EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

(12) EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

        Established under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k), the Valmont Employee Retirement Savings Plan ("VERSP") is a defined contribution plan available to all eligible employees. Participants can elect to contribute up to 50% of annual pay, on a pretax and/or after-tax basis. The Company also makes contributions to the Plan and a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for certain Company executives. The 2011, 2010 and 2009 Company contributions to these plans amounted to approximately $8,700, $8,300, and $8,700 respectively.

        The Company sponsors a fully-funded, non-qualified deferred compensation plan for certain Company executives who otherwise would be limited in receiving company contributions into VERSP under Internal Revenue Service regulations. The invested assets and related liabilities to these participants were approximately $19,100 and $18,400 at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, respectively. Such amounts are included in "Other assets" and "Other noncurrent liabilities" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In fiscal 2011, $322 was distributed from the Company's non-qualified deferred compensation plan to participants under the transition rules of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. All distributions were made in cash.