PBI » Topics » Foreign Pension Plans Investment Strategy

This excerpt taken from the PBI 10-K filed Feb 26, 2009.

Foreign Pension Plans’ Investment Strategy

Our foreign pension plan assets are managed by outside investment managers and monitored regularly by local trustees, in conjunction with our corporate personnel. The investment strategies adopted by our foreign plans vary by country and plan, with each strategy tailored to achieve the expected rate of return within an acceptable or appropriate level of risk, depending upon the liability profile of plan participants, local funding requirements, investment markets and restrictions. Our largest foreign pension plan is the U.K. plan, which represents 75% of the non-U.S. pension assets. The U.K. pension plan’s investment strategy supports the objectives of the fund, which are to maximize returns within reasonable and prudent levels of risk, to achieve and maintain full funding of the accumulated benefit obligations and the actuarial liabilities, and to earn a nominal rate of return of at least 7.25%. The fund has established a strategic asset allocation policy to achieve these objectives. Investments are diversified across asset classes and within each class to minimize the risk of large losses and are periodically rebalanced. Derivatives, such as swaps, options, forwards and futures contracts may be used for market exposure, to alter risk/return characteristics and to manage foreign currency exposure. The pension plans’ liabilities, investment objectives and investment managers are reviewed periodically.

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on historical and projected rates of return for current and planned asset classes in the plans’ investment portfolio after analyzing historical experience and future expectations of the returns and volatility of the various asset classes. The overall expected rate of return for the portfolio was determined based on the target asset allocations for each asset class, adjusted for historical and expected experience of active portfolio management results, when compared to the benchmark returns.

The target allocation for 2009 and the asset allocation for the U.K. pension plan at December 31, 2008 and 2007, by asset category, are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Target
Allocation

 

Percentage of Plan Assets at December 31,

 

 

 


 


 

Asset category

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 


 


 


 

U.K. equities

 

30

%

34

%

29

%

Non-U.K. equities

 

35

%

29

%

43

%

Fixed income

 

35

%

33

%

25

%

Cash

 

%

4

%

3

%

 

 


 


 


 

Total

 

100

%

100

%

100

%

 

 


 


 


 

The fair value of plan assets was $234 million and $403 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and the expected long-term rate of return on these plan assets was 7.25% and 7.75% in 2008 and 2007, respectively.

This excerpt taken from the PBI 10-K filed Mar 1, 2007.

Foreign Pension Plans’ Investment Strategy

Our foreign pension plan assets are managed by outside investment managers and monitored regularly by local trustees, in conjunction with our corporate personnel. The investment strategies adopted by our foreign plans vary by country and plan, with each strategy tailored to achieve the expected rate of return within an acceptable or appropriate level of risk, depending upon the liability profile of plan participants, local funding requirements, investment markets and restrictions. Our largest foreign pension plan is the U.K. plan, which represents 76% of the non-U.S. pension assets. The U.K. pension plan’s investment strategy supports the objectives of the fund, which are to maximize returns within reasonable and prudent levels of risk, to achieve and maintain full funding of the accumulated benefit obligations and the actuarial liabilities, and to earn a nominal rate of return of at least 7.75%. The fund has established a strategic asset allocation policy to achieve these objectives. Investments are diversified across asset classes and within each class to minimize the risk of large losses and are periodically rebalanced. Derivatives, such as swaps, options, forwards and futures contracts may be used for market exposure, to alter risk/return characteristics and to manage foreign currency exposure. The pension plans’ liabilities, investment objectives and investment managers are reviewed periodically.

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on historical and projected rates of return for current and planned asset classes in the plans’ investment portfolio after analyzing historical experience and future expectations of the returns and volatility of the various asset classes. The overall expected rate of return for the portfolio was determined based on the target asset allocations for each asset class, adjusted for historical and expected experience of active portfolio management results, when compared to the benchmark returns.

70


PITNEY BOWES INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular dollars in thousands, except per share data)

The target allocation for 2007 and the asset allocation for the U.K. pension plan at December 31, 2006 and 2005, by asset category, are as follows:

   Target  Percentage of Plan Assets at
   Allocation    December 31,
Asset category   2007              2006             2005     
U.K. equities   35 %   36 %    33 %  
Non-U.K. equities   35 %   36 %    35 % 
Fixed income   30 %   26 %   24 % 
Cash    -    2 %     8 % 
Total   100 %   100 %   100 % 

The fair value of plan assets was $364 million and $314 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and the expected long-term rate of return on these plan assets was 8.0% in 2006 and 2005.

EXCERPTS ON THIS PAGE:

10-K
Feb 26, 2009
10-K
Mar 1, 2007
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