We sponsor various defined benefit pension plans and defined contribution retirement plans that provide retirement benefits to substantially all of our employees. Most regularly scheduled employees are eligible to participate in the defined contribution retirement plans except those covered by a collective bargaining agreement unless the collective bargaining agreement explicitly allows for participation in our plans. We contribute to a multiemployer plan for certain employees covered by collective bargaining agreements. Participation in the defined benefit pension plans is limited to active and retired employees that were eligible prior to the plans being frozen. We also provide other post-retirement benefits consisting primarily of healthcare benefits to certain retirees who meet age and service requirements.

Pension benefits are earned generally based upon years of service and compensation during active employment. Contributions to the qualified defined benefit pension plans are based on actuarial calculations of amounts to cover current service costs and amortization of prior service costs over periods ranging up to 20 years. We contribute additional funds as necessary to maintain desired funding levels.

Benefit accruals under our most significant plan, which account for approximately 79% of the assets and 82% of the benefit obligations in the tables below, had been credited at the rate of five percent of eligible compensation with an interest credit based upon the 30-year U.S. Treasury rate. The Company discontinued providing contribution credits effective January 1, 2010, to its U.S. plans. The remaining defined benefit pension plans in Canada use a variety of benefit formulas, and we discontinued providing contribution credits effective January 1, 2020.

The projected benefit obligation is the actuarial present value of benefits attributable to employee service rendered to date, including the effects of estimated salary increases. The following table details information regarding our pension plans at December 31:


	2020		2019
Change in benefit obligation:
Beginning of year balance	$	312	$	297
Service cost	1		3
Interest cost	9		12
Actuarial losses, net	17		24


Foreign exchange rate changes	1		2
Benefits paid	(21)		(26)
End of year balance	$	319	$	312
Change in assets (fair value):
Beginning of year balance	$	294	$	275
Actual return on plan assets	35		39
Employer contribution	—		4
Foreign exchange rate changes	2		3
Benefits paid	(21)		(26)
End of year balance	$	310	$	294
Plan assets less than benefit obligations	$	(10)	$	(18)

Amounts included in the balance sheet:
Non-current pension assets, included in “Other assets”	$	7	$	5
Current pension liabilities, included in “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities”	—		—
Non-current pension liabilities, included in “Other long-term liabilities”	(17)		(23)
Net amount recognized	$	(10)	$	(18)

The 2020 and 2019 actuarial losses of $17 million and $24 million, respectively, were largely the result of the actual return on assets exceeding the expected asset return offset by the increase in liability due a decrease in discount rate used to measure the obligations under the pension plans.


	Actuarial losses		Prior service cost		Total
December 31, 2018	$	(116)	$	(7)	$	(123)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	—		—		—
Amounts reclassified from accumulated comprehensive loss	5		(1)		4
December 31, 2019	(111)		(8)		(119)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	4		—		4
Amounts reclassified from accumulated comprehensive loss	6		—		6
December 31, 2020	$	(101)	$	(8)	$	(109)


	2020
	U.S.		Canada		Total
Fair value of plan assets	$	246	$	64	$	310
Benefit obligation	262		58		319
Funded Status	$	(16)	$	6	$	(10)

	2019
	U.S.		Canada		Total
Fair value of plan assets	$	236	$	58	$	294
Benefit obligation	258		54		312
Funded Status	$	(22)	$	4	$	(18)


	Year ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Service cost	$	1	$	3	$	3
Other components of net periodic pension cost:
Interest cost	9		12		11
Expected return on plan assets	(14)		(14)		(14)
Amortization of prior service cost and net transition asset	1		1		1
Amortization of net actuarial loss	6		5		6
Net periodic pension cost before loss due to settlement	$	2	$	6	$	7
Loss due to settlement	—		—		—
Total net periodic pension cost	$	2	$	6	$	7

Net periodic pension cost included in cost of sales	$	—	$	2	$	2
Net periodic pension cost included in selling, general, and administrative expenses	1		1		1
Net periodic pension cost included in other non-operating items	1		3		4
	$	2	$	6	$	7


	2020		2019		2018
Discount rate:
U.S.	3.1	%	4.2	%	3.5	%
Canada	3.0	%	3.8	%	3.3	%
SERP	NA		NA		4.0	%
Expected return on plan assets:
U.S.	5.8	%	5.8	%	5.8	%
Canada	3.2	%	3.4	%	4.1	%
SERP	NA		NA		NA
Rate of compensation increase:
U.S.	NA		NA		NA
Canada	3.5	%	3.5	%	3.5	%
SERP	NA		NA		N/A

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets reflects the weighted average expected long-term rates of return for the broad categories of investments currently held in the plans (adjusted for expected changes), based on historical rates of return for each broad category, as well as factors that may constrain or enhance returns in the broad categories in the future. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is adjusted when there are fundamental changes in expected returns in one or more broad asset categories, and when the weighted average mix of assets in the plans changes significantly.

Asset allocation targets are established based upon the long-term returns and volatility characteristics of the investment classes and recognize the benefits of diversification and the profits of the plans’ liabilities. The actual and target allocations at the measurement dates are as follows:


	Target Allocation 2020		Actual Allocation
			2020		2019
Asset category
U.S. Plans
Equity securities	33	%	41	%	40	%
Debt securities	50	%	38	%	40	%
Multi-Strategy Funds	17	%	20	%	20	%

Cash and cash equivalents	—	%	1	%	—	%
Total Allocation for U.S. Plans	100	%	100	%	100	%

Non-U.S. Plans
Debt securities	40	%	40	%	90	%
Multi-Strategy Funds	60	%	60	%	10	%
Total Allocation for Non-U.S. Plans	100	%	100	%	100	%

Our investment policies for the defined benefit pension plans provide target asset allocations by broad categories of investment and ranges of acceptable allocations. These policies are set by an administrative committee with the goal of maximizing long-term investment returns within acceptable levels of volatility and risk. Our U.S. plans include hedge funds and real return investment strategies to increase returns and reduce volatility. Our plans do not currently invest directly in derivative securities, although such investments may be considered in the future to increase returns and/or reduce volatility. To the extent the expected return on plan assets varies from the actual return, an actuarial gain or loss results.


	December 31, 2020
Asset Category	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Net Asset Value
Equity investment funds:
Domestic stock funds	$	56	$	56	$	—	$	—	$	—
International stock funds	46		46		—		—		—
Fixed-income investment funds:
Domestic bond funds	94		17		—		—		77
International bond funds	64		—		26		—		38
Multi-strategy funds	48		48		—		—		—
Cash and cash equivalents	2		—		2		—		—
Total	$	310	$	167	$	28	$	—	$	115

	December 31, 2019
Asset Category	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Net Asset Value
Equity investment funds:
Domestic stock funds	$	54	$	54	$	—	$	—	$	—
International stock funds	40		40		—		—		—
Fixed-income investment funds
Domestic bond funds	93		15		—		—		78
International bond funds	52		—		20		—		32
Multi-strategy funds	53		47		—		—		6
Cash and cash equivalents	2		—		2		—		—
Total	$	294	$	156	$	22	$	—	$	116

We also sponsor defined contribution plans in the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S., these plans are primarily 401(k) plans for hourly and salaried employees that allow for pre-tax employee deferrals and a company match of up to five percent of an employee’s eligible wages (subject to certain limits). Under the profit-sharing feature of these plans, we may elect to contribute a discretionary amount as a percentage of eligible wages. Included in the assets of the 401(k) and profit-sharing plans are one million shares of LP common stock that represented approximately eight percent of the total market value of plan assets at December 31, 2020.

In Canada, we sponsor both defined contribution plans and Registered Retirement Savings Plans for hourly and salaried employees that allow for employee tax deferrals. We provide a base contribution of three percent of eligible earnings and match 50% of an employee’s deferrals up to a maximum of three percent of each employee’s eligible earnings (subject to certain limits).

We have several plans that provide post-retirement benefits other than pensions, primarily for salaried employees in the U.S. and certain groups of Canadian employees. The obligation at December 31, 2020, and 2019, for these post-retirement benefits was $10 million and $7 million, respectively. The net expense related to these plans was not significant in 2020 or 2019.

In 2004, we adopted the Louisiana-Pacific Corporation 2004 Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the Deferred Compensation Plan). Pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan, participants are eligible to defer up to 90% of their base salary and annual cash incentives that exceed the limitation as set forth by the I.R.S. and receive a five percent match on their contributions. Each Deferred Compensation Plan participant is fully vested in all employee deferred compensation and earnings credited associated with employee contributions. Employer contributions and associated earnings vest over periods, not exceeding five years. The liability under the Deferred Compensation Plan amounted to $2 million at December 31, 2020, and 2019, and is included in “Other long-term liabilities” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.