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Annual Reporting 2007  
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UBS AG (Parent Bank)
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Note 29
Note 29

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans

a) Defined benefit plans

The Group has established various pension plans inside and outside of Switzerland. The major plans are located in Switzerland, the UK, the US and Germany. Independent actuarial valuations are performed for the plans in these locations. The measurement date of these plans is 31 December for each year presented.

The pension funds of Atel Ltd. and some of its group companies in Switzerland and Germany are included in the disclosure up to 31 December 2005 but are not included in the 31 December 2007 and the 31 December 2006 disclosure since these companies were sold on 23 March 2006.

The overall investment policy and strategy for the Group's defined benefit pension plans is guided by the objective of achieving an investment return which, together with the contributions paid, is sufficient to maintain reasonable control over the various funding risks of the plans. The investment advisors appointed by plan trustees are responsible for determining the mix of asset types and target allocations which are reviewed by the plan trustees on an ongoing basis. Actual asset allocation is determined by a variety of current economic and market conditions and in consideration of specific asset class risk.

The expected long-term rates of return on plan assets are based on long-term expected inflation, interest rates, risk premiums and targeted asset class allocations. These estimates take into consideration historical asset class returns and are determined together with the plans' investment and actuarial advisors.

Swiss pension plans

The pension plan of UBS covers practically all UBS employees in Switzerland and exceeds the minimum benefit requirements under Swiss law. The Swiss plan was amended on 1 January 2007 to change the definition of retirement benefits from a final covered salary to a retirement savings approach. The pension plan provides benefits which are based on annual contributions as a percentage of salary and accrue at an interest rate that is defined annually by the plan trustees.

Contributions to the pension plan of UBS are paid by employees and the employer. The employee contributions are calculated as a percentage of covered salary and are deducted monthly. The percentages deducted from salary for full benefit coverage (including risk benefits) depend on age and vary between 1% and 10% of covered base salary and 3% and 8% of covered bonus. The employer pays a contribution that ranges between 100% and 350%, or approximately 230%, on average, of the sum of employees' contributions. The benefits covered include retirement benefits, disability, death and survivor pensions, and employment termination benefits.

The employer contributions expected to be made in 2008 to the Swiss pension plan are CHF 580 million.

Foreign pension plans

The foreign locations of UBS operate various pension plans in accordance with local regulations and practices. Among these plans are defined contribution plans as well as defined benefit plans. The locations with defined benefit plans of a material nature are in the UK, the US and Germany. The UK and the US defined benefit plans are closed to new entrants who are covered by defined contribution plans. The amounts shown for foreign plans reflect the net funded positions of the major foreign plans.

The retirement plans provide benefits in the event of retirement, death, disability or employment termination. The plans' retirement benefits depend on age, contributions and level of compensation. The principal plans are financed in full by the Group. The employer contributions expected to be made in 2008 to these pension plans are CHF 76 million. The funding policy for these plans is consistent with local government and tax requirements.

The assumptions used in foreign plans take into account local economic conditions.

CHF million

Swiss

Foreign

For the year ended

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

Defined benefit obligation at the beginning of the year

(21,506)

(20,972)

(20,225)

(5,207)

(5,020)

(4,142)

Service cost

(367)

(347)

(353)

(88)

(76)

(82)

Interest cost

(633)

(611)

(660)

(264)

(242)

(236)

Plan participant contributions

(236)

(221)

(219)

Amendments

(414)

(125)

0

Actuarial gain / (loss)

1,508

(265)

(713)

236

(120)

(416)

Foreign currency translation

298

(84)

(280)

Benefits paid

792

723

866

151

149

144

Special termination benefits

(21)

(17)

(37)

0

0

(2)

Acquisitions

(54)

0

(6)

Settlements

0

329

369

0

186

0

Defined benefit obligation at the end of the year

(20,877)

(21,506)

(20,972)

(4,928)

(5,207)

(5,020)

Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year

21,336

20,229

18,575

4,602

4,288

3,580

Expected return on plan assets

1,067

998

925

313

283

263

Actuarial gain / (loss)

(250)

447

1,284

(97)

40

247

Foreign currency translation

(288)

74

253

Employer contributions

584

492

468

200

66

89

Plan participant contributions

236

221

219

Benefits paid

(792)

(723)

(866)

(151)

(149)

(144)

Settlements

0

(328)

(376)

Fair value of plan assets at the end of the year

22,181

21,336

20,229

4,579

4,602

4,288

Funded status

1,304

(170)

(743)

(349)

(605)

(732)

Unrecognized net actuarial (gains) / losses

865

2,123

2,334

975

1,237

1,222

Unrecognized past service cost

414

0

0

0

1

1

Unrecognized asset

(2,583)

(1,953)

(1,591)

(Accrued) / prepaid pension cost

0

0

0

626

633

491

Movement in the net (liability) or asset

(Accrued) / prepaid pension cost at the beginning of the year

633

491

485

Net periodic pension cost

(584)

(492)

(468)

(97)

(103)

(125)

Employer contributions

584

492

468

200

66

89

Acquisitions

(54)

0

(6)

Settlement

0

170

0

Foreign currency translation

(56)

9

48

(Accrued) / prepaid pension cost

0

0

0

626

633

491

Amounts recognized in the balance sheet

Prepaid pension cost

887

815

832

Accrued pension liability

(261)

(182)

(341)

(Accrued) / prepaid pension cost

0

0

0

626

633

491

Components of net periodic pension cost

Service cost

367

347

353

88

76

82

Interest cost

633

611

660

264

242

236

Expected return on plan assets

(1,067)

(998)

(925)

(313)

(283)

(263)

Amortization of unrecognized past service cost

0

125

(3)

Amortization of unrecognized net (gains) / losses

0

25

101

58

68

68

Special termination benefits

21

17

37

0

0

2

Settlements

0

0

10

Increase / (decrease) of unrecognized asset

630

365

235

Net periodic pension cost

584

492

468

97

103

125

Funded and unfunded plans

Swiss

CHF million

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

31.12.04

31.12.03

Defined benefit obligation from funded plans

(20,877)

(21,506)

(20,972)

(20,225)

(18,216)

Plan assets

22,181

21,336

20,229

18,575

17,619

Surplus / (deficit)

1,304

(170)

(743)

(1,650)

(597)

Experience gains / (losses) on plan liabilities

0

(265)

(77)

Experience gains / (losses) on plan assets

(250)

447

1,284

Foreign

CHF million

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

31.12.04

31.12.03

Defined benefit obligation from funded plans

(4,654)

(5,002)

(4,635)

(3,815)

(3,509)

Defined benefit obligation from unfunded plans

(274)

(205)

(385)

(327)

(154)

Plan assets

4,579

4,602

4,288

3,580

3,402

Surplus / (deficit)

(349)

(605)

(732)

(562)

(261)

Experience gains / (losses) on plan liabilities

(32)

(11)

7

Experience gains / (losses) on plan assets

(97)

40

247

Swiss

Foreign

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

Principal weighted average actuarial assumptions used (%)

Assumptions used to determine defined benefit obligations at the end of the year

Discount rate

3.5

3.0

3.0

5.8

5.2

5.0

Expected rate of salary increase

2.5

2.5

2.5

4.8

4.6

4.4

Rate of pension increase

0.8

0.8

0.8

2.4

2.1

1.9

Assumptions used to determine net periodic pension cost for the year ended

Discount rate

3.0

3.0

3.3

5.2

5.0

5.5

Expected rate of return on plan assets

5.0

5.0

5.0

7.0

6.7

7.0

Expected rate of salary increase

2.5

2.5

2.5

4.6

4.4

4.4

Rate of pension increase

0.8

0.8

1.0

2.1

1.9

1.9

Mortality tables and life expectancies for major plans

Life expectancy at age 65 for a male member currently

aged 65

aged 45

Country

Mortality table (end of 2007)

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

Switzerland

BVG 2000

17.8

17.8

17.8

17.8

17.8

17.8

UK

PA 92 G, medium cohort

21.9

21.8

19.7

23.0

23.0

21.3

Germany

Dr. K. Heubeck 2005 G

18.9

18.7

18.5

21.6

21.5

21.3

US

RP 2000 projected to 2008

18.3

17.9

17.5

18.3

17.9

17.5

Life expectancy at age 65 for a female member currently

aged 65

aged 45

Country

Mortality table (end of 2007)

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

Switzerland

BVG 2000

21.1

21.1

21.1

21.1

21.1

21.1

UK

PA 92 G, medium cohort

24.8

24.7

22.6

25.8

25.8

24.1

Germany

Dr. K. Heubeck 2005 G

23.0

22.8

22.7

25.6

25.5

25.4

US

RP 2000 projected to 2008

20.5

20.3

20.7

20.5

20.3

20.7

Swiss

Foreign

For the year ended

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

Plan assets (weighted average)

Actual plan asset allocation (%)

Equity instruments

38

41

43

50

53

52

Debt instruments

47

45

43

38

38

39

Real estate

11

11

12

4

4

4

Other

4

3

2

8

5

5

Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

Long-term target plan asset allocation (%)

Equity instruments

33–51

33–51

34–46

49–52

49–53

52–55

Debt instruments

31–50

31–50

30–53

38–44

37–44

44–45

Real estate

10–19

10–19

11–19

4–6

4–6

0–3

Other

0

0

0

1–3

1–5

1–2

Actual return on plan assets (%)

3.9

7.2

12.0

4.8

7.8

13.6

Additional details to fair value of plan assets

CHF million

UBS financial instruments and UBS bank accounts

336

684

613

UBS AG shares 1

128

193

225

Securities lent to UBS included in plan assets

9,379

7,169

2,222

Other assets used by UBS included in plan assets

111

69

69

1 The number of UBS AG shares was 2,436,257, 2,600,417 and 3,589,152 as of 31 December 2007, 31 December 2006 and 31 December 2005, respectively.

b) Post-retirement medical and life plans

In the US and the UK, the Group offers retiree medical benefits that contribute to the health care coverage of employees and beneficiaries after retirement. In addition to retiree medical benefits, the Group in the US also provides retiree life insurance benefits. The UK plan is closed to new entrants. The benefit obligation in excess of fair value of plan assets for those plans amounts to CHF 190 million as of 31 December 2007 (2006: CHF 219 million, 2005: CHF 216 million) and the total accrued post-retirement cost amounts to CHF 181 million as of 31 December 2007 (2006: CHF 176 million, 2005: CHF 168 million). The net periodic post-retirement costs for the years ended 31 December 2007, 31 December 2006 and 31 December 2005 were CHF 26 million, CHF 24 million and CHF 21 million, respectively.

The employer contributions expected to be made in 2008 to the post-retirement medical and life plans are CHF 7 million.

CHF million

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

Post-retirement benefit obligation at the beginning of the year

(219)

(216)

(166)

Service cost

(12)

(10)

(8)

Interest cost

(11)

(11)

(11)

Plan participant contributions

(1)

(1)

0

Actuarial gain / (loss)

39

1

(17)

Foreign currency translation

14

10

(22)

Amendments

(8)

(1)

0

Benefits paid

8

9

8

Post-retirement benefit obligation at the end of the year

(190)

(219)

(216)

Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year

0

0

0

Employer contributions

7

8

8

Plan participant contributions

1

1

0

Benefits paid

(8)

(9)

(8)

Fair value of plan assets at the end of the year

0

0

0

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

31.12.04

31.12.03

Defined benefit obligation

(190)

(219)

(216)

(166)

(179)

Plan asset

0

0

0

0

0

Surplus / (deficit)

(190)

(219)

(216)

(166)

(179)

Experience gains / (losses) on plan liabilities

8

1

(3)

0

0

The assumed average health care cost trend rate used in determining post-retirement benefit expense is assumed to be 11% for 2007 and to decrease to an ultimate trend rate of 5% in 2013. On a country-by-country basis, the same discount rate is used for the calculation of the post-retirement benefit obligation from medical and life plans as for the defined benefit obligations arising from pension plans.

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for health care plans. A one percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend rates would change the US post-retirement benefit obligation and the service and interest cost components of the net periodic post-retirement benefit costs as follows:

CHF million

1% increase

1% decrease

Effect on total service and interest cost

4

(3)

Effect on the post-retirement benefit obligation

25

(20)

c) Defined contribution plans

The Group also sponsors a number of defined contribution plans primarily in the UK and the US. Certain plans permit employees to make contributions and earn matching or other contributions from the Group. The contributions to these plans recognized as expense for the years ended 31 December 2007, 31 December 2006 and 31 December 2005 were CHF 285 million, CHF 229 million and CHF 184 million, respectively.

For the year ended

CHF million

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

Received by UBS

Fees

58

53

48

Paid by UBS

Interest

2

2

4

Dividends and capital repayments

38

33

7

The transaction volumes in UBS shares and other UBS securities are as follows:

For the year ended

31.12.07

31.12.06

31.12.05

Financial instruments bought by pension funds

UBS AG shares (in thousands of shares)

1,728

1,793

2,774

UBS financial instruments (nominal values in CHF million)

950

8

0

Financial instruments sold by pension funds or matured

UBS AG shares (in thousands of shares)

1,930

2,752

4,526

UBS financial instruments (nominal values in CHF million)

976

14

45

UBS has also leased buildings from its pension funds. The rent paid by UBS under these leases amounted to CHF 6 million in 2007, CHF 4 million in 2006 and CHF 4 million in 2005.

There were no financial instruments due from UBS pension plans outstanding as of 31 December 2007 (2006: CHF 120 million, 2005: CHF 163 million). The amounts due to UBS defined benefit pension plans are contained in the additional details to the fair value of plan assets. Furthermore, UBS defined contribution plans hold 14,121,239 UBS shares with a market value of CHF 736 million as of 31 December 2007 (2006: 14,158,961 shares with a market value of CHF 1,043 million, 2005: 14,128,558 shares with a market value of CHF 885 million).

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