Employee Benefit Plans | Note 11 – Employee Benefit Plans: Retirement Plans The Company has a qualified defined benefit plan covering Batavia based employees hired prior to January 1, 2003, which is non-contributory. Benefits are based on the employee's years of service and average earnings for the five highest consecutive calendar years of compensation in the ten-year period preceding retirement . The Company's funding policy for the plan is to contribute the amount required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The components of pension (benefit) cost are: Year ended March 31, 2023 2022 2021 Service cost during the period $ 333 $ 373 $ 461 Interest cost on projected benefit obligation 1,185 1,147 1,211 Expected return on assets ( 2,169 ) ( 2,727 ) ( 2,513 ) Amortization of: Actuarial loss 633 669 1,039 Net pension cost (benefit) $ ( 18 ) $ ( 538 ) $ 198 The components of net pension (benefit) cost other than the service cost component are included in “Other income” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The weighted average actuarial assumptions used to determine net pension cost are: Year ended March 31, 2023 2022 2021 Discount rate 3.66 % 3.21 % 3.44 % Rate of increase in compensation levels 3.00 % 3.00 % 3.00 % Long-term rate of return on plan assets 5.50 % 6.50 % 6.50 % The expected long-term rate of return is based on the mix of investments that comprise plan assets and external forecasts of future long-term investment returns, historical returns, correlations and market volatilities. The Company does no t expect to make any contributions to the plan during fiscal 2024. Changes in the Company's benefit obligation, plan assets and funded status for the pension plan are presented below: Year ended March 31, 2023 2022 Change in the benefit obligation Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 32,991 $ 36,320 Service cost 333 373 Interest cost 1,185 1,147 Actuarial loss ( 5,364 ) ( 2,486 ) Benefit payments ( 1,116 ) ( 1,084 ) Liability released through annuity purchase ( 1,383 ) ( 1,279 ) Projected benefit obligation at end of year $ 26,646 $ 32,991 Change in fair value of plan assets Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 40,049 $ 42,536 Actual return on plan assets ( 4,797 ) ( 124 ) Benefit and administrative expense payments ( 1,116 ) ( 1,084 ) Annuities purchased ( 1,383 ) ( 1,279 ) Fair value of plan assets at end of year $ 32,753 $ 40,049 Funded status Funded status at end of year $ 6,107 $ 7,058 Amount recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets $ 6,107 $ 7,058 The weighted average actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation are: March 31, 2023 2022 Discount rate 5.03 % 3.66 % Rate of increase in compensation levels 3.00 % 3.00 % During fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022, the pension plan released liabilities for vested benefits of certain participants through the purchase of nonparticipating annuity contracts with a third-party insurance company. As a result of these transactions, in fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022 , the projected benefit obligation and plan assets decreased $ 1,383 and $ 1,279 , respectively. The projected benefit obligation is the actuarial present value of benefits attributable to employee service rendered to date, including the effects of estimated future pay increases. The accumulated benefit obligation reflects the actuarial present value of benefits attributable to employee service rendered to date, but does not include the effects of estimated future pay increases. The accumulated benefit obligation as of March 31, 2023 and 2022 was $ 23,784 and $ 29,943 , respectively. At March 31, 2023 and 2022, the pension plan was fully funded on an accumulated benefit obligation basis. Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income tax, consist of: March 31, 2023 2022 Net actuarial loss $ 7,506 $ 6,753 The increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income tax, consists of: March 31, 2023 2022 Net actuarial loss arising during the year $ 1,246 $ 284 Amortization of actuarial loss ( 493 ) ( 521 ) $ 753 $ ( 237 ) The following benefit payments, which reflect future service, are expected to be paid during the fiscal years ending March 31: 2024 $ 1,128 2025 1,145 2026 1,108 2027 1,118 2028 1,227 2029-2033 7,704 Total $ 13,430 The weighted average asset allocation of the plan assets by asset category is as follows: March 31, Asset Category Target Allocation 2023 2022 Equity securities 20 % 20 % 21 % Debt securities 80 % 80 % 79 % 100 % 100 % The investment strategy of the plan is to generate a consistent total investment return sufficient to pay present and future plan benefits to retirees, while minimizing the long-term cost to the Company. Target allocations for asset categories are used to earn a reasonable rate of return, provide required liquidity and minimize the risk of large losses. Targets are adjusted when considered necessary to reflect trends and developments within the overall investment environment. The fair values of the Company's pension plan assets at March 31, 2023 and 2022, by asset category, are as follows: Fair Value Measurements Using Asset Category At Quoted prices in Significant other Significant Cash $ 91 $ 91 $ — $ — Equity securities: U.S. companies 3,824 3,824 — — International companies 2,555 2,555 — — Fixed income: Corporate bond funds Long-term 26,283 26,283 — — $ 32,753 $ 32,753 $ — $ — Fair Value Measurements Using Asset Category At Quoted prices in Significant other Significant Cash $ 98 $ 98 $ — $ — Equity securities: U.S. companies 5,861 5,861 — — International companies 2,462 2,462 — — Fixed income: Corporate bond funds Long-term 31,628 31,628 — — $ 40,049 $ 40,049 $ — $ — The fair value of Level 1 pension assets is obtained by reference to the last quoted price of the respective security on the market which it trades. See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. On February 4, 2003, the Company closed the defined benefit plan to all employees hired on or after January 1, 2003. In place of the defined benefit plan, these employees participate in the Company's domestic defined contribution plan. The Company contributes a fixed percentage of employee compensation to this plan on an annual basis for these employees. The Company's contribution to the defined contribution plan for these employees in fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 was $ 1,030 , $ 710 and $ 430 , respectively. The Company has an unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") which provides retirement benefits associated with wages in excess of the legislated qualified plan maximums. Pension expense recorded in fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022, and fiscal 2021 related to this plan was $ 74 , $ 346 and $ 105 , respectively. The weighted average discount rate used to determine pension expense for this plan was 3.64 %, 3.21 % and 3.44 % for fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 , respectively. The weighted average rate of increase in compensation levels used to develop pension expense for this plan was 3 % in each of fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021. At March 31, 2023 and 2022 , the projected benefit obligation was $ 1,104 and $ 1,320 , respectively, and is included in the caption "Accrued Pension and Postretirement Benefit Liabilities" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income tax, consist of a net actuarial loss of ($ 47 ) and $ 123 at March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company has a domestic defined contribution plan (401(k)) covering substantially all employees. The Company provides matching contributions equal to 100 % of the first 3 % of an employee's salary deferral and 50 % of the next 2 % percent of an employee’s salary deferral . Company contributions are immediately vested. Contributions were $ 1,904 in fiscal 2023 , $ 1,365 in fiscal 2022 and $ 863 in fiscal 2021. Other Postretirement Benefits In addition to providing pension benefits, the Company has a plan in the U.S. that provides health care benefits for eligible retirees and eligible survivors of retirees. The Company's share of the medical premium cost has been capped at $ 4 for family coverage and $ 2 for single coverage for early retirees, and $ 1 for both family and single coverage for regular retirees. On February 4, 2003, the Company terminated postretirement health care benefits for its U.S. employees. Benefits payable to retirees of record on April 1, 2003 remained unchanged. The components of postretirement benefit expense are: Year ended March 31, 2023 2022 2021 Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation $ 15 $ 13 $ 18 Amortization of actuarial loss 12 25 27 Net postretirement benefit expense $ 27 $ 38 $ 45 Net postretirement benefit expense is included in “Other income” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The weighted average discount rates used to develop the net postretirement benefit cost were 3.32 %, 2.34 % and 3.01 % in fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, respectively. Changes in the Company's benefit obligation, plan assets and funded status for the plan are as follows: Year ended March 31, 2023 2022 Change in the benefit obligation Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 478 $ 587 Interest cost 15 13 Actuarial loss (gain) ( 95 ) ( 66 ) Benefit payments ( 43 ) ( 56 ) Projected benefit obligation at end of year $ 355 $ 478 Change in fair value of plan assets Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ — $ — Employer contribution 43 56 Benefit payments ( 43 ) ( 56 ) Fair value of plan assets at end of year $ — $ — Funded status Funded status at end of year $ ( 355 ) $ ( 478 ) Amount recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets $ ( 355 ) $ ( 478 ) The weighted average actuarial assumptions used to develop the accrued postretirement benefit obligation were: March 31, 2023 2022 Discount rate 4.76 % 3.32 % Medical care cost trend rate 7.00 % 7.00 % The medical care cost trend rate used in the actuarial computation ultimately reduces to 4.5 % in 2027 and subsequent years. This was accomplished using 0.5 % decrements for the years ended March 31, 2023 through 2028. The current portion of the accrued postretirement benefit obligation of $ 49 and $ 63 , at March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, is included in the caption "Accrued Compensation" and the long-term portion is included in the caption "Accrued Pension and Postretirement Liabilities" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income tax, consist of: March 31, 2023 2022 Net actuarial loss $ 11 $ 94 The decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income tax, consists of: March 31, 2023 2022 Net actuarial gain arising during the year $ ( 74 ) $ ( 51 ) Amortization of actuarial loss ( 9 ) ( 19 ) $ ( 83 ) $ ( 70 ) The following benefit payments are expected to be paid during the fiscal years ending March 31: 2024 $ 49 2025 45 2026 42 2027 39 2028 36 2029-2033 134 Total $ 345 |