Pension Benefits

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pension Benefits

Pension Benefits

The Company maintains a number of qualified and nonqualified defined benefit pension plans and defined contribution plans for eligible employees.

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

The Company has an unfunded nonqualified supplemental defined benefit plan for certain U.S. executives, as well as benefit pension plans for eligible employees outside the U.S.

On May 23, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the termination of its frozen U.S. defined benefit pension plan (“Plan”). During the first quarter of 2020, the Company offered the option of receiving a lump sum payment to certain participants with vested qualified Plan benefits in lieu of receiving monthly annuity payments. Approximately 1,300 participants elected to receive the settlement, and lump sum payments of approximately $49 million were made from Plan assets to these participants in June 2019. The benefit obligation settled approximated payments to Plan participants and a settlement charge of $17 million was recorded during the first quarter of 2020. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company transferred the remainder of the Plan’s pension obligation to a third-party insurance provider by purchasing annuity contracts for approximately $280 million which was fully funded directly by Plan assets. The third-party insurance provider assumed the obligation to pay future pension benefits and provide administrative services on November 1, 2019 and a pre-tax settlement charge of $105 million was recorded during the second quarter of 2020. Settlement charges were included within “Other income, net,” in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2020, this defined benefit pension plan had an accumulated comprehensive loss of approximately nil.

The Company’s non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans cover eligible employees located predominantly in Norway, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada. Benefits for these plans are based primarily on each employee’s final salary, with annual adjustments for inflation. The obligations in Norway are largely related to the state-regulated pension plan which is managed by the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (“SPK”). According to the terms of the SPK, the plan assets of state regulated plans in Norway must correspond very closely to the pension obligation calculated using the principles codified in Norwegian law. In the U.K., the Company has subsidiaries that participate in a joint pension plan. The pension obligation in Germany is unfunded with the exception of the contractual trust arrangement used to fund pensions of McKesson Europe’s Management Board.

During the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company derecognized $43 million of pension liabilities included in liabilities held for sale and $11 million of accumulated other comprehensive loss related to the sale of its Austrian business. During the third quarter of 2021, the Company derecognized $187 million of pension liabilities included in liabilities held for sale and $33 million of accumulated other comprehensive loss related to its German pharmaceutical wholesale business contributed to a joint venture, as discussed in more detail in Financial Note 2, “Held for Sale.”

Defined benefit plan assets and obligations are measured as of the Company’s fiscal year-end. The net periodic expense for the Company’s pension plans is as follows:

	U.S. Plans						Non-U.S. Plans
	Years Ended March 31,						Years Ended March 31,
(In millions)	2022		2021		2020		2022		2021		2020
Service cost - benefits earned during the year	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	11	$	15	$	16
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	—		—		6		14		19		19
Expected return on assets	—		—		(4)		(19)		(20)		(22)
Amortization of unrecognized actuarial loss and prior service costs	—		—		2		3		5		6
Curtailment/settlement loss (gain)	—		—		127		(5)		—		—
Net periodic pension expense	$	—	$	—	$	131	$	4	$	19	$	19

The projected unit credit method is utilized in measuring net periodic pension expense over the employees’ service life for the pension plans. Unrecognized actuarial losses exceeding 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the market value of assets are amortized straight-line over the average remaining future service period of active employees.

Information regarding the changes in benefit obligations and plan assets for the Company’s pension plans is as follows:

	U.S. Plans				Non-U.S. Plans
	Years Ended March 31,				Years Ended March 31,
(In millions)	2022		2021		2022		2021
Change in benefit obligations
Benefit obligation at beginning of period (1)	$	9	$	10	$	875	$	896
Service cost	—		—		11		15
Interest cost	—		—		14		19
Actuarial loss (gain)	—		—		(55)		89
Benefits paid	(1)		(1)		(35)		(34)
Curtailment/settlement	—		—		(32)		—
Expenses paid	—		—		(1)		—
Divestiture (2)	—		—		(43)		(187)
Foreign exchange impact and other	—		—		(33)		77
Benefit obligation at end of period (1)	$	8	$	9	$	701	$	875
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period	$	—	$	—	$	735	$	594
Actual return on plan assets	—		—		(4)		87
Employer and participant contributions	1		1		43		27
Benefits paid	(1)		(1)		(35)		(34)
Expenses paid	—		—		(1)		—
Settlements	—		—		(24)		—
Foreign exchange impact and other	—		—		(33)		61
Fair value of plan assets at end of period	$	—	$	—	$	681	$	735
Funded status at end of period	$	(8)	$	(9)	$	(20)	$	(140)
Amounts recognized on the balance sheet
Current assets (3)	$	—	$	—	$	49	$	—
Long-term assets	—		—		40		54
Current liabilities (3)	(1)		(1)		(90)		(9)
Long-term liabilities	(7)		(8)		(19)		(185)
Total	$	(8)	$	(9)	$	(20)	$	(140)

(1)The benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation.

(2)The divestiture relates to the sale of the Company’s Austrian business in 2022 and to the contribution of the Company’s German pharmaceutical wholesale business to a joint venture in 2021 as discussed in more detail in Financial Note 2, “Held for Sale.”

(3)Current assets at March 31, 2022 include $49 million reclassified from long-term assets to assets held for sale as part of the Company’s U.K. disposal group. Current liabilities at March 31, 2022 include $85 million reclassified from long-term liabilities to liabilities held for sale as part of the Company’s E.U. disposal group. Refer to Financial Note 2, “Held for Sale” for additional information.

The actuarial gain of $55 million in 2022 was primarily attributable to:

•Discount rates ($69 million gain): The weighted average discount rate for Non-U.S. plans increased to 2.67% as of March 31, 2022 from 1.89% as of March 31, 2021.

•Demographic and assumption changes ($14 million loss): This represents the difference between actual and estimated participant data and demographic factors, including items such as inflation assumption, compensation changes, mortality, and other changes including losses related to the divestitures in 2022.

The actuarial loss of $89 million in 2021 was primarily attributable to:

•Discount rates ($32 million loss): The weighted average discount rate for Non-U.S. plans decreased to 1.89% as of March 31, 2021 from 2.03% as of March 31, 2020.

•Demographic and assumption changes ($57 million loss): This represents the difference between actual and estimated participant data and demographic factors, including items such as inflation assumption, compensation changes, mortality, and other changes including losses related to the divestiture in 2021.

The following table provides the projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation, and fair value of plan assets for all the Company’s pension plans, including accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:

	U.S. Plans				Non-U.S. Plans
	March 31,				March 31,
(In millions)	2022		2021		2022		2021
Projected benefit obligation	$	8	$	9	$	701	$	875
Accumulated benefit obligation	8		9		689		847
Fair value of plan assets	—		—		681		735

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of:

	U.S. Plans				Non-U.S. Plans
	March 31,				March 31,
(In millions)	2022		2021		2022		2021
Net actuarial loss	$	1	$	1	$	70	$	120
Prior service credit	—		—		(2)		(2)
Total	$	1	$	1	$	68	$	118

Other changes in accumulated other comprehensive income were as follows:

	U.S. Plans						Non-U.S. Plans
	Years Ended March 31,						Years Ended March 31,
(In millions)	2022		2021		2020		2022		2021		2020
Net actuarial loss (gain)	$	—	$	—	$	(3)	$	(32)	$	(9)	$	(24)
Amortization of:
Net actuarial loss	—		—		(129)		(14)		(35)		(6)
Prior service credit (cost)	—		—		—		1		1		—
Foreign exchange impact and other	—		—		—		(5)		15		(6)
Total recognized in other comprehensive loss (income)	$	—	$	—	$	(132)	$	(50)	$	(28)	$	(36)

In 2022, the Company recognized $11 million in actuarial losses for pension plans to stockholders’ equity as a result of the sale of its Austrian business. In 2021, the Company recognized $33 million in actuarial losses for pension plans to stockholders’ equity as a result of the contribution of its German pharmaceutical wholesale business to a joint venture. Refer to Financial Note 2, “Held for Sale,” for more information. The Company recognized $127 million in actuarial losses for the pension plans to stockholders’ equity in 2020 as a result of the termination of the U.S. defined benefit pension plan and the settlement from the executive benefit retirement plan for a retired executive.

Projected benefit obligations related to the Company’s unfunded U.S. plans were $8 million and $9 million at March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Pension obligations for its unfunded plans are based on the recommendations of independent actuaries. Projected benefit obligations relating to the Company’s unfunded non-U.S. plans were $101 million and $162 million at March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Funding obligations for its non-U.S. plans vary based on the laws of each non-U.S. jurisdiction.

Expected benefit payments for the Company’s pension plans are as follows: $34 million, $33 million, $33 million, $34 million, and $35 million for 2023 to 2027, respectively, and $186 million for 2028 through 2032. Expected benefit payments are based on the same assumptions used to measure the benefit obligations and include estimated future employee service. Expected contributions to be made for the Company’s pension plans are $13 million for 2023.

Weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the net periodic pension expense and the actuarial present value of benefit obligations were as follows:

	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
	Years Ended March 31,			Years Ended March 31,
	2022	2021	2020	2022		2021		2020
Net periodic pension expense
Discount rates	2.35%	3.08%	3.66%	1.89	%	1.89	%	2.03	%
Rate of increase in compensation	N/A (1)	N/A (1)	N/A (1)	3.20		3.20		2.93
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	N/A	N/A	4.00	2.56		2.56		3.01
Benefit obligation
Discount rates	3.35%	2.35%	3.08%	2.67	%	1.89	%	2.03	%
Rate of increase in compensation	N/A (1)	N/A (1)	N/A (1)	3.67		3.20		2.93

(1)    This assumption is no longer needed in actuarial valuations as U.S. plans are frozen or have fixed benefits for the remaining active participants.

The Company’s defined benefit pension plan liabilities are valued using a discount rate based on a yield curve developed from a portfolio of high quality corporate bonds rated AA or better whose maturities are aligned with the expected benefit payments of its plans. For March 31, 2022, the Company’s U.S. defined benefit liabilities are valued using a weighted-average discount rate of 3.35%, which represents an increase of 100 basis points from its 2021 weighted-average discount rate of 2.35%. The Company’s non-U.S. defined benefit pension plan liabilities are valued using a weighted-average discount rate of 2.67%, which represents an increase of 78 basis points from its 2021 weighted-average discount rate of 1.89%.

Plan Assets

Investment Strategy: For non-U.S. plan assets, the investment strategies are subject to local regulations and the asset/liability profiles of the plans in each individual country. Plan assets of the non-U.S. plans are broadly invested in a manner appropriate to the nature and duration of the expected future retirement benefits payable under the plans. Plan assets are primarily invested in high-quality corporate and government bond funds and equity securities. Assets are properly diversified to avoid excessive reliance on any particular asset, issuer, or group of undertakings so as to avoid accumulations of risk in the portfolio as a whole.

The Company develops the expected long-term rate of return assumption based on the projected performance of the asset classes in which plan assets are invested. The target asset allocation was determined based on the liability and risk tolerance characteristics of the plans and at times may be adjusted to achieve overall investment objectives.

Fair Value Measurements: The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value. Level 1 refers to fair values determined based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. Level 2 refers to fair values estimated using significant other observable inputs and Level 3 includes fair values estimated using significant unobservable inputs. The following tables represent the Company’s pension plan assets as of March 31, 2022 and 2021, using the fair value hierarchy by asset class:

	Non-U.S. Plans
	March 31, 2022								March 31, 2021
(In millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Cash and cash equivalents	$	15	$	—	$	—	$	15	$	5	$	—	$	—	$	5
Equity securities:
Equity commingled funds	—		38		—		38		64		117		—		181
Fixed income securities:
Government securities	—		6		—		6		5		144		—		149
Corporate bonds	—		11		—		11		6		30		—		36
Fixed income commingled funds	336		25		—		361		51		222		1		274
Other:
Annuity contracts	—		—		173		173		—		—		—		—
Real estate funds and Other	31		4		2		37		31		4		3		38
Total	$	382	$	84	$	175	$	641	$	162	$	517	$	4	$	683
Assets held at NAV practical expedient (1):
Other							40								52
Total plan assets							$	681							$	735

(1)    Equity commingled funds, fixed income commingled funds, real estate funds, and other investments for which fair value is measured using the NAV per share as a practical expedient are not leveled within the fair value hierarchy and are included as a reconciling item to total investments.

Cash and cash equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents include short-term investment funds that maintain daily liquidity and aim to have constant unit values of $1.00. The funds invest in short-term fixed income securities and other securities with debt-like characteristics emphasizing short-term maturities and high credit quality. Directly held cash and cash equivalents are classified as Level 1 investments. Cash and cash equivalents include money market funds and other commingled funds, which have daily net asset values derived from the underlying securities; these are classified as Level 1 investments.

Equity commingled funds - Some equity investments are held in commingled funds, which have daily net asset values derived from quoted prices for the underlying securities in active markets; these are classified as Level 1 or Level 2 investments.

Fixed income securities - Government securities consist of bonds and debentures issued by central governments or federal agencies; corporate bonds consist of bonds and debentures issued by corporations. Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset. Multiple prices and price types are obtained from pricing vendors whenever possible, enabling cross-provider price validations. Fixed income securities are generally classified as Level 1 or Level 2 investments.

Fixed income commingled funds - Some fixed income investments are held in exchange traded or commingled funds, which have daily net asset values derived from the underlying securities; these are classified as Level 1, 2, or 3 investments.

Annuity contracts - The value of the annuity contracts is reported by the Trustee and is based on a valuation of the remaining contracted cash flow of the contract. Inputs in the valuation include discounted future cash flows; these are classified as Level 3 investments.

Real estate funds - The value of the real estate funds is reported by the fund manager and is based on a valuation of the underlying properties. Inputs used in the valuation include items such as cost, discounted future cash flows, independent appraisals, and market based comparable data. The real estate funds are classified as Level 1, 2, or 3 investments.

Other - At March 31, 2022 and 2021, this includes $35 million and $36 million, respectively, of plan asset value relating to the SPK. In principle, the SPK is organized as a pay-as-you-go system guaranteed by the Norwegian government as it holds no Company-owned assets to back the pension liabilities. The Company pays a pension premium used to fund the plan, which is paid directly to the Norwegian government who establishes an account for each participating employer to keep track of the financial status of the plan, including managing the contributions and the payments. Further, the investment return credited to this account is determined annually by the SPK based on the performance of long-term government bonds.

The following table presents the changes in the Level 3 plan assets measured on a recurring basis for the year ended March 31, 2022:

(In millions)	Level 3
Balance as of March 31, 2021	$	4
Purchases	196
Return on assets	(25)
Balance as of March 31, 2022	$	175

The activity attributable to Level 3 plan assets was not material for the year ended March 31, 2021.

Multiemployer Plans

The Company contributes to a number of multiemployer pension plans under the terms of collective-bargaining agreements that cover union-represented employees in the U.S. In 2017, it also contributed to the Pensjonsordningen for Apoteketaten (“POA”), a mandatory multiemployer pension scheme for its pharmacy employees in Norway, managed by the association of Norwegian Pharmacies.

The risks of participating in these multiemployer plans are different from single-employer pension plans in the following aspects: (i) assets contributed to the multiemployer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers; (ii) if a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers; and (iii) if the Company chooses to stop participating in some of its multiemployer plans, the Company may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability. Actions taken by other participating employers may lead to adverse changes in the financial condition of a multiemployer benefit plan and the Company’s withdrawal liability and contributions may increase.

Contributions and amounts accrued for U.S. plans were not material for the years ended March 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020. Contributions to the POA for non-U.S. plans exceeding 5% of total plan contributions were $20 million, $22 million, and $17 million in 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively. Based on actuarial calculations, the Company estimates the funded status for its non-U.S. Plans to be approximately 88% as of March 31, 2022. No amounts were accrued for liability associated with the POA as the Company has no intention to withdraw from the plan.

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company has a contributory retirement savings plan (“RSP”) for U.S. eligible employees. Eligible employees may contribute to the RSP up to 75% of their eligible compensation on a pre-tax or post-tax basis not to exceed IRS limits. The Company makes matching contributions in an amount equal to 100% of the employee’s first 3% of pay contributed and 50% for the next 2% of pay contributed. The Company also may make an additional annual matching contribution for each plan year to enable participants to receive a full match based on their annual contribution. The Company also contributed to non-U.S. plans that are available in certain countries. Contribution expenses for the RSP and non-U.S. plans were $116 million for the year ended March 31, 2022 and $102 million for each of the years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Postretirement Benefits

The Company maintains a number of postretirement benefit plans, primarily consisting of healthcare and life insurance (“welfare”) benefits, for certain eligible U.S. employees. Eligible employees consist of those who retired before March 31, 1999 and those who retired after March 31, 1999, but were an active employee as of that date, after meeting other age-related criteria. It also provides postretirement benefits for certain U.S. executives. Defined benefit plan obligations are measured as of the Company’s fiscal year-end. The net periodic (credit) expense for the Company’s postretirement welfare benefits was not material for the years ended March 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020. The benefit obligation at March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $56 million and $64 million, respectively.