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Employee benefits
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Employee Benefits  
Employee benefits

30. Employee benefits

 

         
    Current liabilities Non-current liabilities
  Notes December 31, 2024 December 31 ,2023 December 31, 2024 December 31 ,2023
Payroll, related charges and other remunerations 30(a) 934 867 - -
Share-based payment 30(b) 16 27 - -
Employee post retirement obligation 30(c) 62 70 1,118 1,381
    1,012 964 1,118 1,381

 

a)        Profit sharing program (“PLR”)

 

The Company recorded as cost of goods sold and services rendered and other operating expenses related to the profit sharing program US$611, US$557 and US$499 for the years ended on December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Compensation Associated with ESG Performance Targets

Currently, the Company aligns the compensation programs with the business strategy and the objective of making Vale a safer company. Since 2020, the Company has been following new standards for executive compensation. For short-term compensation, at least 30% of performance targets are driven by ESG metrics and directly related to safety, risk management and sustainability targets.

b) Share-based payments

For the long-term incentive programs, the Company compensation plans includes Matching Program and Performance Share Unit program (“PSU”), with three-year-vesting cycles, respectively, with the aim of encouraging employee’s retention and encouraging their performance. The fair value of the programs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the three-year required service period, net of estimated losses.

Matching Program

For the Matching program, the participants can acquire Vale’s common shares in the market without any benefits being provided by Vale. If the shares acquired are held for a period of three years and the participants keep an employment relationship with Vale, the participant is entitled to receive from Vale an award in shares, equivalent to the number of shares originally acquired by the executive.

The fair value of the Matching program was estimated using the Company's share price and ADR and the number of shares granted on the grant date.

     

 

 

2024 Program 2023 Program 2022 Program
Granted shares 2,244,659 1,330,503 1,437,588
Share price 12.02 15.94 20.03
       

 

Performance Shares Units (“PSU”)

 

Under the PSU, eligible executives can earn, during a three-year vesting cycle, an award equivalent to the market value of a certain number of common shares and conditioned to Vale's performance factor measured based on Total Shareholder Return ("TSR") and Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") metrics. It is comprised of 75% of TSR metrics and 25% of ESG indicators and health and safety.

 

The fair value of the PSU program was measured by estimating the performance factor using Monte Carlo simulations for the Return to Shareholders Indicator and health and safety and sustainability indicators. The assumptions used for the Monte Carlo simulations are shown in the table below, as well as the result used to calculate the expected value of the total performance factor.

     
  2024 Program 2023 Program 2022 Program
Granted shares 1,873,175 1,177,755 1,709,955
Date shares were granted April 29, 2024  January 2, 2023  January 3, 2022
Share price 12.49 16.6 13.81
Expected volatility 35.60% 48.33% 39.00%
Expected term (in years) 3 3 3
Expected shareholder return indicator 66.95% 72.42% 51.20%
Expected performance factor 81.56% 69.17% 44.12%
       

 

c) Employee post retirement obligation

 

In Brazil, the management of the pension plans is the responsibility of Fundação Vale do Rio Doce de Seguridade Social (“Valia”) a nonprofit entity with administrative and financial autonomy. The Brazilian plans are as follows:

 

Benefit plan Vale Mais (“Vale Mais”) and benefit plan Valiaprev (“Valiaprev”) - The Company's employees participating in Valia are associated, for the most part, with the Vale Mais plan, which has a defined benefit component (settled benefit from the former Defined Benefits Plan and specific benefit to cover death, disability retirement and sickness benefit) and defined contribution component (for programmable benefits). The Valiaprev plan is similar to the Vale Mais plan, with the exception of not having the benefit settled and the sickness benefit. Both Vale Mais and Valiaprev plans were overfunded as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

Defined benefit plan (“Plano BD”) - The Plano BD is closed to new entrants since 2000, when the Vale Mais plan was implemented. It is a plan that has defined benefit characteristics, covering almost exclusively retirees and their beneficiaries. It was overfunded as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and the contributions made by the Company are not material.

 

Abono complementação” benefit plan - The Company sponsors a specific group of former employees entitled to receive additional benefits from Valia regular payments. The contributions made by the Company finished in 2014. The “Abono complementação” benefit was overfunded as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

Other benefits - The Company sponsors medical plans for employees that meet specific criteria and for employees who use the “abono complementação” benefit. Although those benefits are not specific retirement plans, actuarial calculations are used to calculate future obligations. As those benefits are related to health care plans they have nature of underfunded benefits, and are presented as underfunded plans as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

The foreign plans are managed in accordance with their region. They are divided between plans in Canada, USA and UK. Pension plans in Canada are composed of a defined benefit and defined contribution component. Currently the defined benefit plans do not allow new entrants. The majority of foreign defined benefit plans are underfunded as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and just two overfunded plans as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

In December 2023, the Company entered into annuity contracts to transfer US$836 of pension plan obligations and its associated assets. This transaction triggered a settlement and remeasurement of the pension plan, and as a result, the Company recognized a non-cash loss of US$5 in the income statement as “Other expenses”, measured by the difference between the premium and the obligations transferred.

 

Employers’ disclosure about pensions and other post-retirement benefits on the status of the defined benefit elements of all plans is provided as follows.

 

i. Evolution of present value obligation

 

   
  Overfunded pension plans

Underfunded

pension plans

and other

benefits

     
Benefit obligation as of December 31, 2022 5,142 1,665
Service costs 16 23
Interest costs 322 171
Benefits paid (479) (182)
Effect of changes in the actuarial assumptions 468 174
Settlement - (836)
Transfer to assets held for sale - (40)
Other 3 8
Translation adjustment 246 84
Transfer (1,201) 1,201
Benefit obligation as of December 31, 2023 4,517 2,268
Service costs 16 22
Past Service Cost (5) 4
Interest costs 274 117
Benefits paid (469) (143)
Effect of changes in the actuarial assumptions (220) (86)
Administrative cost and taxes 3 2
Translation adjustment (770) (261)
Benefit obligation as of December 31, 2024 3,346 1,923

 

ii. Evolution of assets fair value

 

   
  Overfunded pension plans

Underfunded

pension plans

and other

benefits

Fair value of plan assets as of December 31, 2022 6,340 339
Interest income 429 85
Employer contributions 22 81
Benefits paid (479) (182)
Return on plan assets (excluding interest income) 286 44
Settlement - (841)
Translation adjustment 320 28
Transfer (1,261) 1,261
Fair value of plan assets as of December 31, 2023 5,657 815
Interest income 349 38
Employer contributions 17 78
Benefits paid (469) (143)
Return on plan assets (excluding interest income) (259) 34
Translation adjustment (979) (79)
Fair value of plan assets as of December 31, 2024 4,316 743

 

iii. Reconciliation of assets and liabilities recognized in the statement of financial position

       
  Plans in Brazil
  December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Movements of assets ceiling Overfunded pension plans

Underfunded

pension plans

and other

benefits

Overfunded pension plans

Underfunded

pension plans

and other

benefits

Balance at beginning of the year 893 - 924 -
Interest income 61 - 95 -
Changes on asset ceiling (109) - (194) -
Translation adjustment (196) - 68 -
Balance at end of the year 649 - 893 -
         
Amount recognized in the statement of financial position        
Present value of actuarial liabilities (2,113) (438) (3,152) (661)
Fair value of assets 2,762 60 4,045 94
Effect of the asset ceiling (649) - (893) -
Liabilities - (378) - (567)
         
Current liabilities - (22) - (25)
Non-current liabilities - (356) - (542)
Liabilities - (378) - (567)
  Foreign plan
    December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
Movements of assets ceiling Overfunded pension plans (i)

Underfunded

pension plans

and other

benefits

Overfunded pension plans

Underfunded

pension plans

and other

benefits

Balance at beginning of the year 178 - 190 -
Interest income 8 - 8 1
Changes on asset ceiling and onerous liability 33 - 2 (28)
Translation adjustment (8) - 5 -
Transfer - - (27) 27
Balance at end of the year 211 - 178 -
         
Amount recognized in the statement of financial position        
Present value of actuarial liabilities (1,233) (1,485) (1,365) (1,605)
Fair value of assets 1,554 683 1,611 721
Effect of the asset ceiling (211) - (178) -
Assets (liabilities) 110 (802) 68 (884)
         
Current liabilities - (40) - (45)
Non-current assets (liabilities) 110 (762) 68 (839)
Assets (liabilities) 110 (802) 68 (884)

 

  Total
  December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Movements of assets ceiling Overfunded pension plans (i) Underfunded pension plans and other benefits Overfunded pension plans Underfunded pension plans and other benefits
Balance at beginning of the year 1,071 - 1,114 -
Interest income 69 - 103 1
Changes on asset ceiling (76) - (192) (28)
Translation adjustment (204) - 73 -
Transfer - - (27) 27
Balance at end of the year 860 - 1,071 -
         
Amount recognized in the statement of financial position        
Present value of actuarial liabilities (3,346) (1,923) (4,517) (2,266)
Fair value of assets 4,316 743 5,656 815
Effect of the asset ceiling (860) - (1,071) -
Assets (liabilities) 110 (1,180) 68 (1,451)
         
Current liabilities - (62) - (70)
Non-current assets (liabilities) 110 (1,118) 68 (1,381)
Assets (liabilities) 110 (1,180) 68 (1,451)

 

(i)The pension plan asset is recorded as “Other non-current assets” in the balance sheet.

 

 

iv. Costs recognized in the income statement

 

 

           
  Year ended December 31,
  2024 2023 2022
  Overfunded pension plans Underfunded pension plans and other benefits Overfunded pension plans Underfunded pension plans and other benefits Overfunded pension plans Underfunded pension plans and other benefits
Service cost 16 22 16 23 45 53
Interest expense 274 117 322 171 325 99
Interest income (349) (38) (429) (85) (412) (17)
Interest expense on effect of (asset ceiling)/ onerous liability 69 - 103 1 84 -
Others (2) 7 3 8 - -
Total of cost, net 8 108 15 118 42 135

 

 

v. Costs recognized in the statement of comprehensive income

 

           
  Year ended December 31,
  2024 2023 2022
  Overfunded pension plans Underfunded pension plans and other benefits Overfunded pension plans Underfunded pension plans and other benefits Overfunded pension plans Underfunded pension plans and other benefits
Balance at beginning of the year (127) (73) (124) 17 (93) (264)
Effect of changes actuarial assumptions 220 86 (468) (174) 784 452
Return on plan assets (excluding interest income) (259) 34 286 44 (752) (31)
Change of asset ceiling 76 - 192 28 (65) -
Others (4) (3) - (12) (3) -
Total 33 117 10 (114) (36) 421
Deferred income tax (15) (33) (3) 39 12 (128)
Others comprehensive income 18 84 7 (75) (24) 293
Translation adjustments 28 40 (10) (15) (7) (12)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (81) 51 (127) (73) (124) 17



vi. Risks related to plans

 

The Administrators of the plans have committed to strategic planning to strengthen internal controls and risk management. This obligation is achieved by conducting audits and assessments of internal controls, which aim to mitigate operational market and credit risks. Risks are presented as follow:

 

Legal - Lawsuits: issuance of periodic reports to the audit and Board of Directors, including the lawyers' analysis of the chances of success (remote, probable or possible), focusing on the administrative decision on provisions. Promote and monitor adaptations to new legal obligations and monitor compliance with established legal obligations. Due diligence of third parties from the perspective of the Integrity Program.

 

Actuarial - The annual actuarial evaluation of the benefit plans comprises the assessment of taxes, income and adequacy of the costing plans. Technical study of compliance with the assumptions adopted in the actuarial evaluation of benefit plans prepared by an external actuary, in accordance with current legislation. Monitoring of biometric, demographic and economic-financial assumptions.

 

Market – Technical allocation studies are carried out with the objective of evaluating investment portfolios of the different obligations of the plans and projecting the future result of these portfolios. Asset Liability Management studies are carried out for defined benefit type obligations (Asset Liability Management study), while for defined contribution type obligations there are efficient frontier studies (investment profiles) and glidepath (life cycles). Periodic monitoring of the plans' short-term market risk based on risk indicators (VaR - Value at Risk, Benchmark VaR, Maximum Drawdown, Stress Tests, among others).

 

Credit - Risk classification of securities from corporate and bank issuers based on quantitative and qualitative assessments of the credit risk of the issuer, the asset and its guarantees, from acquisition to maturity. This internal rating sensitizes provisions for credit risk losses, as well as verified defaults, in accordance with current legislation. Provisions for loan losses with participants are realized based on default verified in payments.

 

Liquidity - Technical study of the liquidity of plans with defined benefit obligations, focusing on the long term, whose objective is to verify the sufficiency of the assets in fulfilling the plan's obligations. Monitoring of short-term liquidity with a focus on cash available to meet plan obligations for the coming years. The defined contribution bond portfolios (investment profiles and life cycles) have assets available for sale at any time in normal market situations.

 

vii. Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis

 

All calculations involve future actuarial projections about some parameters, such as: salaries, interest, inflation, mortality and disability.

 

The economic and actuarial assumptions adopted have been formulated considering the long-term period for maturity and should therefore be analyzed accordingly. In the short term they may not be realized.

 

The following assumptions were adopted in the assessment:

 

       
  Brazil
  December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
  Overfunded pension plans Underfunded pension plans and other benefits Overfunded pension plans Underfunded pension plans and other benefits
Discount rate to determine benefit obligation 11.07% - 11.48% 11.07% - 12.12% 8.57% - 8.63% 8.59% - 10.15%
Nominal average rate to determine expense/ income 11.07% - 11.48% 12.12% 8.57% - 8.63% 10.15%
Nominal average rate of salary increase 3.50% - 5.57% 4.25% 3.08% - 4.94% 4.50%
Nominal average rate of benefit increase 3.50% - 4.02% 4.25% 3.08% - 3.60% 4.50%
Immediate health care cost trend rate N/A 6.61% N/A 6.17%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate N/A 6.61% N/A 6.17%
Nominal average rate of price inflation 3.50% 3.50% - 4.25% 3.08% 3.08% - 4.5%

 

  Foreign
  December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
  Overfunded pension plans Underfunded pension plans and other benefits Overfunded pension plans Underfunded pension plans and other benefits
Discount rate to determine benefit obligation 4.66% 4.66% - 4.72% 4.63% 4.63% - 4.64%
Nominal average rate to determine expense/ income 4.61% 4.61% 5.10% 5.10% - 5.14%
Nominal average rate of salary increase 3.10% 3.10% 3.31% 3.31%
Nominal average rate of benefit increase 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00%
Immediate health care cost trend rate N/A 4.50% N/A 4.85%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate N/A 4.39% N/A 4.49%
Nominal average rate of price inflation 2.08% 2.08% 2.08% 2.08%

 

 

For the sensitivity analysis, the Company applies the effect of 1.0% in nominal discount rate to the present value of the Company´s actuarial liability. The effects of this analysis on the Company´s actuarial liability and assumptions adopted are as follows:

 

  Brazil
  December 31, 2024
  Overfunded pension plans Underfunded pension plans and other benefits
Nominal discount rate - 1% increase    
Actuarial liability adjusted for sensitivity test 1,990 422
Assumptions made 12.28% 12.45% - 13.12%
     
Nominal discount rate - 1% reduction    
Actuarial liability adjusted for sensitivity test 2,253 490
Assumptions made 10.28% 10.45% - 11.12%

 

 

  Foreign
  December 31, 2024
  Overfunded pension plans Underfunded pension plans and other benefits
Nominal discount rate - 1% increase    
Actuarial liability adjusted for sensitivity test 1,123 1,301
Assumptions made 5.66% 5.66% - 5.72%
     
Nominal discount rate - 1% reduction    
Actuarial liability adjusted for sensitivity test 1,364 1,684
Assumptions made 3.66% 3.66% - 3.72%



viii. Assets of pension plans

 

Brazilian plan assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 includes respectively (i) investments in a portfolio of Vale’s share and other instruments in the amount of US$23 and US$47, which are presented as “Investments funds – Equity” and (ii) Brazilian Federal Government securities in the amount of US$3,945 and US$4,793, which are presented as “Debt securities governments” and “Investments funds – Fixed” Foreign plan assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 includes Canadian Government securities in the amount of US$507 and US$592, respectively.

 

ix. Overfunded pension plans

 

Assets by category are as follows:

               
  December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Cash and cash equivalents - 28 - 28 - 14 - 14
Equity securities 69 - - 69 261 - - 261
Debt securities – Corporate - 196 - 196 - 396 - 396
Debt securities – Government 2,521 279 - 2,800 3,814 361 - 4,175
Investments funds - Fixed Income 1,123 - - 1,123 1,391 162 - 1,553
Investments funds – Equity 376 - - 376 483 1 - 484
International investments 55 - 51 106 59 186 - 245
Structured investments - Private Equity funds - 20 43 63 - 51 72 123
Real estate - - 212 212 - - 235 235
Loans to participants - - 142 142 - - 162 162
Other - - 924 924 - - 187 187
Total 4,144 523 1,372 6,039 6,008 1,171 656 7,835
Funds not related to risk plans (i)       (1,723)       (2,178)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year       4,316       5,657

 

(i)Financial investments not related to coverage of overfunded pension plans. Funds are related to the Company´s unconsolidated entities and former employees.

 

Measurement of overfunded plan assets at fair value with no observable market variables (level 3) are as follows:

 

             
   
  Private equity funds International investments Real estate funds Real estate Loans to participants Others Total
Balance as of December 31, 2022 240 - 3 293 128 - 664
Return on plan assets 5 - - 9 22 - 36
Assets purchases 11 - - 8 211 - 230
Assets sold during the year (6) - (3) (16) (210) - (235)
Translation adjustment 8 - - 18 11 - 37
Transfer between Overfunded and Underfunded pension plans (58) - - (18) - - (76)
Balance as of December 31, 2023 200 - - 294 162 - 656
Transfer (129) 129 - - - - -
Return on plan assets (12) (69) - (19) 23 - (77)
Assets purchases - - - 3 62 - 65
Assets sold during the year (3) - - (12) (67) - (82)
Translation adjustment (13) (9) - (54) (38) - (114)
Transfer between Overfunded and Underfunded pension plans - - - - - 924 924
Balance as of December 31, 2024 43 51 - 212 142 924 1,372

 

 

x.Underfunded pension plans

 

Assets by category are as follows:

 

               
  December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Cash and cash equivalents - 8 - 8 - 6 - 6
Equity securities 89 - - 89 112 - - 112
Debt securities – Corporate - 114 - 114 - 215 - 215
Debt securities – Government 20 216 - 236 60 150 - 210
Investments funds - Fixed Income 43 - - 43 41 - - 41
Investments funds – Equity - 1 - 1 8 11 - 19
International investments - - 66 66 - - - -
Structured investments - Private Equity funds - 26 - 26 - - 55 55
Real estate - - 43 43 - - 27 27
Loans to participants - - 1 1 - - 1 1
Others - - 116 116 - - 131 131
Total 152 365 226 743 221 382 214 817

 

Measurement of underfunded plan assets at fair value with no observable market variables (level 3) are as follows:

 

           
  Private equity funds International investments Real estate Loans to participants Others Total
Balance as of December 31, 2022 8 - 6 1 125 140
Return on plan assets 4 - - - 3 7
Assets purchases 3 - 2 -   - 5
Assets sold during the year (19) - - -   - (19)
Translation adjustment 1 - 1 - 3 5
Transfer between surplus and deficit plans 58 - 18 - - 76
Balance as of December 31, 2023 55 - 27 1 131 214
Transfer (54) 54 - - - -
Return on plan assets - 17 20 - (4) 33
Assets sold during the year (1) - (1) - - (2)
Translation adjustment - (5) (3) - (11) (19)
Balance as of December 31, 2024 - 66 43 1 116 226

  

xi. Disbursement of future cash flow

 

Vale expects to disburse US$53 in 2025 in relation to pension plans and other benefits.

 

xii. Expected benefit payments

 

The expected benefit payments, which reflect future services, are as follows:

 

   
  Overfunded pension plans

Underfunded

pension plans

and other

benefits

2025 222 46
2026 224 48
2027 226 49
2028 228 50
2029 229 51
2030 and thereafter 1,136 275



 

Accounting policy

 

Employee benefits

 

i. Current benefits – wages, vacations and related taxes

 

Payments of benefits such as wages or accrued vacation, as well the related social security taxes over those benefits are recognized monthly in income, on an accrual basis.

ii. Current benefits – profit sharing program

 

The Company has the Annual Incentive Program (AIP) based on Team and business unit’s contribution and Company-wide performance through operational cash generation. The Company makes an accrual based on evaluation periodic of goals achieved and Company result, using the accrual basis and recognition of present obligation arising from past events in the estimated outflow of resources in the future. The accrual is recorded as cost of goods sold and services rendered or operating expenses in accordance with the activity of each employee.

 

iii. Non-current benefits – share-based payments

 

The Company has established a procedure for awarding certain eligible executives (Matching and Performance Share Unit (“PSU”) Programs) with the goal of encouraging employee retention and optimum performance. Share-based long-term compensation programs are equity-settled, under which the Company receives employee services as consideration for equity instruments. The fair value of employee services received in exchange for the grant of options is recognized as an expense. The total amount of expenses is recognized during the period in which the right is acquired; period during which the specific vesting conditions are met.

 

iv. Non-current benefits – pension costs and other post retirement benefits

 

The Company has several retirement plans for its employees.

 

For defined contribution plans, the Company's obligations are limited to a monthly contribution linked to a pre-defined percentage of the remuneration of employees enrolled into these plans.

 

For defined benefit plans, actuarial calculations are periodically obtained for liabilities determined in accordance with the Projected Unit Credit Method in order to estimate the Company’s obligation. The liability recognized in the statement of financial position represents the present value of the defined benefit obligation as of that date, less the fair value of plan assets. The Company recognized in the income statement the costs of services, the interest expense of the obligations and the interest income of the plan assets. The remeasurement of gains and losses, return on plan assets (excluding the amount of interest on return of assets, which is recognized in income for the year) and changes in the effect of the ceiling of the active and onerous liabilities are recognized in comprehensive income for the year.

 

For overfunded plans, the Company recognizes the net defined benefit assets limited to the present value of the economic benefits available as refunds or reductions in future contributions, considering minimum funding requirements applicable. For underfunded plans, the Company recognizes net defined benefit liabilities. The gain or loss on recognition/remeasurement of these net assets/liabilities are recognized in income statement or in comprehensive income, when arising from the actuarial valuation.

 

Critical accounting estimates and judgments

 

Post retirement benefits for employees - The amounts recognized depend on several factors that are determined based on actuarial calculations using various assumptions in order to determine costs and liabilities. One of these assumptions is selection and use of the discount rate. Any changes to these assumptions will affect the amount recognized.

 

At the end of each year the Company and external actuaries review the assumptions that will be used for the following year. These assumptions are used in determining the fair values of assets and liabilities, costs and expenses and the future values of estimated cash outflows, which are recorded in the plan obligations.