Bridgford Foods Corp | Investor Service

2003 Annual Report

The benefit obligation is determined using assumptions as of the end of each fiscal year. Weighted average assumptions as of the fiscal years ended are as follows:

 

 

 

2005

2004

 

Discount rate

 

6.00 %

5.75 %

 

Rate of increase in salary levels

 

3.75 %

3.75 %

Adverse investment results have been experienced in recent years. In addition, the discount rate used to value the projected benefit obligation was raised to 6.00% compared to 5.75% in the prior fiscal year. These factors resulted in an additional minimum liability that has been recorded as a reduction of shareholders’ equity in the accompanying balance sheet.

Plan assets are primarily invested in marketable equity securities, corporate and government debt securities and are administered by an investment management company. The plans’ long-term return on assets is based on the weighted-average of the plans’ investment allocation as of the measurement date and the published historical returns for those types of asset categories, taking into consideration inflation rate forecasts. The compensation increase assumption is based upon historical patterns of salary increases and management’s expectation of future salary increases for plan participants. The expected Company contribution to the plan in fiscal year 2006 is $1,800.

The actual allocations as of the fiscal years ended and target allocation for plan assets are as follows:

 

Asset Class

 

2005

2004

Target Asset
Allocation

 

Mid Cap Equities

 

0.0%

0.0%

5.0%

 

Small Cap Equities

 

0.0%

0.0%

5.0%

 

Fixed Income

 

29.8%

29.9%

35.0%

 

Cash

 

4.2%

6.3%

0.0%

 

Total

 

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

 

Expected payments for the pension benefits are as follows:

 

 

 

Pension
Benefits

Other
Postretirement
Benefits

 

Fiscal 2006

 

$ 917

$ 507

 

Fiscal 2007

 

$ 962

$ 506

 

Fiscal 2008

 

$ 1,108

$ 506

 

Fiscal 2009

 

$ 1,190

$ 506

 

Fiscal 2010

 

$ 1,279

$ 506

 

Fiscal 2011-2015

 

$ 9,048

$ 4,745

Net amounts recognized as of the end of each fiscal year are as follows:

 

 

 

2005

2004

 

Accrued benefit cost

 

$ (9,784 )

$ (9,337 )

 

Intangible asset

 

96

118

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

3,361

4,390

 

 

 

$ (6,327 )

$ (4,829 )

In fiscal year 1991, the Company adopted a non-qualified supplemental retirement plan for certain key employees. Benefits provided under the plan are equal to 60% of the employee’s final average earnings, less amounts provided by the Company’s defined benefit pension plan and amounts available through Social Security. Effective January 1, 1991 the Company adopted a deferred compensation savings plan for certain key employees. Under this arrangement, selected employees contribute a portion of their annual compensation to the plan. The Company contributes an amount to each participant’s account by computing an investment return equal to Moody’s Average Seasoned Bond Rate plus 2%.