XML 70 R40.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.24.0.1
Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans and Defined Contribution Plans (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs
The following summarizes the components of net periodic benefit cost/(credit) and the changes in Other comprehensive income/(loss) for our benefit plans:
Pension Plans Postretirement Plans
U.S.International
Year Ended December 31,
(MILLIONS)202320222021202320222021202320222021
Service cost$ $— $— $85 $116 $130 $12 $29 $36 
Interest cost589 534 455 287 157 146 21 27 29 
Expected return on plan assets
(778)(862)(1,052)(304)(296)(327)(44)(47)(39)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)2 (2) (1)(1)(119)(130)(151)
Actuarial (gains)/losses(a)
(410)225 (684)102 (11)(690)51 (440)(167)
Curtailments — — (2)(11)(4)(12)(18)(82)
Special termination benefits
6 18 17  —  
Net periodic benefit cost/(credit) reported in income(592)(84)(1,265)169 (45)(746)(90)(578)(372)
Cost/(credit) reported in Other comprehensive income/(loss)
(2)(2)31 (1)128 169 107 
Cost/(credit) recognized in Comprehensive income
$(594)$(86)$(1,264)$199 $(46)$(742)$38 $(410)$(265)
(a)Reflects: (i) actuarial remeasurement net gains in 2023, primarily due to favorable asset performance in the U.S. and increases in discount rates for the international plans, partially offset by unfavorable asset performance for certain international plans, (ii) actuarial remeasurement net gains in 2022, primarily due to increases in discount rates, partially offset by unfavorable plan asset performance, and (iii) actuarial remeasurement gains in 2021, primarily due to favorable plan asset performance and increases in discount rates.
Schedule of Assumptions Used
Pension PlansPostretirement Plans
U.S.International
Year Ended December 31,
(PERCENTAGES)202320222021202320222021202320222021
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost:
Discount rate:
Pension plans/postretirement plans5.4 %2.9 %2.6 %5.5 %2.9 %2.5 %
Interest cost3.8 %1.5 %1.2 %
Service cost3.6 %1.7 %1.4 %
Expected return on plan assets7.5 %6.3 %6.8 %4.5 %3.1 %3.4 %7.5 %6.3 %6.8 %
Rate of compensation increase(a)
3.0 %2.8 %2.9 %
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at fiscal year-end:
Discount rate5.4 %5.4 %2.9 %4.4 %3.8 %1.6 %5.4 %5.5 %2.9 %
Rate of compensation increase(a)
3.2 %3.0 %2.8 %
(a)The rate of compensation increase is not used to determine the net periodic benefit cost and benefit obligation for the U.S. pension plans as these plans are frozen.
Schedule of Health Care Cost Trend Rates
The following provides the healthcare cost trend rate assumptions for our U.S. postretirement benefit plans:
As of December 31,
20232022
Healthcare cost trend rate assumed for next year 7.9 %6.4 %
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline4.0 %4.0 %
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate2047 2045 
Schedule of Analysis of the Changes in the Benefit Obligations, Plan assets and Accounting Funded Status of Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans
The following provides: (i) an analysis of the changes in our benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of our benefit plans, (ii) the funded status recognized in our consolidated balance sheets and (iii) the pre-tax components of cumulative amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
 Pension Plans Postretirement Plans
 U.S. International
Year Ended December 31,
(MILLIONS)202320222023202220232022
Change in benefit obligation(a)
Benefit obligation, beginning$11,420 $17,150 $7,497 $11,657 $410 $995 
Service cost — 85 116 12 29 
Interest cost589 534 287 157 21 27 
Employee contributions — 11 52 75 
Plan amendments — 25 —  24 
Changes in actuarial assumptions and other(b)
(127)(4,187)(518)(2,931)96 (593)
Foreign exchange impact (1)280 (1,065)(1)(5)
Upjohn spin-off
 —  37  — 
Acquisitions/divestitures, net 61 13 (50) — 
Curtailments and special termination benefits6 18  (10)(3)(3)
Settlements(c)
(675)(1,698)(56)(64) (39)
Benefits paid(457)(457)(334)(359)(137)(101)
Benefit obligation, ending(a)
10,756 11,420 7,292 7,497 450 410 
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets, beginning
10,871 16,346 6,865 10,729 647 753 
Actual return on plan assets1,061 (3,550)(316)(2,624)89 (106)
Company contributions134 230 154 156 (15)65 
Employee contributions — 11 52 75 
Foreign exchange impact — 214 (1,037) — 
Upjohn spin-off
 —  45  — 
Acquisitions/divestitures, net 13  — 
Settlements(c)
(675)(1,698)(56)(64) (39)
Benefits paid(457)(457)(334)(359)(137)(101)
Fair value of plan assets, ending10,935 10,871 6,552 6,865 636 647 
Funded status$179 $(549)$(740)$(632)$186 $238 
Amounts recorded in our consolidated balance sheet:
Noncurrent assets$1,010 $346 $644 $783 $266 $322 
Current liabilities(94)(110)(28)(27)(6)(6)
Noncurrent liabilities(738)(785)(1,355)(1,388)(74)(78)
Funded status$179 $(549)$(740)$(632)$186 $238 
Pre-tax components of cumulative amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Prior service (costs)/credits$(2)$(4)$(65)$(34)$285 $413 
Information related to the funded status of pension plans with an ABO in excess of plan assets(d):
Fair value of plan assets
$ $86 $579 $343 
ABO831 981 1,834 1,600 
Information related to the funded status of pension plans with a PBO in excess of plan assets(d):
Fair value of plan assets$ $86 $964 $1,081 
PBO831 981 2,347 2,496 
(a)For the U.S. pension plans, the benefit obligation is both the PBO and ABO as these plans are frozen and future benefit accruals no longer increase with future compensation increases. For the international pension plans, the benefit obligation is the PBO. The ABO for our international pension plans was $7.0 billion in 2023 and $7.2 billion in 2022. For the postretirement plans, the benefit obligation is the ABO.
(b)For 2023, primarily includes actuarial gains resulting from increases in discount rates for the international pension plans. For 2022, primarily includes actuarial gains resulting from increases in discount rates, offset by increases in inflation assumptions for the international plan.
(c)As a result of a group annuity contract entered into between Pfizer and a third-party insurance company in July 2022, the third party insurance company assumed future benefit obligations and responsibility for the annuity payments of certain retirees in the Pfizer Consolidated Pension Plan. Benefit obligations of $586 million and plan assets of $588 million were associated with this contract. In February 2024, regulatory approval was received for this contract.
(d)Our main U.S. qualified plan, U.S. postretirement plan and many of our larger funded international plans were overfunded as of December 31, 2023.
[1]
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet
The following provides: (i) an analysis of the changes in our benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of our benefit plans, (ii) the funded status recognized in our consolidated balance sheets and (iii) the pre-tax components of cumulative amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
 Pension Plans Postretirement Plans
 U.S. International
Year Ended December 31,
(MILLIONS)202320222023202220232022
Change in benefit obligation(a)
Benefit obligation, beginning$11,420 $17,150 $7,497 $11,657 $410 $995 
Service cost — 85 116 12 29 
Interest cost589 534 287 157 21 27 
Employee contributions — 11 52 75 
Plan amendments — 25 —  24 
Changes in actuarial assumptions and other(b)
(127)(4,187)(518)(2,931)96 (593)
Foreign exchange impact (1)280 (1,065)(1)(5)
Upjohn spin-off
 —  37  — 
Acquisitions/divestitures, net 61 13 (50) — 
Curtailments and special termination benefits6 18  (10)(3)(3)
Settlements(c)
(675)(1,698)(56)(64) (39)
Benefits paid(457)(457)(334)(359)(137)(101)
Benefit obligation, ending(a)
10,756 11,420 7,292 7,497 450 410 
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets, beginning
10,871 16,346 6,865 10,729 647 753 
Actual return on plan assets1,061 (3,550)(316)(2,624)89 (106)
Company contributions134 230 154 156 (15)65 
Employee contributions — 11 52 75 
Foreign exchange impact — 214 (1,037) — 
Upjohn spin-off
 —  45  — 
Acquisitions/divestitures, net 13  — 
Settlements(c)
(675)(1,698)(56)(64) (39)
Benefits paid(457)(457)(334)(359)(137)(101)
Fair value of plan assets, ending10,935 10,871 6,552 6,865 636 647 
Funded status$179 $(549)$(740)$(632)$186 $238 
Amounts recorded in our consolidated balance sheet:
Noncurrent assets$1,010 $346 $644 $783 $266 $322 
Current liabilities(94)(110)(28)(27)(6)(6)
Noncurrent liabilities(738)(785)(1,355)(1,388)(74)(78)
Funded status$179 $(549)$(740)$(632)$186 $238 
Pre-tax components of cumulative amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Prior service (costs)/credits$(2)$(4)$(65)$(34)$285 $413 
Information related to the funded status of pension plans with an ABO in excess of plan assets(d):
Fair value of plan assets
$ $86 $579 $343 
ABO831 981 1,834 1,600 
Information related to the funded status of pension plans with a PBO in excess of plan assets(d):
Fair value of plan assets$ $86 $964 $1,081 
PBO831 981 2,347 2,496 
(a)For the U.S. pension plans, the benefit obligation is both the PBO and ABO as these plans are frozen and future benefit accruals no longer increase with future compensation increases. For the international pension plans, the benefit obligation is the PBO. The ABO for our international pension plans was $7.0 billion in 2023 and $7.2 billion in 2022. For the postretirement plans, the benefit obligation is the ABO.
(b)For 2023, primarily includes actuarial gains resulting from increases in discount rates for the international pension plans. For 2022, primarily includes actuarial gains resulting from increases in discount rates, offset by increases in inflation assumptions for the international plan.
(c)As a result of a group annuity contract entered into between Pfizer and a third-party insurance company in July 2022, the third party insurance company assumed future benefit obligations and responsibility for the annuity payments of certain retirees in the Pfizer Consolidated Pension Plan. Benefit obligations of $586 million and plan assets of $588 million were associated with this contract. In February 2024, regulatory approval was received for this contract.
(d)Our main U.S. qualified plan, U.S. postretirement plan and many of our larger funded international plans were overfunded as of December 31, 2023.
[1]
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following provides: (i) an analysis of the changes in our benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of our benefit plans, (ii) the funded status recognized in our consolidated balance sheets and (iii) the pre-tax components of cumulative amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
 Pension Plans Postretirement Plans
 U.S. International
Year Ended December 31,
(MILLIONS)202320222023202220232022
Change in benefit obligation(a)
Benefit obligation, beginning$11,420 $17,150 $7,497 $11,657 $410 $995 
Service cost — 85 116 12 29 
Interest cost589 534 287 157 21 27 
Employee contributions — 11 52 75 
Plan amendments — 25 —  24 
Changes in actuarial assumptions and other(b)
(127)(4,187)(518)(2,931)96 (593)
Foreign exchange impact (1)280 (1,065)(1)(5)
Upjohn spin-off
 —  37  — 
Acquisitions/divestitures, net 61 13 (50) — 
Curtailments and special termination benefits6 18  (10)(3)(3)
Settlements(c)
(675)(1,698)(56)(64) (39)
Benefits paid(457)(457)(334)(359)(137)(101)
Benefit obligation, ending(a)
10,756 11,420 7,292 7,497 450 410 
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets, beginning
10,871 16,346 6,865 10,729 647 753 
Actual return on plan assets1,061 (3,550)(316)(2,624)89 (106)
Company contributions134 230 154 156 (15)65 
Employee contributions — 11 52 75 
Foreign exchange impact — 214 (1,037) — 
Upjohn spin-off
 —  45  — 
Acquisitions/divestitures, net 13  — 
Settlements(c)
(675)(1,698)(56)(64) (39)
Benefits paid(457)(457)(334)(359)(137)(101)
Fair value of plan assets, ending10,935 10,871 6,552 6,865 636 647 
Funded status$179 $(549)$(740)$(632)$186 $238 
Amounts recorded in our consolidated balance sheet:
Noncurrent assets$1,010 $346 $644 $783 $266 $322 
Current liabilities(94)(110)(28)(27)(6)(6)
Noncurrent liabilities(738)(785)(1,355)(1,388)(74)(78)
Funded status$179 $(549)$(740)$(632)$186 $238 
Pre-tax components of cumulative amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Prior service (costs)/credits$(2)$(4)$(65)$(34)$285 $413 
Information related to the funded status of pension plans with an ABO in excess of plan assets(d):
Fair value of plan assets
$ $86 $579 $343 
ABO831 981 1,834 1,600 
Information related to the funded status of pension plans with a PBO in excess of plan assets(d):
Fair value of plan assets$ $86 $964 $1,081 
PBO831 981 2,347 2,496 
(a)For the U.S. pension plans, the benefit obligation is both the PBO and ABO as these plans are frozen and future benefit accruals no longer increase with future compensation increases. For the international pension plans, the benefit obligation is the PBO. The ABO for our international pension plans was $7.0 billion in 2023 and $7.2 billion in 2022. For the postretirement plans, the benefit obligation is the ABO.
(b)For 2023, primarily includes actuarial gains resulting from increases in discount rates for the international pension plans. For 2022, primarily includes actuarial gains resulting from increases in discount rates, offset by increases in inflation assumptions for the international plan.
(c)As a result of a group annuity contract entered into between Pfizer and a third-party insurance company in July 2022, the third party insurance company assumed future benefit obligations and responsibility for the annuity payments of certain retirees in the Pfizer Consolidated Pension Plan. Benefit obligations of $586 million and plan assets of $588 million were associated with this contract. In February 2024, regulatory approval was received for this contract.
(d)Our main U.S. qualified plan, U.S. postretirement plan and many of our larger funded international plans were overfunded as of December 31, 2023.
[1]
Schedule of Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets
The following provides: (i) an analysis of the changes in our benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of our benefit plans, (ii) the funded status recognized in our consolidated balance sheets and (iii) the pre-tax components of cumulative amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
 Pension Plans Postretirement Plans
 U.S. International
Year Ended December 31,
(MILLIONS)202320222023202220232022
Change in benefit obligation(a)
Benefit obligation, beginning$11,420 $17,150 $7,497 $11,657 $410 $995 
Service cost — 85 116 12 29 
Interest cost589 534 287 157 21 27 
Employee contributions — 11 52 75 
Plan amendments — 25 —  24 
Changes in actuarial assumptions and other(b)
(127)(4,187)(518)(2,931)96 (593)
Foreign exchange impact (1)280 (1,065)(1)(5)
Upjohn spin-off
 —  37  — 
Acquisitions/divestitures, net 61 13 (50) — 
Curtailments and special termination benefits6 18  (10)(3)(3)
Settlements(c)
(675)(1,698)(56)(64) (39)
Benefits paid(457)(457)(334)(359)(137)(101)
Benefit obligation, ending(a)
10,756 11,420 7,292 7,497 450 410 
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets, beginning
10,871 16,346 6,865 10,729 647 753 
Actual return on plan assets1,061 (3,550)(316)(2,624)89 (106)
Company contributions134 230 154 156 (15)65 
Employee contributions — 11 52 75 
Foreign exchange impact — 214 (1,037) — 
Upjohn spin-off
 —  45  — 
Acquisitions/divestitures, net 13  — 
Settlements(c)
(675)(1,698)(56)(64) (39)
Benefits paid(457)(457)(334)(359)(137)(101)
Fair value of plan assets, ending10,935 10,871 6,552 6,865 636 647 
Funded status$179 $(549)$(740)$(632)$186 $238 
Amounts recorded in our consolidated balance sheet:
Noncurrent assets$1,010 $346 $644 $783 $266 $322 
Current liabilities(94)(110)(28)(27)(6)(6)
Noncurrent liabilities(738)(785)(1,355)(1,388)(74)(78)
Funded status$179 $(549)$(740)$(632)$186 $238 
Pre-tax components of cumulative amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Prior service (costs)/credits$(2)$(4)$(65)$(34)$285 $413 
Information related to the funded status of pension plans with an ABO in excess of plan assets(d):
Fair value of plan assets
$ $86 $579 $343 
ABO831 981 1,834 1,600 
Information related to the funded status of pension plans with a PBO in excess of plan assets(d):
Fair value of plan assets$ $86 $964 $1,081 
PBO831 981 2,347 2,496 
(a)For the U.S. pension plans, the benefit obligation is both the PBO and ABO as these plans are frozen and future benefit accruals no longer increase with future compensation increases. For the international pension plans, the benefit obligation is the PBO. The ABO for our international pension plans was $7.0 billion in 2023 and $7.2 billion in 2022. For the postretirement plans, the benefit obligation is the ABO.
(b)For 2023, primarily includes actuarial gains resulting from increases in discount rates for the international pension plans. For 2022, primarily includes actuarial gains resulting from increases in discount rates, offset by increases in inflation assumptions for the international plan.
(c)As a result of a group annuity contract entered into between Pfizer and a third-party insurance company in July 2022, the third party insurance company assumed future benefit obligations and responsibility for the annuity payments of certain retirees in the Pfizer Consolidated Pension Plan. Benefit obligations of $586 million and plan assets of $588 million were associated with this contract. In February 2024, regulatory approval was received for this contract.
(d)Our main U.S. qualified plan, U.S. postretirement plan and many of our larger funded international plans were overfunded as of December 31, 2023.
[1]
Schedule of Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets
The following provides: (i) an analysis of the changes in our benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of our benefit plans, (ii) the funded status recognized in our consolidated balance sheets and (iii) the pre-tax components of cumulative amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
 Pension Plans Postretirement Plans
 U.S. International
Year Ended December 31,
(MILLIONS)202320222023202220232022
Change in benefit obligation(a)
Benefit obligation, beginning$11,420 $17,150 $7,497 $11,657 $410 $995 
Service cost — 85 116 12 29 
Interest cost589 534 287 157 21 27 
Employee contributions — 11 52 75 
Plan amendments — 25 —  24 
Changes in actuarial assumptions and other(b)
(127)(4,187)(518)(2,931)96 (593)
Foreign exchange impact (1)280 (1,065)(1)(5)
Upjohn spin-off
 —  37  — 
Acquisitions/divestitures, net 61 13 (50) — 
Curtailments and special termination benefits6 18  (10)(3)(3)
Settlements(c)
(675)(1,698)(56)(64) (39)
Benefits paid(457)(457)(334)(359)(137)(101)
Benefit obligation, ending(a)
10,756 11,420 7,292 7,497 450 410 
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets, beginning
10,871 16,346 6,865 10,729 647 753 
Actual return on plan assets1,061 (3,550)(316)(2,624)89 (106)
Company contributions134 230 154 156 (15)65 
Employee contributions — 11 52 75 
Foreign exchange impact — 214 (1,037) — 
Upjohn spin-off
 —  45  — 
Acquisitions/divestitures, net 13  — 
Settlements(c)
(675)(1,698)(56)(64) (39)
Benefits paid(457)(457)(334)(359)(137)(101)
Fair value of plan assets, ending10,935 10,871 6,552 6,865 636 647 
Funded status$179 $(549)$(740)$(632)$186 $238 
Amounts recorded in our consolidated balance sheet:
Noncurrent assets$1,010 $346 $644 $783 $266 $322 
Current liabilities(94)(110)(28)(27)(6)(6)
Noncurrent liabilities(738)(785)(1,355)(1,388)(74)(78)
Funded status$179 $(549)$(740)$(632)$186 $238 
Pre-tax components of cumulative amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Prior service (costs)/credits$(2)$(4)$(65)$(34)$285 $413 
Information related to the funded status of pension plans with an ABO in excess of plan assets(d):
Fair value of plan assets
$ $86 $579 $343 
ABO831 981 1,834 1,600 
Information related to the funded status of pension plans with a PBO in excess of plan assets(d):
Fair value of plan assets$ $86 $964 $1,081 
PBO831 981 2,347 2,496 
(a)For the U.S. pension plans, the benefit obligation is both the PBO and ABO as these plans are frozen and future benefit accruals no longer increase with future compensation increases. For the international pension plans, the benefit obligation is the PBO. The ABO for our international pension plans was $7.0 billion in 2023 and $7.2 billion in 2022. For the postretirement plans, the benefit obligation is the ABO.
(b)For 2023, primarily includes actuarial gains resulting from increases in discount rates for the international pension plans. For 2022, primarily includes actuarial gains resulting from increases in discount rates, offset by increases in inflation assumptions for the international plan.
(c)As a result of a group annuity contract entered into between Pfizer and a third-party insurance company in July 2022, the third party insurance company assumed future benefit obligations and responsibility for the annuity payments of certain retirees in the Pfizer Consolidated Pension Plan. Benefit obligations of $586 million and plan assets of $588 million were associated with this contract. In February 2024, regulatory approval was received for this contract.
(d)Our main U.S. qualified plan, U.S. postretirement plan and many of our larger funded international plans were overfunded as of December 31, 2023.
[1]
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets
The following provides the components of plan assets:
As of December 31, 2023As of December 31, 2022
    Fair ValueFair Value
(MILLIONS EXCEPT TARGET ALLOCATION PERCENTAGE)Target Allocation PercentageTotalLevel 1Level
2
Level 3
Assets Measured at NAV(a)
TotalLevel 1Level
 2
Level 3
Assets Measured at NAV(a)
U.S. pension plans
Cash and cash equivalents0-10%$606 $47 $559 $ $ $828 $49 $779 $— $— 
Equity securities:10-40%
Global equity securities1,537 1,537  1  1,555 1,553 — 
Equity commingled funds100  100   165 — 165 — — 
Fixed income securities:45-80%
Corporate debt securities3,668 1 3,667   3,512 3,507 — — 
Government and agency obligations(b)
1,971  1,971   1,772 — 1,772 — — 
Fixed income commingled funds25  14  11 16 — 16 — — 
Other investments:5-35%
Partnership investments(c)
2,449    2,449 2,152 — — — 2,152 
Insurance contracts99  99   116 — 116 — — 
Other commingled funds(d)
479    479 756 — — — 756 
Total100 %$10,935 $1,585 $6,410 $1 $2,939 $10,871 $1,607 $6,355 $$2,908 
International pension plans
Cash and cash equivalents0-10%$268 $120 $148 $ $ $221 $58 $163 $— $— 
Equity securities:10-20%
Equity commingled funds633  587  46 714 — 672 — 42 
Fixed income securities:45-70%
Corporate debt securities617  617   569 — 569 — — 
Government and agency obligations(b)
848  848   862 — 862 — — 
Fixed income commingled funds1,852  872  980 2,053 — 1,045 — 1,008 
Other investments:15-35%
Partnership investments(c)
145  2  142 128 — — 126 
Insurance contracts1,151  55 1,096  1,197 — 54 1,143 — 
Other(d)
1,039  167 244 628 1,122 — 133 312 677 
Total100 %$6,552 $120 $3,295 $1,340 $1,796 $6,865 $58 $3,498 $1,455 $1,853 
U.S. postretirement plans(e)
Cash and cash equivalents0-5%$3 $1 $2 $ $ $97 $$96 $— $— 
Insurance contracts95-100%633  633   551 — 551 — — 
Total100 %$636 $1 $635 $ $ $647 $$646 $— $— 
(a)Certain investments that are measured at NAV per share (or its equivalent) have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The NAV amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented for the total pension benefits plan assets.
(b)Government and agency obligations are inclusive of repurchase agreements.
(c)Mainly includes investments in private equity, private debt and real estate.
(d)Mostly includes investments in hedge funds and real estate.
(e)Reflects postretirement plan assets, which support our U.S. retiree medical plans.
Schedule of Effect of Significant Unobservable Inputs, Changes in Plan Assets
The following provides an analysis of the changes in our more significant investments valued using significant unobservable inputs:
International Pension Plans
Year Ended December 31,
(MILLIONS)20232022
Fair value, beginning$1,455 $1,677 
Actual return on plan assets:
Assets held, ending(96)(177)
Assets sold during the period(3)
Purchases, sales, and settlements, net
(155)(129)
Transfer into/(out of) Level 381 241 
Exchange rate changes59 (161)
Fair value, ending$1,340 $1,455 
Schedule of Expected Future Cash Flow Information
The following provides the expected future cash flow information related to our benefit plans:
  Pension PlansPostretirement Plans
(MILLIONS)U.S.International
Expected employer contributions:
2024
$94 $162 $39 
Expected benefit payments:
2024$1,009 $372 $43 
2025907 361 45 
2026894 371 46 
2027875 384 47 
2028
858 386 47 
2029–2033
4,004 2,073 218 
[1] As a result of a group annuity contract entered into between Pfizer and a third-party insurance company in July 2022, the third party insurance company assumed future benefit obligations and responsibility for the annuity payments of certain retirees in the Pfizer Consolidated Pension Plan. Benefit obligations of $586 million and plan assets of $588 million were associated with this contract. In February 2024, regulatory approval was received for this contract.