9. Employee Benefit Plans

The Company sponsors defined benefit pension plans covering certain union and non-union employees in the U.S. and Europe. As of December 31, 2015, all of the plans are frozen to new entrants. In addition, two of the U.S. plans and one of the European plans do not allow for existing participants to continue to earn benefits under the plans. The Company uses a measurement date of December 31 for all of its pension plans.

During 2015, the Company incurred a settlement charge of $0.8 million in the plans as a result of employee retirements, and paid $3.8 million from plan assets. During 2014, the Company offered an opportunity to certain eligible terminated vested participants in two of the U.S. plans to elect a lump sum payment of their respective pension benefits which were paid in the fourth quarter of 2014. As a result, the Company incurred a settlement charge of $1.0 million in 2014 related to such elections and paid $4.4 million from plan assets. Also in 2014, the Society of Actuaries released a new mortality table — RP-2014, and a new projection scale — MP-2014. As a result of these new tables, the Company changed its mortality assumptions for its U.S. plans in 2014. The Company adopted the new RP-2014 mortality table and a modified version of the new MP-2014 projection scale for the U.S. Qualified Plans which resulted in an increase in the projected benefit obligation of approximately $5.8 million in 2014. Also in 2014, the projected benefit obligation increased by approximately $12.3 million due to a change in the discount rate assumption.

U.S. Pension Plans

For U.S. plans, the following table provides a reconciliation of changes in the plans’ benefit obligations and fair value of assets over the two-year period ended December 31, 2015 and the funded status as of December 31 for both years:

	2015			2014

Change in Projected Benefit Obligations
Projected benefit obligations as of January 1	$	117,319		$	102,309
Service cost	1,136			895
Interest cost	4,499			4,815
Actuarial (gain) loss	(7,551		)	17,544
Benefits paid	(4,022		)	(3,831		)
Settlement	(2,443		)	(4,413		)

Projected benefit obligations as of December 31	108,938			117,319


Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets as of January 1	98,395			99,784
Actual return on plan assets	(3,830		)	5,329
Employer contributions	1,282			1,526
Benefits paid	(4,022		)	(3,831		)
Settlement	(2,443		)	(4,413		)

Fair value of plan assets as of December 31	89,382			98,395

Funded status as of December 31	$	(19,556	)	$	(18,924	)


Amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets:
Noncurrent asset — Other assets	$	273		$	280
Current liability — Payroll and benefits payable	(82		)	(82		)
Noncurrent liability — Accrued pension and other liabilities	(19,747		)	(19,122		)

Net amount recognized	$	(19,556	)	$	(18,924	)

Amounts recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income consist of:

	2015		2014
Accumulated prior service cost	$	—	$	15
Accumulated net actuarial loss	38,741		38,606

Net amount recognized, before tax effect	$	38,741	$	38,621

The accumulated benefit obligation as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $105.6 million and $113.3 million, respectively.

For U.S. plans, the assumptions used to determine benefit obligations are shown in the following table:

	2015		2014
Weighted average actuarial assumptions as of December 31:
Discount rate	4.38	%	4.01	%
Rate of increase in compensation levels	3.00	%	3.00	%

The following tables set forth the fair values of the Company’s U.S. pension plans assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014:

	Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2015
			Quoted Prices
			In Active		Significant		Significant
			Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
			Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
Asset Category	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	4,300	$	262	$	4,038	$	—
Equity Securities
Large Cap (a)	19,329		19,329		—		—
Small/Mid Cap (b)	9,598		9,598		—		—
Equities Blend (c)	257		257		—		—
International Equity (d)	5,607		5,607		—		—
Emerging Markets (e)	5,056		5,056		—		—
Fixed Income Securities
Corporate Bonds (f)	23,777		—		23,777		—
Government Bonds (g)	13,945		1,487		12,458		—
International Bonds (h)	3,531		—		3,531		—
Miscellaneous
Commodities (j)	1,768		1,768		—		—
Real Estate (k)	2,214		2,214		—		—

Total	$	89,382	$	45,578	$	43,804	$	—

	Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2014
			Quoted Prices
			In Active		Significant		Significant
			Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
			Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
Asset Category	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	2,610	$	—	$	2,610	$	—
Equity Securities
Large Cap (a)	21,252		21,252		—		—
Small/Mid Cap (b)	12,906		12,906		—		—
Equities Blend (c)	826		826		—		—
International Equity (d)	9,036		9,036		—		—
Emerging Markets (e)	5,852		5,852		—		—
Fixed Income Securities
Corporate Bonds (f)	19,179		1,107		18,072		—
Government Bonds (g)	15,045		11,968		3,077		—
International Bonds (h)	2,588		—		2,588		—
Mortgage/Asset Backed (i)	4,089		—		4,089		—
Miscellaneous
Commodities (j)	3,077		3,077		—		—
Real Estate (k)	1,935		1,935		—		—

Total	$	98,395	$	67,959	$	30,436	$	—

(a)This category consists of growth and value strategies investing primarily in the common stock of large capitalization companies located in the United States. Growth oriented strategies seek companies within the Russell 1000 Growth Universe with above average earnings, growth, and revenue expectations. Value oriented strategies seek companies within the Russell 1000 Value Universe that are undervalued relative to their intrinsic value. These strategies are benchmarked against the Russell 1000 Growth and Value Indices, respectively.

(b)This category consists of growth and value strategies investing primarily in the common stock of mid and small capitalization companies located in the United States that are either undervalued relative to their intrinsic value or have above average growth and revenue expectations. These strategies are benchmarked to the Russell 2500 Growth and Value Indices, respectively.

(c)This category invests in the common stock of primarily U.S. companies across the capitalization spectrum (Large, Mid, and Small Cap) that are undervalued relative to their intrinsic value or represent growth opportunities. This strategy is benchmarked to the Russell 3000 Index.

(d)This category consists of international equity securities represented by 21 major MSCI indices from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. This strategy is benchmarked to the MSCI EAFE Index.

(e)This category invests in all types of capitalization companies operating in global emerging markets outside the United States. The strategy targets broad diversification across various economic sectors in 21 emerging economies. This category is benchmarked to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

(f)This category invests primarily in investment grade corporate securities. This category is benchmarked to the Barclays Aggregate Bond Index.

(g)This category includes securities and mutual funds which invest in a diversified portfolio of longer duration bonds. The funds typically invest primarily in U.S. investment grade securities. The portfolio has an average duration that normally varies within two years (plus or minus) of the benchmark. This category is benchmarked to the Barclays Capital Long-Term Government/Credit Index.

(h)This category includes securities and mutual funds which invest in a diversified portfolio of longer duration foreign bonds. This category is benchmarked to the Barclays Global Aggregate Index.

(i)This category invests primarily in mortgage-backed securities which cover the mortgage backed securities component of the Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index. This category is benchmarked against the Barclays Mortgage-Backed Securities Index.

(j)This fund invests in assets of commodity linked derivative instruments and fixed income securities. The fund is benchmarked against the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Total Return.

(k)This fund normally invests at least 80% of its assets in equity related securities of real estate companies and other real estate securities. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests in at least three different countries and at least 40% of the total assets are in foreign securities. This strategy is benchmarked to the Lipper Global Real Estate Funds Average.

The Company’s investment strategy is to earn the highest possible long-term total rate of return while minimizing the associated risk to ensure the preservation of the plan assets for the provision of benefits to participants and their beneficiaries. This is accomplished by managing a diversified portfolio of fund styles, asset types, risk characteristics and investment holdings.

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the projected benefit obligations, accumulated benefit obligations, and fair value of plan assets for U.S. pension plans with a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets, and for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets was as follows:

	Projected Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of Plan’s Assets				Accumulated Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of Plan’s Assets
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Projected benefit obligation	$	99,920	$	107,682	$	99,920	$	107,682
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	96,532	$	103,690	$	96,532	$	103,690
Fair value of plan assets	$	80,091	$	88,478	$	80,091	$	88,478

Information about the expected cash flows by year for the U.S. pension plans follows:

Employer contributions
2016	$	—

Benefit Payments
2016	$	6,412
2017	5,851
2018	6,358
2019	6,704
2020	6,966
2021 — 2025	34,974

The following table provides the components of net periodic pension costs of the U.S. plans:

	Year Ended December 31
	2015			2014			2013
Service cost	$	1,136		$	895		$	1,165
Interest cost	4,499			4,815			4,423
Expected return on assets	(7,070		)	(7,541		)	(6,660		)
Amortization of prior service cost	15			74			74
Net actuarial loss amortization	2,606			877			3,519
Settlement	607			1,025			—

Net periodic pension cost	$	1,793		$	145		$	2,521

The 2015 settlement was a result of employee retirements, while the 2014 settlement was a result of an opportunity for certain eligible terminated vested participants to elect a lump sum payment of their respective pension benefits.

Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

	Year Ended December 31
	2015			2014			2013
Current year actuarial (loss) gain	$	(3,348	)	$	(19,756	)	$	21,997
Amortization of actuarial loss	2,606			877			3,519
Amortization of prior service cost	15			74			74
Settlement	607			1,025			—

Total recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(120	)	$	(17,780	)	$	25,590

Total recognized in net periodic pension cost and other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(1,913	)	$	(17,925	)	$	23,069

The estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic pension cost in 2016 are as follows:

Net actuarial loss		$	3,136
Total as of December 31		$	3,136

For U.S. plans, the assumptions used in the measurement of net periodic pension cost are shown in the following table:

	2015		2014		2013
Weighted average actuarial assumptions as of December 31:
Discount rate	4.01	%	4.88	%	3.92	%
Expected annual return on plan assets	7.50	%	7.75	%	7.75	%
Rate of increase in compensation levels	3.00	%	3.50	%	4.00	%

The discount rates that the Company utilizes for its Qualified Plans to determine pension obligations are based on a review of long-term corporate bonds that receive one of the two highest ratings given by a recognized rating agency. The expected rate of return on plan assets was determined by the Company based on a review of asset class return expectations, as well as long-term inflation assumptions. The Company also considered historical returns on asset classes and investment mix. The expected long-term return on the U.S. Qualified Plans’ assets is based on an asset allocation assumption of approximately 40%-50% equity securities, 45%-55% fixed income securities, and 5% with other investments. The Company also takes into account the effect on its projected returns from any reasonably likely changes in its asset portfolio when applicable.

European Pension Plans

For European plans, the following tables provide a reconciliation of changes in the plan’s benefit obligations and fair value of assets over the two-year period ended December 31, 2015 and the funded status as of December 31 of both years:

	2015			2014
Change in Projected Benefit Obligations
Projected benefit obligations as of January 1	$	42,886		$	42,367
Service cost	288			342
Interest cost	1,250			1,653
Employee contributions	71			88
Actuarial loss	(64		)	4,097
Benefits paid	(1,091		)	(1,781		)
Settlement	(1,383		)	—
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(2,756		)	(3,880		)

Projected benefit obligations as of December 31	39,201			42,886


Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets as of January 1	31,025			29,586
Actual return on plan assets	646			3,529
Employer contributions	1,774			1,979
Employee contributions	71			88
Benefits paid	(1,091		)	(1,781		)
Settlement	(1,383		)	—
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(1,691		)	(2,376		)

Fair value of plan assets as of December 31	29,351			31,025

Funded Status as of December 31	$	(9,850	)	$	(11,861	)


Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheets:
Noncurrent asset — Other assets	$	1,258		$	1,046
Current liability — Payroll and benefits payable	(450		)	(498		)
Noncurrent liability — Accrued pension and other liabilities	(10,658		)	(12,409		)

Net amount recognized	$	(9,850	)	$	(11,861	)

Amounts recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income consist of:

	2015		2014
Accumulated net actuarial loss	$	8,039	$	8,076

Net amount recognized, before tax effect	$	8,039	$	8,076

The accumulated benefit obligation as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $37.1 million and $41.3 million, respectively.

For European plans, the assumptions used to determine end of year benefit obligations are shown in the following table:

	2015		2014
Weighted average actuarial assumptions as of December 31:
Discount rate	3.15	%	3.00	%
Rate of increase in compensation levels	3.37	%	3.38	%

The following tables set forth the fair values of the Company’s European pension plans assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014:

	Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2015
			Quoted Prices
			In Active		Significant		Significant
			Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
			Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
Asset Category	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	1,997	$	1,997	$	—	$	—
Equity Securities
M&G PP Discretionary Fund (a)	4,673		4,673		—		—
Global Equity 60-40 Index (b)	5,412		5,412		—		—
Fixed Income Securities
Delta Lloyd Fixed Income (c)	1,864		—		—		1,864
Corporate Bonds (d)	5,022		5,022		—		—
Government Bonds (e)	6,913		6,913		—		—
Real Estate (f)	2,211		2,211		—		—
Insurance Reserves (g)	1,259		—		—		1,259

Total	$	29,351	$	26,228	$	—	$	3,123

	Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2014
			Quoted Prices
			In Active		Significant		Significant
			Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
			Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
Asset Category	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	611	$	611	$	—	$	—
Equity Securities
M&G PP Discretionary Fund (a)	4,922		4,922		—		—
Global Equity 60-40 Index (b)	5,475		5,475		—		—
Fixed Income Securities
Delta Lloyd Fixed Income (c)	3,481		—		—		3,481
Corporate Bonds (d)	5,417		5,417		—		—
Government Bonds (e)	7,628		7,628		—		—
Real Estate (f)	2,192		2,192		—		—
Insurance Reserves (g)	1,299		—		—		1,299

Total	$	31,025	$	26,245	$	—	$	4,780

(a)This fund invests in a mix of UK and overseas equity shares, bonds, property and cash. The fund is actively managed against its benchmark of the CAPS Balanced Pooled Fund Median. A prudent approach of diversification by both location and investment type is employed by the fund and both active stock selection and asset allocation are used to add value.

(b)This index fund invests 60% in the UK Equity Index Fund and 40% in overseas index funds. The overseas portion has a target allocation of 14% in North American funds, 14% in European funds (not including the UK), 7% in Japanese funds, and 5% in Pacific Basin funds (not including Japan).

(c)This category invests in 6 year Fixed Income investments with Delta Lloyd.

(d)This category invests in the M&G PP Discretionary Fund, the AAA Fixed interest - Over 15 Year Fund, and the M&G PP Long Dates Corporate Bond Fund. These funds, respectively, invest primarily in investment grade corporate bonds, as well as other debt instruments, including higher yielding corporate bonds, government debt, convertible and preferred stocks, money market instruments and equities; and in long-dated sterling denominated AAA-rated corporate bonds, as well as smaller holdings in gilts - both providing a fixed rate of interest.

(e)This category invests mainly in long term gilts through the M&G PP Super Long Index Linked Fund and the M&G PP Discretionary Fund.

(f)This category invests in the M&G UK Property Fund. The fund invests directly in commercial properties in the UK and is actively managed against its IPD real estate benchmark. The fund is well diversified investing in the retail, office, and industrial sectors of the market. A small portion of this category is also held in the M&G PP Discretionary Fund.

(g)This category invests in individual insurance policies in the name of the individual plan members.

The Company’s Level 3 investments in the Delta Lloyd fixed income fund and insurance reserves were valued using significant unobservable inputs. Inputs to these valuations include characteristics and quantitative data relating to the assets and reserves, investment and insurance policy cost, position size, liquidity, current financial condition of the company/insurer and other relevant market data. The following table sets forth changes in fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs during 2015 and 2014:

	Delta Lloyd Fixed Income			Insurance Reserves

Balance as of January 1, 2014	$	4,207		$	1,475
Purchases	—			163
Sales/Maturities	(259		)	(166		)
Foreign currency translation	(467		)	(173		)

Balance as of December 31, 2014	3,481			1,299
Purchases	—			139
Sales/Maturities	(1,394		)	(50		)
Foreign currency translation	(223		)	(129		)

Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	1,864		$	1,259

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the projected benefit obligations, accumulated benefit obligations, and fair value of plan assets for European pension plans with a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets, and for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets was as follows:

	Projected Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of Plan’s Assets				Accumulated Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of Plan’s Assets
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Projected benefit obligation	$	28,150	$	31,333	$	28,150	$	31,333
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	26,083	$	29,698	$	26,083	$	29,698
Fair value of plan assets	$	17,042	$	18,426	$	17,042	$	18,426

Information about the expected cash flows by year for the European pension plans follows:

Employer contributions
2016	$	1,874

Benefit Payments
2016	$	1,816
2017	1,492
2018	1,445
2019	1,061
2020	1,211
2021 — 2025	7,462

Total benefits expected to be paid include both the Company’s share of the benefit cost and the participants’ share of the cost, which is funded by participant contributions to the plan.

The following table provides the components of net periodic pension costs of the European plans:

	Year Ended December 31
	2015			2014			2013
Service cost	$	288		$	342		$	314
Interest cost	1,250			1,653			1,511
Expected return on assets	(1,705		)	(1,549		)	(1,263		)
Net actuarial loss amortization	219			245			203
Settlement	199			—			279

Net periodic pension cost	$	251		$	691		$	1,044

Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive (Loss)

	Year Ended December 31
	2015			2014			2013
Current year actuarial loss	$	(984	)	$	(2,117	)	$	(1,046	)
Amortization of actuarial loss	219			245			203
Settlement	199			—			279
Foreign currency exchange	603			818			(292		)

Total recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)	$	37		$	(1,054	)	$	(856	)

Total recognized in net periodic pension cost and other comprehensive (loss)	$	(214	)	$	(1,745	)	$	(1,900	)

The estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension cost in 2016 are as follows:

Net actuarial loss		$	235
Total as of December 31		$	235

For European plans, the assumptions used in the measurement of the net periodic pension cost are shown in the following table:

	2015		2014		2013
Weighted average actuarial assumptions as of December 31:
Discount rate	3.00	%	3.92	%	3.99	%
Expected annual return on plan assets	5.54	%	5.23	%	4.91	%
Rate of increase in compensation levels	3.38	%	3.50	%	3.50	%

The expected rate of return on plan assets was determined by the Company based on a review of asset class return expectations as well as long-term inflation assumptions. Projected returns are based on broad equity and bond indices that the Company uses to benchmark its actual asset portfolio performance based on its targeted portfolio mix of approximately 35%-45% equity securities, 45%-55% fixed income securities and 10%-15% other investments. The Company also takes into account the effect on its projected returns from any reasonably likely changes in its asset portfolio when applicable.

The non-current portion of the U.S. and European pension liabilities of $30.4 million and $31.5 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, is included in accrued pension and other liabilities.

Multi-Employer Pension Plan

In addition to the aforementioned European plans, the Company participates in a multi-employer pension plan in Europe. This multi-employer plan almost entirely relates to former employees of operations it has divested. Benefits are distributed by the multi-employer plan. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, the Company has a $0.9 million liability recorded as a component of payroll and benefits payable within its consolidated balance sheets. Refer to Note 16 for further information related to this multi-employer plan.

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company sponsors a defined contribution plan for certain U.S. employees. The plan allows for employee contributions, and the Company can make fixed, matching and discretionary contributions to the plan on behalf of its employees. The Company also makes contributions to the USW 401(k) Plan for certain eligible employees. Total expenses related to the defined contribution plans were $3.1 million, $2.8 million, and $2.5 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.