v3.24.1
Retirement Benefit Plans
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Text block [abstract]  
Retirement Benefit Plans
23.
RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
 
  a.
Defined contribution plans
 
  1)
The pension plan under the R.O.C. Labor Pension Act (“LPA”) for the Group’s R.O.C. resident employees is a government-managed defined contribution plan. Based on the LPA, the Company and its subsidiaries in R.O.C. makes monthly contributions to employees’ individual pension accounts at 6% of their monthly salaries.
 
  2)
The subsidiaries of the Group located in countries other than R.O.C. also make contributions at various ranges according to relevant local regulations.
 
  b.
Defined benefit plans
 
  1)
The Company and its subsidiaries in R.O.C. joined the defined benefit pension plan under the R.O.C. Labor Standards Law operated by the government. Pension benefits are calculated on the basis of the length of service and average monthly salaries of the last six months before retirement. The Company and its subsidiaries in R.O.C. make contributions based on a certain percentage of their domestic employees’ monthly salaries to a pension fund administered by the pension fund monitoring committee. Before the end of each year, the Company and its subsidiaries in R.O.C. assess the balance in the pension fund. If the balance in the pension fund is inadequate to pay retirement benefits for employees who conform to retirement requirements in the next year, the Company and its subsidiaries in R.O.C. are required to fund the difference in one appropriation that should be made by the end of March in the next year. Pension contributions are deposited in the Bank of Taiwan in the committee’s name and are managed by the Bureau of Labor Funds, Ministry of Labor (“the Bureau”); the Company and its subsidiaries in Taiwan have no right to influence the investment policy and strategy.
 
  2)
Pension plans for certain subsidiaries of the Group stipulate that employees with service years exceeding agreed years are entitled to receive a
lump-sum
payment based on their length of service and the agreed salaries at the time of termination of employment.
 
  3)
ASE, SPIL, ASE Test, Inc. and ASEE have pension plans for executive managers. Pension costs under the plans were NT$32,836 thousand, NT$7,735 thousand and NT$11,898 thousand (US$389 thousand), and the remeasurement losses were NT$17,292 thousand, NT$3,778 thousand, and NT$954 thousand (US$31 thousand) (recognized under the line item of net defined benefit liabilities) for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2022 and 2023, accrued pension liabilities for executive managers were NT$381,512 thousand and NT$383,805 thousand (US$12,534 thousand), respectively.
 
  4)
The amounts included in the consolidated balance sheets arising from the Group’s obligation in respect of its defined benefit plans excluding those for executive managers were as follows:
 
   
December 31
  
   
2022
    
2023
  
   
NT$
    
NT$
    
US$ (Note 4)
  
Present value of the defined benefit obligation
   $  10,261,997     $  10,193,848     $    332,915  
Fair value of the plan assets
     (6,477,877 )      (6,617,058 )      (216,103 ) 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Present value of unfunded defined benefit obligation
     3,784,120       3,576,790       116,812  
Recorded under other payables
     (88,983 )      (20,281 )      (662 ) 
Recorded under other
non-current
assets
     248,843       181,844       5,939  
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net defined benefit liabilities
   $ 3,943,980     $ 3,738,353     $ 122,089  
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Movements in net defined benefit liabilities were as follows:
 
            
            
            
   
Present Value

of the Defined

Benefit

Obligation
    
Fair Value of the

Plan Assets
    
Net Defined

Benefit

Liabilities

(Assets)
  
   
NT$
    
NT$
    
NT$
  
Balance at January 1, 2021
  
$
   12,159,145
 
  
$
(5,962,305
) 
  
$
6,196,840
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Service cost
      
Current service cost
  
 
173,307
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
173,307
 
Past service cost and gain on settlements
  
 
(10,284
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(10,284
) 
Net interest expense (income)
  
 
78,501
 
  
 
(59,761
) 
  
 
18,740
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Recognized in profit or loss
  
 
241,524
 
  
 
(59,761
) 
  
 
181,763
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Remeasurement
      
Return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest)
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(42,636
) 
  
 
(42,636
) 
Actuarial (gain) loss
      
Changes in financial assumptions
  
 
(418,542
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(418,542
) 
Experience adjustments
  
 
242,896
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
242,896
 
Changes in demographic assumptions
  
 
160,156
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
160,156
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Recognized in other comprehensive income
  
 
(15,490
) 
  
 
(42,636
) 
  
 
(58,126
) 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
 
 
            
            
            
 
 
Present Value

of the Defined

Benefit

Obligation
 
 
Fair Value of the

Plan Assets
 
 
Net Defined

Benefit

Liabilities

(Assets)
 
 
 
NT$
 
 
NT$
 
 
NT$
 
            
            
            
Contributions from the employer
  
$
— 
 
  
$
(542,584
) 
  
$
(542,584
) 
Benefits paid from
      
the pension fund
  
 
(556,419
) 
  
 
562,442
 
  
 
6,023
 
the Group
  
 
(80,603
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(80,603
) 
Business combinations
  
 
46,291
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
46,291
 
Exchange differences on foreign plans
  
 
(369,588
) 
  
 
181,580
 
  
 
(188,008
) 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Balance at December 31, 2021
  
 
11,424,860
 
  
 
(5,863,264
) 
  
 
5,561,596
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Service cost
      
Current service cost
  
 
141,458
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
141,458
 
Past service cost and gain on settlements
  
 
(100
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(100
) 
Net interest expense (income)
  
 
118,489
 
  
 
(79,441
) 
  
 
39,048
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Recognized in profit or loss
  
 
259,847
 
  
 
(79,441
) 
  
 
180,406
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Remeasurement
      
Return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest)
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(324,510
) 
  
 
(324,510
) 
Actuarial (gain) loss
      
Changes in financial assumptions
  
 
(1,053,680
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(1,053,680
) 
Experience adjustments
  
 
217,658
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
217,658
 
Changes in demographic assumptions
  
 
(507
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(507
) 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Recognized in other comprehensive income
  
 
(836,529
) 
  
 
(324,510
) 
  
 
(1,161,039
) 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Contributions from the employer
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(736,508
) 
  
 
(736,508
) 
Benefits paid from
      
the pension fund
  
 
(571,930
) 
  
 
571,930
 
  
 
— 
 
the Group
  
 
(115,695
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(115,695
) 
Assets extinguished on settlement
  
 
(2,920
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(2,920
) 
Exchange differences on foreign plans
  
 
104,364
 
  
 
(46,084
) 
  
 
58,280
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Balance at December 31, 2022
  
 
10,261,997
 
  
 
(6,477,877
) 
  
 
3,784,120
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Service cost
      
Current service cost
  
 
126,956
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
126,956
 
Past service cost and loss on settlements
  
 
1,194
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
1,194
 
Net interest expense (income)
  
 
236,102
 
  
 
(173,994
) 
  
 
62,108
 
Other termination benefit cost
  
 
7,822
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
7,822
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Recognized in profit or loss
  
 
372,074
 
  
 
(173,994
) 
  
 
198,080
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Remeasurement
      
Return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest)
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(9,327
) 
  
 
(9,327
) 
Actuarial (gain) loss
      
Changes in financial assumptions
  
 
391,077
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
391,077
 
 
 
            
            
            
 
 
Present Value

of the Defined

Benefit

Obligation
 
 
Fair Value of the

Plan Assets
 
 
Net Defined

Benefit

Liabilities

(Assets)
 
 
 
NT$
 
 
NT$
 
 
NT$
 
                                      
Experience adjustments
  
$
(309,843
) 
  
$
— 
 
  
$
(309,843
) 
Changes in demographic assumptions
  
 
(6,476
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(6,476
) 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Recognized in other comprehensive income
  
 
74,758
 
  
 
(9,327
) 
  
 
65,431
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Contributions from the employer
  
 
    — 
 
  
 
(597,870
) 
  
 
(597,870
) 
Benefits paid from
      
the pension fund
  
 
(609,975
) 
  
 
609,975
 
  
 
     — 
 
the Group
  
 
(79,659
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(79,659
) 
Liabilities extinguished on settlement
  
 
(2,830
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(2,830
) 
Liabilities assumed in a business combination
  
 
188,364
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
188,364
 
Exchange differences on foreign plans
  
 
(10,881
) 
  
 
32,035
 
  
 
21,154
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Balance at December 31, 2023
  
$
10,193,848
 
  
$
(6,617,058
) 
  
$
3,576,790
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
 
                                      
   
Present Value

of the Defined

Benefit

Obligation
    
Fair Value of the

Plan Assets
    
Net Defined

Benefit

Liabilities

(Assets)
  
   
US$ (Note 4)
    
US$ (Note 4)
    
US$ (Note 4)
  
Balance at January 1, 2023
  
$
335,140
 
  
$
(211,557
) 
  
$
   123,583
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Service cost
      
Current service cost
  
 
4,146
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
4,146
 
Past service cost and loss on settlements
  
 
39
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
39
 
Net interest expense (income)
  
 
7,711
 
  
 
(5,682
) 
  
 
2,029
 
Other benefit cost
  
 
255
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
255
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Recognized in profit or loss
  
 
12,151
 
  
 
(5,682
) 
  
 
6,469
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Remeasurement
      
Return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest)
    
   — 
 
    
(305
) 
    
(305
) 
Actuarial (gain) loss
      
Changes in financial assumptions
  
 
12,772
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
12,772
 
Experience adjustments
  
 
(10,119
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(10,119
) 
Changes in demographic assumptions
  
 
(211
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(211
) 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Recognized in other comprehensive income
  
 
2,442
 
  
 
(305
) 
  
 
2,137
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Contributions from the employer
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(19,526
) 
  
 
(19,526
) 
Benefits paid from
      
the pension fund
  
 
(19,921
) 
  
 
19,921
 
  
 
— 
 
the Group
  
 
(2,602
) 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
(2,602
) 
 
            
            
            
 
 
Present Value

of the Defined

Benefit

Obligation
 
 
Fair Value of the

Plan Assets
 
 
Net Defined

Benefit

Liabilities

(Assets)
 
 
 
US$ (Note 4)
 
 
US$ (Note 4)
 
 
US$ (Note 4)
 
Liabilities extinguished on settlement
  
$
(92
) 
  
$
— 
 
  
$
(92
) 
Liabilities assumed in a business combination
  
 
6,152
 
  
 
— 
 
  
 
6,152
 
Exchange differences on foreign plans
  
 
(355
) 
  
 
1,046
 
  
 
691
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Balance at December 31, 2023
  
$
   332,915
 
  
$
(216,103
) 
  
$
   116,812
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
 
  5)
The fair value of the plan assets by major categories at each balance sheet date was as follows:
 
   
December 31
  
   
2022
    
2023
  
   
NT$
    
NT$
    
US$ (Note 4)
  
Cash
   $   2,351,189     $   2,373,133     $ 77,503  
Equity instruments
     2,839,966       2,872,293       93,805  
Debt instruments
     1,079,917       1,117,087       36,482  
Others
     206,805       254,545       8,313  
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Total
   $ 6,477,877     $ 6,617,058     $    216,103  
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
 
  6)
Through the defined benefit plans under the Labor Standards Law of the R.O.C., the Group in R.O.C. are exposed to the following risks:
 
  a)
Investment risk
The plan assets are invested in equity and debt securities, bank deposits, etc. The investment is conducted at the discretion of the Bureau or under the mandated management. However, in accordance with relevant regulations, the return generated by plan assets should not be below the interest rate for a
2-year
time deposit with local banks.
 
  b)
Interest risk
A decrease in the government bond interest rate will increase the present value of the defined benefit obligation; however, this will be partially offset by an increase in the return on the plan’s debt investments.
 
  c)
Salary risk
The present value of the defined benefit obligation is calculated by reference to the future salaries of plan participants. As such, an increase in the salary of the plan participants will increase the present value of the defined benefit obligation.
 
  7)
The management of ASE (Korea) Inc. is responsible for the administration of the fund and determination of the investment strategies according to related local regulations. ASE (Korea) Inc. is responsible for the shortfall between the fund and the defined benefit obligation. The plan assets are investment in the certificates of deposits.
 
  8)
The present value of the defined benefit obligation and the related current service cost and past service cost were measured using the Projected Unit Credit Method. Except the pension plans for executive managers, the key assumptions used for the actuarial valuations were as follow:
 
    
December 31
  
    
2022
     
2023
  
Discount rates (%)
     
0.05-5.63
        0.16-4.91  
Expected rates of salary increase (%)
      1.00-3.96       
1.00-4.06
  
The sensitivity analysis below has been determined based on reasonably possible changes of the respective assumptions occurring at each balance sheet date, while holding all other assumptions constant.
 
   
December 31
  
   
2022
    
2023
  
   
NT$
    
NT$
    
US$ (Note 4)
  
Discount rate
      
0.5% higher
   $ (437,529 )    $ (421,758 )    $ (13,774 ) 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
0.5% lower
   $ 472,595     $ 455,520     $ 14,877  
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Expected rates of salary increase
      
0.5% higher
   $     444,815     $     425,080     $     13,882  
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
0.5% lower
   $ (416,488 )    $ (397,988 )    $ (12,998 ) 
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
The sensitivity analysis presented above may not be representative of the actual change in the defined benefit obligation as it is unlikely that the change in assumptions would occur in isolation of one another as some of the assumptions may be correlated.
 
  9)
Maturity analysis of undiscounted pension benefit
 
   
December 31
  
   
2022
    
2023
  
   
NT$
    
NT$
    
US$ (Note 4)
  
No later than 1 year
   $ 646,243     $ 675,526     $ 22,062  
Later than 1 year but not later than 5 years
     2,760,990       2,719,262       88,807  
Later than 5 years
     9,930,085       10,022,055       327,304  
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
  $  13,337,318     $    13,416,843     $      438,173  
 
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
The Group expected to make contributions of NT$547,179 thousand and NT$600,399 thousand (US$19,608 thousand) to the defined benefit plans in the next year starting from January 1, 2023 and 2024, respectively.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2023, the average duration of the defined benefit obligation of the Group was 6 to 13 years and 7 to 13 years, respectively.