OREANDA-NEWS. Statoil has decided to change the company's occupational pension scheme for Statoil ASA employees and introduce defined contribution pension as the company's new pension scheme from 1 January 2015.

The defined contribution pension scheme will be Statoil's occupational pension. It will come on top of the National Insurance pension and the contractual pension scheme (AFP).

Magne Hovden, senior vice president Corporate People and Organisation

"The chosen solution means that Statoil still has an attractive and competitive pension model. The company also obtains increased predictability with regard to its future pension commitments," says Magne Hovden, senior vice president Corporate People and Organisation in Statoil.

Following amendments to the pension legislation from 1 January 2014, two options have been considered in addition to the current benefit scheme: defined contribution pension and a hybrid pension.

"Most major Norwegian industrial enterprises have transferred from defined benefit pension to defined contribution pension. The reason Statoil ASA is making this change is our need to adjust to the Norwegian pension reform and the standards that apply for Norwegian workplaces. The decision to move to a defined contribution pension scheme was made following thorough preparations and discussions with the trade unions," says Hovden.

The transition to a new pension model takes effect from 1 January 2015.