19. Deferred Cash Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans

Deferred Cash Compensation Plans

The components of deferred cash compensation expense are as follows:

Deferred Cash Contribution Compensation Plan.  The Company adopted an Investment Professional Deferred Compensation Program (“IPDCP”) for the purpose of providing deferred compensation and retention incentives to certain employees. For this plan, the final value of the deferred amount to be distributed in cash upon vesting is associated with investment returns of certain investment funds. In January 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Company granted approximately $321 million, $137 million, and $140 million of deferred compensation that will fluctuate with investment returns and will vest ratably over three years from the date of grant. The liabilities for this plan were $377 million and $255 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and are reflected in the consolidated statements of financial condition as accrued compensation and benefits. In January 2022, the Company granted approximately $257 million of additional deferred compensation that will fluctuate with investment returns and will vest ratably over three years from the date of grant. In addition, the liabilities related to other deferred cash contribution plans were approximately $99 million and $84 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan. The Company adopted a Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan (“VDCP”) that allows eligible employees in the United States to elect to defer between 1% and 100% of their annual cash incentive compensation. The participants must specify a deferral period of up to 10 years from the year of deferral and additionally, elect to receive distributions in the form of a lump sum or in up to 10 annual installments. The liability balance of $101 million and $82 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, is reflected on the consolidated statements of financial condition as accrued compensation and benefits.

Leadership Retention Carry Plan.  In 2019, the Company adopted a carried interest retention incentive program referred to as the BlackRock Leadership Retention Carry Plan, pursuant to which senior-level employees (but not including the Chief Executive Officer), as may be determined by the Company from time to time, will be eligible to receive a portion of the cash payments, based on their percentage points, in the total carried interest distributions payable to the Company from participating carry funds. Cash payments, if any, with respect to these percentage points will be made following the recipient’s termination of employment due to qualified retirement, death or disability, subject to his or her execution of a release of claims and continued compliance with his or her restrictive covenant obligations following termination. There was no impact to the consolidated financial statements.

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company has several defined contribution plans primarily in the United States and United Kingdom.

Certain of the Company’s US employees participate in a defined contribution plan. Employee contributions of up to 8% of eligible compensation, as defined by the plan and subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations, are matched by the Company at 50% up to a maximum of $5,000 annually. In addition, the Company makes an annual retirement contribution to eligible participants equal to 3-5% of eligible compensation. The Company’s contribution expense related to this plan was $101 million in 2021, $93 million in 2020, and $66 million in 2019.

Certain United Kingdom (“UK”) wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company contribute to defined contribution plans for their employees. The contributions range between 6% and 15% of each employee’s eligible compensation. The Company’s contribution expense related to these plans was $57 million in 2021, $45 million in 2020, and $41 million in 2019.

In addition, the contribution expense related to defined contribution plans in other regions was $36 million in 2021, $34 million in 2020 and $29 million in 2019.

Defined Benefit Plans. The Company has several defined benefit pension plans with plan assets of approximately $35 million and $36 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The underfunded obligations at December 31, 2021 and 2020 were not material. Benefit payments for the next five years and in aggregate for the five years thereafter are not expected to be material.