Note 17 Pension, Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits

Pension Plans

In conjunction with our acquisition of Pool Energy Services Co. ("Pool") in November 1999, we acquired the assets and liabilities of a defined benefit pension plan, the Pool Company Retirement Income Plan (the "Pool Pension Plan"). Benefits under the Pool Pension Plan are frozen and participants were fully vested in their accrued retirement benefit on December 31, 1998.

Summarized information on the Pool Pension Plan is as follows:

	Pension Benefits
	2014			2013
	(In thousands)
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	26,193		$	29,205
Interest cost		1,219			1,078
Actuarial loss (gain)		5,974			(3,360	)
Benefit payments		(791	)		(730	)

Benefit obligation at end of year(1)	$	32,595		$	26,193

Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	21,384		$	18,780
Actual (loss) returns on plan assets		1,690			2,736
Employer contributions		1,251			598
Benefit payments		(791	)		(730	)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	23,534		$	21,384

Funded status:
Underfunded status at end of year	$	(9,061	)	$	(4,809	)
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets:
Other long-term liabilities	$	(9,061	)	$	(4,809	)

(1)	As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the accumulated benefit obligation was the same as the projected benefit obligation.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2014			2013			2012
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic benefit cost (recognized in our consolidated statements of income (loss)):
Interest cost	$	1,219		$	1,078		$	1,116
Expected return on plan assets		(1,401	)		(1,210	)		(1,086	)
Recognized net actuarial loss		485			1,123			1,034

Net periodic benefit cost	$	303		$	991		$	1,064

Weighted-average assumptions:
Weighted-average discount rates		4.00	%		4.75	%		3.75	%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets		6.00	%		6.50	%		6.50	%

For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the net actuarial loss amounts included in other comprehensive income (loss) were approximately ($11.8) million, ($6.6) million and ($12.7) million, respectively.

The amount included in other comprehensive income (loss) that is expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost during 2015 is approximately $1.1 million.

We analyze the historical performance of investments in equity and debt securities, together with current market factors such as inflation and interest rates to help us make assumptions necessary to estimate a long-term rate of return on plan assets. Once this estimate is made, we review the portfolio of plan assets and make adjustments thereto that we believe are necessary to reflect a diversified blend of investments in equity and debt securities that is capable of achieving the estimated long-term rate of return without assuming an unreasonable level of investment risk.

The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the investments in the Pool Pension Plan as of December 31, 2014. The investments' fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is classified in its entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the measurement.

	Fair Value as of December 31, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Assets:(1)
Cash	$	—	$	745	$	—	$	745
Short-term investments:
Available-for-sale equity securities(2)		—		13,056		—		13,056
Available-for-sale debt securities(3)		—		9,733		—		9,733

Total investments		—		22,789		—		22,789

Total	$	—	$	23,534	$	—	$	23,534

(1)	Includes investments in collective trust funds that are valued based on the fair value of the underlying investments using quoted prices in active markets or other significant inputs that are deemed observable.
(2)	Includes funds that invest primarily in U.S. common stocks and foreign equity securities.
(3)	Includes funds that invest primarily in investment grade debt.

The measurement date used to determine pension measurements for the plan is December 31.

Our weighted-average asset allocations as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 by asset category are as follows:

	Pension Benefits
	2014			2013
Cash		3	%		3	%
Equity securities		56	%		56	%
Debt securities		41	%		41	%

Total		100	%		100	%

We invest plan assets based on a total return on investment approach, pursuant to which the plan assets include a diversified blend of investments in equity and debt securities toward a goal of maximizing the long-term rate of return without assuming an unreasonable level of investment risk. We determine the level of risk based on an analysis of plan liabilities, the extent to which the value of the plan assets satisfies the plan liabilities and our financial condition. Our investment policy includes target allocations approximating 55% investment in equity securities and 45% investment in debt securities. The equity portion of the plan assets represents growth and value stocks of small, medium and large companies. We measure and monitor the investment risk of the plan assets both on a quarterly basis and annually when we assess plan liabilities.

We expect to contribute approximately $0.9 million to the Pool Pension Plan in 2015. This is based on the sum of (1) the minimum contribution for the 2014 plan year that will be made in 2015 and (2) the estimated minimum required quarterly contributions for the 2015 plan year. We made contributions to the Pool Pension Plan in 2014 and 2013 totaling $1.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2014, we expect that benefits to be paid in each of the next five years after 2014 and in the aggregate for the five years thereafter will be as follows:

	(In thousands)
2015	$	1,286
2016		1,369
2017		1,495
2018		1,603
2019		1,680
2020 - 2024		9,712

	$	17,145

Some of our employees are covered by defined contribution plans. Our contributions to the plans totaled $29.6 million and $23.1 million during 2014 and 2013, respectively. Nabors does not provide post-employment benefits to its employees, except for employees covered under the Pool Pension Plan.