In a press release dated December 3, 2018, Bristol Myers Squibb disclosed the following with respect...

  

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In a press release dated December 3, 2018, Bristol Myers Squibb disclosed the following with respect to its pension plans (excerpted). NEW YORK (BUSINESS WIRE) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) today announced it will transfer $3.8 billion of U.S. pension obligations through a full termination of its U.S. Retirement Income Plan. The obligations will be distributed through a combination of lump sums to Plan participants who elect such payments, and the purchase of a group annuity contract from Athene Annuity and Life Company, for all remaining liabilities. The Plan includes approximately 4,800 active employees, 1,400 retirees and their beneficiaries receiving benefits, and 18,000 prior Bristol-Myers Squibb employees who have not yet initiated their benefits. Current Plan provisions, benefit payment options and in-pay benefits will remain available for all participants. Upon closing of this transaction in the third quarter of 2019, the Company expects a noncash pre-tax pension settlement charge of approximately $1.5 billion-$2 billion. Required a. Why would the company engage in such a transaction? b. What are the two payout options available to the company's employees, retirees, and prior employees? One-time cash lump sum payment Retirement annuity paid by Bristol Myers Squibb Retirement annuity paid by the life insurance company Choose the current plan Payout option? c. At December 31, 2018, Bristol Myers Squibb reported a funded status of $163 million on its balance sheet. What will be the net funded status at December 31, 2019? For this question, assume the $163 million relate solely to the U.S. Retirement Income Plan. $0 In a press release dated December 3, 2018, Bristol Myers Squibb disclosed the following with respect to its pension plans (excerpted). NEW YORK (BUSINESS WIRE) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) today announced it will transfer $3.8 billion of U.S. pension obligations through a full termination of its U.S. Retirement Income Plan. The obligations will be distributed through a combination of lump sums to Plan participants who elect such payments, and the purchase of a group annuity contract from Athene Annuity and Life Company, for all remaining liabilities. The Plan includes approximately 4,800 active employees, 1,400 retirees and their beneficiaries receiving benefits, and 18,000 prior Bristol-Myers Squibb employees who have not yet initiated their benefits. Current Plan provisions, benefit payment options and in-pay benefits will remain available for all participants. Upon closing of this transaction in the third quarter of 2019, the Company expects a noncash pre-tax pension settlement charge of approximately $1.5 billion-$2 billion. Required a. Why would the company engage in such a transaction? b. What are the two payout options available to the company's employees, retirees, and prior employees? One-time cash lump sum payment Retirement annuity paid by Bristol Myers Squibb Retirement annuity paid by the life insurance company Choose the current plan Payout option? c. At December 31, 2018, Bristol Myers Squibb reported a funded status of $163 million on its balance sheet. What will be the net funded status at December 31, 2019? For this question, assume the $163 million relate solely to the U.S. Retirement Income Plan. $0

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

ANSWER a The company would engage in such a transaction in order to reduce its pension obligations b ... View the full answer