Pension and Other Postretirement Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS

(A)Defined Benefit Pension Plans

National Western sponsors a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering employees enrolled prior to 2008. The plan provides benefits based on the participants' years of service and compensation. The Company makes annual contributions to the plan that comply with the minimum funding provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). On October 19, 2007, National Western's Board of Directors approved an amendment to freeze the pension plan as of December 31, 2007. The freeze ceased future benefit accruals to all participants and closed the plan to any new participants. In addition, all participants became immediately 100% vested in their accrued benefits as of that date. As participants are no longer earning a credit for service, future qualified defined benefit plan expense is projected to be minimal. Fair values of plan assets and liabilities are measured as of the prior December 31 for each year. The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit cost.

	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30,			September 30,
	2020		2019	2020	2019
	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	27	24	81	72
Interest cost	168		210	505	630
Expected return on plan assets	(315)		(271)	(946)	(815)
Amortization of prior service cost	—		—	—	—
Amortization of net loss	145		165	435	495
Net periodic benefit cost	$	25	128	75	382

The service cost shown above for each period represents plan expenses expected to be paid out of plan assets. Under the clarified rules of the Pension Protection Act, plan expenses paid from plan assets are to be included in the plan's service cost component.

The Company's minimum required contribution for the 2020 plan year is $0.0 million. There were no planned contributions remaining for the 2019 plan year as of September 30, 2020. As of September 30, 2020, the Company has made $0.2 million in contributions to the plan for the 2020 plan year.

The components of net periodic benefit cost including service cost are reported in the line item “Other operating expenses” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss).

National Western also sponsors three non-qualified defined benefit pension plans. The first plan covers certain senior officers and provides benefits based on the participants' years of service and compensation. The primary pension obligations and administrative responsibilities of the plan are maintained by a pension administration firm, which is a subsidiary of American National Group, Inc. ("American National"), a related party. American National has guaranteed the payment of pension obligations under the plan. However, the Company has a contingent liability with respect to the plan should these entities be unable to meet their obligations under the existing agreements. Also, the Company has a contingent liability with respect to the plan in the event that a plan participant continues employment with National Western beyond age seventy, the aggregate average annual participant salary increases exceed 10% per year, or any additional employees become eligible to participate in the plan. If any of these conditions are met, the Company would be responsible for any additional pension obligations resulting from these items. Amendments were made to the plan to allow an additional employee to participate and to change the benefit formula for the then Chairman of the Company. As previously mentioned, these additional obligations are a liability to the Company. Effective December 31, 2004, this plan was frozen with respect to the continued accrual of benefits of the then Chairman and the then President of the Company in order to comply with law changes under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 ("Act").

Effective July 1, 2005, National Western established a second non-qualified defined benefit plan for the benefit of the then Chairman of the Company. This plan is intended to provide for post-2004 benefit accruals that mirror and supplement the pre-2005 benefit accruals under the previously discussed non-qualified plan, while complying with the requirements of the Act.

Effective November 1, 2005, National Western established a third non-qualified defined benefit plan for the benefit of the then President of the Company. This plan is intended to provide for post-2004 benefit accruals that supplement the pre-2005 benefit accruals under the first non-qualified plan as previously discussed, while complying with the requirements of the Act.

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit costs for the non-qualified defined benefit plans.

	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30,			September 30,
	2020		2019	2020	2019
	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	302	126	907	377
Interest cost	337		256	1,012	768
Amortization of prior service cost	14		14	44	44
Amortization of net loss	1,446		348	4,336	1,044
Net periodic benefit cost	$	2,099	744	6,299	2,233

As the plans are not funded, there is no expected return on plan assets shown in the net periodic benefit cost table above. The Company expects to contribute $2.0 million to these plans in 2020. As of September 30, 2020, the Company has contributed $1.6 million to the plans.

The components of net periodic benefit cost including service cost are reported in the line item “Other operating expenses” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss).

Ozark National and NIS have no defined benefit plans.

(B)Postretirement Employment Plans Other Than Pension

National Western sponsors two healthcare plans that were amended in 2004 to provide postretirement benefits to certain fully-vested individuals. The plans are unfunded. The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit costs.

	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30,			September 30,
	2020		2019	2020	2019
	(In thousands)
Interest cost	$	41	49	124	148
Amortization of prior service cost	—		13	—	39
Amortization of net loss	40		61	119	183
Net periodic benefit cost	$	81	123	243	370

As the plans are not funded, there is no expected return on plan assets shown in the net periodic benefit cost table above. The Company expects to contribute minimal amounts to the plans in 2020. Ozark National and NIS do not offer postemployment benefits.

The components of net periodic benefit cost including service cost are reported in the line item “Other operating expenses” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss).