Retirement Benefits [Text Block] | 19. Post-retirement benefits We operate a number of post-retirement benefit plans, primarily consisting of defined contribution plans for U.S. and non-U.S. employees. We also sponsor defined benefit pension plans for certain employees located in the U.K., Norway and Indonesia. The majority of our post-retirement expense relates to defined contribution plans. The assets of the various defined benefit plans are held separately from those of the Company. Our principal retirement savings plans and pension plans are discussed below. Defined contribution plans We offer certain retirement savings plans to U.S. and non-U.S. employees. These plans are managed in accordance with applicable local statutes and practices and are defined contribution plans. For U.S. employees, we offer 401k 2020, For U.K. employees, we offer the Group Personal Pension plan (“GPP”), which is a portable, personal pension plan to which the employer contributes on a matching basis between a base of 4.5% and a ceiling of 6% of base salary. In addition, we offer other defined contribution plans for our employees in the rest of the world as per local statues. Effective in 2020, 401k December 31, 2021 Expense recognized in respect of these plans were $7.3 million, $6.4 million and $8.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 2019 Defined benefit plans We offer a pension plan to certain of our U.K. employees, which qualifies as a defined benefit plan. Effective October 1, 1999, In December 2015, no On December 28, 2020, 65 Key assumptions The major assumptions, included on a weighted average basis across the defined benefit plans, used to calculate the defined benefit plan liabilities were: December 31, 2021 2020 2019 Discount rate 1.8 % 1.3 % 2.0 % Expected return on plan assets 3.2 % 2.7 % 3.4 % Expected rate of salary increases 0.1 % 0.1 % 0.1 % The discount rate has been calculated with reference to AA rated corporate bonds of a suitable maturity. Expected rates of salary increases have been estimated by management following a review of the participant data. Within the U.K. plans pensionable salary was frozen in 2012 The expected long-term return on cash is based on cash deposit rates available at the reporting date. The expected return on bonds is determined by reference to U.K. long term government bonds and bond yields at the reporting date. The expected rates of return on equities and property have been determined by setting an appropriate risk premium above government bond yields having regard to market conditions at the reporting date. Net periodic benefit cost Amounts recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss in respect of the defined benefit plans were as follows (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 Current service cost $ (439 ) $ (539 ) $ (1,218 ) Interest cost (3,407 ) (4,551 ) (6,083 ) Expected return on plan assets 5,499 6,064 6,425 Plan curtailment / amendment events recognized in consolidated statements of operations - 2,269 47 Amortization of prior service credit 249 - - Reclassified net remeasurement (loss) gains 244 (104 ) - Amounts included in consolidated statements of operations $ 2,146 $ 3,139 $ (829 ) Actuarial gain (loss) on defined benefit plans $ 22,345 $ (9,356 ) $ (3,521 ) Plan curtailment / amendment credit recognized in consolidated statements of other comprehensive loss - 5,510 - Amortization of prior service credit (249 ) - - Reclassified net remeasurement (loss) gains (244 ) 104 - Other comprehensive income (loss) 21,852 (3,742 ) (3,521 ) Total comprehensive income (loss) $ 23,998 $ (603 ) $ (4,350 ) The service costs have primarily been included in “Cost of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization” in the consolidated statements of operations. Interest cost, expected return on plan assets and plan curtailment / amendment events have been recognized in “Other income, net” in the consolidated statements of operations. The actuarial gain (loss) is derived from the components shown in the table below (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 Actuarial gain on assets $ 11,378 $ 16,678 $ 18,801 Actuarial gain (loss) on liabilities 10,967 (26,034 ) (22,322 ) Actuarial gain (loss) on defined benefit plans $ 22,345 $ (9,356 ) $ (3,521 ) The actuarial gain on the benefit obligation for the year ended December 31, 2021 2021 2022. The amount of employer contributions expected to be paid to our defined benefit plans during the years to December 31, 2031 Years ending December 31: 2022 $ 5,646 2023 $ 5,888 2024 $ 6,123 2025 $ 6,329 2026 $ 6,575 Thereafter to December 31, 2031 $ 31,507 The amounts included in the consolidated balance sheets arising from our obligations in respect of defined retirement benefit plans and post-employment benefits was as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2021 2020 Present value of defined benefit obligations $ (241,808 ) $ (261,576 ) Fair value of plan assets 212,688 203,630 Deficit recognized under non-current liabilities $ (29,120 ) $ (57,946 ) Changes in the present value of defined benefit obligations were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2021 2020 Opening balance $ (261,576 ) $ (254,271 ) Current service cost (439 ) (539 ) Interest cost (3,407 ) (4,551 ) Actuarial gain (loss) 10,967 (26,034 ) Plan amendment - 4,873 Settlements - 17,432 Exchange differences 2,378 (8,026 ) Benefits paid 10,269 9,505 Payroll tax of employer contributions - 35 Ending balance $ (241,808 ) $ (261,576 ) Movements in fair value of plan assets were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2021 2020 Opening balance $ 203,630 $ 194,554 Actual return on plan assets 16,877 22,742 Exchange differences (2,245 ) 6,393 Contributions from the sponsoring companies 4,695 4,005 Settlements - (14,524 ) Benefits paid (10,269 ) (9,505 ) Payroll tax of employer contributions - (35 ) Ending balance $ 212,688 $ 203,630 The actual return on plan assets consists of the following (in thousands): December 31, 2021 2020 2019 Expected return on plan assets $ 5,499 $ 6,064 $ 6,425 Actuarial gain on plan assets 11,378 16,678 18,801 Actual return on plan assets $ 16,877 $ 22,742 $ 25,226 Information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2021 2020 Accumulated benefit obligation $ 240,644 $ 260,496 Fair value of plan assets 212,688 203,630 The investment strategy of the main U.K. plan (“U.K. Plan”) is set by the trustees and is based on advice received from an investment consultant. The primary investment objective for the U.K. Plan is to achieve an overall rate of return that is sufficient to ensure that assets are available to meet all liabilities as and when they become due. In doing so, the aim is to maximize returns at an acceptable level of risk taking into consideration the circumstances of the U.K. Plan. The investment strategy has been determined after considering the U.K. Plan’s liability profile and requirements of the U.K. statutory funding objective, and an appropriate level of investment risk. Taking all these factors into consideration, approximately 58% of the assets are invested in a growth portfolio, comprising diversified growth funds (“DGFs”) and property, and approximately 42% of the assets in a stabilizing portfolio, comprising corporate bonds and liability driven investments. DGFs are actively managed multi-asset funds. The managers of the DGFs aim to deliver equity like returns in the long term, with lower volatility. They seek to do this by investing in a wide range of assets and investment contracts in order to implement their market views. The present value of the U.K. Plan’s future benefits payments to members is sensitive to changes in long term interest rates and long-term inflation expectations. Liability driven investment (“LDI”) funds are more sensitive to changes in these factors and therefore provide more efficient hedging than traditional bonds. A small proportion of the assets have therefore been invested in LDI funds to help to reduce the volatility of the U.K. Plan’s funding position. The hedging level is expected to be increased over time as the U.K. Plan’s funding position improves. Assets of the other plans are invested in a combination of equity, bonds, real estate and insurance contracts. The analysis of the plan assets and the expected rate of return at the reporting date were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 Expected rate Fair value of Expected rate Fair value of of return % asset of return % asset Mutual funds DGFs 4.6 $ 123,460 4.2 $ 116,590 LDI funds 1.1 61,163 0.7 67,395 Bond funds 1.8 26,571 1.4 17,382 Equities 1.5 360 2.3 233 Other assets 1.5 1,134 1.8 2,030 Total $ 212,688 $ 203,630 The aggregated asset categorization for the plans were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2021 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Mutual funds DGFs $ 123,460 $ - $ - $ 123,460 LDI funds 61,163 - - 61,163 Bond funds 26,571 - - 26,571 Equities 360 - - 360 Other assets 445 329 360 1,134 Total $ 211,999 $ 329 $ 360 $ 212,688 December 31, 2020 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Mutual funds DGFs $ 116,590 $ - $ - $ 116,590 LDI funds 67,395 - - 67,395 Bond funds 17,382 - - 17,382 Equities 233 - - 233 Other assets 1,301 437 292 2,030 Total $ 202,901 $ 437 $ 292 $ 203,630 Other assets primarily represent insurance contracts. The fair value is estimated, based on the underlying defined benefit obligation assumed by the insurers. Movements in fair value of Level 3 December 31, 2021 2020 Opening balance $ 292 $ 14,786 Actual return on plan assets 5 4 Exchange differences 33 (2 ) Contributions from the sponsoring companies 30 28 Settlement - (14,524 ) Ending balance $ 360 $ 292 Executive Deferred Compensation Plan The Company maintains the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the “EDC Plan”) for certain current and former Frank’s employees. Effective during 2015, five no no As of December 31, 2021, December 31, 2021, |