NOTE 10 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

We maintain a domestic noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering certain U.S. employees who meet certain age and service requirements. In July 2003, we revised the Helmerich & Payne, Inc. Employee Retirement Plan (“Pension Plan”) to close the Pension Plan to new participants effective October 1, 2003, and reduce benefit accruals for current participants through September 30, 2006, at which time benefit accruals were discontinued and the Pension Plan was frozen.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the changes in the pension benefit obligations and fair value of Pension Plan assets over the two-year period ended September 30, 2017 and a statement of the funded status as of September 30, 2017 and 2016:


	2017		2016
	(in thousands)
Accumulated Benefit Obligation	$	109,976	$	109,731
Changes in projected benefit obligations
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	109,731	$	107,417
Interest cost		4,053		4,266
Actuarial loss		3,633		15,051
Benefits paid		(7,441)		(17,003)
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	$	109,976	$	109,731
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	90,748	$	98,060
Actual return on plan assets		9,470		9,653
Employer contribution		39		38
Benefits paid		(7,441)		(17,003)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	92,816	$	90,748
Funded status of the plan at end of year	$	(17,160)	$	(18,983)

The amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2017 and 2016 are as follows (in thousands):


Accrued liabilities	$	(45)	$	(45)
Noncurrent liabilities-other		(17,115)		(18,938)
Net amount recognized	$	(17,160)	$	(18,983)

The amounts recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) at September 30, 2017 and 2016, and not yet reflected in net periodic benefit cost, are as follows (in thousands):


Net actuarial loss		$	(28,873)		$	(34,112)

The amount recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and not yet reflected in periodic benefit cost expected to be amortized in next year’s periodic benefit cost is a net actuarial loss of $1.8 million.

The weighted average assumptions used for the pension calculations were as follows:


	Year Ended
	September 30,
	2017		2016		2015
Discount rate for net periodic benefit costs	3.64	%	4.27	%	4.32	%
Discount rate for year-end obligations	3.79	%	3.64	%	4.27	%
Expected return on plan assets	6.17	%	5.89	%	6.26	%

The mortality table issued by the Society of Actuaries in October 2017 was used for the September 30, 2017 pension calculation. The new mortality information reflects improved life expectancies and projected mortality improvements.

We did not make any contributions to the Pension Plan in fiscal 2017. In fiscal 2018, we do not expect minimum contributions required by law to be needed. However, we may make contributions in fiscal 2018 if needed to fund unexpected distributions in lieu of liquidating pension assets.

Components of the net periodic pension expense (benefit) were as follows:


	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2015
	(in thousands)
Interest cost	$	4,053	$	4,266	$	4,584
Expected return on plan assets		(5,130)		(5,616)		(6,855)
Recognized net actuarial loss		2,891		2,083		1,308
Settlement		1,640		4,964		2,873
Net pension expense	$	3,454	$	5,697	$	1,910

We record settlement expense when benefit payments exceed the total annual service and interest costs.

The following table reflects the expected benefits to be paid from the Pension Plan in each of the next five fiscal years, and in the aggregate for the five years thereafter (in thousands).


Year Ended September 30,
2018		2019		2020		2021		2022		2023 – 2027		Total
$	16,050	$	6,844	$	7,222	$	5,591	$	6,383	$	32,723	$	74,813

Included in the Pension Plan is an unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan.

INVESTMENT STRATEGY AND ASSET ALLOCATION

Our investment policy and strategies are established with a long-term view in mind. The investment strategy is intended to help pay the cost of the Pension Plan while providing adequate security to meet the benefits promised under the Pension Plan. We maintain a diversified asset mix to minimize the risk of a material loss to the portfolio value that might occur from devaluation of any single investment. In determining the appropriate asset mix, our financial strength and ability to fund potential shortfalls are considered. Pension Plan assets are invested in portfolios of diversified public-market equity securities and fixed income securities. The Pension Plan does not directly hold securities of the Company.

The expected long-term rate of return on Pension Plan assets is based on historical and projected rates of return for current and planned asset classes in the Pension Plan’s investment portfolio after analyzing historical experience and future expectations of the return and volatility of various asset classes.

The target allocation for 2018 and the asset allocation for the Pension Plan at the end of fiscal 2017 and 2016, by asset category, follows:


			Percentage
			of Plan
	Target		Assets at
	Allocation		September 30,
Asset Category	2018		2017		2016
U.S. equities	45	%	50	%	62	%
International equities	20		16		12
Fixed income	35		34		21
Real estate and other	—		—		5
Total	100	%	100	%	100	%

PLAN ASSETS

The fair value of Pension Plan assets at September 30, 2017 and 2016, summarized by level within the fair value hierarchy described in Note 9, are as follows:


	Fair Value as of September 30, 2017
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(in thousands)
Short-term investments	$	3,488	$	3,488	$	—	$	—
Mutual funds:
Domestic stock funds		18,377		18,377		—		—
Bond funds		18,357		18,357		—		—
Balanced funds		18,222		18,222		—		—
International stock funds		14,583		14,583		—		—
Total mutual funds		69,539		69,539		—		—
Domestic common stock		19,692		19,692		—		—
Oil and gas properties		97		—		—		97
Total	$	92,816	$	92,719	$	—	$	97


	Fair Value as of September 30, 2016
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(in thousands)
Short-term investments	$	467	$	467	$	—	$	—
Mutual funds:
Domestic stock funds		36,107		36,107		—		—
Bond funds		22,809		22,809		—		—
International stock funds		11,334		11,334		—		—
Total mutual funds		70,250		70,250		—		—
Domestic common stock		18,305		18,305		—		—
Foreign equity stock		1,549		1,549		—		—
Oil and gas properties		177		—		—		177
Total	$	90,748	$	90,571	$	—	$	177

The Pension Plan’s financial assets utilizing Level 1 inputs are valued based on quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. The Plan has no assets utilizing Level 2. The Pension Plan’s assets utilizing Level 3 inputs consist of oil and gas properties. The fair value of oil and gas properties is determined by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., based upon actual revenue received for the previous twelve-month period and experience with similar assets.

The following table sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the Pension Plan’s Level 3 assets for the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:


	Oil and Gas
	Properties
	Year Ended
	September 30,
	2017		2016
	(in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year	$	177	$	387
Unrealized losses relating to property still held at the reporting date		(80)		(210)
Balance, end of year	$	97	$	177

DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN

Substantially all employees on the United States payroll may elect to participate in our 401(k)/Thrift Plan by contributing a portion of their earnings. We contribute an amount equal to 100 percent of the first five percent of the participant’s compensation subject to certain limitations. The annual expense incurred for this defined contribution plan was $16.6 million, $21.6 million and $24.8 million in fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

During fiscal 2016, we determined that employee workforce reductions which started during 2015 and continued into 2016 due to reduced drilling activity resulted in a partial plan termination of the 401(k)/Thrift Plan. Partial plan terminations result in affected participants becoming fully vested in Company contributions and actual earnings thereon at the termination date. As a result of the partial plan termination status, we accrued additional employer contributions totaling $6.3 million in general and administrative expense in fiscal 2016.