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Employees
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Classes of employee benefits expense [abstract]  
Employees 4. Employees
4A. Staff and management costs
€ million€ million€ million
Staff costs202220212020
Wages and salaries(5,857)(5,062)(5,051)
Social security costs(587)(529)(519)
Other pension costs(396)(401)(419)
Share-based compensation costs(177)(161)(108)
(7,017)(6,153)(6,097)
‘000‘000‘000
Average number of employees during the year (a)
202220212020
Asia Pacific Africa73 84 83 
The Americas38 37 38 
Europe27 28 29 
138 149 150 
(a) Reduction in number of employees is primarily driven by disposal of ekaterra in 2022.
€ million€ million€ million
Key management compensation202220212020
Salaries and short-term employee benefits(41)(29)(28)
Share-based benefits(a)
(15)(10)(5)
(56)(39)(33)
Of which: Executive Directors(12)(8)(6)
               Other(b)
(44)(31)(27)
Non-Executive Directors’ fees(2)(2)(2)
(58)(41)(35)
(a)Share-based benefits are expenses recognised for the period. Share-based benefits compensation on a vesting basis is €12 million (2021: €6 million; 2020: €10 million).
(b)Other includes all members of the Unilever Leadership Executive, other than Executive Directors.
Key management are defined as the members of Unilever Leadership Executive (ULE) and the Non-Executive Directors. Due to Compass Organisation changes in 2022, compensation for ULE members are pro-rated based on time actively spent in a ULE role.
4B. Pensions and similar obligations
For defined benefit plans, operating and finance costs are recognised separately in the income statement. The amount charged to operating cost in the income statement is the cost of accruing pension benefits promised to employees over the year, plus the costs of individual events such as past service benefit changes, settlements and curtailments (such events are recognised immediately in the income statement). The amount charged or credited to finance costs is a net interest expense calculated by applying the liability discount rate to the surplus or deficit. Any differences between the expected interest on assets and the return actually achieved, and any changes in the liabilities over the year due to changes in assumptions or experience within the plans, are recognised immediately in the statement of comprehensive income.
The defined benefit plan surplus or deficit on the balance sheet comprises the total for each plan of the fair value of plan assets less the present value of the defined benefit liabilities (using a discount rate based on high-quality corporate bonds, or a suitable alternative where there is no active corporate bond market).
All defined benefit plans are subject to regular actuarial review using the projected unit method by external consultants. The Group policy is that the most material plans, representing approximately 82% of the defined benefit liabilities, are formally valued every year. Other material plans, accounting for a further 12% of the liabilities, have their liabilities updated each year. Group policy for the remaining plans requires a full actuarial valuation at least every 3 years. Asset values for all plans are updated every year.
For defined contribution plans, the charges to the income statement are the company contributions payable, as the company’s obligation is limited to the contributions paid into the plans. The assets and liabilities of such plans are not included in the balance sheet of the Group.
Description of plans
The Group increasingly operates a number of defined contribution plans, the assets of which are held in external funds. In certain countries, the Group operates defined benefit pension plans based on employee pensionable remuneration and length of service. The majority of defined benefit plans are either career average, final salary or hybrid plans and operate on a funded basis with assets held in external funds. Benefits are determined by the plan rules and are linked to inflation in some countries. Our largest plans are in the UK and the Netherlands. In the UK, we operate a career average defined benefit plan (with a salary limit for benefit accrual) which is closed to new entrants, and a defined contribution plan. In the Netherlands, we operate a collective defined contribution plan for all new benefit accrual and a closed career average defined benefit plan for benefits built up to April 2015.
The Group also provides other post-employment benefits, mainly post-employment healthcare plans in the US. These plans are predominantly unfunded.
Governance
The majority of the Group’s externally funded plans are established as trusts, foundations or similar entities. The operation of these entities is governed by local regulations and practice in each country, as is the nature of the relationship between the Group and the Trustees (or equivalent) and their composition. Where Trustees (or equivalent) are in place to operate plans, they are generally required to act on behalf of the plan’s stakeholders. They are tasked with periodic reviews of the solvency of the plan in accordance with local legislation and play a role in the long-term investment and funding strategy. The Group also has an internal body, the Pensions and Equity Committee, that is responsible for setting the company’s policies and decision-making on plan matters, including but not limited to design, funding, investments, risk management and governance.
Investment strategy
The Group’s investment strategy in respect of its funded plans is implemented within the framework of the various statutory requirements of the territories where the plans are based. The Group has developed policy guidelines for the allocation of assets to different classes with the objective of controlling risk and maintaining the right balance between risk and long-term returns in order to limit the cost to the Group of the benefits provided. To achieve this, investments are diversified, such that the failure of any single investment should not have a material impact on the overall level of assets. The plans expose the Group to a number of actuarial risks such as investment risk, interest rate risk, longevity risk and, in certain countries, inflation risk. There are no unusual entity or plan-specific risks to the Group. The plans invest a reducing proportion of assets in equities and, for risk control, an increasing proportion in liability matching assets (bonds). There are also investments in property and other alternative assets; additionally, the Group uses derivatives to further mitigate the impact of the risks outlined above. However, the portfolio leverage is relatively low. The majority of assets are managed by a number of external fund managers with a small proportion managed in-house. Unilever has a pooled investment vehicle (Univest) which it believes offers its pension plans around the world a simplified externally managed investment vehicle to implement their strategic asset allocation models, currently for bonds, equities and alternative assets. The aim is to provide high-quality, well diversified, cost-effective, risk-controlled vehicles. The pension plans’ investments are overseen by Unilever’s internal investment company, the Univest Company.
Assumptions
With the objective of presenting the assets and liabilities of the pensions and other post-employment benefit plans at their fair value on the balance sheet, assumptions under IAS 19 are set by reference to market conditions at the valuation date. The actuarial assumptions used to calculate the benefit liabilities vary according to the country in which the plan is situated. The following table shows the assumptions, weighted by liabilities, used to value the principal defined benefit plans (representing approximately 94% of total pension liabilities and other post-employment benefit liabilities). 
31 December 202231 December 2021
Defined benefit
pension plans
Other post- employment
benefit plans
Defined benefit
pension plans
Other post- employment
benefit plans
Discount rate 4.6 %5.9 %1.8 %3.6 %
Inflation 2.8 %n/a2.6 %n/a
Rate of increase in salaries 3.3 %3.0 %3.2 %3.0 %
Rate of increase for pensions in payment (where provided) 2.4 %n/a2.5 %n/a
Rate of increase for pensions in deferment (where provided)2.6 %n/a2.7 %n/a
Long-term medical cost inflation n/a5.1 %n/a5.1 %
The valuations of other post-employment benefit plans generally assume a higher initial level of medical cost inflation, which falls from 6% to the long-term rate after 4 years. Assumed healthcare cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for healthcare plans.
4B. Pensions and similar obligations continued
For the UK and Netherlands pension plans, representing approximately 65% of all defined benefit pension liabilities, the assumptions used at 31 December 2022 and 2021 were:
United KingdomNetherlands
2022202120222021
Discount rate5.0 %1.9 %3.7 %1.1 %
Inflation3.1 %3.2 %2.2 %1.9 %
Rate of increase in salaries3.6 %3.7 %2.7 %2.4 %
Rate of increase for pensions in payment (where provided)2.9 %3.1 %2.2 %1.9 %
Rate of increase for pensions in deferment (where provided)2.9 %3.1 %2.2 %1.9 %
Number of years a current pensioner is expected to live beyond age 65:
Men21.821.821.821.6
Women23.623.624.023.7
Number of years a future pensioner currently aged 45 is expected to live beyond age 65:
Men22.922.823.823.5
Women24.824.826.025.5
Demographic assumptions, such as mortality rates, are set having regard to the latest trends in life expectancy (including expectations of future improvements), plan experience and other relevant data. These assumptions are reviewed and updated as necessary as part of the periodic actuarial valuation of the pension plans. The years of life expectancy for 2022 above have been translated from the following tables:
UK: Standard life expectancy tables Series S3, adjusted to reflect the experience of our plan members analysed as part of the 2019 actuarial valuation. Future improvements in longevity have been allowed for in line with the core CMI 2018 Mortality Projections Model with a 1% p.a. long-term improvement rate.
Netherlands: The Dutch Actuarial Society’s AG Prognosetafel 2022 table is used with correction factors (2020) to allow for the typically longer life expectancy for fund members relative to the general population. This table has an in-built allowance for future improvements in longevity.
The impact from changes to the assumptions of the remaining defined benefit plans are considered immaterial. Their assumptions vary due to a number of factors including the currency and long-term economic conditions of the countries where they are situated.
Income statement
The charge to the income statement comprises:
€ million€ million€ million
Notes202220212020
Charged to operating profit:
Defined benefit pension and other benefit plans:
              Gross service cost(186)(228)(223)
              Employee contributions12 13 17 
              Special termination benefits(11)(15)(37)
              Past service cost including (losses)/gains on curtailments– 18 20 
              Settlements
Defined contribution plans(212)(190)(203)
Total operating cost
4A
(396)(401)(419)
Finance income/(cost)(a)
5
44 (10)(9)
Net impact on the income statement (before tax)(352)(411)(428)
(a)This includes the impact of interest on asset ceiling.

Statement of comprehensive income
Amounts recognised in the statement of comprehensive income on the remeasurement of the surplus/(deficit).
€ million€ million€ million
202220212020
Return on plan assets excluding amounts included in net finance income/(cost)(6,483)1,958 1,494 
Change in asset ceiling excluding amounts included in finance cost(184)(17)
Actuarial gains/(losses) arising from changes in demographic assumptions(24)(4)246 
Actuarial gains/(losses) arising from changes in financial assumptions6,914 342 (1,414)
Experience gains/(losses) arising on pension plan and other benefit plan liabilities(760)126 (78)
Total of defined benefit costs recognised in other comprehensive income(537)2,405 250 
4B. Pensions and similar obligations continued
Balance sheet
The assets, liabilities and surplus/(deficit) position of the pension and other post-employment benefit plans at the balance sheet date were:
€ million 2022€ million 2021
Pension plansOther post- employment
benefit plans
Pension plansOther post- employment
benefit plans
Fair value of assets19,361 26,686 
Present value of liabilities(16,199)(365)(23,219)(431)
Computed surplus/(deficit)3,162 (359)3,467 (424)
Irrecoverable surplus(a)
(234)– (50)– 
Surplus/(deficit)2,928 (359)3,417 (424)
Of which in respect of:
Funded plans in surplus:
Liabilities(12,030)– (18,071)– 
Assets16,524 – 23,240 – 
Aggregate surplus4,494 – 5,169 – 
          Irrecoverable surplus(a)
(234)– (50)– 
Surplus/(deficit)4,260 – 5,119 – 
Funded plans in deficit:
Liabilities(3,417)(39)(4,245)(39)
Assets2,837 3,446 
Surplus/(deficit)(580)(33)(799)(32)
Unfunded plans:
Pension liability(752)(326)(903)(392)
(a)A surplus is deemed recoverable to the extent that the Group is able to benefit economically from the surplus. Unilever assesses the maximum economic benefit available through a combination of refunds and reductions in future contributions in accordance with local legislation and individual financing arrangements with each of our funded defined benefit plans.

Reconciliation of change in assets and liabilities
The group of plans within ‘Rest of world’ category in the tables below are not materially different with respect to their risks that would require disaggregated disclosure.
Movements in assets during the year:
Rest of€ millionRest of€ million
UKNetherlandsworld2022 TotalUKNetherlands
world
2021 Total
1 January14,332 6,099 6,212 26,643 12,499 5,587 5,920 24,006 
Employee contributions– 11 12 – – 13 13 
Settlements– – – – – – – – 
Actual return on plan assets (excluding amounts in net finance income/charge)(4,870)(668)(945)(6,483)1,092 560 306 1,958 
Change in asset ceiling excluding amounts included in interest expenses– – (184)(184)– – (17)(17)
Interest income(a)
264 66 166 496 181 39 124 344 
Employer contributions66 229 303 100 72 222 394 
Benefit payments(511)(161)(512)(1,184)(501)(159)(475)(1,135)
Other– (1)(1)(2)– – (47)(47)
Currency retranslation(578)– 110 (468)961 – 166 1,127 
31 December8,704 5,343 5,086 19,133 14,332 6,099 6,212 26,643 
(a)This includes the impact of interest on asset ceiling.
4B. Pensions and similar obligations continued
Movements in liabilities during the year:
Rest of€ millionRest of€ million
UKNetherlands world2022 TotalUKNetherlands 
world
2021 Total
1 January(11,453)(4,937)(7,260)(23,650)(11,148)(5,060)(7,511)(23,719)
Gross service cost(86)(4)(96)(186)(127)(4)(97)(228)
Special termination benefits– – (11)(11)– – (15)(15)
Past service costs including losses/(gains) on curtailments– – – – (1)– 19 18 
Settlements– – – – 
Interest cost(210)(54)(188)(452)(161)(35)(158)(354)
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in demographic assumptions(50)25 (24)(2)(6)(4)
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in financial assumptions4,196 1,527 1,191 6,914 225 (23)140 342 
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from experience adjustments(276)(377)(107)(760)95 32 (1)126 
Benefit payments511 161 512 1,184 501 159 475 1,135 
Other– – 15 15 – – 48 48 
Currency retranslation479 – (74)405 (835)– (165)(1,000)
31 December(6,838)(3,734)(5,992)(16,564)(11,453)(4,937)(7,260)(23,650)
Movements in (deficit)/surplus during the year:
Rest of€ millionRest of€ million
UKNetherlands world2022 TotalUKNetherlandsworld2021 Total
1 January2,879 1,162 (1,048)2,993 1,351 527 (1,591)287 
Gross service cost(86)(4)(96)(186)(127)(4)(97)(228)
Employee contributions– 11 12 – – 13 13 
Special termination benefits– – (11)(11)– – (15)(15)
Past service costs including losses/(gains) on curtailments– – – – (1)– 19 18 
Settlements– – – – 
Actual return on plan assets (excluding amounts in net finance income/charge)(4,870)(668)(945)(6,483)1,092 560 306 1,958 
Change in asset ceiling excluding amounts included in interest expenses– – (184)(184)– – (17)(17)
Interest cost(210)(54)(188)(452)(161)(35)(158)(354)
Interest income(a)
264 66 166 496 181 39 124 344 
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in demographic assumptions(50)25 (24)(2)(6)(4)
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in financial assumptions4,196 1,527 1,191 6,914 225 (23)140 342 
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from experience adjustments(276)(377)(107)(760)95 32 (1)126 
Employer contributions66 229 303 100 72 222 394 
Benefit payments– – – – – – – – 
Other– (1)14 13 – – 
Currency retranslation(99)– 36 (63)126 – 127 
31 December1,866 1,609 (906)2,569 2,879 1,162 (1,048)2,993 
(a)This includes the impact of interest on asset ceiling.
The actual return on plan assets during 2022 was €(5,987) million, being €(6,483) million of asset returns and €496 million of interest income shown in the tables above (2021: €2,302 million).
The experience has been more in absolute terms than seen in previous few years as the impact of high in year inflation feeds into benefit costs and liabilities.
Movements in irrecoverable surplus during the year:
Rest of€ millionRest of€ million
UKNetherlands world2022 TotalUKNetherlandsworld2021 Total
1 January– – (50)(50)– – (26)(26)
Interest income– – – – (2)(2)
Change in irrecoverable surplus in excess of interest– – (184)(184)– – (17)(17)
Currency retranslations– – (2)(2)– – (5)(5)
31 December– – (234)(234)– – (50)(50)
4B. Pensions and similar obligations continued
The duration of the principal defined benefit plan liabilities (representing 94% of total pension liabilities and other post-employment benefit liabilities) and the split of liabilities between different categories of plan participants are:
Rest ofRest of
UKNetherlands
world(a)
2022 TotalUKNetherlands
 world(a)
2021 Total
Duration (years)131511
4 to 18
181812
7 to 21
Active members%%19 %11 %12 %12 %20 %14 %
Deferred members31 %38 %14 %28 %36 %43 %17 %33 %
Retired members 61 %54 %67 %61 %52 %45 %63 %53 %
(a)Rest of world numbers shown are weighted averages by liabilities.

Plan assets
The group of plans within ‘Rest of world’ category in the tables below are not materially different with respect to their risks that would require disaggregated disclosure.
€ million€ million
31 December 202231 December 2021
UKNetherlandsRest of world2022 TotalUKNetherlandsRest of world2021 Total
Total Assets8,704 5,343 5,314 19,361 14,332 6,099 6,255 26,686 
Assets
Equities Total284 983 1,363 2,630 1,714 1,676 1,835 5,225 
– Europe61 165 440 666 352 271 569 1,192 
– North America160 604 594 1,358 1,030 1,001 829 2,860 
– Other63 214 329 606 332 404 437 1,173 
Fixed Income Total5,757 3,269 2,696 11,722 8,875 3,353 3,176 15,404 
 – Government bonds3,795 1,297 1,215 6,307 6,243 1,179 1,396 8,818 
 – Investment grade corporate bonds871 530 905 2,306 1,160 537 1,109 2,806 
 – Other Fixed Income1,091 1,442 576 3,109 1,472 1,637 671 3,780 
Private Equity500 90 40 630 424 77 17 518 
Property and Real Estate930 422 387 1,739 1,021 517 356 1,894 
Hedge Funds225 – 76 301 381 – 75 456 
Other1,341 325 317 1,983 1,823 322 359 2,504 
Other Plans– – 417 417 – – 421 421 
Derivatives(333)254 18 (61)94 154 16 264 
The fair values of the above equity and fixed income instruments are determined based on quoted market prices in active markets. The fair value of private equity, properties, derivatives and hedge funds are not based on quoted market prices in active markets. The Group uses derivatives and other instruments to hedge some of its exposure to inflation and interest rate risk – the degree of this hedging of liabilities was over 100% for both interest rate and inflation for the UK plan and approximately 60% for interest rate and approximately 20% for inflation for the Netherlands plan at year end. Foreign currency exposures, in part, are also hedged by the use of forward foreign exchange contracts. Assets included in the Other category are cash and insurance contracts which are also unquoted assets.
Equity securities include Unilever securities amounting to €1 million (0.003% of total plan assets) and €1 million (0.002% of total plan assets) at 31 December 2022 and 2021 respectively. Property includes property occupied by Unilever amounting to €77 million and €74 million at 31 December 2022 and 2021 respectively.
The pension assets above exclude the assets in a Special Benefits Trust amounting to €39 million (2021: €38 million) to fund pension and similar obligations in the US (see also note 17A on page 194).
Sensitivities
The sensitivity of the overall pension liabilities to changes in the weighted key assumptions are:
Change in liabilities
Change in assumptionUKNetherlandsTotal
Discount rate
Increase by 0.5%
-6 %-7 %-6 %
Inflation rate
Increase by 0.5%
%%%
Life expectancy
Increase by 1 year
%%%
Long-term medical cost inflation(a)
Increase by 1.0%
n/an/a%
(a)Long-term medical cost inflation only relates to post-retirement medical plans and its impact on these liabilities.
A decrease in each assumption would have a comparable and opposite impact on liabilities.
4B. Pensions and similar obligations continued
The sensitivity analyses above have been determined based on reasonably possible changes of the respective assumptions occurring at the end of the reporting period and may not be representative of the actual change. It is based on a change in the key assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. When calculating the sensitivity to the assumption, the same method used to calculate the liability recognised in the balance sheet has been applied. The methods and types of assumptions used in preparing the sensitivity analysis did not change compared with the previous period.
Cash flow
Group cash flow in respect of pensions and similar post-employment benefits comprises company contributions paid to funded plans and benefits paid by the company in respect of unfunded plans. The table below sets out these amounts:
€ million€ million€ million€ million
2023 Estimate202220212020
Company contributions to funded plans:
     Defined Benefit180 176 286 266 
Defined Contribution225 212 190 203 
Benefits paid by the Company in respect of unfunded plans:
Defined Benefit130 127 108 132 
Group cash flow in respect of pensions and similar benefits 535 515 584 601 
The Group’s funding policy is to periodically review the contributions made to the plans while taking account of local legislation.
4C. Share-based compensation plans
The fair value of awards at grant date is calculated using observable market price. This value is expensed over their vesting period, with a corresponding credit to equity. The expense is reviewed and adjusted to reflect changes to the level of awards expected to vest, except where this arises from a failure to meet a market condition. Any cancellations are recognised immediately in the income statement.
As at 31 December 2022, the Group had share-based compensation plans in the form of performance shares and other share awards.
The numbers in this note include those for Executive Directors and key management shown in note 4A on page 161. Non-Executive Directors do not participate in any of the share-based compensation plans.
The charge in each of the last three years is shown below, and relates to equity-settled plans:
€  million€ million€ million
Income statement charge
202220212020
Performance share plans(168)(150)(98)
Other plans(9)(11)(10)
(177)(161)(108)
Performance share plans
Performance share awards are made in respect of the Performance Share Plan (PSP). Awards for the Global Share Incentive Plan (GSIP) were last made in February 2018 and vested in February 2021. Awards for MCIP were last made in 2020 and will vest in 2024. No further MCIP or GSIP awards will be made. The awards of each plan will vest between 0% and 200% of grant level, subject to the level of satisfaction of performance measures (limits for Executive Directors may vary).
The MCIP allowed Unilever’s managers to invest up to 100% of their annual bonus (a minimum of 33% and maximum of 67% for Executive Directors) in shares in Unilever, and to receive a corresponding award of performance-related shares. From 2021, under the PSP, Unilever’s managers receive annual awards of PLC shares. The performance measures for MCIP and PSP are underlying sales growth, underlying EPS growth, underlying return on invested capital and sustainability progress index for the Group. MCIP awards made will vest after 4 years, while PSP awards vest after 3 years.
A summary of the status of the Performance Share Plans as at 31 December 2022, 2021 and 2020 and changes during the years ended on these dates is presented below:
202220212020
Number
of shares
Number
of shares
Number
of shares
Outstanding at 1 January14,318,564 11,371,436 11,137,801 
Awarded10,032,321 7,667,929 4,395,633 
Vested(3,101,598)(3,425,232)(3,240,738)
Forfeited(3,325,397)(1,295,569)(921,260)
Outstanding at 31 December17,923,890 14,318,564 11,371,436 
202220212020
Share award value information
Fair value per share award during the year€41.56 €47.64 €43.91 

Additional information
At 31 December 2022, shares in PLC totalling 18,842,270 (2021: 15,370,746) were outstanding in respect of share-based compensation plans of PLC and its subsidiaries, including North American plans.
At 31 December 2022, the employee share ownership trust held 2,727,097 (2021: 4,453,244) PLC shares and PLC and its subsidiaries held 327,303 (2021: 847,914) PLC shares which are held as treasury shares.
4C. Share-based compensation plans continued
The book value of €282 million (2021: €388 million) of the shares held by the trust and by Unilever PLC and its subsidiaries in respect of share-based compensation plans is eliminated on consolidation by deduction from other reserves. Their market value at 31 December 2022 was €144 million (2021: €250 million).
Shares held to satisfy awards are accounted for in accordance with IAS 32 ‘Financial Instruments: Presentation’. All differences between the purchase price of the shares held to satisfy awards granted and the proceeds received for the shares, whether on exercise or lapse, are charged to reserves.
Between 31 December 2022 and 21 February 2023 (the latest practicable date for inclusion in this report), nil shares were granted, 1,862,484 shares vested and 777,139 shares were forfeited related to the Performance Share Plans.