[29] Retirement benefit obligation and similar obligations

Defined contribution plans

In the case of defined contribution pension plans, entities in the KION Group pay contributions to government or private pension insurance providers based on statutory or contractual provisions, or on a voluntary basis. The total expense arising from defined contribution plans amounted to €138.2 million in 2021 (2020: €135.3 million). Of this total, contributions paid by employers into government-run schemes came to €107.5 million (2020: €106.9 million).