Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits

Note 11 – Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company maintains various retirement benefit plans. GAAP requires employers to recognize the funded status of a benefit plan, measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation, in its balance sheet.  The recognition of the funded status on the balance sheet requires employers to recognize actuarial items (such as actuarial gains and losses, prior service costs, and transition obligations) as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax.

The following table summarizes amounts recorded on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets associated with these various retirement benefit plans:

	December 31,
	2021			2020
Included in "Other assets":
Non-U.S. pension plans	$	3,145		$	312
Total included in other assets	$	3,145		$	312
Included in "Payroll and related expenses":
U.S. pension plans	$	(35	)	$	(35	)
Non-U.S. pension plans		(7,602	)		(8,314	)
U.S. other postretirement plans		(975	)		(929	)
Non-U.S. other postretirement plans		(696	)		(475	)
Total included in payroll and related expenses	$	(9,308	)	$	(9,753	)
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs:
U.S. pension plans	$	(45,578	)	$	(45,529	)
Non-U.S. pension plans		(197,796	)		(225,473	)
U.S. other postretirement plans		(6,636	)		(6,794	)
Non-U.S. other postretirement plans		(7,086	)		(8,035	)
Other retirement obligations		(14,576	)		(14,282	)
Total accrued pension and other postretirement costs	$	(271,672	)	$	(300,113	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
U.S. pension plans	$	9,403		$	10,709
Non-U.S. pension plans		72,437			94,480
U.S. other postretirement plans		837			344
Non-U.S. other postretirement plans		1,706			2,119
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss*	$	84,383		$	107,652

* - Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss are presented in this table pre-tax.

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

U.S. Pension Plans

The Company maintained several defined benefit pension plans which covered most full-time U.S. employees.  These included pension plans which are “qualified” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and the Internal Revenue Code, and “non-qualified” pension plans which provide defined benefits primarily to U.S. employees whose benefits under the qualified pension plan would be limited by ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code.  The Company’s principal qualified U.S. pension plan (the Vishay Retirement Plan) was frozen effective January 1, 2009 and terminated in 2016.

The Company’s principal non-qualified U.S. pension plan (the Vishay Non-qualified Retirement Plan) was a contributory pension plan designed to provide similar defined benefits to covered U.S. employees whose benefits under the Vishay Retirement Plan were limited by the Internal Revenue Code.  The Vishay Non-qualified Retirement Plan was similar in construction to the Vishay Retirement Plan, except that the plan is not qualified under the Internal Revenue Code.

The Vishay Non-qualified Retirement Plan, like all non-qualified plans, is considered to be unfunded.  The Company maintains a non-qualified trust, referred to as a “rabbi” trust, to fund benefit payments under this plan.  Rabbi trust assets are subject to creditor claims under certain conditions and are not the property of employees.  Therefore, they are accounted for as other noncurrent assets.  Assets held in trust related to the non-qualified pension plan were $27,604 and $29,157 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

In 2008, the Company adopted amendments to the Vishay Non-Qualified Retirement Plan such that effective January 1, 2009, the plan was frozen.  Pursuant to these amendments, no new employees may participate in the plans, no further participant contributions were required or permitted, and no further benefits shall accrue after December 31, 2008.  Benefits accumulated as of December 31, 2008 will be paid to employees upon or following retirement, and the Company will likely need to make additional cash contributions to the rabbi trust to fund this accumulated benefit obligation.

The Company also maintains other pension plans which provide supplemental defined benefits primarily to former U.S. employees whose benefits under qualified pension plans were limited by the Internal Revenue Code.  These non-qualified plans are all non-contributory plans, and are considered to be unfunded.

In 2004, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Felix Zandman, its Executive Chairman and then-Chief Executive Officer.  Pursuant to this agreement, the Company is providing an annual retirement benefit of approximately $614 to his surviving spouse.  The Company maintains a non-qualified trust, referred to as a “rabbi” trust, to fund benefit payments under this plan.  Rabbi trust assets are subject to creditor claims under certain conditions and are not the property of employees.  Therefore, they are accounted for as other noncurrent assets.  Assets held in trust related to this non-qualified pension plan were $630 and $1,243 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Non-U.S. Pension Plans

The Company provides pension and similar benefits to employees of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries consistent with local practices.  Pension benefits earned are generally based on years of service and compensation during active employment.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the benefit obligation, plan assets, and funded status related to U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans:

	December 31, 2021						December 31, 2020
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	45,564		$	307,809		$	42,383		$	283,561
Service cost		-			4,693			-			4,382
Interest cost		1,016			2,968			1,366			3,783
Plan amendments		-			490			-			1,015
Actuarial (gains) losses		870			(7,816	)		3,623			10,920
Benefits paid		(1,837	)		(14,773	)		(1,808	)		(17,737	)
Curtailments and settlements		-			(34	)		-			(464	)
Currency translation		-			(15,164	)		-			22,349
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	45,613		$	278,173		$	45,564		$	307,809
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	-		$	74,334		$	-			73,629
Actual return on plan assets		-			2,792			-			2,811
Company contributions		1,837			13,095			1,808			12,149
Benefits paid		(1,837	)		(14,773	)		(1,808	)		(17,737	)
Currency translation		-			472			-			3,482
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	-		$	75,920		$	-		$	74,334
Funded status at end of year	$	(45,613	)	$	(202,253	)	$	(45,564	)	$	(233,475	)

The plan assets are stated at fair value. See Note 18 for further discussion of the valuation of the plan assets.

Amounts recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets consist of the following:

	December 31, 2021						December 31, 2020
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
Other assets	$	-		$	3,145		$	-		$	312
Accrued benefit liability - current		(35	)		(7,602	)		(35	)		(8,314	)
Accrued benefit liability - non-current		(45,578	)		(197,796	)		(45,529	)		(225,473	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		9,403			72,437			10,709			94,480
	$	(36,210	)	$	(129,816	)	$	(34,855	)	$	(138,995	)

Actuarial items consist of the following:

	December 31, 2021				December 31, 2020
	U.S. Plans		Non-U.S. Plans		U.S. Plans		Non-U.S. Plans
Unrecognized net actuarial loss	$	9,050	$	71,632	$	10,212	$	94,072
Unamortized prior service cost		353		805		497		408
	$	9,403	$	72,437	$	10,709	$	94,480

The following table sets forth additional information regarding the projected and accumulated benefit obligations:

	December 31, 2021				December 31, 2020
	U.S. Plans		Non-U.S. Plans		U.S. Plans		Non-U.S. Plans
Accumulated benefit obligation, all plans	$	45,613	$	259,087	$	45,564	$	287,169
Plans for which the accumulated benefit obligation exceeds plan assets:
Projected benefit obligation	$	45,613	$	247,796	$	45,564	$	288,212
Accumulated benefit obligation		45,613		235,764		45,564		275,816
Fair value of plan assets		-		44,604		-		59,070

The following table sets forth the components of net periodic pension cost:

	Years ended December 31,
	2021					2020					2019
	U.S. Plans		Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans		Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans		Non-U.S. Plans
Service cost	$	-	$	4,693		$	-	$	4,382		$	-	$	3,382
Interest cost		1,016		2,968			1,366		3,783			1,696		5,116
Expected return on plan assets		-		(1,660	)		-		(2,004	)		-		(1,956	)
Amortization of actuarial losses		2,032		7,444			1,609		6,554			827		5,374
Amortization of prior service cost		144		189			144		378			144		197
Curtailment and settlement losses		-		632			-		1,148			-		2,183
Net periodic pension cost	$	3,192	$	14,266		$	3,119	$	14,241		$	2,667	$	14,296

See Note 10 for the pretax, tax effect and after tax amounts included in other comprehensive income during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019.  The estimated actuarial items for the defined benefit pensions plans that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension cost during 2022 is $7,200.

The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations at December 31 of the respective years:

	2021						2020
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
Discount rate		2.50	%		1.19	%		2.25	%		1.02	%
Rate of compensation increase		0.00	%		2.07	%		0.00	%		2.02	%

The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine the net periodic pension costs:

	Years ended December 31,
	2021						2020
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
Discount rate		2.25	%		1.02	%		3.25	%		1.40	%
Rate of compensation increase		0.00	%		2.02	%		0.00	%		2.24	%
Expected return on plan assets		0.00	%		2.37	%		0.00	%		2.35	%

The plans’ expected return on assets is based on management’s expectations of long-term average rates of return to be achieved by the underlying investment portfolios. In establishing this assumption, management considers historical and expected returns for the asset classes in which the plans are invested, advice from pension consultants and investment advisors, and current economic and capital market conditions.

The investment mix between equity securities and fixed income securities is based upon achieving a desired return, balancing higher return, more volatile equity securities, and lower return, less volatile fixed income securities and is adjusted for the expected duration of the obligation and the funded status of the plan.  Investment allocations are made across a range of securities, maturities and credit quality.  The Company’s non-U.S. defined benefit plan investments are based on local laws and customs.  Most plans invest in cash and local government fixed income securities, although plans in certain countries have investments in equity securities.  The plans do not invest in securities of Vishay or its subsidiaries.  Negative investment returns could ultimately affect the funded status of the plans, requiring additional cash contributions.  See Note 18 for further information on the fair value of the plan assets by asset category.

Estimated future benefit payments are as follows:

	U.S. Plans		Non-U.S. Plans
2022	$	1,940	$	18,924
2023		8,859		16,333
2024		3,376		16,061
2025		10,029		17,124
2026		3,247		19,069
2027-2031		9,993		78,158

The Company’s anticipated 2022 contributions for defined benefit pension plans will approximate the expected benefit payments disclosed above.

Other Postretirement Benefits

In the U.S., the Company maintains unfunded non-pension postretirement plans, including medical benefits for certain executives and their surviving spouses, which are funded as costs are incurred.  The Company also maintains two unfunded non-pension postretirement plans at two European subsidiaries.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the benefit obligation, plan assets, and accrued benefit cost related to U.S. and non-U.S. non-pension defined benefit postretirement plans:

	December 31, 2021						December 31, 2020
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	7,723		$	8,510		$	7,689		$	8,109
Service cost		102			278			112			284
Interest cost		163			42			236			64
Actuarial (gains) losses		545			(77	)		550			35
Benefits paid		(922	)		(319	)		(864	)		(706	)
Currency translation		-			(652	)		-			724
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	7,611		$	7,782		$	7,723		$	8,510
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-
Funded status at end of year	$	(7,611	)	$	(7,782	)	$	(7,723	)	$	(8,510	)

Amounts recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets consist of the following:

	December 31, 2021						December 31, 2020
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
Accrued benefit liability - current	$	(975	)	$	(696	)	$	(929	)	$	(475	)
Accrued benefit liability - non-current		(6,636	)		(7,086	)		(6,794	)		(8,035	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		837			1,706			344			2,119
	$	(6,774	)	$	(6,076	)	$	(7,379	)	$	(6,391	)

Actuarial items consist of the following:

	December 31, 2021						December 31, 2020
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
Unrecognized net actuarial loss (gain)		$	837		$	1,706		$	344		$	2,119
		$	837		$	1,706		$	344		$	2,119

The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost:

	Years ended December 31,
	2021				2020				2019
	U.S. Plans		Non-U.S. Plans		U.S. Plans		Non-U.S. Plans		U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
Service cost	$	102	$	278	$	112	$	284	$	157		$	284
Interest cost		163		42		236		64		286			123
Amortization of actuarial (gains) losses		53		116		26		132		(138	)		107
Curtailment and settlement losses		-		67		-		177		-			-
Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)	$	318	$	503	$	374	$	657	$	305		$	514

The estimated actuarial items for the other postretirement benefit plans that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost during 2022 are not material.

The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations at December 31 of the respective years:

	2021						2020
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
Discount rate		2.50	%		0.80	%		2.25	%		0.54	%
Rate of compensation increase		0.00	%		2.88	%		0.00	%		2.87	%

The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine the net periodic benefit costs:

	Years ended December 31,
	2021						2020
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
Discount rate		2.25	%		0.54	%		3.25	%		0.81	%
Rate of compensation increase		0.00	%		2.87	%		0.00	%		2.87	%

The impact of a one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates on the net periodic benefit cost and postretirement benefit obligation is not material.

Estimated future benefit payments are as follows:

	U.S. Plans		Non-U.S. Plans
2022	$	975	$	696
2023		871		255
2024		802		239
2025		706		476
2026		619		169
2027-2031		2,131		3,753

As the plans are unfunded, the Company’s anticipated contributions for 2022 are equal to its estimated benefits payments.

Other Retirement Obligations

The Company participates in various other defined contribution and government-mandated retirement plans based on local law or custom.  The Company periodically makes required contributions for certain of these plans, whereas other plans are unfunded retirement bonus plans which will be paid at the employee's retirement date.  At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets include $14,576 and $14,282, respectively, within accrued pension and other postretirement costs related to these plans.

The Company’s U.S. employees are eligible to participate in a 401(k) savings plan, which provides for Company matching contributions.  The Company’s matching expense for the plans was $6,557, $6,363, and $6,481 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.  No material amounts are included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2021 and 2020 related to unfunded 401(k) contributions.

Certain key employees participate in a deferred compensation plan.  During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, these employees could defer a portion of their compensation until retirement, or elect shorter deferral periods.  The Company maintains a liability within other noncurrent liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets related to these deferrals.  The Company maintains a non-qualified trust, referred to as a “rabbi” trust, to fund payments under this plan.  Rabbi trust assets are subject to creditor claims under certain conditions and are not the property of employees.  Therefore, they are accounted for as other noncurrent assets.  Assets held in trust related to the deferred compensation plan at December 31, 2021 and 2020 were approximately $31,453 and $27,491, respectively.