Note 24 - Pension provisions

Remuneration to employees following the completion of their employment mainly take the form of ongoing payments to independent authorities or insurance companies, which subsequently assume responsibility for the commitments to employees. Such arrangements are called defined-contribution plans.

The commitment for old-age pensions and survivor pensions for employees in Sweden is covered through insurance with Alecta. According to a statement from the Swedish Financial Reporting Board, UFR 3, this is a defined-benefit multi-employer scheme. For the 2009 financial year, the Group did not have access to such information that makes it possible to recognize this plan as a defined-benefit scheme. The pension scheme in accordance with ITP, which is safeguarded through insurance with Alecta, is therefore recognized as a defined-contribution scheme. Alecta’s surplus can be distributed to the insurers and /or the insured. At the close of 2009, Alecta’s surplus in the form of the collective consolidation level was 141% (112%). The collective consolidation level comprises the market value of Alecta’s assets as a percentage of the insurance commitment calculated in accordance with Alecta’s actuarial calculation assumption, which does not coincide with IAS 19.

Defined-benefit plans are characterized by the fact that the Group retains its commitment until the pension has been paid. The costs and provisions for defined-benefit plans are assessed through actuarial calculations with the purpose of determining the current value of the commitment. Defined-benefit plans exist only in Sweden.

The tables below provide data on the Group’s defined-benefit plans, the assumptions used in the calculations, the expenses recognized and the values of the commitments and insurance plan assets.


 
  Group
SEK M 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005
Multi-year overview          
On the balance-sheet date          
Current value of defined-benefit obligations 35,079 36,945 39,488 39,571 48,225
Fair value of pension capital –38,241 –42,626 –45,053 –37,068 –40,813
Unrecognized actuarial (losses)/gains 1,881 4,979 4,913 4,832 –1,667
Liability/(Asset) –1,281 –702 –653 7,335 5,745

 

  Group Parent Company  
SEK 000s 2009 2008 2009 2008  
Assumptions applied in actuarial calculations           
Sweden          
Average discount rate 3.75% 3.75% 3.75% 3.75%  
Forecast return on pension capital 5.50% 5.50% 5.50% 5.50%  
Estimated long-term pay increase 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00%  
Estimated long-term inflation 2.00% 2.00% 2.00% 2.00%  
Assumptions regarding mortality are the same as those specified by           
the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (FFFS 2007:31).          
           
Pension expenses for the year          
Costs of benefits earned during the year 1,578 1,666 10 91  
Interest expenses 1,415 1,734 982 1,225  
Depreciation of actuarial gains/loss –558 –42 –111 –34  
Adjustment costs 1,509 983  
Forecast return on pension capital (–) –2,279 –1,917 –1,392 –1,392  
Expenses for the year pertaining to defined-benefit pension plans 1,666 2,424 –511 –110  
           
Expenses for the year pertaining to defined-contribution pension plans 60,417 53,016 34,605 27,707  
Payroll tax expense for the year 17,108 10,931 8,799 5,042  
Pension expense for the year included in personnel expenses 79,191 66,371 42,893 32,639  
           
Actual return on pension capital –4.27% 5.42% –5.02% 7.61%  
           
All items are recognized as personnel expenses. Of the costs for definedcontribution plans, SEK 55,475,000 (37,998,000) comprises premiums to Alecta.   
           
Liability in balance sheet, Jan. 1          
Pension obligation 36,945 39,488 26,187 28,436  
Pension capital –42,626 –45,053 –27,176 –27,176  
Unrecognized actuarial (losses)/gains 4,979 4,913 3,719 3,188  
Liability recognized in the balance sheet –702 –653 2,730 4,448  
           
Liability in balance sheet, Dec. 31           
Pension obligation 35,079 36,945 21,761 26,187  
Pension capital (–) –38,241 –42,626 –22,156 –27,176  
Unrecognized actuarial (losses)/gains 1,881 4,979 2,614 3,719  
Liability recognized in the balance sheet –1,281 –702 2,219 2,730  
           
Changes in fair value of pension capital          
Pension capital, Jan. 1 42,626 45,053 27,176 27,176  
Expected return 2,279 1,917 1,392 1,392  
Adjustment of liability/cost for plan adjusted during the year –685 –2,941  
Withdrawal  –4,122 –4,444 –3,656 –2,848  
Premiums/deposits 2,244 2,643 856  
Actuarial gains/(losses) –4,101 398 –2,756 600  
Pension capital, Dec. 31 38,241 42,626 22,156 27,176  
           
The majority of these assets are covered via insurances.   
           
  Group Parent Company  
SEK 000s 2009 2008 2009 2008  
Changes in defined-benefit pension obligation          
Obligation, Jan. 1 36,945 39,488 26,187 28,436  
Cost for benefits earned during the year 1,578 1,666 10 91  
Adjusted liability/costs for plan adjusted during the year 816 –1,686  
Interest expense 1,415 1,734 982 1,225  
Pension payments –4,122 –4,274 –3,656 –3,600  
Actuarial (gains)/losses –1,553 17 –1,762 35  
Obligation, Dec. 31 35,079 36,945 21,761 26,187  
           
Changes in actuarial losses/gains          
Unrecognized actuarial (losses)/gains, Jan. 1 4,979 4,913 3,719 3,188  
10% of the largest Obligation/Pension capital amount 4,263 4,505 2,718 2,844  
Unrecognized actuarial (losses)/gains outside the corridor 1,001 344  
Depreciation of actuarial losses/(gains) –558 –42 –111 –34  
Adjustment of actuarial losses/(gains) 8 –272  
Actuarial gains/(losses) on obligation 1,553 –17 1,762 –35  
Actuarial gains/(losses) on pension capital –4,101 398 –2,756 600  
Unrecognized actuarial (losses)/gains, Dec. 31 1,881 4,979 2,614 3,719  
           
Reconciliation of changes in liability          
Liabilities in balance sheet, Jan. 1 –702 –653 2,730 4,448  
Pension expense for the year 1,666 2,424 –511 –110   
Paid plan assets to capital under management –2,244 –2,643 –856  
Withdrawal from plan assets from capital under management 4,122 4,444 3,656 2,848  
Pension payments (–) –4,122 –4,274 –3,656 –3,600  
Liability in balance sheet, Dec. 31 –1,281 –702 2,219 2,730  
           
Change in payroll tax liability          
Liability in balance sheet, Jan. 1 10,268 12,634 9,371 11,467  
Change in payroll-tax liability for the year 522 –2,366 729 –2,096  
Liability in balance sheet, Dec. 31 10,790 10,268 10,100 9,371  
           
Net provision, Dec. 31 9,509 9,566 12,319 12,101  
           
In the balance sheet, liabilities are recognized as Pension provisions, and assets as Other long-term liabilities