PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic pension cost and the cost of other postretirement benefits for the periods presented:



	Three Months Ended September 30,
	United States Pension Benefits						Foreign Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
Millions of dollars	2018			2017			2018			2017			2018			2017
Service cost	$	1		$	1		$	1		$	1		$	2		$	1
Interest cost	30			34			5			6			3			4
Expected return on plan assets	(43		)	(43		)	(8		)	(8		)	—			—
Amortization:
Actuarial loss	14			12			2			2			—			—
Prior service credit	(1		)	(1		)	—			—			(3		)	(4		)
Settlement and curtailment (gain) loss	—			—			1			—			4			—
Net periodic cost	$	1		$	3		$	1		$	1		$	6		$	1



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	United States Pension Benefits						Foreign Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
Millions of dollars	2018			2017			2018			2017			2018			2017
Service cost	$	2		$	2		$	4		$	4		$	5		$	5
Interest cost	89			101			17			17			10			12
Expected return on plan assets	(128		)	(131		)	(25		)	(23		)	—			—
Amortization:
Actuarial loss	40			37			7			5			—			—
Prior service credit	(2		)	(2		)	—			—			(2		)	(11		)
Settlement and curtailment (gain) loss	—			—			(2		)	1			4			—
Net periodic cost	$	1		$	7		$	1		$	4		$	17		$	6

The following table summarizes the net periodic cost recognized in operating profit and interest and sundry (income) expense for the periods presented:



	Three Months Ended September 30,
	United States Pension Benefits				Foreign Pension Benefits				Other Postretirement Benefits
Millions of dollars	2018		2017		2018		2017		2018		2017
Operating profit (loss)	$	1	$	1	$	1	$	1	$	2	$	1
Interest and sundry (income) expense	—		2		—		—		4		—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1	$	3	$	1	$	1	$	6	$	1



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	United States Pension Benefits					Foreign Pension Benefits					Other Postretirement Benefits
Millions of dollars	2018			2017		2018			2017		2018		2017
Operating profit (loss)	$	2		$	2	$	4		$	4	$	5	$	5
Interest and sundry (income) expense	(1		)	5		(3		)	—		12		1
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1		$	7	$	1		$	4	$	17	$	6

During the second quarter 2011, we modified retiree medical benefits for certain retirees to be consistent with those benefits provided by the Whirlpool Corporation Group Benefit Plan. We accounted for these changes as a plan amendment in 2011, resulting in a reduction in the postretirement benefit obligation of $138 million, of which approximately $83 million of benefit has been recognized in net earnings since 2011, with an offset to accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax. In response, a group of retirees initiated legal proceedings against Whirlpool asserting the above benefits are vested and changes to the plan are not permitted. In October 2018, we reached preliminary agreement on a settlement to resolve plaintiffs’ claims. The settlement will require court approval in order to be finalized, and we will proceed through the court process to request such approval. Charges incurred in the third quarter of 2018 related to this settlement were not material, and we expect the settlement, if and when approved, to result in non-material cash expenditures in future periods.

On September 15, 2018, we contributed $358 million in cash contributions to the pension trust for our U.S. defined benefit pension plans, which included $350 million of discretionary contributions.