Pension Plans

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Note 7 – Pension Plans

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Our predecessor, 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 both June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had a recorded liability of $2.8 million, which is included in pension liabilities on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. This liability represents the estimated cost to us of terminating the plan in a standard termination, which would require us to make additional contributions to the plan so that the assets of the plan are sufficient to satisfy all benefit liabilities.

We had contemplated other courses of action, including a distress termination, whereby the Pension Benefits Guaranty Corporation (“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. We will maintain the Syms pension plan and make all contributions required under applicable minimum funding rules; provided, however, that we may terminate the Syms pension plan at any time. In the event that we terminate the Syms pension plan, we intend that any such termination shall be a standard termination. Although we have accrued the liability associated with a standard termination, we have not taken any steps to commence such a termination and have made no commitment to do so by a certain date. In accordance with minimum funding requirements and court ordered allowed claims distributions, we paid approximately $4.5 million to the Syms sponsored plan from September 17, 2012 through June 30, 2019. No amounts were funded to the Syms sponsored plan during either of the three or six months ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018. Historically, we have funded this plan in the third quarter of the calendar year.

Multiemployer Pension Plans

Certain employees covered by collective bargaining agreements participated 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, we are subject to the payment of a withdrawal liability to one of these pension funds. We have a liability of approximately $515,000 and $922,000 which is included in pension liabilities on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, related to this plan. We are required to make quarterly distributions in the amount of approximately $203,000 until this liability is completely paid to the multiemployer plan by the end of the first quarter of 2020. In accordance with minimum funding requirements and court ordered allowed claims distributions, we paid approximately $6.4 million to the multiemployer plans from September 17, 2012 through June 30, 2019, of which $406,000 was funded to the multiemployer plan during each of the six month periods ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018.