28. Employee benefits
Principal actuarial assumptions as at the balance sheet date
Historical information
126 Annual Report 2009 - Heineken N.V.
Financial Statements
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
For the other defined benefit plans the following actuarial assumptions apply as at 31 December 2009:
Other Western,
Central and Eastern
Europe
2009
The Americas
2009 2008
Africa and the
Middle East
2009 2008
Asia Pacific
2009
Discount rate as at 31 December
3.3-5.6 4.5-6.2
5.3-7 5.5-6.5
11
12
- 2.5-12
Expected return on plan assets as
at 1 January
3.5-6.6 4.5-7
6.5
11
4.6
- 2.5-8
Future salary increases
1.5-3.5 2.9-12
2.5-5.5 0.5-5.5
11
11
3-10
Future pension increases
1-3 1.5-5
3.5
11
8
Medical cost trend rate
3.5-4.5
5
10
Assumptions regarding future mortality rates are based on published statistics and mortality tables. The overall
expected long-term rate of return on assets is 6.1 per cent (2008: 6.0 per cent), which is based on the asset mix
and the expected rate of return on each major asset class, as managed by the pension funds.
Assumed healthcare cost trend rates have nihil effect on the amounts recognised in the income statement.
A one percentage point change in assumed healthcare cost trend rates would not have any effect on the income
statement neither on the statement of financial position as at 31 December 2009.
The Group expects the 2010 contributions to be paid for the defined benefit plans to be approximately 20 per
cent higher than in 2009.
In millions of EUR2009 2008 2007 2006
Present value of the defined benefit obligation
5,936
4,963
2,858
2,984
Fair value of plan assets
(4,858)
(4,231)
(2,535)
(2,397)
Deficit in the plan
1,078
732
323
587
Experience adjustments arising on plan liabilities, losses/(gains)
(116)
71
(4)
(159)
313
(817)