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Defined contribution and defined benefit retirement

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Defined contribution and defined benefit retirement

Note 11 – Defined contribution and defined benefit retirement:

Defined contribution plans. Certain of our subsidiaries maintain various defined contribution pension plans for our employees worldwide. Defined contribution plan expense approximated $7.8 million in 2021, $8.0 million in 2022 and $8.2 million in 2023.

Defined benefit plans. Kronos and NL sponsor various defined benefit pension plans worldwide. The benefits under our defined benefit plans are based upon years of service and employee compensation. Our funding policy is to contribute annually the minimum amount required under ERISA (or equivalent foreign) regulations plus additional amounts as we deem appropriate. We recognize an asset or liability for the over or under funded status of each of our individual defined benefit pension plans on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the funded status of these plans are recognized either in net income, to the extent they are reflected in periodic benefit cost, or through other comprehensive income (loss).

We previously maintained a defined benefit pension plan in the United Kingdom (U.K.) related to a former disposed U.K. business unit. In accordance with applicable U.K. pension regulations, we entered into an agreement in March 2021 for the bulk annuity purchase, or “buy-in”, with a specialist insurer of defined benefit pension plans. Following the buy-in, individual policies replaced the bulk annuity policy in a “buy-out” which was completed as of May 1, 2023. The buy-out was completed with existing plan funds. At the completion of the buy-out, the assets and liabilities of the U.K. pension plan were removed from our Consolidated Financial Statements and a non-cash pension plan termination loss of $6.2 million was recognized in the second quarter of 2023.

​

We expect to contribute the equivalent of approximately $18 million to all of our defined benefit pension plans during 2024. Benefit payments to plan participants out of plan assets are expected to be the equivalent of:

​

​	​	​	​
Years ending December 31,		Amount
​	​	(In millions)
2024	​	$	28.4
2025	​		28.3
2026	​		28.7
2027	​	​	31.6
2028	​		35.7
Next 5 years	​	​	169.5

​

The funded status of our U.S. defined benefit pension plans is presented in the table below.

​	​	​	​	​	​	​
​	​	Years ended December 31,
​		2022			2023
​	​	(In millions)
Change in projected benefit obligations (PBO):	​	​	​	​	​	​
Balance at beginning of the year	​	$	58.0	​	$	43.4
Interest cost	​		1.4	​		2.2
Actuarial losses (gains)	​		(11.8)	​		1.2
Benefits paid	​		(4.2)	​		(4.1)
Balance at end of the year	​	$	43.4	​	$	42.7
​	​	​	​	​	​	​
Change in plan assets:	​	​	​	​	​	​
Fair value at beginning of the year	​	$	52.4	​	$	39.1
Actual return on plan assets	​		(10.7)	​		3.7
Employer contributions	​		1.6	​		1.6
Benefits paid	​		(4.2)	​		(4.1)
Fair value at end of the year	​	$	39.1	​	$	40.3
Funded status	​	$	(4.3)	​	$	(2.4)
​	​	​	​	​	​	​
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:	​	​	​	​	​	​
Accrued pension costs:	​	​	​	​	​	​
Current	​	$	(.1)	​	$	—
Noncurrent	​		(4.2)	​		(2.4)
Total	​		(4.3)	​		(2.4)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss - actuarial losses	​		32.2	​		30.3
Total	​	$	27.9	​	$	27.9
Accumulated benefit obligations (ABO)	​	$	43.4	​	$	42.7

​

The total net underfunded status of our U.S. defined benefit pension plans decreased from $4.3 million at December 31, 2022 to $2.4 million at December 31, 2023 due to the change in our plan assets during 2023 exceeding the change in our PBO during 2023. The increase in our plan assets in 2023 was primarily attributable to improved returns on plan assets. The decrease in our PBO in 2023 was primarily attributable to lower actuarial gains due to the decrease in discount rates from year end 2022.

The components of our net periodic defined benefit pension cost for U.S. plans are presented in the table below. The amounts shown below for the amortization of recognized actuarial losses for 2021, 2022 and 2023 were recognized as components of our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, net of deferred income taxes and noncontrolling interest.

​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​
​	​	Years ended December 31,
​		2021			2022			2023
​	​	(In millions)
Net periodic pension cost for U.S. plans:	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​
Interest cost	​	$	1.3	​	$	1.4	​	$	2.2
Expected return on plan assets	​		(2.1)	​		(2.0)	​		(1.9)
Recognized net actuarial losses	​		2.1	​		1.9	​		2.0
Settlements	​	​	(.5)	​	​	—	​	​	—
Total	​	$	.8	​	$	1.3	​	$	2.3

​

Information concerning our U.S. defined benefit pension plans (for which the ABO of all of the plans exceeds the fair value of plan assets as of the indicated date) is presented in the table below.

​	​	​	​	​	​	​
​	​	December 31,
​		2022			2023
​	​	(In millions)
Plans for which the ABO exceeds plan assets:	​	​	​	​	​	​
Projected benefit obligations	​	$	43.4	​	$	42.7
Accumulated benefit obligations	​		43.4	​		42.7
Fair value of plan assets	​		39.1	​		40.3

​

The discount rate assumptions used in determining the actuarial present value of the benefit obligation for our U.S. defined benefit pension plans as of December 31, 2022 and 2023 are 5.3% and 5.0%, respectively. The impact of assumed increases in future compensation levels does not have an effect on the benefit obligation as the plans are frozen with regards to compensation.

The weighted-average rate assumptions used in determining the net periodic pension cost for our U.S. defined benefit pension plans for 2021, 2022 and 2023 are presented in the table below. The impact of assumed increases in future compensation levels does not have an effect on the periodic pension cost as the plans are frozen with regards to compensation.

​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​
​	​	Years ended December 31,
​		2021		2022		2023
Discount rate		2.2%	​	2.6%	​	5.3%	​
Long-term return on plan assets		4.0%	​	4.0%	​	5.0%	​

​

Variances from actuarially assumed rates will result in increases or decreases in accumulated pension obligations, pension expense and funding requirements in future periods.

The funded status of our non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans is presented in the table below.

​	​	​	​	​	​	​
​	​	Years ended December 31,
​		2022			2023
​	​	(In millions)
Change in PBO:	​	​	​	​	​	​
Balance at beginning of the year	​	$	758.1	​	$	508.6
Service cost	​		11.3	​		6.3
Interest cost	​		10.6	​		19.8
Participants’ contributions	​		1.7	​		1.8
Actuarial losses (gains)	​		(198.6)	​		44.3
Settlements	​	​	(1.4)	​	​	(8.6)
Change in currency exchange rates	​		(51.2)	​		14.1
Benefits paid	​		(21.9)	​		(22.6)
Balance at end of the year	​	$	508.6	​	$	563.7
​	​	​	​	​	​	​
Change in plan assets:	​	​	​	​	​	​
Fair value at beginning of the year	​	$	481.5	​	$	390.5
Actual return on plan assets	​		(52.5)	​		37.4
Employer contributions	​		15.0	​		14.7
Participants' contributions	​		1.7	​		1.8
Settlements	​	​	(1.2)	​	​	(8.6)
Change in currency exchange rates	​		(32.1)	​		9.4
Benefits paid	​		(21.9)	​		(22.6)
Fair value at end of the year	​	$	390.5	​	$	422.6
Funded status	​	$	(118.1)	​	$	(141.1)
​	​	​	​	​	​	​
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:	​	​	​	​	​	​
Noncurrent pension asset	​	$	9.3	​	$	8.1
Noncurrent accrued pension costs	​		(127.4)	​		(149.2)
Total	​		(118.1)	​		(141.1)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss:	​	​	​	​	​	​
Actuarial losses	​		90.0	​		106.8
Prior service cost	​		.4	​		.3
Total	​		90.4	​		107.1
Total	​	$	(27.7)	​	$	(34.0)
ABO	​	$	493.9	​	$	549.8

​

The total net underfunded status of our non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans increased from $118.1 million at December 31, 2022 to $141.1 million at December 31, 2023 due to the change in our PBO during 2023 exceeding the change in plan assets during 2023. The increase in our PBO in 2023 was primarily attributable to higher actuarial losses due to the decrease in discount rates from year end 2022 and unfavorable currency fluctuations, primarily from the weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to the euro. The increase in our plan assets in 2023 was primarily attributable to positive plan asset returns in 2023 and favorable currency fluctuations (primarily from the weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to the euro) and employer contributions.

The components of our net periodic pension benefit cost for our non-U.S. plans are presented in the table below. The amounts shown below for the amortization of prior service cost and recognized net actuarial losses for 2021, 2022 and 2023 were recognized as components of our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, net of deferred income taxes and noncontrolling interest.

​

​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​
​	​	Years ended December 31,
​		2021			2022			2023
​	​	(In millions)
Net periodic pension cost for non-U.S. plans:	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​
Service cost	​	$	14.7	​	$	11.3	​	$	6.3
Interest cost	​		8.3	​		10.6	​		19.8
Expected return on plan assets	​		(11.4)	​		(11.1)	​		(18.3)
Recognized net actuarial losses	​		19.5	​		12.8	​		1.8
Amortization of prior service cost	​		.2	​		.1	​		—
Settlements	​		—	​		.4	​		6.5
Total	​	$	31.3	​	$	24.1	​	$	16.1

​

Information concerning certain of our non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans (for which the ABO exceeds the fair value of plan assets as of the indicated date) is presented in the table below.

​	​	​	​	​	​	​
​	​	December 31,
​		2022			2023
​	​	(In millions)
Plans for which the ABO exceeds plan assets:	​	​	​	​	​	​
Projected benefit obligations	​	$	403.5	​	$	463.1
Accumulated benefit obligations	​		392.4	​		452.9
Fair value of plan assets	​		276.0	​		313.8

​

The key actuarial assumptions used to determine our non-U.S. benefit obligations as of December 31, 2022 and 2023 are as follows:

​	​	​	​	​	​	​
​	​	​	December 31,
​	​		2022		2023
Discount rate	​		3.9%	​	3.4%	​
Increase in future compensation levels	​		2.7%	​	2.7%	​

​

A summary of our key actuarial assumptions used to determine non-U.S. net periodic benefit cost for 2021, 2022 and 2023 are as follows:

​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​
​	​	​	Years ended December 31,
​	​		2021		2022	​	2023
Discount rate	​		1.0%	​	1.5%	​	3.9%	​
Increase in future compensation levels	​		2.6%	​	2.6%	​	2.7%	​
Long-term return on plan assets	​		2.4%	​	2.5%	​	4.6%	​

​

Variances from actuarially assumed rates will result in increases or decreases in accumulated pension obligations, pension expense and funding requirements in future periods.

The amounts shown for all of our periodic defined benefit plans for actuarial losses and prior service cost at December 31, 2022 and 2023 have not been recognized as components of our periodic defined benefit pension cost as of those dates. These amounts will be recognized as components of our periodic defined benefit cost in future years. These amounts, net of deferred income taxes and noncontrolling interest, are recognized in our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31, 2022 and 2023. We expect approximately $3.9 million and $.1 million of the unrecognized

actuarial losses and prior service cost, respectively, will be recognized as components of our periodic defined benefit pension cost in 2024. The table below details the changes in other comprehensive income (loss) during 2021, 2022 and 2023.

​

​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​
​		Years ended December 31,
​	​	2021		​	2022		​	2023
​	(In millions)
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in   other comprehensive income (loss):		​			​			​
Net actuarial gains (losses)	​	$	50.7	​	$	134.1	​	$	(25.5)
Amortization of unrecognized:	​			​			​
Net actuarial losses	​		21.6	​		14.7	​		3.8
Prior service cost	​		.2	​		.1	​		—
Settlements	​		—	​		.4	​		6.5
Total	​	$	72.5	​	$	149.3	​	$	(15.2)

​

In determining the expected long-term rate of return on plan asset assumptions, we consider the long-term asset mix (e.g. equity vs. fixed income) for the assets for each of our plans and the expected long-term rates of return for such asset components. In addition, we receive third-party advice about appropriate long-term rates of return. Such assumed asset mixes are summarized below:

● In Germany, the composition of our plan assets is established to satisfy the requirements of the German insurance commissioner. Our German pension plan assets represent an investment in a large collective investment fund established and maintained by Bayer AG in which several pension plans, including our German pension plans and Bayer’s pension plans, have invested. Our plan assets represent a very nominal portion of the total collective investment fund maintained by Bayer. These plan assets are a Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy because there is not an active market that approximates the value of our investment in the Bayer investment fund. We estimate the fair value of the Bayer plan assets based on periodic reports we receive from the managers of the Bayer fund and using a model we developed with assistance from our third-party actuary that uses estimated asset allocations and correlates such allocation to similar asset mixes in fund indexes quoted on an active market. We periodically evaluate the results of our valuation model against actual returns in the Bayer fund and adjust the model as needed. The Bayer fund periodic reports are subject to audit by the German pension regulator.

● In Canada, we currently have a plan asset target allocation of up to 10% to equity securities and 90 –100% to fixed income securities. We expect the long-term rate of return for such investments to approximate the applicable equity or fixed income index. The Canadian assets are Level 1 inputs because they are traded in active markets.

● In Norway, we currently have a plan asset target allocation of 18% to equity securities, 63% to fixed income securities, 14% to real estate and the remainder primarily to other investments and liquid investments such as money markets. The expected long-term rate of return for such investments is approximately 7%, 4%, 6% and 7%, respectively. The majority of Norwegian plan assets are Level 1 inputs because they are traded in active markets; however, approximately 14% of our Norwegian plan assets are invested in real estate and other investments not actively traded and are therefore a Level 3 input.

● In the U.S. we currently have a plan asset target allocation of 33% to equity securities, 59% to fixed income securities and the remainder is allocated to multi-asset and other strategies. The expected long-term rate of return for our equity securities and fixed income securities is approximately 7% and 5%, respectively (before plan administrative expenses). Approximately 98% of our U.S. plan assets are invested in funds that are valued at net asset value (NAV) and not subject to classification in the fair value hierarchy.

● We also have plan assets in Belgium. The Belgian plan assets are invested in certain individualized fixed income insurance contracts for the benefit of each plan participant as required by the local regulators and are therefore a Level 3 input. We had plan assets in the United Kingdom invested primarily in insurance contracts

that were a Level 3 input as of December 31, 2022. During 2023, we completed a termination and buy-out of our pension plan in the United Kingdom resulting in a $6.2 million settlement loss.

We regularly review our actual asset allocation for each plan, and will periodically rebalance the investments in each plan to more accurately reflect the targeted allocation and/or maximize the overall long-term return when considered appropriate.

The composition of our pension plan assets by asset category and fair value level at December 31, 2022 and 2023 is shown in the tables below.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2022

​

​

​

Quoted

Significant

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Prices in

​

Other

​

Significant

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Active

​

Observable

​

Unobservable

​

Assets

​

​

​

​

​

Markets

​

Inputs

​

Inputs

​

measured

​

​

Total

​

(Level 1)

​

(Level 2)

​

(Level 3)

​

at NAV

​

​

(In millions)

Germany

​

$

234.0

​

$

—

​

$

—

​

$

234.0

​

$

—

Canada:

​

​

​

​

​

Local currency equities

​

.1

​

.1

​

—

​

—

​

—

Non local currency equities

​

11.0

​

11.0

​

—

​

—

​

—

Local currency fixed income

​

72.9

​

72.9

​

—

​

—

​

—

Cash and other

​

.6

​

.6

​

—

​

—

​

—

Norway:

​

​

​

​

​

Local currency equities

​

2.3

​

2.3

​

—

​

—

​

—

Non local currency equities

​

4.7

​

4.7

​

—

​

—

​

—

Local currency fixed income

​

21.8

​

7.0

​

14.8

​

—

​

—

Non local currency fixed income

​

8.4

​

8.4

​

—

​

—

​

—

Real estate

​

7.8

​

—

​

—

​

7.8

​

—

Cash and other

​

2.7

​

2.4

​

—

​

.3

​

—

U.S.:

​

​

​

​

​

​

Equities

​

12.4

​

1.0

​

—

​

—

​

11.4

Fixed income

​

22.9

​

.2

​

—

​

—

​

22.7

Cash and other

​

3.8

​

2.8

​

—

​

—

​

1.0

Other

​

24.2

​

1.5

​

—

​

22.7

​

—

Total

​

$

429.6

​

$

114.9

​

$

14.8

​

$

264.8

​

$

35.1

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2023

​

​

​

Quoted

Significant

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Prices in

​

Other

​

Significant

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Active

​

Observable

​

Unobservable

​

Assets

​

​

​

​

​

Markets

​

Inputs

​

Inputs

​

measured

​

​

Total

​

(Level 1)

​

(Level 2)

​

(Level 3)

​

at NAV

​

​

(In millions)

Germany

​

$

269.4

​

$

—

​

$

—

​

$

269.4

​

$

—

Canada:

​

​

​

​

​

Non local currency equities

​

2.7

​

2.7

​

—

​

—

​

—

Local currency fixed income

​

86.2

​

86.2

​

—

​

—

​

—

Cash and other

​

1.1

​

1.1

​

—

​

—

​

—

Norway:

​

​

​

​

​

Local currency equities

​

2.4

​

2.4

​

—

​

—

​

—

Non local currency equities

​

7.2

​

7.2

​

—

​

—

​

—

Local currency fixed income

​

23.9

​

4.4

​

19.5

​

—

​

—

Non local currency fixed income

​

4.2

​

4.2

​

—

​

—

​

—

Real estate

​

6.6

​

—

​

—

​

6.6

​

—

Cash and other

​

3.0

​

2.8

​

—

​

.2

​

—

U.S.:

​

​

​

​

​

​

Equities

​

11.3

​

—

​

—

​

—

​

11.3

Fixed income

​

27.1

​

—

​

—

​

—

​

27.1

Cash and other

​

1.9

​

.7

​

—

​

—

​

1.2

Other

​

15.9

​

—

​

—

​

15.9

​

—

Total

​

$

462.9

​

$

111.7

​

$

19.5

​

$

292.1

​

$

39.6

A rollforward of the change in fair value of Level 3 assets follows.

​	​	​	​	​	​	​
​	​	Years ended December 31,
​		2022			2023
​	​	(In millions)
Fair value at beginning of year	​	$	320.5	​	$	264.8
Gain (loss) on assets held at end of year	​		(31.0)	​		11.1
Gain (loss) on assets sold during the year	​		(3.6)	​		14.4
Assets purchased	​		13.8	​		1.7
Assets sold	​		(15.5)	​		(9.3)
Transfers out	​	​	(.1)	​	​	—
Currency exchange rate fluctuations	​		(19.3)	​		9.4
Fair value at end of year	​	$	264.8	​	$	292.1

​

X

- References

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X

- Definition

The entire disclosure for retirement benefits.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 70
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480794/715-70-50-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480482/715-20-55-17

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(iv)(03)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (q)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (l)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//715/tableOfContent

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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