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Retirement Programs
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Retirement Benefits, Description [Abstract]  
Retirement Programs
Retirement Programs
The components of net pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions (“OPEB”) costs for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 are shown below:
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
Pensions
 
OPEB
(Millions of dollars)
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Amount recognized in Operating Profit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
39

 
$
12

 
$
1

 
$
—

Amount recognized in Net pension and OPEB cost, excluding service cost
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest cost
68

 
26

 
2

 
1

Expected return on plan assets
(119
)
 
(42
)
 
—

 
—

Net amortization and deferral
14

 
18

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Settlement charge (a)
51

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
$
14

 
$
2

 
$
1

 
$
—

 Net periodic benefit cost
$
53

 
$
14

 
$
2

 
$
—



(a) In the first quarter of 2019, benefits of $91 million were paid related to the settlement of a U.S. non-qualified plan that was triggered due to a change in control provision. Accordingly, Linde recorded a pension settlement charge of $51 million ($38 million after-tax or $0.07 per diluted share).
Linde estimates that 2019 required contributions to its pension plans will be in the range of $95 million to $160 million, of which $18 million have been made through March 31, 2019.