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Pension Benefits
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Pension Benefits PENSION BENEFITS
Kemper sponsors a qualified defined benefit pension plan (the “Pension Plan”). The Pension Plan covers approximately 8,650 participants and beneficiaries, of which 1,250 are active employees. Effective January 1, 2006 the Pension Plan was closed to new hires, and effective June 30, 2016, benefit accruals were frozen for substantially all of the participants under the Pension Plan. The Pension Plan is generally non-contributory, but participation requires or required some employees to contribute 3% of pay, as defined, per year. Benefits for participants who are or were required to contribute to the Pension Plan are based on compensation during plan participation and the number of years of participation. Benefits for the vast majority of participants who are not required to contribute to the Pension Plan are based on years of service and final average pay, as defined. The Company funds the Pension Plan in accordance with the requirements of ERISA.
Changes in Fair Value of Plan Assets and Changes in Projected Benefit Obligation for the Pension Plan for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 is presented below.
DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
 
2019
 
2018
Fair Value of Plan Assets at Beginning of Year
 
$
525.3

 
$
579.8

Actual Return on Plan Assets
 
113.2

 
(32.1
)
Employer Contributions
 
55.3

 
5.1

Benefits Paid
 
(29.2
)
 
(27.5
)
Fair Value of Plan Assets at End of Year
 
664.6

 
525.3

Projected Benefit Obligation at Beginning of Year
 
580.5

 
637.2

Interest Cost
 
22.3

 
20.3

Benefits Paid
 
(29.2
)
 
(27.5
)
Actuarial (Gains) Losses
 
86.9

 
(49.5
)
Projected Benefit Obligation at End of Year
 
660.5

 
580.5

Funded Status—Plan Assets in Excess (Deficit) of Projected Benefit Obligation
 
$
4.1

 
$
(55.2
)
Unamortized Amount Reported in AOCI at End of Year
 
$
(145.7
)
 
$
(144.4
)
Accumulated Benefit Obligation at End of Year
 
$
660.4

 
$
580.3


The measurement dates of the assets and liabilities at end of year presented in the preceding table under the headings, “2019” and “2018” were December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
The weighted-average discount rate and rate of increase in future compensation levels used to estimate the components of the Projected Benefit Obligation for the Pension Plan at December 31, 2019 and 2018 were:
 
 
2019
 
2018
Discount Rate
 
3.21
%
 
4.28
%
Rate of Increase in Future Compensation Levels
 
3.40

 
3.40


Asset allocations for the Pension Plan at December 31, 2019 and 2018 by asset category were:
ASSET CATEGORY
 
2019
 
2018
Cash and Short-term Investments
 
2
%
 
1
%
Corporate Bonds and Notes
 
40

 
41

Common and Preferred Stocks
 
35

 
37

Bond Exchange Traded Funds
 
14

 
6

Other Assets
 
9

 
15

Total
 
100
%
 
100
%

The investment objective of the Pension Plan is to produce current income and long-term capital growth through a combination of equity and fixed income investments which, together with appropriate employer contributions and any required employee contributions, is adequate to provide for the payment of the benefit obligations of the Pension Plan. The assets of the Pension Plan may be invested in fixed income and equity investments or any other investment vehicle or financial instrument deemed
NOTE 17. PENSION BENEFITS (Continued)
appropriate. Fixed income investments may include cash and short-term instruments, U.S. Government securities, corporate bonds, mortgages and other fixed income investments. Equity investments may include various types of stock, such as large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap stocks, and may also include investments in investment companies, collective investment funds and Kemper common stock (subject to Section 407 and other requirements of ERISA). The Pension Plan has not invested in Kemper common stock.
The trust investment committee for the Pension Plan, along with its third party fiduciary advisor, periodically reviews the performance of the Pension Plan’s investments and asset allocation. Several external investment managers, one of which is Fayez Sarofim & Co. (see Note 24, “Related Parties,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements), manage the equity investments of the trust for the Pension Plan. Each manager is allowed to exercise investment discretion, subject to limitations, if any, established by the trust investment committee for the Pension Plan. All other investment decisions are made by the Company, subject to general guidelines as set by the trust investment committee for the Pension Plan.
The Company determines its Expected Long Term Rate of Return on Plan Assets based primarily on the Company’s expectations of future returns, with consideration to historical returns, for the Pension Plan’s investments, based on target allocations of the Pension Plan’s investments.
The fair values of pension plan assets are estimated using the same methodologies and inputs as those used to determine the fair values for the respective asset category of the Company. These methodologies and inputs are disclosed in Note 22, “Fair Value Measurements,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Fair value measurements for the Pension Plan’s assets at December 31, 2019 are summarized below.
DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
 
Quoted Prices
in Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Measured at Net Asset Value
 
Fair Value
Fixed Maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government and Government Agencies and Authorities
 
$
158.4

 
$

 
$

 

 
$
158.4

States and Political Subdivisions
 

 
0.1

 

 

 
0.1

Corporate Bonds and Notes
 

 
107.3

 

 

 
107.3

Equity Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stocks:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Industries
 
140.0

 
21.5

 

 

 
161.5

Other Equity Interests:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collective Investment Funds
 

 

 

 
71.8

 
71.8

Bond Exchange Traded Funds
 
92.8

 

 

 

 
92.8

Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships
 

 

 

 
63.7

 
63.7

Short-term Investments
 
10.0

 

 

 

 
10.0

Receivables and Other
 
(1.0
)
 

 

 

 
(1.0
)
Total
 
$
400.2

 
$
128.9

 
$

 
$
135.5

 
$
664.6


NOTE 17. PENSION BENEFITS (Continued)
Fair value measurements for the Pension Plan’s assets at December 31, 2018 are summarized below.
DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
 
Quoted Prices
in Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Measured at Net Asset Value
 
Fair Value
Fixed Maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government and Government Agencies and Authorities
 
$
110.9

 
$

 
$

 

 
$
110.9

States and Political Subdivisions
 

 
2.1

 

 

 
2.1

Corporate Bonds and Notes
 

 
103.4

 

 

 
103.4

Equity Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred Stocks:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
 

 

 

 

 

Common Stocks:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Manufacturing
 

 

 

 

 

Other Industries
 
106.0

 
17.4

 

 

 
123.4

Other Equity Interests:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collective Investment Funds
 

 

 

 
68.6

 
68.6

Bond Exchange Traded Funds
 
34.1

 

 

 

 
34.1

Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships
 

 

 

 
77.1

 
77.1

Short-term Investments
 
4.4

 

 

 

 
4.4

Receivables and Other
 
1.0

 

 
0.3

 

 
1.3

Total
 
$
256.4

 
$
122.9

 
$
0.3

 
$
145.7

 
$
525.3


Additional information pertaining to the changes in the fair value of the Pension Plan’s assets classified as Level 3 in the two preceding tables for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 is presented below.
DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
 
2019
 
2018
Balance at Beginning of Year
 
$
0.3

 
$
0.3

Purchases, Sales and Settlements, Net
 
(0.3
)
 

Balance at End of Year
 
$

 
$
0.3


The components of Comprehensive Pension Expense (Income) for the Pension Plan for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were:
DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Service Cost Earned During the Year
 
$

 
$

 
$

Interest Cost on Projected Benefit Obligation
 
22.3

 
20.3

 
20.6

Expected Return on Plan Assets
 
(30.6
)
 
(28.9
)
 
(30.9
)
Amortization of Actuarial Loss
 
2.9

 
4.3

 
2.6

Pension Income Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Income
 
(5.4
)
 
(4.3
)
 
(7.7
)
Unrecognized Pension Gain (Loss) Arising During the Year
 
4.2

 
11.5

 
(4.9
)
Amortization of Accumulated Unrecognized Pension Loss
 
(2.9
)
 
(4.3
)
 
(2.6
)
Comprehensive Pension Expense (Income)
 
$
(4.1
)
 
$
2.9

 
$
(15.2
)

NOTE 17. PENSION BENEFITS (Continued)
The actuarial loss included in AOCI at December 31, 2019 is being amortized over approximately 22 years, the remaining average estimated life expectancy of participants. The Company estimates that Pension Income for the Pension Plan for the year ended December 31, 2020 will include expense of $5.9 million resulting from the amortization of the related accumulated actuarial loss included in AOCI at December 31, 2019.
The weighted-average discount rate, service cost discount rate, interest cost discount rate, rate of increase in future compensation levels and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets used to develop the components of Pension Expense for the Pension Plan for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were:
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Weighted-average Discount Rate
 
4.28
%
 
3.63
%
 
4.19
%
Service Cost Discount Rate
 
4.26

 
3.61

 
4.15

Interest Cost Discount Rate
 
3.91

 
3.26

 
3.52

Rate of Increase in Future Compensation Levels
 
3.40

 
3.40

 
2.56

Expected Long Term Rate of Return on Plan Assets
 
5.70

 
5.35

 
5.80


On August 22, 2019, the Company made a voluntary cash contribution of $55.3 million to the Pension Plan. On July 13, 2018, the Company made a voluntary cash contribution of $5.1 million to the Pension Plan. The Company did not contribute to the Pension Plan in 2017. The Company does not expect that it will be required to contribute to the Pension Plan in 2020, but could make a voluntary contribution pursuant to the maximum funding limits under ERISA.
The following benefit payments (net of participant contributions), which consider expected future service of certain participants that remain eligible for a benefit accrual, as appropriate, are expected to be paid from the Pension Plan:
DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
 
Years Ending December 31,
2020
 
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025-2029
Estimated Pension Benefit Payments
 
$
31.4

 
$
32.1

 
$
33.2

 
$
34.0

 
$
34.7

 
$
179.1


The Company also sponsors a non-qualified supplemental defined benefit pension plan (the “Supplemental Plan”). Benefit accruals for all participants in the Supplemental Plan were frozen effective June 30, 2016. The unfunded liability related to the Supplemental Plan was $28.9 million and $24.2 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Pension expense for the Supplemental Plan was $1.0 million, $0.8 million, and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. An actuarial loss of $5.6 million before taxes, an actuarial gain of $1.3 million before taxes and an actuarial loss of $1.6 million before taxes are included in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The Company also sponsors several defined contribution benefit plans covering most of its employees. The Company made contributions to those plans of $26.0 million, $15.1 million and $10.6 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.