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Annual Report 2015 Report by the Board of Directors Notes Proposed distribution of earnings Auditor’s report Eleven-year review Quarterly information

Note 22 Post-employment benefits

All amounts in SEKm unless otherwise stated

Post-employment benefits

The Group sponsors pension plans in many of the countries in which it has significant activities. Pension plans can be defined contribution or defined benefit plans or a combination of both. Under defined benefit pension plans, the company enters into a commitment to provide post-employment benefits based upon one or several parameters for which the outcome is not known at present. For example, benefits can be based on final salary, on career average salary, or on a fixed amount of money per year of employment. Under defined contribution plans, the company’s commitment is to make periodic payments to independent authorities or investment plans, and the level of benefits depends on the actual return on those investments. Some plans combine the promise to make periodic payments with a promise of a guaranteed minimum return on the investments. These plans are also defined benefit plans. In some countries, Electrolux makes provisions for compulsory severance payments. These provisions cover the Group’s commitment to pay employees a lump sum upon reaching retirement age, or upon the employees’ dismissal or resignation.

In addition to providing pension benefits and compulsory severance payments, the Group provides healthcare benefits for some of its employees in certain countries, mainly in the US.

The cost for pension is disaggregated into three components; service cost, financing cost or income and remeasurement effects. Service cost is reported within Operating income and classified as Cost of goods sold, Selling expenses or Administrative expenses depending on the function of the employee. Financing cost or income is recognized in the Financial items and the remeasurement effects in Other comprehensive income. The Projected Unit Credit Method is used to measure the present value of the obligations and costs. Net provisions for post-employment benefits in the balance sheet represent the present value of the Group’s obligations less market value of plan assets. The remeasurements of the obligations are made using actuarial assumptions determined at the balance-sheet date. Changes in the present value of the obligations due to revised actuarial assumptions and experience adjustments on the obligation are recorded in Other comprehensive income as remeasurements. The actual return less calculated interest income on plan assets is also recorded in other comprehensive income as remeasurements. Past-service costs are recognized immediately in income for the period.

Some features of the defined benefit plans in the main countries are described below.

USA

The number of pension plans in the US has been significantly reduced over the years through plan consolidation. The major plan covers 90% of the total obligation in the US. This plan is based on final salary and closed for new entrants. Pensions in payment are not generally subject to indexation. Funding position is reassessed every year with a target to restore the funding level over seven years. Surplus in the fund can be used to take a contribution holiday and refunds are taxed at 50%. Post-retirement healthcare benefits are also provided for in the US. Benefits are mainly paid from the plan assets.

United Kingdom

The defined benefit plan is closed for future accruals and employees are offered defined contribution. The funding position is reassessed every three years and a schedule of contributions is agreed between the Trustee and the company. The Trustee decides the investment strategy and consults with the company. Surplus may be used to take a contribution holiday; any refunds would be taxed at 35%. Benefits are paid from the plan assets.

Sweden

The main defined benefit plan in Sweden is the collectively agreed pension plan for white collar employees, the ITP 2 plan, and it is based on final salary. Benefits in payment are indexed according to the decisions of the Alecta insurance company, typically those follow inflation. The plan is semi-closed, meaning that only new employees born before 1979 are covered by the ITP 2 solution. A defined contribution solution is offered to employees born after 1978. Electrolux has chosen to fund the pension obligation by a pension foundation. The foundation’s Board of Directors consists of an equal number of members from Group staff functions and representatives from the company. There is no funding requirement for an ITP pension foundation. Benefits are paid directly by the company and, in case of surplus, the company can reimburse itself for the current and the previous year’s pension cost and/or take a contribution holiday.

Germany

There are several defined benefit plans based on final salary in Germany. Benefits in payment are indexed every three years according to inflation levels. All plans are closed for new participants. Electrolux has arranged a Contractual Trust Arrangement (CTA) and the funds are held by a local bank who acts as the trustee for the scheme. Electrolux controls the assets via an investment committee with members both from Group staff functions and the local German company. No minimum funding requirements or regular funding obligations apply to CTAs. If there is a surplus under both German GAAP and IFRS rules, Electrolux can take a refund up to the German GAAP surplus. Benefits are paid directly by the company and Electrolux can refund itself for pension pay-outs. Over time, Electrolux will have access to any residual funds after the last beneficiary has died.

Switzerland

There are three pension plans in Switzerland. Benefits are career average in nature, with indexation of benefits following decisions of the foundation board, subject to legal minima. Contributions are paid to the pension foundation and a recovery plan has to be set up if the plans are underfunded on the local funding basis. Swiss laws do not state any specific way of calculating an employer´s additional contribution and because of that there is normally no minimum funding requirement. The assets in the foundation is to a large extent handled by local banks and they are working with both asset allocation and selection within a framework decided by the Swiss foundation board. Benefits are paid from the plan assets.

Other countries

There is a variety of smaller plans in other countries and the most important of those are in France, Italy, Canada and Norway. The pension plans in France and Italy are mainly unfunded. The Norwegian pension plans are funded and in Canada there are both funded and unfunded pension plans. A mix of final salary and career average exists in these countries. Some plans are open for new entrants.

Explanation of amounts in the financial statements relating to defined benefit obligations.

Information by country, December 31, 2014

  USA USA   Medical UK Sweden Germany Switzerland Other Total
Amounts included in the balance sheet                
Present value of funded and unfunded obligations 8,971 2,093 6,485 3,452 3,548 2,837 1,155 28,541
Fair value of plan assets (after change in asset ceiling) –8,104 –1,764 –6,123 –2,482 –2,288 –2,694 –323 –23,778
Total (surplus)/deficit 867 329 362 970 1,260 143 832 4,763
Whereof reported as                
Pension plan assets 399
Provisions for post-employment benefit plans 5,162
Total funding level for all pension plans, % 91 84 94 72 64 95 27 83
Average duration of the obligation, years 11.2 11.1 16.2 16.7 14.6 12.0 13.5
Amounts included in the income statement                
Service cost1) 48 –16 17 122 17 17 1 206
Net interest cost 6 13 7 18 33 1 18 96
Remeasurements (gain)/loss 589 22 173 369 227 71 82 1,533
Total expense (gain) for defined benefit plans 643 19 197 509 277 89 101 1,835
Expenses for defined contribution plans               452
Amounts included in the cash-flow statement                
Contributions by the employer –28 –22 –1 –37 –12 –100
Reimbursement 8 74 82
Benefits paid by the employer –14 –115 –138 –52 –319
Major assumptions for the valuation of the liability                
Longevity, years2):                
Male 21.6 21.6 22.1 23.0 19.6 21.4 21.6
Female 23.7 23.7 24.4 24.8 23.4 23.9 24.1
Inflation, %3) 3.0 7.0 3.0 1.5 1.7 1.5 2.41
Discount rate, % 3.8 3.8 3.7 2.4 2.2 1.2 3.08

 

Information by country December, 31, 2015

  USA USA   Medical UK Sweden Germany Switzerland Other Total
Amounts included in the balance sheet                
Present value of funded and unfunded obligations 9,075 2,087 6,644 3,110 3,573 3,112 1,068 28,669
Fair value of plan assets (after change in asset ceiling) -8,078 -1,787 -6,204 -2,565 -2,342 -2,884 -300 -24,160
Total (surplus)/deficit 997 300 440 545 1,231 228 768 4,509
Whereof reported as                
Pension plan assets 397
Provisions for post-employment benefit plans 4,906
Total funding level for all pension plans, % 89 86 93 82 66 93 28 84
Average duration of the obligation, years 10.5 10.6 16.4 15.8 14.6 12.7 13.3
Amounts included in the income statement                
Service cost4) 66 -48 168 20 54 12 272
Net interest cost 35 14 14 20 26 1 13 123
Remeasurements (gain)/loss -24 -31 128 -572 109 59 -12 -343
Total expense (gain) for defined benefit plans 77 -17 94 -384 155 114 13 52
Expenses for defined contribution plans               496
Amounts included in the cash-flow statement                
Contributions by the employer -37 -24 -1 -39 -13 -114
Reimbursement 81 81
Benefits paid by the employer -15 -115 -145 -48 -323
Major assumptions for the valuation of the liability                
Longevity, years2):                
Male 21.2 21.2 22.3 23.0 19.8 21.6 21.5
Female 23.4 23.4 24.6 24.8 23.5 24.1 24
Inflation, %3) 3.0 7.0 3.0 1.5 1.8 1.0 2.38
Discount rate, % 4.1 4.1 3.6 2.9 2.0 0.6 3.13

1) Includes special events amounting to a gain of SEK 69m in various countries.

2) Expressed as the average life expectancy of a 65 years old person in number of years.

3) General inflation impacting salary and pensions increase. For USA Medical, the number refers to the inflation of healthcare benefits.

4) Includes special events amounting to a gain of SEK 78m in the UK.

Reconciliation of change in present value of funded and unfunded obligations

  2014 2015
Opening balance, January 1 22,885 28,541
Current service cost 267 346
Special events –62 -74
Interest expense 887 888
Remeasurement arising from changes in financial assumptions 2,193 -143
Remeasurement from changes in demographic assumptions 679 -56
Remeasurement from experience 4 -231
Contributions by plan participants 46 50
Benefits paid –1,389 -1,563
Exchange differences 2,982 1,092
Settlements and other 49 -181
Closing balance, December 31 28,541 28,669

Reconciliation of change in the fair value of plan assets

  2014 2015
Opening balance, January 1 19,905 23,778
Interest income1) 791 765
Return on plan assets, excluding amounts included in interest1) 1,316 -71
Effect of asset ceiling 21 -16
Net contribution by employer 337 356
Contribution by plan participants 46 50
Benefits paid –1,389 -1,563
Exchange differences 2,660 1,041
Settlements and other 91 -180
Closing balance, December 31 23,778 24,160

1) The actual return on plan assets amounts to a gain of SEK 694m (2,107).

Risks

There are mainly three categories of risks related to defined benefit obligations and pension plans. The first category relates to risks affecting the actual pension payments. Increased longevity and inflation of salary and pensions are the principle risks that may increase the future pension payments and, hence, increase the pension obligation. The second category relates to investment return. Pension plan assets are invested in a variety of financial instruments and are exposed to market fluctuations. Poor investment return may reduce the value of investments and render them insufficient to cover future pension payments. The final category relates to measurement and affects the accounting for pensions. The discount rate used for measuring the present value of the obligation may fluctuate which impacts the valuation of the Defined Benefit Obligation (DBO). The discount rate also impacts the size of the interest income and expense that is reported in the Financial items and the service cost. When determining the discount rate, the Group uses AA rated corporate bond indexes which match the duration of the pension obligations. In Sweden and Norway, mortgage-backed bonds are used for determining the discount rate. Expected inflation and mortality assumptions are based on local conditions in each country and changes in those assumptions may also affect the measured obligation and, therefore, the accounting entries.

Investment strategy and risk management

The Group manages the allocation and investment of pension plan assets with the aim of decreasing the total pension cost over time. This means that certain risks are accepted in order to increase the return. The investment horizon is long-term and the allocation ensures that the investment portfolios are well diversified. In some countries, a so called trigger-points scheme is in place, whereby the investment in fixed income assets increases as the funding level improves. The Board of Electrolux annually approves the limits for asset allocation. The final investment decision often resides with the local trustee that consults with Electrolux. The risks related to pension obligations, e.g., mortality exposure and inflation, are monitored on an ongoing basis. Buy-out premiums are also monitored and other potential liability management actions are also considered to limit the exposure to the Group.

Below is the sensitivity analysis for the main financial assumptions and the potential impact on the present value of the defined pension obligation. Note that the sensitivities are not meant to express any view by Electrolux on the probability of a change.

Sensitivity analysis on defined benefit obligation

  USA USA   Medical UK Sweden Germany Switzerland Other Total
Longevity +1 year 277 117 234 98 123 106 955
Inflation +0.5%1) 41 119 248 265 242 33 40 988
Discount rate +1% -853 -203 -969 -434 -473 -380 -93 -3,405
Discount rate –1% 1,023 241 1,238 559 601 459 110 4,231

1) The inflation change feeds through to other inflation-dependant assumptions, i.e., pension increases and salary growth.

In 2016, the Group expects to pay a total of SEK 303m in contributions to the pension funds and as payments of benefits directly to the employees.

Market value of plan assets by category

2014
Fixed income, SEK 10,474m
Equity, SEK 8,161m
Hedge funds, SEK 2,563m
Real estate, SEK 1,492m
Infrastructure, SEK 347m
Private equity, SEK 92m
Cash, SEK 655m
  2014
Fixed income, SEK 10,474m 10474
Equity, SEK 8,161m 8161
Hedge funds, SEK 2,563m 2563
Real estate, SEK 1,492m 1492
Infrastructure, SEK 347m 347
Private equity, SEK 92m 92
Cash, SEK 655m 655
2015
Fixed income, SEK 9,900m
Equity, SEK 9,021m
Hedge funds, SEK 2,530m
Real estate, SEK 1,840m
Infrastructure, SEK 346m
Private equity, SEK 90m
Cash, SEK 433m
  2015
Fixed income, SEK 9,900m 9900
Equity, SEK 9,021m 9021
Hedge funds, SEK 2,530m 2530
Real estate, SEK 1,840m 1840
Infrastructure, SEK 346m 346
Private equity, SEK 90m 90
Cash, SEK 433m 433
  December 31,
Market value of plan assets without quoted prices 2014 2015
Fixed income 57 93
Real estate 1,492 1,840
Infrastructure 347 346
Private equity 92 90

The Swedish pension foundation carries plan assets at a fair value of SEK 200m related to property used by Electrolux.

Governance

Defined benefit pensions and pension plan assets are governed by the Electrolux Pension Board, which resumes 3 to 4 times per year and has the following responsibilities:

  • Implementation of pension directives of the AB Electrolux Board of Directors.
  • Evaluation and approval of new plans, changes to plans or termination of plans.
  • Annually, approval of the Group’s and local pension funds’ investment strategies.
  • Annually, approval of the Group’s global and local benchmarks for follow up of pension plan assets.
  • Approval of the election of company representatives in the Boards of Trustees.
  • Approval of the financial and actuarial assumptions to be used in the measurement of the defined benefit obligations.

Parent Company

According to Swedish accounting principles adopted by the Parent Company, defined benefit liabilities are calculated based upon officially provided assumptions, which differ from the assumptions used in the Group under IFRS. The pension benefits are secured by contributions to a separate fund or recorded as a liability in the balance sheet. The accounting principles used in the Parent Company’s separate financial statements differ from the IFRS principles, mainly in the following:

  • The pension liability calculated according to Swedish accounting principles does not take into account future salary increases.
  • The discount rate used in the Swedish calculations is set by the Swedish Pension Foundation (PRI) and was for 2015 3.7% (5.8). The rate is the same for all companies in Sweden.
  • Changes in the discount rate and other actuarial assumptions are recognized immediately in the profit or loss and the balance sheet.
  • Deficit must be either immediately settled in cash or recognized as a liability in the balance sheet.
  • Surplus cannot be recognized as an asset, but may in some cases be refunded to the company to offset pension costs.

 

Change in the present value of defined benefit pension ­obligation for funded and unfunded obligations

  Funded Unfunded Total
Opening balance, January 1, 2014 1,467 427 1,894
Current service cost 41 8 49
Interest cost 87 25 112
Benefits paid –68 –31 –99
Closing balance, December 31, 2014 1,527 429 1,956
Current service cost 49 4 53
Interest cost 57 16 73
Benefits paid -71 -29 -100
Closing balance, December 31, 2015 1,562 420 1,982

Change in fair value of plan assets

  Funded
Opening balance, January 1, 2014 1,935
Actual return on plan assets 255
Contributions and compensation to/from the fund –62
Closing balance, December 31, 2014 2,128
Actual return on plan assets 54
Contributions and compensation to/from the fund -68
Closing balance, December 31, 2015 2,114

Amounts recognized in the balance sheet

  December 31,
  2014 2015
Present value of pension obligations –1,956 -1,982
Fair value of plan assets 2,128 2,114
Surplus/deficit 172 132
Limitation on assets in accordance with Swedish accounting principles –601 -552
Net provisions for pension obligations –429 -420
Whereof reported as provisions for pensions –429 -420

Amounts recognized in the income statement

  2014 2015
Current service cost 49 53
Interest cost 112 73
Total expenses for defined benefit pension plans 161 126
Insurance premiums 79 87
Total expenses for defined contribution plans 79 87
Special employer’s contribution tax 29 28
Cost for credit insurance FPG 2 2
Total pension expenses 271 243
Compensation from the pension fund –61 -68
Total recognized pension expenses 210 175

The Swedish Pension Foundation

The pension liabilities of the Group’s Swedish defined benefit pension plan (PRI pensions) are funded through a pension foundation established in 1998. The market value of the assets of the foundation amounted at December 31, 2015, to SEK 2,501m (2,518m) and the pension commitments to SEK 1,846m (1,807). The Swedish Group companies recorded a liability to the pension fund as per December 31, 2015, in the amount of SEK 0m (0). Contributions to the pension foundation during 2015 amounted to SEK 0m (0). Contributions from the pension foundation during 2015 amounted to SEK 81m (74).