Employee Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

The company has defined benefit pension plans for many employees. The company typically prefunds defined benefit plans as required by local regulations or in certain situations where prefunding provides economic advantages. In the United States, all qualified plans are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) minimum funding standard. The company does not typically fund U.S. nonqualified pension plans that are not subject to funding requirements under laws and regulations because contributions to these pension plans may be less economic and investment returns may be less attractive than the company’s other investment alternatives.

The company also sponsors other postretirement benefit (OPEB) plans that provide medical and dental benefits, as well as life insurance for some active and qualifying retired employees. The plans are unfunded, and the company and retirees share the costs. For the company’s main U.S. medical plan, the increase to the pre-Medicare company contribution for retiree medical coverage is limited to no more than 4 percent each year. Certain life insurance benefits are paid by the company.

The company recognizes the overfunded or underfunded status of each of its defined benefit pension and OPEB plans as an asset or liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The funded status of the company’s pension and OPEB plans for 2019 and 2018 follows:



	Pension Benefits
	2019						2018						Other Benefits
	U.S.			Int’l.			U.S.			Int’l.			2019			2018
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation at January 1	$	11,726		$	4,820		$	13,580		$	5,540		$	2,430		$	2,788
Service cost	406			139			480			141			36			42
Interest cost	397			199			370			206			96			94
Plan participants’ contributions	—			4			—			4			72			71
Plan amendments	—			29			—			23			—			2
Actuarial (gain) loss	2,922			673			(1,051		)	(239		)	125			(272		)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	—			121			—			(227		)	2			(9		)
Benefits paid	(1,035		)	(302		)	(1,653		)	(432		)	(240		)	(237		)
Divestitures/Acquisitions	49			—			—			(196		)	(1		)	(49		)
Curtailment	—			(3		)	—			—			—			—
Benefit obligation at December 31	14,465			5,680			11,726			4,820			2,520			2,430
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets at January 1	8,532			4,142			9,948			4,766			—			—
Actual return on plan assets	1,548			566			(566		)	(9		)	—			—
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	—			115			—			(221		)	—			—
Employer contributions	1,096			266			803			232			168			166
Plan participants’ contributions	—			4			—			4			72			71
Benefits paid	(1,035		)	(302		)	(1,653		)	(432		)	(240		)	(237		)
Divestitures/Acquisitions	36			—			—			(198		)	—			—
Fair value of plan assets at December 31	10,177			4,791			8,532			4,142			—			—
Funded status at December 31	$	(4,288	)	$	(889	)	$	(3,194	)	$	(678	)	$	(2,520	)	$	(2,430	)

Amounts recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheet for the company’s pension and OPEB plans at December 31, 2019 and 2018, include:



	Pension Benefits
	2019						2018						Other Benefits
	U.S.			Int’l.			U.S.			Int’l.			2019			2018
Deferred charges and other assets	$	23		$	413		$	17		$	412		$	—		$	—
Accrued liabilities	(239		)	(71		)	(180		)	(66		)	(174		)	(175		)
Noncurrent employee benefit plans	(4,072		)	(1,231		)	(3,031		)	(1,024		)	(2,346		)	(2,255		)
Net amount recognized at December 31	$	(4,288	)	$	(889	)	$	(3,194	)	$	(678	)	$	(2,520	)	$	(2,430	)

Amounts recognized on a before-tax basis in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” for the company’s pension and OPEB plans were $6,357 and $4,448 at the end of 2019 and 2018, respectively. These amounts consisted of:



	Pension Benefits
	2019				2018				Other Benefits
	U.S.		Int’l.		U.S.		Int’l.		2019			2018
Net actuarial loss	$	5,135	$	1,269	$	3,694	$	955	$	74		$	(56	)
Prior service (credit) costs	5		102		7		104		(228		)	(256		)
Total recognized at December 31	$	5,140	$	1,371	$	3,701	$	1,059	$	(154	)	$	(312	)

The accumulated benefit obligations for all U.S. and international pension plans were $12,781 and $5,203, respectively, at December 31, 2019, and $10,514 and $4,360, respectively, at December 31, 2018.

Information for U.S. and international pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets at December 31, 2019 and 2018, was:



	Pension Benefits
	2019				2018
	U.S.		Int’l.		U.S.		Int’l.
Projected benefit obligations	$	14,401	$	1,554	$	11,667	$	1,277
Accumulated benefit obligations	12,718		1,268		10,456		1,062
Fair value of plan assets	10,091		278		8,456		198

The components of net periodic benefit cost and amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for 2019, 2018 and 2017 are shown in the table below:



	Pension Benefits
	2019						2018						2017						Other Benefits
	U.S.			Int’l.			U.S.			Int’l.			U.S.			Int’l.			2019			2018			2017
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost	$	406		$	139		$	480		$	141		$	489		$	151		$	36		$	42		$	32
Interest cost	397			199			370			206			366			219			96			94			95
Expected return on plan assets	(565		)	(231		)	(636		)	(253		)	(597		)	(239		)	—			—			—
Amortization of prior service costs (credits)	2			11			2			10			(5		)	13			(28		)	(28		)	(28		)
Recognized actuarial losses	239			21			304			29			340			44			(3		)	15			(5		)
Settlement losses	259			3			411			33			436			2			—			—			—
Curtailment losses (gains)	—			16			—			3			—			—			—			—			—
Total net periodic benefit cost	738			158			931			169			1,029			190			101			123			94
Changes Recognized in Comprehensive Income
Net actuarial (gain) loss during period	1,939			338			151			12			381			(94		)	128			(248		)	284
Amortization of actuarial loss	(498		)	(24		)	(715		)	(62		)	(776		)	(46		)	3			(15		)	5
Prior service (credits) costs during period	—			29			—			23			—			1			(1		)	3			—
Amortization of prior service (costs) credits	(2		)	(30		)	(2		)	(13		)	5			(13		)	28			28			28
Total changes recognized in other comprehensive income	1,439			313			(566		)	(40		)	(390		)	(152		)	158			(232		)	317
Recognized in Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other Comprehensive Income	$	2,177		$	471		$	365		$	129		$	639		$	38		$	259		$	(109	)	$	411

Net actuarial losses recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” at December 31, 2019, for the company’s U.S. pension, international pension and OPEB plans are being amortized on a straight-line basis over approximately 10, 12 and 14 years, respectively. These amortization periods represent the estimated average remaining service of employees expected to receive benefits under the plans. These losses are amortized to the extent they exceed 10 percent of the higher of the projected benefit obligation or market-related value of plan assets. The amount subject to amortization is determined on a plan-by-plan basis. During 2020, the company estimates actuarial losses of $385, $46 and $3 will be amortized from “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” for U.S. pension, international pension and OPEB plans, respectively. In addition, the company estimates an additional $320 will be recognized from “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” during 2020 related to lump-sum settlement costs from the main U.S. pension plans.

The weighted average amortization period for recognizing prior service costs (credits) recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” at December 31, 2019, was approximately 3 and 6 years for U.S. and international pension plans, respectively, and 8 years for OPEB plans. During 2020, the company estimates prior service (credits) costs of $2, $10 and

$(28) will be amortized from “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” for U.S. pension, international pension and OPEB plans, respectively.

Assumptions The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit costs for years ended December 31:



	Pension Benefits
	2019				2018				2017						Other Benefits
	U.S.		Int’l.		U.S.		Int’l.		U.S.		Int’l.		2019		2018		2017
Assumptions used to determine benefit obligations:
Discount rate	3.1	%	3.2	%	4.2	%	4.4	%	3.5	%	3.9	%	3.2	%	4.4	%	3.8	%
Rate of compensation increase	4.5	%	4.0	%	4.5	%	4.0	%	4.5	%	4.0	%	N/A		N/A		N/A
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost:
Discount rate for service cost	4.4	%	4.4	%	3.7	%	3.9	%	4.2	%	4.3	%	4.6	%	3.9	%	4.6	%
Discount rate for interest cost	3.7	%	4.4	%	3.0	%	3.9	%	3.0	%	4.3	%	4.2	%	3.5	%	3.8	%
Expected return on plan assets	6.8	%	5.6	%	6.8	%	5.5	%	6.8	%	5.5	%	N/A		N/A		N/A
Rate of compensation increase	4.5	%	4.0	%	4.5	%	4.0	%	4.5	%	4.5	%	N/A		N/A		N/A

Expected Return on Plan Assets The company’s estimated long-term rates of return on pension assets are driven primarily by actual historical asset-class returns, an assessment of expected future performance, advice from external actuarial firms and the incorporation of specific asset-class risk factors. Asset allocations are periodically updated using pension plan asset/liability studies, and the company’s estimated long-term rates of return are consistent with these studies.

For 2019, the company used an expected long-term rate of return of 6.75 percent for U.S. pension plan assets, which account for 68 percent of the company’s pension plan assets. In both 2018 and 2017, the company used a long-term rate of return of 6.75 percent for these plans.

The market-related value of assets of the main U.S. pension plan used in the determination of pension expense was based on the market values in the three months preceding the year-end measurement date. Management considers the three-month time period long enough to minimize the effects of distortions from day-to-day market volatility and still be contemporaneous to the end of the year. For other plans, market value of assets as of year-end is used in calculating the pension expense.

Discount Rate The discount rate assumptions used to determine the U.S. and international pension and OPEB plan obligations and expense reflect the rate at which benefits could be effectively settled, and are equal to the equivalent single rate resulting from yield curve analysis. This analysis considered the projected benefit payments specific to the company’s plans and the yields on high-quality bonds. The projected cash flows were discounted to the valuation date using the yield curve for the main U.S. pension and OPEB plans. The effective discount rates derived from this analysis at the end of 2019 were 3.1 percent for the main U.S. pension plan and 3.1 percent for the main U.S. OPEB plan. The discount rates for these plans at the end of 2018 were 4.2 and 4.3 percent, respectively, while in 2017 they were 3.5 and 3.6 percent for these plans, respectively.

Other Benefit Assumptions Assumed health care cost-trend rates can have a significant effect on the amounts reported for retiree health care costs. For the measurement of accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2019, for the main U.S. OPEB plan, the assumed health care cost-trend rates start with 6.8 percent in 2020 and gradually decline to 4.5 percent for 2025 and beyond. For this measurement at December 31, 2018, the assumed health care cost-trend rates started with 7.2 percent in 2019 and gradually declined to 4.5 percent for 2025 and beyond. A 1-percentage-point change in the assumed health care cost-trend rates would have the following effects on worldwide plans:



	1 Percent Increase		1 Percent Decrease
Effect on total service and interest cost components	$	20	$	(15	)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation	$	224	$	(176	)

Plan Assets and Investment Strategy

The fair value measurements of the company’s pension plans for 2019 and 2018 are on the following page:



	U.S.											Int’l.
	Total		Level 1			Level 2		Level 3		NAV		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		NAV
At December 31, 2018
Equities
U.S.¹	$	1,110	$	1,110		$	—	$	—	$	—	$	520	$	520	$	—	$	—	$	—
International	1,631		1,630			1		—		—		521		520		—		1		—
Collective Trusts/Mutual Funds²	893		21			—		—		872		152		9		—		—		143
Fixed Income
Government	225		—			225		—		—		254		97		157		—		—
Corporate	1,382		—			1,382		—		—		409		—		389		20		—
Bank Loans	119		—			114		5		—		—		—		—		—		—
Mortgage/Asset Backed	1		—			1		—		—		6		—		6		—		—
Collective Trusts/Mutual Funds²	877		—			—		—		877		1,521		15		—		—		1,506
Mixed Funds³	—		—			—		—		—		74		3		71		—		—
Real Estate⁴	1,065		—			—		—		1,065		378		—		—		56		322
Alternative Investments⁵	941		—			—		—		941		—		—		—		—		—
Cash and Cash Equivalents	212		208			4		—		—		287		277		2		—		8
Other⁶	76		(4		)	31		44		5		20		—		17		3		—
Total at December 31, 2018	$	8,532	$	2,965		$	1,758	$	49	$	3,760	$	4,142	$	1,441	$	642	$	80	$	1,979
At December 31, 2019
Equities
U.S.¹	$	1,769	$	1,769		$	—	$	—	$	—	$	471	$	471	$	—	$	—	$	—
International	1,958		1,958			—		—		—		422		421		—		1		—
Collective Trusts/Mutual Funds²	1,079		52			—		—		1,027		184		6		—		—		178
Fixed Income
Government	523		—			523		—		—		265		144		121		—		—
Corporate	1,444		—			1,444		—		—		493		—		490		3		—
Bank Loans	120		—			113		7		—		—		—		—		—		—
Mortgage/Asset Backed	1		—			1		—		—		4		—		4		—		—
Collective Trusts/Mutual Funds²	963		—			—		—		963		2,230		5		—		—		2,225
Mixed Funds³	—		—			—		—		—		84		7		77		—		—
Real Estate⁴	1,089		—			—		—		1,089		277		—		—		55		222
Alternative Investments⁵	924		—			—		—		924		—		—		—		—		—
Cash and Cash Equivalents	235		228			7		—		—		338		334		2		—		2
Other⁶	72		(5		)	29		44		4		23		—		21		2		—
Total at December 31, 2019	$	10,177	$	4,002		$	2,117	$	51	$	4,007	$	4,791	$	1,388	$	715	$	61	$	2,627


¹	U.S. equities include investments in the company’s common stock in the amount of $6 at December 31, 2019, and $9 at December 31, 2018.


²	Collective Trusts/Mutual Funds for U.S. plans are entirely index funds; for International plans, they are mostly unit trust and index funds.


³	Mixed funds are composed of funds that invest in both equity and fixed-income instruments in order to diversify and lower risk.


⁴	The year-end valuations of the U.S. real estate assets are based on third-party appraisals that occur at least once a year for each property in the portfolio.


⁵	Alternative investments focus on market-neutral strategies that have a low expected correlation to traditional asset classes.

⁶

The “Other” asset class includes net payables for securities purchased but not yet settled (Level 1); dividends and interest- and tax-related receivables (Level 2); insurance contracts (Level 3); and investments in private-equity limited partnerships (NAV).

The effects of fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs on changes in Level 3 plan assets are outlined below:



	Equity			Fixed Income
	International			Corporate			Bank Loans			Real Estate			Other			Total
Total at December 31, 2017	$	—		$	30		$	11		$	56		$	46		$	143
Actual Return on Plan Assets:
Assets held at the reporting date	4			(2		)	—			13			—			15
Assets sold during the period	(4		)	—			—			—			—			(4		)
Purchases, Sales and Settlements	—			(7		)	(4		)	(13		)	—			(24		)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	1			—			(2		)	—			—			(1		)
Total at December 31, 2018	$	1		$	21		$	5		$	56		$	46		$	129
Actual Return on Plan Assets:
Assets held at the reporting date	(1		)	1			—			—			(1		)	(1		)
Assets sold during the period	—			—			—			—			—			—
Purchases, Sales and Settlements	—			(19		)	—			(1		)	1			(19		)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	1			—			2			—			—			3
Total at December 31, 2019	$	1		$	3		$	7		$	55		$	46		$	112

The primary investment objectives of the pension plans are to achieve the highest rate of total return within prudent levels of risk and liquidity, to diversify and mitigate potential downside risk associated with the investments, and to provide adequate liquidity for benefit payments and portfolio management.

The company’s U.S. and U.K. pension plans comprise 92 percent of the total pension assets. Both the U.S. and U.K. plans have an Investment Committee that regularly meets during the year to review the asset holdings and their returns. To assess the plans’ investment performance, long-term asset allocation policy benchmarks have been established.

For the primary U.S. pension plan, the company’s Investment Committee has established the following approved asset allocation ranges: Equities 30–60 percent, Fixed Income 20–40 percent, Real Estate 0–15 percent, Alternative Investments 0–15 percent and Cash 0–25 percent. For the U.K. pension plan, the U.K. Board of Trustees has established the following asset allocation guidelines: Equities 10–30 percent, Fixed Income 55–85 percent, Real Estate 5–15 percent, and Cash 0–5 percent. The other significant international pension plans also have established maximum and minimum asset allocation ranges that vary by plan. Actual asset allocation within approved ranges is based on a variety of factors, including market conditions and illiquidity constraints. To mitigate concentration and other risks, assets are invested across multiple asset classes with active investment managers and passive index funds.

The company does not prefund its OPEB obligations.

Cash Contributions and Benefit Payments In 2019, the company contributed $1,096 and $266 to its U.S. and international pension plans, respectively. In 2020, the company expects contributions to be approximately $1,250 to its U.S. plans and $250 to its international pension plans. Actual contribution amounts are dependent upon investment returns, changes in pension obligations, regulatory environments, tax law changes and other economic factors. Additional funding may ultimately be required if investment returns are insufficient to offset increases in plan obligations.

The company anticipates paying OPEB benefits of approximately $174 in 2020; $168 was paid in 2019.

The following benefit payments, which include estimated future service, are expected to be paid by the company in the next 10 years:



	Pension Benefits				Other
	U.S.		Int’l.		Benefits
2020	$	1,262	$	280	$	174
2021	$	1,176	$	602	$	170
2022	$	1,160	$	224	$	165
2023	$	1,150	$	234	$	161
2024	$	1,134	$	255	$	156
2024-2028	$	5,232	$	1,434	$	725

Employee Savings Investment Plan Eligible employees of Chevron and certain of its subsidiaries participate in the Chevron Employee Savings Investment Plan (ESIP). Compensation expense for the ESIP totaled $284, $270 and $316 in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Benefit Plan Trusts Prior to its acquisition by Chevron, Texaco established a benefit plan trust for funding obligations under some of its benefit plans. At year-end 2019, the trust contained 14.2 million shares of Chevron treasury stock. The trust will sell the shares or use the dividends from the shares to pay benefits only to the extent that the company does not pay such benefits. The company intends to continue to pay its obligations under the benefit plans. The trustee will vote the shares held in the trust as instructed by the trust’s beneficiaries. The shares held in the trust are not considered outstanding for earnings-per-share purposes until distributed or sold by the trust in payment of benefit obligations.

Prior to its acquisition by Chevron, Unocal established various grantor trusts to fund obligations under some of its benefit plans, including the deferred compensation and supplemental retirement plans. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, trust assets of $35 and $34, respectively, were invested primarily in interest-earning accounts.

Employee Incentive Plans The Chevron Incentive Plan is an annual cash bonus plan for eligible employees that links awards to corporate, business unit and individual performance in the prior year. Charges to expense for cash bonuses were $826, $1,048 and $936 in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Chevron also has the LTIP for officers and other regular salaried employees of the company and its subsidiaries who hold positions of significant responsibility. Awards under the LTIP consist of stock options and other share-based compensation that are described in Note 20, beginning on page 80.