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<p style="margin-top: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2"><b>Note 14. Retirement-Related Benefits </b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">The Company maintains separate Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plans for associates in the United States and Puerto Rico, under which associates generally become participants following one year of employment. Through fiscal 2011, the Profit Sharing component of the plan was entirely funded by the Company, and the Company made an additional contribution to the associates' 401(k) component of the plan. In addition to the Company's contributions, associates could elect to contribute a percentage of their earnings to the 401(k) component of the plan. </font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Beginning in fiscal 2012, the Company will offer a safe harbor 401(k) plan to all eligible United States associates. The Company will match <font class="_mt">100</font>% of participant contributions up to <font class="_mt">6</font>% of annual eligible earnings. The Company will offer the same matching contribution to all eligible Puerto Rico associates. The matching contributions will immediately vest at <font class="_mt">100</font>% for each associate. Participants can contribute up to <font class="_mt">50</font>% of their pretax earnings, but not more than the statutory limits. Participants age <font class="_mt">50</font> or older may defer additional earnings in catch-up contributions up to the maximum statutory limits. </font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Annual contributions made by the Company to the United States and Puerto Rico Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plans are made at the sole discretion of the Company. Contribution expense associated with these plans was $<font class="_mt">1.1</font> billion in fiscal 2011 and 2010 and $<font class="_mt">1.0</font> billion in fiscal 2009. </font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Employees in international countries who are not U.S. citizens are covered by various post-employment benefit arrangements. These plans are administered based upon the legislative and tax requirements in the countries in which they are established. Annual contributions to international retirement savings and profit sharing plans are made at the discretion of the Company, and were $<font class="_mt">221</font> million, $<font class="_mt">218</font> million and $<font class="_mt">210</font> million in fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. </font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">The Company's subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Japan have defined benefit pension plans. The plan in the United Kingdom was underfunded by $<font class="_mt">494</font> million and $<font class="_mt">339</font> million at January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The plan in Japan was underfunded by $<font class="_mt">309</font> million and $<font class="_mt">249</font> million at January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. These underfunded amounts have been recorded in "Deferred income taxes and other" in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 31, 2011 and 2010. Certain other international operations have defined benefit arrangements that are not significant. </font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">In February 2011, ASDA and the trustees of ASDA's defined benefit plan agreed to remove future benefit accruals from the plan and, with the consent of a majority of the plan participants, also removed the link between past accrual and future pay increases. In return, ASDA will pay £<font class="_mt">43</font> million (approximately $<font class="_mt">70</font> million) in compensation costs to the plan participants. This curtailment charge will be recorded in expense in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. </font></p> </div>Note 14. Retirement-Related Benefits
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