XML 87 R22.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.22.4
RETIREMENT AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
RETIREMENT AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS RETIREMENT AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS
The Company provides retirement benefits to its U.S. employees through the use of multiple plans: a 401(k) savings plan, a money purchase retirement plan, a non-qualified retirement savings plan, and a non-qualified restorative retirement savings plan. The 401(k) savings plan provides participating employees the ability to elect to contribute to the plan up to 50 percent of eligible compensation, as defined in the plan, with the Company making matching contributions up to a maximum of 8 percent of each employee’s annual eligible compensation. In addition, the Company contributes 6 percent of each participating employee’s annual eligible compensation to a money purchase retirement plan. The 401(k) savings plan and the money purchase retirement plan are subject to certain annually-adjusted, government-mandated restrictions that limit the amount of employee and Company contributions. For certain eligible employees, the Company also provides a non-qualified retirement savings plan or a non-qualified restorative retirement savings plan. These plans allow the deferral of up to 50 percent of each employee’s base salary, up to 75 percent of each employee’s annual bonus (that accepts employee contributions) and the Company’s matching contributions in excess of the government mandated limitations imposed in the 401(k) savings plan and money purchase retirement plan.
Vesting in the Company’s contributions in the 401(k) savings plan, the money purchase retirement plan, the non-qualified retirement savings plan and the non-qualified restorative retirement savings plan occurs at the rate of 20 percent for every completed year of employment. Upon a qualifying change in control of ownership of APA Corporation, as defined in the applicable plan, immediate and full vesting occurs.
The aggregate annual cost to the Company of all U.S. and international savings plans, the money purchase retirement plan, non-qualified retirement savings plan, and non-qualified restorative retirement savings plan was $40 million, $31 million, and $43 million for 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively.
The Company also provides a funded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (U.K. Pension Plan) covering certain employees of the Company’s North Sea operations in the U.K. The plan provides defined pension benefits based on years of service and final salary. The plan applies only to employees who were part of BP North Sea’s pension plan as of April 2, 2003, prior to the acquisition of BP North Sea by the Company effective July 1, 2003.
Additionally, the Company offers postretirement medical benefits to U.S. employees who meet certain eligibility requirements. Eligible participants receive medical benefits up until the age of 65 or at the date they become eligible for Medicare, provided the participant remits the required portion of the cost of coverage. The plan is contributory with participants’ contributions adjusted annually. The postretirement benefit plan does not cover benefit expenses once a covered participant becomes eligible for Medicare.
The following tables set forth the benefit obligation, fair value of plan assets and funded status as of December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, and the underlying weighted average actuarial assumptions used for the U.K. Pension Plan and U.S. postretirement benefit plan. The Company uses a measurement date of December 31 for its pension and postretirement benefit plans.
 202220212020
 Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits		Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits		Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits
 (In millions)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year$211 $20 $233 $20 $199 $20 
Service cost2 1 3 1 3 1 
Interest cost3 — 3 — 4 — 
Foreign currency exchange rates(21)— (2)— 8 — 
Actuarial losses (gains)(79)(5)(5)1 30 1 
Plan settlements— — (17)— — — 
Benefits paid(8)(3)(4)(4)(11)(4)
Retiree contributions— 2 — 2 — 2 
Projected benefit obligation at end of year108 15 211 20 233 20 
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year254 — 262 — 228 — 
Actual return (loss) on plan assets(87)— 11 — 31 — 
Foreign currency exchange rates(26)— (3)— 9 — 
Employer contributions4 2 5 2 5 2 
Plan settlements— — (17)— — — 
Benefits paid(8)(4)(4)(4)(11)(4)
Retiree contributions— 2 — 2 — 2 
Fair value of plan assets at end of year137 — 254 — 262 — 
Funded status at end of year$29 $(15)$43 $(20)$29 $(20)
Amounts recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheet
Current liability$— $(2)$— $(2)$— $(2)
Non-current asset (liability)29 (13)43 (18)29 (18)
$29 $(15)$43 $(20)$29 $(20)
Pre-tax Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Accumulated gain (loss)$(10)$18 $1 $14 $(11)$16 
Weighted Average Assumptions used as of December 31
Discount rate5.00 %5.29 %1.80 %2.57 %1.40 %2.06 %
Salary increases4.70 %N/A4.90 %N/A4.50 %N/A
Expected return on assets4.70 %N/A1.90 %N/A1.50 %N/A
Healthcare cost trend
InitialN/A6.50 %N/A6.25 %N/A6.00 %
Ultimate in 2028N/A5.25 %N/A5.00 %N/A5.00 %
As of December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, the accumulated benefit obligation for the U.K. Pension Plan was $89 million, $205 million, and $207 million, respectively.
The Company’s defined benefit pension plan assets are held by a non-related trustee who has been instructed to invest the assets in a blend of equity securities and low-risk debt securities. The Company intends that this blend of investments will provide a reasonable rate of return such that the benefits promised to members are provided. The U.K. Pension Plan policy is to target an ongoing funding level of 100 percent through prudent investments and includes policies and strategies such as investment goals, risk management practices, and permitted and prohibited investments. A breakout of previous allocations for plan asset holdings and the target allocation for the Company’s plan assets are summarized below:
 Target
Allocation		Percentage of
Plan Assets at
Year-End
 202220222021
Asset Category
Equity securities:
Overseas quoted equities14 %15 %15 %
Total equity securities14 %15 %15 %
Debt securities:
U.K. government bonds52 %52 %54 %
U.K. corporate bonds32 %32 %25 %
Total debt securities84 %84 %79 %
Cash2 %1 %6 %
Total100 %100 %100 %
The plan’s assets do not include any direct ownership of equity or debt securities of the Company. The fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2022 and 2021 are based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets, which is a Level 1 fair value measurement. The following tables present the fair values of plan assets for each major asset category based on the nature and significant concentration of risks in plan assets at December 31, 2022 and 2021:
December 31,
 20222021
 (In millions)
Equity securities:
Overseas quoted equities$20 $38 
Total equity securities20 38 
Debt securities:
U.K. government bonds71 138 
U.K. corporate bonds44 62 
Total debt securities115 200 
Cash2 16 
Fair value of plan assets$137 $254 
The expected long-term rate of return on assets assumptions are derived relative to the yield on long-dated fixed-interest bonds issued by the U.K. government (gilts). For equities, outperformance relative to gilts is assumed to be 3.5 percent per year.
The following tables set forth the components of the net periodic cost and the underlying weighted average actuarial assumptions used for the pension and postretirement benefit plans as of December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020: 
 202220212020
 Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits		Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits		Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits
 (In millions)
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost$2 $1 $3 $1 $3 $1 
Interest cost3 — 3 — 4 — 
Expected return on assets(4)— (4)— (5)— 
Amortization of loss— (1)— (1)— (1)
Settlement loss— — — — — — 
Net periodic benefit cost$1 $— $2 $— $2 $— 
Weighted Average Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost for the Years Ended December 31
Discount rate1.80 %2.57 %1.40 %2.06 %2.10 %3.00 %
Salary increases4.90 %N/A4.50 %N/A4.30 %N/A
Expected return on assets1.90 %N/A1.50 %N/A2.20 %N/A
Healthcare cost trend
InitialN/A6.25 %N/A6.00 %N/A6.25 %
Ultimate in 2028N/A5.00 %N/A5.00 %N/A5.00 %
The Company expects to contribute approximately $2 million to its pension plan and $3 million to its postretirement benefit plan in 2023. The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:
Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits
 (In millions)
2023$5 $2 
20245 2 
20255 2 
20265 1 
20275 1 
Years 2028-203228 6