24. Employee benefit plans
The vast majority of the Galenica employees work in Switzerland and participate in the Galenica Pension Fund, which is financed by the employers and the employees. This plan is legally separate from Galenica and qualifies as a defined benefit plan. The pension plan covers the risks of the economic consequences of old age, disability and death in accordance with the Swiss Federal Occupational Retirement, Survivors and Disability Pension Plans Act (BVG/LPP). The pension plan is structured in the legal form of a foundation. All actuarial risks are borne by the foundation and regularly assessed by the Board of Trustees based on an annual actuarial appraisal prepared in accordance with BVG/LPP. The company's liabilities are limited to contributions that are based on a percentage of the insured salary under the Swiss law. Only in cases of a funded status that is significantly below a funded status of 100% as per the BVG/LPP law can Galenica be required to pay additional contributions. The calculations made in these appraisals do not apply the projected unit credit method required by IFRS Accounting Standards. If the calculations made in accordance with the provisions of BVG/LPP reveal a funded status of less than 100%, suitable restructuring measures need to be introduced. The Board of Trustees consists of employee and employer representatives.
The defined benefit plan is funded. Plan assets are managed separately from Galenica's assets by the independent pension fund.
The most recent actuarial valuation was prepared as at 31 December 2024. The pension fund assets are invested in accordance with local investment guidelines. Galenica pays its contributions to the pension fund in accordance with the regulations defined by the fund.
The final funded status pursuant to BVG/LPP is not available until the first quarter of the subsequent year. The projected funded status as at 31 December 2024 for Galenica Pension Fund is 117.6% (unaudited) and as at 31 December 2023 108.3% (final).
Defined benefit plans and long-service awards
|
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
in thousand CHF |
Defined benefit plans |
Long-service awards 1) |
Total |
Defined benefit plans |
Long-service awards 1) |
Total |
|
Plan assets measured at fair value |
1,228,826 |
– |
1,228,826 |
1,101,802 |
– |
1,101,802 |
|
Present value of defined benefit obligation |
–1,188,654 |
–13,680 |
–1,202,334 |
–1,079,958 |
–14,290 |
–1,094,248 |
|
Surplus / (deficit) |
40,172 |
–13,680 |
26,492 |
21,844 |
–14,290 |
7,554 |
|
Effect of asset ceiling |
–44,022 |
– |
–44,022 |
–6,346 |
– |
–6,346 |
|
Net carrying amount recognised in employee benefit assets / liabilities |
–3,850 |
–13,680 |
–17,530 |
15,498 |
–14,290 |
1,208 |
|
of which recognised in assets |
– |
– |
– |
20,429 |
– |
20,429 |
|
of which recognised in liabilities |
–3,850 |
–13,680 |
–17,530 |
–4,931 |
–14,290 |
–19,221 |
1) Long-service awards relate to provisions for jubilee payments
Change in present value of defined benefit obligation
|
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
in thousand CHF |
Defined benefit plans |
Long-service awards |
Total |
Defined benefit plans |
Long-service awards |
Total |
|
1 January |
–1,079,958 |
–14,290 |
–1,094,248 |
–975,824 |
–14,988 |
–990,812 |
|
Current service cost |
–32,761 |
–1,756 |
–34,517 |
–25,896 |
–1,633 |
–27,529 |
|
Past service cost |
–95 |
– |
–95 |
–112 |
– |
–112 |
|
Interest on defined benefit obligation |
–14,752 |
–184 |
–14,937 |
–19,768 |
–297 |
–20,066 |
|
Actuarial gain/(loss) |
–55,377 |
1,023 |
–54,354 |
–68,933 |
889 |
–68,044 |
|
Employee contributions |
–22,027 |
– |
–22,027 |
–20,962 |
– |
–20,962 |
|
Benefits/awards paid |
16,315 |
1,527 |
17,842 |
8,740 |
1,500 |
10,240 |
|
Change in scope of consolidation |
– |
– |
– |
22,797 |
240 |
23,037 |
|
31 December |
–1,188,654 |
–13,680 |
–1,202,334 |
–1,079,958 |
–14,290 |
–1,094,248 |
Change in fair value of plan assets
|
in thousand CHF |
2024 |
2023 |
|
1 January |
1,101,802 |
1,044,124 |
|
Interest on plan assets |
15,423 |
21,712 |
|
Remeasurement gain/(loss) |
73,340 |
17,104 |
|
Employee contributions |
22,027 |
20,962 |
|
Employer contributions |
33,586 |
31,634 |
|
Net benefits paid |
–16,315 |
–8,740 |
|
Administration cost |
–1,036 |
–1,051 |
|
Change in scope of consolidation |
– |
–23,943 |
|
31 December |
1,228,826 |
1,101,802 |
Net defined benefit cost
|
in thousand CHF |
2024 |
2023 |
|
Current service cost |
32,761 |
25,896 |
|
Past service cost |
95 |
112 |
|
Net interest on net defined benefit liability |
–582 |
–430 |
|
Administration cost |
1,036 |
1,051 |
|
Net defined benefit cost |
33,310 |
26,628 1) |
1) Of which continuing operations of CHF 26.3 million
Remeasurement of net defined benefit assets / liabilities
|
in thousand CHF |
2024 |
2023 |
|
Actuarial gain/(loss) due to: |
|
|
|
– Changes in demographic assumptions |
24,399 |
– |
|
– Changes in financial assumptions |
–54,261 |
–91,366 |
|
– Experience adjustments |
–25,515 |
22,433 |
|
Remeasurement of plan assets |
73,340 |
17,104 |
|
Effect in the change of asset ceiling |
–37,587 |
64,341 |
|
Remeasurement of net defined benefit assets / liabilities recognised in other comprehensive income 1) |
–19,624 |
12,512 1) |
1) Of which continuing operations of CHF 12.6 million)
Change in assumption and in estimate
During 2024, Galenica conducted a review of actuarial valuation parameters, including employee turnover rates. Considering actual historical patterns with turnover rates at approximate 120% of BVG 2020 tables in the retail business (previous year: 100% of BVG 2020) and 110% of BVG 2020 tables in the non-retail business (previous year: 60% of BVG 2020). This resulted in an decrease of the defined benefit obligation of CHF 24.4 million, which was recognised in other comprehensive income.
The experience adjustments of minus CHF 25.5 million (previous year: CHF 22.4 million) were the result of various elements not expected in the prior year mainly the additional interest rate in 2024 on the defined benefit plans, additional onetime pension payments and the overall development of the population and other items as calculated by the external actuary.
The decrease of the discount rate from 1.40% to 0.95% (previous year: decrease from 2.10% to 1.40%) resulted in a increase of the defined benefit obligation of CHF 54.3 million (previous year: increase of CHF 91.4 million).
Asset ceiling
|
in thousand CHF |
2024 |
2023 |
|
1 January |
–6,346 |
–69,941 |
|
Interest income |
–89 |
–1,514 |
|
Change in the asset ceiling (recognised in other comprehensive income) |
–37,587 |
64,341 |
|
Change in scope of consolidation |
– |
768 |
|
31 December |
–44,022 |
–6,346 |
Investment structure of plan assets
|
in thousand CHF |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
9,514 |
0.8% |
4,726 |
0.4% |
|
Debt instruments |
269,158 |
21.9% |
246,256 |
22.4% |
|
Equity instruments |
524,226 |
42.7% |
453,405 |
41.2% |
|
Real estate |
276,572 |
22.5% |
258,636 |
23.5% |
|
Other investments |
149,356 |
12.2% |
138,779 |
12.6% |
|
Fair value of plan assets |
1,228,826 |
100.0% |
1,101,802 |
100.0% |
|
Current return on plan assets |
|
8.1% |
|
3.8% |
The Board of Trustees is responsible for investing the plan assets. It defines the investment strategy and determines the long-term target asset structure (investment policy), taking into account the legal requirements, objectives set, the benefit obligations and the foundations' risk capacity. The Board of Trustees delegates implementation of the investment policy in accordance with the investment strategy to an investment committee, which also comprises trustees from the Board of Trustees and a general manager. Plan assets are managed by external asset managers in line with the investment strategy.
Cash and cash equivalents are deposited with financial institutions with a credit rating of A or above.
Debt instruments (e.g. bonds) have a credit rating of at least BBB and quoted prices in active markets (level 1 of the fair value hierarchy). They can be investments in funds and direct investments.
Equity instruments are investments in equity funds. These generally have quoted prices in active markets (level 1 of the fair value hierarchy).
Real estate relates to both residential property and offices. These can be investments in quoted real estate funds (level 1 of the fair value hierarchy) or direct investments (level 3 of the fair value hierarchy). If real estate is held directly, it is valued by an independent expert.
Other investments consist of hedge funds, insurance linked securities (ILS), infrastructures, senior loans, private equity and receivables. There are receivables from Group companies amounted to CHF 12.9 million (previous year: CHF 9.7 million). Investments in hedge funds are classified as alternative investments. They are primarily used for risk management purposes. In most cases, quoted prices in an active market are not available for hedge funds investments (level 2 or level 3 of the fair value hierarchy).
The use of derivative financial instruments is only permitted if sufficient liquidity or underlying investments are available. Leverage and short selling are not permitted.
The pension funds manage the assets of 5,900 active members (previous year: 5,829) and 1,036 pensioners (previous year: 993).
Galenica does not use any pension fund assets.
Basis for measurement
|
|
2024 |
2023 |
|
Discount rate |
0.95% |
1.40% |
|
Salary development |
2.10% |
2.25% |
|
Pension development |
0.00% |
0.00% |
|
Mortality (mortality tables) |
BVG 2020 GT (CMI), 1.5% |
BVG 2020 GT (CMI), 1.5% |
|
Turnover |
BVG 2020 (110% –120%) |
BVG 2020 (60% –100%) |
Sensitivity analysis
The discount rate, future salary development and mortality were identified as key actuarial assumptions. Changes in these assumptions would affect the defined benefit obligation (DBO) as follows:
Sensitivity analysis
|
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
in thousand CHF |
Variations in assumptions |
Impact on DBO |
Variations in assumptions |
Impact on DBO |
|
Discount rate |
+0.25% |
–36,871 |
+0.25% |
–35,639 |
|
|
-0.25% |
39,257 |
-0.25% |
37,808 |
|
Salary development |
+0.25% |
3,581 |
+0.25% |
3,221 |
|
|
-0.25% |
–2,400 |
-0.25% |
–3,221 |
|
Mortality |
+1 year |
30,837 |
+1 year |
27,849 |
|
|
-1 year |
–30,837 |
-1 year |
–27,868 |
The sensitivity analysis assumes potential changes in the above parameters as at year end. Every change in a key actuarial assumption is analysed separately. Interdependencies were not taken into account.
The pension obligations have an average duration of 14.7 years (previous year: 15.7 years).
Cash outflows for pension payments and other obligations can be budgeted reliably. The benefit plans collect regular contribution payments. Furthermore, the investment strategies safeguard liquidity at all times.
The employer contributions to the pension fund are estimated at CHF 34.0 million for 2025.