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Approximately 130 employees participate in one of two defined benefit plans:
-- Powell Plan - Consists of personnel of Powell Equipment (acquired by Toromont in 2001); and-- Other plan assets and obligations - Provides for certain retirees and terminated vested employees of businesses previously acquired by the Company as well as for retired participants of the defined contribution plan who, in accordance with the plan provisions, have elected to receive a pension directly from the plan.
The Company also has a defined benefit pension arrangement for certain senior executives that provides for a supplementary retirement payout in excess of amounts provided for under the registered plan. This Executive Plan is a non-contributory pension arrangement and is solely the obligation of the Company. The Company is not obligated to fund this plan but is obligated to pay benefits under the terms of the plan as they come due. The Company has posted letters of credit to secure the obligations under this plan, which were $20.2 million as at December 31, 2012. As there are only nominal plan assets, the impact of volatility in financial markets on pension expense and contributions for this plan are insignificant.
Financial markets continued to be volatile in 2012. The return on plan assets was $4.3 million or 8%, improved from $1.7 million or 3% in 2011, and comparing favourably to the expected long-term average return of 7%. The present value of pension obligations increased $4,360 in 2012, partly due to a decline in long-term interest rates. As a result, the funded status of the plans declined slightly from a deficit of $26.2 million at December 31, 2011 to a deficit of $26.8 million at December 31, 2012. These deficits included $19.6 million and $20.3 million respectively relating to the Executive Plan, which as described above is essentially an unfunded arrangement. The Company expects pension expense and cash pension contributions for 2013 to be similar to 2012 levels.
The Company estimates a long-term return on plan assets of 7%. While there is no assurance that the plan will be able to generate this assumed rate of return each year, management believes that it is a reasonable longer-term estimate.
A key assumption in pension accounting is the discount rate. This rate is set with regard to the yield on high-quality corporate bonds of similar average duration to the cash flow liabilities of the Plans. Yields are volatile and can deviate significantly from period to period.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future effect on its results of operations or financial condition.
Legal and Other Contingencies
Due to the size, complexity and nature of the Company's operations, various legal matters are pending. Exposure to these claims is mitigated through levels of insurance coverage considered appropriate by management and by active management of these matters. In the opinion of management, none of these matters will have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Normal Course Issuer Bid
Toromont believes that, from time to time, the purchase of its common shares at prevailing market prices may be a worthwhile investment and in the best interests of both Toromont and its shareholders. As such, the normal course issuer bid with the TSX was renewed in 2012. This issuer bid allows the Company to purchase up to approximately 6.4 million of its common shares, representing 10% of common shares in the public float, in the year ending August 30, 2013. The actual number of shares purchased and the timing of any such purchases will be determined by Toromont. All shares purchased under the bid will be cancelled.
