Retirement Programs (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Retirement Benefits, Description [Abstract]

Schedule of Pension and OPEB Net Periodic Benefit Costs

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).