flows of the Plan liabilities, consistent with prudent standards for preservation of capital, tolerance of investment risk, and maintenance of liquidity. Assets of the Plan are held by Fidelity Investments (the “Trustee”).

 

In 2018, the Plan adopted a liability-driven investment (“LDI”) approach to help meet these objectives. The LDI strategy employs a structured fixed-income portfolio designed to reduce volatility in the Plan’s future funding requirements and funding status. This is accomplished by using a blend of high quality corporate and government fixed-income securities, with both intermediate and long-term durations. Generally, the value of these fixed income securities is inversely correlated to changes in market interest rates, which substantially offsets changes in the value of the pension benefit obligation caused by changes in the interest rate used to discount plan liabilities.

 

In the fourth quarter 2017, in anticipation of anticipated changes in investment objectives, the Company liquidated all investments and shifted the assets into a money market fund.

 

The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2018, by asset category, were as follows:

 

($ in thousands)        
   Total Fair Value at
December 31,
2018
   Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
                 
Cash and cash equivalents  $267    267         
                     
Investment funds                    
    Fixed income funds   38,903        38,903     
      Total  $39,170    267    38,903     

 

The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2017, by asset category, were as follows:

 

($ in thousands)        
   Total Fair Value at
December 31,
2017
   Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
                 
Cash and cash equivalents (money market fund)  $41,306        41,306     
          Total  $41,306        41,306     

 

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

-Cash and cash equivalents (money market fund): Valued at net asset value (“NAV”), which can be validated with a sufficient level of observable activity (i.e. purchases and sales at NAV), and therefore, the funds were classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
-Fixed income funds consist of commingled funds that primarily include investments in U.S. government securities and corporate bonds. The commingled funds also include an insignificant portion of investments in other asset-based securities, municipal securities, etc. The commingled funds are valued at the NAV for the units in the fund. The NAV, as provided by the Trustee, is used as practical expedient to estimate fair value. The NAV is based on the fair value of the underlying investments held by the fund.

 

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. Historically, the Company sponsored a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”) for the benefit of certain senior management executives of the Company. The purpose of the SERP was to provide additional monthly pension benefits to ensure that each such senior management executive would receive lifetime monthly pension benefits equal to 3% of his or her final average compensation multiplied by his or her years of service (maximum of 20 years) to the Company or its subsidiaries, subject to a maximum of 60% of his or her final average compensation. The amount of a participant’s monthly SERP benefit is reduced by (i) the amount payable under the Company’s qualified Pension Plan (described above), and (ii) 50% of the participant’s primary social security benefit. Final average compensation means the average of the five highest consecutive calendar years of earnings during the last ten years of service prior to termination of employment. The SERP is an unfunded plan. Payments are made from the general assets of the Company. Effective December 31, 2012, the Company froze the SERP to all participants.

 

 

The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of the SERP’s benefit obligation, as computed by the Company’s independent actuarial consultants:

 

($ in thousands)  2018   2017   2016 
Change in benefit obligation               
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year  $5,970    5,910    5,778 
Service cost   124    118    106 
Interest cost   200    227    238 
Actuarial (gain) loss   (102)   85    145 
Benefits paid   (398)   (370)   (357)
Projected benefit obligation at end of year   5,794    5,970    5,910 
Plan assets            
Funded status at end of year  $5,794    (5,970)   (5,910)

 

The accumulated benefit obligation related to the SERP was $5,794,000, $5,970,000, and $5,910,000 at December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

 

The following table presents information regarding the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2018 and 2017 as it relates to the SERP, excluding the related deferred tax assets.

 

($ in thousands)  2018   2017 
         
Other assets – prepaid pension asset (liability)  $(6,608)   (6,695)
Other assets (liabilities)   814    725 
   $(5,794)   (5,970)

 

The following table presents information regarding the amounts recognized in AOCI at December 31, 2018 and 2017, as it relates to the SERP:

 

($ in thousands)  2018   2017 
         
Net gain (loss)  $814    725 
Prior service cost        
Amount recognized in AOCI before tax effect   814    725 
Tax (expense) benefit   (190)   (268)
Net amount recognized as increase (decrease) to AOCI  $624    457 

 

The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of AOCI at December 31, 2018 and 2017, as it relates to the SERP:

 

($ in thousands)  2018   2017 
         
Accumulated other comprehensive income at beginning of fiscal year  $457    533 
Net gain (loss) arising during period   102    (85)
Prior service cost        
Amortization of unrecognized actuarial loss   (13)   (34)
Amortization of prior service cost and transition obligation        
Tax benefit (expense) related to changes during the year, net   78    43 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at end of fiscal year  $624    457 

 

The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of the prepaid pension cost related to the SERP:

 

($ in thousands)  2018   2017 
         
Prepaid pension cost (liability) as of beginning of fiscal year  $(6,695)   (6,754)
Net periodic pension cost for fiscal year   (311)   (311)
Benefits paid   398    370 
Prepaid pension cost (liability) as of end of fiscal year  $(6,608)   (6,695)

 

Net pension cost for the SERP included the following components for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016:

 

($ in thousands)  2018   2017   2016 
             
Service cost – benefits earned during the period  $124    118    106 
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation   200    227    238 
Net amortization and deferral   (13)   (34)   (35)
     Net periodic pension cost  $311    311    309 

 

The following table is an estimate of the benefits that will be paid in accordance with the SERP during the indicated time periods:

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

  Estimated
benefit
payments
 
Year ending December 31, 2019  $411 
Year ending December 31, 2020   408 
Year ending December 31, 2021   401 
Year ending December 31, 2022   391 
Year ending December 31, 2023   380 
Years ending December 31, 2024-2028   1,970 

 

Assumptions used in both Plans

The following assumptions were used in determining the actuarial information for the Pension Plan and the SERP for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016:

 

   2018   2017   2016 
   Pension
Plan
   SERP   Pension
Plan
   SERP   Pension
Plan
   SERP 
Discount rate used to determine net periodic pension cost   3.46%    3.46%    3.97%    3.97%    4.17%    4.17% 
Discount rate used to calculate end of year liability disclosures   4.08%    3.92%    3.46%    3.46%    3.97%    3.97% 
Expected long-term rate of return on assets   2.75%    n/a    7.75%    n/a    7.75%    n/a 
Rate of compensation increase   n/a    n/a    n/a    n/a    n/a    n/a 

 

The Company’s discount rate policy is based on a calculation of the Company’s expected pension payments, with those payments discounted using the Citigroup Pension Index yield curve.

 

For each of the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company used an expected long-term rate of return on assets assumption of 7.75%. The Company arrived at this rate based primarily on a third-party investment consulting firm’s historical analysis of investment returns, which indicated that the mix of the Pension Plan’s assets (generally 75% equities and 25% fixed income) could be expected to return approximately 7.75% on a long term basis.

 

As discussed previously, in 2018, the Company changed investment strategies, which resulted in the expected return on assets being adjusted to 2.75% for the year.