C4. Remuneration after completion of employment

AP Accounting principles

Defined benefit pension plans

Defined benefit pension plans are characterized by the fact that payment is based on the period of employment and the employee’s salary at, or just prior to, retirement. The actuarial and investment-related risks associated with defined benefit pension plans are carried by the company.

The defined benefit obligations are calculated annually by independent actuaries using the Projected Unit Credit Method. Calculations are based on actuarial assumptions. Actuarial assumptions comprise the company’s best assessment of the variables that determine the final cost for providing the benefits. The obligation is measured at the present value of the anticipated future cash flows using a discount rate (see Key assessments and assumptions below). Actuarial gains and losses (remeasurements) are recognized directly in equity under other comprehensive income in the period in which they arise. The recognized cost for the defined benefit plans includes personnel costs, as well as net interest items. Net interest items comprise the discount rate calculated on the average net pension liability for the period, taking fee and remuneration payments into consideration. The difference between the calculated interest income (discount rate) on the plan assets and Essity’s actual return on the plan assets is included in the remeasurement of the defined benefit net liability or net asset recognized in equity under other comprehensive income. Past service costs are recognized in profit or loss in the period in which they arise.

The liability recognized in the balance sheet for defined benefit pension plans is the present value of the obligation on the balance sheet date minus the fair value of the plan assets. Funded plans with net assets, meaning plans with assets exceeding obligations, are recognized as a financial non-current asset provided they are not limited by the “asset ceiling” under IAS 19. Other pension plans, which are not fully funded or unfunded, are recognized as Provisions for pensions.

In certain countries, pension payments are subject to taxes or fees. In such cases, these are included in the calculation of the obligation for the defined benefit pension plans. These taxes or fees are recognized as an expense in profit or loss, except in cases where they are attributable to actuarial gains or losses, in which case they are recognized directly in equity under other comprehensive income.

Defined contribution pension plans

Plans where the employer’s obligation is limited to the premiums the company has undertaken to pay are classified as defined contribution plans. In these plans, it is the employee who bears the investment risk, meaning the risk that the invested assets could be insufficient to generate the anticipated compensation. The Group’s payments relating to defined contribution plans are recognized as an expense during the period the employees carry out the service to which the payment relates.

Other post-retirement benefits

Some Group companies provide post-retirement healthcare benefits. The obligation and anticipated costs for these benefits have been calculated and recognized in a similar manner to the defined benefit pension plans.

Severance pay

Severance pay is recognized as a payroll expense when the Group has an obligation to compensate employees whose employment was terminated early.

KAA Key assessments and assumptions

The calculation of recognized expenses and provisions for defined benefit pension plans, where the size of the future compensation is unknown and payment will occur far in the future, is dependent on assumptions and assessments. Key assumptions and assessments include the discount rate, future salary increases, inflation and life expectancy. Essity determines the discount rate based primarily on AA-rated corporate bonds issued in the currency in which the payments will be made that match the duration of the obligations. If no such corporate bonds are available, government bonds or mortgage bonds are used. Inflation assumptions are based on a combination of central bank targets, implicit market expectations and long-term analyst forecasts. Assumptions regarding salary increases are based on market expectations and market research forecasts. Key actuarial assumptions are presented in TC4:5. The sensitivity of the recognized provision with respect to key actuarial assumptions is described in TC4:6.

Surpluses in funded plans recognized as financial non-current assets amounted to BS SEK 2,817m (2,841; 1,117) on the balance sheet date and provisions for pensions totaled BS SEK 5,328m (5,866; 5,258). Defined benefit obligations include obligations in an amount of SEK 2,908m (2,889; 2,380) pertaining to unfunded plans.

Essity has both defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans in a number of Group companies. The most significant defined benefit pension plans in the respective countries are described below.

Netherlands

The plan was changed in 2020, thereby eliminating Essity’s guarantees concerning funding levels for previous and future vesting. Elimination of the guarantees resulted in a reclassification of the pension commitment from defined benefit to defined contribution in accordance with IAS 19, and a gain from settlements of SEK 187m was recognized in items affecting comparability. Defined benefit obligations of SEK 5,488m and plan assets of SEK 5,301m have been deconsolidated after a one-off payment of SEK 167m was made to the pension fund.

UK

The plan is a defined benefit plan with contributions paid by the company. The plan is based on final salary and consists of retirement pension, beneficiaries’ pension and disability pension. The plan was closed to new participants in July 2007 and closed for future accrual in September 2018. The plan is managed by an independent company and assets are held separately, according to UK law. Surpluses in the pension fund remain in the fund’s assets but can be utilized in the form of premium discounts. The plan is obligated to meet the minimum funding level according to an agreement with the pension plan.

In 2020, the Dutch pension plan was changed, resulting in it being reclassified from defined benefit to defined contribution in accordance with IAS 19. A gain from settlements was recognized as an item affecting comparability in the amount of SEK 187m as a result of this.

Sweden

In Sweden, the defined benefit obligation is mainly covered by the ITP2 plan and executive pensions. The ITP2 plan (supplementary pensions for salaried employees) encompasses employees born before 1979 and is a defined benefit plan that provides retirement pension based on final salary, as a percentage of various salary intervals. The ITP2 plan is safeguarded by a fund, and the company may compensate itself using any surpluses in the plan assets. The pension plans for executives are largely retirement and beneficiaries’ pension plans based on final salary and are closed to new participants and the liability largely comprises paid-up pension policies or pensions in payment. The pension plans for executives are largely unfunded and are credit-insured with PRI Pensionsgaranti.

Germany

In Germany, the defined benefit obligation comprises a number of different pension plans offering retirement pension, beneficiaries’ pension and disability pension. Plans based on final salary exist but these are closed to new participants and the benefit depends on the length of service and final salary at retirement. Defined contribution plans are also offered in which the benefit depends on provisions made by the company and, in certain plans, even by the employee during the period of service, and guaranteed return on the provisions. The obligations are largely financed by two different funds and the company may, in certain instances, compensate itself using any surpluses in the plan assets. In 2020, minor pension obligations were settled through the payment of a one-off amount to the pension holders totaling SEK 9m, which reduced the pension liability by SEK 11m.

USA

In the USA, the defined benefit obligations comprise retirement pensions in which the premiums are paid by the company and the benefit is based on a standard amount per service year. Only one plan is still open for new accrual for about 200 employees. The benefits are financed via a pension fund that is obligated to meet the minimum legislated funding level. Surpluses in the pension fund can be utilized in the form of premium discounts. In 2020, healthcare benefits to pensioners have been settled in insurance by the company paying a one-off premium of SEK 17m, which reduced the pension liability by SEK 18m.

Reclassification of SEK 5,488m in 2020 pertains to the deconsolidation of the former defined benefit obligations attributable to the Dutch pension plan.

Remeasurements in the defined benefit obligations comprise changes in financial assumptions, such as changes to the discount rate, any changes in demographic assumptions and experience-based deviations. Experience-based deviations include for example unexpectedly high or low employee turnover or salary increases.

Reclassification of SEK 5,301m in 2020 pertains to the deconsolidation of the plan assets attributable to the Dutch pension plan.

The plan assets are distributed according to the following classes of assets, 2020:

The plan assets are distributed according to the following classes of assets, 2019:

The plan assets are distributed according to the following classes of assets, 2018:

At the balance sheet date 94% (93;92) of the plan assets were traded on active markets for which market quotations were used for the valuation. As in the preceding year, no financial instruments issued by Essity are included in the fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2020.

Effect of asset ceiling pertains to funds in one Swedish foundation that can be used for possible future undertakings for early retirement for certain categories of employees.

The sensitivity of the defined benefit obligations with respect to changes in the principal actuarial assumptions is as follows:

The above sensitivity analysis is calculated by changing one assumption while the others remain constant.

Multiemployer plans

Essity has obligations for disability and family pensions for salaried employees in Sweden, secured through insurance with the insurance company Alecta. The company also has employees in Finland who are covered by the country’s statutory TyEL pension plan. These obligations are secured through the insurance company Varma. These benefits are reported as defined contribution plans, since there is no basis for allocating the obligations, plan assets and costs to the individual companies covered by the plan.

Budgeted contributions

The budgeted contributions for the company’s defined benefit pension plans for 2021 are calculated at SEK 922m. Contributions for multiemployer plans for 2021 are calculated at SEK 46m.