Ingersoll-Rand makes $101 million pension contribution in 2017, lines up $75 million this year

Ingersoll-Rand PLC, Davidson, N.C., contributed $101 million to its worldwide pension plans in 2017, according to the company's 10-K filing Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

That contribution is compared to the $56 million added in 2016 and $35 million in 2015, according to the filing. In 2018, Ingersoll-Rand plans to contribute $75 million.

The plans had a combined $3.06 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, up from $2.8 billion 12 months earlier, according to the filing. Their combined funded status as of Dec. 31 was 81.8%, up from 79.2% at the end of 2016.

The U.S. plan had an assumed rate of return of 5.5% in 2017, vs. 5.75% the previous year, while the non-U.S. plan's rate of return assumption was 3.25% last year and 3.75% the previous year.

The U.S. plan's discount rate for 2017 was 3.54%, and 2.29% for its non-U.S. plans, vs. 3.97% and 2.4%, respectively, in 2016.

The plans' asset allocation as of Dec. 31 was 72% fixed income, 25% equities and the remainder in cash, real estate and other investments. At the end of 2016, the plans had 71% in fixed income; 26% in equities and 3% in cash, real estate and other investments.