v3.10.0.1
Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Changes In Benefit Obligations And Plan Assets
The following table presents the changes in benefit obligations and plan assets for pension benefits and other postretirement benefits, as well as the end-of-period accumulated benefit obligation for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 (in thousands):
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
Change in benefit obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benefit obligations at beginning of year
 
$
225,970

 
$
297,856

 
$
13,011

 
$
12,760

Service cost
 
20,497

 
38,167

 
243

 
243

Interest cost
 
9,865

 
14,907

 
475

 
416

Plan participants’ contributions
 

 

 
280

 
357

Actuarial loss (gain)
 
59,686

 
(21,375
)
 
(535
)
 
(599
)
Benefits paid
 
(11,484
)
 
(14,356
)
 
(714
)
 
(1,097
)
Settlement payments
 
(6,678
)
 
(6,250
)
 

 

Benefit obligations at end of year
 
297,856

 
308,949

 
12,760

 
12,080

Change in plan assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
 
166,906

 
198,686

 

 

Employer contributions
 
26,533

 
31,717

 
434

 
740

Plan participants’ contributions
 

 

 
280

 
357

Actual return (loss) on plan assets
 
23,409

 
(12,207
)
 

 

Benefits paid
 
(11,484
)
 
(14,356
)
 
(714
)
 
(1,097
)
Settlement payments
 
(6,678
)
 
(6,250
)
 

 

Fair value of plan assets at end of year
 
198,686

 
197,590

 

 

Funded status at end of year
 
$
(99,170
)
 
$
(111,359
)
 
$
(12,760
)
 
$
(12,080
)
Accumulated benefit obligations
 
$
206,480

 
$
208,840

 
 
 
 

Amounts Recognized In Consolidated Balance Sheets
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets included in these financial statements were as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current accrued benefit cost
 
$

 
$

 
$
625

 
$
859

Long-term pension and benefits
 
99,170

 
111,359

 
12,135

 
11,221

 
 
99,170

 
111,359

 
12,760

 
12,080

Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net actuarial loss
 
(100,474
)
 
(91,669
)
 
(6,597
)
 
(5,409
)
Prior service credit
 
3,248

 
3,067

 

 

 
 
(97,226
)
 
(88,602
)
 
(6,597
)
 
(5,409
)
Net amount of liabilities and accumulated other comprehensive loss recognized in consolidated balance sheets
 
$
1,944

 
$
22,757

 
$
6,163

 
$
6,671

Consolidated Net Periodic Benefit Costs
Net periodic benefit expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 was as follows (in thousands): 
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other  Postretirement Benefits
 
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
Components of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
 
$
18,179

 
$
20,497

 
$
38,167

 
$
235

 
$
243

 
$
243

Interest cost
 
7,950

 
9,865

 
14,907

 
489

 
475

 
416

Expected return on plan assets
 
(8,913
)
 
(10,266
)
 
(12,090
)
 

 

 

Amortization of prior service credit
 
(181
)
 
(181
)
 
(181
)
 
(3,335
)
 

 

Amortization of actuarial loss
 
4,645

 
5,622

 
9,763

 
880

 
749

 
589

Settlement cost
 
202

 
2,460

 
1,964

 

 

 

Net periodic expense (credit)
 
$
21,882

 
$
27,997

 
$
52,530

 
$
(1,731
)
 
$
1,467

 
$
1,248



The service component of our net periodic benefit expense (credit) is presented in operating expense and G&A expense, and the non-service components are presented in other (income) expense in our consolidated statements of income.
Other Changes In Plan Assets And Benefit Obligations Recognized In Other Comprehensive Loss
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) during 2016, 2017 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
Beginning balance
 
$
(62,279
)
 
$
(58,584
)
 
$
(97,226
)
 
$
(3,945
)
 
$
(7,881
)
 
$
(6,597
)
Net actuarial gain (loss)
 
(971
)
 
(46,543
)
 
(2,922
)
 
(1,481
)
 
535

 
599

Amortization of prior service credit
 
(181
)
 
(181
)
 
(181
)
 
(3,335
)
 

 

Amortization of actuarial loss
 
4,645

 
5,622

 
9,763

 
880

 
749

 
589

Settlement cost
 
202

 
2,460

 
1,964

 

 

 

Amount recognized in other comprehensive loss
 
3,695

 
(38,642
)
 
8,624

 
(3,936
)
 
1,284

 
1,188

Ending balance
 
$
(58,584
)
 
$
(97,226
)
 
$
(88,602
)
 
$
(7,881
)
 
$
(6,597
)
 
$
(5,409
)
Weighted-Average Rate Assumptions Used

The weighted-average rate assumptions used to determine benefit obligations were as follows:
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2018
Discount rate—Salaried plan
 
3.70%
 
3.99%
Discount rate—USW plan
 
3.54%
 
3.94%
Discount rate—IUOE plan
 
3.79%
 
4.12%
Discount rate—Other Postretirement Benefits
 
3.43%
 
4.08%
Rate of compensation increase—Salaried plan(1)
 
4% - 11%
 
4% - 11%
Rate of compensation increase—USW plan
 
3.50%
 
3.50%
Rate of compensation increase—IUOE plan
 
5.00%
 
5.00%

(1) The rate of compensation increase assumption for the Salaried plan in 2017 and 2018 is calculated by 10-year age groupings beginning with ages 20-29 at 11% dropping to 4% by ages 70 and above.


The weighted-average rate assumptions used to determine net pension and other postretirement benefit expense were as follows:
 
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
Discount rate—Salaried plan
 
3.95%
 
4.21%
 
3.70%
Discount rate—USW plan
 
3.82%
 
4.04%
 
3.63%
Discount rate—IUOE plan
 
3.78%
 
4.41%
 
3.79%
Discount rate—Other Postretirement Benefits
 
4%
 
3.85%
 
3.43%
Rate of compensation increase—Salaried plan(1)
 
4% - 11%
 
4% - 11%
 
4% - 11%
Rate of compensation increase—USW plan
 
3.50%
 
3.50%
 
3.50%
Rate of compensation increase—IUOE plan
 
5.00%
 
5.00%
 
5.00%
Expected rate of return on plan assets—Salaried plan
 
6.00%
 
6.00%
 
6.00%
Expected rate of return on plan assets—USW plan
 
6.00%
 
6.00%
 
6.00%
Expected rate of return on plan assets—IUOE plan
 
6.00%
 
6.00%
 
6.00%


(1) The rate of compensation increase assumption for the Salaried plan is calculated by 10-year age groupings beginning with ages 20-29 at 11% dropping to 4% by ages 70 and above.
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets
The target allocation and actual weighted-average asset allocation percentages at December 31, 2017 and 2018 were as follows:
 
 
2017
 
2018
 
 
Actual
 
Target
 
Actual
 
Target
Equity securities
 
37%
 
30%
 
29%
 
30%
Fixed income securities
 
60%
 
67%
 
67%
 
67%
Other
 
3%
 
3%
 
4%
 
3%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis
The fair values of the pension plan assets at December 31, 2017 were as follows (in thousands):
Asset Category
 
Total
 
Quoted Prices in Active  Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Domestic Equity Securities(a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small-cap fund
 
$
5,122

 
$
5,122

 
$

 
$

Mid-cap fund
 
5,132

 
5,132

 

 

Large-cap fund
 
38,678

 
38,678

 

 

International equity fund
 
24,284

 
24,284

 

 

Fixed Income Securities(a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term bond funds
 
5,110

 
5,110

 

 

Intermediate-term bond funds
 
25,875

 
25,875

 

 

Long-term investment grade bond funds
 
88,563

 
88,563

 

 

Other:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term investment funds
 
5,722

 
5,722

 

 

Group annuity contract
 
200

 

 

 
200

Fair value of plan assets
 
$
198,686

 
$
198,486

 
$

 
$
200

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a) We hold equity and fixed income securities through investments in mutual funds, which are dedicated to each category as indicated.

The fair values of the pension plan assets at December 31, 2018 were as follows (in thousands):
Asset Category
 
Total
 
Quoted Prices in Active  Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Domestic Equity Securities(a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small-cap fund
 
$
3,816

 
$
3,816

 
$

 
$

Mid-cap fund
 
3,811

 
3,811

 

 

Large-cap funds
 
30,595

 
30,595

 

 

International equity fund
 
19,471

 
19,471

 

 

Fixed Income Securities(a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term bond funds
 
9,242

 
9,242

 

 

Intermediate-term bond funds
 
23,036

 
23,036

 

 

Long-term investment grade bond funds
 
99,118

 
99,118

 

 

Other:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term investment fund
 
8,312

 
8,312

 

 

Group annuity contract
 
189

 

 

 
189

Fair value of plan assets
 
$
197,590

 
$
197,401

 
$

 
$
189

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a) We hold equity and fixed income securities through investments in mutual funds, which are dedicated to each category as indicated.
Expected Benefit Payments
As of December 31, 2018, the benefit amounts expected to be paid from plan assets through December 31, 2028 were as follows (in thousands): 
 
 
Pension
Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement
Benefits
2019
 
$
14,734

 
$
859

2020
 
$
17,278

 
$
901

2021
 
$
19,576

 
$
915

2022
 
$
22,606

 
$
913

2023
 
$
24,381

 
$
878

2024 through 2028
 
$
147,022

 
$
3,787