Employee Benefit Plans

Defined Benefit Plan

The Company has a defined benefit pension plan which is frozen, that covers certain U.S. hourly and salary employees. The defined benefit plan provides benefits based primarily on the participants’ years of service and compensation.

The components of net periodic pension expense (income) are as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
Interest cost	$	2,289		$	2,360		$	2,112
Expected return on plan assets	(3,199		)	(3,105		)	(2,705		)
Amortization of net loss	1,429			320			1,348
Total net periodic pension expense (income)	$	519		$	(425	)	$	755

The changes in the projected benefit obligation and plan assets, the funded status of the plans and the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets are as follows:



	December 31,
	2015			2014
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	62,107		$	50,684
Interest cost	2,289			2,360
Benefits paid	(3,088		)	(1,876		)
Actuarial (gains) losses	(3,035		)	10,939
Projected benefit obligation at year end	$	58,273		$	62,107
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	45,187		$	42,965
Actual (loss) return	(1,109		)	2,160
Employer contributions	—			1,938
Benefits paid	(3,088		)	(1,876		)
Fair value of plan assets at year end	$	40,990		$	45,187
Funded status (Accrued pension liabilities)	$	(17,283	)	$	(16,920	)

Unrecognized actuarial loss recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	19,657		$	19,814

The estimated net loss for the defined benefit pension plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year is $1,537.

The actuarial assumptions used in determining pension plan information are as follows:



	December 31,
	2015		2014		2013
Assumptions used to determine benefit obligation at year end:
Discount rate	4.00	%	3.75	%	4.75	%
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost:
Discount rate	3.75	%	4.75	%	3.75	%
Expected long-term weighted-average rate of return on plan assets	7.25	%	7.25	%	7.25	%

The discount rate reflects the current rate at which the pension liabilities could be effectively settled at year end. In estimating this rate, the Company looks to rates of return on high quality, fixed-income investments that receive one of the two highest ratings given by a recognized rating agency and the expected timing of benefit payments under the plan.

The expected return assumptions were developed using an averaging formula based upon the plans’ investment guidelines, mix of asset classes, historical returns of equities and bonds, and expected future returns. The Company employs a total return investment approach whereby a mix of equities and fixed income investments are used to maximize the long-term return of plan assets for a prudent level of risk. Risk tolerance is established through careful consideration of short and long-term plan liabilities, plan funded status and corporate financial condition. The investment portfolio contains a diversified blend of equity and fixed-income investments. Furthermore, equity investments are diversified across U.S. and non-U.S. stocks, as well as growth, value, and small and large capitalizations. Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through quarterly investment portfolio reviews, annual liability measurements and periodic asset/liability studies.

The target allocations by asset category at December 31 are as follows:



Target Allocations by Asset Category:	2015	2014
Equity	60%	55%
Fixed income	30%	43%
Cash and cash equivalents	6%	2%
Other	4%	0%
Total	100%	100%

The fair values of the plan assets by asset class at December 31 are as follows:



	Fair Value
	Total				Level 2				Level 3
Plan Assets:	2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014
Equity funds	$	27,814	$	29,435	$	27,814	$	29,435	$	—	$	—
Fixed income funds	12,846		13,766		12,846		13,766		—		—
Other investments	330		1,986		—		—		330		1,986
Total	$	40,990	$	45,187	$	40,660	$	43,201	$	330	$	1,986

The plan assets are primarily invested in pooled separate funds. The fair values of equity securities and fixed income securities held in pooled separate funds are based on net asset value of the units of the funds as determined by the fund manager. These funds are similar in nature to retail mutual funds, but are typically more efficient for institutional investors. The fair value of pooled funds is determined by the value of the underlying assets held by the fund and the units outstanding. The value of the pooled funds is not directly observable, but is based on observable inputs. As such, these plan assets are valued using Level 2 inputs as defined in Note 11. Certain plan assets in the other investments asset category are invested in a general investment account where the fair value is derived from the liquidation value based on an actuarial formula as defined under terms of the investment contract. These plan assets were valued using unobservable inputs and, accordingly, the valuation was performed using Level 3 inputs as defined in Note 11.

The following table represents changes in the fair value of plan assets categorized as Level 3 from the preceding table:



Balance at January 1, 2014	$	2,161
Return on plan assets	34
Purchases, sales and settlements, net	(1,898		)
Transfers, net	1,689
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	1,986
Return on plan assets	89
Purchases, sales and settlements, net	(3,486		)
Transfers, net	1,741
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	330

The Company’s funding policy is to contribute at least the minimum funding amounts required by law. Based upon current actuarial estimates, the Company does not expect to contribute to its defined benefit pension plan until 2017. The following benefit payments are expected to be paid by the plan in each of the next five years and in the aggregate for the subsequent five years:



2016	$	2,300
2017	2,500
2018	2,700
2019	2,800
2020	2,900
In aggregate during five years thereafter	16,200

Multi-Employer Plan

The Company contributes to a multi-employer plan for certain collective bargaining U.S. employees. The risks of participating in this multi-employer plan are different from a single employer plan in the following aspects:


(a)	Assets contributed to the multi-employer by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.


(b)	If a participating employer ceases contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be inherited by the remaining participating employers.


(c)	If the Company chooses to stop participating in the multi-employer plan, the Company 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 has assessed and determined that the multi-employer plan to which it contributes is not significant to the Company's financial statements. The Company does not expect to incur a withdrawal liability or expect to significantly increase its contribution over the remainder of the current contract period which ends in February 2018. The Company made contributions to the bargaining unit supported multi-employer pension plan resulting in expense of $739, $992 and $908 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Defined Contribution Savings Plan

The Company has a defined contribution savings plan that covers most of its U.S. employees. Company contributions to the plan are based on employee contributions, and include a Company match and discretionary contributions. Expenses under the plan totaled $10,818, $10,773 and $9,814 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Voluntary Deferred Income Plan

The Company provides additional retirement plan benefits to certain members of management under the Amended and Restated Chart Industries, Inc. Voluntary Deferred Income Plan. This is an unfunded plan. The Company recorded $255, $409 and $276 of expense associated with this plan for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.