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Note 16 - Employee Benefit Plans
12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS


Defined Contribution and Deferred Compensation Plans


The Company has a 401(k) retirement investment plan (“401(k) Plan”), which is open to all otherwise eligible U.S. employees with at least six months of service. The 401(k) Plan calls for Company matching contributions on a sliding scale based on the level of the employee’s contribution. The Company may, at its discretion, make additional contributions to the 401(k) Plan based on the attainment of certain performance targets by its subsidiaries. The Company’s matching contributions are funded bi-monthly and totaled approximately $2.7 million, $2.6 million and $2.4 million for the years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, for continuing operations. No discretionary contributions were made in 2014, 2013 or 2012.


Under the Company’s nonqualified savings plans (“NSPs”), the Company provides eligible employees the opportunity to enter into agreements for the deferral of a specified percentage of their compensation, as defined in the NSPs. The NSPs call for Company matching contributions on a sliding scale based on the level of the employee’s contribution. The obligations of the Company under such agreements to pay the deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of the NSPs are unsecured general obligations of the Company. Participants have no right, interest or claim in the assets of the Company, except as unsecured general creditors. The Company has established a rabbi trust to hold, invest and reinvest deferrals and contributions under the NSPs. If a change in control of the Company occurs, as defined in the NSPs, the Company will contribute an amount to the rabbi trust sufficient to pay the obligation owed to each participant. Deferred compensation in connection with the NSPs totaled $24.5 million at December 28, 2014. The Company invests the deferrals in insurance instruments with readily determinable cash surrender values.


Foreign Defined Benefit Plans


The Company has trusteed defined benefit retirement plans which cover many of its European employees. The benefits are generally based on years of service and the employee’s average monthly compensation. Pension expense was $0.1 million, $1.0 million and $0.8 million for the years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Plan assets are primarily invested in equity and fixed income securities. The Company uses a year-end measurement date for the plans. As of December 28, 2014, for the European plans, the Company had a net liability recorded of $14.7 million, an amount equal to their underfunded status, and has recorded in Other Comprehensive Income an amount equal to $45.4 million (net of taxes) related to the future amounts to be recorded in net post-retirement benefit costs.


The tables presented below set forth the funded status of the Company’s significant foreign defined benefit plans and required disclosures in accordance with applicable accounting standards


   

FISCAL YEAR

 
   

2014

   

2013

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Change in benefit obligation

               

Benefit obligation, beginning of year

  $ 251,181     $ 243,649  

Service cost

    705       804  

Interest cost

    10,563       9,610  

Benefits and expenses paid

    (9,542 )     (10,820 )

Actuarial loss (gain)

    41,631       2,312  

Member contributions

    294       331  

Currency translation adjustment

    (19,070 )     5,295  
                 

Benefit obligation, end of year

  $ 275,762     $ 251,181  

   

FISCAL YEAR

 
   

2014

   

2013

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Change in plan assets

               

Plan assets, beginning of year

  $ 253,761     $ 241,027  

Actual return on assets

    29,280       12,761  

Company contributions

    5,815       5,195  

Benefits paid

    (9,542 )     (10,807 )

Currency translation adjustment

    (18,288 )     5,585  
                 

Plan assets, end of year

  $ 261,026     $ 253,761  
                 

Reconciliation to balance sheet

               

Funded status benefit asset/(liability)

  $ (14,736 )   $ 2,580  
                 

Net amount recognized

  $ (14,736 )   $ 2,580  
                 

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (after tax)

               

Unrecognized actuarial loss

  $ 45,836     $ 31,302  

Unamortized prior service costs

    (423 )     152  

Total amount recognized

  $ 45,413     $ 31,454  

The above disclosure represents the aggregation of information related to the Company’s two defined benefit plans which cover many of its European employees. As of December 28, 2014, and December 29, 2013, one of these plans, which primarily covers certain employees in the United Kingdom (the “UK Plan”), had an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of the plan assets. The other plan, which covers certain employees in Europe (the “Europe Plan”), had assets in excess of the accumulated benefit obligation. The following table summarizes this information as of December 28, 2014, and December 29, 2013.


   

2014

   

2013

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 
UK Plan      

Projected Benefit Obligation

  $ 190,303     $ 176,909  

Accumulated Benefit Obligation

    190,303       176,909  

Plan Assets

    179,205       174,039  
                 
                 

Europe Plan

               

Projected Benefit Obligation

  $ 85,459     $ 74,272  

Accumulated Benefit Obligation

    81,353       71,297  

Plan Assets

    81,821       79,722  

   

FISCAL YEAR

 
   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Components of net periodic benefit cost

                       

Service cost

  $ 705     $ 804     $ 505  

Interest cost

    10,563       9,610       10,212  

Expected return on plan assets

    (11,904 )     (10,150 )     (11,203 )

Amortization of prior service cost

    19       89       86  

Recognized net actuarial (gains)/losses

    648       684       1,189  
                         

Net periodic benefit cost

  $ 31     $ 1,037     $ 789  

For 2015, it is estimated that approximately $1.0 million of expenses related to the amortization of unrecognized items will be included in the net periodic benefit cost. During 2014, other comprehensive income was impacted by approximately $24.4 million comprised of actuarial loss of approximately $25.0 million and amortization of $0.6 million.


   

FISCAL YEAR

 
   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost

                       

Discount rate

    4.0 %     4.0 %     4.7 %

Expected return on plan assets

    4.2 %     4.7 %     5.7 %

Rate of compensation

    2.0 %     2.0 %     2.0 %

Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations

                       

Discount rate

    3.2 %     4.25 %     4.0 %

Rate of compensation

    2.0 %     2.0 %     2.0 %

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption is based on weighted average expected returns for each asset class. Expected returns reflect a combination of historical performance analysis and the forward-looking views of the financial markets, and include input from actuaries, investment service firms and investment managers.


The Company’s foreign defined benefit plans’ accumulated benefit obligations were in excess of the fair value of plan assets. The projected benefit obligations, accumulated benefit obligations and fair value of these plans are as follows:


   

FISCAL YEAR

 
   

2014

   

2013

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Projected benefit obligation

  $ 275,762     $ 251,181  

Accumulated benefit obligations

    271,656       248,206  

Fair value of plan assets

    261,026       253,761  

The investment objectives of the foreign defined benefit plans are to maximize the return on the investments without exceeding the limits of the prudent pension fund investment, to ensure that the assets would be sufficient to exceed minimum funding requirements, and to achieve a favorable return against the performance expectation based on historic and projected rates of return over the short term. The goal is to optimize the long-term return on plan assets at a moderate level of risk, by balancing higher-returning assets, such as equity securities, with less volatile assets, such as fixed income securities. The assets are managed by professional investment firms and performance is evaluated periodically against specific benchmarks. The plans’ net assets did not include the Company’s own stock at December 28, 2014, or December 29, 2013.


The Company’s actual weighted average asset allocations for 2014 and 2013, and the targeted asset allocation for 2015, of the foreign defined benefit plans by asset category, are as follows:


   

FISCAL YEAR

 
   

2015

 

2014

   

2013

 
   

Target Allocation

 

Percentage of Plan Assets at Year End

 

Asset Category:

                       

Equity Securities

  55% - 65%     63%       65%  

Debt Securities

  30% - 40%     34%       32%  

Other

  0% - 5%     3%       3%  
                         
      100%       100%       100%  

Fair Value Measurements of Plan Assets


Accounting standards establish a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure estimated fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under applicable accounting standards are described below:


Level 1

 

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

         

Level 2

 

Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

     

quoted prices for similar assets in active markets;

     

quoted prices for identical or similar assets in inactive markets;

     

inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset; and

     

inputs that are derived principally or corroborated by observable data by correlation or other means.

         

Level 3

 

Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.


A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.


The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the foreign defined benefit plans’ assets at fair value, as of December 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013. As required by accounting standards, assets are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.


    Pension Plan Assets by Category as of December 28, 2014  
   

Europe Plan

   

UK Plan

   

Total

 
           

(in thousands)

         

Level 1

  $ 81,821     $ 173,271     $ 255,092  

Level 2

    0       0       0  

Level 3

    0       5,934       5,934  

Total

  $ 81,821     $ 179,205     $ 261,026  

    Pension Plan Assets by Category as of December 29, 2013  
   

Europe Plan

   

UK Plan

   

Total

 
           

(in thousands)

         

Level 1

  $ 79,722     $ 167,397     $ 247,119  

Level 2

    0       0       0  

Level 3

    0       6,642       6,642  

Total

  $ 79,722     $ 174,039     $ 253,761  

The assets identified as level 3 above relate to insured annuities held by the UK Plan. The fair value of these assets was calculated using the present value of the future pension payments due under the insurance policies. The table below indicates the change in value related to these level 3 assets during 2014:


   

2014

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Balance of level 3 assets, beginning of year

  $ 6,642  

Interest cost

    287  

Benefits paid

    (918 )

Actuarial loss

    212  

Translation adjustment

    (289 )

Ending Balance of level 3 assets

  $ 5,934  

During 2015, the Company expects to contribute $5.1 million to the plan trust. It is anticipated that future benefit payments for the foreign defined benefit plans will be as follows:


FISCAL YEAR

 

EXPECTED PAYMENTS

 
   

(in thousands)

 
         

2015

  $ 8,902  

2016

    9,021  

2017

    9,206  

2018

    9,664  

2019

    9,749  

2020-2024

    48,585  

Domestic Defined Benefit Plan


The Company maintains a domestic nonqualified salary continuation plan (“SCP”), which is designed to induce selected officers of the Company to remain in the employ of the Company by providing them with retirement, disability and death benefits in addition to those which they may receive under the Company’s other retirement plans and benefit programs. The SCP entitles participants to: (i) retirement benefits upon normal retirement at age 65 (or early retirement as early as age 55) after completing at least 15 years of service with the Company (unless otherwise provided in the SCP), payable for the remainder of their lives (or, if elected by a participant, a reduced benefit is payable for the remainder of the participant’s life and any surviving spouse’s life) and in no event less than 10 years under the death benefit feature; (ii) disability benefits payable for the period of any total disability; and (iii) death benefits payable to the designated beneficiary of the participant for a period of up to 10 years. Benefits are determined according to one of three formulas contained in the SCP, and the SCP is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, which has full discretion in choosing participants and the benefit formula applicable to each. The Company’s obligations under the SCP are currently unfunded (although the Company uses insurance instruments to hedge its exposure thereunder). The Company is required to contribute the present value of its obligations thereunder to an irrevocable grantor trust in the event of a change in control as defined in the SCP. The Company uses a year-end measurement date for the domestic SCP.


The tables presented below set forth the required disclosures in accordance with applicable accounting standards, and amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements related to the domestic SCP.


   

FISCAL YEAR

 
   

2014

   

2013

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Change in benefit obligation

               

Benefit obligation, beginning of year

  $ 20,947     $ 21,923  

Service cost

    500       534  

Interest cost

    1,071       997  

Benefits paid

    (847 )     (847 )

Actuarial loss (gain)

    2,345       (1,660 )
                 

Benefit obligation, end of year

  $ 24,016     $ 20,947  

The amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets are as follows:


   

2014

   

2013

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Current liabilities

  $ 847     $ 848  

Non-current liabilities

    23,169       20,099  
    $ 24,016     $ 20,947  

The components of the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income, after tax, are as follows:


   

2014

   

2013

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Unrecognized actuarial loss

  $ 3,949     $ 2,614  

Unrecognized transition asset

    0       0  

Unamortized prior service cost

    0       14  
    $ 3,949     $ 2,628  

The accumulated benefit obligation related to the SCP was $20.3 million and $17.6 million as of December 28, 2014, and December 29, 2013, respectively. The SCP is currently unfunded; as such, the benefit obligations disclosed are also the benefit obligations in excess of the plan assets. The Company uses insurance instruments to help limit its exposure under the SCP.


   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 
   

(in thousands, except for assumptions)

 

Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost

                       

Discount rate

    4.5 %     4.0 %     4.75 %

Rate of compensation

    4.0 %     4.0 %     4.0 %
                         

Assumptions used to determine benefit obligations

                       

Discount rate

    4.0 %     4.5 %     4.0 %

Rate of compensation

    4.0 %     4.0 %     4.0 %
                         

Components of net periodic benefit cost

                       

Service cost

  $ 500     $ 534     $ 452  

Interest cost

    1,072       997       1,014  

Amortizations

    291       489       316  
                         

Net periodic benefit cost

  $ 1,863     $ 2,020     $ 1,782  

The changes in other comprehensive income during 2014 related to this Plan were approximately $1.3 million, after tax, primarily comprised of a net loss during the period of $1.3 million.


For 2015, the Company estimates that approximately $0.5 million of expenses related to the amortization of unrecognized items will be included in net periodic benefit cost for the SCP.


During 2014, the Company contributed $0.8 million in the form of direct benefit payments for its domestic SCP. It is anticipated that future benefit payments for the SCP will be as follows:


FISCAL YEAR

 

EXPECTED PAYMENTS

 
   

(in thousands)

 

2015

  $ 847  

2016

    847  

2017

    847  

2018

    847  

2019

    847  

2020-2024

    9,504