Exide Technologies (XIDE)

Employee Benefit Plans

Description

The Company has noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all hourly and salaried employees in North America. Plans covering hourly employees provide pension benefits of stated amounts for each year of credited service. Salaried employees in North America are covered by a cash balance plan providing benefits as a percentage of salary up to qualified limits.

European subsidiaries of the Company sponsor defined benefit plans that cover substantially all employees who are not covered by statutory plans. In most cases the defined benefit plans in Europe are not funded and the benefit formulas are similar to those used by the North American hourly plans.

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The Company provides certain health care and life insurance benefits for a limited number of retired employees.

Assets funded under both the North American and European defined benefit plans consist primarily of equity and fixed income securities. At March 31, 2005, the fair market value of assets for the Company’s defined benefit plans was $295,298, compared to $283,967 at March 31, 2004.

Accounting and Significant Assumptions

The Company accounts for pension benefits using the accrual method set forth in SFAS 87, “Employers Accounting for Pensions”. The accrual method of accounting for pensions involves the use of actuarial assumptions concerning future events that impact estimates of the amount and timing of benefit obligations and future benefit payments.

The Company’s adoption of Fresh Start reporting in accordance with SOP 90-7 upon emergence from bankruptcy on the Effective Date had a significant impact on the Company’s net amount recognized for pension benefits. All previously unrecognized net actuarial losses, transition obligation and prior service cost were recognized as of the Effective Date.

Significant assumptions used in calculating the Company’s pension benefit obligations and related expense are the discount rate, rate of compensation increase and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. The Company establishes these underlying assumptions in consultation with its actuaries. Depending on the assumptions used, pension obligations and related expense could vary within a range of outcomes and have a material effect on reported results, benefit obligations and cash funding requirements.

The discount rates used by the Company for determining benefit obligations are generally based on high quality corporate bonds. The assumed rates of compensation increases reflect estimates of the projected change in compensation levels based on future expectations, general price levels, productivity and historical experience, among other factors. In evaluating the expected long term rate of return on plan assets, the Company considers the allocation of assets and the expected return on various asset classes in the context of the long-term nature of pension obligations.

A one-percentage point change in the weighted average expected return on plan assets would change net periodic benefit cost by approximately $2,900 in fiscal 2005. A one-percentage point change in the weighted average discount rate would change net periodic benefit cost by approximately $6,300 in fiscal 2005.

At March 31, 2005, the Company has lowered the discount rates used to value its pension benefit obligations to reflect the decline in yields on high quality corporate bonds. As of March 31, 2005, the Company lowered the rate of compensation increase to reflect current inflationary expectations and lowered the expected long term return on plan assets in light of market conditions and recent equity market performance. The aggregate effect of these changes increased the present value of future benefit obligations as of March 31, 2005 and had the effect of increasing pension expense in fiscal 2005. The adoption of Fresh Start reporting resulted in the recognition of all previously unrecognized actuarial losses at the Effective Date and reduced the net periodic benefit cost from amortization of actuarial losses. Pension expense for its defined benefit pension plans was $24,630 in fiscal 2005 compared to $34,650 in fiscal 2004, reflecting the impact of these changes.

As of March 31, 2005, unrecognized actuarial losses for the Company’s defined benefit plans were $24,290, compared to $184,779 at March 31, 2004. As described above, all previously unrecognized actuarial losses were recognized on adoption of Fresh Start reporting. The unrecognized actuarial losses at March 31, 2005 principally reflect the reduction in discount rates since the Effective Date. SFAS 87 provides for delayed recognition of such actuarial losses, whereby these losses, to the extent they exceed 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the market related value of plan assets are amortized as a component of pension expense over a period that approximates the average remaining service period of active employees (for the Company a period of approximately 10 years), unless and to the extent they are not offset by actuarial gains in future years.

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Minimum Pension Obligations

To the extent that the fair market value of pension plan assets of an individual plan is less than the accumulated benefit obligation for such plan, SFAS 87 may require recognition of an additional minimum pension liability, and in such circumstances a reduction in stockholders’ equity or establishment of an intangible asset. The Company has recognized additional minimum pension liabilities of $25,909 and $156,714 as of March 31, 2005 and March 31, 2004, respectively, resulting in charges in accumulated other comprehensive loss included in stockholders’ equity (deficit) and as of March 31, 2004, establishment of intangible assets. As of the Effective Date, there was no additional minimum pension liability as the Company recognized all previously unrecognized actuarial losses, in accordance with Fresh Start reporting requirements.

Plan Funding Requirements

Cash contributions to the Company’s pension plans are generally made in accordance with minimum regulatory requirements. Because of the downturn experienced in global equity markets and ongoing benefit payments, the Company’s North American plans are currently significantly under-funded. Based on current assumptions and regulatory requirements, the Company’s minimum future cash contribution requirements for its North American plans are expected to increase significantly in future fiscal years. On November 17, 2004, the Company received written notification of a tentative determination from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) granting a temporary waiver of its minimum funding requirements for its North American plans for calendar years 2003 and 2004, amounting to approximately $50,000, net, under Section 412(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, subject to providing a lien satisfactory to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”). In accordance with the senior credit facility and upon the agreement of the administrative agent, on June 10, 2005, the Company reached agreement with the PBGC on a second priority lien on domestic personal property, including stock of its U.S. and direct foreign subsidiaries to secure the unfunded liability. The temporary waiver provides for deferral of the Company’s minimum contributions for those years to be paid over a subsequent five-year period through 2010.

Based upon the temporary waiver, the Company expects its minimum future cash contributions to its U.S. pension plans will total approximately $180,000 to $200,000 from fiscal 2006 to fiscal 2010, including $32,500 in fiscal 2006.

Employee Benefit Plans

Description

The Company has noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all hourly and salaried employees in North America. Plans covering hourly employees provide pension benefits of stated amounts for each year of credited service. Salaried employees in North America are covered by a cash balance plan providing benefits as a percentage of salary up to qualified limits.

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European subsidiaries of the Company sponsor defined benefit plans that cover substantially all employees who are not covered by statutory plans. In most cases the defined benefit plans in Europe are not funded and the benefit formulas are similar to those used by the North American hourly plans.

The Company provides certain health care and life insurance benefits for a limited number of retired employees.

Assets funded under both the North American and European defined benefit plans consist primarily of equity and fixed income securities. At March 31, 2004, the fair market value of assets for the Company’s defined benefit plans was $283,967, compared to $236,157 at March 31, 2003.

Accounting and Significant Assumptions

The Company accounts for pension benefits using the accrual method set forth in SFAS 87, “Employers Accounting for Pensions”. The accrual method of accounting for pensions involves the use of actuarial assumptions concerning future events that impact estimates of the amount and timing of benefit obligations and future benefit payments.

The significant assumptions used in calculating the Company’s pension benefit obligations and related expense are the discount rate, rate of compensation increase and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. The Company establishes these underlying assumptions in consultation with its actuaries. Depending on the assumptions used, pension obligations and related expense could vary within a range of outcomes and have a material effect on reported results, benefit obligations and cash funding requirements.

The discount rates used by the Company for determining benefit obligations are generally based on high quality corporate bonds. The assumed rate of compensation increase reflects an estimate of the projected change in compensation levels based on future expectations, general price levels, productivity and historical experience, among other factors. In evaluating the expected long term rate of return on plan assets, the Company considers the allocation of assets and the expected return on various asset classes in the context of the long-term nature of pension obligations.

A one-percentage point change in the weighted average expected return on plan assets would change net periodic benefit cost by approximately $2,400 in fiscal 2004. A one-percentage point change in the weighted average discount rate would change net periodic benefit cost by approximately $6,000 in fiscal 2004.

At March 31, 2004 and March 31, 2003, the Company has lowered the discount rates used to value its pension benefit obligations to reflect the decline in yields on high quality corporate bonds. As of March 31, 2003, the Company lowered the rate of compensation increase to reflect current inflationary expectations and lowered the expected long term return on plan assets in light of market conditions and recent equity market performance. The aggregate effect of these changes increased the present value of future benefit obligations as of March 31, 2004 and had the effect of increasing pension expense in fiscal 2004. Pension expense for its defined benefit pension plans was $34,650 in fiscal 2004 compared to $23,917 in fiscal 2003, reflecting the impact of these changes, as well as amortization of previously unrecognized actuarial losses described below.

As of March 31, 2004, unrecognized actuarial losses for the Company’s defined benefit plans were $184,779, compared to $164,457 at March 31, 2003. The unrecognized actuarial losses principally reflect declines in the fair market value of plan assets, actual asset return experience falling short of actuarial assumptions and the reduction in discount rates since fiscal 2002. SFAS 87 provides for delayed recognition of such actuarial losses, whereby these losses, to the extent they exceed 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the market related value of plan assets are amortized as a component of pension expense over a period that approximates the average remaining service period of active employees (for the Company a period of approximately 10 years), unless and to the extent they are not offset by actuarial gains in future years. The amortization of actuarial losses increased pension expense by approximately $5,800 in fiscal 2004 from 2003.

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Minimum Pension Obligations

To the extent that the fair market value of pension plan assets of an individual plan is less than the accumulated benefit obligation for such plan, SFAS 87 may require recognition of an additional minimum pension liability, and in such circumstances a reduction in stockholders’ equity or establishment of an intangible asset. The Company has recognized additional minimum pension liabilities of $156,714 and $139,051 as of March 31, 2004 and March 31, 2003, respectively, resulting in charges in accumulated other comprehensive loss included in stockholders’ equity (deficit) and establishment of intangible assets.

Plan Funding Requirements

Cash contributions to the Company’s plans are generally made in accordance with minimum regulatory requirements. Because of the downturn experienced in global equity markets and ongoing benefit payments, the Company’s North American plans are currently significantly under-funded. Based on current assumptions and regulatory requirements, the Company’s minimum future cash contribution requirements for its North American plans are expected to increase significantly in future fiscal years, and unless provided regulatory or other relief available under IRS regulations, are expected to approximate $140,000 during the next four years.

The Company has applied for the temporary waiver of its minimum funding requirements for its North American plans for calendar years 2003 and 2004 under Section 412(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. If granted, the waiver would provide for deferral of the Company’s minimum contributions for those years to be paid over a subsequent five-year period. There can be no assurances that the Company’s waiver application will be granted. If the waiver is not granted, the Company’s liquidity would be adversely impacted.