Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Employee Benefit Plans

v3.8.0.1
Employee Benefit Plans
12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2018
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee Benefit Plans

13.

Employee Benefit Plans

We sponsor a 401(k) retirement savings plan (the “Plan”) that covers substantially all domestic employees of SeaChange. The Plan allows employees to contribute gross salary through payroll deductions up to the legally mandated limit. Participation in the Plan is available to full-time employees who meet eligibility requirements. We also contribute to various retirement plans for our employees outside the United States according to the local plans specific to each foreign location. Amounts contributed will vary. During fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, we contributed $1.1 million, $1.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

Prior to November 30, 2017, we had a statutory pension benefit obligation covering current employees in the Philippines. On November 30, 2017, as part of the Restructuring Plan, we decided to close our facility in the Philippines. Therefore, a complete reduction in workforce of the remaining employees working at that facility occurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. As a result, there was no pension benefit obligation balance as of January 31, 2018 as no pay-outs to terminated employees were required under the Restructuring Plan or by Philippines law. The components of the change in this pension benefit obligation as of January 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

 

 

 

January 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

Projected benefit obligation, beginning of fiscal year

 

$

530

 

 

$

1,063

 

Service cost

 

 

 

 

 

238

 

Interest cost

 

 

 

 

 

54

 

Actuarial gain

 

 

 

 

 

(801

)

Foreign currency exchange rate changes

 

 

 

 

 

(24

)

Termination of the Plan

 

 

(530

)

 

 

 

Projected benefit obligation, end of fiscal year

 

$

 

 

$

530

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funded status at end of fiscal year (1)

 

$

 

 

$

530

 

 

 

(1)

These unfunded amounts are included in other liabilities, long-term on our consolidated balance sheets for the periods presented.

The following sets forth the components of our net periodic benefit cost under the pension plan:

 

 

 

January 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

Service cost

 

$

 

 

$

238

 

 

$

288

 

Interest cost

 

 

 

 

 

54

 

 

 

51

 

Actuarial gain

 

 

 

 

 

(801

)

 

 

(435

)

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

 

 

$

(509

)

 

$

(96

)

Key weighted average assumptions used in the accounting for the pension plan to determine the benefit obligation and net benefit cost were as follows:

 

 

 

January 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Discount rate

 

N/A

 

 

5.72

%

Compensation increase rate

 

N/A

 

 

5.00

%