XML 26 R9.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Pension Plan
6 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Pension Plan
Note 6 – Pension Plan
 
Syms sponsored a defined benefit pension plan for certain eligible employees not covered under a collective bargaining agreement. The pension plan was frozen effective December 31, 2006. As of August 31, 2013 and March 2, 2013, the Company had a recorded liability of $5.5 million within accrued expenses which represents the estimated cost to the Company of terminating the plan in a standard termination, which would require the Company to make additional contributions to the plan so that the assets of the plan are sufficient to satisfy all benefit liabilities.
  
The Company had contemplated other courses of action, including a distress termination, whereby the PBGC would take over the plan. On February 27, 2012, Syms notified the PBGC and other affected parties of its consideration to terminate the plan in a distress termination. However, the estimated total cost associated with a distress termination was approximately $15 million. As a result of the cost savings associated with the standard termination approach, Syms elected not to terminate the plan in a distress termination and formally notified the PBGC of this decision. Although the Company has accrued the liability associated with a standard termination, it has not taken any steps to commence such a termination and has made no commitment to do so by a certain date.
 
Certain employees covered by collective bargaining agreements participate in multiemployer pension plans. Syms ceased to have an obligation to contribute to these plans in 2012, thereby triggering a complete withdrawal from the plans within the meaning of section 4203 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Consequently, the Company is subject to the payment of a withdrawal liability to these pension funds. The Company had a recorded liability of $5.7 million and $6.1 million which is reflected in accrued expenses as of August 31, 2013 and March 2, 2013, respectively.
 
In accordance with minimum funding requirements, the Company paid approximately $0.8 million to the Syms sponsored plan and approximately $1.2 million to the multiemployer plans from September 17, 2012 through August 31, 2013.