Pension plans and other postretirement benefits

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Pension plans and other postretirement benefits

13.    Pension plans and other postretirement benefits

The Company provides defined pension and other postretirement benefits (including health care and life insurance benefits) to qualified retired employees. The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for all of its plans.

Net periodic pension expense for defined benefit plans consisted of the following:

	Year Ended December 31
	2021			2020			2019
	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	20,513		$	19,944		$	17,294
Interest cost on benefit obligation		61,873			71,421			81,579
Expected return on plan assets		(143,448	)		(125,512	)		(122,139	)
Amortization of prior service cost		553			557			557
Recognized net actuarial loss		89,017			58,096			21,992
Net periodic pension cost (benefit)	$	28,508		$	24,506		$	(717	)

Net other postretirement benefits expense for defined benefit plans consisted of the following:

	Year Ended December 31
	2021			2020			2019
	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	1,014		$	970		$	859
Interest cost on benefit obligation		1,311			1,741			2,344
Amortization of prior service credit		(4,738	)		(4,738	)		(4,730	)
Recognized net actuarial gain		(1,295	)		(1,236	)		(1,247	)
Net other postretirement benefits	$	(3,708	)	$	(3,263	)	$	(2,774	)

Service cost is reflected in salaries and employee benefits expense.  The other components of net periodic benefit expense are reflected in other costs of operations.  

Data relating to the funding position of the defined benefit plans were as follows:

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	2021			2020			2021			2020
	(In thousands)
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	2,521,292		$	2,247,329		$	55,281		$	56,492
Service cost		20,513			19,944			1,014			970
Interest cost		61,873			71,421			1,311			1,741
Plan participants’ contributions		—			—			2,553			2,386
Actuarial (gain) loss		(69,230	)		288,944			(2,232	)		2,371
Medicare Part D reimbursement		—			—			540			574
Benefits paid		(114,235	)		(106,346	)		(6,621	)		(9,253	)
Benefit obligation at end of year		2,420,213			2,521,292			51,846			55,281
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		2,420,582			2,037,940			—			—
Actual return on plan assets		278,260			178,610			—			—
Employer contributions		11,231			310,378			3,528			6,293
Plan participants’ contributions		—			—			2,553			2,386
Medicare Part D reimbursement		—			—			540			574
Benefits paid		(114,235	)		(106,346	)		(6,621	)		(9,253	)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		2,595,838			2,420,582			—			—
Funded status	$	175,625		$	(100,710	)	$	(51,846	)	$	(55,281	)
Prepaid asset recognized in the    consolidated balance sheet		332,197			64,670			—			—
Accrued liability recognized in the    consolidated balance sheet		(156,572	)		(165,380	)		(51,846	)		(55,281	)
Net accrued asset (liability)    recognized in the consolidated    balance sheet	$	175,625		$	(100,710	)	$	(51,846	)	$	(55,281	)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) were:
Net loss (gain)	$	391,721		$	684,780		$	(14,638	)	$	(13,701	)
Net prior service cost (credit)		724			1,277			(17,531	)		(22,269	)
Pre-tax adjustment to AOCI		392,445			686,057			(32,169	)		(35,970	)
Taxes		(101,447	)		(178,375	)		8,316			9,352
Net adjustment to AOCI	$	290,998		$	507,682		$	(23,853	)	$	(26,618	)

The Company has an unfunded supplemental pension plan for certain key executives and others. The projected benefit obligation and accumulated benefit obligation included in the preceding data related to such plan were $157 million as of December 31, 2021 and $165 million as of December 31, 2020.

The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $2.4 billion and $2.5 billion at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

GAAP requires an employer to recognize in its balance sheet as an asset or liability the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan, measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation. For a pension plan, the benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation; for any other postretirement benefit plan, such as a retiree health care plan, the benefit obligation is the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation. Gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that arise during the period, but are not included as components of net periodic benefit expense, are recognized as a component of other comprehensive income. Amortization of net gains and losses is included in annual net periodic benefit expense if, as of the beginning of the year, the net gain or loss exceeds 10% of the greater of the benefit obligation or the market-related fair value of the plan assets. As indicated in the preceding table, as of December 31, 2021 the Company recorded a minimum liability adjustment of $360 million ($392 million related to pension plans and $(32) million related to other postretirement benefits) with a corresponding reduction of shareholders’ equity, net of applicable deferred taxes, of $267 million. In aggregate, the benefit plans realized a net gain during 2021 that resulted in a decrease to the minimum liability adjustment from that which was recorded at December 31, 2020 of $290 million. The net gain in 2021 was mainly the result of increasing the discount rate used to measure the benefit obligation of all plans to 2.75% at December 31, 2021 from 2.50% used at the prior year-end and a return on plan assets that exceeded the assumed expected return, offset, in part, by the amortization of actuarial losses. The table below reflects the changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income related to the Company’s postretirement benefit plans.

	Pension Plans			Other Postretirement Benefit Plans			Total
	(In thousands)
2021
Net loss (gain)	$	(204,042	)	$	(2,232	)	$	(206,274	)
Amortization of prior service (cost) credit		(553	)		4,738			4,185
Amortization of actuarial (loss) gain		(89,017	)		1,295			(87,722	)
Total recognized in other comprehensive income,    pre-tax	$	(293,612	)	$	3,801		$	(289,811	)
2020
Net loss (gain)	$	235,847		$	2,371		$	238,218
Amortization of prior service (cost) credit		(557	)		4,738			4,181
Amortization of actuarial (loss) gain		(58,096	)		1,236			(56,860	)
Total recognized in other comprehensive income,    pre-tax	$	177,194		$	8,345		$	185,539

The Company also provides a qualified defined contribution pension plan to eligible employees who were not participants in the defined benefit pension plan as of December 31, 2005 and to other employees who have elected to participate in the defined contribution plan. The Company makes contributions to the defined contribution plan each year in an amount that is based on an individual participant’s total compensation (generally defined as total wages, incentive compensation, commissions and bonuses) and years of service. Company contributions to the plan are discretionary for participants for which eligibility occurred after January 1, 2020. Participants do not contribute to the defined contribution pension plan. Pension expense recorded in 2021, 2020 and 2019 associated with the defined contribution pension plan was $40 million, $35 million and $32 million, respectively.

Assumptions

The assumed weighted-average rates used to determine benefit obligations at December 31 were:

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	2021			2020			2021			2020
Discount rate		2.75	%		2.50	%		2.75	%		2.50	%
Rate of increase in future compensation levels		3.35	%		3.37	%		—			—

The assumed weighted-average rates used to determine net benefit expense for the years ended December 31 were:

	Pension Benefits									Other Postretirement Benefits
	2021			2020			2019			2021			2020			2019
Discount rate		2.50	%		3.25	%		4.25	%		2.50	%		3.25	%		4.25	%
Long-term rate of return on plan assets		6.25	%		6.50	%		6.50	%		—			—			—
Rate of increase in future compensation    levels		3.37	%		4.29	%		4.31	%		—			—			—

The discount rate used by the Company to determine the present value of the Company’s future benefit obligations reflects specific market yields for a hypothetical portfolio of highly rated corporate bonds that would produce cash flows similar to the Company’s benefit plan obligations and the level of market interest rates in general as of the year-end.

The expected long-term rate of return assumption as of each measurement date was developed through analysis of historical market returns, current market conditions, anticipated future asset allocations, the funds’ past experience, and expectations on potential future market returns. The expected rate of return assumption represents a long-term average view of the performance of the plan assets, a return that may or may not be achieved during any one calendar year.

The Company’s defined benefit pension plan is sensitive to the long-term rate of return on plan assets and the discount rate.  To demonstrate the sensitivity of pension expense to changes in these assumptions, with all other assumptions held constant, 25 basis point increases in: the rate of return on plan assets would have resulted in a decrease in pension expense of approximately $6 million; and the discount rate would have resulted in a decrease in pension expense of approximately $11 million.  Decreases of 25 basis points in those assumptions would have resulted in similar changes in amount, but in the opposite direction from the changes presented in the preceding sentence.  Additionally, an increase of 25 basis points in the discount rate would have decreased the benefit obligation by

$79 million and a decrease of 25 basis points in the discount rate would have increased the benefit obligation by $84 million at December 31, 2021.  

For measurement of other postretirement benefits, a 6.00% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits was assumed for 2021. The rate was assumed to decrease to 5.00% over seven years.

Plan assets

The Company’s policy is to invest the pension plan assets in a prudent manner for the purpose of providing benefit payments to participants and mitigating reasonable expenses of administration. The Company’s investment strategy is designed to provide a total return that, over the long-term, places an emphasis on the preservation of capital. The strategy attempts to maximize investment returns on assets at a level of risk deemed appropriate by the Company while complying with applicable regulations and laws. The investment strategy utilizes asset diversification as a principal determinant for establishing an appropriate risk profile while emphasizing total return realized from capital appreciation, dividends and interest income. The target allocations for plan assets are generally 25 to 60 percent equity securities, 10 to 65 percent debt securities, and 5 to 60 percent money-market investments/cash equivalents and other investments, although holdings could be more or less than these general guidelines based on market conditions at the time and actions taken or recommended by the investment managers providing advice to the Company. Assets are managed by a combination of internal and external investment managers. Equity securities may include investments in domestic and international equities, through individual securities, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. Debt securities may include investments in corporate bonds of companies from diversified industries, mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by government agencies and U.S. Treasury securities through individual securities and mutual funds. Additionally, the Company’s defined benefit pension plan held $537 million (21% of total assets) of real estate funds, private investments, hedge funds and other investments at December 31, 2021. Returns on invested assets are periodically compared with target market indices for each asset type to aid management in evaluating such returns. Furthermore, management regularly reviews the investment policy and may, if deemed appropriate, make changes to the target allocations noted above.

The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2021 and 2020, by asset category, were as follows:

	Fair Value Measurement of Plan Assets At December 31, 2021
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(In thousands)
Asset category:
Money-market investments	$	82,751	$	43,616	$	39,135	$	—
Equity securities:
M&T		134,447		134,447		—		—
Domestic(a)		369,283		369,283		—		—
International(b)		14,835		14,835		—		—
Mutual funds:
Domestic(a)		280,347		280,347		—		—
International(b)		461,304		461,304		—		—
		1,260,216		1,260,216		—		—
Debt securities:
Corporate(c)		178,528		—		178,528		—
Government		206,540		—		206,540		—
International		12,933		—		12,933		—
Mutual funds:
Domestic(d)		315,424		315,424		—		—
		713,425		315,424		398,001		—
Other:
Diversified mutual fund		108,239		108,239		—		—
Real estate partnerships		16,620		5,264		—		11,356
Private equity / debt		151,550		—		—		151,550
Hedge funds		250,691		74,599		—		176,092
Guaranteed deposit fund		10,041		—		—		10,041
		537,141		188,102		—		349,039
Total(e)	$	2,593,533	$	1,807,358	$	437,136	$	349,039

	Fair Value Measurement of Plan Assets At December 31, 2020
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(In thousands)
Asset category:
Money-market investments	$	65,263	$	48,322	$	16,941	$	—
Equity securities:
M&T		111,441		111,441		—		—
Domestic(a)		308,220		308,220		—		—
International(b)		13,648		13,648		—		—
Mutual funds:
Domestic(a)		302,094		302,094		—		—
International(b)		422,601		422,601		—		—
		1,158,004		1,158,004		—		—
Debt securities:
Corporate(c)		172,762		—		172,762		—
Government		234,232		—		234,232		—
International		6,413		—		6,413		—
Mutual funds:
Domestic(d)		302,635		302,635		—		—
		716,042		302,635		413,407		—
Other:
Diversified mutual fund		83,507		83,507		—		—
Real estate partnerships		26,847		3,616		—		23,231
Private equity / debt		97,124		—		—		97,124
Hedge funds		261,417		108,516		—		152,901
Guaranteed deposit fund		10,498		—		—		10,498
		479,393		195,639		—		283,754
Total(e)	$	2,418,702	$	1,704,600	$	430,348	$	283,754

(a) This category is mainly comprised of equities of companies primarily within the small-cap, mid-cap and large-cap sectors of the U.S. economy and range across diverse industries.

(b) This category is comprised of equities in companies primarily within the mid-cap and large-cap sectors of international markets mainly in developed and emerging markets in Europe and the Pacific Rim.

(c) This category represents investment grade bonds of U.S. issuers from diverse industries.

(d) Approximately 72% of the mutual funds were invested in investment grade bonds and 28% in high-yielding bonds at December 31, 2021. Approximately 78% of the mutual funds were invested in investment grade bonds and 22% in high-yielding bonds at December 31, 2020.  The holdings within the funds were spread across diverse industries.

(e) Excludes dividends and interest receivable totaling $2 million at each of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Pension plan assets included common stock of M&T with a fair value of $134 million (5% of total plan assets) at December 31, 2021 and $111 million (5% of total plan assets) at December 31, 2020. No investment in securities of a non-U.S. Government or government agency issuer exceeded ten percent of plan assets at December 31, 2021.

The changes in Level 3 pension plan assets measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis during the year ended December 31, 2021 were as follows:

	Balance – January 1, 2021		Purchases (Sales)			Total Realized/ Unrealized Gains (Losses)			Balance – December 31, 2021
	(In thousands)
Other
Real estate partnerships	$	23,231	$	(31,299	)	$	19,424		$	11,356
Private equity/debt		97,124		27,170			27,256			151,550
Hedge funds		152,901		(2,322	)		25,513			176,092
Guaranteed deposit fund		10,498		—			(457	)		10,041
Total	$	283,754	$	(6,451	)	$	71,736		$	349,039

The Company makes contributions to its funded qualified defined benefit pension plan as required by government regulation or as deemed appropriate by management after considering factors such as the fair value of plan assets, expected returns on such assets, and the present value of benefit obligations of the plan. The Company made a voluntary contribution of $300 million to the qualified defined benefit pension plan in 2020. The Company is not required to make contributions to the qualified defined benefit plan in 2022, however, subject to the impact of actual events and circumstances that may occur in 2022, the Company may make contributions, but the amount of any such contributions has not been determined. The Company regularly funds the payment of benefit obligations for the supplemental defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans because such plans do not hold assets for investment. Payments made by the Company for supplemental pension benefits were $11 million and $10 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Payments made by the Company for postretirement benefits were $4 million and $6 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Payments for supplemental pension and other postretirement benefits for 2022 are not expected to differ from those made in 2021 by an amount that will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position.

Estimated benefits expected to be paid in future years related to the Company’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefits plans are as follows:

	Pension Benefits		Other Postretirement Benefits
	(In thousands)
Year ending December 31:
2022	$	110,113	$	3,219
2023		114,022		3,112
2024		118,641		2,983
2025		121,602		2,829
2026		125,469		2,656
2027 through 2031		649,845		11,534

The Company has a retirement savings plan (“RSP”) that is a defined contribution plan in which eligible employees of the Company may defer up to 50% of qualified compensation via contributions to the plan. The RSP was amended in 2020 to increase the employer matching

contribution to 100% from 75% in prior years and also to increase the employee's qualified compensation limits to 5% from 4.5%. Employees’ accounts, including employee contributions, employer matching contributions and accumulated earnings thereon, are at all times fully vested and nonforfeitable. Employee benefits expense resulting from the Company’s contributions to the RSP totaled $63 million, $62 million and $48 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.