v2.4.0.8
Defined Benefit Pension Plan
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Defined Benefit Pension Plan  
Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

15. Defined Benefit Pension Plan

        Certain employees of GoIndustry, which the Company acquired in July 2012, are covered by a qualified defined benefit pension plan.

        The Company recognizes the funded status of its postretirement benefit plans, with a corresponding noncash adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, in stockholders' equity. The funded status is measured as the difference between the fair value of the plan's assets and the benefit obligation of the plan.

        The net periodic benefit cost recognized for the year ended September 30, 2013 and the year ended September 30, 2012, included the following components:


Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 
  Year ended
September 30,
 
 
  2013   2012  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Service cost

         

Interest cost

  $ 1,055   $ 269  

Expected return on plan assets

    (1,055 )   (248 )

Amortization of prior service cost

         

Amortization of actuarial (gain)/loss

         

Amortization of transitional obligation/(asset)

         
           

Total net periodic benefit cost

      $ 21  
           

        The following table provides a reconciliation of benefit obligations, plan assets, and unfunded status related to the Company's qualified defined benefit pension plan, net periodic benefit cost recognized for the year ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, included the following components:


Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 
  Year ended
September 30,
 
 
  2013   2012  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Change in benefit obligation

             

Beginning balance

  $ 25,106      

Acquisitions/divestitures

      $ 24,263  

Service cost

         

Interest cost

    1,055     269  

Benefits paid

    (617 )   (264 )

Actuarial (gain)/loss

    (33 )    

Plan amendments

         

Foreign currency exchange rate changes

    47     838  

Participants' contributions

         
           

Ending balance

  $ 25,558   $ 25,106  
           


Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 
  Year ended
September 30,
 
 
  2013   2012  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Change in plan assets

             

Beginning balance at fair value

  $ 19,320      

Acquisitions/divestitures

      $ 17,795  

Actual return on plan assets

    1,566     820  

Benefits paid

    (617 )   (264 )

Employer's contributions

    1,632     322  

Participants' contributions

         

Foreign currency exchange rate changes

    105     647  
           

Ending balance at fair value

  $ 22,006   $ 19,320  
           

Underfunded status of the plan

  $ (3,552 ) $ (5,786 )
           

        The accrued pension liability of $3.6 million is recorded in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities and Deferred taxes and other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Because the plan is closed to new participants, the accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) is equal to the projected benefit obligation (PBO), and totals $25,558,000 and $25,106,000 at September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively.

        The amount recognized in other comprehensive loss related to the Company's qualified defined benefit pension plan, net of tax, for the year ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, is shown in the following table:


Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 
  Year ended
September 30,
 
 
  2013   2012  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Accumulated OCI

             

Accumulated OCI at beginning of year

  $ (584 )    

New actuarial (gains)/losses

    (563 ) $ (584 )

Amortization of prior service cost

         

Amortization of actuarial (gain)/loss

         

Amortization of transitional obligation/(asset)

         

Amount recognized in earnings for settlement

         
           

Accumulated OCI at end of year

  $ (1,147 ) $ (584 )
           

        Estimated amounts to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net periodic benefit cost during 2014 based on September 30, 2013, plan measurements are $0. The plan complies with the funding provisions of the UK Pensions Act 2004 and the Occupational Pension Schemes Regulations Act 2005. In 2014, the Company expects to contribute $1.7 million to the plan. In addition, the Company expects to make the following pension plan contributions over the next 10 years:

 
  Plan Contributions  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Year ending September 30,

       

2014

  $ 1,690  

2015

    1,690  

2016

    1,690  

2017

    563  

2018

     

2019 through 2023

     
       

Total

  $ 5,633  
       
  • Actuarial Assumptions

        The actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations at September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, and to determine the net periodic benefit cost for the year were as follows:


Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 
  2013   2012  

Discount rate

    4.40 %   4.40 %

Expected return on plan assets

    5.80 %   5.50 %

Increases to non-GMP pensions in payment accrued pre 4/6/97

    0.00 %   0.00 %

Increases to non-GMP pensions in payment accrued post 4/6/97

    2.50 %   2.30 %

Rate of increases to deferred CPI linked benefits

    2.50 %   2.30 %

Rate of increases to deferred RPI linked benefits

    3.40 %   3.00 %

        Mortality—90% of S1NxA tables, projected in line with 2012 CMI projection model and 1.0% pa long-term rate of improvement.

  • Estimated Future Benefit Payments

        The Company's pension plan expects to make the following benefit payments to participants over the next 10 years:

 
  Pension Benefits  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Year ending September 30,

       

2014

  $ 859  

2015

    771  

2016

    735  

2017

    1,212  

2018

    948  

2019 through 2023

    5,524  
       

Total

  $ 10,049  
       
  • Fair Value Measurements

        The investment policy and strategy of the plan assets, as established by the Trustees of the plan, strive to maximize the likelihood of achieving primary objectives of the investment policy established for the plan. The primary objectives are:

  • 1)
    Funding—to ensure that the Plan is fully funded using assumptions that contain a modest margin for prudence. Where an actuarial valuation reveals a deficit, a recovery plan will be put in place which will take into account the financial covenant of the employer;

    2)
    Stability—to have due regard to the likely level and volatility of required contributions when setting the Plan's investment strategy; and

    3)
    Security—to ensure that the solvency position of the Plan is expected to improve. The Trustees will take into account the strength of employer's covenant when determining the expected improvement in the solvency position of the Plan.

        Assets were initially invested based on the target allocations stated below. The assets are allocated among equity investments and fixed income securities. The Trustees review the investment policy on an ongoing basis, to determine whether a change in the policy or asset allocation targets is necessary. The assets are not rebalanced and consisted of the following as of September 30, 2013:

 
  Target
Allocation
  Actual
2013
 

Equity securities

    70 %   49.4 %

Fixed-income securities

    30 %   50.0 %

Cash equivalents

    0 %   0.6 %
           

Total

    100.0 %   100.0 %
           

        The class of equity securities consists of one pooled fund whose strategy is to invest in approximately 70% UK company shares (domestic) and 30% international equity securities. The class of fixed-income securities consists of one pooled fund whose strategy is to invest in a limited number of government and corporate bonds.

        The expected long-term rate of return for the plan's total assets is based on the expected returns of each of the above categories, weighted based on the current target allocation for each class. The Trustees evaluate whether adjustments are needed based on historical returns to more accurately reflect expectations of future returns.

        The Company is required to present certain fair value disclosures related to its postretirement benefit plan assets, even though those assets are not included on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table presents the fair value of the assets of the Company's qualified defined benefit pension plan by asset category and their level within the fair value hierarchy, which has three levels based on reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value. Level 1 refers to fair values determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, Level 2 refers to fair values estimated using significant other observable inputs, and Level 3 includes fair values estimated using significant unobservable inputs.

Balance as of September 30, 2013
  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Equity securities

      $ 10,871       $ 10,871  

Fixed-income securities

        11,003         11,003  

Cash equivalents

  $ 132             132  
                   

Total

  $ 132   $ 21,874       $ 22,006  
                   


 

Balance as of September 30, 2012
  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

International equity

      $ 9,115       $ 9,115  

Fixed-income securities

        10,055         10,055  

Cash equivalents

  $ 150             150  
                   

Total

  $ 150   $ 19,170       $ 19,320  
                   
  • Valuation Techniques

        The Company relies on pricing inputs from investment fund managers to value investments. The fund manager prices the underlying securities using independent external pricing sources, or determined according to approved pricing policies in circumstances where independent sources are not available.