LensCrafters 2011 Annual Report Download - page 238

ANNUAL REPORT 2011> 162 |
Defined benefit plan data for the current and previous four annual periods are as follows:
(thousands of Euro) 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007
Pension Plans:
Defined benefit obligation 483,738 409,316 334,015 313,520 272,611
Fair value of plan assets 355,563 314,501 238,168 184,379 224,533
Plan surplus/(deficit) 128,175 94,815 95,847 129,141 48,078
Plan liabilities experience gain/(loss) (1,287) 1,744 (1,761) (4,379) (5,212)
Plan assets experience gain/(loss) (28,762) 14,462 23,790 (73,341) (2,619)
SERPs:
Defined benefit obligation 12,344 11,340 11,299 12,015 10,361
Fair value of plan assets –––––
Plan surplus/(deficit) (12,344) (11,340) (11,299) (12,015) (10,361)
Plan liabilities experience gain/(loss) (608) 421 1,228 (927) 2,039
Plan assets experience gain/(loss) –––––
The Group’s discount rate is developed using a third-party yield curve derived from
non-callable bonds of at least an Aa rating by Moody’s Investor Services or at least an
AA rating by Standard & Poor’s. Each bond issue is required to have at least US$ 250
million par outstanding. The yield curve compares the future expected benefit payments
of the Lux Pension Plan to these bond yields to determine an equivalent discount rate.
The Group uses an assumption for salary increases based on a graduated approach of
historical experience. The Group’s experience shows salary increases that typically vary
by age.
In developing the long-term rate of return assumption, the Group considers its asset
allocation. The Group analyzed historical rates of return being earned for each asset
category over various periods of time. Additionally, the Group considered input from
its third-party pension asset managers, investment consultants and plan actuaries,
including their review of asset class return expectations and long-term inflation
assumptions.
Plan Assets – The Lux Pension Plan’s investment policy is to invest plan assets in a manner
to ensure over a long-term investment horizon that the plan is adequately funded;
maximize investment return within reasonable and prudent levels of risk; and maintain
sufficient liquidity to make timely benefit and administrative expense payments. This
investment policy was developed to provide the framework within which the fiduciary’s
investment decisions are made, establish standards to measure the investment manager’s
and investment consultant’s performance, outline the roles and responsibilities of the
various parties involved, and describe the ongoing review process. The investment
policy identifies target asset allocations for the plan’s assets at 40 percent Large Cap US
Equity, 10 percent Small Cap US Equity, 15 percent International Equity, and 35 percent
Fixed Income Securities, but an allowance is provided for a range of allocations to these
categories as described in the table below.