Post-retirement benefit obligations |
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| Post-retirement benefit obligations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Post-retirement benefit obligations |
*Refer to note 31.2 for the asset not recognised due to asset limitation.
The Group provides post-retirement medical and pension benefits to certain of its retirees, principally in South Africa, Europe and the United States of America. Generally, medical cover provides for a specified percentage of most medical expenses, subject to pre-set rules and maximum amounts. Pension benefits are payable in the form of retirement, disability and surviving dependent pensions. The medical benefits are unfunded. The pension benefits in South Africa are funded. In the United States of America certain of our Pension Funds are funded.
*Not applicable as there is no post-retirement healthcare obligation in Europe. The plans have been assessed by the actuaries and have been found to be in sound financial positions. Principal actuarial assumptions Weighted average assumptions used in performing actuarial valuations determined in consultation with independent actuaries.
Assumptions regarding future mortality are based on published statistics and mortality tables.
In South Africa, certain healthcare and life assurance benefits are provided to South African employees hired prior to 1 January 1998, who retire and satisfy the necessary requirements of the medical fund. Reconciliation of the total post-retirement healthcare obligation recognised in the statement of financial position
The sensitivity analysis is performed in order to assess how the post-retirement healthcare obligation would be affected by changes in the key actuarial assumptions underpinning the calculation.
A change in the pension increase assumption will not have an effect on the above obligation. In South Africa the post-retirement benefit contributions are linked to medical aid inflation and based on a percentage of income or pension. Where pension increases differ from medical aid inflation, the difference will need to be allowed for in a change in the percentage of income or pension charged. The sensitivities may not be representative of the actual change in the post-retirement healthcare obligation, as it is unlikely that the changes would occur in isolation of one another, and some of the assumptions may be correlated.
Healthcare cost inflation risk Healthcare cost inflation is consumer price index inflation plus two percentage points over the long term. An increase in healthcare cost inflation will increase the obligation of the plan. Discount rate risk The discount rate is derived from prevailing bond yields. A decrease in the discount rate will increase the obligation of the plan. Pension increase risk The South African healthcare plan is linked to pension benefits paid, which are to some extent linked to inflation. Accordingly, increased inflation levels represent a risk that could increase the cost of paying the funds committed to benefits. Other Changes in other assumptions used could also affect the measured liabilities. There is also a regulatory risk as well as foreign funds under the jurisdiction of other countries. To the extent that governments can change the regulatory frameworks, there may be a risk that minimum benefits or minimum pension increases may be instituted, increasing the associated cost for the fund.
South African operations Background In 1994, all members were given the choice to voluntarily transfer to the newly established defined contribution section of the pension fund and approximately 99% of contributing members chose to transfer to the defined contribution section. Defined benefit option for defined contribution members In terms of the rules of the fund, on retirement, employees employed before 1 January 2009 have an option to purchase a defined benefit pension with their member share. Should a member elect this option, the Group is exposed to actuarial risk. In terms of IAS 19, the classification requirements stipulate that where an employer is exposed to any actuarial risk, the fund must be classified as a defined benefit plan. Fund assets The assets of the fund are held separately from those of the Company in a trustee administered fund, registered in terms of the South African Pension Funds Act, 1956. Included in the fund assets at 31 March 2026 are 1 161 107 (2025: 2 080 908) Sasol ordinary shares valued at R188 million (2025: R160 million) at year-end purchased under terms of an approved investment strategy, and property valued at R1 583 million (2025: R1 589 million) that is currently occupied by Sasol. Membership A significant number of employees are covered by union sponsored, collectively bargained, and in some cases, multi-employer defined contribution pension plans. Information from the administrators of these plans offering defined benefits is not sufficient to permit the Company to determine its share, if any, of any unfunded vested benefits.
Pension fund assets The assets of the pension funds are invested as follows:
The pension fund assets are measured at fair value at valuation date. The fair value of equity has been calculated by reference to quoted prices in an active market. The fair value of property and other assets has been determined by performing market valuations and using other valuation techniques at the end of each reporting period.
Investment strategy The trustees target the plans’ asset allocation within the following ranges within each asset class:
The trustees of the respective funds monitor investment performance and portfolio characteristics on a regular basis to ensure that managers are meeting expectations with respect to their investment approach. There are restrictions and controls placed on managers in this regard. Reconciliation of the projected net pension liability/(asset) recognised in the statement of financial position
The obligation which arises for the defined contribution members with the option to purchase into the defined benefit fund is limited to the assets that they have accumulated until retirement date. However, after retirement date, there is actuarial risk associated with the members as full defined benefit members. Based on the latest actuarial valuation of the fund and the approval of the trustees of the surplus allocation, the Group has an unconditional entitlement to only the funds in the employer surplus account and the contribution reserve. The remaining estimated surplus due to the Company amounts to approximately R124 million (2025: R113 million) and has been included in the pension asset recognised in the current year. Investment risk The actuarial valuation assumes certain asset returns on invested assets. If actual returns on plan assets are below the assumption, this may lead to a strain on the fund, which, over time, may lead to a plan deficit. In order to mitigate the concentration risk, the fund assets are invested across equity securities, property securities and debt securities. Given the long-term nature of the obligations, it is considered appropriate that investment is made in equities and real estate to improve the return generated by the fund. These may result in improved pension benefits to members. Pension increase risk Benefits in these plans are to some extent linked to inflation so increased inflation levels represent a risk that could increase the cost of paying the funds committed to benefits. This risk is mitigated as pension benefits are subject to affordability. Discount rate risk The discount rate is derived from prevailing bond yields. A decrease in the discount rate used will increase the obligation of the plan. Other Changes in other assumptions used could also affect the measured liabilities. There is also a regulatory risk as well as foreign funds under the jurisdiction of other countries. To the extent that governments can change the regulatory frameworks, there may be a risk that minimum benefits or minimum pension increases may be instituted, increasing the associated cost for the fund.
Reconciliation of projected benefit obligation
Reconciliation of plan assets of funded obligation
Contributions Funding is based on actuarially determined contributions. The following table sets forth the projected pension contributions of funded obligations for the 2027 financial year.
Sensitivity analysis A sensitivity analysis is performed in order to assess how the post-retirement pension obligation would be affected by changes in the key actuarial assumptions underpinning the calculation.
The sensitivities may not be representative of the actual change in the post-retirement pension obligation, as it is unlikely that the changes would occur in isolation of one another, and some of the assumptions may be correlated.
Accounting policies: The Group contributes to defined contribution pension plans and defined benefit pension plans for its employees in certain of the countries in which it operates. These plans are generally funded through payments to trustee-administered funds as determined by annual actuarial calculations. Defined contribution pension plans are plans under which the Group pays fixed contributions into a separate legal entity and has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further amounts. Contributions to defined contribution pension plans are charged to the income statement as an employee expense in the period in which the related services are rendered by the employee. The Group’s net obligation in respect of defined benefit pension plans is actuarially calculated separately for each plan by deducting the fair value of plan assets from the gross obligation for post-retirement benefits. The gross obligation is determined by estimating the future benefit attributable to members in return for services rendered to date. This future benefit is discounted to determine its present value, using discount rates based on government bonds for South African obligations, and corporate bonds in Europe and the US, that have maturity dates approximating the terms of the Group’s obligations and which are denominated in the currency in which the benefits are expected to be paid. Independent actuaries perform this calculation annually using the projected unit credit method. Defined contribution members employed before 2009 have an option to purchase a defined benefit pension with their member share. This option gives rise to actuarial risk, and as such, these members are accounted for as part of the defined benefit fund and are disclosed as such. Past service costs are charged to the income statement at the earlier of the following dates:
Actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes to actuarial assumptions, the return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest on the defined benefit liability/(asset)) and any changes in the effect of the asset ceiling (excluding amounts included in net interest on the defined benefit liability/(asset)) are remeasurements that are recognised in other comprehensive income in the period in which they arise. Where the plan assets exceed the gross obligation, the asset recognised is limited to the lower of the surplus in the defined benefit plan and the asset ceiling, determined using a discount rate based on government bonds. Surpluses and deficits in the various plans are not offset. The entitlement to healthcare benefits is usually based on the employee remaining in service up to retirement age and the completion of a minimum service period. The expected costs of these benefits are accrued on a systematic basis over the expected remaining period of employment, using the accounting methodology described in respect of defined benefit pension plans above. Independent actuaries perform the calculation of this obligation annually. |
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