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 18 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 certain of these plans are based on the performance of the business units and employee compensation. Contribution expense under these other defined contribution plans was $6,874 , $6,921 and $6,644 in 2019 , 2018 and 2017 , 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. Employees at certain international businesses within Industrial are also covered by defined benefit pension plans. 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 ("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, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. Reconciliations of the obligations and funded status of the plans follow: 2019 2018 U.S. Non-U.S. Total U.S. Non-U.S. Total Benefit obligation, January 1 $ 388,334 $ 79,307 $ 467,641 $ 415,369 $ 82,741 $ 498,110 Service cost 3,715 1,710 5,425 4,290 1,671 5,961 Interest cost 16,628 1,611 18,239 15,875 1,508 17,383 Amendments 240 (934 ) (694 ) — 826 826 Actuarial loss (gain) 46,662 11,843 58,505 (22,193 ) (2,256 ) (24,449 ) Benefits paid (24,954 ) (4,026 ) (28,980 ) (25,007 ) (6,607 ) (31,614 ) Transfers in — 2,165 2,165 — 3,462 3,462 Plan settlements — (1,582 ) (1,582 ) — — — Participant contributions — 1,131 1,131 — 1,120 1,120 Foreign exchange rate changes — 1,975 1,975 — (3,158 ) (3,158 ) Reclassified to liabilities held for sale (see Note 3) — (6,169 ) (6,169 ) — — — Benefit obligation, December 31 430,625 87,031 517,656 388,334 79,307 467,641 Fair value of plan assets, January 1 322,615 73,607 396,222 375,378 79,060 454,438 Actual return on plan assets 64,681 6,992 71,673 (30,681 ) (1,928 ) (32,609 ) Company contributions 17,900 1,808 19,708 2,925 1,807 4,732 Participant contributions — 1,131 1,131 — 1,120 1,120 Benefits paid (24,954 ) (4,026 ) (28,980 ) (25,007 ) (6,607 ) (31,614 ) Plan settlements — (1,582 ) (1,582 ) — — — Transfers in — 2,165 2,165 — 3,462 3,462 Foreign exchange rate changes — 2,170 2,170 — (3,307 ) (3,307 ) Fair value of plan assets, December 31 380,242 82,265 462,507 322,615 73,607 396,222 Underfunded status, December 31 $ (50,383 ) $ (4,766 ) $ (55,149 ) $ (65,719 ) $ (5,700 ) $ (71,419 ) Projected benefit obligations related to pension plans with benefit obligations in excess of plan assets follow: 2019 2018 U.S. Non-U.S. Total U.S. Non-U.S. Total Projected benefit obligation $ 334,808 $ 46,256 $ 381,064 $ 388,334 $ 42,000 $ 430,334 Fair value of plan assets 282,213 31,248 313,461 322,615 28,595 351,210 Information related to pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets follows: 2019 2018 U.S. Non-U.S. Total U.S. Non-U.S. Total Projected benefit obligation $ 334,808 $ 46,256 $ 381,064 $ 388,334 $ 42,000 $ 430,334 Accumulated benefit obligation 322,999 52,202 375,201 378,285 41,946 420,231 Fair value of plan assets 282,213 31,248 313,461 322,615 28,595 351,210 The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $511,977 and $457,539 at December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. Amounts related to pensions recognized in the accompanying balance sheets consist of: 2019 2018 U.S. Non-U.S. Total U.S. Non-U.S. Total Other assets $ 2,212 $ 10,242 $ 12,454 $ — $ 7,705 $ 7,705 Accrued liabilities 2,977 — 2,977 2,826 378 3,204 Accrued retirement benefits 49,618 15,008 64,626 62,893 13,027 75,920 Accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, net (122,109 ) (18,859 ) (140,968 ) (121,927 ) (14,047 ) (135,974 ) Amounts related to pensions recognized in accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, net of tax, at December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, consist of: 2019 2018 U.S. Non-U.S. Total U.S. Non-U.S. Total Net actuarial loss $ (119,908 ) $ (19,190 ) $ (139,098 ) $ (119,601 ) $ (13,637 ) $ (133,238 ) Prior service costs (2,201 ) 331 (1,870 ) (2,326 ) (410 ) (2,736 ) $ (122,109 ) $ (18,859 ) $ (140,968 ) $ (121,927 ) $ (14,047 ) $ (135,974 ) The accompanying balance sheets reflect the underfunded status of the Company’s other postretirement benefit plans at December 31, 2019 and 2018 . Reconciliations of the obligations and underfunded status of the plans follow: 2019 2018 Benefit obligation, January 1 $ 33,076 $ 37,570 Service cost 70 85 Interest cost 1,345 1,358 Actuarial loss (gain) 380 (3,791 ) Benefits paid (2,917 ) (3,435 ) Participant contributions 1,246 1,280 Foreign exchange rate changes 39 9 Benefit obligation, December 31 33,239 33,076 Fair value of plan assets, January 1 — — Company contributions 1,671 2,155 Participant contributions 1,246 1,280 Benefits paid (2,917 ) (3,435 ) Fair value of plan assets, December 31 — — Underfunded status, December 31 $ 33,239 $ 33,076 Amounts related to other postretirement benefits recognized in the accompanying balance sheets consist of: 2019 2018 Accrued liabilities $ 5,067 $ 5,414 Accrued retirement benefits 28,172 27,662 Accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, net (3,079 ) (2,716 ) Amounts related to other postretirement benefits recognized in accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, net of tax, at December 31, 2019 and 2018 consist of: 2019 2018 Net actuarial loss $ (2,981 ) $ (2,618 ) Prior service loss (98 ) (98 ) $ (3,079 ) $ (2,716 ) The sources of changes in accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, net, during 2019 were: Pension Other Postretirement Benefits Prior service cost $ 560 $ — Net loss (12,607 ) (289 ) Amortization of prior service costs 308 19 Amortization of actuarial loss 7,050 9 Foreign exchange rate changes (305 ) (102 ) $ (4,994 ) $ (363 ) Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations as of December 31, are: 2019 2018 U.S. plans: Discount rate 3.40 % 4.40 % Increase in compensation 2.56 % 2.56 % Non-U.S. plans: Discount rate 1.26 % 2.07 % Increase in compensation 2.72 % 2.72 % 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 2019 : 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, 2019 and 2018 , 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, 2019 Cash and short-term investments $ 3,737 $ 3,737 $ — $ — Equity securities: U.S. large-cap 40,538 — 40,538 — U.S. mid-cap 17,744 17,744 — — U.S. small-cap 16,116 16,116 — — International equities 146,013 — 146,013 — Global equity 51,037 51,037 — — Fixed income securities: U.S. bond funds 124,429 — 124,429 — International bonds 60,050 — 60,050 — Other 2,843 — — 2,843 $ 462,507 $ 88,634 $ 371,030 $ 2,843 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 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 $4,399 to the pension plans in 2020 . 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 2020 . The following are the estimated future net benefit payments, which include future service, over the next 10 years: Pensions Other Postretirement Benefits 2020 $ 29,543 $ 3,336 2021 29,523 3,154 2022 29,558 2,918 2023 29,123 2,704 2024 29,382 2,520 Years 2025-2029 145,516 10,336 Total $ 292,645 $ 24,968 Pension and other postretirement benefit costs consist of the following: Pensions Other Postretirement Benefits 2019 2018 2017 2019 2018 2017 Service cost $ 5,425 $ 5,961 $ 6,055 $ 70 $ 85 $ 83 Interest cost 18,239 17,383 18,819 1,345 1,358 1,561 Expected return on plan assets (29,425 ) (29,900 ) (28,082 ) — — — Amortization of prior service cost (credit) 404 560 446 25 20 (68 ) Recognized losses 8,889 11,628 10,557 13 561 276 Curtailment gain — — (7,217 ) — — — Settlement loss (gain) 340 — (119 ) — — — Net periodic benefit cost $ 3,872 $ 5,632 $ 459 $ 1,453 $ 2,024 $ 1,852 The Closure of the Company's FOBOHA facility located in Muri, Switzerland resulted in a pre-tax curtailment gain of $7,217 during the 2017 period. See Note 10. 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. See Note 1 for the accounting guidance related to the presentation of net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit cost. 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 2020 are $13,712 and $307 , 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 2020 are $27 and $88 , respectively. Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for years ended December 31, are: 2019 2018 2017 U.S. plans: Discount rate 4.40 % 3.90 % 4.50 % Long-term rate of return 7.75 % 7.75 % 7.75 % Increase in compensation 2.56 % 2.56 % 2.56 % Non-U.S. plans: Discount rate 2.07 % 1.90 % 1.60 % Long-term rate of return 3.90 % 4.09 % 3.59 % Increase in compensation 2.72 % 2.17 % 2.29 % 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 6.78% and 7.30% at December 31, 2019 and 2018 , 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 $ 171 $ (160 ) Effect on postretirement benefit cost 7 (7 ) 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: 2019 2018 2017 Swedish Pension Plan 754 $ 792 $ 739 Total Contributions $ 754 $ 792 $ 739 |