Company: LIN
Filing Date: 2025-05-01
Form Type: 10-Q
Source: 0001628280-25-021379
Chunk: 41

Company: LINDE PLC
Filing Date: 2025-05-01
Form: 10-Q
Item: Item 8
Chunk 41
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 3,643 Weighted average shares used in diluted earnings per share476,262 485,592 Basic Earnings Per Share $3.53 $3.38 Diluted Earnings Per Share$3.51 $3.35 The weighted-average of antidilutive securities excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share was 420 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2025. There were no antidilutive securities in the respective 2024 period.

7. Retirement Programs

The components of net pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions (“OPEB”) costs for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 are shown below: Quarter Ended March 31,(Millions of dollars)20252024Amount recognized in Operating Profit  Service cost$20 $21 Amount recognized in Net pension and OPEB cost (benefit), excluding service costInterest cost86 91 Expected return on plan assets(134)(138)Net amortization and deferral (gain) loss(8)(3)(56)(50) Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)$(36)$(29)Components of net periodic benefit expense for other post-retirement plans for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 were not material. 

Linde estimates that 2025 required contributions to its pension plans will be in the range of approximately $25 million to $35 million, of which $5 million have been made through March 31, 2025. 

8. Commitments and Contingencies

Contingent LiabilitiesLinde is subject to various lawsuits and government investigations that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business. These actions are based upon alleged environmental, tax, antitrust and personal injury claims, among others. Linde has strong defenses in these cases and intends to defend itself vigorously. It is possible that the company may incur losses in connection with some of these actions in excess of accrued liabilities. Management does not anticipate that in the aggregate such losses would have a material adverse effect on the company’s consolidated financial position or liquidity; however, it is possible that the final outcomes could have a significant impact on the company’s reported results of operations in any given period.

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Significant matters are:•During 2009, the Brazilian government published Law 11941/2009 instituting a new voluntary amnesty program (“Refis Program”) which allowed Brazilian companies