UK pension benefits
UK executive directors are members of the BAE Systems Executive Pension Scheme (the ExPS) and members of the underlying employee pension plans. As such, they are subject to the same contribution rates payable by employees of the underlying plans, and the benefits changes introduced in 2006 for post April 2006 service including the introduction of the Longevity Adjustment Factor, a reduction in the maximum level of pension increases and a change in the definition of Pensionable Pay.
The ExPS tops up the underlying employee plan to provide a target benefit for executive directors payable from normal retirement age of 1/30th of Final Pensionable Pay (FPP) for each year of ExPS pensionable service (subject to a maximum of two-thirds of FPP). FPP is defined as base salary averaged over the last 12 months prior to leaving service in respect of service accrued to 5 April 2006 and 36 months prior to leaving in respect of service from 6 April 2006. The ExPS also provides a lump sum death-in-service benefit equal to four times base salary at date of death, and a spouse's death-in-service pension equal to two-thirds of the prospective pension at normal retirement age. Children's allowances are also payable, usually up to the age of 18. Spouses' pensions and children's allowances are also payable upon death in retirement and death after leaving the Company's employment with a deferred pension. Pensions are increased annually by the rise in the Retail Prices Index subject to a maximum increase of 5% per year in respect of pre 6 April 2006 service and 2.5% per year in respect of service from 6 April 2006.
As a result of the 2006 age discrimination legislation, executive directors' default retirement age is 65 but they retain any previous rights they had to retire and draw their pensions without actuarial reduction for early payment at an earlier age.
Following the changes made to take account of the Pensions Simplification tax changes which came into effect from April 2006, UK executives reaching the Lifetime Allowance (LTA) are given a number of choices as previously reported. These are:
- remain in the pension scheme and pay any additional tax charge; or
- opt out of the pension scheme (and so earn no further pension benefits in respect of future service) and instead receive a taxable salary supplement. This supplement will be 30% of salary and 20% of salary for those senior executives with a two-thirds salary target after at least 20 years' and 30 years' service, respectively; or
- restrict scheme benefits to the value of the LTA with the remainder being provided directly from the Company as an unfunded promise. At retirement, the unfunded Company benefits can be either taken as pension or commuted in full for a taxable lump sum.
The Committee reviews these arrangements each year in the light of developing market practice and believes they remain appropriate as they provide executives with competitive pension benefits and choices for dealing with the LTA which may better suit their needs whilst being broadly cost neutral to the Company, are in line with market practice and do not compensate executives for changes in taxation.
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Ian King is a member of the BAE Systems 2000 Pension Plan (the 2000 Plan), applicable to former employees of Marconi Electronic Systems (MES), and a member of the ExPS with a normal retirement age of 62. The 2000 Plan provides a pension of 1/50th of Final Pensionable Earnings (FPE) for each year of pensionable service, payable from a normal retirement age of 65, and members pay contributions of 8% of Pensionable Earnings. FPE under the 2000 Plan is the best three-year average of base salary and bonus in the ten Plan Years prior to leaving, less an offset for State pensions. The Company decided in 2006 to limit pensionable bonuses in the 2000 Plan in the 2006/07 Plan Year to 20% of base salary and to 10% of base salary for the 2007/08 Plan Year and thereafter. However, there is a guarantee that the FPE figure for benefits in respect of service prior to 6 April 2007 will not be less than the FPE figure at 5 April 2007 to ensure that employees do not lose the benefit of contributions paid on past bonuses. Ian King joined the ExPS in 1999 following the BAe/MES merger. Therefore Ian King's total pension is the sum of his 2000 Plan benefits plus the top-up from the ExPS.
George Rose is a member of the BAE Systems Pension Scheme paying contributions of 9.29% of base salary, and is a member of the ExPS with a normal retirement age of 60. George Rose was affected by the previously applicable Inland Revenue earnings cap on approved pensions and has an unapproved (ie non-tax qualified) pension arrangement to top up his benefits from the approved schemes. This was designed so that the total pension from all sources would be broadly in line with the pension he would have received from the Group pension schemes had he not been subject to the earnings cap. The Pension Simplification tax changes allowed the flexibility to remove the earnings cap for George Rose in respect of service from April 2006, although some of his benefits will remain to be provided by means of an unfunded promise from the Company. No further contributions will be paid into his funded unapproved top-up arrangement.
US pension benefits
Walt Havenstein is a member of the BAE Systems Employees' Retirement Plan which provides a pension from age 60 for each year of pensionable service of 1.25% on his Final Average Pay (FAP) up to Social Security Covered Compensation (circa $70,000) plus 1.5% on his FAP in excess of Social Security Covered Compensation. FAP is currently the highest three-year average of base salary plus bonus (which for pension purposes is limited from 2008 to a maximum of 150% of base salary) but the averaging period will increase by one year each year beginning in 2009 and reaching a ten-year average in 2015. Executive directors pay contributions at the same rates as other employees in the plan, being 1.5% of earnings. The pension does not carry any spouse's pension or pension increases. Walt Havenstein also receives a 50% match on his contributions to his 401(k) plan up to a maximum contribution of 8% of earnings.
Details of post-retirement benefits for each of the executive directors who served during 2008 are shown in Table D and are calculated in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 7A of the Companies Act 1985.
Other benefits
Other benefits provided to the executive directors include a car allowance, the taxable benefit of any private use of a chauffeur-driven car and a cash allowance for medical examination.
Ian King was provided with Company support in 2008 to relocate his flat to central London as detailed in the notes to Table C: Directors' remuneration.