Note 6 - Accrued Retirement Benefits

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Notes to Financial Statements

Retirement Benefits [Text Block]

6. ACCRUED RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Accrued retirement benefits at December 31, 2021 and 2020 consisted of the following:

	2021			2020
	(in thousands)
Defined benefit pension plan	$	5,932		$	8,790
Non-qualified retirement plan		2,147			2,301
Total		8,079			11,091
Less current portion		(142	)		(165	)
Non-current portion of accrued retirement benefits	$	7,937		$	10,926

The Company had two defined benefit pension plans which covered substantially all of its former bargaining and non-bargaining full-time, part-time and intermittent employees. In 2011, pension benefits under both plans were frozen. The Company merged the two defined benefit pension plans to streamline the administration of the frozen plan in 2018. The Company also has an unfunded non-qualified retirement plan covering nine of its former employees. The non-qualified retirement plan was frozen in 2009 and future vesting of additional benefits was discontinued.

In November 2021, the Company signed a purchase agreement with an insurer to annuitize the scheduled pension payments of 384 participants currently receiving benefits. Approximately $10.4 million was paid to the insurer from plan assets for the group annuity contract.

The measurement date for the Company’s benefit plan disclosures is December 31 of each year. The changes in benefit obligations and plan assets for 2021 and 2020, and the funded status of the plan and assumptions used to determine benefit information at December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

	2021					2020
	(in thousands)
Change in benefit obligations:
Benefit obligations at beginning of year	$	54,655				$	54,128
Interest cost		1,237					1,633
Actuarial (gain) loss		(1,160			)		3,588
Benefits paid		(14,550			)		(4,694			)
Benefit obligations at end of year		40,182					54,655
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		43,587					44,284
Actual return on plan assets		1,384					3,869
Employer contributions		1,682					128
Benefits paid		(14,550			)		(4,694			)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		32,103					43,587
Funded status	$	(8,079			)	$	(11,068			)
Accumulated benefit obligations	$	40,182				$	54,655
Weighted average assumptions to determine benefit obligations:
Discount rate		2.69	-	2.74%			2.28	-	2.35%
Expected long-term return on plan assets			4.00%					4.50%
Rate of compensation increase			n/a					n/a

Accumulated other comprehensive loss of $15.6 and $21.7 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, represent the net actuarial loss which has not yet been recognized as a component of pension expense.

Components of net periodic benefit cost and other amounts recognized in comprehensive income were as follows:

	2021			2020
	(in thousands)
Pension and other benefits:
Interest cost	$	1,237		$	1,633
Expected return on plan assets		(1,680	)		(2,020	)
Recognized net actuarial loss		933			839
Settlement expense		4,252			-
Pension expense	$	4,742		$	452
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in comprehensive income:
Net loss (gain)	$	(865	)	$	1,739
Amortization of recognized loss		(5,185	)		(839	)
Total recognized (gain) loss in comprehensive income	$	(6,050	)	$	900

Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost:	2021				2020
Discount rate		2.28	-	2.35%		3.10	-	3.14%
Expected long-term return on plan assets			4.50%				4.75%
Rate of compensation increase			n/a				n/a

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was based on a building-block approach. Historical markets are studied and long-term historical relationships between equities and fixed income are presumed consistent with the widely accepted capital market principle that assets with higher volatility generate a greater return over the long run. Current market factors, such as inflation and interest rates, are evaluated before long-term capital markets are determined. Diversification and rebalancing of plan assets are properly considered as part of establishing long-term portfolio returns.

At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the plan held shares of various Aon Collective Investment Trust (“ACIT”) funds. The fair value of the Company’s pension plan assets by category were as follows:

	2021 Fair Value Measurements (in thousands)
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Measured at NAV as a practical expedient		Total
ACIT equity funds	$	-	$	6,385		1,425	$	7,810
ACIT fixed income funds		-		21,114		1,746		22,860
Cash management funds		-		1,433		-		1,433
	$	-	$	28,932		3,171	$	32,103

	2020 Fair Value Measurements (in thousands)
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Measured at NAV as a practical expedient		Total
ACIT equity funds	$	-	$	9,406		1,152	$	10,558
ACIT fixed income funds		-		29,958		2,108		32,066
Cash management funds		-		963		-		963
	$	-	$	40,327		3,260	$	43,587

Net asset values (“NAV”) of ACIT and AGHT funds included in Level 1 and Level 2 are readily determinable, measured daily and based on the fair value of each fund’s underlying investments. Level 1 assets are priced using quotes for trades occurring in active markets for the identical asset. Level 2 assets are priced using observable inputs for the asset (for example, interest rates and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, and default rates) or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market-corroborated inputs).

Other investments determine NAV on a monthly or quarterly basis and/or have redemption restrictions. NAVs are based on the fair value of each fund’s underlying investments. For these investments, NAV is used as a practical expedient to estimate fair value and are not categorized in the fair value hierarchy. Redemptions may be requested at the fund’s NAV under the notification requirements of each fund.

An administrative committee consisting of certain senior management employees administers the Company’s defined benefit pension plan. The pension plan assets are allocated among approved asset types based on the plan’s current funded status and other characteristics set by the administrative committee, subject to liquidity requirements of the plan.

Estimated future benefit payments are as follows (in thousands):

Years ending December 31,
2022	$	3,087
2023	$	2,994
2024	$	2,905
2025	$	2,822
2026	$	2,732
2027 - 2031	$	12,234

The Company made a minimum required contribution of $0.6 million to its pension plan in January 2021. The CARES Act included limited funding relief provisions for single employer defined benefit plans allowing the deferral of required contributions that would have been otherwise due in 2020. In August 2021, the Company made a voluntary contribution of $1.0 million to its pension plan.