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Note 10 - Pension and Retirement Plans
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]
10.  Pension and Retirement Plans

We have defined benefit and defined contribution plans in the U.K., Germany and in the U.S. In the U.K. and Germany, the Company provides defined benefit pension plans for certain employees and former employees and defined contribution plans for the majority of the employees. The defined benefit plans in both the U.K. and Germany are closed to newly hired employees and have been for the two years ended September 30, 2011. In the U.S., the Company also provides defined contribution plans that cover most employees and supplementary retirement plans to certain employees and former employees who are now retired. These supplementary retirement plans are also closed to newly hired employees and have been for the two years ended September 30, 2011. These supplementary plans are funded through whole life insurance policies. The Company expects to recover all insurance premiums paid under these policies in the future, through the cash surrender value of the policies and any death benefits or portions thereof to be paid upon the death of the participant. These whole life insurance policies are carried on the balance sheet at their cash surrender values as they are owned by the Company and not assets of the defined benefit plans. In the U.S., the Company also provides for officer death benefits and post-retirement health insurance benefits through supplemental post-retirement plans to certain officers. The Company also funds these supplemental plans’ obligations through whole life insurance polices on the officers.

Defined Benefit Plans

The Company funds its pension plans in amounts sufficient to meet the requirements set forth in applicable employee benefits laws and local tax laws. Liabilities for amounts in excess of these funding levels are accrued and reported in the consolidated balance sheet.

The German Plan does not have any assets and therefore all costs and benefits of the plan are funded annually with cash flow from operations.

The domestic supplemental retirement plans have life insurance policies which are not considered plan assets but were purchased by the Company as a vehicle to fund the costs of the plan. These insurance policies are included in the balance sheet at their cash surrender value, net of policy loans, aggregating $1.8 million and $1.8 million as of September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The loans against the policies have been taken out by the Company to pay the premiums. The costs and benefit payments for these plans are paid through operating cash flows of the Company to the extent that they can not be funded through the use of the cash values in the insurance policies. The Company expects that the recorded value of the insurance policies will be sufficient to fund all of the Company’s obligations under these plans.
 

Assumptions:

The following table provides the weighted average actuarial assumptions used to determine the actuarial present value of projected benefit obligations at:

   
Domestic
   
International
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Discount rate:
    4.75 %     5.25 %     5.04 %     4.66 %
Expected return on plan assets:
    — %     — %     5.40 %     6.20 %
Rate of compensation increase:
    — %     — %     1.12 %     1.20 %

The following table provides the weighted average actuarial assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for years ended:

   
Domestic
   
International
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Discount rate:
    5.25 %     5.75 %     4.66 %     5.63 %
Expected return on plan assets:
    — %     — %     6.20 %     6.20 %
Rate of compensation increase:
    — %     — %     1.20 %     1.17 %

For domestic plans, the discount rate was determined by comparison against the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve and Liability Index for AA rated corporate instruments. The Company monitors other indices to assure that the pension obligations are fairly reported on a consistent basis. The international discount rates were determined by comparison against country specific AA corporate indices, adjusted for duration of the obligation.

The periodic benefit cost and the actuarial present value of projected benefit obligations are based on actuarial assumptions that are reviewed on an annual basis. The Company revises these assumptions based on an annual evaluation of long-term trends, as well as market conditions that may have an impact on the cost of providing retirement benefits.

The components of net periodic benefit costs related to the U.S. and international plans are as follows:

   
Years Ended September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
Foreign
   
U.S.
   
Total
   
Foreign
   
U.S.
   
Total
 
   
(amounts in thousands)
 
Pension:
                                   
Service cost
  $ 73     $ 10     $ 83     $ 58     $ 9     $ 67  
Interest cost
    688       99       787       669       116       785  
Expected return on plan assets
    (503 )     —       (503 )     (448 )     —       (448 )
Amortization of:
                                               
Prior service gains
    —       —       —       —       —       —  
Amortization of net (gain)/loss
    69       31       100       42       30       72  
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 327     $ 140     $ 467     $ 321     $ 155     $ 476  
Post Retirement:
                                               
Service cost
  $ —     $ 20     $ 20     $ —     $ 18     $ 18  
Interest cost
    —       68       68       —       69       69  
Expected return on plan assets
    —       —       —       —       —       —  
Amortization of:
                                               
Prior service costs/(gains)
    —       —       —       —       —       —  
Amortization of net (gain)/loss
    —       47       47       —       65       65  
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ —     $ 135     $ 135     $ —     $ 152     $ 152  
Pension:
                                               
Increase in minimum liability included in other comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 373     $ (3 )   $ 370     $ 1,048     $ 2     $ 1,050  
Post Retirement:
                                               
Increase (decrease) in minimum liability included in other comprehensive income (loss)
    —       69       69       —       (55 )     (55 )
Total:
                                               
Increase (decrease) in minimum liability included in comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 373     $ 66     $ 439     $ 1,048     $ (53 )   $ 995  

The following table presents an analysis of the changes in 2011 and 2010 of the benefit obligation, the plan assets and the funded status of the plans:

   
Years Ended September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
Foreign
   
U.S.
   
Total
   
Foreign
   
U.S.
   
Total
 
   
(Amounts in thousands)
 
Pension:
                                   
Change in projected benefit obligation (“PBO”)
                                   
Balance beginning of year
  $ 14,118     $ 1,895     $ 16,013     $ 12,769     $ 2,011     $ 14,780  
Service cost
    73       10       83       58       9       67  
Interest cost
    687       99       786       669       116       785  
Changes in actuarial assumptions
    (294 )     28       (266 )     1,248       32       1,280  
Foreign exchange impact
    (154 )     —       (154 )     (357 )     —       (357 )
Benefits paid
    (324 )     (273 )     (597 )     (269 )     (273 )     (542 )
Projected benefit obligation at end of year
  $ 14,106     $ 1,759     $ 15,865     $ 14,118     $ 1,895     $ 16,013  
Changes in fair value of plan assets:
                                               
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
  $ 7,937     $ —     $ 7,937     $ 7,410     $ —     $ 7,410  
Actual gain (loss) on plan assets
    (270 )     —       (270 )     606       —       606  
Company contributions
    309       273       582       306       273       579  
Foreign exchange impact
    (55 )     —       (55 )     (117 )     —       (117 )
Benefits paid
    (323 )     (273 )     (596 )     (268 )     (273 )     (541 )
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
  $ 7,598     $ —     $ 7,598     $ 7,937     $ —     $ 7,937  
Funded status
  $ (6,508 )   $ (1,759 )   $ (8,267 )   $ (6,181 )   $ (1,895 )   $ (8,076 )
Unamortized net loss
    —       —       —       —       —       —  
Net amount recognized
  $ (6,508 )   $ (1,759 )   $ (8,267 )   $ (6,181 )   $ (1,895 )   $ (8,076 )
Post Retirement:
                                               
Change in projected benefit obligation (“PBO”):
                                               
Balance beginning of year
  $ —     $ 1,293     $ 1,293     $ —     $ 1,197     $ 1,197  
Service cost
    —       20       20       —       18       18  
Interest cost
    —       68       68       —       68       68  
Changes in actuarial assumptions
    —       116       116       —       10       10  
Foreign exchange impact
    —       —       —       —       —       —  
Benefits paid
    —       —       —       —       —       —  
Projected benefit obligation at end of year
  $ —     $ 1,497     $ 1,497     $ —     $ 1,293     $ 1,293  
Changes in fair value of plan assets:
                                               
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
    —       —       —       —       —       —  
Actual gain/(loss) on plan assets
    —       —       —       —       —       —  
Company contributions
    —       —       —       —       —       —  
Foreign exchange impact
    —       —       —       —       —       —  
Benefits paid from plan assets
    —       —       —       —       —       —  
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
  $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —  
Funded status
  $ —     $ (1,497 )   $ (1,497 )   $ —     $ (1,293 )   $ (1,293 )
Unamortized net loss
    —       —       —       —       —       —  
Net amount recognized
  $ —     $ (1,497 )   $ (1,497 )   $ —     $ (1,293 )   $ (1,293 )

The amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet consist of:

   
Years Ended September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
Foreign
   
U.S.
   
Total
   
Foreign
   
U.S.
   
Total
 
   
(Amounts in thousands)
 
Pension:
                                   
Accrued benefit liability
  $ (6,508 )   $ (1,759 )   $ (8,267 )   $ (6,181 )   $ (1,895 )   $ (8,076 )
Deferred tax
    31       —       31       48       —       48  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    3,376       89       3,465       2,985       92       3,077  
Net amount recognized
  $ (3,101 )   $ (1,670 )   $ (4,771 )   $ (3,148 )   $ (1,803 )   $ (4,951 )
                                                 
Post Retirement:
                                               
Accrued benefit liability
  $ —     $ (1,497 )   $ (1,497 )   $ —     $ (1,293 )   $ (1,293 )
Deferred tax
    —       —       —       —       —       —  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    —       209       209       —       142       142  
Net amount recognized
  $ —     $ (1,288 )   $ (1,288 )   $ —     $ (1,151 )   $ (1,151 )
Total pension and post retirement:
                                               
Accrued benefit liability
  $ (6,508 )   $ (3,257 )   $ (9,765 )   $ (6,181 )   $ (3,188 )   $ (9,369 )
Deferred tax
    31       —       31       48       —       48  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    3,376       298       3,674       2,985       234       3,219  
Net amount recognized
  $ (3,101 )   $ (2,959 )   $ (6,060 )   $ (3,148 )   $ (2,954 )   $ (6,102 )
Accumulated Benefit Obligation:
                                               
Pension
  $ (14,029 )   $ (1,759 )   $ (15,788 )   $ (14,006 )   $ (1,895 )   $ (15,901 )
Post Retirement
    —       (1,498 )     (1,498 )     —       (1,293 )     (1,293 )
Total accumulated benefit obligation
  $ (14,029 )   $ (3,257 )   $ (17,286 )   $ (14,006 )   $ (3,188 )   $ (17,194 )

Plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets are attributable to unfunded domestic supplemental retirement plans, our German plans which are legally not required to be funded and our U.K. retirement plan.

Accrued benefit liability reported as:

   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(Amounts in thousands)
 
Current accrued benefit liability
  $ 709     $ 441  
Noncurrent accrued benefit liability
    9,056       8,928  
Total accrued benefit liability
  $ 9,765     $ 9,369  

As of September 30, 2011 and 2010 the amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income, consisted of deferred net losses totaling approximately $3.7 million and $3.2 million, respectively.

The amount of net deferred loss expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost for the year ending September 30, 2012, is approximately $187 thousand.

Contributions

The Company expects to contribute $709 thousand to its pension plans for fiscal 2012.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid (amounts in thousands):

Fiscal year ending September 30:
 
(Amounts in thousands)
 
2012
  $ 643  
2013
    668  
2014
    764  
2015
    819  
2016
    837  
Thereafter
    4,451  

Plan Assets

At September 30, 2011, our pension plan in the U.K. was the only plan with assets, holding investments of approximately $7.6 million.  Pension plan assets are managed by a fiduciary committee.  The Company’s investment strategy for pension plan assets is to maximize the long-term rate of return on plan assets within an acceptable level of risk while maintaining adequate funding levels.  Local regulations, local funding rules, and local financial and tax considerations are part of the funding and investment process.   In deciding on the investments to be held, the trustees take into account the risk of possible fluctuations in income from, and market values of, the assets as well as the risk of departing from an asset profile which broadly matches the liability profile.  The committee has invested the plan assets in a single pooled fund with an authorized investment company (the “Fund”).  The Fund selected by the trustees is consistent with the plan’s overall investment principles and strategy described herein.  There are no specific targets as to asset allocation other than those contained within the Fund that is managed by the authorized investment company.

The fair value of the assets held by the UK pension plan by asset category are as follows:

    Fair Value at September 30, 2011     Fair Value at September 30, 2010  
     Fair Value Measurements Using Inputs Considered as     Fair Value Measurements Using Inputs Considered as  
(Thousands)
Asset Category
 
Total
   
Level I
   
Level II
   
Level III
   
Total
   
Level I
   
Level II
   
Level III
 
Cash on deposit
  $ 375     $ 375     $ —       —     $ 389     $ 389       —       —  
Pooled Funds
    7,223       —       7,223       —       7,548       —       7,548       —  
Total Plan Assets
  $ 7,598     $ 375     $ 7,223       —     $ 7,937     $ 389     $ 7,548       —  

The expected long-term rates of return on plan assets are equal to the yields to maturity of appropriate indices for government and corporate bonds and by adding a premium to the government bond return for equities. The expected rate of return on cash is the Bank of England base rate in force at the effective date. The Fund is not exchange traded. The Fund is not subject to any redemption notice periods or restrictions and can be redeemed on a daily basis. No gates or holdbacks or dealing suspensions are being applied to the Fund. The Fund is of perpetual duration.

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company has defined contribution plans in domestic and international locations under which the Company matches a portion of the employee’s contributions and may make discretionary contributions to the plans. The Company’s contributions were $170 thousand and $141 thousand for the years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.