
F-366
For retirement plans, actuarial gains and losses are recognised as income or expense in accordance with "the
corridor" method: net cumulative actuarial gains and losses exceeding the greater of 10% of the present value of
the defined benefit obligations and 10% of the fair value of the plan assets are amortised as income or expense
over the expected average remaining working lives of the employees participating in those plans.
To determine actuarial valuations, actuaries for the Group have determined general assumptions on a country-by-
country basis and specific assumptions (rate of employee turnover, salary increases) company by company. The
principal assumptions for 2008 by the main geographical segments are as follows:
Discount
rate
Future sal-
ary increases
% %
France................................................................................................
6.0
2.5
Germany................................................................................................
5.9
2.0
Components of net periodic cost for the year ended 31 December is as follows:
2008
2007
€ 1,000
€ 1,000
Service cost ................................................................................................
162
213
Interest cost ................................................................................................
948
853
Expected return on plan assets ................................................................
(28)
(20)
Amortisation of prior service cost................................................................
–
–
Amortisation of recognised actuarial (gain)/loss................................
(81)
89
Contributions by plan participants ................................................................
(20)
(54)
Other ................................................................................................
16
5
997
1,086
The change in the benefit obligation and the net amount recognised and recorded in the consolidated balance
sheet is as follows:
2008
2007
€ 1,000
€ 1,000
Benefit obligation as at 1 January ................................................................
19,522
22,701
Service cost ................................................................................................
251
308
Interest cost ................................................................................................
1,014
933
Actuarial loss/(gain)................................................................
............................
(998)
(3,432)
Benefits paid ................................................................................................
(844)
(805)
Other ................................................................................................
(239)
(183)
Transferred to liabilities held for sale ................................
................................
(969)
–
Benefit obligation as at 31 December ................................
..............................
17,737
19,522
The reduction in the benefit obligation at 31 December 2007 is due to the change in actuarial assumptions in
Germany where the discount rate used at 31 December 2007 was 5.5% compared to 4.34% at 31 December
2006.
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