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Employee Benefit Plans
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Dec. 31, 2011
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| Employee Benefit Plans | Note 19—Employee Benefit Plans Pension and Postretirement Plans An analysis of the projected benefit obligations for our pension plans and accumulated benefit obligations for our postretirement health and life insurance plans follows:
For both U.S. and international pensions, the overall expected long-term rate of return is developed from the expected future return of each asset class, weighted by the expected allocation of pension assets to that asset class. We rely on a variety of independent market forecasts in developing the expected rate of return for each class of assets. Included in accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31 were the following before-tax amounts that had not been recognized in net periodic benefit cost:
Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31, 2011, that are expected to be amortized into net periodic postretirement cost during 2012 are provided below:
For our tax-qualified pension plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets, the projected benefit obligation, the accumulated benefit obligation, and the fair value of plan assets were $8,481 million, $7,377 million, and $6,098 million, respectively, at December 31, 2011, and $7,661 million, $6,718 million, and $5,706 million, respectively, at December 31, 2010. For our unfunded nonqualified key employee supplemental pension plans, the projected benefit obligation and the accumulated benefit obligation were $499 million and $374 million, respectively, at December 31, 2011, and were $479 million and $407 million, respectively, at December 31, 2010.
The components of net periodic benefit cost related to continuing and discontinued operations of all defined benefit plans are presented in the following table:
We recognized pension settlement losses of $21 million in 2011 and $15 million in 2009. None were recognized in 2010. We recognized special termination benefits of $5 million in 2009. None were recognized in 2011 and 2010. In determining net pension and other postretirement benefit costs, we amortize prior service costs on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of employees expected to receive benefits under the plan. For net actuarial gains and losses, we amortize 10 percent of the unamortized balance each year. We have multiple nonpension postretirement benefit plans for health and life insurance. The health care plans are contributory and subject to various cost sharing features, with participant and company contributions adjusted annually; the life insurance plans are noncontributory. The measurement of the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation assumes a health care cost trend rate of 7.75 percent in 2012 that declines to 5 percent by 2023. A one-percentage-point change in the assumed health care cost trend rate would be immaterial to ConocoPhillips. Plan Assets—We follow a policy of broadly diversifying pension plan assets across asset classes, investment managers, and individual holdings. As a result, our plan assets have no significant concentrations of credit risk. Asset classes that are considered appropriate include U.S. equities, non-U.S. equities, U.S. fixed income, non-U.S. fixed income, real estate and private equity investments. Plan fiduciaries may consider and add other asset classes to the investment program from time to time. The target allocations for plan assets are 56 percent equity securities, 35 percent debt securities, 6 percent real estate and 3 percent in all other types of investments. Generally, the investments in the plans are publicly traded, therefore minimizing liquidity risk in the portfolio. Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for the pension plan assets. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2011 and 2010.
The fair values of our pension plan assets at December 31, by asset class were as follows:
As reflected in the table above, Level 3 activity was not material.
Our funding policy for U.S. plans is to contribute at least the minimum required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Contributions to foreign plans are dependent upon local laws and tax regulations. In 2012, we expect to contribute approximately $690 million to our domestic qualified and nonqualified pension and postretirement benefit plans and $235 million to our international qualified and nonqualified pension and postretirement benefit plans. The following benefit payments, which are exclusive of amounts to be paid from the participating annuity contract and which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:
Defined Contribution Plans Most U.S. employees are eligible to participate in the ConocoPhillips Savings Plan (CPSP). Employees can deposit up to 75 percent of their eligible pay up to the statutory limit ($16,500 in 2011) in the thrift feature of the CPSP to a choice of approximately 39 investment funds. ConocoPhillips matches contribution deposits, up to 1.25 percent of eligible pay. Company contributions charged to expense related to continuing and discontinued operations for the CPSP and predecessor plans, excluding the stock savings feature (discussed below), were $25 million in 2011, $24 million in 2010, and $23 million in 2009. The stock savings feature of the CPSP is a leveraged employee stock ownership plan. Employees may elect to participate in the stock savings feature by contributing 1 percent of eligible pay and receiving an allocation of shares of common stock proportionate to the amount of contribution. In 1990, the Long-Term Stock Savings Plan of Phillips Petroleum Company (now the stock savings feature of the CPSP) borrowed funds that were used to purchase previously unissued shares of company common stock. Since the company guarantees the CPSP’s borrowings, the unpaid balance is reported as a liability of the company and unearned compensation is shown as a reduction of common stockholders’ equity. Dividends on all shares are charged against retained earnings. The debt is serviced by the CPSP from company contributions and dividends received on certain shares of common stock held by the plan, including all unallocated shares. The shares held by the stock savings feature of the CPSP are released for allocation to participant accounts based on debt service payments on CPSP borrowings. In addition, during the period from 2012 through 2014, when no debt principal payments are scheduled to occur, we have committed to make direct contributions of stock to the stock savings feature of the CPSP, or make prepayments on CPSP borrowings, to ensure a certain minimum level of stock allocation to participant accounts. We recognize interest expense as incurred and compensation expense based on the fair market value of the stock contributed or on the cost of the unallocated shares released, using the shares-allocated method. We recognized total CPSP expense related to continuing and discontinued operations to the stock savings feature of $77 million, $92 million and $83 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, all of which was compensation expense. In 2011, we made cash contributions to the CPSP of $4 million. No cash contributions were made in 2010 and 2009. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, we contributed 660,755 shares, 1,776,873 shares and 2,018,692 shares, respectively, of company common stock from the Compensation and Benefits Trust. The shares had a fair market value of $84 million, $103 million and $94 million, respectively. Also in 2011, we contributed 475,696 shares of company common stock from Treasury stock. Dividends used to service debt were $45 million, $41 million and $39 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These dividends reduced the amount of compensation expense recognized each period. Interest incurred on the CPSP debt in 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $1 million, $2 million and $2 million, respectively.
The total CPSP stock savings feature shares as of December 31 were:
The fair value of unallocated shares at December 31, 2011 and 2010, was $59 million and $231 million, respectively. We have several defined contribution plans for our international employees, each with its own terms and eligibility depending on location. Total compensation expense related to continuing and discontinued operations recognized for these international plans was approximately $56 million in 2011, $52 million in 2010 and $51 million in 2009. Share-Based Compensation Plans The 2011 Omnibus Stock and Performance Incentive Plan of ConocoPhillips (the Plan) was approved by shareholders in May 2011. Over its 10-year life, the Plan allows the issuance of up to 100 million shares of our common stock for compensation to our employees, directors and consultants; however, as of the effective date of the Plan, (i) any shares of common stock available for future awards under the prior plans and (ii) any shares of common stock represented by awards granted under the prior plans that are forfeited, expire or are canceled without delivery of shares of common stock or which result in the forfeiture of shares of common stock back to the company shall be available for awards under the Plan, and no new awards shall be granted under the prior plans. Of the 100 million shares available for issuance under the Plan, no more than 40 million shares of common stock are available for incentive stock options, and no more than 40 million shares are available for awards in stock. Our share-based compensation programs generally provide accelerated vesting (i.e., a waiver of the remaining period of service required to earn an award) for awards held by employees at the time of their retirement. For share-based awards granted prior to our adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), codified into FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation—Stock Compensation,” we recognize expense over the period of time during which the employee earns the award, accelerating the recognition of expense only when an employee actually retires. For share-based awards granted after our adoption of ASC 718 on January 1, 2006, we recognize share-based compensation expense over the shorter of the service period (i.e., the stated period of time required to earn the award); or the period beginning at the start of the service period and ending when an employee first becomes eligible for retirement, but not less than six months, as this is the minimum period of time required for an award to not be subject to forfeiture. Some of our share-based awards vest ratably (i.e., portions of the award vest at different times) while some of our awards cliff vest (i.e., all of the award vests at the same time). For awards granted prior to our adoption of ASC 718 that vest ratably, we recognize expense on a straight-line basis over the service period for each separate vesting portion of the award (i.e., as if the award was multiple awards with different requisite service periods). For share-based awards granted after our adoption of ASC 718, we recognize expense on a straight-line basis over the service period for the entire award, whether the award was granted with ratable or cliff vesting.
Total share-based compensation expense recognized in income related to continuing and discontinued operations and the associated tax benefit for the years ended December 31, were as follows:
Stock Options—Stock options granted under the provisions of the Plan and earlier plans permit purchase of our common stock at exercise prices equivalent to the average market price of the stock on the date the options were granted. The options have terms of 10 years and generally vest ratably, with one-third of the options awarded vesting and becoming exercisable on each anniversary date following the date of grant. Options awarded to employees already eligible for retirement vest within six months of the grant date, but those options do not become exercisable until the end of the normal vesting period. The following summarizes our stock option activity for the three years ended December 31, 2011:
The weighted-average remaining contractual term of vested options and exercisable options at December 31, 2011, was 3.95 years and 3.4 years, respectively. During 2011, we received $197 million in cash and realized a tax benefit related to continuing and discontinued operations of $119 million from the exercise of options. At December 31, 2011, the remaining unrecognized compensation expense from unvested options was $16 million, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 19 months, the longest period being 25 months.
The significant assumptions used to calculate the fair market values of the options granted over the past three years, as calculated using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model, were as follows:
The ranges in the assumptions used were as follows:
We calculate volatility using the most recent ConocoPhillips end-of-week closing stock prices spanning a period equal to the expected life of the options granted. We periodically calculate the average period of time lapsed between grant dates and exercise dates of past grants to estimate the expected life of new option grants. Stock Unit Program—Generally, restricted stock units are granted annually under the provisions of the Plan and vest ratably, with one-third of the units vesting in 36 months, one-third vesting in 48 months, and the final third vesting 60 months from the date of grant. In addition to these regularly scheduled annual awards, restricted stock units are also granted ad hoc to attract or retain key personnel, and the terms and conditions under which these restricted stock units vest vary by award. Upon vesting, the units are settled by issuing one share of ConocoPhillips common stock per unit. Units awarded to employees already eligible for retirement vest within six months of the grant date, but those units are not issued as shares until the end of the normal vesting period. Until issued as stock, most recipients of the units receive a quarterly cash payment of a dividend equivalent that is charged to expense. The grant date fair value of these units is deemed equal to the average ConocoPhillips stock price on the date of grant. The grant date fair market value of units that do not receive a dividend equivalent while unvested is deemed equal to the average ConocoPhillips stock price on the grant date, less the net present value of the dividends that will not be received.
The following summarizes our stock unit activity for the three years ended December 31, 2011:
At December 31, 2011, the remaining unrecognized compensation cost from the unvested units was $188 million, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 30 months, the longest period being 100 months. Performance Share Program—Under the Plan, we also annually grant to senior management restricted performance share units (PSUs) that do not vest until either (i) with respect to awards for performance periods beginning before 2009, the employee becomes eligible for retirement by reaching age 55 with five years of service or (ii) with respect to awards for performance periods beginning in 2009, five years after the grant date of the award (although recipients can elect to defer the lapsing of restrictions until retirement after reaching age 55 with five years of service), so we recognize compensation expense for these awards beginning on the date of grant and ending on the date the PSUs are scheduled to vest. Since these awards are authorized three years prior to the grant date, for employees eligible for such retirement by or shortly after the grant date, we recognize compensation expense over the period beginning on the date of authorization and ending on the date of grant. These PSUs are settled by issuing one share of ConocoPhillips common stock per unit. Until issued as stock, recipients of the PSUs receive a quarterly cash payment of a dividend equivalent that is charged to expense. In its current form, the first grant of PSUs under this program was in 2006.
The following summarizes our Performance Share Program activity for the three years ended December 31, 2011:
At December 31, 2011, the remaining unrecognized compensation cost from unvested Performance Share awards was $27 million, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 46 months, the longest period being 15 years. Other—In addition to the above active programs, we have outstanding shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units that were either issued to replace awards held by employees of companies we acquired or issued as part of a compensation program that has been discontinued. Generally, the recipients of the restricted shares or units receive a quarterly dividend or dividend equivalent.
The following summarizes the aggregate activity of these restricted shares and units for the three years ended December 31, 2011:
At December 31, 2011, there was no remaining unrecognized compensation cost from the unvested units. Compensation and Benefits Trust The Compensation and Benefits Trust (CBT) was an irrevocable grantor trust, administered by an independent trustee and designed to acquire, hold and distribute shares of our common stock to fund certain future compensation and benefit obligations of the company. The trustee voted shares held by the CBT in accordance with voting directions from eligible employees, as specified in a trust agreement with the trustee. We sold 58.4 million shares of previously unissued company common stock to the CBT in 1995 for $37 million of cash, previously contributed to the CBT by us, and a promissory note from the CBT to us of $952 million. The CBT was consolidated by ConocoPhillips; therefore, the cash contribution and promissory note were eliminated in consolidation. Shares held by the CBT were valued at cost and did not affect earnings per share or total common stockholders’ equity until after they were transferred out of the CBT. In 2010, 1,776,873 shares were transferred out of the CBT. In August 2011, all of the approximately 36 million shares of company common stock held by the CBT were transferred to ConocoPhillips, and those shares are now held as non-voting treasury stock. Because the CBT was consolidated by us, the transfer of its shares from “Grantor trusts” to “Treasury stock” in the equity section of our balance sheet was recorded at the shares’ historical carrying value of $610 million. This transfer did not affect total equity, shares outstanding or earnings per share. The CBT no longer holds any assets. Two smaller grantor trusts also disposed of all their shares of company stock during 2011. |
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