XML 56 R16.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

OTHER LIABILITIES, INCLUDING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Other Liabilities, Including Employee Benefits [Abstract]

OTHER LIABILITIES, INCLUDING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

The components of other liabilities follow:


	December 31,
	2020		2019
Pension, postretirement, postemployment and other employment benefitsa	$	1,213	$	1,318
Cerro Verde royalty dispute	376		502
Provision for tax positions	261		255




Leasesb	190		204
Other	229		212
Total other liabilities	$	2,269	$	2,491

a.Refer to Note 7 for current portion.

b.Refer to Note 13 for further discussion.

Pension Plans. Following is a discussion of FCX’s pension plans.

FMC Plans. FMC has U.S. trusteed, non-contributory pension plans covering some U.S. employees and some employees of its international subsidiaries hired before 2007. The applicable FMC plan design determines the manner in which benefits are calculated for any particular group of employees. Benefits are calculated based on final average monthly compensation and years of service or based on a fixed amount for each year of service. Non-bargained FMC employees hired after December 31, 2006, are not eligible to participate in the FMC U.S. pension plan. See below for discussion of a 2020 plan amendment.

FCX’s funding policy for these plans provides that contributions to pension trusts shall be at least equal to the minimum funding requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, for U.S. plans; or, in the case of international plans, the minimum legal requirements that may be applicable in the various countries. Additional contributions also may be made from time to time.

FCX’s policy for determining asset-mix targets for the FMC plan assets held in a master trust (Master Trust) includes the periodic development of asset allocation studies and review of the liabilities to determine expected long-term rates of return and expected risk for various investment portfolios. FCX’s retirement plan administration and investment committee considers these studies in the formal establishment of asset-mix targets defined in the investment policy. FCX’s investment objective emphasizes diversification through both the allocation of the Master Trust assets among various asset classes and the selection of investment managers whose various styles are fundamentally complementary to one another and serve to achieve satisfactory rates of return. Diversification, by asset class and by investment manager, is FCX’s principal means of reducing volatility and exercising prudent investment judgment. FCX’s present target asset allocation approximates 40 percent equity investments (primarily developed market equities), 52 percent fixed income (primarily long-term treasury STRIPS or “separate trading or registered interest and principal securities”; long-term U.S. treasury/agency bonds; global fixed income securities; long-term, high-credit quality corporate bonds; high-yield and emerging markets fixed income securities; and fixed income debt securities) and 8 percent alternative investments (private real estate, real estate investment trusts and private equity).

The expected rate of return on plan assets is evaluated at least annually, taking into consideration asset allocation, historical and expected future performance on the types of assets held in the Master Trust, and the current economic environment. Based on these factors, FCX expects the pension assets will earn an average of 5.25 percent per annum beginning January 1, 2021, which was based on the target asset allocation and long-term capital market return expectations.

For estimation purposes, FCX assumes the long-term asset mix for these plans generally will be consistent with the current mix. Changes in the asset mix could impact the amount of recorded pension costs, the funded status of the plans and the need for future cash contributions. A lower-than-expected return on assets also would decrease plan assets and increase the amount of recorded pension costs in future years. When calculating the expected return on plan assets, FCX uses the market value of assets.

Among the assumptions used to estimate the pension benefit obligation is a discount rate used to calculate the present value of expected future benefit payments for service to date. The discount rate assumption for FCX’s U.S. plans is designed to reflect yields on high-quality, fixed-income investments for a given duration. The determination of the discount rate for these plans is based on expected future benefit payments for service to date together with the Mercer Yield Curve - Above Mean. The Mercer Yield Curve - Above Mean is constructed from the bonds in the Mercer Pension Discount Curve that have a yield higher than the regression mean yield curve. The Mercer Yield Curve - Above Mean consists of spot (i.e., zero coupon) interest rates at one-half-year increments for each of the next 30 years and is developed based on pricing and yield information for high-quality corporate bonds. Changes in the discount rate are reflected in FCX’s benefit obligation and, therefore, in future pension costs.

SERP Plan. FCX has an unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) for its chief executive officer. The SERP provides for retirement benefits payable in the form of a joint and survivor annuity, life annuity or an equivalent lump sum, which is determined on January 1 of the year in which the participant completed 25 years of credited service. The annuity will equal a percentage of the participant’s highest average compensation for any consecutive three-year period during the five years immediately preceding the completion of 25 years of credited service. The SERP benefit will be reduced by the value of all benefits from current and former retirement plans (qualified and nonqualified) sponsored by FCX, by FM Services Company, FCX’s wholly owned subsidiary, or by any predecessor employer (including FCX’s former parent company), except for benefits produced by accounts funded exclusively by deductions from the participant’s pay.

PT-FI Plan. PT-FI has a defined benefit pension plan denominated in Indonesia rupiah covering substantially all of its Indonesia national employees. PT-FI funds the plan and invests the assets in accordance with Indonesia pension guidelines. The pension obligation was valued at an exchange rate of 14,034 rupiah to one U.S. dollar on December 31, 2020, and 13,832 rupiah to one U.S. dollar on December 31, 2019. Indonesia labor laws require that companies provide a minimum level of benefits to employees upon employment termination based on the reason for termination and the employee’s years of service. PT-FI’s pension benefit obligation includes benefits determined in accordance with this law. PT-FI’s expected rate of return on plan assets is evaluated at least annually, taking into consideration its long-range estimated return for the plan based on the asset mix. Based on these factors, PT-FI expects its pension assets will earn an average of 7.75 percent per annum beginning January 1, 2021. The discount rate assumption for PT-FI’s plan is based on the Indonesia Government Security Yield Curve. Changes in the discount rate are reflected in PT-FI’s benefit obligation and, therefore, in future pension costs.

Plan Information. FCX uses a measurement date of December 31 for its plans. Information for qualified and non-qualified plans where the projected benefit obligations and the accumulated benefit obligations exceed the fair value of plan assets follows:


	December 31,
	2020		2019
Projected benefit obligation	$	2,666	$	2,522
Accumulated benefit obligation	2,664		2,361
Fair value of plan assets	1,884		1,615

Information on the qualified and non-qualified FCX (FMC and SERP plans) and PT-FI plans as of December 31 follows:


	FCX						PT-FI
	2020			2019			2020			2019
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	2,576		$	2,230		$	217		$	220
Service cost	37			42			11			12
Interest cost	77			95			14			17
Actuarial losses (gains)	308			328			12			(27)

Foreign exchange losses (gains)	1			1			(2)			8
Curtailment	(154)			—			—			—

Benefits and administrative expenses paid	(123)			(120)			(14)			(13)
Benefit obligation at end of year	2,722			2,576			238			217

Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	1,677			1,433			254			238
Actual return on plan assets	272			289			13			19
Employer contributionsa	119			74			2			—

Foreign exchange gains (losses)	1			1			(4)			10
Benefits and administrative expenses paid	(123)			(120)			(14)			(13)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,946			1,677			251			254
Funded status	$	(776)		$	(899)		$	13		$	37

Accumulated benefit obligation	$	2,719		$	2,414		$	194		$	175

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations:

Discount rate	2.50		%	3.40		%	6.25		%	7.25		%
Rate of compensation increase	—		%	3.25		%	4.00		%	4.00		%

Balance sheet classification of funded status:
Other assets	$	7		$	8		$	13		$	37
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(4)			(4)			—			—
Other liabilities	(779)			(903)			—			—
Total	$	(776)		$	(899)		$	13		$	37

a.Employer contributions for 2021 are expected to approximate $64 million for the FCX plans and $2 million for the PT-FI plan (based on a December 31, 2020, exchange rate of 14,034 Indonesia rupiah to one U.S. dollar).

In August 2020, the FMC Retirement Plan, the largest FMC plan, was amended such that, effective September 1, 2020, participants no longer accrue any additional benefits under the FMC Retirement Plan. As a result, FCX remeasured its pension assets and benefit obligation as of July 31, 2020. The discount rate and expected long-term rate of return on the plan assets used for the July 31, 2020, remeasurement were 2.40 percent and 6.25 percent, respectively. The rate of compensation increase was unchanged (3.25 percent). The remeasurement and curtailment resulted in the projected benefit obligation increasing by $184 million and plan assets increasing by $103 million. In addition, FCX recognized a curtailment loss of $4 million in third-quarter 2020.

During 2020, the actuarial loss of $308 million for the FCX pension plans primarily resulted from the decrease in the discount rate from 3.40 percent to 2.50 percent, offset by the FMC Retirement Plan amendment to discontinue additional benefits. During 2019, the actuarial loss of $328 million for the FCX pension plans primarily resulted from the decrease in the discount rate from 4.40 percent to 3.40 percent.

During 2020, the actuarial loss of $12 million for the PT-FI pension plan primarily resulted from the decrease in the discount rate from 7.25 percent to 6.25 percent. During 2019, the actuarial gain of $27 million for the PT-FI pension plan primarily resulted from a change in the estimated plan administration costs, partially offset by a decrease in the discount rate from 8.25 percent to 7.25 percent.

The weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost and the components of net periodic benefit cost for FCX’s pension plans for the years ended December 31 follow:


	2020			2019			2018
Weighted-average assumptions:a
Discount rate	2.98		%	4.40		%	3.70		%
Expected return on plan assets	6.25		%	6.50		%	6.50		%
Rate of compensation increase	3.25		%	3.25		%	3.25		%

Service cost	$	37		$	42		$	44
Interest cost	77			95			84
Expected return on plan assets	(105)			(90)			(101)

Amortization of net actuarial losses	45			48			49
Curtailment loss	4			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	58		$	95		$	76

a.The assumptions shown relate only to the FMC Retirement Plan.

The weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost and the components of net periodic benefit cost for PT-FI’s pension plan for the years ended December 31 follow:


	2020			2019			2018
Weighted-average assumptions:
Discount rate	7.25		%	8.25		%	6.75		%
Expected return on plan assets	7.75		%	8.25		%	6.75		%
Rate of compensation increase	4.00		%	4.00		%	4.00		%

Service cost	$	11		$	12		$	13
Interest cost	14			17			14
Expected return on plan assets	(19)			(17)			(19)
Amortization of prior service cost	2			1			2
Amortization of net actuarial gains	(3)			(1)			(1)

Net periodic benefit cost	$	5		$	12		$	9

The service cost component of net periodic benefit cost is included in operating income, and the other components are included in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations.

Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss are the following amounts that have not been recognized in net periodic pension cost as of December 31:


	2020				2019
	Before Taxes		After Taxes and Noncontrolling Interests		Before Taxes		After Taxes and Noncontrolling Interests
Net actuarial losses	$	673	$	558	$	710	$	604
Prior service costs	6		1		11		6
	$	679	$	559	$	721	$	610

Plan assets are classified within a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1), then to prices derived using significant observable inputs (Level 2) and the lowest priority to prices derived using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

A summary of the fair value for pension plan assets, including those measured at net asset value (NAV) as a practical expedient, associated with the FCX plans follows:


	Fair Value at December 31, 2020
	Total		NAV		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Commingled/collective funds:
Global equity	$	527	$	527	$	—	$	—	$	—
Fixed income securities	404		404		—		—		—


International small-cap equity	76		76		—		—		—
Real estate property	59		59		—		—		—
U.S. real estate securities	51		51		—		—		—







Short-term investments	51		51		—		—		—
U.S. small-cap equity	25		25		—		—		—
Fixed income:
Corporate bonds	381		—		—		381		—
Government bonds	181		—		—		181		—
Global large-cap equity securities	109		—		109		—		—
Private equity investments	10		10		—		—		—
Other investments	55		—		1		54		—
Total investments	1,929		$	1,203	$	110	$	616	$	—

Cash and receivables	100
Payables	(83)
Total pension plan net assets	$	1,946


	Fair Value at December 31, 2019
	Total		NAV		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Commingled/collective funds:
Global equity	$	425	$	425	$	—	$	—	$	—
Fixed income securities	239		239		—		—		—
U.S. small-cap equity	67		67		—		—		—

Real estate property	58		58		—		—		—

International small-cap equity	55		55		—		—		—
U.S. real estate securities	53		53		—		—		—
Short-term investments	16		16		—		—		—











Fixed income:
Government bonds	279		—		—		279		—
Corporate bonds	256		—		—		256		—
Global large-cap equity securities	107		—		107		—		—
Private equity investments	11		11		—		—		—
Other investments	64		—		14		50		—
Total investments	1,630		$	924	$	121	$	585	$	—

Cash and receivables	86
Payables	(39)
Total pension plan net assets	$	1,677

Following is a description of the pension plan asset categories and the valuation techniques used to measure fair value. There have been no changes to the techniques used to measure fair value.

Commingled/collective funds are managed by several fund managers and are valued at the NAV per unit of the fund. For most of these funds, the majority of the underlying assets are actively traded securities. These funds (except the real estate property fund) require up to a 15-calendar-day notice for redemptions. The real estate property fund is valued at NAV using information from independent appraisal firms, who have knowledge and expertise about the current market values of real property in the same vicinity as the investments. Redemptions of the real estate property fund are allowed once per quarter, subject to available cash.

Fixed income investments include government and corporate bonds held directly by the Master Trust. Fixed income securities are valued using a bid-evaluation price or a mid-evaluation price and, as such, are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. A bid-evaluation price is an estimated price at which a dealer would pay for a security. A mid-evaluation price is the average of the estimated price at which a dealer would sell a security and the estimated price at which a dealer would pay for a security. These evaluations are based on quoted prices, if available, or models that use observable inputs.

Common stocks included in global large-cap equity securities and preferred stocks included in other investments are valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded and, as such, are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

Private equity investments are valued at NAV using information from general partners and have inherent restrictions on redemptions that may affect the ability to sell the investments at their NAV in the near term.

A summary of the fair value hierarchy for pension plan assets associated with the PT-FI plan follows:


	Fair Value at December 31, 2020
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Government bonds	$	117	$	117	$	—	$	—
Common stocks	77		77		—		—
Mutual funds	18		18		—		—
Total investments	212		$	212	$	—	$	—

Cash and receivablesa	41
Payables	(2)
Total pension plan net assets	$	251


	Fair Value at December 31, 2019
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Government bonds	$	93	$	93	$	—	$	—
Common stocks	80		80		—		—
Mutual funds	17		17		—		—
Total investments	190		$	190	$	—	$	—

Cash and receivablesa	65
Payables	(1)
Total pension plan net assets	$	254

a.Cash consists primarily of short-term time deposits.

Following is a description of the valuation techniques used for pension plan assets measured at fair value associated with the PT-FI plan. There have been no changes to the techniques used to measure fair value.

Government bonds, common stocks and mutual funds are valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded and, as such, are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

The techniques described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of NRV or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while FCX believes its valuation techniques are appropriate and consistent with those used by other market participants, the use of different techniques or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.

The expected benefit payments for FCX’s and PT-FI’s pension plans follow:


	FCX		PT-FIa
2021	$	127	$	16
2022	174		21
2023	129		29
2024	131		31
2025	132		28
2026 through 2030	655		154

a.Based on a December 31, 2020, exchange rate of 14,034 Indonesia rupiah to one U.S. dollar.

Postretirement and Other Benefits. FCX also provides postretirement medical and life insurance benefits for certain U.S. employees and, in some cases, employees of certain international subsidiaries. These postretirement benefits vary among plans, and many plans require contributions from retirees. The expected cost of providing such postretirement benefits is accrued during the years employees render service.

The benefit obligation (funded status) for the postretirement medical and life insurance benefit plans consisted of a current portion of $7 million (included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities) and a long-term portion of $69 million (included in other liabilities) at December 31, 2020, and a current portion of $13 million and a long-term portion of $112 million at December 31, 2019. The decrease in the benefit obligation from December 31, 2019, to December 31, 2020, is primarily a result of a plan amendment that modified the benefit for most medicare eligible retirees effective January 1, 2021. The discount rate used to determine the benefit obligation for these plans, which was determined on the same basis as FCX’s pension plans, was 2.21 percent at December 31, 2020, and 3.00 percent at December 31, 2019. Expected benefit payments for these plans total $8 million for 2021, $7 million for 2022, $7 million for 2023, $6 million for 2024, $6 million for 2025 and $23 million for 2026 through 2030.

The net periodic benefit cost charged to operations for FCX’s postretirement benefits (primarily for interest costs) totaled $3 million in 2020, $4 million in 2019 and $5 million in 2018. The discount rate used to determine net periodic benefit cost and the components of net periodic benefit cost for FCX’s postretirement benefits was 3.00 percent in 2020, 4.20 percent in 2019 and 3.50 percent in 2018. The medical-care trend rates assumed the first year trend rate was 7.50 percent at December 31, 2020, which declines over the next 15 years with an ultimate trend rate of 4.25 percent.

FCX has a number of postemployment plans covering severance, long-term disability income, continuation of health and life insurance coverage for disabled employees or other welfare benefits. The accumulated postemployment benefit obligation consisted of a current portion of $6 million (included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities) and a long-term portion of $42 million (included in other liabilities) at December 31, 2020, and a current portion of $7 million and a long-term portion of $44 million at December 31, 2019.

FCX also sponsors savings plans for the majority of its U.S. employees. The plans allow employees to contribute a portion of their income in accordance with specified guidelines. These savings plans are principally qualified 401(k) plans for all U.S. salaried and non-bargained hourly employees. In these plans, participants exercise control and direct the investment of their contributions and account balances among various investment options. FCX contributes to these plans at varying rates and matches a percentage of employee contributions up to certain limits, which vary by plan. For employees whose eligible compensation exceeds certain levels, FCX provides an unfunded defined contribution plan, which had a liability balance of $49 million at December 31, 2020, and $46 million at December 31, 2019, all of which was included in other liabilities.

The costs charged to operations for employee savings plans totaled $40 million in 2020, $85 million in 2019 and $75 million in 2018. The decrease in costs for 2020, compared with 2019, resulted from a temporary suspension of FCX contributions to certain plans implemented as part of its April 2020 revised operating plans. FCX contributions resumed on January 1, 2021. FCX has other employee benefit plans, certain of which are related to FCX’s financial results, which are recognized in operating costs.

Employee Benefits