The defined benefit plans granted to Company employees consist of a bonus for all the employees who have the necessary years of service and have made the required contributions to retire under the retirement plans.
The amounts and conditions vary in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement and for non-unionized personnel.
| 12.31.17 | 12.31.16 | ||
| Non-current | 323,564 | 266,087 | |
| Current | 31,407 | 33,370 | |
| Total Benefit plans | 354,971 | 299,457 |
The detail of the benefit plan obligations as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 is as follows:
| 12.31.17 | 12.31.16 | ||
| Benefit payment obligations at beginning | 299,457 | 232,677 | |
| Current service cost | 28,783 | 23,277 | |
| Interest cost | 79,006 | 82,128 | |
| Actuarial losses | (13,962) | (7,817) | |
| Benefits paid to participating employees | (38,313) | (30,808) | |
| Benefit payment obligations at period end | 354,971 | 299,457 |
As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company does not have any assets related to post-retirement benefit plans.
The detail of the charge recognized in the Statement of Comprehensive Income is as follows:
| 12.31.17 | 12.31.16 | 12.31.15 | |||
| Cost | 28,783 | 23,277 | 29,241 | ||
| Interest | 79,006 | 82,128 | 60,013 | ||
| Actuarial results - Other comprehensive loss | (13,962) | (7,817) | 3,678 | ||
| 93,827 | 97,588 | 92,932 |
The actuarial assumptions used are based on market interest rates for Argentine Government bonds, past experience, and the Company Management’s best estimate of future economic conditions. Changes in these assumptions may affect the future cost of benefits and obligations. The main assumptions used are as follow:
| 12.31.17 | 12.31.16 | ||
| Discount rate | 5% | 5% | |
| Salary increase | 1% | 1% | |
| Inflation | 18% | 21% |
Sensitivity analysis:
| 12.31.2017 | |
| Discount Rate: 4% | |
| Obligation | 388,877 |
| Variation | 33,906 |
| 10% | |
| Discount Rate: 6% | |
| Obligation | 326,052 |
| Variation | (28,919) |
| (8%) | |
| Salary Increase : 0% | |
| Obligation | 324,763 |
| Variation | (30,208) |
| (9%) | |
| Salary Increase: 2% | |
| Obligation | 389,912 |
| Variation | 34,941 |
| 10% |
The expected payments of benefits are as follow:
| In 2018 | In 2019 | In 2020 | In 2021 | Between 2022 to 2028 | |||||
| At December 31, 2017 | |||||||||
| Benefit payment obligations | 31,407 | 5,571 | 6,266 | 5,983 | 10,371 |
Estimates based on actuarial techniques imply the use of statistical tools, such as the so-called demographic tables used in the actuarial valuation of the Company’s active personnel.
In order to determine the mortality of the Company’s active personnel, the “1971 Group Annuity Mortality” table has been used. In general, a mortality table shows for each age group the probability that a person in any such age group will die before reaching a predetermined age. Male and female mortality tables are elaborated separately inasmuch as men and women’s mortality rates are substantially different.
In order to estimate total and permanent disability due to any cause, 80% of the “1985 Pension Disability Study” table has been used.
In order to estimate the probability that the Company’s active personnel will leave the Company or stay therein, the “ESA 77” table has been used.
Liabilities related to the above-mentioned benefit plans have been determined considering all the rights accrued by the beneficiaries of the plans through the closing date of the year ended December 31, 2017.
These benefits do not apply to key management personnel.