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Edwards Lifesciences sponsors defined benefit pension plans in Puerto Rico, Japan and in certain European countries. A reconciliation of these plans’ benefit obligations, assets, funded status and net liability are as follows: 

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## NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

Years Ended December 31, 

The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows: 

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Significant assumptions used in determining benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost are summarized as follows: 

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The Company’s employees in the United States and Puerto Rico are eligible to participate in a qualified 401(k) and 1165(e) plan, respectively. Participants may contribute up to 15% of their annual compensation (subject to tax code limitation) to the plans. Edwards Lifesciences matches the first 3 percent of the participant’s annual eligible compensation contributed to the plan on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Edwards Lifesciences matches the next 2 percent of the participant’s annual eligible compensation to the plan on a 50% basis. Matching contributions relating to Edwards Lifesciences employees were $4.4 million and $3.9 million, $3.2 million 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. 

The Company has a nonqualified deferred compensation plan for a select group of management that provides the opportunity to defer a specified percentage of their cash compensation. Participants may elect to defer up to 100% of bonus and 15% of total annual compensation. The Company’s obligations under this plan are unfunded. The amount accrued under this plan was $3.3 million at December 31, 2002 and $2.2 million at December 31, 2001. 

## Defined Contribution Plans 

Years Ended December 31, 

Years Ended December 31, 

