Benefit Plans

The Company has defined benefit pension plans covering certain employees in the United States and certain foreign locations. The Company also provides certain postretirement healthcare and life insurance benefits to qualifying domestic retirees. Other postretirement benefit plans in foreign countries are not material. The measurement date used for the Company’s employee benefit plans is September 30.

Net pension and postretirement cost included the following components for the three months ended March 31:



	Pension Plans						Other Postretirement Benefits
(Millions of dollars)	2016			2015			2016			2015
Service cost	$	20		$	19		$	1		$	1
Interest cost	18			21			1			2
Expected return on plan assets	(27		)	(30		)	—			—
Amortization of prior service credit	(4		)	(4		)	(1		)	(1		)
Amortization of loss	19			17			—			1
Settlements	1			—			—			—
Net pension and postretirement cost	$	27		$	23		$	1		$	2

Net pension and postretirement cost included the following components for the six months ended March 31:



	Pension Plans						Other Postretirement Benefits
(Millions of dollars)	2016			2015			2016			2015
Service cost	$	41		$	38		$	1		$	2
Interest cost	37			43			3			4
Expected return on plan assets	(55		)	(61		)	—			—
Amortization of prior service credit	(7		)	(8		)	(2		)	(2		)
Amortization of loss	39			34			1			1
Settlements	1			—			—			—
Net pension and postretirement cost	$	55		$	46		$	3		$	4

The amounts provided above for amortization of prior service credit and amortization of loss represent the reclassifications of prior service credits and net actuarial losses that were recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in prior periods.

Postemployment benefit costs were $10 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. Postemployment benefit costs were $20 million and $21 million for the six-month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Employee termination costs associated with the Company's restructuring activities are provided in Note 11.