Pfizer 2006 Annual Report Download - page 59

2006 Financial Report 57
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Pfizer Inc and Subsidiary Companies
The increase in the 2006 U.S. qualified pension plans’ net periodic
benefit cost compared to 2005 was largely driven by changes in
assumptions used, such as the decline in the discount rate and the
adoption of updated mortality (life expectancy) assumptions.
C. Actuarial Assumptions
The following table provides the weighted-average actuarial
assumptions:
(PERCENTAGES) 2006 2005 2004
Weighted-average assumptions used
to determine benefit obligations:
Discount rate:
U.S. qualified pension plans 5.9% 5.8% 6.0%
U.S. non-qualified pension plans 5.9 5.8 6.0
International pension plans 4.4 4.3 4.7
Postretirement plans 5.9 5.8 6.0
Rate of compensation increase:
U.S. qualified pension plans 4.5 4.5 4.5
U.S. non-qualified pension plans 4.5 4.5 4.5
International pension plans 3.6 3.6 3.6
Weighted-average assumptions used
to determine net periodic benefit cost:
Discount rate:
U.S. qualified pension plans 5.8 6.0 6.3
U.S. non-qualified pension plans 5.8 6.0 6.3
International pension plans 4.3 4.7 5.0
Postretirement plans 5.8 6.0 6.3
Expected return on plan assets:
U.S. qualified pension plans 9.0 9.0 9.0
International pension plans 6.9 6.9 7.3
Postretirement plans 9.0 9.0 9.0
Rate of compensation increase:
U.S. qualified pension plans 4.5 4.5 4.5
U.S. non-qualified pension plans 4.5 4.5 4.5
International pension plans 3.6 3.6 3.6
The assumptions above are used to develop the benefit obligations
at fiscal year-end and to develop the net periodic benefit cost for
the subsequent fiscal year. Therefore, the assumptions used to
determine net periodic benefit cost for each year are established
at the end of each previous year, while the assumptions used to
determine benefit obligations were established at each year-end.
The net periodic benefit cost and the benefit obligations are
based on actuarial assumptions that are reviewed on an annual
basis. We revise these assumptions based on an annual evaluation
of long-term trends, as well as market conditions, that may have
an impact on the cost of providing retirement benefits.
The expected rates of return on plan assets for our U.S. qualified,
international and postretirement plans represent our long-term
assessment of return expectations, which we will change based
on significant shifts in economic and financial market conditions.
The 2006 expected rates of return for these plans reflect our
long-term outlook for a globally diversified portfolio, which is
influenced by a combination of return expectations for individual
asset classes, actual historical experience and our diversified
investment strategy. The historical returns are one of the inputs
used to provide context for the development of our expectations
for future returns. Using this information, we develop ranges of
returns for each asset class and a weighted-average expected
return for our targeted portfolio, which includes the impact of
portfolio diversification and active portfolio management.
The healthcare cost trend rate assumptions for our U.S.
postretirement benefit plans are as follows:
(PERCENTAGES) 2006 2005
Healthcare cost trend rate assumed
for next year 9.9% 9.8%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is
assumed to decline 5.0 5.0
Year that the rate reaches the
ultimate trend rate 2014 2013
A one-percentage-point increase or decrease in the healthcare cost
trend rate assumed for postretirement benefits would have the
following effects as of December 31, 2006:
(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
INCREASE DECREASE
Effect on total service and interest
cost components $ 19 $ (15)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation 226 (186)