Company: LIN
Filing Date: 2025-10-31
Form Type: 10-Q
Source: 0001628280-25-047710
Chunk: 47

Company: LINDE PLC
Filing Date: 2025-10-31
Form: 10-Q
Item: Item 8
Chunk 47
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 of net pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions (“OPEB”) costs for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 are shown below: Quarter Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,(Millions of dollars)2025202420252024Amount recognized in Operating Profit  Service cost$21 $21 $62 $63 Amount recognized in Net pension and OPEB cost (benefit), excluding service costInterest cost91 91 266 273 Expected return on plan assets(142)(140)(416)(415)Net amortization and deferral (gain) loss(8)(2)(24)(8)Settlement charge (a)2 6 2 6 (57)(45)(172)(144) Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)$(36)$(24)$(110)$(81)(a)  In the third quarters of 2025 and 2024, Linde recorded pension settlement charges of $2 million and $6 million ($2 million and $5 million, after tax), respectively, related to lump sum benefit payments made from a U.S. non-qualified plan.Components of net periodic benefit expense for other post-retirement plans for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 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 $20 million have been made through September 30, 2025. 

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