Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits | Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits The accounting standards related to employers’ accounting for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans requires the Company to recognize the funded status of its defined benefit postretirement plans as assets or liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and to recognize changes in the funded status of the plans in comprehensive income. The Company has various defined contribution plans, the largest of which is its Retirement Savings Plan. Most U.S. salaried and non-union hourly employees are eligible to participate in this plan. See Note 17 for further discussion of the Retirement Savings Plan. The Company also maintains various other defined contribution plans which cover certain other employees. Company contributions under these plans are based primarily on the performance of the business units and employee compensation. Contribution expense under these other defined contribution plans was $6,921 , $6,644 and $5,907 in 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. Defined benefit pension plans in the U.S. cover a majority of the Company’s U.S. employees at the Associated Spring and Force & Motion Control (formerly "Nitrogen Gas Products") businesses of Industrial, the Company’s Corporate Office and certain former U.S. employees, including retirees. Plan benefits for salaried and non-union hourly employees are based on years of service and average salary. Plans covering union hourly employees provide benefits based on years of service. In 2012, the Company closed the U.S. salaried defined benefit pension plan (the "U.S. Salaried Plan") to employees hired on or after January 1, 2013, with no impact to the benefits of existing participants. Effective January 1, 2013, the Retirement Savings Plan was amended to provide certain salaried employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 with an additional annual retirement contribution of 4% of eligible earnings, in place of pensionable benefits under the closed U.S. Salaried Plan. The Company funds U.S. pension costs in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). Non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans cover certain employees of certain international locations in Europe and Canada. The Company provides other medical, dental and life insurance postretirement benefits for certain of its retired employees in the U.S. and Canada. It is the Company’s practice to fund these benefits as incurred. The accompanying balance sheets reflect the funded status of the Company’s defined benefit pension plans at December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Reconciliations of the obligations and funded status of the plans follow: 2018 2017 U.S. Non-U.S. Total U.S. Non-U.S. Total Benefit obligation, January 1 $ 415,369 $ 82,741 $ 498,110 $ 389,613 $ 104,339 $ 493,952 Service cost 4,290 1,671 5,961 3,931 2,124 6,055 Interest cost 15,875 1,508 17,383 17,151 1,668 18,819 Amendments — 826 826 1,233 27 1,260 Actuarial (gain) loss (22,193 ) (2,256 ) (24,449 ) 28,350 (4,397 ) 23,953 Benefits paid (25,007 ) (6,607 ) (31,614 ) (24,909 ) (4,240 ) (29,149 ) Transfers in — 3,462 3,462 — 2,743 2,743 Plan curtailments — — — — (7,030 ) (7,030 ) Plan settlements — — — — (21,074 ) (21,074 ) Participant contributions — 1,120 1,120 — 1,355 1,355 Foreign exchange rate changes — (3,158 ) (3,158 ) — 7,226 7,226 Benefit obligation, December 31 388,334 79,307 467,641 415,369 82,741 498,110 Fair value of plan assets, January 1 375,378 79,060 454,438 331,260 85,652 416,912 Actual return on plan assets (30,681 ) (1,928 ) (32,609 ) 56,131 6,150 62,281 Company contributions 2,925 1,807 4,732 12,896 2,027 14,923 Participant contributions — 1,120 1,120 — 1,355 1,355 Benefits paid (25,007 ) (6,607 ) (31,614 ) (24,909 ) (4,240 ) (29,149 ) Plan settlements — — — — (20,857 ) (20,857 ) Transfers in — 3,462 3,462 — 2,743 2,743 Foreign exchange rate changes — (3,307 ) (3,307 ) — 6,230 6,230 Fair value of plan assets, December 31 322,615 73,607 396,222 375,378 79,060 454,438 Underfunded status, December 31 $ (65,719 ) $ (5,700 ) $ (71,419 ) $ (39,991 ) $ (3,681 ) $ (43,672 ) In 2017, the Company authorized the closure of it's FOBOHA facility located in Muri, Switzerland, resulting in the pension curtailments and settlements noted above. See Note 9 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to this Closure. Projected benefit obligations related to pension plans with benefit obligations in excess of plan assets follow: 2018 2017 U.S. Non-U.S. Total U.S. Non-U.S. Total Projected benefit obligation $ 388,334 $ 42,000 $ 430,334 $ 311,320 $ 40,931 $ 352,251 Fair value of plan assets 322,615 28,595 351,210 267,087 26,205 293,292 Information related to pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets follows: 2018 2017 U.S. Non-U.S. Total U.S. Non-U.S. Total Projected benefit obligation $ 388,334 $ 42,000 $ 430,334 $ 40,572 $ 40,931 $ 81,503 Accumulated benefit obligation 378,285 41,946 420,231 40,090 40,877 80,967 Fair value of plan assets 322,615 28,595 351,210 4,797 26,205 31,002 The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $457,539 and $485,777 at December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Amounts related to pensions recognized in the accompanying balance sheets consist of: 2018 2017 U.S. Non-U.S. Total U.S. Non-U.S. Total Other assets $ — $ 7,705 $ 7,705 $ 4,242 $ 11,045 $ 15,287 Accrued liabilities 2,826 378 3,204 2,823 407 3,230 Accrued retirement benefits 62,893 13,027 75,920 41,410 14,319 55,729 Accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, net (121,927 ) (14,047 ) (135,974 ) (84,990 ) (13,016 ) (98,006 ) Amounts related to pensions recognized in accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, net of tax, at December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, consist of: 2018 2017 U.S. Non-U.S. Total U.S. Non-U.S. Total Net actuarial loss $ (119,601 ) $ (13,637 ) $ (133,238 ) $ (82,736 ) $ (13,237 ) $ (95,973 ) Prior service costs (2,326 ) (410 ) (2,736 ) (2,254 ) 221 (2,033 ) $ (121,927 ) $ (14,047 ) $ (135,974 ) $ (84,990 ) $ (13,016 ) $ (98,006 ) The accompanying balance sheets reflect the underfunded status of the Company’s other postretirement benefit plans at December 31, 2018 and 2017 . Reconciliations of the obligations and underfunded status of the plans follow: 2018 2017 Benefit obligation, January 1 $ 37,570 $ 36,853 Service cost 85 83 Interest cost 1,358 1,561 Actuarial (gain) loss (3,791 ) 3,806 Benefits paid (3,435 ) (7,251 ) Participant contributions 1,280 2,209 Foreign exchange rate changes 9 309 Benefit obligation, December 31 33,076 37,570 Fair value of plan assets, January 1 — — Company contributions 2,155 5,042 Participant contributions 1,280 2,209 Benefits paid (3,435 ) (7,251 ) Fair value of plan assets, December 31 — — Underfunded status, December 31 $ 33,076 $ 37,570 Amounts related to other postretirement benefits recognized in the accompanying balance sheets consist of: 2018 2017 Accrued liabilities $ 5,414 $ 5,064 Accrued retirement benefits 27,662 32,506 Accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, net (2,716 ) (5,838 ) Amounts related to other postretirement benefits recognized in accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, net of tax, at December 31, 2018 and 2017 consist of: 2018 2017 Net actuarial loss $ (2,618 ) $ (5,746 ) Prior service loss (98 ) (92 ) $ (2,716 ) $ (5,838 ) The sources of changes in accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, net, during 2018 were: Pension Other Postretirement Benefits Prior service cost $ (669 ) $ — Net (loss) gain (29,108 ) 3,800 Amortization of prior service costs 423 15 Amortization of actuarial loss 8,878 428 Foreign exchange rate changes 821 (14 ) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings (A) (18,313 ) (1,107 ) $ (37,968 ) $ 3,122 (A) This amount represents the reclassification of stranded tax effects resulting from the Act, as permitted by amended guidance issued by the FASB in February 2018. See Note 1. Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations as of December 31, are: 2018 2017 U.S. plans: Discount rate 4.40 % 3.90 % Increase in compensation 2.56 % 2.56 % Non-U.S. plans: Discount rate 2.07 % 1.90 % Increase in compensation 2.72 % 2.17 % The investment strategy of the plans 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 may be adjusted, as necessary, to reflect trends and developments within the overall investment environment. The weighted-average target investment allocations by asset category were as follows during 2018 : 65% in equity securities and 35% in fixed income securities, including cash. The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2018 and 2017 , by asset category are as follows: Fair Value Measurements Using Asset Category Total Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) December 31, 2018 Cash and short-term investments $ 3,750 $ 3,750 $ — $ — Equity securities: U.S. large-cap 36,821 — 36,821 — U.S. mid-cap 13,337 13,337 — — U.S. small-cap 13,244 13,244 — — International equities 123,084 — 123,084 — Global equity 43,337 43,337 — — Fixed income securities: U.S. bond funds 117,249 — 117,249 — International bonds 42,920 — 42,920 — Other 2,480 — — 2,480 $ 396,222 $ 73,668 $ 320,074 $ 2,480 December 31, 2017 Cash and short-term investments 10,731 10,731 — — Equity securities: U.S. large-cap 46,786 — 46,786 — U.S. mid-cap 15,576 15,576 — — U.S. small-cap 16,157 16,157 — — International equities 159,803 — 159,803 — Global equity 51,945 51,945 — — Fixed income securities: U.S. bond funds 109,033 — 109,033 — International bonds 41,742 — 41,742 — Other 2,665 — — 2,665 $ 454,438 $ 94,409 $ 357,364 $ 2,665 The fair values of the Level 1 assets are based on quoted market prices from various financial exchanges. The fair values of the Level 2 assets are based primarily on quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities. The Level 2 assets are comprised primarily of commingled funds and fixed income securities. Commingled equity funds are valued at their net asset values based on quoted market prices of the underlying assets. Fixed income securities are valued using a market approach which considers observable market data for the underlying asset or securities. The Level 3 assets relate to the defined benefit pension plan at the Synventive business. These pension assets are fully insured and have been estimated based on accrued pension rights and actuarial rates. These pension assets are limited to fulfilling the Company's pension obligations. The Company expects to contribute approximately $4,706 to the pension plans in 2019 . No contributions to the U.S. Qualified pension plans, specifically, are required, and the Company does not currently plan to make any discretionary contributions to such plans in 2019. The following are the estimated future net benefit payments, which include future service, over the next 10 years: Pensions Other Postretirement Benefits 2019 $ 29,550 $ 3,515 2020 29,414 3,332 2021 29,573 3,065 2022 29,224 2,892 2023 29,042 2,688 Years 2024-2028 144,754 11,093 Total $ 291,557 $ 26,585 Pension and other postretirement benefit costs consist of the following: Pensions Other Postretirement Benefits 2018 2017 2016 2018 2017 2016 Service cost $ 5,961 $ 6,055 $ 5,395 $ 85 $ 83 $ 122 Interest cost 17,383 18,819 19,494 1,358 1,561 1,766 Expected return on plan assets (29,900 ) (28,082 ) (30,302 ) — — — Amortization of prior service cost (credit) 560 446 210 20 (68 ) (373 ) Recognized losses 11,628 10,557 10,791 561 276 535 Curtailment gain — (7,217 ) — — — — Settlement gain — (119 ) — — — — Net periodic benefit cost $ 5,632 $ 459 $ 5,588 $ 2,024 $ 1,852 $ 2,050 The Closure of the Company's FOBOHA facility located in Muri, Switzerland, as discussed above, resulted in a pre-tax curtailment gain of $7,217 during the 2017 period. See Note 9 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The components of net periodic benefit cost other than the service cost component are included in Other Expense (Income) on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The amended guidance related to the presentation of net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit cost (see Note 1) provides for a practical expedient that allows use of amounts disclosed in prior year filings for the prior year comparable periods as an estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements. The Company has elected to use this practical expedient. The estimated net actuarial loss and prior service cost for the defined benefit pension plans that will be amortized from accumulated other non-owner changes to equity into net periodic benefit cost in 2019 are $8,618 and $404 , respectively. The estimated net actuarial loss and prior service cost for other defined benefit postretirement plans that will be amortized from accumulated other non-owner changes to equity into net periodic benefit cost in 2019 are $40 and $25 , respectively. Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for years ended December 31, are: 2018 2017 2016 U.S. plans: Discount rate 3.90 % 4.50 % 4.65 % Long-term rate of return 7.75 % 7.75 % 8.25 % Increase in compensation 2.56 % 2.56 % 3.71 % Non-U.S. plans: Discount rate 1.90 % 1.60 % 2.80 % Long-term rate of return 4.09 % 3.59 % 4.73 % Increase in compensation 2.17 % 2.29 % 2.71 % The expected long-term rate of return is based on consideration of projected rates of return and the historical rates of return of published indices that reflect the plans’ target asset allocation. The Company’s accumulated postretirement benefit obligations, exclusive of pensions, take into account certain cost-sharing provisions. The annual rate of increase in the cost of covered benefits (i.e., health care cost trend rate) is assumed to be 7.30% and 6.86% at December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, decreasing gradually to a rate of 4.50% by December 31, 2038 . A one percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend rate would have the following effects: One Percentage Point Increase One Percentage Point Decrease Effect on postretirement benefit obligation $ 215 $ (200 ) Effect on postretirement benefit cost 9 (8 ) The Company actively contributes to a Swedish pension plan that supplements the Swedish social insurance system. The pension plan guarantees employees a pension based on a percentage of their salary and represents a multi-employer pension plan, however the pension plan was not significant in any year presented. This pension plan is not underfunded. Contributions related to the individually insignificant multi-employer plans, as disclosure is required pursuant to the applicable accounting standards, are as follows: Contributions by the Company Pension Fund: 2018 2017 2016 Swedish Pension Plan 792 $ 739 $ 673 Total Contributions $ 792 $ 739 $ 673 |