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Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
4. Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Pension Plans
The Company has defined benefit pension plans covering certain U.S. and non-U.S. employees. The U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan has been closed to new participants since October 1998 and, as of February 2009, benefits accrued under this plan were frozen. As a result of the freeze, employees covered by the pension plan will receive, at retirement, benefits accrued through February 2009, but no benefits accrue after that date. Benefit accruals under the U.S. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”), which is an unfunded plan, were similarly frozen. The U.S. pension plan accounts for 44 percent of consolidated pension plan assets, and 45 percent of consolidated pension plan obligations. The eligibility, benefit formulas, and contribution requirements for plans outside of the U.S. vary by location.
The December 31, 2020 benefit obligations for the U.S. pension and postretirement plans were calculated using the Pri-2012 mortality table with MP-2020 generational projection. For U.S. pension funding purposes, the Company uses the plan’s IRS-basis current liability as its funding target, which is determined based on mandated assumptions.
Benefits under the Company's pension plan in Switzerland utilize a cash balance interest crediting rate for determination of plan liabilities. As of December 31, 2020, the benefit obligation for that plan amounted to $6.0 million.
In addition to providing pension benefits, the Company provides various medical, dental, and life insurance benefits for certain retired United States employees. U.S. employees hired prior to 2005 may become eligible for these benefits if they reach normal retirement age while working for the Company. Benefits provided under this plan are subject to change. Retirees share in the cost of these benefits. Any new employees hired after January 2005 who wish to be covered under this plan will be responsible for the full cost of such benefits. In September 2008, we changed the cost-sharing arrangement under this program such that increases in health care costs are the responsibility of plan participants. In August 2013, we reduced the life insurance benefit for retirees and eliminated the benefit for active employees.
The Company also provides certain postretirement life insurance benefits to retired employees in Canada. As of December 31, 2020, the accrued postretirement liability was $46.7 million in the U.S. and $1.3 million in Canada. The Company accrues the cost of providing postretirement benefits during the active service period of the employees. The Company currently funds the plans as claims are paid.
Accounting guidance requires the recognition of the funded status of each defined benefit and other postretirement benefit plan. Each overfunded plan is recognized as an asset and each underfunded plan is recognized as a liability. Company pension plan data for U.S. and non-U.S. plans has been combined for both 2020 and 2019, except where indicated below.
The Company’s pension and postretirement benefit costs and benefit obligations are based on actuarial valuations that are affected by many assumptions, the most significant of which are the assumed discount rate, expected rate of return on pension plan assets, and mortality. Each of the assumptions is reviewed and updated annually, as appropriate. The assumed rates of return for pension plan assets are determined for each major asset category based on historical rates of return for assets in that category and expectations of future rates of return based, in part, on simulated future capital market performance. The assumed discount rate is based on yields from a portfolio of currently available high-quality fixed-income investments with durations matching the expected future payments, based on the demographics of the plan participants and the plan provisions.
Gains and losses arise from changes in the assumptions used to measure the benefit obligations, and experience different from what had been assumed, including asset returns different than what had been expected. The Company amortizes gains and losses in excess of a “corridor” over the average future service of the plan’s current participants. The corridor is defined as 10 percent of the greater of the plan’s projected benefit obligation or market-related value of plan assets. The market-related value of plan assets is also used to determine the expected return on plan assets component of net periodic cost. The Company’s market-related value for its U.S. plan is measured by first determining the absolute difference between the actual and the expected return on the plan assets. The absolute difference in excess of 5 percent of the expected return is added to the market-related value over two years; the remainder is added to the market-related value immediately.
To the extent the Company’s unrecognized net losses and unrecognized prior service costs, including the amount recognized through accumulated other comprehensive income, are not reduced by future favorable plan experience, they will be recognized as a component of the net periodic cost in future years.
The following table sets forth the plan benefit obligations:
As of December 31, 2020As of December 31, 2019
(in thousands)
Pension plans
Other
postretirement benefits
Pension plans
Other postretirement benefits
Benefit obligation, beginning of year
$227,211 $54,384 $201,450 $51,127 
Service cost
2,279 200 2,543 189 
Interest cost
6,172 1,712 7,216 2,115 
Plan participants' contributions
198 — 243 — 
Actuarial (gain)/loss
13,309 (4,794)22,645 4,686 
Benefits paid
(8,123)(3,555)(8,404)(3,782)
Settlements and curtailments
(474)— (1,768)— 
Plan amendments and other
(204)— 152 — 
Foreign currency changes
5,432 30 3,134 49 
Benefit obligation, end of year
$245,800 $47,977 $227,211 $54,384 
Accumulated benefit obligation
$236,321 $— $218,006 $— 
Weighted average assumptions used to
determine benefit obligations, end of year:
Discount rate — U.S. plan
2.65 %2.38 %3.40 %3.27 %
Discount rate — non-U.S. plans
1.91 %2.75 %2.31 %3.05 %
Cash balance interest crediting rate - Switzerland pension plan0.05 %— 0.25 %— 
Compensation increase — U.S. plan
— N/A— 3.00 %
Compensation increase — non-U.S. plans
2.71 %2.75 %2.81 %3.00 %

During 2020, pension benefit obligations increased by $18.6 million, $13.3 million of which was driven by net actuarial losses, principally resulting from a lower discount rate. Other postretirement benefit obligations decreased by $6.4 million in 2020, as changes in demographic data assumptions which resulted from a 2020 experience study, were partially offset by lower discount rates. During 2019, lower average discount rates had the effect of significantly increasing both pension and other postretirement benefit obligations.

The following sets forth information about plan assets:
As of December 31, 2020As of December 31, 2019
(in thousands)
Pension plans
Other postretirement benefits
Pension plans
Other postretirement benefits
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year
$211,755 $— $178,942 $— 
Actual return on plan assets, net of expenses
28,477 — 32,367 — 
Employer contributions
3,219 3,555 4,670 3,782 
Plan participants' contributions
198 — 243 — 
Benefits paid
(8,123)(3,555)(8,404)(3,782)
Settlements
(737)— (260)— 
Foreign currency changes
4,262 — 4,197 — 
Fair value of plan assets, end of year
$239,051 $— $211,755 $— 
The funded status of the plans was as follows:
As of December 31, 2020As of December 31, 2019
(in thousands)
Pension plans
Other postretirement benefits
Pension plans
Other postretirement benefits
Fair value of plan assets
$239,051 $— $211,755 $— 
Benefit obligation
245,800 47,977 227,211 54,384 
Funded status
$(6,749)$(47,977)$(15,456)$(54,384)
Accrued benefit cost, end of year
$(6,749)$(47,977)$(15,456)$(54,384)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet consist of the following:
Noncurrent asset
$31,139 $— $21,337 $— 
Current liability
(2,281)(3,660)(2,155)(3,808)
Noncurrent liability
(35,607)(44,317)(34,638)(50,576)
Net amount recognized
$(6,749)$(47,977)$(15,456)$(54,384)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:
Net actuarial loss
$53,065 $20,736 $63,240 $28,119 
Prior service cost/(credit)
393 (12,946)639 (17,434)
Net amount recognized
$53,458 $7,790 $63,879 $10,685 

The composition of the net pension plan funded status as of December 31, 2020 was as follows:
(in thousands)
U.S. plan
Non-U.S. plans
Total
Pension plans with pension assets
$1,551 $25,160 $26,711 
Pension plans without pension assets
(6,022)(27,438)(33,460)
Total
$(4,471)$(2,278)$(6,749)
The net underfunded balance in the U.S. principally relates to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.
The composition of the net periodic benefit plan cost for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, was as follows:
Pension plans
Other postretirement benefits
(in thousands)
202020192018202020192018
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost
$2,279 $2,543 $2,723 $200 $189 $232 
Interest cost
6,172 7,216 7,217 1,712 2,114 2,024 
Expected return on assets
(6,853)(8,285)(8,873)— — — 
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)
14 68 34 (4,488)(4,488)(4,488)
Amortization of net actuarial loss
2,412 2,253 2,219 2,592 2,227 2,956 
Settlement
148 (16)2,246 — — — 
Curtailment (gain)/loss
263 466 (752)— — — 
Net periodic benefit cost
$4,435 $4,245 $4,814 $16 $42 $724 
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net cost:
Discount rate — U.S. plan
3.40 %4.41 %3.70 %3.27 %4.31 %3.59 %
Discount rate — non-U.S. plans
2.31 %2.98 %2.83 %3.05 %3.65 %3.40 %
Cash balance interest crediting rate - Switzerland pension plan0.25 %0.85 %0.65 %— — — 
Expected return on plan assets — U.S. plan
3.54 %4.57 %3.87 %— — — 
Expected return on plan assets — non-U.S. plans
3.45 %4.45 %4.83 %— — — 
Rate of compensation increase — U.S. plan
— — — N/A3.00 %— 
Rate of compensation increase — non-U.S. plans
2.81 %3.02 %3.04 %3.00 %3.00 %3.00 %
Pretax (gains)/losses on plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, was as follows:
Pension plans
Other postretirement benefits
(in thousands)
202020192018202020192018
Settlements/curtailments
$(411)$(450)$(1,494)$— $— $— 
Asset/liability loss/(gain)
(8,053)(2,794)6,411 (4,794)4,685 (6,100)
Amortization of actuarial (loss)
(2,412)(2,253)(2,219)(2,592)(2,227)(2,956)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)
(14)(68)(34)4,488 4,488 4,488 
Other(204)— — — — — 
Currency impact
670 316 (1,389)3 — — 
Cost/(benefit) in Other comprehensive income
$(10,424)$(5,249)$1,275 $(2,895)$6,946 $(4,568)
Investment Strategy
Our investment strategy for pension assets differs for the various countries in which we have defined benefit pension plans. Some of our defined benefit plans do not require funded trusts and, in those arrangements, the Company funds the plans on a “pay as you go” basis. The largest of the funded defined benefit plans is the United States plan.
United States plan:
During 2009, we changed our investment strategy for the United States pension plan by adopting a liability-driven investment strategy. Under this arrangement, the Company seeks to invest in assets that track closely to the discount rate that is used to measure the plan liabilities. Accordingly, the plan assets are primarily debt securities. The change in investment strategy is reflective of the Company’s 2008 decision to freeze benefit accruals under the plan.
Non-United States plans:
For the countries in which the Company has funded pension trusts, the investment strategy may also be liability driven or, in other cases, to achieve a competitive, total investment return, achieving diversification between and within asset classes and managing other risks. Investment objectives for each asset class are determined based on specific risks and investment opportunities identified. Actual allocations to each asset class vary from target allocations due to periodic investment strategy changes, market value fluctuations, the length of time it takes to fully implement investment allocation positions, and the timing of benefit payments and contributions.
Fair-Value Measurements
The following tables present plan assets as of December 31, 2020, and 2019, using the fair-value hierarchy, which has three levels based on the reliability of inputs used, as described in Note 18. Certain investments that are measured at fair value using net asset value (NAV) as a practical expedient are not required to be categorized in the fair value hierarchy table. The total fair value of these investments is included in the table below to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to amounts presented in the funded status table above. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, there were no investments expected to be sold at a value materially different than NAV.
Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2020
(in thousands)Quoted prices in active markets Level 1Significant other observable inputs Level 2Significant 
unobservable inputs Level 3		Total
Common Stocks and equity funds$— $— $— $— 
Debt securities— 104,642 — 104,642 
Insurance contracts— — 3,819 3,819 
Cash and short-term investments1,095 — — 1,095 
Total investments in the fair value hierarchy$1,095 $104,642 $3,819 109,556 
Investments at net asset value:
Common Stocks and equity funds20,213 
Fixed income funds107,012 
Limited partnerships2,270 
Total plan assets$239,051 
Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2019
(in thousands)
Quoted prices in active markets Level 1
Significant other observable inputs Level 2
Significant unobservable inputs Level 3
Total
Common Stocks and equity funds
$216 $— $— $216 
Debt securities
— 92,721 — 92,721 
Insurance contracts
— — 3,244 3,244 
Cash and short-term investments
2,793 — — 2,793 
Total investments in the fair value hierarchy
$3,009 $92,721 $3,244 98,974 
Investments at net asset value:
Common Stocks and equity funds
56,846 
Fixed income funds
52,751 
Limited partnerships
3,184 
Total plan assets
$211,755 

The following tables present a reconciliation of Level 3 assets held during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
(in thousands)
December 31, 2019
Net realized gains
Net unrealized gains
Net purchases,issuances
and settlements
Net transfers (out of) Level 3
December 31, 2020
Insurance contracts -
total level 3 assets
$3,244 $— $22 $553 $— $3,819 
(in thousands)
December 31, 2018
Net realized gains
Net unrealized gains
Net purchases, issuances
and settlements
Net transfers (out of) Level 3
December 31, 2019
Insurance contracts -
total level 3 assets
$2,890 $— $20 $334 $— $3,244 

The asset allocation for the Company’s U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans for 2020 and 2019, and the target allocation, by asset category, are as follows:
United States Plan
Non-U.S. Plans
Target
Allocation
Percentage of plan assets at plan measurement date
Target
Allocation
Percentage of plan assets at plan measurement date
Asset category
2020201920202019
Equity securities
— %— %1 %13 %13 %13 %
Debt securities
100 %98 %96 %82 %81 %80 %
Real estate
— %2 %2 %1 %1 %1 %
Other(1)
— %— %1 %4 %5 %6 %
100 %100 %100 %100 %100 %100 %
(1)Other includes hedged equity and absolute return strategies, and private equity. The Company has procedures to closely monitor the performance of these investments and compares asset valuations to audited financial statements of the funds.
The targeted plan asset allocation is based on an analysis of the actuarial liabilities, a review of viable asset classes, and an analysis of the expected rate of return, risk, and other investment characteristics of various investment asset classes.
At the end of 2020 and 2019, the projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation, and fair value of plan assets for pension plans with projected benefit obligation and an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets were as follows:
Plans with projected
benefit obligation in
excess of plan assets
(in thousands)
20202019
Projected benefit obligation
$42,703 $137,123 
Fair value of plan assets
4,815 100,330 

Plans with accumulated
benefit obligation in
excess of plan assets
(in thousands)20202019
Accumulated benefit obligation$40,133 $134,737 
Fair value of plan assets4,815 100,330 
Information about expected cash flows for the pension and other benefit obligations are as follows:
(in thousands)
Pension plans
Other postretirement benefits
Expected employer contributions and direct employer payments in the next fiscal year
$2,527 $3,660 
Expected benefit payments
2021 8,134 3,660 
2022 8,585 3,530 
2023 8,794 3,418 
2024 9,286 3,279 
2025 10,009 3,129 
2026-203054,403 14,027