PBI » Topics » U.S. Pension Plans Investment Strategy and Asset Allocation

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

U.S. Pension Plans’ Investment Strategy and Asset Allocation

Our U.S. pension plans’ 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 8.0%. The fund has established a strategic asset allocation policy to achieve these objectives. Investments are diversified across asset classes and within each class to reduce 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.S. 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.S. equities

 

37

%

33

%

42

%

Non-U.S. equities

 

19

%

17

%

23

%

Fixed income

 

32

%

39

%

28

%

Real estate

 

5

%

7

%

6

%

Private equity

 

7

%

4

%

1

%

 

 


 


 


 

Total

 

100

%

100

%

100

%

 

 


 


 


 

71


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

The fair value of plan assets was $1.2 billion and $1.7 billion at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and the expected long-term rate of return on these plan assets was 8.50% in 2008 and 2007.

This excerpt taken from the PBI 10-K filed Feb 29, 2008.

U.S. Pension Plans’ Investment Strategy and Asset Allocation

Our U.S. pension plans’ 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 8.50%. 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 plan’s 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 2008 and the asset allocation for the U.S. pension plan at December 31, 2007 and 2006, by asset category, are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Target Allocation

 

Percentage of Plan Assets at December 31,

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 


 

Asset category

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. equities

 

 

40

%

 

42

%

 

49

%

Non-U.S. equities

 

 

20

%

 

23

%

 

23

%

Fixed income

 

 

30

%

 

28

%

 

23

%

Real estate

 

 

5

%

 

6

%

 

5

%

Private equity

 

 

5

%

 

1

%

 

 

 

 



 



 



 

Total

 

 

100

%

 

100

%

 

100

%

 

 



 



 



 

The fair value of plan assets was $1.7 billion at December 31, 2007 and 2006 and the expected long-term rate of return on these plan assets was 8.50% in 2007 and 2006.

68


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

U.S. Pension Plans’ Investment Strategy and Asset Allocation

Our U.S. pension plans’ 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 8.50%. 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 plan’s 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 2007 and the asset allocation for the U.S. 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.S. equities   45 %   49 %    48 %  
Non-U.S. equities   20 %   23 %    22 % 
Fixed income   30 %   23 %   25 % 
Real estate    5 %   5 %   5 % 
Total   100 %   100 %   100 % 

The fair value of plan assets was $1.7 billion and $1.5 billion at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and the expected long-term rate of return on these plan assets was 8.50% in 2006 and 2005.

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