Retirement Plan - The Company sponsors a defined benefit pension plan (the “Retirement Plan”) that is noncontributory, and covers only “grandfathered” unionized employees at its Pekin, Illinois, facility. The Company assumed the Retirement Plan as part of its acquisition of PE Central on July 1, 2015. Benefits are based on a prescribed formula based upon the employee’s years of service. Employees hired after November 1, 2010, are not eligible to participate in the Retirement Plan. The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for its Retirement Plan. The Company’s funding policy is to make the minimum annual contribution required by applicable regulations.

Information related to the Retirement Plan as of and for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 is presented below (dollars in thousands): 

The Company expects to make contributions in the year ending December 31, 2019 of approximately $0.6 million. Net periodic benefit cost for 2019 is estimated at approximately $0.4 million.

The following table summarizes the expected benefit payments for the Company’s Retirement Plan for each of the next five fiscal years and in the aggregate for the five fiscal years thereafter (in thousands):

See Note 15 for discussion of the Retirement Plan’s fair value disclosures.

Historical and future expected returns of multiple asset classes were analyzed to develop a risk-free real rate of return and risk premiums for each asset class. The overall rate for each asset class was developed by combining a long-term inflation component, the risk-free real rate of return, and the associated risk premium. A weighted average rate was developed based on those overall rates and the target asset allocation of the plan.

The Company’s pension committee is responsible for overseeing the investment of pension plan assets. The pension committee is responsible for determining and monitoring the appropriate asset allocations and for selecting or replacing investment managers, trustees, and custodians. The pension plan’s current investment target allocations are 50% equities and 50% debt. The pension committee reviews the actual asset allocation in light of these targets periodically and rebalances investments as necessary. The pension committee also evaluates the performance of investment managers as compared to the performance of specified benchmarks and peers and monitors the investment managers to ensure adherence to their stated investment style and to the plan’s investment guidelines.

Postretirement Plan - The Company also sponsors a health care plan and life insurance plan (the “Postretirement Plan”) that provides postretirement medical benefits and life insurance to certain “grandfathered” unionized employees. The Company assumed the Postretirement Plan as part of its acquisition of PE Central on July 1, 2015. Employees hired after December 31, 2000, are not eligible to participate in the Postretirement Plan. The plan is contributory, with contributions required at the same rate as active employees. Benefit eligibility under the plan reduces at age 65 from a defined benefit to a defined dollar cap based upon years of service.

Information related to the Postretirement Plan as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 is presented below (dollars in thousands):

Information related to the Postretirement Plan for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 is presented below (dollars in thousands): 

The Company does not expect to recognize any amortization of net actuarial loss during the year ended December 31, 2019.

The following table summarizes the expected benefit payments for the Company’s Post-Retirement Plan for each of the next five fiscal years and in the aggregate for the five fiscal years thereafter (in thousands):

For purposes of determining the cost and obligation for pre-Medicare postretirement medical benefits, 6.75% and 7.00% annual rates of increases in the per capita cost of covered benefits (i.e., health care trend rate) was assumed for the plan in 2018 and 2017, respectively, adjusting to a rate of 4.50% in 2026. Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for health care plans.