Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Employee Benefit Plans

v2.4.0.6
Employee Benefit Plans
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]  
Employee Benefit Plans

Note 11 — Employee Benefit Plans:

Retirement Plans

The Company has a qualified defined benefit plan covering U.S. 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 cost are:

 

                         
    Year ended March 31,  
    2012     2011     2010  

Service cost during the period

  $ 459     $ 384     $ 315  

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

    1,421       1,340       1,298  

Expected return on assets

    (2,713     (2,499     (1,858

Amortization of:

                       

Unrecognized prior service cost

    4       4       4  

Actuarial loss

    517       421       818  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net pension (benefit) cost

  $ (312   $ (350   $ 577  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

The weighted average actuarial assumptions used to determine net pension cost are:

 

                         
    Year ended March 31,  
    2012     2011     2010  

Discount rate

    5.63     6.07     7.39

Rate of increase in compensation levels

    3.5     3.5     3.5

Long-term rate of return on plan assets

    8.5     8.5     8.5

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 2013.

Changes in the Company’s benefit obligation, plan assets and funded status for the pension plan are presented below:

 

                 
    Year ended March 31,  
    2012     2011  

Change in the benefit obligation

               

Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year

  $ 25,688     $ 22,498  

Service cost

    354       305  

Interest cost

    1,421       1,340  

Actuarial loss

    3,889       2,431  

Benefit payments

    (922     (886
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Projected benefit obligation at end of year

  $ 30,430     $ 25,688  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The weighted average actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation are:

 

                 
    March 31,  
    2012     2011  

Discount rate

    4.76     5.63

Rate of increase in compensation levels

    3.5     3.5

Change in fair value of plan assets

               

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

  $ 32,368     $ 29,833  

Actual return on plan assets

    1,222       3,421  

Benefit and administrative expense payments

    (922     (886
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

  $ 32,668     $ 32,368  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Funded status

               

Funded status at end of year

  $ 2,238     $ 6,680  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amount recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets

  $ 2,238     $ 6,680  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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 also 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, 2012 and 2011 was $25,507 and $21,573, respectively. At March 31, 2012 and 2011, 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,  
    2012     2011  

Net actuarial losses

  $ 8,508     $ 5,407  

Prior service cost

    7       11  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    $ 8,515     $ 5,418  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss (income), net of income tax, consists of:

 

                 
    March 31,  
    2012     2011  

Net actuarial loss arising during the year

  $ 3,434     $ 847  

Amortization of actuarial loss

    (334     (271

Amortization of prior service cost

    (3     (3
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    $ 3,097     $ 573  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The estimated net actuarial loss and prior service cost for the pension plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net pension cost in fiscal 2013 are $1,011 and $4, respectively.

The following benefit payments, which reflect future service, are expected to be paid:

 

         

2013

  $ 1,031  

2014

    1,025  

2015

    1,101  

2016

    1,224  

2017

    1,213  

2018-2022

    7,425  
   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 13,019  
   

 

 

 

The weighted average asset allocation of the plan assets by asset category is as follows:

 

                         
          March 31,  
    Target
Allocation
    2012     2011  

Asset Category

                       

Equity securities

    50-70     67     68

Debt securities

    20-50     33     32

Other, including cash

    0-10        
           

 

 

   

 

 

 
              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, 2012, by asset category, are as follows:

 

                                 
          Fair Value Measurements Using  

Asset Category

  At
March 31,  2012
    Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
    Significant other
observable inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
unobservable inputs
(Level 3)
 

Cash

  $ 80     $ 80     $     $  

Equity securities:

                               

U.S. companies

    18,021       18,021              

International companies

    3,951       3,951              

Fixed income:

                               

Corporate bond funds

                               

Intermediate-term

    8,577       8,577              

Short-term

    2,039       2,039              
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    $ 32,668     $ 32,668     $     $  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The fair value of Level 1 pension assets are 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 contribution to the defined contribution plan for these employees in fiscal 2012, fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 was $161, $117 and $93, respectively.

The Company has a 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 2012, fiscal 2011, and fiscal 2010 related to this plan was $21, $15 and $16, respectively. At March 31, 2012 and 2011, the related liability was $256 and $260, respectively. The current portion of the related liability of $26 at March 31, 2012 and 2011 is included in the caption “Accrued Compensation” and the long-term portion is separately presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company has a domestic defined contribution plan (401k) covering substantially all employees. Prior to January 1, 2012, company contributions to the plan were determined by a formula based on profitability and were made at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Effective January 1, 2012, company contributions were no longer based upon profitability. The Company provides matching contributions equal to 100 percent of the first four percent of an employee’s salary deferral and 50% of the next two percent of an employee’s salary deferral. Company contributions are immediately vested. Contributions were $457 in fiscal 2012, $242 in fiscal 2011 and $230 in fiscal 2010.

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 income are:

 

                         
    Year ended March 31,  
    2012     2011     2010  

Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation

  $ 45     $ 50     $ 61  

Amortization of prior service benefit

    (166     (166     (166

Amortization of actuarial loss

    37       34       22  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net postretirement benefit income

  $ (84   $ (82   $ (83
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The weighted average discount rate used to develop the net postretirement benefit cost were 4.69%, 5.15% and 6.88% in fiscal 2012, fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010, respectively.

Changes in the Company’s benefit obligation, plan assets and funded status for the plan are as follows:

 

                 
    Year ended March 31,  
        2012             2011      

Change in the benefit obligation

               

Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year

  $ 999     $ 989  

Interest cost

    45       50  

Actuarial gain

    66       72  

Benefit payments

    (111     (112
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Projected benefit obligation at end of year

  $ 999     $ 999  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The weighted average actuarial assumptions used to develop the accrued postretirement benefit obligation were:

 

                 
    March 31,  
    2012     2011  

Discount rate

    3.96     4.69

Medical care cost trend rate

    8.00     8.50

The medical care cost trend rate used in the actuarial computation ultimately reduces to 5% in 2018 and subsequent years. This was accomplished using 0.5% decrements for the years ended March 31, 2012 through 2018.

 

                 
    Year ended March 31,  
        2012             2011      

Change in fair value of plan assets

               

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

  $     $  

Employer contribution

    111       112  

Benefit payments

    (111     (112
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

  $     $  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Funded status

               

Funded status at end of year

  $ (999   $ (999
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amount recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets

  $ (999   $ (999
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The current portion of the accrued postretirement benefit obligation of $104 and $107, at March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, is included in the caption “Accrued Compensation” and the long-term portion is separately presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (income), net of income tax, consist of:

 

                 
    March 31,  
    2012     2011  

Net actuarial loss

  $ 303     $ 283  

Prior service cost

    (283     (389
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    $ 20     $ (106
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The decrease in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of income tax, consists of:

 

                 
    March 31,  
    2012     2011  

Net actuarial loss arising during the year

  $ 43     $ 50  

Amortization of actuarial loss

    (24     (22

Amortization of prior service cost

    107       107  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    $ 126     $ 135  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The estimated net actuarial loss and prior service cost for the other postretirement benefit plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss (income) into net postretirement benefit income in fiscal 2013 are $39 and $(166), respectively.

The following benefit payments are expected to be paid during the fiscal years ending March 31:

 

         

2013

  $ 104  

2014

    100  

2015

    95  

2016

    91  

2017

    86  

2018-2022

    358  
   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 834  
   

 

 

 

Assumed medical care cost trend rates could have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the postretirement benefit plan. However, due to the caps imposed on the Company’s share of the premium costs, a one percentage point change in assumed medical care cost trend rates would not have a significant effect on the total service and interest cost components or the postretirement benefit obligation.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

The Company has a noncontributory Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) that covers substantially all employees in the U.S. There were 292 and 302 shares in the ESOP at March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. There were no Company contributions to the ESOP in fiscal 2012, fiscal 2011 or fiscal 2010. Dividends paid on allocated shares accumulate for the benefit of the employees who participate in the ESOP.