LLL L3 Technologies, Inc.

Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 11-K

 

 

(Mark one)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014

OR

 

		¨		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 001-14141

 

 

L-3 COMMUNICATIONS

MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

(Full title of the plan and the address of the plan,

if different from that of the issuer named below)

L-3 COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.

600 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10016

(Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and

the address of its principal executive office)

 

 

 

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L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

Index to Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule

 

		Pages
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm			2
Financial Statements:
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2014 and 2013			3
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the year ended December 31, 2014			4
Notes to Financial Statements			5-13
Supplemental Schedule:
Schedule H, line 4i* – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)			14

Exhibit 23.1 – Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

*	Refers to item number in Form 5500 (“Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan”) filed with the Department of Labor for the plan year ended December 31, 2014.

Other schedules required by 29 CFR 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted as the conditions under which they are required are not present.

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Plan Administrator of

the L-3 Communications Master Savings Plan:

In our opinion, the accompanying Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits and the related Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the L-3 Communications Master Savings Plan (the “Plan”) at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2014 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The supplemental Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial statements. The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental schedule reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental schedule. In forming our opinion on the supplemental schedule, we evaluated whether the supplemental schedule, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

June 25, 2015

 

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L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013

(in thousands)

 

		2014				2013
Assets:
Investment in Master Trust, at fair value		$	4,556,353			$	4,197,649
Receivables:
Employer contribution			14,246				16,248
Participant contributions			12,932				13,990
Notes receivable from participants			92,797				86,518
Total receivables			119,975				116,756
Total assets			4,676,328				4,314,405
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts			(7,930	)			(7,890	)
Net assets available for benefits		$	4,668,398			$	4,306,515

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

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L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014

(in thousands)

 

Additions:
Contributions:
Employer		$	130,044
Participant			242,352
Rollover			21,055
Total contributions			393,451
Interest income on notes receivable from participants			3,602
Plan interest in the Master Trust net investment gain			383,200
Total additions			780,253
Deductions:
Benefit payments			(435,303	)
Administrative expenses			(925	)
Total deductions			(436,228	)
Net increase prior to net transfers in from other plans			344,025
Net transfers in from other plans (Note 1)			17,858
Net increase			361,883
Net assets available for benefits, beginning of year			4,306,515
Net assets available for benefits, end of year		$	4,668,398

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

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L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Plan Description

General

The following description of the L-3 Communications Master Savings Plan (the “Plan”) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions and the respective appendices to the Plan document for business unit specific provisions.

The Plan is a defined contribution 401(k) plan and is administered by the Benefit Plan Committee (“Plan Administrator”) appointed by L-3 Communications Corporation (the “Company”). The Plan is designed to provide eligible employees with tax advantaged long-term savings for retirement. The Plan covers employees of multiple business units (including the corporate office) of the Company and is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), as amended. Participants may direct their investment to a combination of different funds, which are held in the L-3 Communications Master Savings Plan Trust (the “Master Trust”), managed by Fidelity Management Trust Company (“FMTC”), as Trustee.

Effective August 6, 2013, the L-3 Stock Fund converted to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”). The ESOP is designed to be a component of the Plan and not a separate, stand-alone plan. The conversion of the L-3 Stock Fund to an ESOP allows participants to choose whether future dividends payable to the L-3 Stock Fund are paid directly to the participant in cash or reinvested in the L-3 Stock Fund. Dividends paid to the participant are treated as taxable income in the year the dividend is received. Dividends paid directly to the L-3 Stock Fund become fully vested upon payment without regard to the vested status of the underlying shares.

Transfers to/from Other Plans

On December 29, 2014, plan assets of $18,046,597 were transferred into the Plan from the Mustang 401(k) Plan. Additionally, in October 2014, plan assets of $188,631 were transferred to the Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems 401(k) Plan as a result of two employees transferring service to Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems in 2014.

Participant Contributions

Generally, all eligible employees can participate in the Plan, as of their date of hire, and may contribute from 1% to 25% of total compensation, as defined in the plan document. Newly hired employees of the Company will be deemed to have elected to contribute 3% of their total compensation each pay period to the Plan. The contribution commences on or after the 60th day following the employee’s date of hire. An employee may opt out of the automatic enrollment before the 60th day or increase or decrease the percentage elected.

A participant may elect to increase, decrease, suspend or resume contributions at any time with the election becoming effective as soon as administratively possible. The Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) limited the maximum amount an employee may contribute on a pre-tax basis in 2014 to $17,500 for participants under 50 years of age and $23,000 for participants 50 years of age and over. Participants are 100% vested in their individual contributions and net earnings thereon. See Note 3 for a discussion of the Company’s matching contribution and related vesting provisions of the Plan. Participants have the option of investing employee contributions in the L-3 Stock Fund, as well as other available investment options offered by the Master Trust.

An employee who is automatically enrolled in the Plan will have his or her pre-tax contributions invested in an investment fund designated by the Plan Administrator as the qualified default investment alternative (“QDIA”). The QDIA for the Plan is the appropriate age-based Fidelity Freedom K Fund.

Participant Accounts

Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution and allocations of (a) the Company’s contribution and (b) the Plan’s interest in the Master Trust net investment gain (loss), and may be charged with certain administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant net earnings or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.

 

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L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Master Trust Investments

Generally, employer contributions are initially invested in the L-3 Stock Fund, as described below under Note 2. A participant may make an investment election to transfer employer contributions to other investment options.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Investment in Master Trust

Investment assets of the Plan are maintained in the Master Trust administered by FMTC. The Plan participates in the Master Trust along with the Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems 401(k) Plan, and these plans together are collectively referred to as the Participating Plans.

The investment in the Master Trust represents the Plan’s specific interest in the assets of the Master Trust. The assets consist of units of funds that are maintained by FMTC. Refer to Note 4 for a list of the funds and the Plan’s investment in each fund as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. Contributions, benefit payments and certain administrative expenses are specifically identified to the Plan.

Valuation of Investments

The investment in the Master Trust is stated at fair value. Investments in mutual funds are valued at quoted market prices, which represent the net asset value per share as reported by Fidelity Management and Research Company. Refer to Note 5 for additional information and disclosure provided for the fair value of the Plan’s investments.

Effective May 10, 2013, at the close of market, the L-3 Stock Fund converted back to a unitized fund. Prior to June 20, 2012, the L-3 Stock Fund was also a unitized stock fund. As a unitized fund, the L-3 Stock Fund’s value is determined by its underlying assets consisting of shares of L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. (“L-3 Holdings”) common stock and the Fidelity Institutional Money Market Fund, sufficient to meet the L-3 Stock Fund’s daily cash requirements. The L-3 Stock Fund’s unit price is computed by the Trustee daily. Between June 20, 2012 and May 10, 2013, the L-3 Stock Fund traded as a real-time traded stock fund whose value was determined daily by its underlying assets consisting of shares of L-3 Holdings common stock.

Effective December 10, 2013, at the close of market, the Engility Stock Fund converted to a unitized stock fund. As a unitized fund, the Engility Stock Fund’s value is determined by its underlying assets consisting of shares of Engility Holdings, Inc. (“Engility Holdings”) and the Fidelity Institutional Money Market Fund, sufficient to meet the Engility Stock Fund’s daily cash requirements. The Engility Stock Fund’s unit price is computed by the Trustee daily. Between July 18, 2012, when the Engility Stock Fund was established, and December 9, 2013, the Engility Stock Fund traded as a real-time traded stock fund whose value was determined by its underlying assets consisting of shares of Engility Holdings common stock. Beginning on December 10, 2013, the unitized Engility Stock Fund began liquidating shares of Engility stock. The liquidation process was completed on January 15, 2014 and the Engility Stock Fund was removed as an investment option.

Shares of common stock held in the L-3 Stock Fund at December 31, 2014 and 2013 and the Engility Stock Fund at December 31, 2013 are valued at the last reported quoted market price of a share on the last trading day of the year. The money market fund is valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value.

The Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio II – Class 3 (“MIP”), a common/collective trust fund investment, is stated at fair value with the related adjustment to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts (see Basis of Accounting below). The beneficial interest in the net assets of the MIP is represented by units. The fair values of investments in the MIP are determined using Net Asset Value (NAV) provided by the administrator of the fund, which is determined daily. Issues and redemptions of units are recorded upon receipt of unit holder’s instructions based on the determined NAV per unit. Refer to Note 6 for the valuation techniques used by FMTC to measure fair value of the MIP’s investment in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts.

Basis of Accounting

The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results will differ from these estimates. The most significant estimate relates to valuations of investments in the Master Trust.

 

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L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value. Refer to Note 4 for additional information and disclosures provided for the fair value of the Plan’s investments.

Investment contracts held by a defined contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value. However, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. The Plan invests in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts through the MIP Fund. The Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits include the MIP Fund at fair value. The portion of the MIP Fund’s related investment in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts is adjusted to contract value from fair value on the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits. The Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits is prepared on a contract value basis.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income/Loss

Investment transactions by the Master Trust are accounted for on a trade-date basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Gains and losses on sales of investment securities are determined based on the average cost method. Net appreciation (depreciation) includes the Plan’s gains and losses on investments bought and sold as well as held during the year.

Forfeited Contributions

Participants vest in Company contributions in accordance with the provisions of their respective divisions and/or subsidiaries as described in Note 3. Non-vested Company contributions are forfeited upon a participant’s five year break in service or withdrawal of a participant’s vested balance, if earlier. Forfeited contributions are used to reduce future Company contributions and to pay plan expenses. Forfeited contributions utilized during 2014 were $6,091,062. Forfeited contributions available for future use were $4,009,108 and $3,739,093 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Benefit Payments

Benefit payments are recorded when paid.

Plan Expenses

The Plan provides for the payment of all administrative expenses including trustee, record keeping, consulting from available forfeited contributions. Loan administration fees are charged to participants. In the event that forfeited contributions are not available, the Company pays for administrative expenses. Taxes and investment fees related to the stock or mutual funds are paid from the net assets of such funds.

Risks and Uncertainties

The Plan provides for various investment fund options, which in turn invest in a combination of stocks, bonds and other investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risk. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits and the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.

 

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L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-7, which permits a reporting entity, as a practical expedient, to measure the fair value of certain investments using the net asset value per share of the investment and removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. ASU 2015-7 also removes the requirement to make certain disclosures for all investments that are eligible to be measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient. Rather, those disclosures are limited to investments for which the entity has elected to measure the fair value using that practical expedient. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. The Plan has elected not to early adopt the update. The adoption of this standard will not materially impact the Plan’s statement of net assets available for benefits or statement of changes in net assets available for benefits.

3. Company Contributions and Vesting Provisions

The Company generally provides matching contributions based on a percentage of the participant’s pre-tax and after-tax contributions up to a designated percentage of the participant’s compensation. Employees who attain age 50 in a plan year may make additional pre-tax contributions known as catch up contributions. Catch up contributions are generally matched at the same rate as regular pre-tax contributions. The Company’s matching contributions vary by division, union group and/or subsidiary but range from 0% to 5% of compensation.

As a result of agreements made during acquisition, collective bargaining negotiations or required retirement replacement contributions, a business unit may provide a supplemental or non-matching employer contribution to the Plan for participants. These amounts can be in addition to or in place of matching contributions and range from 0.5% to 8.1% of eligible compensation.

Four business units provide an increased match for employees who were hired after the freeze of a pension plan sponsored by the business unit.

All Company matching contributions are made in the L-3 Stock Fund except for certain collectively bargained arrangements which require matching contributions to be made in cash rather than into the L-3 Stock Fund. With respect to contributions made in the L-3 Stock Fund, a participant has the right to transfer his or her employer contribution account balance into one or more of the available investment funds immediately after deposit to the account. With respect to contributions that are made in cash and not stock, a participant has the right to direct the investment of such employer contributions into one or more of the available investment funds.

A three year graded vesting is the standard schedule for all Plan business units. Exceptions to the standard may exist as a result of collective bargaining agreements or grandfathered plan provisions. If a business unit has more than one type of company contribution, a different vesting schedule may apply to each. The vesting schedule may be changed in the future by amendment but not in a manner which reduces benefits accrued as of the date of the amendment. There are four different vesting schedules utilized in the Plan, which are: (1) immediate 100% vesting, (2) three-year graded vesting (25% after one year, 50% after two years, 100% after three years), (3) five-year graded vesting (20% vesting per year of service) and (4) three-year cliff vesting (0% before 3 years and 100% after 3 years).

4. Master Trust

The fair value of the investments of the Master Trust held by the Trustee and the Plan’s portion of the fair value at December 31, 2014 and 2013 are presented in the table below. The Master Trust represents 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits at December 31, 2014 and 2013. The Plan’s percentage interest in the Master Trust was 99.1% at both December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

		Master Trust								Plan’s Portion
Fund		2014				2013				2014				2013
		(in thousands)
Investments at Fair Value as Determined by Quoted Market Prices
American Funds Growth Fund of America – Class R6*		$	231,856			$	211,127			$	230,245			$	209,854
BlackRock High Yield Bond Portfolio – BlackRock Shares*			104,585				95,401				103,463				94,460
Calamos Growth Fund – Institutional Class*			134,484				137,829				133,114				136,562
Davis New York Venture Fund, Inc. – Class Y*			117,028				118,337				116,532				117,820
Dodge & Cox Income Fund*			145,508				130,615				143,735				128,657
Dodge & Cox Stock Fund*			298,256				268,079				295,479				265,954

 

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L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

		Master Trust								Plan’s Portion
Fund		2014				2013				2014				2013
		(in thousands)
Fidelity Balanced Fund – Class K*			62,849				52,709				62,538				52,499
Fidelity Diversified International Fund – Class K*			177,032				195,686				175,482				194,224
Fidelity Freedom K Income Fund*			9,996				—				9,938				—
Fidelity Freedom K 2000 Fund*			—				10,234				—				10,181
Fidelity Freedom K 2005 Fund*			2,638				2,043				2,624				2,030
Fidelity Freedom K 2010 Fund*			65,079				67,843				64,791				67,544
Fidelity Freedom K 2015 Fund*			49,704				40,902				49,235				40,475
Fidelity Freedom K 2020 Fund*			204,930				185,499				202,968				183,689
Fidelity Freedom K 2025 Fund*			103,749				70,704				102,721				70,082
Fidelity Freedom K 2030 Fund*			172,629				146,064				171,062				144,752
Fidelity Freedom K 2035 Fund*			53,657				39,520				53,247				39,164
Fidelity Freedom K 2040 Fund*			58,199				46,783				57,816				46,440
Fidelity Freedom K 2045 Fund*			41,092				31,781				40,988				31,733
Fidelity Freedom K 2050 Fund*			51,847				41,319				51,539				41,115
Fidelity Freedom K 2055 Fund*			181				—				180				—
Fidelity Freedom K 2060 Fund*			4				—				4				—
Fidelity Ginnie Mae Fund*			86,261				80,748				85,590				80,138
Fidelity Magellan Fund – Class K*			128,588				129,311				127,841				128,548
Spartan 500 Index Fund – Institutional Class*			272,348				222,155				268,416				219,689
T. Rowe Price Small – Cap Stock Fund*			274,110				291,226				272,282				288,702
Vanguard Inflation – Protected Admiral Fund – Investor Shares*			31,905				31,736				31,166				30,995
Spartan Global US Index*			12,373				9,259				11,942				9,109
Spartan Mid Cap Index*			70,499				47,087				69,757				46,638
Spartan Small Cap Index*			22,959				20,837				22,595				20,572
		$	2,984,346			$	2,724,834			$	2,957,290			$	2,701,626
L-3 Stock Fund			1,059,486				909,677				1,048,070				899,404
Engility Stock Fund			—				36,116				—				36,116
Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio II – Class 3**			554,769				564,646				550,993				560,503
			1,614,255				1,510,439				1,599,063				1,496,023
		$	4,598,601			$	4,235,273			$	4,556,353			$	4,197,649

 

*	Mutual Fund

**	Common/Collective Trust Fund

The investment gain of the Master Trust and the Plan’s portion of the investment gain for the year ended December 31, 2014 are presented in the table below.

 

		Master Trust				Plan’s Portion
		(in thousands)
Investment Gain:
Net appreciation in investments		$	140,488			$	138,782
Interest and dividend income			246,546				244,418
Net investment gain		$	387,034			$	383,200

Net appreciation in the fair value of investments in the Master Trust includes approximately $161,402,883 of net appreciation related to the L-3 Stock Fund and Engility Stock Fund, and $20,914,640 of net depreciation related to mutual funds.

 

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L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Net appreciation in the fair value of the Plan’s investments consists of the Plan’s proportionate share of realized gains or losses and unrealized appreciation or depreciation on those investments. The net appreciation and interest and dividends are allocated to the Participating Plans based upon the relationship of each Participating Plan’s respective monthly balances in the investment pool to the total investment pool of the Master Trust, as determined at the beginning of each month.

5. Fair Value Measurements

The Plan applies the accounting standards for fair value measurements to all of the Plan’s investments that are measured and recorded at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for an asset or the exit price that would be paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy defined by the standard are described below.

 

Level 1:		Quoted market prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. The Plan’s Level 1 assets include mutual funds, whose fair values are derived from quoted market prices.
Level 2:		Pricing inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable. The Plan’s Level 2 assets include the L-3 Stock Fund, a unitized fund, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the Engility Stock Fund, also a unitized fund, as of December 31, 2013 and the MIP Fund at December 31, 2014 and 2013. Refer to Note 6 for the valuation techniques used by FMTC to measure the fair value of the MIP Fund’s investment in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts.
Level 3:		Pricing inputs that are generally unobservable and not corroborated by market data. The Plan does not have any Level 3 investments.

Investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following types of instruments as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

		Fair Value Measurements Using Input Type
		2014																2013
		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
		(in thousands)
Mutual funds		$	2,957,290			$	—			$	—			$	2,957,290			$	2,701,626			$	—			$	—			$	2,701,626
L-3 Stock Fund(1)			—				1,048,070				—				1,048,070				—				899,404				—				899,404
Engility Stock Fund(1)			—				—				—				—				—				36,116				—				36,116
Common/collective trust fund			—				550,993				—				550,993				—				560,503				—				560,503
Total investments measured at fair value		$	2,957,290			$	1,599,063			$	—			$	4,556,353			$	2,701,626			$	1,496,023			$	—			$	4,197,649

 

(1)

The L-3 Stock Fund and the Engility Stock Fund are both unitized stock funds, whose values are determined by the underlying assets consisting of shares of L-3 Holdings common stock and Engility Holdings common stock, respectively, and cash held in the Fidelity Institutional Money Market Fund, to meet daily cash requirements, and are categorized as Level 2.

 

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L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

6. Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts

The Plan, through its Master Trust, holds investments in the MIP. All investment contracts held by the MIP are held directly between the MIP and the issuer of the contract and are nontransferable. The MIP is designed to invest in investment contracts offered by major insurance companies and in fixed income securities. The MIP’s investment objective is to seek preservation of capital and a competitive level of income over time. To achieve its investment objective, the MIP invests in underlying assets (typically fixed-income securities or bond funds and may include derivative instruments such as futures contracts and swap agreements) and enters into wrap contracts issued by third parties, and invests in cash equivalents represented by shares in a money market fund. FMTC seeks to minimize the exposure of the MIP to credit risk through, among other things, diversification of the wrap contracts across an approved group of issuers. The MIP’s ability to receive amounts due pursuant to these contracts is dependent upon the issuers’ ability to meet their financial obligations.

Wrap Contracts. Investments in wrap contracts are measured at fair value using a discounted cash flow model which considers recent fee bids as determined by recognized dealers, discount rate and the duration of the underlying portfolio of securities. The dealers may consider the following in the bid process: size of the portfolio, performance of the underlying portfolio, and the fair value to contract value ratio. For purposes of benefit-responsive withdrawals, investments in wrap contracts are valued at contract value, which could be more or less than fair value. These investment contracts provide for benefit-responsive withdrawals at contract value, including those instances when, in connection with wrap contracts, underlying investment securities are sold to fund normal benefit payments prior to the maturity of such contracts.

An investment contract is generally permitted to be valued at contract value, rather than fair value, to the extent it is fully benefit-responsive and held by a trust offered only to qualified employer-sponsored defined contribution plans. An investment contract is considered fully benefit-responsive if: 1) it is effected directly between the portfolio and the issuer and may not be transferred without the consent of the issuer, 2) the issuer of the wrap contract provides assurance that the contract crediting rate will not be adjusted to less than zero, 3) the contract requires all permitted participant-initiated transactions with the portfolio to occur at contract value without limitation, 4) it is improbable that an event will occur that would limit the ability of the portfolio to transact at contract value with both the issuer and unitholders, and 5) the portfolio allows unitholders reasonable access to their funds. Investment contracts that do not meet the criteria for valuation at contract value will be valued at fair value as determined by the trustee.

FMTC purchases wrap contracts for the MIP with the aim of maintaining the contract value of the MIP’s bond investments. In selecting wrap issuers, FMTC analyzes the proposed terms of the wrap contract and the credit quality of the wrap issuer. Other factors, including the availability of wrap contracts under certain market or competitive conditions, may affect the number of wrap issuers and the terms of the wrap contracts held by the MIP. The MIP may agree to additional limitations on its investments as a condition of the wrap contracts. These may include maximum duration limits, minimum credit standards, and diversification requirements. In addition, a wrap issuer may also require that the MIP invest entirely in cash or cash equivalents under certain conditions. Generally, as long as the MIP is in compliance with the conditions of its wrap contracts, it may buy and sell underlying assets without impacting the contract value of the underlying assets. FMTC may terminate and replace wrap contracts under various circumstances, including when there is a default by the wrap issuer.

Wrap contracts accrue interest using a formula called the “crediting rate”. Wrap contracts use the crediting rate formula to convert market value changes in the underlying assets into income distributions in order to minimize the difference between the market and contract value of the underlying assets over time. Using the crediting rate formula, an estimated future market value is calculated by compounding a portfolio’s current market value at a portfolio’s current yield to maturity for a period equal to a portfolio’s duration. The crediting rate is the discount rate that equates that estimated future market value with a portfolio’s current contract value. Crediting rates are reset quarterly. The wrap contracts provide a guarantee that the crediting rate will not fall below 0%.

The crediting rate, and hence a portfolio’s return, may be affected by many factors, including purchases and redemptions by unitholders. The impact depends on whether the market value of the underlying assets is higher or lower than the contract value of those assets at the time of those transactions. If the market value of underlying assets is higher than their contract value, the crediting rate will ordinarily be higher than the yield of the underlying assets. Under these circumstances, cash from new investors will tend to lower the crediting rate and a portfolio’s return, and redemptions by existing unitholders will tend to increase the crediting rate and a portfolio’s return.

Wrap contracts limit the ability of the MIP to transact at contract value upon the occurrence of certain events not probable of occurring. These events include, but are not limited to, tax disqualification, certain MIP amendments if the issuers’ consent is not obtained, complete or partial termination of the MIP, any legal changes applicable to the plan that could have a material adverse effect on the portfolio’s cash flow, merger or consolidation of the MIP with another plan, exclusion of a previously eligible group, early

 

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L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

retirement/ termination programs and transfer of assets from a portfolio to a competing option. In addition, the issuers of wrap contracts have certain rights to terminate a contract at any time and settle at an amount which differs from contract value. In the event that the market value of the portfolio’s covered assets is below its contract value at the time of such termination, FMTC may elect to keep the wrap contract in place until such time as the market value of the portfolio’s covered assets is equal to its contract value, normally over the duration of the portfolio measured at notification date. A wrap issuer may also terminate a wrap contract if FMTC’s investment management authority over the portfolio is limited or terminated as well as if all of the terms of the wrap contract fail to be met.

The average yield earned by the MIP for all fully benefit-responsive investment contracts for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was 1.70% and 1.59% respectively, based on actual earnings (calculated by dividing annualized earnings by the fair value of all fully benefit-responsive investment contracts), and 1.38% and 1.14%, respectively, based on interest rate credited to participants (calculated by dividing annualized earnings credited to participants by the fair value of all fully benefit-responsive investment contracts).

7. Benefit Payments

Upon termination, participants may receive the vested portion of their account balance as soon as practicable, in either a lump sum or in periodic installments as provided for in the Plan document at the participants’ option. Terminated participants who have an account balance in excess of $1,000 may elect to leave their account balance in the Plan and withdraw it at any time up to age 65, but not later than age 70  ¹⁄₂.

Generally, a penalty will be imposed on participant withdrawals made before the participant reaches age 59  ¹⁄₂. Participant withdrawals may be made prior to reaching age 59  ¹⁄₂ without incurring a penalty in the event of financial hardship as determined pursuant to provisions of the Plan and the IRC. In the event of retirement or termination of employment prior to age 59  ¹⁄₂, funds may be rolled over to another qualified plan or individual retirement account without being subject to income tax or a penalty.

8. Loans

The Plan provides for loans to active participants. Generally, participants may not have more than one loan outstanding at any time and the maximum loan allowed to each participant is the lesser of (1) $50,000 less the highest outstanding loan balance over the prior 12 months or (2) 50% of the vested value of the participant’s account in the Plan. The minimum loan amount is $1,000. The interest rate is based on the prime interest rate plus one percent, and the maximum term of a loan is five years, or thirty years if used to purchase a principal residence.

Loan repayments are made through payroll deductions, with principal and interest credited to the participants’ fund accounts. Repayment of the entire balance is permitted at any time. Participant loans are collateralized by the participant’s vested account balance. Notes receivable from participants includes both the outstanding principal balance and accrued interest.

9. Tax Status

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated November 25, 2008, that the Plan is designed in accordance with applicable sections of the IRC, and thus is exempt from federal income taxes. The Plan has been amended and restated since receiving the determination letter. The Plan Administrator and the Plan’s counsel believe that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC.

Based on U.S. GAAP requirements, management evaluates tax positions taken by the Plan and recognizes a tax liability if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan Administrator has analyzed the tax positions by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2014, there are no uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits in progress. The Plan Administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to the year ended December 31, 2011.

The Plan recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in tax expense. There were no interest and penalties included in the Plan’s financial statements.

10. Related-Party Transactions

Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by FMTC and therefore these transactions qualify as party-in-interest. Fees paid by the Company to Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc. for record keeping services were $258,165 for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

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L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

The Plan’s proportionate interest in the L-3 Stock Fund includes 8,136,919 shares of L-3 Holdings’ common stock valued at $1,026,960,587 at December 31, 2014 and 8,261,346 shares of L-3 Holdings’ common stock valued at $882,807,476 at December 31, 2013. The proportionate interest in the Engility Stock Fund includes 308,188 shares of Engility common stock valued at $10,293,479 at December 31, 2013. The Plan received aggregate dividends on the L-3 Stock Fund in the amount of $19,749,962 for the year ended December 31, 2014.

11. Termination Priorities

Although the Company has not expressed intent to do so, the Company can discontinue its contributions and/or terminate participation to employee groups at any or all of the divisions and/or subsidiaries of the Company at any time, subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event that such a discontinuance and/or termination occurs for the entire Plan, participants in the Plan will become 100% vested in Company contributions and the net assets attributable to the Plan will be allocated among the participants and their beneficiaries in accordance with the provisions of ERISA.

12. Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500

The following tables provide a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements and net investment gain per the financial statements to the Form 5500:

 

		December 31,
		2014				2013
		(in thousands)
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements		$	4,668,398			$	4,306,515
Add: Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts			7,930				7,890
Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500		$	4,676,328			$	4,314,405

 

		December 31, 2014
		(in thousands)
Total net investment gain per the financial statements		$	383,200
Add: Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts			40
Total net investment gain per the Form 5500		$	383,240

 

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L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MASTER SAVINGS PLAN

SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i – SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)

DECEMBER 31, 2014

(in thousands)

 

Description of Investment		Cost				Current Value
Participant loans*			—			$	92,644
Total			—			$	92,644

 

*	Consists of participant loans with interest rates ranging from 3.25% to 10.25%, maturing through December 2044.

 

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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustee has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

				L-3 Communications Master Savings Plan
Date: June 25, 2015				/s/ Ralph G. D’Ambrosio
				Name:		Ralph G. D’Ambrosio
				Title:		Authorized Signatory,
						L-3 Benefit Plan Committee

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-168467) of L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. of our report dated June 25, 2015 relating to the financial statements of the L-3 Communications Master Savings Plan which appears in this Form 11-K.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

June 25, 2015