Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

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 46 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, 2018 benefit obligation for the U.S. pension and postretirement plans were calculated using the RP-2014 mortality table with MP-2017 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.

Other Postretirement Benefits

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, 2018, the accrued postretirement liability was $50.1 million in the U.S. and $1.0 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 2018 and 2017, 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.

In 2018, the Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2017-07, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits: improving the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost”. This accounting update requires that service cost for defined benefit pension and postretirement plans be reported in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. Additionally, the other components of net periodic benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations. The Company elected to report the components of net periodic benefit cost other than the service component in the line item, Other expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

We restated 2017 and 2016 expenses using the application of a practical expedient, which permits the usage of amounts disclosed in the prior year Pension and Other Postretirement benefit plans footnote as the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements. The tables below show the 2017 and 2016 amounts reclassified by segment and financial statement line item that resulted from adopting this update:

Effect by segment operating expenses:

(in thousands)	Increase/(decrease) in expense for December 31, 2017		Increase/(decrease) in expense for December 31, 2016
Machine Clothing	$(44	)	$24
Albany Engineered Composites	-		-
Corporate expenses	(2,481	)	(2,380	)
Total operating expenses	$(2,525	)	$(2,356	)
Other expense, net	$2,525		$2,356

Effect by Statement of Income line item:

(in thousands)	Increase/(decrease) in expense for December 31, 2017		Increase/(decrease) in expense for December 31, 2016
Cost of goods sold	$(503	)	$(716	)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(2,022	)	(1,754	)
Technical and research expenses	-		2
Restructuring expenses, net	-		112
Total operating expenses	$(2,525	)	$(2,356	)

The following table sets forth the plan benefit obligations:

	As of December 31, 2018				As of December 31, 2017
(in thousands)	Pension plans		Other postretirement benefits		Pension plans		Other postretirement benefits
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	$230,911		$58,531		$210,856		$57,488
Service cost	2,723		232		2,720		244
Interest cost	7,217		2,024		7,476		2,214
Plan participants' contributions	228		-		211		-
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(10,666	)	(6,100	)	6,626		2,743
Benefits paid	(7,814	)	(3,473	)	(7,697	)	(4,230	)
Settlements and curtailments	(13,807	)	-		(8	)	-
Plan amendments and other	534		-		(3	)	-
Foreign currency changes	(7,876	)	(87	)	10,730		72
Benefit obligation, end of year	$201,450		$51,127		$230,911		$58,531
Accumulated benefit obligation	$193,870		$-		$220,622		$-
Weighted average assumptions used to
determine benefit obligations, end of year:
Discount rate - U.S. plan	4.41%		4.31%		3.70%		3.59%
Discount rate - non-U.S. plans	2.93%		3.65%		2.83%		3.40%
Compensation increase - U.S. plan	-		3.00%		-		-
Compensation increase - non-U.S. plans	3.02%		3.00%		3.02%		3.00%

The following sets forth information about plan assets:

	As of December 31, 2018				As of December 31, 2017
(in thousands)	Pension plans		Other postretirement benefits		Pension plans		Other postretirement benefits
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	$205,586		$-		$180,672		$-
Actual return on plan assets, net of expenses	(8,449	)	-		19,182		-
Employer contributions	10,071		3,474		4,645		4,230
Plan participants' contributions	228		14		211		37
Benefits paid	(7,813	)	(3,488	)	(7,697	)	(4,267	)
Settlements	(13,029	)	-		(8	)	-
Foreign currency changes	(7,652	)	-		8,581		-
Fair value of plan assets, end of year	$178,942		$-		$205,586		$-

The funded status of the plans was as follows:

	As of December 31, 2018				As of December 31, 2017
(in thousands)	Pension plans		Other postretirement benefits		Pension plans		Other postretirement benefits
Fair value of plan assets	$178,942		$-		$205,586		$-
Benefit obligation	201,450		51,127		230,911		58,531
Funded status	$(22,508	)	$(51,127	)	$(25,325	)	$(58,531	)
Accrued benefit cost, end of year	$(22,508	)	$(51,127	)	$(25,325	)	$(58,531	)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet consist of the following:
Noncurrent asset	$14,206		$-		$16,242		$-
Current liability	(2,124	)	(3,890	)	(2,094	)	(4,108	)
Noncurrent liability	(34,590	)	(47,237	)	(39,473	)	(54,423	)
Net amount recognized	$(22,508	)	$(51,127	)	$(25,325	)	$(58,531	)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:
Net actuarial loss	$68,110		$25,660		$67,283		$34,717
Prior service cost/(credit)	1,020		(21,922	)	572		(26,411	)
Net amount recognized	$69,130		$3,738		$67,855		$8,306

The composition of the net pension plan funded status as of December 31, 2018 was as follows:

			Non-U.S.
(in thousands)	U.S. plan		plans		Total
Pension plans with pension assets	$(2,594	)	$11,735		$9,141
Pension plans without pension assets	(6,716	)	(24,933	)	(31,649	)
Total	$(9,310	)	$(13,198	)	$(22,508	)

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, 2018, 2017, and 2016, was as follows:

	Pension plans						Other postretirement benefits
(in thousands)	2018		2017		2016		2018		2017		2016
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$2,723		$2,720		$2,656		$232		$244		$254
Interest cost	7,217		7,476		7,885		2,024		2,214		2,443
Expected return on assets	(8,873	)	(8,152	)	(8,675	)	-		-		-
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	34		36		38		(4,488	)	(4,488	)	(4,488	)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	2,219		2,628		2,283		2,956		2,811		2,819
Settlement	2,246		-		163		-		-		-
Curtailment (gain)/loss	(752	)	-		(112	)	-		-		-
Net periodic benefit cost	$4,814		$4,708		$4,238		$724		$781		$1,028
Weighted average assumptions used to determine
net cost:
Discount rate - U.S. plan	3.70	%	4.20	%	4.54	%	3.59	%	4.00	%	4.24	%
Discount rate - non-U.S. plans	2.83	%	2.98	%	3.67	%	3.40	%	3.70	%	4.00	%
Expected return on plan assets - U.S. plan	3.87	%	4.40	%	4.74	%	-		-		-
Expected return on plan assets - non-U.S. plans	4.83	%	4.46	%	5.39	%	-		-		-
Rate of compensation increase - U.S. plan	-		-		-		-		-		-
Rate of compensation increase - non-U.S. plans	3.04	%	3.29	%	3.24	%	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, 2018, 2017, and 2016, was as follows:

	Pension plans						Other postretirement benefits
(in thousands)	2018		2017		2016		2018		2017		2016
Settlements/curtailments	$(1,494	)	$ -		$(51	)	$ -		$ -		$ -
Asset/liability loss/(gain)	6,411		(4,408	)	6,519		(6,100	)	2,743		(395	)
Amortization of actuarial (loss)	(2,219	)	(2,628	)	(2,283	)	(2,956	)	(2,811	)	(2,819	)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(34	)	(36	)	(38	)	4,488		4,488		4,488
Currency impact	(1,389	)	1,930		(1,655	)	-		2		(1	)
Cost/(benefit) in Other comprehensive income	$1,275		$(5,142	)	$2,492		$(4,568	)	$4,422		$1,273

The estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost in 2019 are as follows:

		Total
	Total	postretirement
(in thousands)	pension	benefits
Actuarial loss	$2,254	$2,226
Prior service cost/(benefit)	68	(4,488	)
Total	$2,322	$(2,262	)

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 is 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, 2018, and 2017, using the fair-value hierarchy, which has three levels based on the reliability of inputs used, as described in Note 17. 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, 2018 and 2017, there were no investments expected to be sold at a value materially different than NAV.

	Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2018
(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		$284	$-	$-	$284
Debt securities		-	78,523	-	78,523
Insurance contracts		-	-	2,890	2,890
Cash and short-term investments		3,016	-	-	3,016
Total investments in the fair value hierarchy		$3,300	$78,523	$2,890	84,713
Investments at net asset value:
	Common Stocks and equity funds				42,852
	Fixed income funds				47,534
	Limited partnerships				3,843
Total plan assets					$178,942

	Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2017
(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		$335	$-	$-	$335
Debt securities		-	81,363	-	81,363
Insurance contracts		-	-	2,407	2,407
Cash and short-term investments		3,253	-	-	3,253
Total investments in the fair value hierarchy		$3,588	$81,363	$2,407	87,358
Investments at net asset value:
	Common Stocks and equity funds				37,768
	Fixed income funds				75,881
	Limited partnerships				4,579
Total plan assets					$205,586

The following tables present a reconciliation of Level 3 assets held during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:

(in thousands)	December 31, 2017	Net realized gains	Net unrealized gains		Net purchases, issuances and settlements	Net transfers (out of) Level 3	December 31, 2018
Insurance contracts -
Total level 3 assets	$2,407	$-	$(45	)	$528	$-	$2,890

(in thousands)	December 31, 2016	Net realized gains	Net unrealized gains	Net purchases, issuances and settlements	Net transfers (out of) Level 3	December 31, 2017
Insurance contracts -
Total level 3 assets	$2,238	$-	$56	$113	$-	$2,407

The asset allocation for the Company’s U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans for 2017 and 2018, 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		2018	2017		2018	2017
Equity securities	-	1%	1%	20%	19%	30%
Debt securities	100%	94%	95%	75%	74%	64%
Real estate	-	4%	4%	1%	1%	1%
Other  (1)	-	1%	-	4%	6%	5%
	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 2018 and 2017, 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)	2018	2017
Projected benefit obligation	$123,261	$131,717
Fair value of plan assets	86,547	90,149
	Plans with accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
(in thousands)	2018	2017
Accumulated benefit obligation	$120,869	$129,698
Fair value of plan assets	86,062	90,149

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	$4,150	$3,890
Expected benefit payments
2019	7,292	3,890
2020	7,472	3,771
2021	8,175	3,701
2022	8,322	3,653
2023	8,647	3,613
2024-2028	49,846	17,066