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Retirement Programs
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
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, 2020 and 2019 are shown below:
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
Pensions
 
OPEB
(Millions of dollars)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Amount recognized in Operating Profit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
37

 
$
39

 
$
1

 
$
1

Amount recognized in Net pension and OPEB cost (benefit), excluding service cost
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest cost
52

 
68

 
1

 
2

Expected return on plan assets
(120
)
 
(119
)
 
—

 
—

Net amortization and deferral
23

 
14

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Settlement charge (a)
—

 
51

 
—

 
—

 
(45
)
 
14

 
—

 
1

 Net periodic benefit cost
$
(8
)
 
$
53

 
$
1

 
$
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 2020 required contributions to its pension plans will be in the range of $50 million to $80 million, of which $17 million have been made through March 31, 2020.