XML 34 R21.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.22.0.1
Employee benefit plans
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee benefit plans Employee benefit plans
Retirement plans and retiree health and life insurance plans
The Company provides non-contributory defined benefit pension plans for certain of its employees in the United States, Mexico, Belgium, Germany, Greece, France, and Turkey. The Company also sponsors contributory defined benefit pension plans covering certain of its employees in the United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands, and provides postretirement healthcare and life insurance benefits to a limited number of its retirees and their dependents in the United States and Canada, based on certain age and/or service eligibility requirements.
The Company froze participation in its U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan for newly hired salaried and non-union hourly employees effective December 31, 2003. To replace this benefit, the Company provides non-union U.S. employees hired on or after January 1, 2004, with an annual contribution, called the Sonoco Retirement Contribution (SRC), to their participant accounts in the Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan.
The U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan was further amended to freeze plan benefits for all active, non-union participants effective December 31, 2018. Former active participants in the U.S. qualified plan became eligible for SRC contributions effective January 1, 2019.
In October 2021, the Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan was further amended to eliminate the SRC and to increase the Company's 401(k) matching contribution effective as of December 31, 2021.
The components of net periodic benefit cost include the following:
202120202019
Retirement Plans
Service cost$3,916 $3,969 $3,968 
Interest cost24,186 51,297 57,348 
Expected return on plan assets(22,888)(50,733)(65,143)
Amortization of prior service cost900 1,006 1,022 
Amortization of net actuarial loss16,503 28,833 30,681 
Effect of settlement loss550,706 854 2,377 
Effect of curtailment loss— 32 — 
Net periodic benefit cost$573,323 $35,258 $30,253 
Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans
Service cost$374 $358 $308 
Interest cost197 336 467 
Expected return on plan assets(444)(371)(718)
Amortization of prior service credit— (279)(498)
Amortization of net actuarial gain(744)(834)(823)
Net periodic benefit income$(617)$(790)$(1,264)
The following tables set forth the Plans’ obligations and assets at December 31:
 Retirement Plans
Retiree Health
and
Life Insurance Plans
  
2021202020212020
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation at January 1$2,092,297 $1,976,197 $14,880 $14,495 
Service cost3,916 3,969 374 358 
Interest cost24,186 51,297 197 336 
Plan participant contributions14 165 — 443 
Plan amendments608 419 — — 
Actuarial (gain)/loss(138,157)149,264 (939)356 
Benefits paid(66,641)(96,257)(768)(1,122)
Impact of foreign exchange rates(4,999)13,482 1 14 
Effect of settlements(1,396,494)(2,463)— — 
Effect of curtailments(97)(3,776)— — 
Benefit obligation at December 31$514,633 $2,092,297 $13,745 $14,880 
 
 Retirement Plans
Retiree Health and
Life Insurance Plans
  
2021202020212020
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets at January 1$1,799,109 $1,683,520 $14,026 $12,881 
Actual return on plan assets(46,148)188,695 (84)1,372 
Company contributions140,226 17,282 768 626 
Plan participant contributions14 165 — 443 
Benefits paid(66,641)(96,257)(768)(1,122)
Impact of foreign exchange rates(4,630)13,667 — — 
Effect of settlements(1,396,494)(2,752)— — 
Expenses paid(8,331)(5,211)— (174)
Fair value of plan assets at December 31$417,105 $1,799,109 $13,942 $14,026 
Funded Status of the Plans$(97,528)$(293,188)$197 $(854)

 Retirement Plans
Retiree Health and
Life Insurance Plans
  
2021202020212020
Total Recognized Amounts in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Noncurrent assets$70,221 $26,814 $1,758 $553 
Current liabilities(10,375)(150,310)(1,055)(849)
Noncurrent liabilities(157,374)(169,692)(506)(558)
Net liability$(97,528)$(293,188)$197 $(854)

Items not yet recognized as a component of net periodic pension cost that are included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, are as follows:
 Retirement Plans
Retiree Health and
Life Insurance Plans
  
2021202020212020
Net actuarial loss/(gain)$111,481 $742,374 $(6,357)$(6,689)
Prior service cost6,288 6,351 — — 
 $117,769 $748,725 $(6,357)$(6,689)
The amounts recognized in Other Comprehensive Loss/(Income) include the following:
 Retirement Plans
Retiree Health and
Life Insurance Plans
  
202120202019202120202019
Adjustments arising during the period:
Net actuarial loss/(gain)$(63,684)$12,452 $146,414 $(412)$(468)$(914)
Prior service cost/(credit)$837 $1,229 $1,667 $— $— $— 
Net settlements/curtailments$(550,706)$(886)$(2,377)$— $— $— 
Reversal of amortization:
Net actuarial (loss)/gain$(16,503)$(28,833)$(30,681)$744 $834 $823 
Prior service (cost)/credit$(900)$(1,006)$(1,022)$— $279 $498 
Total recognized in other comprehensive loss/(income)$(630,956)$(17,044)$114,001 $332 $645 $407 
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive loss/(income)$(57,633)$18,214 $144,254 $(285)$(145)$(857)

The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit plans was $504,944 and $2,081,850 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The projected benefit obligation (PBO), accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) and fair value of plan assets for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets were, $228,127, $223,657 and $61,686, respectively, as of December 31, 2021, and $1,788,070, $1,783,883 and $1,468,068, respectively, as of December 31, 2020.

Plan termination, settlements, changes and amendments
In July 2019, the Company's Board of Directors approved a resolution to terminate the Sonoco Pension Plan for Inactive Participants (the "Inactive Plan"), a tax-qualified defined benefit plan, effective September 30, 2019. Following completion of a limited lump sum offering in April 2021, the Company settled all remaining liabilities under the Inactive Plan in June 2021 through the purchase of annuities. The Company made additional net contributions of $124,432 to the Inactive Plan in 2021 in order to be fully funded on a termination basis at the time of the annuity purchase. Non-cash, pretax settlement charges totaling $538,722 were recognized in 2021 as the lump sum payouts and annuity purchases were made. The termination of the Inactive Plan applied to participants who had separated service from Sonoco and to non-union active employees who no longer accrued pension benefits. There was no change in the cumulative benefit previously earned by the approximately 11,000 participants affected by these actions. The Company continues to manage and support the Active Plan, comprised of approximately 700 active participants who continue to accrue benefits in accordance with a flat-dollar multiplier formula.
Additional settlement charges totaling $11,984 and $854 were recognized in 2021 and 2020, respectively, primarily as a result of activity in our Canadian plans, including settlement charges in 2021 from the annuitization of the Trenton Union Plan in Ontario, Canada. This plan was terminated in June 2020 and the participants were fully annuitized in December 2021. Settlements in 2020 resulted from lump-sum payments to certain participants of the Company's other Canadian pension plans who elected a lump-sum distribution option upon retirement.
Projected benefit payments
The following table sets forth the Company’s projected benefit payments for the next ten years:
YearRetirement Plans
Retiree Health and
Life Insurance Plans
2022$23,934 $1,183 
2023$23,564 $1,163 
2024$23,999 $1,141 
2025$25,129 $1,116 
2026$27,620 $1,096 
2026-2030$129,131 $4,971 
Assumptions
The following tables set forth the major actuarial assumptions used in determining the benefit obligation and net periodic cost:
Weighted-average assumptions
used to determine benefit
obligations at December 31
U.S.
Retirement
Plans
U.S. Retiree
Health and
Life Insurance
Plans
Foreign Plans
Discount Rate
20212.77 %2.48 %2.22 %
20202.32 %2.04 %1.70 %
Rate of Compensation Increase
2021— %3.01 %3.21 %
2020— %3.03 %3.20 %
 
Weighted-average assumptions
used to determine net periodic benefit
cost for years ended December 31
U.S.
Retirement
Plans
U.S. Retiree
Health and
Life Insurance
Plans
Foreign
Plans
Discount Rate
20212.32 %2.04 %1.70 %
20202.87 %2.89 %2.28 %
20194.24 %4.02 %3.11 %
Expected Long-term Rate of Return
20213.27 %2.01 %3.69 %
20202.93 %2.93 %4.10 %
20196.63 %6.73 %4.62 %
Rate of Compensation Increase
2021— %3.03 %3.20 %
2020— %3.04 %3.37 %
2019— %3.06 %3.65 %

The Company adjusts its discount rates at the end of each fiscal year based on yield curves of high-quality debt instruments over durations that match the expected benefit payouts of each plan. The expected long-term rate of return assumption is based on the Company’s current and expected future portfolio mix by asset class, and expected nominal returns of these asset classes using an economic “building block” approach. Expectations for inflation and real interest rates are developed and various risk premiums are assigned to each asset class based primarily on historical performance. The assumed rate of compensation increase reflects historical experience and management’s expectations regarding future salary and incentive increases.
Medical trends
The U.S. Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plan makes up approximately 95% of the Retiree Health liability. Therefore, the following information relates to the U.S. plan only.
Healthcare Cost Trend RatePre-age 65Post-age 65
20216.91 %8.27 %
20206.00 %6.00 %
Ultimate Trend RatePre-age 65Post-age 65
20214.45 %4.40 %
20204.50 %4.50 %
Year at which the Rate Reaches
the Ultimate Trend Rate
Pre-age 65Post-age 65
202120302030
202020262026

Based on amendments to the U.S. plan approved in 1999, which became effective in 2003, cost increases borne by the Company are limited to the Urban CPI, as defined.
Retirement plan assets
The following table sets forth the weighted-average asset allocations of the Company’s retirement plans at 2021 and 2020, by asset category.
Asset Category
  
U.S.U.K.Canada
Equity securities202123.5 %32.8 %33.6 %
20200.6 %41.4 %34.8 %
Debt securities202172.0 %66.6 %66.4 %
202092.2 %58.1 %55.4 %
Cash and short-term investments20214.5 %0.6 %— %
20207.2 %0.5 %9.8 %
Total2021100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %
2020100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %
The Company employs a total-return investment approach whereby a mix of equities and fixed income investments are used to maximize the long-term return of plan assets for a desired level of risk. Alternative assets such as real estate funds, private equity funds and hedge funds may also be used to enhance expected long-term returns while improving portfolio diversification. Risk tolerance is established through consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status and corporate financial condition. Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through periodic investment portfolio reviews and periodic asset/liability studies.
At December 31, 2021, postretirement benefit plan assets totaled $431,047, of which $51,715, $304,582, and $50,837 were assets of the U.S., U.K. and Canadian Defined Benefit Plans, respectively.
U.S. defined benefit plans
The Company has adopted investment guidelines for both the Active and Inactive Plans based on asset/liability studies for each. These guidelines established a dynamic derisking framework for gradually shifting the allocation of assets to long-duration domestic fixed income from equity and other asset categories, as the relative funding ratio of each plan increased over time. Beginning in 2019, the Company accelerated the derisking measures in its U.S. defined benefit plans by reallocating plan assets to a more conservative mix of primarily fixed income investments. Subsequent to these derisking actions, the Inactive Plan was terminated effective September 30, 2019 and fully settled in June 2021. As of December 31, 2021, only the Active Plan remains. The current target allocation (midpoint) for the Active Plan investment portfolio is: Equity Securities - 20% and Debt Securities – 80%.
United Kingdom defined benefit plan
The equity investments consist of direct ownership and funds and are diversified among U.K. and international stocks of small and large capitalizations. The current target allocation (midpoint) for the investment portfolio is: Equity Securities – 32% and Debt Securities – 68%.
Canada defined benefit plan
The equity investments consist of direct ownership and funds and are diversified among Canadian and international stocks of primarily large capitalizations and short to intermediate duration corporate and government bonds. The current target allocation (midpoint) for the investment portfolio is 28% Equity Securities and 72% Debt Securities.
Retiree health and life insurance plan assets
The following table sets forth the weighted-average asset allocations by asset category of the Company’s retiree health and life insurance plan.
Asset Category20212020
Equity securities—%—%
Debt securities100.0%100.0%
Cash—%—%
Total100.0%100.0%

Contributions
Based on current actuarial estimates, the Company anticipates that contributions to its defined benefit plans will be approximately $16,000 in 2022. No assurances can be made about funding requirements beyond 2022, however, as they will depend largely on actual investment returns and future actuarial assumptions.
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan
The Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan is a defined contribution retirement plan provided for certain of the Company’s U.S. employees. The plan is comprised of both an elective and non-elective component.
The elective component of the plan, which is designed to meet the requirements of section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, allows participants to set aside a portion of their wages and salaries for retirement and encourages saving by matching a portion of their contributions with contributions from the Company. The plan provides for participant contributions of 1% to 100% of gross pay. Since January 1, 2010, the Company has matched 50% on the first 4% of compensation contributed by the participant as pretax contributions which are immediately fully vested. The Company’s expenses related to the plan for 2021, 2020 and 2019 were approximately $13,900, $13,700 and $13,400, respectively.
The non-elective component of the plan, the Sonoco Retirement Contribution (SRC), is available to certain employees who are not currently active participants in the Company’s U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan. The SRC provides for an annual Company contribution of 4% of all eligible pay plus 4% of eligible pay in excess of the Social Security wage base to eligible participant accounts. Participants are fully vested after three years of service or upon reaching age 55, if earlier. The Company’s expenses related to the plan for 2021, 2020 and 2019 were approximately $22,914, $23,505 and $23,752, respectively. Cash contributions to the SRC totaled $22,665, $22,503 and $14,573 in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and are expected to total approximately $22,000 in 2022.
In October 2021, the Company's Board of Directors approved an amendment to the Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan to eliminate the SRC and to increase the Company's 401(k) matching contribution to 100% of the first 6% of pretax and/or Roth compensation contributed by the participant effective as of December 31, 2021. The amendment is expected to be neutral to total expense in 2022, but will be negative to operating cash flows in 2022 due to the timing of funding 401(k) matching contributions subsequent to each pay period compared with the annual funding of the SRC.
Other plans
The Company also provides retirement and postretirement benefits to certain other non-U.S. employees through various Company-sponsored and local government sponsored defined contribution arrangements. For the most part, the liabilities related to these arrangements are funded in the period they arise. The Company’s expenses for these plans were not material for all years presented.