Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report 2025 181
Strategic report
Governance
Financials
Other information
Income statement expense/(income)
25. Post employment benefits The Group operates a number of Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution retirement plans for our employees. The Group’ s largest defined benefit plan is in the UK. For further details see ‘Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty’ in note 1 ‘Basis of preparation’. Accounting policies For defined benefit retirement plans, the difference between the fair value of the plan assets and the present value of the plan liabilities is recognised as an asset or a liability on the consolidated statement of financial position. Defined benefit plan liabilities are assessed using the projected unit funding method and applying the principal actuarial assumptions at the reporting period date. Assets are valued at market value. Actuarial gains and losses are taken to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for defined benefit plans or consolidated income statement for cash leaver plans as incurred. For this purpose, actuarial gains and losses comprise both the effects of changes in actuarial assumptions and experience adjustments arising from differences between the previous actuarial assumptions and what has actually occurred. The return on plan assets, in excess of interest income, and costs incurred for the management of plan assets are also taken to other comprehensive income. Other movements in the net surplus or deficit are recognised in the consolidated income statement, including the current service cost, any past service cost and the effect of any settlements. The interest cost less the expected interest income on assets is also charged to the consolidated income statement. The amount charged to the consolidated income statement in respect of these plans is included within operating costs, profit or loss or in the Group’s share of the results of equity accounted operations, as appropriate. The Group’s contributions to defined c ontribution pension plans are charged to the consolidated income statement as they fall due. Background At 31 March 2025 the Group operated a number of retirement plans for the benefit of its employees throughout the world, with varying rights and obligations depending on the conditions and practices in the countries concerned. The Group’s philosophy is to provide access to defined contribution retirement plans where feasible and to manage legacy defined benefit retirement arrangements. Defined benefit plans provide benefits based on the employees’ length of pensionable service and their final pensionable salary or other criteria. Defined contribution plans offer employees individual funds that are converted into benefits at the time of retirement. The Group operates defined benefit plans in Germany, India, Ireland, Italy 1 , the UK, the United States and defined benefit indemnity plans in Greece and Türkiye. Defined contribution plans are currently provided in Albania, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy 1 , Portugal, South Africa and the UK. Note: 1. Vodafone Italia S.p.A ’s (‘Vodafone Italy’s’) defined contribution and defined benefit schemes have been transferred to Swisscom AG (see note 27 ‘Acquisitions and disposals’). However, some small Group Italian schemes remain.
2025 €m
2024 €m
2023 €m
Defined contribution plans Defined benefit plans
194 51 245
183 34 217
175 37 212
Total amount charged to staff costs (note 24 ‘Employees’) Defined benefit net interest (income) in financing costs Total amount charged to income statement
(4)
–
–
241
217
212
Defined benefit plans The Group’s retirement policy is to provide competitive pension provision, in each operating country, in line with the market median for that location. The Group’s preferred retirement provision is focused on Defined Contribution arrangements and/or State provision for future service. The Group’s main defined benefit funding liability is the Vodafone UK Group Pension Scheme (‘Vodafone UK plan’). Since June 2014 the Vodafone UK plan has consisted of two segregated sections: the Vodafone Section and the Cable & Wireless Section (‘CWW Section’). Both sections are closed to new entrants and to future accrual. The Group also operates smaller funded and unfunded plans in the UK, funded and unfunded plans in Germany and a funded plan in Ireland. Defined benefit pension provision exposes the Group to actuarial risks such as longer than expected longevity of participants, lower than expected return on investments and higher than expected inflation, which may increase the liabilities or reduce the value of assets of the plans. The main defined benefit plans are administered by trustee boards which are legally separate from the Group and consist of representatives who are employees, former employees or are independent from the Group. The trustee boards of the pension plans are required by legislation to act in the best interest of the participants, set the investment strategy and contribution rates and are subject to statutory funding regimes. The Vodafone UK plan is registered as an occupational pension plan with HM Revenue and Customs (‘HMRC’) and is subject to UK legislation and operates within the framework outlined by the Pensions Regulator. UK legislation requires that pension plans are funded prudently and that valuations are undertaken at least every three years. Separate valuations are required for the Vodafone Section and CWW Section. The trustees obtain regular actuarial valuations to check whether the statutory funding objective is met and whether a recovery plan is required to restore funding to the level of the agreed technical provisions. The 31 March 2022 triennial actuarial valuation for the Vodafone Section and CWW Section of the Vodafone UK plan showed a net surplus of £248 million (€29 6 million) on the funding basis, comprising of a £97 million (€11 6 million) surplus for the Vodafone Section and a £151 million (€1 80 million) surplus for the CWW Section. No further contributions are due in respect of the Vodafone UK plan at this time. The next actuarial valuation has an effective date of 31 March 2025 but will only become available during the next financial year. These plan- specific actuarial valuations differ to the IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’ accounting basis, which is used to measure pension assets and liabilities presented in the Group’s consolidated statement of financial position.
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