11.	Pension and Employee Benefit Plans

We sponsor a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan for certain union employees. The accrual of future benefits for all participants who are non-union employees was frozen effective December 31, 2008. The plan is funded in accordance with the funding requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

We also sponsor a postretirement health care plan for office employees retired before January 1, 1990. The plan allows retirees who have attained the age of 65 to elect the type of coverage desired.

The following tables set forth the plans’ changes in benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status on the measurement dates, December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, and amounts recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets within other long-term liabilities as of those dates.

	Pension Benefits									Other Benefits
(Table only in thousands)	2017			2016			2015			2017			2016			2015
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	35,012		$	36,140		$	38,208			n/a			n/a			n/a
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation		n/a			n/a			n/a			131		$	159		$	155
Service cost		415			447			233			—			—			—
Interest cost		1,314			1,426			1,412			4			4			5
Amendments		—			—			—			—			—			9
Actuarial loss/(gain)		1,787			301			(1,744	)		3			(8	)		18
Administrative expenses		(402	)		(606	)		(214	)		—			—			—
Benefits paid		(1,799	)		(2,696	)		(1,755	)		(26	)		(24	)		(28	)
Projected benefit obligation at end of year		36,327			35,012			36,140			112			131			159
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		24,063			25,296			27,302			—			—			—
Actual return (loss) on plan assets		3,152			2,040			(443	)		—			—			—
Employer contribution		1,822			29			406			26			24			28
Administrative expenses		(402	)		(606	)		(214	)		—			—			—
Benefits paid		(1,799	)		(2,696	)		(1,755	)		(26	)		(24	)		(28	)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		26,836			24,063			25,296			—			—			—
Unfunded status	$	(9,491	)	$	(10,949	)	$	(10,844	)	$	(112	)	$	(131	)	$	(159	)
Defined benefit liabilities included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	(24	)	$	(25	)	$	(26	)
Defined benefit liabilities included in other liabilities		(9,491	)		(10,949	)		(10,844	)		(88	)		(106	)		(133	)
Deferred tax benefit associated with accumulated other comprehensive loss		3,153			3,107			3,154			12			15			15
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax		5,154			5,074			5,144			7			9			27
Net amount recognized	$	(1,184	)	$	(2,768	)	$	(2,546	)	$	(93	)	$	(107	)	$	(117	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net loss (gain)	$	358		$	90		$	708		$	3		$	(9	)	$	17
Prior service cost		—			—			—			—			—			9
Amortization of prior service cost		—			—			—			(11	)		(10	)		(9	)
Amortization of net actuarial (gain)/loss		(227	)		(212	)		(258	)		3			1			3
Total recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)	$	131		$	(122	)	$	450		$	(5	)	$	(18	)	$	20
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Net loss (gain)	$	8,307		$	8,181		$	8,298		$	(22	)	$	(28	)	$	(20	)
Prior service cost		—			—			—			41			52			62
Amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income	$	8,307		$	8,181		$	8,298		$	19		$	24		$	42
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations for the year ended December 31:
Discount rate		3.35	%		3.85	%		4.00	%		2.65	%		2.75	%		3.00	%
Compensation increase rate		n/a			n/a			n/a			n/a			n/a			n/a

Benefits under the plans are not based on wages and, therefore, future wage adjustments have no effect on the projected benefit obligations.

During 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company updated the mortality tables (RP-2017 Total Mortality Table, RP-2016 Total Mortality Table, and RP-2015 Total Mortality Table for each respective year) in the underlying assumptions used to determine benefit obligations.

Included in other comprehensive income for our defined benefit plans, net of related tax effect, were an increase in the minimum liability of $0.1 million in 2017, a decrease of $0.1 million in 2016 and an increase of $0.3 million in 2015.

The details of net periodic benefit cost for pension benefits included in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:

(Table only in thousands)	2017			2016			2015
Service cost	$	415		$	447		$	233
Interest cost		1,314			1,426			1,412
Expected return on plan assets		(1,723	)		(1,829	)		(2,009	)
Net amortization and deferral		227			212			258
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	$	233		$	256		$	(106	)
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit costs for the years ended December 31:
Discount rate		3.85	%		4.00	%		3.75	%
Expected return on assets		7.25	%		7.50	%		7.50	%
Compensation increase rate		n/a			n/a			n/a

The basis of the long-term rate of return assumption reflects the current asset mix for the pension plans of approximately 30% to 40% debt securities and 60% to 70% equity securities with assumed average annual returns of approximately 4% to 6% for debt securities and 8% to 12% for equity securities. The investment portfolio for the pension plans will be adjusted periodically to maintain the current ratios of debt securities and equity securities. Additional consideration is given to the historical returns for the pension plan as well as future long range projections of investment returns for each asset category.

The net loss and prior service cost for the defined benefit pension plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost during 2018 are $0.2 million and zero, respectively. The net gain and prior service cost for the healthcare plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost during 2018 is $2,000 and $11,000, respectively.

At December 31, 2017, a 25 basis point change in the discount rate would change the projected benefit obligation by approximately $1.1 million in the Projected Benefit Obligation and would change Net Periodic Pension Cost by approximately $9,000. Additionally, a 25 basis point change in the assumed long-term rate of return on assets would impact Net Periodic Pension Cost by approximately $66,000.

The net periodic benefit cost (representing interest cost and amortization of net actuarial loss only) for the healthcare plan included in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations was $11,000, $15,000 and $12,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The weighted average discount rate to determine the net periodic benefit cost for 2017, 2016 and 2015 was 2.75%, 3.00% and 3.75%, respectively.

Changes in health care costs have no effect on the plan as future increases are assumed by the retirees.

Pension plan assets are invested in trusts comprised primarily of investments in various debt and equity funds. A fiduciary committee establishes the target asset mix and monitors asset performance. The expected rate of return on assets includes the determination of a real rate of return for equity and fixed income investment applied to the portfolio based on their relative weighting, increased by an underlying inflation rate. Our defined benefit pension plan asset allocation by asset category is as follows:

	Target Allocation			Percentage of Plan Assets
	2017			2017			2016
Asset Category:
Cash and cash equivalents		0	%		4	%		4	%
Equity securities		70	%		70	%		67	%
Debt securities		30	%		26	%		29	%
Total		100	%		100	%		100	%

Estimated pension plan cash obligations are $1.9 million, $2.1 million, $2.2 million, $2.1 million, and $2.2 million for 2018 through 2022, respectively, and a total of $10.7 million for the years 2023 through 2026. Estimated healthcare plan cash obligations are $24,000, $20,000, $17,000, $14,000, and $11,000 for 2018 through 2022, respectively, and a total of $30,000 for the years 2023 through 2027.

Fair Value Measurements of Pension Plan Assets

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for pension assets measured at fair value:

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Cash and cash equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of cash on deposit in money market funds. Cash and cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value.

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Equity securities: Equity securities consist of various managed funds that invest primarily in common stocks. These securities are valued at the net asset value of shares held by the plans at year-end. The net asset value is calculated based on the underlying shares and investments held by the funds.

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Debt securities: Debt securities consist of U.S. government and agency securities, corporate bonds and notes, and managed funds that invest in fixed income securities. U.S governmental and agency securities are valued at closing prices reported in the active market in which the individual securities are traded. Corporate bonds and notes are valued using market inputs including benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data including market research publications. Inputs may be prioritized differently at certain times based on market conditions. Managed funds are valued at the net asset value of shares held by the plans at year end. The net asset value is calculated based on the underlying investments held by the fund.

The preceding methods described may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, although the Company believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.

The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the fair value of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

The levels assigned to the defined benefit plan assets as of December 31, 2017, are summarized in the tables below:

(Table only in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Pension assets, at fair value:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,147	$	—	$	—	$	1,147
Equity securities		18,723		—		—		18,723
Debt securities		6,967		—		—		6,967
Total assets	$	26,836	$	—	$	—	$	26,836

The levels assigned to the defined benefit plan assets as of December 31, 2016, are summarized in the tables below:

(Table only in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Pension assets, at fair value:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	894	$	—	$	—	$	894
Equity securities		16,153		—		—		16,153
Debt securities		7,016		—		—		7,016
Total assets	$	24,063	$	—	$	—	$	24,063

The Company contributes to a number of multiemployer defined benefit pension plans under the terms of collective-bargaining agreements that cover its union-represented employees. The risks of participating in these multiemployer plans are different from single-employer plans in the following aspects:

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Assets contributed to the multiemployer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

•

If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers.

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If the Company chooses to stop participating in some of its multiemployer plans, CECO may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.

The Company participation in these plans for the annual period ended December 31, 2017, is outlined in the table below. The “EIN/Pension Plan Number” column provides the Employer Identification Number and the three-digit plan number, if applicable. Unless otherwise noted, the most recent Pension Protection Act zone status available in 2017, 2016 and 2015 is for the plan’s year-end at December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The zone status is based on information that the Company received from the plan and is certified by the plan’s actuary. Among other factors, plans in the red zone are generally less than 65% funded, plans in the yellow zone are less than 80% funded, and plans in the green zone are at least 80% funded. The “FIP/RP Status Pending/Implemented” column indicates plans for which a financial improvement plan (FIP) or a rehabilitation plan (RP) is either pending or has been implemented. The last column lists the expiration date(s) of the collective-bargaining agreement(s) to which the plans are subject.

Pension Fund	EIN/Pension Plan Number	Pension Protection Act Zone Status	FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented	Surcharge Imposed	Expiration of Collective Bargaining Agreement
Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund	52-6112463/001	Yellow	FIP: Yes - Implemented RP: Yes - Implemented	No	various
Sheet Metal Workers Local 224 Pension Plan	31-6171353/001	Yellow	FIP: Yes - Implemented	No	May 31, 2018
Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 20, Indianapolis Area Pension fund	51-0168516/001	Green	Is not subject	No	May 31, 2020
Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 177 Pension Fund	62-6093256/001	Green	Is not subject	No	May 1, 2018

Kirk and Blum was listed in the Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 177 Pension Fund’s Form 5500 as providing more than five percent of total contributions for the year ended December 31, 2016. The Company was not listed in any of the other plans’ Forms 5500 as providing more than five percent of the total contributions for the plans and plan years. At the date the financial statements were issued, Forms 5500 were not available for the plan years ended December 31, 2017.

We have no current intention of withdrawing from any plan and, therefore, no liability has been provided in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Amounts charged to pension expense under the above plans including the multi-employer plans totaled $2.0 million, $2.1 million and $1.3 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

We have a profit sharing and 401(k) savings retirement plan for employees of certain of our subsidiaries. The plan covers substantially all employees who have 30 days of service, and who have attained 18 years of age. The plan allows us to make discretionary contributions and provides for employee salary deferrals of up to 100%. We made aggregate matching contributions and discretionary contributions of $1.6 million, $1.5 million, and $1.2 million during 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

As a result of the PMFG acquisition, the Company acquired a defined contribution pension plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code for eligible employees who have completed at least 90 days of service (“PMFG Plan”). Company contributions are voluntary and at the discretion of the board of directors. For the year ended December 31, 2015, matching contributions of $0.1 million were made by the Company after the acquisition. The PMFG Plan was merged with the CECO 401(k) savings retirement plan in January 2016. The contributions made to these participants for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were included in the profit-sharing and 401(k) savings retirement plan contributions noted above.