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Profit Sharing, Retirement Savings Plans and Defined Benefit Pension Plans
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Profit Sharing, Retirement Savings Plans and Defined Benefit Pension Plans Profit Sharing, Retirement Savings Plans and Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plans
We have a qualified non-contributory profit sharing plan covering most of our U.S. employees. Contributions to this plan, which are made at the discretion of our Board of Directors, may be made in cash, shares of our common stock, or in a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. We also maintain a qualified contributory retirement savings plan in which most of our U.S. employees are eligible to participate. The qualified contributory retirement savings plans generally provide for our contributions in cash based upon the amount contributed to the plans by the participants.
The expense associated with our contributions to the U.S. profit sharing plan and retirement savings plan are charged to operations and amounted to $42.5 million in 2021, $46.3 million in 2020 and $39.3 million in 2019. In 2021, 633,875 shares were contributed as part of our contribution to the profit sharing plan related to 2020; in 2020, 823,567 shares were contributed as part of our contribution to the profit sharing plan related to 2019, and in 2019, 487,108 shares were contributed as part of our contribution to the profit sharing plan related to 2018. These shares were issued out of treasury stock.
We have various international defined contribution benefit plans which cover certain employees. We have expanded use of these plans in select countries where they have been used to supplement or replace defined benefit plans.
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
We recognize the funded status of each defined pension benefit plan as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligation of the employee benefit plans in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes. Each overfunded plan is recognized as an asset and each underfunded plan is recognized as a liability on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Subsequent changes in the funded status are reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in unrecognized pension items, a component of AOCL, which are included in total stockholders’ equity. The amount of unamortized pension items is recorded net of tax.
We amortize actuarial gains or losses over the average future working lifetime (or remaining lifetime of inactive participants if there are no active participants). We use the corridor method, where the corridor is the greater of ten percent of the projected benefit obligation or fair value of assets at year end. If actuarial gains or losses do not exceed the corridor, then there is no amortization of gain or loss.
The following table shows the components of our net periodic benefit (income) cost and cost of special events related to our pension plans for the three years ended December 31:
 Year Ended December 31,
(In millions)202120202019
Net periodic benefit cost (income):   
U.S. and international net periodic benefit cost included in cost of sales(1)
$1.3 $1.2 $1.1 
U.S. and international net periodic benefit cost included in selling, general and administrative expenses
3.8 3.4 2.8 
U.S. and international net periodic benefit income and cost of special events included in other (income) expense(6.3)(3.8)(4.4)
Total benefit (income) cost$(1.2)$0.8 $(0.5)
 
       
(1)The amount recorded in inventory for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 was not material.
A number of our U.S. employees, including some employees who are covered by collective bargaining agreements, participate in defined benefit pension plans. Some of our international employees participate in defined benefit pension plans in their respective countries. The following table presents our funded status for 2021 and 2020 for our U.S. and international pension plans. The measurement date used to determine benefit obligations and plan assets is December 31 for all material plans.
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
(In millions)U.S.InternationalTotalU.S.InternationalTotal
Change in benefit obligation:      
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of period
$202.2 $782.9 $985.1 $194.1 $703.7 $897.8 
Service cost0.1 5.0 5.1 0.1 4.5 4.6 
Interest cost3.5 8.8 12.3 5.3 11.2 16.5 
Actuarial (gain) loss(6.7)(30.2)(36.9)18.2 64.5 82.7 
Settlement— (7.1)(7.1)— (9.8)(9.8)
Benefits paid(14.0)(24.7)(38.7)(15.5)(23.4)(38.9)
Employee contributions— 0.8 0.8 — 0.8 0.8 
Other
— (0.3)(0.3)— 0.3 0.3 
Foreign exchange impact— (21.1)(21.1)— 31.1 31.1 
Projected benefit obligation at end of period$185.1 $714.1 $899.2 $202.2 $782.9 $985.1 
Change in plan assets:      
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period$141.6 $695.0 $836.6 $137.1 $624.9 $762.0 
Actual return on plan assets18.5 11.3 29.8 8.6 62.5 71.1 
Employer contributions4.7 14.9 19.6 11.3 13.6 24.9 
Employee contributions— 0.8 0.8 — 0.8 0.8 
Benefits paid(14.0)(24.7)(38.7)(15.5)(23.4)(38.9)
Settlement— (7.1)(7.1)— (9.9)(9.9)
Other— (0.4)(0.4)0.1 (0.4)(0.3)
Foreign exchange impact— (12.3)(12.3)— 26.9 26.9 
Fair value of plan assets at end of period$150.8 $677.5 $828.3 $141.6 $695.0 $836.6 
Underfunded status at end of year$(34.3)$(36.6)$(70.9)$(60.6)$(87.9)$(148.5)
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year$185.1 $701.8 $886.9 $202.2 $766.1 $968.3 
Actuarial gains resulting in a decrease to our projected benefit obligation for the year ended December 31, 2021 were primarily due to an increase in weighted average discount rates for our U.S. and International plans of 40 basis points and 50 basis points, respectively. Actuarial losses resulting in an increase to our projected benefit obligation for the year ended December 31, 2020 were primarily due to a reduction in weighted average discount rates for our U.S. and International plans of 90 basis points and 50 basis points, respectively.
Amounts included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are summarized in the following table:
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
(In millions)U.S.InternationalTotalU.S.InternationalTotal
Other non-current assets$— $70.6 $70.6 $— $54.3 $54.3 
Other current liabilities— (4.1)(4.1)— (4.0)(4.0)
Other non-current liabilities(34.3)(105.6)(139.9)(60.6)(140.4)(201.0)
Net amount recognized(1)
$(34.3)$(39.1)$(73.4)$(60.6)$(90.1)$(150.7)
(1)Includes the underfunded status of material plans as presented in the previous table, as well as the underfunded status of other plans deemed to be immaterial.
The following table shows the components of our net periodic benefit (income) cost for the years ended December 31, for our pension plans:
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020December 31, 2019
(In millions)U.S.InternationalTotalU.S.InternationalTotalU.S.InternationalTotal
Components of net periodic benefit (income) cost:
         
Service cost$0.1 $5.0 $5.1 $0.1 $4.5 $4.6 $0.1 $3.8 $3.9 
Interest cost3.5 8.8 12.3 5.3 11.2 16.5 6.9 15.0 21.9 
Expected return on plan assets
(8.9)(18.5)(27.4)(9.0)(19.4)(28.4)(7.3)(24.7)(32.0)
Amortization of net prior service cost
— 0.3 0.3 — 0.2 0.2 — 0.2 0.2 
Amortization of net actuarial loss
2.4 5.2 7.6 1.5 4.6 6.1 1.4 3.7 5.1 
Net periodic benefit (income) cost
(2.9)0.8 (2.1)(2.1)1.1 (1.0)1.1 (2.0)(0.9)
Cost of settlement
— 0.9 0.9 — 1.8 1.8 — 0.4 0.4 
Total benefit (income) cost$(2.9)$1.7 $(1.2)$(2.1)$2.9 $0.8 $1.1 $(1.6)$(0.5)
The amounts included in AOCL that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost at December 31, 2021 and 2020 are:
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
(In millions)U.S.InternationalTotalU.S.InternationalTotal
Unrecognized net prior service costs$0.2 $4.9 $5.1 $0.2 $5.2 $5.4 
Unrecognized net actuarial loss47.2 130.0 177.2 66.0 158.8 224.8 
Total$47.4 $134.9 $182.3 $66.2 $164.0 $230.2 
 
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in AOCL for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
(In millions)U.S.InternationalTotalU.S.InternationalTotal
Current year actuarial (gain) loss$(16.4)$(22.9)$(39.3)$18.6 $21.4 $40.0 
Prior year service cost occurring during the year— — — — 0.8 0.8 
Amortization of actuarial loss(2.4)(5.2)(7.6)(1.5)(4.6)(6.1)
Amortization of prior service cost— (0.3)(0.3)— (0.2)(0.2)
Settlement— (0.9)(0.9)— (1.8)(1.8)
Total$(18.8)$(29.3)$(48.1)$17.1 $15.6 $32.7 
   
Information for plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
(In millions)U.S.InternationalTotalU.S.InternationalTotal
Accumulated benefit obligation185.1 209.9 395.0 202.2 510.3 712.5 
Fair value of plan assets150.8 111.6 262.4 141.6 384.0 525.6 
Information for plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
(In millions)U.S.InternationalTotalU.S.InternationalTotal
Projected benefit obligation$185.1 $228.0 $413.1 $202.2 $526.4 $728.6 
Fair value of plan assets(1)
150.8 121.0 271.8 141.6 384.0 525.6 
(1)As of December 31, 2021, the projected benefit obligation for one of our international plans exceeded the fair value of plan assets and is included in this table. However, the corresponding accumulated benefit obligation was not in excess of the fair value of the plan assets, and as such is excluded from the preceding table.
Actuarial Assumptions
Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
U.S.InternationalU.S.International
Benefit obligations    
Discount rate2.8 %1.9 %2.4 %1.4 %
Rate of compensation increaseN/A2.3 %N/A2.3 %
Cash balance interest credit rate1.6 %1.1 %1.2 %1.1 %
 Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the years ended December 31, were as follows:
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020December 31, 2019
U.S.InternationalU.S.InternationalU.S.International
Net periodic benefit cost      
Discount rate2.4 %1.4 %3.3 %1.9 %4.3 %2.6 %
Expected long-term rate of return6.3 %2.8 %6.5 %3.3 %6.2 %4.7 %
Rate of compensation increaseN/A2.3 %N/A2.3 %N/A2.3 %
Cash balance interest credit rate1.2 %1.1 %2.0 %1.1 %3.0 %1.4 %
Estimated Future Benefit Payments
We expect the following estimated future benefit payments, which reflect expected future service as appropriate, to be paid in the years indicated:
 
Amount
(In millions)
YearU.S.InternationalTotal
2022$11.8 $29.7 $41.5 
202311.7 26.8 38.5 
202411.7 28.6 40.3 
202511.3 29.4 40.7 
202611.3 31.6 42.9 
2027 to 2031 (combined)54.4 169.0 223.4 
Total$112.2 $315.1 $427.3 
 Plan Assets
We review the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets annually, taking into consideration our asset allocation, historical returns, and the current economic environment. The expected return on plan assets is calculated based on the fair value of plan assets at year end. To determine the expected return on plan assets, expected cash flows have been taken into account.
Our long-term objectives for plan investments are to ensure that (a) there is an adequate level of assets to support benefit obligations to participants over the life of the plans, (b) there is sufficient liquidity in plan assets to cover current benefit obligations, and (c) there is a high level of investment return consistent with a prudent level of investment risk. The investment strategy is focused on a long-term total return in excess of a pure fixed income strategy with short-term volatility less than that of a pure equity strategy. To accomplish these objectives, in many instances the plan assets are invested on a glide-path which reduces the exposure to return-seeking assets as the plan's funded status increases. Overall, we invest assets primarily in a diversified mix of equity and fixed income investments. For our U.S. plan, the target asset allocation includes approximately 65% in return seeking assets, which are primarily comprised of global equities. The remainder of the assets in the U.S. plan are comprised of liability hedging assets which are primarily fixed income investments.
In some of our international pension plans, we have purchased bulk annuity contracts (buy-ins). These annuity contracts provide cash flows that match the future benefit payments for a specific group of pensioners. These contacts are issued by third party insurance companies with no affiliation to Sealed Air. Insurance companies from which we purchase the annuity contracts are assessed as credit worthy. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, buy-ins represented $135.1 million and $131.2 million of total plan assets, respectively. The value of these assets is actuarially determined based on the present value of the underlying liabilities.
We currently expect our contributions to the pension plans to be approximately $5.1 million in 2022. Additionally, we expect benefits paid directly by the Company related to our defined benefit pension plans to be $4.2 million in 2022.
The fair values of our U.S. and international pension plan assets, by asset category and by the level of fair values are as follows: 
 December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
 Total   Total   
(In millions)Fair ValueLevel 1Level 2Level 3
NAV(5)
Fair ValueLevel 1Level 2Level 3
NAV(5)
Cash and cash equivalents(1)
$9.8 $3.0 $6.8 $— $— $11.0 $2.1 $8.9 $— $— 
Fixed income funds(2)(6)
409.5 — 282.5 — 127.0 417.3 — 298.9 — 118.4 
Equity funds(3)
114.1 — 49.2 — 64.9 122.3 — 48.0 — 74.3 
Other(4)
294.9 — 6.6 211.9 76.4 286.0 — 9.1 206.4 70.5 
Total$828.3 $3.0 $345.1 $211.9 $268.3 $836.6 $2.1 $364.9 $206.4 $263.2 
       
(1)Short-term investment fund that invests in a collective trust that holds short-term highly liquid investments with principal preservation and daily liquidity as its primary objectives. Investments are primarily comprised of certificates of deposit, government securities, commercial paper, and time deposits.
(2)Fixed income funds that invest in a diversified portfolio primarily consisting of publicly traded government bonds and corporate bonds. There are no restrictions on these investments, and they are valued at the net asset value of shares held at year end.
(3)Equity funds that invest in a diversified portfolio of publicly traded domestic and international common stock. There are no restrictions on these investments, and they are valued at the net asset value of shares held at year end.
(4)The largest component of other assets are bulk annuity contracts (buy-ins). The other assets also include real estate and other alternative investments.
(5)These assets are measured at Net Asset Value (NAV) as a practical expedient under ASC 820.
(6)The December 31, 2020 value for one specific fixed income fund has been reclassified to reflect a change in leveling classification. The change in classification did not impact the fair value of the fund.
The following table shows the activity of our U.S. and international plan assets that are measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs.
 December 31,
(In millions)20212020
Balance at beginning of period$206.4 $180.2 
Gain on assets still held at end of year2.4 15.4 
Loss on assets sold during the year(0.2)— 
Purchases, sales, issuance, and settlements6.4 2.4 
Foreign exchange (loss) gain(3.1)8.4 
Balance at end of period$211.9 $206.4