Employee Benefits

The following table provides the components of the net periodic cost (benefit) recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income in Compensation and benefits for Aon’s material U.K., U.S., and other significant international pension plans located in the Netherlands and Canada (in millions):



	Three months ended September 30
	U.K.						U.S.						Other
	2017			2016			2017			2016			2017			2016
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Interest cost	31			37			24			28			7			7
Expected return on plan assets, net of administration expenses	(50		)	(58		)	(34		)	(39		)	(13		)	(12		)
Amortization of prior-service cost	—			—			—			1			—			—
Amortization of net actuarial loss	8			7			13			12			3			3
Net periodic cost (benefit)	$	(11	)	$	(14	)	$	3		$	2		$	(3	)	$	(2	)
Loss on pension settlement	—			—			—			—			—			—
Total net periodic cost (benefit)	$	(11	)	$	(14	)	$	3		$	2		$	(3	)	$	(2	)

	Nine months ended September 30
	U.K.						U.S.						Other
	2017			2016			2017			2016			2017			2016
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Interest cost	91			123			72			83			19			21
Expected return on plan assets, net of administration expenses	(147		)	(187		)	(104		)	(117		)	(35		)	(36		)
Amortization of prior-service cost	—			1			1			2			—			—
Amortization of net actuarial loss	23			24			38			37			9			8
Net periodic cost (benefit)	$	(33	)	$	(39	)	$	7		$	5		$	(7	)	$	(7	)
Loss on pension settlement	—			61			—			—			—			—
Total net periodic cost (benefit)	$	(33	)	$	22		$	7		$	5		$	(7	)	$	(7	)

In March 2017, the Company approved a plan to offer a voluntary one-time lump sum payment option to certain eligible employees of the Company’s U.K. pension plans that, if accepted, would settle the Company’s pension obligation to them. A non-cash settlement charge is expected in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Contributions

The Company expects to make cash contributions of approximately $80 million, $51 million, and $18 million, based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2016, to its significant U.K., U.S., and other significant international pension plans, respectively, during 2017. During the three months ended September 30, 2017, cash contributions of $22 million, $5 million, and $3 million were made to the Company’s significant U.K., U.S., and other significant international pension plans, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, cash contributions of $64 million, $31 million, and $14 million were made to the Company’s significant U.K., U.S., and other significant international pension plans, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, Aon made a non-cash contribution of approximately $80 million to its U.S. pension plan.

During the three months ended September 30, 2016, cash contributions of $19 million, $5 million, and $4 million were made to the Company’s significant U.K., U.S., and other significant international pension plans, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, cash contributions of $53 million, $24 million, and $14 million were made to the Company’s significant U.K., U.S., and other significant international pension plans, respectively.