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Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits

Retirement Plans

The Company and certain of its U.S. and foreign subsidiaries maintain defined benefit retirement plans. Benefits under these plans are based primarily on years of service and employees’ earnings.

In the U.S., effective January 1, 2014, the Company provides virtually all future retirement benefits through the Company’s defined contribution plan. As a result, service after December 31, 2013 is not considered for participants in the Company’s principal U.S. defined benefit retirement plan. Participants in the Company’s principal U.S. defined benefit retirement plan whose retirement benefit was determined under the cash balance formula continue to earn interest credits on their vested balances as of December 31, 2013 but no longer receive pay credits. Participants whose retirement benefit was determined under the final average earnings formula or career average earnings formula continue to have their accrued benefit adjusted for pay increases until termination of employment.

In the Company’s principal U.S. plans and certain funded foreign plans, funds are contributed to trusts in accordance with regulatory limits to provide for current service and for any unfunded projected benefit obligation over a reasonable period. The target asset allocation for the Company’s defined benefit plans is as follows:
  
 
United States
 
International
Asset Category
 

 

Equity securities
 
24
%
 
38
%
Fixed income securities
 
68
%
 
45
%
Real estate and other investments
 
8
%
 
17
%
Total
 
100
%
 
100
%

At December 31, 2019 the allocation of the Company’s plan assets and the level of valuation input, as applicable, for each major asset category were as follows:
 
 
Level of Valuation
Input
 
Pension Plans
 
 
  
 
 
United States
 
International
 
Other Retiree
Benefit Plans
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
Level 1
 
$
41

 
$
15

 
$
1

U.S. common stocks
 
Level 1
 
49

 
3

 
1

International common stocks
 
Level 1
 
—

 
3

 
—

Pooled funds(1)
 
Level 1
 
29

 
104

 
2

Fixed income securities(2)
 
Level 2
 
1,067

 
14

 
20

Guaranteed investment contracts(3)
 
Level 2
 
1

 
42

 
—

 
 
  
 
1,187

 
181

 
24

Investments valued using NAV per share(4)
 
  
 


 


 


Domestic, developed and emerging markets equity funds
 
  
 
328

 
165

 
7

Fixed income funds(5)
 
  
 
177

 
196

 
3

Hedge funds(6)
 
  
 
3

 
17

 
—

Multi-Asset funds(7)
 
  
 
155

 
2

 
2

Real estate funds(8)
 
 
 
41

 
25

 
1

 
 
  
 
704

 
405

 
13

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other assets and liabilities, net(9)
 
 
 
(85
)
 
—

 
—

Total Investments
 
 
 
$
1,806

 
$
586

 
$
37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

At December 31, 2018 the allocation of the Company’s plan assets and the level of valuation input, as applicable, for each major asset category were as follows:
 
 
Level of Valuation
Input
 
Pension Plans
 
 
  
 
 
United States
 
International
 
Other Retiree
Benefit Plans
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
Level 1
 
$
29

 
$
9

 
$
1

U.S. common stocks
 
Level 1
 
75

 
3

 
3

International common stocks
 
Level 1
 
—

 
4

 
—

Pooled funds(1)
 
Level 1
 
106

 
82

 
4

Fixed income securities(2)
 
Level 2
 
865

 
24

 
28

Guaranteed investment contracts(3)
 
Level 2
 
1

 
51

 
—

 
 
  
 
1,076

 
173

 
36

Investments valued using NAV per share(4)
 
  
 


 


 


Domestic, developed and emerging markets equity funds
 
  
 
229

 
134

 
8

Fixed income funds(5)
 
  
 
116

 
173

 
4

Hedge funds(6)
 
  
 
56

 
6

 
2

Multi-Asset funds(7)
 
  
 
94

 
2


3

Real estate funds(8)
 
 
 
39

 
22

 
1

 
 
 
 
534

 
337

 
18

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other assets and liabilities, net(9)
 
 
 
(42
)
 
—

 
—

Total Investments
 
  
 
$
1,568

 
$
510

 
$
54

_______
(1) 
Pooled funds primarily invest in U.S. and foreign equity securities, debt and money market securities.
(2) 
The fixed income securities are traded over the counter and certain of these securities lack daily pricing or liquidity and as such are classified as Level 2. As of both December 31, 2019 and 2018, approximately 50% of the U.S. pension plan fixed income portfolio was invested in U.S. treasury or agency securities, with the remainder invested in other government bonds and corporate bonds.
(3) 
The guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”) represent contracts with insurance companies measured at the cash surrender value of each contract. The Level 2 valuation reflects that the cash surrender value is based principally on a referenced pool of investment funds with active redemption.
(4) 
Investments that are measured at fair value using net asset value (“NAV”) per share as a practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The NAV is based on the value of the underlying investments owned, minus its liabilities, divided by the number of shares outstanding. There are no unfunded commitments related to these investments. Redemption notice period primarily ranges from 0-3 months and redemption frequency windows range from daily to quarterly.
(5) 
Fixed income funds primarily invest in U.S. government and investment grade corporate bonds.
(6) 
Consists of investments in underlying hedge fund strategies that are primarily implemented through the use of long and short equity and fixed income securities and derivative instruments such as futures and options.
(7) 
Multi-Asset funds primarily invest across a variety of asset classes, including global stocks and bonds, as well as alternative strategies.
(8) 
Real estate is valued using the NAV per unit of funds that are invested in real estate property. The investment value of the real estate property is determined quarterly using independent market appraisals as determined by the investment manager.
(9) 
This category primarily includes unsettled trades for investments purchased and sold and dividend receivables.
Equity securities in the U.S. plans include investments in the Company’s common stock representing 3% and 5% of U.S. plan assets at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. In 2019 and 2018, the U.S. plans sold 588,334 and 384,004 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock to the Company. No shares of the Company’s stock were purchased by the U.S. plans in 2019 or 2018. The plans received dividends on the Company’s common stock of $2 in 2019 and $3 in 2018.

Other Retiree Benefits

The Company and certain of its subsidiaries provide health care and life insurance benefits for retired employees to the extent not provided by government-sponsored plans.  

The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for its defined benefit and other retiree benefit plans. Summarized information for the Company’s defined benefit and other retiree benefit plans is as follows:
  
 
Pension Plans
 
Other Retiree Benefit Plans
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
  
 
United States
 
International
 
 
 
 
Change in Benefit Obligations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benefit obligations at beginning of year
 
$
2,147

 
$
2,363

 
$
787

 
$
847

 
$
876

 
$
960

Service cost
 
1

 
1

 
14

 
14

 
15

 
16

Interest cost
 
90

 
86

 
22


21

 
41


38

Participants’ contributions
 
—

 
—

 
2

 
2

 
—

 
—

Acquisitions/plan amendments
 
—

 
—

 
3

 
4

 
—

 
—

Actuarial loss (gain)
 
181

 
(139
)
 
82

 
(11
)
 
166

 
(88
)
Foreign exchange impact
 
—

 
—

 
8

 
(40
)
 
1

 
(5
)
Termination benefits (1)
 
7

 
9

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Curtailments and settlements
 
—

 
(4
)
 
(9
)
 
(7
)
 
—

 
—

Benefit payments
 
(154
)
 
(169
)
 
(35
)
 
(42
)
 
(49
)
 
(45
)
Other
 
—

 
—

 
2

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

Benefit obligations at end of year
 
$
2,272

 
$
2,147

 
$
876

 
$
787

 
$
1,050

 
$
876

Change in Plan Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
 
$
1,568

 
$
1,812

 
$
510

 
$
575

 
$
54

 
$
—

Actual return on plan assets
 
262

 
(101
)
 
76

 
(16
)
 
8

 
(1
)
Company contributions
 
130

 
30

 
30

 
27

 
24

 
100

Participants’ contributions
 
—

 
—

 
2

 
3

 
—

 
—

Foreign exchange impact
 
—

 
—

 
12

 
(29
)
 
—

 
—

Settlements and acquisitions
 
—

 
(4
)
 
(9
)
 
(7
)
 
—

 
—

Benefit payments
 
(154
)
 
(169
)
 
(35
)
 
(42
)
 
(49
)
 
(45
)
Other
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

Fair value of plan assets at end of year
 
$
1,806

 
$
1,568

 
$
586

 
$
510

 
$
37

 
$
54

Funded Status
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Benefit obligations at end of year
 
$
2,272

 
$
2,147

 
$
876

 
$
787

 
$
1,050

 
$
876

Fair value of plan assets at end of year
 
1,806

 
1,568

 
586

 
510

 
37

 
54

Net amount recognized
 
$
(466
)
 
$
(579
)
 
$
(290
)
 
$
(277
)
 
$
(1,013
)
 
$
(822
)
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Noncurrent assets
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
13

 
$
6

 
$
—

 
$
—

Current liabilities
 
(28
)
 
(26
)
 
(13
)
 
(12
)
 
(13
)
 
(46
)
Noncurrent liabilities
 
(438
)
 
(553
)
 
(290
)
 
(271
)
 
(1,000
)
 
(776
)
Net amount recognized
 
$
(466
)
 
$
(579
)
 
$
(290
)
 
$
(277
)
 
$
(1,013
)
 
$
(822
)
Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Actuarial loss
 
$
910

 
$
940

 
$
238

 
$
226

 
$
388

 
$
239

Transition/prior service cost
 
1

 
1

 
7

 
6

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
  
 
$
911

 
$
941

 
$
245

 
$
232

 
$
387

 
$
238

Accumulated benefit obligation
 
$
2,236

 
$
2,090

 
$
816

 
$
731

 
$
—

 
$
—

  
 
Pension Plans
 
Other Retiree Benefit Plans
  
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
  
 
United States
 
International
 
 
 
 
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Discount rate
 
3.40
%
 
4.38
%
 
2.06
%
 
2.80
%
 
3.56
%
 
4.43
%
Long-term rate of return on plan assets
 
6.30
%
 
6.60
%
 
3.38
%
 
4.06
%
 
6.30
%
 
6.60
%
Long-term rate of compensation increase
 
3.50
%
 
3.50
%
 
2.83
%
 
2.86
%
 
3.50
%
 
3.50
%
ESOP growth rate
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
10.00
%
 
10.00
%
Medical cost trend rate of increase
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
6.00
%
 
6.00
%
Interest Crediting Rate
 
3.21
%
 
4.38
%
 
0.85
%
 
0.85
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
_________
(1) 
Represents pension and other retiree benefit enhancements incurred in 2019 and 2018 pursuant to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.

The actuarial losses incurred during 2019 were primarily driven from a decrease in discount rates applied against future expected benefit payments and resulted in an increase in the benefit obligation for both the U.S. pension and Other retiree benefit plans. The actuarial gains recorded during 2018 for both the U.S. pension and other retiree benefit plans were primarily a result of an increase in discount rates applied against future estimated benefit payments. Additionally, other retiree benefit plans were positively impacted as a result of lower medical cost increases.

The company adopted ASU No. 2018-14, “Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-
General (Topic 715): Disclosure Framework–Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans.” beginning on January 1, 2020. Refer to Note 3, Recent Accounting Pronouncements.
 
The overall investment objective of the plans is to balance risk and return so that obligations to employees are met. The Company evaluates its long-term rate of return on plan assets on an annual basis. In determining the long-term rate of return, the Company considers the nature of the plans’ investments and the historical rates of return. The assumed rate of return as of December 31, 2019 for the U.S. plans was 6.30%. Average annual rates of return for the U.S. plans for the most recent 1-year, 5-year, 10-year, 15-year and 25-year periods were 17%, 6%, 8%, 7%, and 8%, respectively. Similar assessments were performed in determining rates of return on international pension plan assets to arrive at the Company’s 2019 weighted-average rate of return of 3.38%.

The medical cost trend rate of increase assumed in measuring the expected cost of benefits is projected to decrease from 6.00% in 2020 to 4.75% by 2025, remaining at 4.75% for the years thereafter.





Pension plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets and plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets as of December 31 consisted of the following:
  
 
Years Ended December 31,
  
 
2019
 
2018
Benefit Obligation Exceeds Fair Value of Plan Assets
 
 
 
 
Projected benefit obligation
 
$
2,862

 
$
2,882

Fair value of plan assets
 
2,094

 
2,007

 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated benefit obligation
 
875

 
2,689

Fair value of plan assets
 
166

 
1,924


Other Retiree Benefit plans with accumulated postretirement benefit obligation in excess of plan assets as of December 31 consisted of the following:
  
 
Years Ended December 31,
  
 
2019
 
2018
Benefit Obligation Exceeds Fair Value of Plan Assets
 
 
 
 
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation
 
$
958

 
$
807

Fair value of plan assets
 
37

 
54



Summarized information regarding the net periodic benefit costs for the Company’s defined benefit and other retiree benefit plans is as follows:
  
 
Pension Plans
 
Other Retiree Benefit Plans
  
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
  
 
United States
 
International
 
 
 
 
 
 
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
14

 
$
14

 
$
16

 
$
15

 
$
16

 
$
13

Interest cost
 
90

 
86

 
94

 
22

 
21

 
22

 
41

 
38

 
40

Annual ESOP allocation
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Expected return on plan assets
 
(103
)
 
(115
)
 
(111
)
 
(19
)
 
(21
)
 
(22
)
 
(3
)
 
(2
)
 
—

Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Amortization of actuarial loss
 
51

 
47

 
48

 
9

 
8

 
10

 
11

 
14

 
13

Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
39

 
$
19

 
$
32

 
$
27

 
$
22

 
$
26

 
$
64

 
$
66

 
$
66

Other postretirement charges
 
7

 
9

 
24

 
1

 
2

 
4

 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
Total pension cost
 
$
46

 
$
28

 
$
56

 
$
28

 
$
24

 
$
30

 
$
64

 
$
66

 
$
63

Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Discount rate
 
4.38
%
 
3.73
%
 
4.27
%

2.80
%
 
2.53
%
 
2.59
%
 
4.43
%
 
3.80
%
 
4.41
%
Long-term rate of return on plan assets
 
6.60
%
 
6.60
%
 
6.80
%
 
4.06
%
 
4.04
%
 
4.14
%
 
6.60
%
 
6.60
%
 
6.80
%
Long-term rate of compensation increase
 
3.50
%
 
3.50
%
 
3.50
%
 
2.86
%
 
2.79
%
 
2.58
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
ESOP growth rate
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
10.00
%
 
10.00
%
 
10.00
%
Medical cost trend rate of increase
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
6.00
%
 
6.00
%
 
6.33
%
Interest Crediting Rate
 
4.26
%
 
3.73
%
 
4.27
%
 
0.85
%
 
0.85
%
 
0.65
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
—
%

Effective January 1, 2018, as required, the Company adopted ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost,” on a retrospective basis. As a result, for all periods presented, only the service related component of pension and other postretirement benefit costs is included in Operating profit. The non-service related components (interest cost, expected return on assets and amortization of actuarial gains and losses) are included in a new line item, “Non-service related postretirement costs,” which is below Operating profit. Adoption of this standard had no effect on Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company, Earnings per common share or Cash flow. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Other postretirement charges in 2019, 2018 and 2017 include pension and other benefit enhancements amounting to $7, $9 and $21 respectively, incurred pursuant to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. Other postretirement charges in 2019 and 2018 also include charges of $1 and $2, respectively, in part due to retirements under the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.

The Company made voluntary contributions of $113, $67 and $81 in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, to its U.S. retirement plans.

Expected Contributions and Benefit Payments

The Company does not expect to make any voluntary contributions to its U.S. postretirement plans for the year ending December 31, 2020. Actual funding may differ from current estimates depending on the variability of the market value of the assets as compared to the obligation and other market or regulatory conditions.  

Benefit payments expected to be paid from the Company's assets to participants in unfunded plans are estimated to be approximately $55 for the year ending December 31, 2020.

Total benefit payments expected to be paid to participants in both funded and unfunded plans are estimated as follows:
  
 
Pension Plans
 
 
 
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
United States
 
International
 
Other Retiree Benefit Plans
 
Total
2020
 
$
146

 
$
36

 
$
49

 
$
231

2021
 
147

 
37

 
50

 
234

2022
 
151

 
37

 
51

 
239

2023
 
149

 
39

 
52

 
240

2024
 
152

 
42

 
53

 
247

2025-2029
 
722

 
219

 
272

 
1,213