Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits

12 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2022

Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Disclosures [Abstract]

Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits

DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLANS

During 2022, the Company made several changes to its defined benefit plans. At the beginning of 2022, the Company was the sponsor of seven single employer defined benefit plans, two of which were frozen to new participants and future benefits. As of September 25, 2022, we are the sponsor of two single-employer defined benefit plans, which provide benefits to certain current and former employees of Lee.

During 2022 we notified certain participants in our defined benefit plans of changes to be made to the plans. The Company froze future benefits and participation for an additional four of the defined benefit plans. The freeze of future benefits resulted in a non-cash curtailment gain of $1,027,000 related to the four plans. In connection with the freeze the Company provided certain benefit enhancements that resulted in an increase to our net pension liability and a decrease to Accumulated Other Comprehensive income of $6,077,000. Additionally, the Company merged the six frozen plans into one fully-funded defined benefit plan, the Lee Enterprises Incorporated Pension Plan ("Plan") effective in the second quarter of fiscal 2022.

During September of 2022, as part of a pension de-risking strategy for the Plan, the Company, executed an agreement pursuant to transfer to a third party insurance company (the "Insurer") $85,622,000 of the Plan's liabilities in exchange for $81,377,000 of Plan assets and recorded a non-cash settlement gain of $4,245,000 in Pension and OPEB related benefit (cost) and other, net.

The net periodic cost (benefit) components of our pension plans are as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	2022	2021	2020
Service cost for benefits earned during the year	467	2,529	1,361
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	7,941	7,147	7,577
Expected return on plan assets	(18,140)	(18,688)	(12,986)
Amortization of net (gain) loss	(3,320)	4,018	3,166
Amortization of prior service benefit	636	(6)	(6)
Settlement gain	(4,245)	—	—
Curtailment gain	(1,027)	—	—
Net periodic pension cost (benefit)	(17,688)	(5,000)	(888)

Changes in benefit obligations and plan assets are as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	2022	2021
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	384,187	401,381
Service cost	467	2,529
Interest cost	7,941	7,147
Plan Amendments	6,077	—
Actuarial (gain) loss	(85,754)	(5,413)
Benefits paid	(21,686)	(21,182)
Liability (gain)/loss due to curtailment	(1,027)	—
Settlements	(81,377)	—
Administrative expenses paid	—	(275)
Benefit obligation, end of year	208,828	384,187
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year:	398,430	331,354
Actual return on plan assets	(84,000)	89,892
Benefits paid	(21,686)	(21,182)
Administrative expenses paid	(2,123)	(2,599)
Settlements	(81,377)	—
Employer contributions	112	965
Fair value of plan assets, end of year	209,356	398,430
Funded status	528	14,243

Disaggregated amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	September 25 2022	September 26 2021
Pension obligations	528	14,243
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before income taxes)	5,452	36,965

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	September 25 2022	September 26 2021
Unrecognized net actuarial gain (loss)	10,893	36,965
Unrecognized prior service cost	(5,441)	—
	5,452	36,965

We do not expect to recognize any net actuarial gain (loss), in net periodic pension cost in 2023.

Assumptions

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations are as follows:

(Percent)	September 25 2022	September 26 2021
Discount rate	5.3	2.7
Interest crediting rate	2.5	2.5

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost are as follows:

(Percent)	2022	2021	2020
Discount rate - service cost	5.4	3.0	3.3
Discount rate - interest cost	5.3	1.9	2.6
Expected long-term return on plan assets	5.0	5.9	6.0

For 2022, the expected long-term return on plan assets is 5.0%. The assumptions related to the expected long-term return on plan assets are developed through an analysis of historical market returns, current market conditions and composition of plan assets.

For the year ended September 25, 2022, the most significant driver of the decrease in benefit obligation was the higher actuarial gains experienced by all plans and the annuity purchase mentioned above. The plans recognized actuarial gains due to significant increases in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates. Discount rate increases were partially offset by actual return on assets falling behind expected returns for the year. For the year ended September 26, 2021, the most significant driver of the decrease in benefit obligations for the plans was the higher actuarial gains experienced by all plans. The pension plans recognized actuarial gains due to small increases in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates and actual return on assets exceeding expected returns for the year improving the funded status of the plans.

Plan Assets

The primary objective of our investment strategy is to satisfy our pension obligations at a reasonable cost. Assets are actively invested to balance real growth of capital through appreciation, reinvestment of dividend and interest income, and safety of invested funds.

Our investment policy outlines the governance structure for decision making, sets investment objectives and restrictions and establishes criteria for selecting and evaluating investment managers. The use of derivatives is prohibited, except on a case-by-case basis where the manager has a proven capability, and only to hedge quantifiable risks such as exposure to foreign currencies. An investment committee, consisting of certain of our executives and supported by independent consultants, is responsible for monitoring compliance with the investment policy. Assets are periodically redistributed to maintain the appropriate policy allocation.

The weighted-average asset allocation of our pension assets, is as follows:

(Percent)	Policy Allocation	Actual Allocation
Asset Class	September 25 2022	September 25 2022	September 26 2021
Equity securities	25	41	50
Debt securities	65	43	34
TIPS	—	—	4
Hedge fund investments	10	15	11
Cash and cash equivalents	1	1	1

Plan assets include no Company securities. Assets include cash and cash equivalents and receivables from time to time due to the need to reallocate assets within policy guidelines. As of September 26, 2021, Buffalo News had a different policy for asset allocation than the Company's other plans. As of September 25, 2022, all Company plans asset allocation were the same.

Due to the timing of the annuity purchase (as discussed above), funds were organized in a way that provided sufficient liquidity for the transaction. This caused our pension plans asset allocation to differ significantly from our desired policy as of September 25, 2022.

Fair Value Measurements

The fair value hierarchy of pension assets at September 25, 2022 is as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	NAV	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Cash and cash equivalents	—	1,562	—	—
Domestic equity securities	2,235	67,661	—	—
International equity securities	—	5,743	4,519	—
Emerging equity securities	—	4,996	—	—
Debt securities	—	25,742	65,364	—
Hedge fund investments	32,515	—	—	—

The fair value hierarchy of pension assets at September 26, 2021 was as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	NAV	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Cash and cash equivalents	—	4,447	—	—
Domestic equity securities	7,236	78,577	42,448	—
International equity securities	—	9,485	9,505	—
Emerging equity securities	—	8,077	—	—
TIPS	—	7,280	—	—
Debt securities	—	181,908	32,781	—
Hedge fund investments	18,758	—	—	—

There were no purchases, sales or transfers of assets classified as Level 3 in 2022 or 2021. Pension assets that are excluded from the fair value hierarchy and are measured at net asset value or "NAV", include three investments:

• U.S. small cap value equity common/collective fund for which fund prices are not publicly available. The balance of this investment is $2,235,000 and $7,236,000 as of September 25, 2022 and September 26, 2021, respectively. We can redeem this fund on a monthly basis.

• Global equity long/short common/collective hedge fund-of-funds for which fund prices are established on a monthly basis. The balance of this investment is $16,663,000 and $8,371,000 as of September 25, 2022 and September 26, 2021, respectively. We can redeem up to 90% of our investment in this fund within 90-120 days of notice with the remaining distributed following completion of the audit of the Fund's financial statements for the year.

• Global equity long/short common/collective hedge fund-of-funds for which fund prices are established on a monthly basis. The balance of this investment is $15,852,000 and $10,387,000 as of September 25, 2022 and September 26, 2021, respectively. We can redeem up to 50% of our investment in this fund twice per year.

The activity within Other comprehensive income (loss) for both pension plans and postretirement plans was as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	2022	2021	2020
Comprehensive (loss) income, net of taxes:
Change in unrecognized benefit plan gain (loss) arising during the period, net of taxes $279, $19,148, and $4,095, respectively	(14,485)	59,663	10,329
Amortization of items to periodic pension and other post-employment benefit costs during the period, net of taxes $6,389, $819, and $542, respectively	(11,049)	2,574	(1,265)
Other comprehensive (loss) income recognized in operations, net of taxes	(25,534)	62,237	9,064

Cash Flows

Based on our forecast at September 25, 2022, we expect to make no contributions to our pension trust in 2023.

We anticipate future benefit payments to be paid from the pension trust as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)
2023	14,668
2024	14,830
2025	14,947
2026	15,126
2027	15,204
2028-2032	75,362

Other Plans

We are the plan sponsor for other funded and unfunded defined benefit pension plans that are not considered material. The net benefit obligation for these plans are $967,000 and $996,000 at September 25, 2022 and September 26, 2021, respectively.

POSTRETIREMENT AND POSTEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

We provide retiree medical and life insurance benefits under postretirement plans at several of our operating locations. The level and adjustment of participant contributions vary depending on the specific plan. Our liability and related expense for benefits under the postretirement plans are recorded over the service period of active employees based upon annual actuarial calculations. We accrue postemployment disability benefits when it becomes probable that such benefits will be paid and when sufficient information exists to make reasonable estimates of the amounts to be paid.

The net periodic postretirement benefit cost (benefit) components for our postretirement plans are as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	2022	2021	2020
Service cost for benefits earned during the year	108	207	500
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	340	429	869
Expected return on plan assets	(1,053)	(1,007)	(1,060)
Amortization of net actuarial gain	(994)	(685)	(743)
Amortization of prior service benefit	(647)	(647)	(647)
Curtailment gains	—	(23,830)	—
Net periodic postretirement benefit	(2,246)	(25,533)	(1,081)

Changes in benefit obligations and plan assets are as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	2022	2021
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	18,538	47,637
Service cost	108	207
Interest cost	340	429
Liability (gain) loss due to Curtailment	—	(23,830)
Actuarial loss (gain)	(4,729)	(4,285)
Benefits paid, net of premiums received	(1,958)	(1,678)
Medicare Part D subsidies	(12)	58
Benefit obligation, end of year	12,287	18,538
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	26,802	25,706
Actual return on plan assets	(2,453)	1,534
Employer contributions	1,525	1,293
Benefits paid, net of premiums and Medicare Part D subsidies received	(2,105)	(1,795)
Plan participant contributions	134	64
Fair value of plan assets at measurement date	23,903	26,802
Funded status	11,616	8,264

Disaggregated amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	September 25 2022	September 26 2021
Non-current assets	19,066	17,664
Postretirement benefit obligations	(7,450)	(9,859)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before income tax benefit)	17,327	17,747

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) before income tax benefit are as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	September 25 2022	September 26 2021
Unrecognized net actuarial gain	14,298	14,071
Unrecognized prior service benefit	3,029	3,676
	17,327	17,747

We expect to recognize $1,014,000 and $647,000 of unrecognized net actuarial gain and unrecognized prior service benefit, respectively, in net periodic postretirement benefit in 2023.

Assumptions

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine postretirement benefit obligations are as follows:

(Percent)	September 25 2022	September 26 2021
Discount rate	5.3	2.6
Expected long-term return on plan assets	5.0	4.0

The assumptions related to the expected long-term return on plan assets are developed through an analysis of historical market returns, current market conditions and composition of plan assets.

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost are as follows:

(Percent)	2022	2021	2020
Discount rate - service cost	5.5	2.5	3.4
Discount rate - interest cost	5.1	1.9	2.8
Expected long-term return on plan assets	5.0	4.0	4.5

For 2022, the expected long-term return on plan assets is 5.0%. The assumptions related to the expected long-term return on plan assets are developed through an analysis of historical market returns, current market conditions and composition of plan assets.

Assumed health care cost trend rates are as follows:

(Percent)	September 25 2022	September 26 2021
Health care cost trend rates	10.6	6.2
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the “Ultimate Trend Rate”)	4.5	4.5
Year in which the rate reaches the Ultimate Trend Rate	2032	2030

Administrative costs related to indemnity plans are assumed to increase at the health care cost trend rates noted above.

In 2021, we notified certain participants in one of our postemployment medical plans of changes to their plan, including elimination of coverage for certain participants. These changes resulted in a non-cash curtailment gain of $23,830,000 in 2021. The curtailment gain is recorded in Curtailment gain in the Consolidated

Statements of Income (loss) and Comprehensive Income (loss). These charges also reduced the postemployment benefit obligation by $23,830,000 in 2021.

For the year ended September 25, 2022, the most significant driver of the decrease in benefit obligations for the plans was the higher actuarial gains experienced by all plans. The plans recognized actuarial gains due to significant increases in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates. Discount rate increases were partially offset by actual return on assets falling behind expected returns for the year. For the year ended September 26, 2021, the most significant driver of the decrease in benefit obligations for the plans was the higher actuarial gains experienced by all plans. The plans recognized actuarial gains due to small increases in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates, actual return on assets exceeding expected returns for the year, and updated expected future claims costs.

Plan Assets

Assets of the retiree medical plan are invested in a master trust. The master trust also pays benefits of active employee medical plans for the same union employees. The fair value of master trust assets allocated to the active employee medical plans at September 25, 2022 and September 26, 2021 is $614,000 and $631,000, respectively, which are included within the tables below.

The primary objective of our investment strategy is to satisfy our postretirement obligations at a reasonable cost. Assets are actively invested to balance real growth of capital through appreciation and reinvestment of dividend and interest income and safety of invested funds.

Our investment policy outlines the governance structure for decision making, sets investment objectives and restrictions, and establishes criteria for selecting and evaluating investment managers. The use of derivatives is strictly prohibited, except on a case-by-case basis where the manager has a proven capability, and only to hedge quantifiable risks such as exposure to foreign currencies. An investment committee, consisting of certain of our executives and supported by independent consultants, is responsible for monitoring compliance with the investment policy. Assets are periodically redistributed to maintain the appropriate policy allocation.

The weighted-average asset allocation of our postretirement assets is as follows:

(Percent)	Policy Allocation	Actual Allocation
Asset Class	September 25 2022	September 25 2022	September 26 2021
Equity securities	20	17	20
Debt securities	70	71	68
Hedge fund investment	10	12	12
Cash and cash equivalents	—	—	—

Plan assets include no Company securities. Assets include cash and cash equivalents and receivables from time to time due to the need to reallocate assets within policy guidelines.

Fair Value Measurements

The fair value hierarchy of postretirement assets at September 25, 2022 is as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	NAV	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Cash and cash equivalents	—	26	—	—
Domestic equity securities	791	1,910	—	—
Emerging equity securities	—	456	—	—
International equity securities	—	573	480	—
Debt securities	—	17,248	—	—
Hedge fund investment	2,782	—	—	—

The fair value hierarchy of postretirement assets at September 26, 2021 is as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	NAV	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Cash and cash equivalents	—	25	—	—
Domestic equity securities	904	2,643	—	—
Emerging equity securities	—	603	—	—
International equity securities	—	747	660	—
Debt securities	—	18,363	—	—
Hedge fund investment	3,235	—	—	—

There were no purchases, sales or transfers of assets classified as Level 3 in 2022 or 2021. Postretirement assets that are excluded from the fair value hierarchy and are measured at net asset value or "NAV", include two investments:

• U.S. small cap value equity common/collective fund for which fund prices are not publicly available. The balance of this investment is $791,000 and $904,000 as of September 25, 2022 and September 26, 2021, respectively. We can redeem this fund on a monthly basis.

• Global equity long/short common/collective hedge fund-of-funds for which fund prices are established on a monthly basis. The balance of this investment is $2,782,000 and $3,235,000 as of September 25, 2022 and September 26, 2021, respectively. We can redeem up to 90% of our investment in this fund within 90-120 days of notice with the remaining distributed following completion of the audit of the Fund's financial statements for the year.

Cash Flows

Based on our forecast at September 25, 2022, we do not expect to contribute to our postretirement plans in 2023.

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the “Modernization Act”) introduced a prescription drug benefit under Medicare (“Medicare Part D”) and a federal subsidy to sponsors of retiree health care benefit plans (“Subsidy”) that provide a benefit at least actuarially equivalent (as that term is defined in the Modernization Act) to Medicare Part D. We concluded we qualify for the Subsidy under the Modernization Act since the prescription drug benefits provided under our postretirement health care plans generally require lower premiums from covered retirees and have lower deductibles than the benefits provided in Medicare Part D and, accordingly, are actuarially equivalent to or better than, the benefits provided under the Modernization Act.

We anticipate future benefit payments to be paid either with future contributions to the plan or directly from plan assets, as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	Gross Payments	Less Medicare Part D Subsidy	Net Payments
2023	980	—	980
2024	991	—	991
2025	985	—	985
2026	987	—	987
2027	955	—	955
2028-2032	4,563	—	4,563

Postemployment Plan

Our postemployment benefit obligation, which represents certain disability benefits, is $1,771,000 at September 25, 2022 and $2,233,000 at September 26, 2021.