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Pension And Postretirement Benefits
12 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2022
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Pension And Postretirement Benefits Pension and Postretirement Benefits
Pension Benefits — We sponsor a number of noncontributory defined benefit pension plans to provide retirement benefits to eligible U.S. and non-U.S. employees. The benefits provided under these plans are based primarily on years of service and compensation levels. Benefits are paid from funds previously provided to trustees or are paid directly by us from general funds. In 1999, we implemented significant amendments to certain U.S. pension plans. Under a new formula, retirement benefits are determined based on percentages of annual pay and age. To minimize the impact of converting to the new formula, service and earnings credit continued to accrue for fifteen years for certain active employees participating in the plans under the old formula prior to the amendments. Employees will receive the benefit from either the new or old formula, whichever is higher. Effective as of January 1, 2011, our U.S. pension plans were amended so that employees hired or rehired on or after that date and who are not covered by collective bargaining agreements will not be eligible to participate in the plans. All collective bargaining units adopted this amendment by December 31, 2011.
Postretirement Benefits — We provide postretirement benefits, including health care and life insurance to eligible retired U.S. employees, and where applicable, their dependents. Accordingly, we sponsor a retiree medical program for eligible retired U.S. employees and fund applicable retiree medical accounts intended to provide reimbursement for eligible health care expenses on a tax-favored basis for retirees who satisfy certain eligibility requirements. Effective as of January 1, 2019, we no longer sponsor our own retiree medical coverage for substantially all retired U.S. employees that are Medicare eligible. Instead, we offer these Medicare-eligible retirees access to health care coverage through a private exchange and offer a health reimbursement account to subsidize benefits for a select group of such retirees. We also provide postretirement life insurance to all eligible U.S. employees who retired prior to January 1, 2018, as well as certain eligible retired employees covered by one of our collective bargaining agreements.
Determining net periodic benefit expense (income) is dependent on various actuarial assumptions, including discount rates, expected return on plan assets, compensation increases, turnover rates and health care trend rates. Actuarial gains and losses are recognized immediately in Other expenses / (income) in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings as of the measurement date, which is our fiscal year end, or more frequently if an interim remeasurement is required. We use the fair value of plan assets to calculate the expected return on plan assets.
Components of net periodic benefit expense (income) were as follows:
Pension
(Millions)202220212020
Service cost$16 $18 $19 
Interest cost49 41 65 
Expected return on plan assets(118)(122)(134)
Amortization of prior service cost — — 
Actuarial losses (gains)80 (197)141 
Net periodic benefit expense (income)$27 $(260)$91 
The components of net periodic benefit expense (income) other than the service cost component associated with continuing operations are included in Other expenses / (income) in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
The actuarial losses recognized in 2022 were primarily due to losses on plan assets, partially offset by increases in discount rates used to determine the benefit obligation. The actuarial gains recognized in 2021 were primarily due to higher than anticipated investment gains on plan assets and increases in discount rates used to determine the benefit obligation. The actuarial losses recognized in 2020 were primarily due to decreases in discount rates used to determine the benefit obligation, partially offset by higher than anticipated investment gains on plan assets.
Net periodic benefit expense (income) associated with discontinued operations was not material in 2020.
 Postretirement
(Millions)202220212020
Service cost$ $— $
Interest cost3 
Amortization of prior service credit(1)(5)(28)
Actuarial losses (gains)(36)(6)23 
Net periodic benefit expense (income)$(34)$(7)$
The components of net periodic benefit expense (income) other than the service cost component associated with continuing operations are included in Other expenses / (income) in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
The actuarial gains recognized in 2022 and 2021 were primarily due to increases in discount rates used to determine the benefit obligation. The actuarial losses recognized in 2020 were primarily due to decreases in discount rates used to determine the benefit obligation.
Change in benefit obligation:
PensionPostretirement
(Millions)2022202120222021
Obligation at beginning of year$2,186 $2,366 $222 $244 
Service cost16 18  — 
Interest cost49 41 3 
Actuarial loss (gain)(310)(43)(36)(6)
Benefits paid(106)(152)(17)(20)
Settlements(89)(53) — 
Other(6)(2) — 
Foreign currency adjustment(3)11  — 
Benefit obligation at end of year$1,737 $2,186 $172 $222 
Change in the fair value of pension plan assets:
(Millions)20222021
Fair value at beginning of year$2,220 $2,120 
Actual return on plan assets(272)276 
Employer contributions 
Benefits paid(92)(138)
Settlements(89)(53)
Foreign currency adjustment(4)13 
Fair value at end of year$1,763 $2,220 
Net amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
 PensionPostretirement
(Millions)2022202120222021
Other assets$146 $190 $ $— 
Accrued liabilities13 14 19 23 
Other liabilities107 142 153 199 
Net amounts recognized asset / (liability)$26 $34 $(172)$(222)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consist of:
(Millions)PensionPostretirement
2022202120222021
Prior service credit (cost)$(1)$(1)$4 $
The change in amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) associated with postretirement benefits was due to amortization in 2022 and 2021.
The following table provides information for pension plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets and accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
(Millions)20222021
Projected benefit obligation$120 $156 
Accumulated benefit obligation$118 $154 
Fair value of plan assets$ $— 
The accumulated benefit obligation for all pension plans was $1.716 billion at July 31, 2022, and $2.159 billion at August 1, 2021.
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at the end of the year:
 PensionPostretirement
 2022202120222021
Discount rate4.58%2.69%4.48%2.37%
Rate of compensation increase3.23%3.23%3.25%3.25%
Interest crediting rate4.00%4.00%Not applicable
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the years ended:
 Pension
 202220212020
Discount rate3.13%2.47%3.46%
Expected return on plan assets5.82%6.01%6.85%
Rate of compensation increase3.23%3.23%3.20%
Interest crediting rate4.00%4.00%4.00%
The discount rate is established as of the measurement date. In establishing the discount rate, we review published market indices of high-quality debt securities, adjusted as appropriate for duration. In addition, independent actuaries apply high-quality bond yield curves to the expected benefit payments of the plans. The expected return on plan assets is a long-term assumption based upon historical experience and expected future performance, considering our current and projected investment mix. This estimate is based on an estimate of future inflation, long-term projected real returns for each asset class and a premium for active management.
The discount rate used to determine net periodic postretirement expense was 2.37% in 2022, 2.15% in 2021, and 3.28% in 2020.
Assumed health care cost trend rates at the end of the year:
 20222021
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year6.50%6.25%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (ultimate trend rate)5.00%4.50%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate20272025
Pension Plan Assets
The fundamental goal underlying the investment policy is to ensure that the assets of the plans are invested in a prudent manner to meet the obligations of the plans as these obligations come due. The primary investment objectives include providing a total return which will promote the goal of benefit security by attaining an appropriate ratio of plan assets to plan obligations, to provide for real asset growth while also tracking plan obligations, to diversify investments across and within asset classes, to reduce the impact of losses in single investments, and to follow investment practices that comply with applicable laws and regulations.
The primary policy objectives will be met by investing assets to achieve a reasonable tradeoff between return and risk relative to plan obligations. This includes investing a portion of the assets in funds selected in part to hedge the interest rate sensitivity to plan obligations.
The portfolio includes investments in the following asset classes: fixed income, equity, real estate and alternatives. Fixed income will provide a moderate expected return and partially hedge the exposure to interest rate risk of the plans’ obligations. Equities are used for their high expected return. Additional asset classes are used to provide diversification.
Asset allocation is monitored on an ongoing basis relative to the established asset class targets. The interaction between plan assets and benefit obligations is periodically studied to assist in the establishment of strategic asset allocation targets. The investment policy permits variances from the targets within certain parameters. Asset rebalancing occurs when the underlying asset class allocations move outside these parameters, at which time the asset allocation is rebalanced back to the policy target weight.
Our year-end pension plan weighted-average asset allocations by category were:
 Strategic Target20222021
Equity securities33%34%36%
Debt securities60%59%57%
Real estate and other7%7%7%
Total100%100%100%
Pension plan assets are categorized based on the following fair value hierarchy:
Level 1: Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with observable market data.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs, which are valued based on our estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
The following table presents our pension plan assets by asset category at July 31, 2022, and August 1, 2021:
 
Fair Value
as of
July 31, 2022
Fair Value Measurements at
July 31, 2022 Using
Fair Value Hierarchy
Fair Value
as of
August 1, 2021
Fair Value Measurements at
August 1, 2021 Using
Fair Value Hierarchy
(Millions)Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 1Level 2Level 3
Short-term investments
$33 $27 $6 $ $43 $41 $$— 
Equities:
U.S.78 75 3  106 100 — 
Non-U.S.162 162   234 233 — 
Corporate bonds:
U.S.571  571  723 — 723 — 
Non-U.S.119  119  138 — 138 — 
Government and agency bonds:
U.S.224  224  198 — 198 — 
Non-U.S.20  20  33 — 33 — 
Municipal bonds19  19  29 — 29 — 
Mortgage and asset backed securities
15  15  10 — 10 — 
Real estate4 2  2 — 
Hedge funds11   11 30 — — 30 
Derivative assets10  10  — — 
Derivative liabilities(5) (5) (3)— (3)— 
Total assets at fair value
$1,261 $266 $982 $13 $1,552 $376 $1,143 $33 
Investments measured at net asset value:
Short-term investments
$27 $26 
Commingled equity funds307 438 
Commingled fixed income funds87 117 
Real estate99 87 
Hedge funds14 34 
Total investments measured at net asset value:
$534 $702 
Other items to reconcile to fair value
(32)(34)
Total pension plan assets at fair value
$1,763 $2,220 
Short-term investments — Investments include cash and cash equivalents, and various short-term debt instruments and short-term investment funds. Institutional short-term investment vehicles valued daily are classified as Level 1 at cost which approximates market value. Short-term debt instruments are classified at Level 2 and are valued based on bid quotations and recent trade data for identical or similar obligations. Other investments valued based upon net asset value are included as a reconciling item to the fair value table.
Equities — Generally common stocks and preferred stocks are classified as Level 1 and are valued using quoted market prices in active markets.
Corporate bonds — These investments are valued based on quoted market prices, yield curves and pricing models using current market rates.
Government and agency bonds — These investments are generally valued based on bid quotations and recent trade data for identical or similar obligations.
Municipal bonds — These investments are valued based on quoted market prices, yield curves and pricing models using current market rates.
Mortgage and asset backed securities — These investments are valued based on prices obtained from third party pricing sources. The prices from third party pricing sources may be based on bid quotes from dealers and recent trade data. Mortgage backed securities are traded in the over-the-counter market.
Real estate — Real estate investments consist of real estate investment trusts, property funds and limited partnerships. Real estate investment trusts are classified as Level 1 and are valued based on quoted market prices. Property funds are classified as either Level 2 or Level 3 depending upon whether liquidity is limited or there are few observable market participant transactions. Property funds are valued based on third party appraisals. Limited partnerships are valued based upon valuations provided by the general partners of the funds. The values of limited partnerships are based upon an assessment of each underlying investment, incorporating valuations that consider the evaluation of financing and sales transactions with third parties, expected cash flows and market-based information, including comparable transactions and performance multiples among other factors. The investments are classified as Level 3 since the valuation is determined using unobservable inputs. Real estate investments valued at net asset value are included as a reconciling item to the fair value table.
Hedge funds — Hedge fund investments include hedge funds valued based upon a net asset value derived from the fair value of underlying securities. Hedge fund investments that are subject to liquidity restrictions or that are based on unobservable inputs are classified as Level 3. Hedge fund investments may include long and short positions in equity and fixed income securities, derivative instruments such as futures and options, commodities and other types of securities. Hedge fund investments valued at net asset value are included as a reconciling item to the fair value table.
Derivatives — Derivative financial instruments include forward currency contracts, futures contracts, options contracts, interest rate swaps and credit default swaps. Derivative financial instruments are classified as Level 2 and are valued based on observable market transactions or prices.
Commingled funds — Investments in commingled funds are not traded in active markets. Commingled funds are valued based on the net asset values of such funds and are included as a reconciling item to the fair value table.
Other items to reconcile to fair value of plan assets included amounts due for securities sold, amounts payable for securities purchased and other payables.
The following table summarizes the changes in fair value of Level 3 investments for the years ended July 31, 2022, and August 1, 2021:
(Millions)Real EstateHedge FundsTotal
Fair value at August 1, 2021
$$30 $33 
Actual return on plan assets 1 1 
Purchases, sales and settlements, net(1)(20)(21)
Transfers out of Level 3   
Fair value at July 31, 2022
$2 $11 $13 
(Millions)Real EstateHedge FundsTotal
Fair value at August 2, 2020
$$31 $34 
Actual return on plan assets— 
Purchases, sales and settlements, net— (3)(3)
Transfers out of Level 3— — — 
Fair value at August 1, 2021
$$30 $33 

Estimated future benefit payments are as follows:
(Millions)PensionPostretirement
2023$168 $20 
2024$155 $18 
2025$147 $17 
2026$142 $15 
2027$138 $15 
2028-2032$619 $62 
The estimated future benefit payments include payments from funded and unfunded plans.
We do not expect contributions to pension plans to be material in 2023.
Defined Contribution Plans — We sponsor a 401(k) Retirement Plan that covers substantially all U.S. employees and provide a matching contribution of 100% of employee contributions up to 4% of eligible compensation. In addition, for
employees not eligible to participate in defined benefit plans that we sponsor, we provide a contribution equal to 3% of eligible compensation regardless of their participation in the 401(k) Retirement Plan. Through December 31, 2019, all Snyder's-Lance U.S. employees were eligible to participate in a 401(k) retirement plan sponsored by Snyder's-Lance that provided participants with matching contributions equal to 100% of the first 4% and 50% of the next 1% of eligible compensation. As of January 1, 2020, Snyder's-Lance employees were transitioned to the 401(k) Retirement Plan and receive the same contributions under the 401(k) Retirement Plan noted above. Amounts charged to Costs and expenses of continuing operations were $69 million in 2022, $64 million in 2021 and $62 million in 2020.