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This excerpt taken from the PNC 10-K filed Mar 2, 2009. STATUS OF DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN We have a noncontributory, qualified defined benefit pension plan (“plan” or “pension plan”) covering eligible employees. Benefits are derived from a cash balance formula based on compensation levels, age and length of service. Pension contributions are based on an actuarially determined amount necessary to fund total benefits payable to plan participants. Consistent with our investment strategy, plan assets are primarily invested in equity investments and fixed income instruments. Plan fiduciaries determine and review the plan’s investment policy. We calculate the expense associated with the pension plan in accordance with SFAS 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions,” and we use assumptions and methods that are compatible with the requirements of SFAS 87, including a policy of reflecting trust assets at their fair market value. On an annual basis, we review the actuarial assumptions related to the pension plan, including the discount rate, the rate of compensation increase and the expected return on plan assets. The discount rate and compensation increase assumptions do not significantly affect pension expense. However, the expected long-term return on assets assumption does significantly affect pension expense. The expected long-term return on plan assets for determining net periodic pension cost for 2008 was 8.25%, unchanged from 2007. Under current accounting rules, the difference between expected long-term returns and actual returns is accumulated and amortized to pension expense over future periods. Each one percentage point difference in actual return compared with our expected return causes expense in subsequent years to change by up to $7 million as the impact is amortized into results of operations.
This excerpt taken from the PNC 10-K filed Feb 29, 2008. STATUS OF DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN We have a noncontributory, qualified defined benefit pension plan (“plan” or “pension plan”) covering eligible employees. Benefits are derived from a cash balance formula based on compensation levels, age and length of service. Pension contributions are based on an actuarially determined amount necessary to fund total benefits payable to plan participants. Consistent with our investment strategy, plan assets are currently approximately 60% invested in equity investments with most of the remainder invested in fixed income instruments. Plan fiduciaries determine and review the plan’s investment policy. We calculate the expense associated with the pension plan in accordance with SFAS 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions,” and we use assumptions and methods that are compatible with the requirements of SFAS 87, including a policy of reflecting trust assets at their fair market value. On an annual basis, we review the actuarial assumptions related to the pension plan, including the discount rate, the rate of compensation increase and the expected return on plan assets. Neither the discount rate nor the compensation increase assumptions significantly affects pension expense. The expected long-term return on assets assumption does significantly affect pension expense. The expected long-term return on plan assets for determining net periodic pension cost for 2007 was 8.25%, unchanged from 2006. Under current accounting rules, the difference between expected long-term returns and actual returns is accumulated and amortized to pension expense over future periods. Each one percentage point difference in actual return compared with our expected return causes expense in subsequent years to change by up to $4 million as the impact is amortized into results of operations. The table below reflects the estimated effects on pension expense of certain changes in assumptions, using 2008 estimated expense as a baseline.
We currently estimate a pretax pension benefit of $26 million in 2008 compared with a pretax benefit of $30 million in
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This excerpt taken from the PNC 10-Q filed Aug 9, 2006. STATUS OF DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN We have a noncontributory, qualified defined benefit pension plan (“plan” or “pension plan”) covering eligible employees. Retirement benefits are derived from a cash balance formula based on compensation levels, age and length of service. Pension contributions are based on an actuarially determined amount necessary to fund total benefits payable to plan participants. Plan assets are currently approximately 60% invested in equity investments with most of the remainder invested in fixed income instruments. Plan fiduciaries determine and review the plan’s investment policy. We calculate the expense associated with the pension plan in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. (“SFAS”) 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions,” and we use assumptions and methods that are compatible with the requirements of SFAS 87, including a policy of reflecting trust assets at their fair market value. On an annual basis, we review the actuarial assumptions related to the pension plan, including the discount rate, rate of compensation increase and the expected return on plan assets. Neither the discount rate nor the compensation increase assumptions significantly affect pension expense. The expected long-term return on assets assumption does significantly affect pension expense. We decreased the expected long-term return on plan assets assumption from the 8.5% used for 2005 to 8.25% for determining net periodic cost for 2006. This change will increase estimated pension expense in 2006 by approximately $4 million. Also, under current accounting rules, the differences between expected long-term returns and actual returns are accumulated and amortized to pension expense over future periods. Each one percentage point difference between our actual return and the expected return causes our expense in the following year to change by up to $3 million. The table below reflects the estimated effects on current year pension expense of certain changes in assumptions, using 2006 estimated expense as a baseline.
We currently estimate a pretax pension benefit of $12 million in 2006 compared with a pretax benefit of $8 million in 2005. Actual pension benefit recognized for the first six months of 2006 totaled $6 million.
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Table of ContentsIn accordance with SFAS 87 and SFAS 132 (Revised 2003), “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits,” we may have to eliminate any prepaid pension asset and recognize a minimum pension liability if the accumulated benefit obligation exceeds the fair value of plan assets at year-end. We would recognize the corresponding charge as a component of other comprehensive income and it would reduce total shareholders’ equity, but it would not affect net income. At December 31, 2005, the fair value of plan assets was $1.627 billion, which exceeded the accumulated benefit obligation of $1.232 billion. The status at year-end 2006 will depend primarily upon 2006 investment returns and the level of contributions, if any, we make to the plan during 2006. Plan asset investment performance has the most impact on contribution requirements. However, contribution requirements are not particularly sensitive to actuarial assumptions. Investment performance will drive the amount of permitted contributions in future years. Also, current law sets limits as to both minimum and maximum contributions to the plan. In any event, any large near-term contributions to the plan will be at our discretion, as we currently expect that the minimum required contributions under the law will be minimal or zero for several years. We maintain other defined benefit plans that have a less significant effect on financial results, including various nonqualified supplemental retirement plans for certain employees. In March 2006, the FASB issued an Exposure Draft on a Proposed Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans - an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)” proposing changes that would affect the accounting and reporting for our qualified pension plan, our nonqualified retirement plans, and our postretirement welfare benefit plans. The FASB expects to issue a final standard during the third quarter of 2006 with the changes applied prospectively at December 31, 2006. For additional information on the Exposure Draft, see the “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” section of Note 1 Accounting Policies in the Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements in this Report.
This excerpt taken from the PNC 10-Q filed May 9, 2006. STATUS OF DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN We have a noncontributory, qualified defined benefit pension plan (“plan” or “pension plan”) covering eligible employees. Retirement benefits are derived from a cash balance formula based on compensation levels, age and length of service. Pension contributions are based on an actuarially determined amount necessary to fund total benefits payable to plan participants. Plan assets are currently approximately 60% invested in equity investments with most of the remainder invested in fixed income instruments. Plan fiduciaries determine and review the plan’s investment policy. We calculate the expense associated with the pension plan in accordance with SFAS 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions,” and we use assumptions and methods that are compatible with the requirements of SFAS 87, including a policy of reflecting trust assets at their fair market value. On an annual basis, we review the actuarial assumptions related to the pension plan, including the discount rate, rate of compensation increase and the expected return on plan assets. Neither the discount rate nor the compensation increase assumptions significantly affect pension expense. The expected long-term return on assets assumption does significantly affect pension expense. We decreased the expected long-term return on plan assets assumption from the 8.5% used for 2005 to 8.25% for determining net periodic cost for 2006. This change will increase estimated pension expense in 2006 by approximately $4 million. Also, under current accounting rules, the differences between expected long-term returns and actual returns are accumulated and amortized to pension expense over future periods. Each one percentage point difference in actual return compared with our expected return causes expense in the following year to change by up to $3 million. The table below reflects the estimated effects on pension expense of certain changes in assumptions, using 2006 estimated expense as a baseline.
We currently estimate a pretax pension benefit of $1 million in 2006 compared with a pretax benefit of $8 million in 2005. Actual pension benefit recognized for the first quarter of 2006 was less than $1 million. In accordance with SFAS 87 and SFAS 132 (Revised 2003), “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits,” we may have to eliminate any prepaid pension asset and recognize a minimum pension
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Table of Contentsliability if the accumulated benefit obligation exceeds the fair value of plan assets at year-end. We would recognize the corresponding charge as a component of other comprehensive income and it would reduce total shareholders’ equity, but it would not affect net income. At December 31, 2005, the fair value of plan assets was $1.627 billion, which exceeded the accumulated benefit obligation of $1.232 billion. The status at year-end 2006 will depend primarily upon 2006 investment returns and the level of contributions, if any, we make to the plan during 2006. Plan asset investment performance has the most impact on contribution requirements. However, contribution requirements are not particularly sensitive to actuarial assumptions. Investment performance will drive the amount of permitted contributions in future years. Also, current law sets limits as to both minimum and maximum contributions to the plan. In any event, any large near-term contributions to the plan will be at our discretion, as we expect that the minimum required contributions under the law will be minimal or zero for several years. We maintain other defined benefit plans that have a less significant effect on financial results, including various nonqualified supplemental retirement plans for certain employees. | EXCERPTS ON THIS PAGE:
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