XML 520 R23.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.22.0.1
Pension Plans
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Pension Plans Pension Plans
The Company has defined benefit pension plans in the U.K., the U.S. and France. The levels of funding are determined by periodic actuarial valuations. The assets of the plans are generally held in separate Trustee-administered funds. The Company also operates defined contribution plans in the U.K., the U.S., Australia and Canada.
The "10% corridor" method for recognizing gains and losses has been adopted. This methodology means that cumulative gains and losses up to an amount equal to 10% of the higher of the liabilities and the assets (the corridor) have no impact on the pension cost. Cumulative gains or losses greater than this corridor are amortized over the average future lifetime of the members in the plans.
The principal defined benefit pension plan in the Company is the U.K. Luxfer Group Pension Plan ("the Plan"), which closed to new members in 1998, with new employees then being eligible for a defined contribution plan. In April 2016, the Plan was closed to further benefit accrual, with members being offered contributions to a defined contribution plan. The Company's other arrangements are less significant than the Plan, the largest being the BA Holdings, Inc. Pension Plan in the U.S. In December 2005, this plan was closed to further benefit accrual, with members being offered contributions to that company's 401(k) plan. At January 1, 2016, the U.S. pension plans (BA Holdings Inc. Pension Plan and Luxfer Hourly Pension Plan) merged into one plan.
The following tables present reconciliations of plan benefit obligations, fair value of plan assets and the funded status of pension plans as of and for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
202120212021202020202020
In millionsU.K.U.S. / otherTotalU.K.U.S. / otherTotal
Change in benefit obligations
Benefit obligation at January 1$404.0 $50.7 $454.7 $359.2 $47.1 $406.3 
Interest cost5.6 1.1 6.7 7.0 1.4 8.4 
Actuarial (gain) / loss (29.6)(0.8)(30.4)40.7 4.7 45.4 
Exchange difference(4.0)— (4.0)11.7 — 11.7 
Benefits paid(13.1)(2.3)(15.4)(14.7)(2.5)(17.2)
Prior service cost — — — 0.1 — 0.1 
Benefit obligation at December 31$362.9 $48.7 $411.6 $404.0 $50.7 $454.7 
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at January 1$358.9 $45.0 $403.9 $328.7 $42.4 $371.1 
Actual return on assets16.3 4.1 20.4 27.9 5.1 33.0 
Exchange difference(3.7)— (3.7)11.2 — 11.2 
Contributions from employer18.2 — 18.2 5.8 — 5.8 
Benefits paid(13.1)(2.3)(15.4)(14.7)(2.5)(17.2)
Fair value of plan assets at December 31$376.6 $46.8 $423.4 $358.9 $45.0 $403.9 
Funded status
Net benefit surplus / (obligation)$13.7 $(1.9)$11.8 $(45.1)$(5.7)$(50.8)

The net benefit surplus of $13.7 million in the U.K. plan is recorded in non-current assets at December 31, 2021, and the net benefit obligation of $1.9 million in the U.S. / other is recorded in non-current liabilities at December 31, 2021.
The net benefit obligation of $50.8 million was recorded in non-current liabilities at December 31, 2020, as all plans were in a net benefit obligation position.
In December 2021, the Company made a special one-off deficit reduction payment to the U.K. Plan of $12.7 million. The payment means the Company is not expected to make any additional contributions to the Plan for at least the next three years.
14.     Pension Plans (continued)
The amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income in respect of the pension plans were as follows:
202120212021202020202020201920192019
In millionsU.K.U.S. / otherTotalU.K.U.S. / otherTotalU.K.U.S. / otherTotal
In respect of defined benefit plans:
Current service cost$— $— $— $— $— $— $— $0.1 $0.1 
Interest cost5.6 1.1 6.7 7.0 1.4 8.4 9.2 1.9 11.1 
Expected return on assets(10.2)(1.8)(12.0)(12.2)(2.3)(14.5)(13.4)(2.3)(15.7)
Curtailment gain— — — — — — — (1.8)(1.8)
Settlement loss— — — — — — — 0.8 0.8 
Amortization of net actuarial loss3.4 0.4 3.8 2.3 0.3 2.6 2.5 0.6 3.1 
Amortization of prior service credit(0.4)— (0.4)(0.4)— (0.4)(0.4)— (0.4)
Total credit for defined benefit plans$(1.6)$(0.3)$(1.9)$(3.3)$(0.6)$(3.9)$(2.1)$(0.7)$(2.8)
In respect of defined contribution plans:
Total charge for defined contribution plans$2.1 $1.5 $3.6 $1.5 $1.9 $3.4 $2.1 $2.1 $4.2 
Total charge / (credit) for benefit plans$0.5 $1.2 $1.7 $(1.8)$1.3 $(0.5)$— $1.4 $1.4 

In accordance with ASC 715, defined benefit pension credit is split in the income statement, with $0.4 million (2020: $0.4 million; 2019: $0.3 million) of expenses recognized within sales, general and administrative expenses and a credit of $2.3 million (2020: $4.3 million credit; 2019: $1.3 million credit) recognized below operating income in the income statement. In 2019, a credit of $1.8 million was recognized in relation to the curtailment gain on the French pension plan, recognized in restructuring charge in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
The following table shows other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income during the years ended December 31:
In millions202120202019
Net actuarial gain / (loss)$38.8 $(26.9)$(7.5)
Amortization of actuarial loss3.8 2.6 3.1 
Prior service cost— (0.1)— 
Amortization of prior service credit(0.4)(0.4)(0.4)
Total recognized in other comprehensive income / (loss)42.2 (24.8)(4.8)
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income / (loss)$44.1 $(20.9)$(2.0)

The estimated net loss for defined benefit plans included in AOCI that will be recognized in net periodic benefit cost during 2022 is $1.9 million, consisting of amortization of net actuarial loss of $2.3 million, partially offset by amortization of prior service credit of $0.4 million.
The following table shows the amounts included in AOCI that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost for the years ended December 31:
In millions20212020
Gross actuarial loss$(122.5)$(165.1)
Gross prior service credit11.4 11.8 
Total included in AOCI not yet recognized in the statement of income$(111.1)$(153.3)
14.     Pension Plans (continued)
In September 2019, the U.K. Statistics Authority announced plans to reform the RPI inflation index. On November 25, 2020, the government and U.K. Statistics Authority confirmed these plans to reform the RPI index to bring it into line with the CPIH index from 2030, with no compensation for the holders of index-linked gilts. Inflation measured by the CPIH is consistently significantly lower than that measured by RPI, and, therefore, these plans imply a significant expected reduction in RPI inflation from 2030 onwards. As a result.we have taken a stepped approach and used different inflation rates pre and post 2030.
The financial assumptions used in the calculations were:
Projected Unit Credit Valuation
U.K.U.S.
202120202019202120202019
%%%%%%
Discount rate1.90 1.40 2.10 2.70 2.30 3.10 
Expected return on assets3.30 3.00 4.10 2.50 5.00 6.20 
Pre-2030
Retail Price Inflation3.30 2.90 2.90 n/an/an/a
Consumer Price Inflation2.20 1.80 2.00 n/an/an/a
Pension increases
     Pre 6 April 19972.00 1.70 1.80 n/an/an/a
     1997 - 20052.20 1.90 2.10 n/an/an/a
     Post 5 April 20051.80 1.60 1.70 n/an/an/a
Post-2030
Retail Price Inflation3.30 2.70 2.90 n/an/an/a
Consumer Price Inflation3.20 2.60 2.00 n/an/an/a
Pension increases
     Pre 6 April 19972.50 2.20 1.80 n/an/an/a
     1997 - 20053.10 2.60 2.10 n/an/an/a
     Post 5 April 20052.20 2.00 1.70 n/an/an/a
The discount rate used for the UK Plan represents the annualized yield based on a cash-flow matched methodology, with reference to an AA corporate bond spot curve and having regard to the duration of the Plan’s liabilities. The inflation rate is derived using a similar cash flow matched methodology as used for the discount rate but with regard to the difference between yields on fixed-interest and index-linked United Kingdom government gilts. The expected return on assets assumption is set with regard to the asset allocation and expected return on each asset class as of the balance sheet date.
20212020
Other principal actuarial assumptions:YearsYears
Life expectancy of male / female in the U.K. aged 65 at accounting date
21.1 / 22.9
21.5 / 24.3
Life expectancy of male / female in the U.K. aged 65 at 20 years after accounting date
22.4 / 24.4
22.9 / 25.8
Investment strategies
For the principal defined benefit plan in the Company and the U.K., the Luxfer Group Pension Plan, (the "Plan," as defined above), the assets are invested in a diversified range of asset classes and include matching assets (comprising fixed-interest and index-linked bonds and swaps) and growth assets (comprising all other assets). The Trustees of the Plan have formulated a de-risking strategy to help control the short-term risk of volatility associated with holding growth assets. The Trustees also monitor the cost of a buy-in to secure pensioner liabilities with an insurance company to ensure they and the Company are able to act if such an opportunity arises. Other options to progressively reduce the scale of the liabilities are discussed between the Trustees and the Company.
14.     Pension Plans (continued)
Risk exposures
The U.K. plan currently has a strategic target to hold 40 percent of assets in equity and other growth investments, with the intention of growing the value of assets relative to liabilities. Although there is an intention to further increase the proportion of matching assets over the next few years towards 75 percent, at the current level of 60 percent, the Company is at risk if the value of liabilities grows at a faster rate than the plans' assets, or if there is a significant fall in the value of these assets not matched by a fall in the value of liabilities. If any of these events occurred, it would be expected to lead to an increase in the Company's future cash contributions.
Special events
In 2021, the Company decided to terminate its U.S. Pension Plan. The process is expected to complete within 12 to 18 months, including final funding requirements and administrative cost payments. In accordance with ASC 715, the liabilities must be valued based on market expectations for the period over which the obligations are to be settled. The Company is committed to buying out the U.S. plans with an insurer in 2023. Therefore, at the 2021 year-end, the obligation reflects the expected cost of securing the plans’ benefits with an insurer. This increases the liability by $2.8m. In preparation for the buyout, in April 2021 the Company switched its asset portfolio in favor of fixed interest securities with the intention of matching asset movements to movements in the value of plan liabilities.
In June 2019, the closure of Luxfer Gas Cylinders' French site affected the French pension plan. This resulted in a curtailment gain of $1.8 million and triggered immediate recognition of the unamortized net actuarial losses of $0.3 million. In December 2019, the U.S. plan offered deferred members the opportunity to receive a lump sum in respect of their benefits in the Plan. As a result lump sums totaling $2.7 million were paid out with a corresponding $3.6 million of defined benefit obligation being extinguished. This triggered immediate recognition of the unamortized net actuarial losses of $0.8 million.
The fair value of plan assets were:
202120212021202020202020
In millionsU.K.U.S. / otherTotalU.K.U.S. / otherTotal
Assets in active markets:
Equities and growth funds$149.9 $— $149.9 $152.3 $26.9 $179.2 
Government bonds64.6 — 64.6 63.1 — 63.1 
Corporate bonds147.5 46.6 194.1 141.6 18.1 159.7 
Cash14.6 0.2 14.8 1.9 — 1.9 
Total fair value of plan assets$376.6 $46.8 $423.4 $358.9 $45.0 $403.9 
All investments, apart from cash, were classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020. Cash is classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020.
The following benefit payments are expected to be paid by the plans for the years ended December 31 as follows:
In millionsU.K. pension plans
U.S. / other pension plans (1)
2022$9.9 $13.5 
202310.1 2.4 
202410.3 2.4 
202510.5 2.4 
202610.8 2.4 
Thereafter56.9 12.1 
(1)    The expected payments reflect the current projection of benefits due to be paid. Upon completion of the                                                    d     buyout this will be a nil value. The expected buyout completion date is in 2023.
The estimated amount of employer contributions expected to be paid to the defined benefit pension plans for the year ending December 31, 2022, is nil (2021: $18.2 million actual employer contributions).