Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services 401(k) Review & Grade
Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services 401(k) Plan
San Diego, CAManufacturing526 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,539Employer $ per active participant
$6,902Employee $ saved per active participant
0.43%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$43.0MNet plan assets, end of year
$59,659Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity27.4 / 5055th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost7.0 / 2528th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving10.9 / 1572th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score42 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 55th |
| Lower admin cost | 28th |
| Employee saving | 72th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($241,078 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $5,022 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services put in about $2,539 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,320). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Direct plan expenses (0.43% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.23%). Check your annual fee disclosure, choose low-cost index funds if you can, and think about whether savings beyond the match belong in an IRA.
- The plan auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- The plan reported late deposits of employee contributions. Compare your pay stubs with your account statements, and contact the plan administrator if money shows up late.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $1,336,673 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,633,834 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $571,613 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $172,340 |
| Contract administrator fees | $172,340 |
| Benefits paid out | $5,015,326 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $37.0M / $43.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 573 / 480 |
| Participants with account balances | 720 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Baker Tilly US, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $172,339 reported compensation |
| Mma Securities LLC | $63,062 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015162558NAL0006917504001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 33-0788907, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.