is based on an asset allocation assumption of 25% ( 25 % ) global equities , 18% ( 18 % ) private equities , 41% ( 41 % ) fixed-income securities , and 16% ( 16 % ) absolute return investments independent of traditional performance benchmarks , along with positive returns from active investment management . the actual net rate of return on plan assets in 2015 was 0.7% ( 0.7 % ) . in 2014 the plan earned a rate of return of 13.0% ( 13.0 % ) and in 2013 earned a return of 6.0% ( 6.0 % ) . the average annual actual return on the plan assets over the past 10 and 25 years has been 7.8% ( 7.8 % ) and 10.0% ( 10.0 % ) , respectively . return on assets assumptions for international pension and other post-retirement benefit plans are calculated on a plan-by-plan basis using plan asset allocations and expected long-term rate of return assumptions . during 2015 , the company contributed $ 264 million to its u.s . and international pension plans and $ 3 million to its postretirement plans . during 2014 , the company contributed $ 210 million to its u.s . and international pension plans and $ 5 million to its postretirement plans . in 2016 , the company expects to contribute an amount in the range of $ 100 million to $ 200 million of cash to its u.s . and international retirement plans . the company does not have a required minimum cash pension contribution obligation for its u.s . plans in 2016 . future contributions will depend on market conditions , interest rates and other factors . future pension and postretirement benefit payments the following table provides the estimated pension and postretirement benefit payments that are payable from the plans to participants . qualified and non-qualified pension benefits postretirement .
what was the ratio of the company contribution to the us qualified and non-qualified pension benefits for 2015 compared to 2014
plan asset management 3m 2019s investment strategy for its pension and postretirement plans is to manage the funds on a going-concern basis . the primary goal of the trust funds is to meet the obligations as required . the secondary goal is to earn the highest rate of return possible , without jeopardizing its primary goal , and without subjecting the company to an undue amount of contribution risk . fund returns are used to help finance present and future obligations to the extent possible within actuarially determined funding limits and tax-determined asset limits , thus reducing the potential need for additional contributions from 3m . the investment strategy has used long duration cash bonds and derivative instruments to offset a significant portion of the interest rate sensitivity of u.s . pension liabilities . normally , 3m does not buy or sell any of its own securities as a direct investment for its pension and other postretirement benefit funds . however , due to external investment management of the funds , the plans may indirectly buy , sell or hold 3m securities . the aggregate amount of 3m securities are not considered to be material relative to the aggregate fund percentages . the discussion that follows references the fair value measurements of certain assets in terms of levels 1 , 2 and 3 . see note 13 for descriptions of these levels . while the company believes the valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants , the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date. .