Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans

The Company and its subsidiaries sponsor multiple defined benefit plans that cover certain employees. Postretirement benefit plans, other than pensions, provide healthcare benefits for certain eligible employees. Benefits are primarily based on years of service and the employee’s compensation.

Pension Plans

The Company has both funded and unfunded pension benefit plans. It is the Company’s policy to fund such plans in accordance with applicable laws and regulations in order to ensure adequate funds are available in the plans to make benefit payments to plan participants and beneficiaries when required.

The following table details information regarding the Company's pension plans:



In thousands	U.S. Pension Plans						Non-U.S. Pension Plans
In thousands	Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2013			Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2012			Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2013			Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2012
Pension Plans
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	(16,309	)	$	(15,219	)	$	(131,580	)	$	(105,637	)
Service costs	(4		)	—			(3,398		)	(2,002		)
Interest costs	(1,067		)	(620		)	(4,980		)	(5,032		)
Participant contributions	—			—			(170		)	(173		)
Acquisition	(84,932		)	—			(1,602		)	—
Plan amendments	—			—			622			—
Actuarial gain / (loss)	2,670			(1,451		)	2,273			(25,848		)
Settlements / curtailments	—			—			—			5,520
Benefit payments	1,322			981			4,917			4,556
Currency translation	—			—			(4,386		)	(2,964		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	(98,320	)	$	(16,309	)	$	(138,304	)	$	(131,580	)
Change in Plan Assets:
Fair value at beginning of year	$	12,172		$	11,341		$	139,064		$	129,365
Actual return on plan assets	2,270			1,091			(877		)	12,611
Employer and participant contributions	721			721			4,788			3,493
Acquisition	84,981			—			1,203			—
Settlements / curtailments	—			—			(263		)	(4,542		)
Benefit payments	(1,322		)	(981		)	(4,618		)	(4,556		)
Currency translation	—			—			5,034			2,693
Fair value at end of year	$	98,822		$	12,172		$	144,331		$	139,064
Funded (unfunded) status	$	502		$	(4,137	)	$	6,027		$	7,484
Amounts included in the balance sheet:
Current assets	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	263
Other noncurrent assets	—			—			12,133			15,087
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	—			—			(346		)	(334		)
Other noncurrent liabilities	502			(4,137		)	(5,760		)	(7,532		)
Net amount recognized	$	502		$	(4,137	)	$	6,027		$	7,484

The Company has plans whose fair value of plan assets exceeds the benefit obligation. In addition, the Company also has plans whose benefit obligation exceeds the fair value of plan assets. The total amount of prepaid benefit cost included in the net prepaid (accrued) benefit cost recognized for all pension plans approximates $6.5 million and $3.3 million at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively. The accumulated benefit obligation was $232.2 million and $145.9 million at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively.

The following table summarizes the pretax amounts recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the Company’s pension plans as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012:



In thousands	U.S. Pension Plans				Non-U.S. Pension Plans
In thousands	December 28, 2013		December 29, 2012		December 28, 2013		December 29, 2012
Transition net asset	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Net actuarial (gain) loss	1,174		4,688		12,583		7,737
Prior service cost	—		—		—		—
Net amounts recognized	$	1,174	$	4,688	$	12,583	$	7,737

The components of the Company's pension related costs for the following periods are as follows:



	U.S. Pension Plans												Non-U.S. Pension Plans
	Successor									Predecessor			Successor									Predecessor
In thousands, except percentage data	Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2013			Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2012			Eleven Months Ended December 31, 2011			One Month Ended January 28, 2011			Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2013			Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2012			Eleven Months Ended December 31, 2011			One Month Ended January 28, 2011
Pension Benefit Plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	4		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	3,398		$	2,002		$	1,917		$	162
Interest cost	1,067			620			646			58			4,980			5,032			5,262			458
Return on plan assets	(2,270		)	(1,091		)	392			(29		)	877			(12,611		)	(21,492		)	3,785
Curtailment / settlement (gain) loss	—			—			—			—			—			792			—			—
Net amortization of:
Transition costs and other	844			373			(1,260		)	(36		)	(7,356		)	6,911			16,043			(4,293		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	(355	)	$	(98	)	$	(222	)	$	(7	)	$	1,899		$	2,126		$	1,730		$	112
Weighted average assumptions used:
Return on plan assets	5.9 - 7.0%			8.0		%	8.0		%	8.0		%	3.0 - 5.5%			1.5 - 6.0%			2.4 - 6.0%			2.5 - 6.0%
Discount rate	4.6		%	3.8		%	5.6		%	5.4		%	3.4 - 8.0%			3.7 - 7.0%			4.0 - 7.3%			4.8 - 8.5%
Salary and wage escalation rate	N/A			N/A			N/A			N/A			2.8 - 4.5%			2.0 - 4.5%			2.0 - 4.5%			2.0 - 4.5%

During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company completed the liquidation of two pension plans related to its former Dominion Textile, Inc. business in Canada. All pension benefits legally owed to plan participants were fully paid from plan assets by the end 2012. Excess plan assets left in the trust after all participants were paid was $0.3 million and is reported within Other current assets in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 29, 2012. The surplus was received by the Company in the first quarter of 2013. As a result of the liquidation of these plans, the Company recognized a settlement loss of $0.8 million within Special charges, net in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets reflects the average rate of returns expected on the funds invested or to be invested in order to provide for the benefits included in the projected benefit obligation. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on what is achievable given the plan's investment policy, the types of assets held and target asset allocations. The expected long-term rate of return is determined as of the measurement date. The Company reviews each plan and its historical returns and target asset allocations to determine the appropriate long-term rate of return on plan assets to be used. Discount rates are primarily based on the market yields of global bond indices for AA-rated corporate bonds, applied to a portfolio for which the term and currency correspond with the estimated term and currency of the obligation.

The Company’s practice is to fund amounts for its qualified pension plans at least sufficient to meet the minimum requirements set forth in applicable employee benefit laws and local tax laws. In addition, the Company manages these plans to ensure that all present and future benefit obligations are met as they come due. During 2014, employer contributions are expected to approximate $5.0 million. As well, the Company expects to recognize amortization of actuarial gains/losses as components of net periodic benefit cost of $0.1 million.

Investment decisions

The Company’s overall investment strategy for pension plan assets is to achieve a blend of approximately 80 percent of investments for long-term growth and 20 percent for near-term benefit payments with a wide diversification of asset types, fund strategies and fund managers. In the U.S., the target allocations for plan assets are 40-55 percent in equity securities, 40-55 percent in corporate bonds and U.S. Treasury securities and the remainder in cash, cash equivalents or other types of investments. Equity securities primarily include investments in large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap companies principally located in the U.S. Fixed income securities include corporate bonds of companies of diversified industries and U.S. Treasuries.

The plans’ weighted-average asset allocations by asset category are as follows:



	December 28, 2013		December 29, 2012
Cash	12	%	1	%
Equity Securities	30	%	31	%
Fixed Income Securities	58	%	68	%
Total	100	%	100	%

The trust funds are sufficiently diversified to maintain a reasonable level of risk without imprudently sacrificing return. The investment managers select investment fund managers with demonstrated experience and expertise, and funds with demonstrated historical performance, for the implementation of the plans’ investment strategy. The investment managers will consider both actively and passively managed investment strategies and will allocate funds across the asset classes to develop an efficient investment structure. It is the responsibility of the trustee to administer the investments of the trust within reasonable costs. These costs include, but are not limited to, management and custodial fees, consulting fees, transaction costs and other administrative costs chargeable to the Trust.

The fair value of the Company's pension plan assets at December 28, 2013 by asset category is as follows:



In thousands	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Cash	$	28,671	$	28,671	$	—	$	—
Equity securities:
U.S. equities (a)	16,566		11,023		5,543		—
Foreign equities (b)	16,233		4,993		11,240		—
Global equity funds (c)	37,697		5,079		32,618		—
Emerging markets (d)	2,423		1,083		1,340		—
Total equity securities	72,919		22,178		50,741		—
Fixed income securities:
U.S. fixed income funds (e)	43,069		11,030		27,332		4,707
Foreign fixed income funds (f)	97,264		—		97,264		—
Total fixed income securities	140,333		11,030		124,596		4,707
Insurance funds	1,230		—		—		1,230
Total	$	243,153	$	61,879	$	175,337	$	5,937


(a)	This category consists of commingled and registered mutual funds that focus on equity securities of U.S companies. It includes both indexed and actively managed funds.


(b)	This category consists of commingled and registered mutual funds that focus on equity securities of companies outside of the U.S. It includes both indexed and actively managed funds.


(c)	This category consists of commingled and registered mutual funds that invest in equity securities of both U.S. and foreign companies. It includes actively managed funds


(d)	This category consists of commingled and registered mutual funds that invest in equity securities of companies in emerging market economies. It includes actively managed funds.


(e)	This category consists of actively managed funds that invest in investment-grade bonds of U.S. issuers from diverse industries and U.S. government bonds and treasury notes.


(f)	This category consists of funds that invest in investment-grade bonds of foreign companies and Euro region government bonds.

The fair value of the Company's pension plan assets at December 29, 2012 by asset category is as follows:



In thousands	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Cash	$	1,942	$	1,942	$	—	$	—
Equity securities:
U.S. equities (a)	7,877		6,190		1,687		—
Foreign equities (b)	10,509		522		9,987		—
Global equity funds (c)	25,483		—		25,483		—
Emerging markets (d)	2,424		1,094		1,330		—
Total equity securities	46,293		7,806		38,487		—
Fixed income securities:
U.S. fixed income funds (e)	4,121		4,121		—		—
Foreign fixed income funds (f)	98,880		—		98,880		—
Total fixed income securities	103,001		4,121		98,880		—
Total	$	151,236	$	13,869	$	137,367	$	—


(a)	This category consists of commingled and registered mutual funds that focus on equity securities of U.S companies. It includes both indexed and actively managed funds.


(b)	This category consists of commingled and registered mutual funds that focus on equity securities of companies outside of the U.S. It includes both indexed and actively managed funds.


(c)	This category consists of commingled and registered mutual funds that invest in equity securities of both U.S. and foreign companies. It includes actively managed funds


(d)	This category consists of commingled and registered mutual funds that invest in equity securities of companies in emerging market economies. It includes actively managed funds.


(e)	This category consists of actively managed funds that invest in investment-grade bonds of U.S. issuers from diverse industries and U.S. government bonds and treasury notes.


(f)	This category consists of funds that invest in investment-grade bonds of foreign companies and Euro region government bonds.

Postretirement Plans

The Company sponsors several Non-U.S. postretirement plans that provide healthcare benefits to cover certain eligible employees. These plans have no plan assets, but instead are funded by the Company on a pay-as-you-go basis in the form of direct benefit payments.

The following table details information regarding the Company's postretirement plans:



In thousands	U.S. Postretirement Plans					Non-U.S. Postretirement Plans
In thousands	Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2013			Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2012		Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2013			Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2012
Postretirement Benefit Plans
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	—		$	—	$	(4,864	)	$	(4,908	)
Additional benefit obligations	—			—		—			—
Service costs	—			—		(59		)	(69		)
Interest costs	(11		)	—		(187		)	(218		)
Acquisition	(2,030		)	—		(1,419		)	—
Actuarial gain / (loss)	7			—		305			(394		)
Settlements / curtailments	—			—		182			364
Benefit payments	—			—		381			407
Currency translation	—			—		150			(46		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	(2,034	)	$	—	$	(5,511	)	$	(4,864	)
Change in Plan Assets:
Fair value at beginning of year	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	—
Actual return on plan assets	—			—		—			—
Employer and participant contributions	—			—		381			407
Benefit payments	—			—		(381		)	(407		)
Currency translation	—			—		—			—
Fair value at end of year	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	—
Funded status	$	(2,034	)	$	—	$	(5,511	)	$	(4,864	)
Amounts included in the balance sheet:
Other noncurrent assets	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	—
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(119		)	—		(492		)	(449		)
Other noncurrent liabilities	(1,915		)	—		(5,019		)	(4,415		)
Net amount recognized	$	(2,034	)	$	—	$	(5,511	)	$	(4,864	)

The following table summarizes the pretax amounts recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the Company’s postretirement benefit plans as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012:



In thousands	U.S. Postretirement Plans					Non-U.S. Postretirement Plans
In thousands	December 28, 2013			December 29, 2012		December 28, 2013			December 29, 2012
Transition net asset	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	—
Net actuarial (gain) loss	(7		)	—		(12		)	443
Prior service cost	—			—		—			—
Net amounts recognized	$	(7	)	$	—	$	(12	)	$	443

The components of the Company's postretirement related costs for the following periods are as follows:



	U.S. Postretirement Plans									Non-U.S. Postretirement Plans
	Successor							Predecessor		Successor								Predecessor
In thousands, except percentage data	Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2013			Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2012		Eleven Months Ended December 31, 2011		One Month Ended January 28, 2011		Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2013			Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2012		Eleven Months Ended December 31, 2011			One Month Ended January 28, 2011
Postretirement Benefit Plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—	$	59		$	69	$	75		$	7
Interest cost	11			—		—		—		187			218		279			24
Curtailment / settlement (gain) loss	—			—		—		—		114			186		(556		)	—
Net amortization of:
Transition costs and other	—			—		—		—		35			26		—			(26		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	11		$	—	$	—	$	—	$	395		$	499	$	(202	)	$	5
Weighted average assumptions used:
Discount rate	4.6		%	N/A		N/A		N/A		4.1 - 4.8%			3.5 - 7.0%		5.3 - 8.0%			5.0 - 8.5%
Salary and wage escalation rate	N/A			N/A		N/A		N/A		3.0		%	3.0 - 4.5%		3.0 - 4.5%			3.0 - 4.5%

Due to the divestiture of Difco in May 2011, the Company terminated the employment of the remaining employees during the fourth quarter of 2011. The terminated employees are not entitled to postretirement benefits. As a result, the Company recognized a curtailment gain of $0.6 million related to the release of the benefit obligation associated with this event. This gain appears in the line, Discontinued Operations, net in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Assumed health care cost trend rates

The health care cost trend rate assumptions for the Company provided health care benefits for retirees in Canada are reflected in the following table. The Company does not provide post-employment health care benefits for retirees in other countries.



	December 28, 2013		December 29, 2012
Weighted average health care cost trend rate assumed for next year	6.44	%	6.42	%
Rate to which the cost trend is expected to decline (the ultimate trend rate)	4.50	%	4.50	%
Year that the rate reached the ultimate trend rate	2028		2028

A one-percentage point increase in the assumed health care cost trend rate would have increased aggregate service and interest cost in 2013 by less than $0.1 million and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 28, 2013 by $0.1 million. A one-percentage point decrease in the assumed health care cost trend rate would have decreased aggregate service and interest cost in 2013 by less than $0.1 million and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 28, 2013 by $0.1 million.

Expected Benefit Payments

The following table reflects the total benefits projected to be paid from the pension plans or from the Company’s general assets, under the current actuarial assumptions used for the calculation of the projected benefit obligations. Therefore, actual payments may differ from projected benefit payments. The expected level of payments to, or on the behalf of, participants is as follows:



In thousands	Pension		Postretirement
2014	$	5,770	$	606
2015	5,830		547
2016	6,133		548
2017	6,867		534
2018	7,186		544
2019 to 2023	46,224		2,581

For the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) totaled $0.4 million and less than $0.1 million. These amounts related to net actuarial gains/losses included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost for both pension and postretirement benefit plans.

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company sponsors several defined contribution plans through its domestic subsidiaries covering employees who meet certain service requirements. The Company makes contributions to the plans based upon a percentage of the employees’ contribution in the case of its 401(k) plans or upon a percentage of the employees’ salary or hourly wages in the case of its noncontributory money purchase plans. The cost of the plans was $2.7 million, $2.5 million and $2.5 million for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.