The Company provides defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution plans and/or other postretirement benefit plans to employees in many of the Company’s locations throughout the world. The Company’s defined benefit plans provide a benefit based on years of service and/or the employee’s average earnings near retirement. The Company’s defined contribution plans allow employees to contribute a portion of their salary to help save for retirement, and in most cases, the Company provides a matching contribution. The benefit obligation related to our non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans are for employees located primarily in Europe. For postretirement medical and other benefit plans, all of the Company’s benefit obligation is for employees located in the United States.

The Company maintains three defined contribution retirement plans for its employees in the United States: (1) The Manitowoc Company, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan (the “Manitowoc 401(k) Retirement Plan”); (2) The Manitowoc Company, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan (the “Manitowoc Retirement Savings Plan”); and (3) The Manitowoc Company, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan”). Each plan results in individual participant balances that reflect a combination of amounts contributed by the Company or deferred by the participant, amounts invested at the direction of either the Company or the participant, and the continuing reinvestment of returns until the accounts are distributed.

The Company also has various other non-U.S. defined contribution plans that allow eligible employees to contribute a portion of their salary to the plans. In most cases, the Company provides a matching contribution to the funds. Company contributions to the plans are generally based upon formulas contained in the plans. Total costs incurred under the Non-U.S. defined contribution plans were $1.3 million, $1.5 million and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Manitowoc 401(k) Retirement Plan is a tax-qualified retirement plan that is available to substantially all non-union U.S. employees of Manitowoc, its subsidiaries and related entities.

The Manitowoc 401(k) Retirement Plan allows employees to make both pre- and Roth, after-tax elective deferrals, subject to certain limitations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Tax Code”). The Company also has the right to make the following additional contributions: (1) a safe harbor matching contribution and (2) an additional contribution, which may or may not be made at the full discretion of the Company and for which the value will be fully determined by the Company based on company performance. Each participant in the Manitowoc 401(k) Retirement Plan is allowed to direct the investment of that participant’s account among a diverse mix of investment funds, including a Company stock alternative. To the extent that any funds are invested in Company stock, that portion of the Manitowoc 401(k) Retirement Plan is an employee stock ownership plan, as defined under the Tax Code (an “ESOP”).

The terms governing the retirement benefits under the Manitowoc 401(k) Retirement Plan are the same for the Company’s executive officers as they are for other eligible employees in the U.S.

Total costs incurred under this plan were $5.5 million, $3.2 million and $3.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Manitowoc Retirement Savings Plan is a tax-qualified retirement plan that is available to certain collectively bargained U.S. employees of Manitowoc, its subsidiaries and related entities.

In 2018, there were no active employees who continued to be subject to collectively bargained contracts; therefore, no employee or Company contributions were made in 2018 to The Retirement Savings Plan. Each participant in the Manitowoc Retirement Savings Plan, who has an account balance, is allowed to direct the investment among a diverse mix of investment funds, including a Company stock alternative. To the extent that any funds are invested in Company stock, that portion of the Manitowoc Retirement Savings Plan is an ESOP.

The Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan is a non-tax-qualified supplemental deferred compensation plan for highly compensated and key management employees and for non-employee directors of the Company. The Company maintains the Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan to allow eligible individuals to save for retirement in a tax-efficient manner despite Tax Code restrictions that would otherwise impair their ability to do so under the Manitowoc 401(k) Retirement Plan. The Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan also assists the Company in retaining those key employees and directors.

The Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan accounts are credited with: (1) elective deferrals made at the request of the individual participant; and/or (2) a discretionary Company contribution for each individual participant. Although unfunded within the meaning of the Tax Code, the Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan utilizes a rabbi trust to hold assets intended to satisfy the Company’s corresponding future benefit obligations. Each participant in the Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan is credited with earnings based upon individual elections from amongst a diverse mix of investment funds that are intended to reflect investment funds similar to those offered under the Manitowoc 401(k) Retirement Plan, including Company stock. Participants do not receive preferential or above-market rates of return under the Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan.

Plan participants are able to direct deferrals and Company contributions into two separate investment programs, Program A and Program B.

The Company has two separate investment programs: Program A and B, which restrict the Company’s use and access to the funds, but which are also subject to the claims of the Company’s general creditors in rabbi trusts. Program A invests solely in the Company’s stock; dividends paid on the Company’s stock are automatically reinvested; and all distributions must be made in Company stock. Program B offers a variety of investment options but does not include Company stock as an investment option. All distributions from Program B must be made in cash. Participants cannot transfer assets between programs.

Program A is accounted for as a plan that does not permit diversification. As a result, the Company stock held by Program A is classified in equity in a manner similar to accounting for treasury stock. The deferred compensation obligation is classified as an equity instrument. Changes in the fair value of the Company’s stock and the compensation obligation are not recognized. The asset and obligation for Program A were $0.2 million and zero at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Program B is accounted for as a plan that permits diversification. As a result, the assets held by Program B are classified as an asset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and changes in the fair value of the assets are recognized in earnings. The deferred compensation obligation is classified as a liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and adjusted, with a charge or credit to compensation cost, to reflect changes in the fair value of the obligation. The assets, which are included in other non-current assets, and obligations, which are included in other non-current liabilities, were $8.7 million and $10.6 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. There was no net impact on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

The Company provides certain pension, postretirement medical and other benefits (death benefits) for eligible retirees and their dependents. The pension benefits are funded, the postretirement medical benefits are not funded but are paid as incurred, and the death benefits are fully insured. Eligibility for coverage is based on meeting certain years of service and retirement qualifications. The healthcare benefits may be subject to deductibles, co-payment provisions, and other limitations. The Company has reserved the right to modify these benefits. As of December 31, 2010, all of the remaining U.S. defined benefit pension plans were merged into a single plan: the Manitowoc U.S. Pension Plan (“U.S. Pension Plans”). All merged plans had benefit accruals frozen prior to the merger of the plans.

In September 2018, the U.S. Pension Plans entered into and closed on a definitive agreement with an insurance company to purchase a group annuity contract to transfer $18.6 million of the Company’s outstanding pension benefit obligations related to certain U.S. retirees and beneficiaries. As a result of the transaction, the insurance company is required to pay and administer the retirement benefits owed to the 622 retirees and beneficiaries of the U.S. Pension Plans starting on December 1, 2018. There was no change to their monthly benefit payment amounts. In connection with this transaction, the Company recognized a non-cash pension settlement charge of $4.5 million in other income (expense) primarily related to the accelerated recognition of actuarial losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the U.S. Pension Plans.

In addition to the U.S. Pension Plans, the Company also maintains defined benefit pension plans for various Non-US subsidiaries which are sponsored directly by the Company or its subsidiaries and offered only to employees or retirees of those subsidiaries (“Non-U.S. Pension Plans”).

Effective July 1, 2017, The Manitowoc Company, Inc. Post-65 Retiree Health Plan (the “Plan”) was amended. Eligible retirees and their spouses were provided access to a Retiree Health Exchange where they may purchase Medicare Supplement Plans, including Medicare Advantage and Medigap plan prescription drug coverage. The enrollment and payment for this coverage is facilitated by an third-party, and these plans have no affiliation with the Company. To assist retirees with premium and out-of-pocket expenses, the Company funds a Health Reimbursement Account (“HRA”) for each enrolled retiree. The value of the HRA is based on the plan type and premium cost for each specific retiree before the Plan was amended.

The components of periodic benefit costs for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:

	US Pension Plans									Non-US Pension Plans									Postretirement Medical and Other
	2018			2017			2016			2018			2017			2016			2018			2017			2016
Service cost - benefits earned during the year	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	1.8		$	1.9		$	1.7		$	0.2		$	0.3		$	0.3
Interest cost of projected benefit obligation		5.2			5.3			6.8			2.1			2.1			2.5			0.8			1.0			1.7
Expected return on assets		(5.7	)		(4.9	)		(5.7	)		(1.4	)		(1.5	)		(1.8	)		—			—			—
Amortization of prior service cost		—			—			—			0.1			0.1			0.1			(2.8	)		(1.4	)		—
Amortization of actuarial net loss (gain)		2.9			3.2			3.6			1.3			1.6			1.0			0.8			0.4			—
Pension settlement charge		4.5			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	6.9		$	3.6		$	4.7		$	3.9		$	4.2		$	3.5		$	(1.0	)	$	0.3		$	2.0
Weighted average assumptions:
Discount rate		3.8	%		4.2	%		4.5	%		2.2	%		2.1	%		2.9	%		3.3	%		3.8	%		4.2	%
Expected return on plan assets		5.3	%		4.7	%		5.5	%		2.7	%		3.4	%		4.0	%	N/A			N/A			N/A
Rate of compensation increase	N/A			N/A			N/A				3.5	%		2.6	%		2.4	%	N/A			N/A			N/A

The prior service costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of active participants. Gains and losses in excess of 10% of the greater of the benefit obligation and the market-related value of assets are amortized over the average remaining service period of active participants.

To develop the expected long-term rate of return on assets assumptions, the Company considered the historical returns and future expectations for returns in each asset class, as well as targeted asset allocation percentages within the pension portfolio.

The following is a reconciliation of the changes in benefit obligation, plan assets, and funded status as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:

	US Pension Plans						Non-US Pension Plans						Postretirement Medical and Other
	2018			2017			2018			2017			2018			2017
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	$	162.3		$	155.6		$	89.5		$	82.8		$	28.9		$	41.6
Service cost		—			—			1.8			1.9			0.2			0.3
Interest cost		5.2			5.3			2.1			2.1			0.8			1.0
Participant contributions		—			—			—			—			0.7			1.4
Plan amendments		—			—			—			—			—			(13.8	)
Actuarial (gain) loss		(9.2	)		10.0			(3.0	)		(2.2	)		(7.2	)		2.9
Currency translation adjustment		—			—			(4.6	)		9.2			—			—
Pension settlement		(18.9	)		—			—			—			—			—
Benefits paid		(8.8	)		(8.6	)		(3.9	)		(4.3	)		(2.7	)		(4.5	)
Benefit obligation, end of year	$	130.5		$	162.3		$	81.9		$	89.5		$	20.7		$	28.9
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	$	116.2		$	108.6		$	45.1		$	41.8		$	—		$	—
Actual return on plan assets		(8.9	)		11.5			(1.4	)		1.1			—			—
Employer contributions		5.3			4.7			2.8			2.1			2.0			3.1
Participant contributions		—			—			—			—			0.7			1.4
Currency translation adjustment		—			—			(2.5	)		4.4			—			—
Pension settlement		(18.9	)		—			—			—			—			—
Benefits paid		(8.8	)		(8.6	)		(3.9	)		(4.3	)		(2.7	)		(4.5	)
Fair value of plan assets, end of year		84.9			116.2			40.1			45.1			—			—
Funded status	$	(45.6	)	$	(46.1	)	$	(41.8	)	$	(44.4	)	$	(20.7	)	$	(28.9	)
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance sheet at December 31
Pension asset	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Pension obligation		(45.6	)		(46.1	)		(41.8	)		(44.4	)		—			—
Postretirement medical and other benefit obligations		—			—			—			—			(20.7	)		(28.9	)
Net amount recognized	$	(45.6	)	$	(46.1	)	$	(41.8	)	$	(44.4	)	$	(20.7	)	$	(28.9	)
Weighted-Average Assumptions
Discount rate		4.3	%		3.6	%		2.2	%		2.2	%		4.1	%		3.3	%
Expected return on plan assets		5.3	%		4.7	%		2.7	%		3.4	%	N/A			N/A
Rate of compensation increase	N/A			N/A				3.5	%		2.6	%	N/A			N/A

The Company prepares its discount rates with advice from an independent third party. The Company uses different discount rates for each plan depending on the plan jurisdiction, the demographics of participants and the expected timing of benefit payments. For the qualified U.S. pension plan and postretirement medical plans, the Company uses a discount rate calculated based on an appropriate mix of high quality corporate bonds. For the non-U.S. pension and postretirement plans, the Company consistently uses the relevant country specific benchmark indices for determining the various discount rates.

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, consist of the following:

For measurement purposes, a 5.95% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits was assumed for 2018. The rate was assumed to decrease gradually to 4.50% in 2038 and remain at that level thereafter. Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the health care plans. The following table summarizes the sensitivity of our December 31, 2018 retirement obligations and 2018 retirement benefit costs of our plans to changes in the key assumptions used to determine those results:

It is reasonably possible that the estimate for future retirement and medical costs may change in the near future due to changes in interest rates. Presently, there is no reliable means to estimate the amount of any such potential changes.

The weighted-average asset allocations of the U.S. pension plans at December 31, 2018 and 2017, by asset category are as follows:

The weighted-average asset allocations of the Non-U.S. pension plans at December 31, 2018 and 2017, by asset category are as follows:

The Board of Directors has established the Retirement Plan Committee (the “Committee”) to manage the operations and administration of all benefit plans and related trusts. On a quarterly basis, the Committee reviews progress toward achieving the pension plans’ and individual investment managers’ performance objectives.

Investment Strategy The overall objective of the Company's pension assets is to earn a rate of return over time to satisfy the benefit obligations of the pension plans and to maintain sufficient liquidity to pay benefits and address other cash requirements of the pension funds. Specific investment objectives for the Company’s long-term investment strategy include reducing the volatility of pension assets relative to pension liabilities, achieving a competitive, total investment return, achieving diversification between and within asset classes and managing other risks. Investment objectives for each asset class are determined based on specific risks and investment opportunities identified.

The Company reviews its long-term, strategic asset allocations annually. The Company uses various analytics to determine the optimal asset mix and considers plan liability characteristics, liquidity characteristics, funding requirements, expected rates of return and the distribution of returns. The Company identifies investment benchmarks for the asset classes in the strategic asset allocation that are market-based.

Actual allocations to each asset class vary from target allocations due to periodic investment strategy changes, market value fluctuations, the length of time it takes to fully implement investment allocation positions and the timing of benefit payments and contributions. The asset allocation is monitored and rebalanced monthly.

During 2017, the Company changed the investment target allocations for the U.S. Plans from 75% debt securities and 25% equity securities to 50% debt securities and 50% equity securities.

The actual allocations for the pension assets at December 31, 2018, and target allocations by asset class, are as follows:

Risk Management In managing the plan assets, we review and manage risk associated with funded status risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, liquidity risk and operational risk. Liability management and asset class diversification are central to our risk management approach and are integral to the overall investment strategy. Further, asset classes are constructed to achieve diversification by investment strategy, by investment manager, by industry or sector and by holding. Investment manager guidelines for publicly traded assets are specified and are monitored regularly.

Fair Value Measurements The following table presents our plan assets using the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the 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 non-observable inputs.

Cash equivalents and other short-term investments, which are used to pay benefits, are primarily held in registered money market funds which are valued using a market approach based on the quoted market prices of identical instruments. Other cash equivalent and short-term investments are valued daily by the fund using a market approach with inputs that include quoted market prices for similar instruments.

Insurance group annuity contracts are valued at the present value of the future benefit payments owed by the insurance Company to the Non-U.S. Pension Plans’ participants.

Common/collective funds are typically common or collective trusts valued at their net asset values that are calculated by the investment manager or sponsor of the fund and have daily or monthly liquidity. The Company believes that NAV is representative of fair value at the reporting date, as there are no significant restrictions on redemption on these investments or other reasons to indicate that the investment would be redeemed at an amount different than NAV.

The valuation methodologies described above may generate a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or future fair values. While the Company believes the valuation methodologies used are appropriate, the use of different methodologies or assumptions in calculating fair value could result in different amounts.

A reconciliation of the fair value measurements of plan assets using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) from the beginning of the year to the end of the year is as follows:

The expected 2019 contributions for the U.S. pension plans are as follows: the minimum contribution for 2019 is $5.1 million; and no planned discretionary or non-cash contributions. The expected 2019 contributions for the non-U.S. pension plans are as follows: the minimum contribution for 2019 is $2.9 million; and no planned discretionary or non-cash contributions. Expected Company paid claims for the postretirement medical and life insurance plans are $2.5 million for 2019. Projected benefit payments from the plans as of December 31, 2018 are estimated as follows:

The fair value of plan assets for which the accumulated benefit obligation is in excess of the plan assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:

The accumulated benefit obligation for all U.S. pension plans as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $130.5 million and $162.3 million, respectively. The accumulated benefit obligation for all non-U.S. pension plans as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $78.1 million and $82.1 million, respectively.

The Company also maintains a target benefit plan for certain executive officers of the Company. Expenses related to the plan in the amount of $0.2 million, $1.2 million and $3.2 million were recorded in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Amounts accrued as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 related to this plan were $2.5 million and $15.1 million, respectively.