Employee Benefit Plans | 17. Employee Benefit Plans The Company offers defined contribution retirement plans which cover the majority of its U.S. employees, as well as employees in certain other countries. The Company’s expense relating to defined contribution plans was $59,719, $52,629 and $50,031 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company sponsors qualified defined benefit pension plans covering certain employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. The plans’ benefits are generally based on years of service and employee compensation. The Company also provides to certain management employees, through non-qualified plans, supplemental retirement benefits in excess of qualified plan limits imposed by federal tax law. In July 2013, the Company announced that, after December 31, 2013, the U.S. qualified and non-qualified defined benefit plans would be closed to new employees. All pension-eligible employees as of December 31, 2013 will continue to earn a pension benefit through December 31, 2023 as long as they remain employed by an operating company participating in the impacted plans. The Company also announced that effective January 1, 2024, the plans would be frozen to any future benefit accruals. The Company also maintains other post-retirement benefit plans. These plans are closed to new entrants and not considered to be significant. The supplemental and other post-retirement benefit plans are supported by the general assets of the Company. Obligations and Funded Status The following tables summarize the change in benefit obligations, change in plan assets, and funded status associated with the Company's significant defined benefit plans and the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2021 and 2020: Qualified Defined Benefits Non-Qualified Supplemental Benefits U.S. Plan Non-U.S. Plans 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 Change in benefit obligation: Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 524,181 $ 490,228 $ 340,829 $ 296,534 $ 51,194 $ 60,183 Service cost 7,134 6,824 5,749 5,345 1,561 1,272 Interest cost 13,605 16,272 3,590 3,697 1,232 1,765 Plan participants' contributions — — 2,009 1,707 — — Benefits paid (18,221) (36,303) (7,519) (8,613) (5,331) (12,324) Actuarial (gain) loss (1) (19,393) 47,160 (20,766) 19,558 (4,568) 298 Amendments — — 1,828 (1,401) — — Settlements and curtailments (28,960) — (3,517) (294) (1,183) — Currency translation and other — — (7,488) 24,296 — — Benefit obligation at end of year 478,346 524,181 314,715 340,829 42,905 51,194 Change in plan assets: Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 606,896 550,238 212,748 185,590 — — Actual return on plan assets 13,385 92,961 10,664 13,560 — — Company contributions — — 8,121 7,315 6,262 12,324 Plan participants' contributions — — 2,009 1,707 — — Benefits paid (18,221) (36,303) (7,519) (8,613) (5,331) (12,324) Settlements and curtailments (28,960) — (2,287) (294) (931) — Currency translation and other — — (4,059) 13,483 — — Fair value of plan assets at end of year 573,100 606,896 219,677 212,748 — — Funded (Unfunded) status $ 94,754 $ 82,715 $ (95,038) $ (128,081) $ (42,905) $ (51,194) Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of: Assets and Liabilities: Other assets and deferred charges $ 94,754 $ 82,715 $ 1,575 $ 653 $ — $ — Accrued compensation and employee benefits — — (1,729) (1,691) (4,776) (4,899) Other liabilities (deferred compensation) — — (94,884) (127,043) (38,129) (46,295) Total assets (liabilities) 94,754 82,715 (95,038) (128,081) (42,905) (51,194) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Earnings): Net actuarial losses (gains) 33,545 49,386 50,878 80,472 (20,724) (18,400) Prior service cost (credit) 110 322 (1,303) (3,632) 2,980 4,593 Tax (benefit) expense (6,686) (10,272) (11,836) (17,144) 3,840 2,961 Total accumulated other comprehensive loss (earnings), net of tax 26,969 39,436 37,739 59,696 (13,904) (10,846) Net amount recognized at December 31, $ 121,723 $ 122,151 $ (57,299) $ (68,385) $ (56,809) $ (62,040) Accumulated benefit obligations $ 471,871 $ 511,292 $ 302,929 $ 326,317 $ 41,110 $ 47,358 (1) The actuarial gains and losses were primarily due to discount rate fluctuations. The Company’s net unfunded status at December 31, 2021 and 2020 includes net liabilities of $95,038 and $128,081, respectively, relating to the Company’s significant international qualified plans, some in locations where it is not economically advantageous to pre-fund the plans due to local regulations. The majority of the international obligations relate to defined pension plans operated by the Company’s businesses in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Switzerland. The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $815,910 and $884,967 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Pension plans with projected benefit obligations and accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets consist of the following at December 31, 2021 and 2020: 2021 2020 Projected benefit obligation (PBO) $ 244,837 $ 383,244 Accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) 234,820 364,895 Fair value of plan assets 106,519 203,314 Net Periodic Benefit Cost The operating expense component of net periodic benefit cost (service cost) is reported with similar compensation costs in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Earnings. The non-operating components (all other components of net periodic benefit expense, including interest cost, amortization of prior service cost, curtailments and settlements, etc.) are reported outside of operating income in other income, net in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings. Components of the net periodic benefit cost were as follows: Defined Benefit Plans Qualified Defined Benefits Non-Qualified Supplemental Benefits U.S. Plan Non-U.S. Plans 2021 2020 2019 2021 2020 2019 2021 2020 2019 Service cost $ 7,134 $ 6,824 $ 7,016 $ 5,749 $ 5,345 $ 5,665 $ 1,561 $ 1,272 $ 1,942 Interest cost 13,605 16,272 19,026 3,590 3,697 5,101 1,232 1,765 2,670 Expected return on plan assets (28,980) (31,475) (34,136) (7,188) (6,837) (6,220) — — — Amortization of: Prior service cost (credit) 212 227 303 (453) (493) (398) 1,531 1,695 2,811 Recognized actuarial loss (gain) 10,012 7,536 — 3,938 3,047 3,109 (1,672) (1,857) (2,280) Settlement and curtailment loss (gain) 2,031 — — 194 25 961 (743) — — Net periodic expense (benefit) $ 4,014 $ (616) $ (7,791) $ 5,830 $ 4,784 $ 8,218 $ 1,909 $ 2,875 $ 5,143 Assumptions The Company determines actuarial assumptions on an annual basis. The weighted average assumptions used in determining the benefit obligations were as follows: Qualified Defined Benefits Non-Qualified Supplemental Benefits U.S. Plan Non-U.S. Plans 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 Discount rate 2.95 % 2.65 % 1.18 % 0.79 % 2.90 % 2.45 % Average wage increase 4.00 % 4.00 % 1.53 % 1.51 % 4.50 % 4.50 % The weighted average assumptions used in determining the net periodic benefit cost were as follows: Qualified Defined Benefits Non- Qualified Supplemental Benefits U.S. Plan Non-U.S. Plans 2021 2020 2019 2021 2020 2019 2021 2020 2019 Discount rate 2.65 % 3.40 % 4.35 % 0.79 % 1.18 % 1.83 % 2.45 % 3.20 % 4.30 % Average wage increase 4.00 % 4.00 % 4.00 % 1.51 % 1.80 % 2.10 % 4.50 % 4.50 % 4.50 % Expected return on plan assets 5.60 % 6.30 % 6.80 % 3.40 % 3.69 % 3.67 % na na na The Company’s discount rate assumption is determined by developing a yield curve based on high quality corporate bonds with maturities matching the plans’ expected benefit payment streams. The plans’ expected cash flows are then discounted by the resulting year-by-year spot rates. Plan Assets The primary financial objective of the plans is to secure participant retirement benefits. Accordingly, the key objective in the plans’ financial management is to promote stability and, to the extent appropriate, growth in the funded status. Related and supporting financial objectives are established in conjunction with a review of current and projected plan financial requirements. As it relates to the funded defined benefit pension plans, the Company’s funding policy is consistent with the funding requirements of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA") and applicable international laws. The Company is responsible for overseeing the management of the investments of the plans’ assets and otherwise ensuring that the plans’ investment programs are in compliance with ERISA, other relevant legislation and related plan documents. Where relevant, the Company has retained professional investment managers to manage the plans’ assets and implement the investment process. The investment managers, in implementing their investment processes, have the authority and responsibility to select appropriate investments in the asset classes specified by the terms of their applicable prospectus or investment manager agreements with the plans. The assets of the plans are invested to achieve an appropriate return for the plans consistent with a prudent level of risk. The plans' long-term investment objective is to generate investment returns that provide adequate assets to meet all benefit obligations in accordance with applicable regulations. The expected return on assets assumption used for net periodic benefit cost is developed through analysis of historical and forecasted market returns, statistical analysis, current market conditions and the past experience of plan asset investments. The Company’s actual and target weighted average asset allocation for our U.S. Qualified Defined Benefits Plan was as follows: 2021 2020 Current Target Return-seeking investments 29 % 22 % 30 % Liability hedging investments 69 % 77 % 70 % Other 2 % 1 % — % Total 100 % 100 % 100 % Return-seeking investments include diversified foreign and domestic equities, U.S. high yield fixed income investments, and emerging market debt. Liability hedging investments primarily include a diversified portfolio of U.S. long duration fixed income assets. While the non-U.S. investment policies are different for each country, the long-term objectives are generally the same as for the U.S. pension assets. The fair values of both U.S. and non-U.S. pension plan assets by asset category within the fair value hierarchy (as defined in Note 13 — Financial Instruments) were as follows: U.S. Qualified Defined Benefits Plan 12/31/2021 12/31/2020 Level 1 Level 2 Total Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Total Fair Value Corporate bonds $ — $ 316,367 $ 316,367 $ — $ 329,800 $ 329,800 Government securities — 73,115 73,115 8,533 72,018 80,551 Interest-bearing cash and short-term investments 3,227 — 3,227 3,117 — 3,117 Total investments at fair value 3,227 389,482 392,709 11,650 401,818 413,468 Investments measured at net asset value* Collective funds — — 167,551 — — 180,103 Short-term investment funds — — 12,840 — — 13,325 Total investments $ 3,227 $ 389,482 $ 573,100 $ 11,650 $ 401,818 $ 606,896 Non-U.S. Plans 12/31/2021 12/31/2020 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Fair Value Common stocks $ 58,054 $ — $ — $ 58,054 $ 52,865 $ — $ — $ 52,865 Fixed income investments — 27,034 — 27,034 — 26,068 — 26,068 Mutual funds 30,675 — — 30,675 29,413 — — 29,413 Cash and cash equivalents 3,634 — — 3,634 2,822 — — 2,822 Other — 2,877 20,252 23,129 — 1,181 21,276 22,457 Total investments at fair value 92,363 29,911 20,252 142,526 85,100 27,249 21,276 133,625 Investments measured at net asset value* Collective funds — — — 72,235 — — — 74,138 Other — — — 4,916 — — — 4,985 Total investments $ 92,363 $ 29,911 $ 20,252 $ 219,677 $ 85,100 $ 27,249 $ 21,276 $ 212,748 * In accordance with Fair Value Measurement Topic 820 (Subtopic 820-10), certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient were not classified in the fair value hierarchy. These are included to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the aggregate pension plan assets. Common stocks represent investments in domestic and foreign equities, which are publicly traded on active exchanges and are valued based on quoted market prices. Fixed income investments include bonds and notes, which are valued based on quoted market prices, as well as investments in other government and municipal securities and corporate bonds, which are valued based on yields currently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings. Mutual funds are categorized as either Level 1, 2 or Net Asset Value ("NAV") as a practical expedient depending on the nature of the observable inputs. Collective funds and short-term investment funds are valued using NAV as a practical expedient as of the last business day of the year. The NAV is based on the underlying value of the assets owned by the fund, minus its liabilities, and then divided by the number of shares outstanding. The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Company believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date. The availability of observable data is monitored by plan management to assess appropriate classification of financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy. Depending upon the availability of such inputs, specific securities may transfer between levels. In such instances, the transfer is reported at the end of the reporting period. The fair value measurement of plan assets using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) changed during 2020 and 2021, due to the following: Level 3 Balance at December 31, 2019 $ 18,597 Actual return on plan assets: Relating to assets still held at December 31, 2020 349 Relating to assets sold during the period 6 Purchases 1,715 Sales and settlements (1,111) Foreign currency translation 1,720 Balance at December 31, 2020 21,276 Actual return on plan assets: Relating to assets still held at December 31, 2021 48 Relating to assets sold during the period — Purchases 1,664 Sales and settlements (2,158) Foreign currency translation (578) Balance at December 31, 2021 $ 20,252 Future Estimates Benefit Payments Estimated future benefit payments to retirees, which reflect expected future service except to the extent frozen, are as follows: Qualified Defined Benefits Non-Qualified Supplemental Benefits U.S. Plan Non-U.S. Plans 2022 $ 36,495 $ 11,003 $ 4,845 2023 33,845 11,554 4,039 2024 34,445 12,872 5,699 2025 32,670 11,534 2,297 2026 31,727 12,674 5,856 2027 - 2031 134,159 72,555 15,140 Contributions |