EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has a 401(k) retirement savings plan in which substantially all of its employees may participate. The plan includes a provision for the Company to match a percentage of the employee’s contributions at a rate determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. In 2023, 2022 and 2021 the Company’s contributions were approximately $13.8 million, $12.9 million and $9.0 million, respectively. The increase in the Company's matching contributions in 2023 was due to increased employee participation in the plan. The increase in 2022 was due to changes, approved by the Company's Board of Directors, to the rate of Company match, as well as increased participation in the plan.

The Company does not provide health care benefits to retired employees.

The Gentex Corporation Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Deferred Compensation Plan") is intended to enhance retirement savings among a select group of management or highly compensated employees who contribute significantly to the success of the Company. It is also intended to constitute an unfunded non-qualified deferred compensation plan described in Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"). Only select management and highly compensated employees, including executive officers, are eligible to participate. The Deferred Compensation Plan is administered by a committee who shall approve designation of any participants and may also remove participants.

Participants may elect, on a pre-tax basis, to defer receipt of compensation by making an election in accordance with the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan. Participants are immediately vested in their own deferrals and related earnings. The Company may, but is not required, to match participant deferrals. Participants are generally vested in any such matching contributions 50% after two years, but before three years, of service and 100% after three years of service. A participant's vested credit balance under the Deferred Compensation Plan will generally be paid on the earliest to occur of: a separation from service; a fixed date or event; a change of control; or a plan termination. Subject to applicable rules, a participant can elect whether to receive his or her vested credit balance in a lump sum on the relevant payment date or in installments thereafter.

The deferrals are held in a separate irrevocable rabbi trust ("the Rabbi Trust"), which has been established pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan. The Rabbi Trust is intended to be used to hold funds, including matching contributions. The assets of the trust are subject to the claims of the Company's creditors in the event that the Company becomes insolvent. Consequently, the Rabbi Trust qualifies as a grantor trust for income tax purposes. The Company also makes periodic payments into Company-owned life insurance policies held in this Rabbi Trust to fund the expected obligations arising under this plan. At December 31, 2023, total assets held by the trustee were $8.9 million, which are recorded in Other Assets, with an associated liability of $9.0 million recorded in Other Non-Current Liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The $8.9 million of assets held by the trustee is invested in Company-owned life insurance policies.