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 net pension (benefit) cost other than the service cost component are included in “Other income” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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 not expect to make any contributions to the plan during fiscal 2024.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.