Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Employee Benefit Plans

v3.10.0.1
Employee Benefit Plans
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefit Plans
Pension and Postretirement Plans
The Corporation sponsors a qualified noncontributory trusteed pension plan (Qualified Pension Plan), a number of noncontributory nonqualified pension plans, and postretirement health and life plans that cover eligible employees. Non-U.S. pension plans sponsored by the Corporation vary based on the country and local practices.
The Qualified Pension Plan has a balance guarantee feature for account balances with participant-selected investments, applied at the time a benefit payment is made from the plan that effectively provides principal protection for participant balances transferred and certain compensation credits. The Corporation is responsible for funding any shortfall on the guarantee feature.
Benefits earned under the Qualified Pension Plan have been frozen. Thereafter, the cash balance accounts continue to earn investment credits or interest credits in accordance with the terms of the plan document.
The Corporation has an annuity contract that guarantees the payment of benefits vested under a terminated U.S. pension plan (Other Pension Plan). The Corporation, under a supplemental agreement, may be responsible for, or benefit from actual experience and investment performance of the annuity assets. The Corporation made no contribution under this agreement in 2018 or 2017. Contributions may be required in the future under this agreement.
The Corporation’s noncontributory, nonqualified pension plans are unfunded and provide supplemental defined pension benefits to certain eligible employees.
In addition to retirement pension benefits, certain benefits-eligible employees may become eligible to continue participation as retirees in health care and/or life insurance plans sponsored by the Corporation. These plans are referred to as the Postretirement Health and Life Plans. During 2017, the Corporation established and funded a Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association trust in the amount of $300 million for the Postretirement Health and Life Plans.
The Pension and Postretirement Plans table summarizes the changes in the fair value of plan assets, changes in the projected benefit obligation (PBO), the funded status of both the accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) and the PBO, and the weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations for the pension plans and postretirement plans at December 31, 2018 and 2017. The estimate of the Corporation’s PBO associated with these plans considers various actuarial assumptions, including assumptions for mortality rates and discount rates. The discount rate assumptions are derived from a cash flow matching technique that utilizes rates that are based on Aa-rated corporate bonds with cash flows that match estimated benefit payments of each of the plans. The increases in the weighted-average discount rates in 2018 resulted in decreases to the PBO of approximately $1.3 billion at December 31, 2018. The decreases in the weighted-average discount rates in 2017 resulted in increases to the PBO of approximately $1.1 billion at December 31, 2017. Significant gains and losses related to changes in the PBO for 2018 and 2017 primarily resulted from changes in the discount rate.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pension and Postretirement Plans (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Qualified
Pension Plan
 
Non-U.S.
Pension Plans
 
Nonqualified and Other
Pension Plans
 
Postretirement
Health and Life Plans
(Dollars in millions)
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Fair value, January 1
$
19,708

 
$
18,239

 
$
2,943

 
$
2,789

 
$
2,724

 
$
2,744

 
$
300

 
$
—

Actual return on plan assets
(550
)
 
2,285

 
(181
)
 
118

 
8

 
128

 
5

 
—

Company contributions
—

 
—

 
22

 
23

 
91

 
98

 
43

 
393

Plan participant contributions
—

 
—

 
1

 
1

 
—

 
—

 
115

 
125

Settlements and curtailments
—

 
—

 
(107
)
 
(190
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Benefits paid
(980
)
 
(816
)
 
(52
)
 
(54
)
 
(239
)
 
(246
)
 
(214
)
 
(230
)
Federal subsidy on benefits paid
n/a

 
 n/a

 
n/a

 
 n/a

 
n/a

 
 n/a

 
3

 
12

Foreign currency exchange rate changes
n/a

 
 n/a

 
(165
)
 
256

 
n/a

 
 n/a

 
n/a

 
 n/a

Fair value, December 31
$
18,178

 
$
19,708

 
$
2,461

 
$
2,943

 
$
2,584

 
$
2,724

 
$
252

 
$
300

Change in projected benefit obligation
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Projected benefit obligation, January 1
$
15,706

 
$
14,982

 
$
2,814

 
$
2,763

 
$
3,047

 
$
3,047

 
$
1,056

 
$
1,125

Service cost
—

 
—

 
19

 
24

 
1

 
1

 
6

 
6

Interest cost
563

 
606

 
65

 
72

 
105

 
117

 
36

 
43

Plan participant contributions
—

 
—

 
1

 
1

 
—

 
—

 
115

 
125

Plan amendments
—

 
—

 
13

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(19
)
Settlements and curtailments
—

 
—

 
(107
)
 
(200
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Actuarial loss (gain)
(1,145
)
 
934

 
(29
)
 
(26
)
 
(135
)
 
128

 
(73
)
 
(7
)
Benefits paid
(980
)
 
(816
)
 
(52
)
 
(54
)
 
(239
)
 
(246
)
 
(214
)
 
(230
)
Federal subsidy on benefits paid
n/a

 
 n/a

 
n/a

 
 n/a

 
n/a

 
 n/a

 
3

 
12

Foreign currency exchange rate changes
n/a

 
 n/a

 
(135
)
 
234

 
n/a

 
 n/a

 
(1
)
 
1

Projected benefit obligation, December 31
$
14,144

 
$
15,706

 
$
2,589

 
$
2,814

 
$
2,779

 
$
3,047

 
$
928

 
$
1,056

Amounts recognized on Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other assets
$
4,034

 
$
4,002

 
$
316

 
$
610

 
$
754

 
$
730

 
$
—

 
$
—

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
—

 
—

 
(444
)
 
(481
)
 
(949
)
 
(1,053
)
 
(676
)
 
(756
)
Net amount recognized, December 31
$
4,034

 
$
4,002

 
$
(128
)
 
$
129

 
$
(195
)
 
$
(323
)
 
$
(676
)
 
$
(756
)
Funded status, December 31
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Accumulated benefit obligation
$
14,144

 
$
15,706

 
$
2,542

 
$
2,731

 
$
2,778

 
$
3,046

 
n/a

 
n/a

Overfunded (unfunded) status of ABO
4,034

 
4,002

 
(81
)
 
212

 
(194
)
 
(322
)
 
n/a

 
n/a

Provision for future salaries
—

 
—

 
47

 
83

 
1

 
1

 
n/a

 
n/a

Projected benefit obligation
14,144

 
15,706

 
2,589

 
2,814

 
2,779

 
3,047

 
$
928

 
$
1,056

Weighted-average assumptions, December 31
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Discount rate
4.32
%
 
3.68
%
 
2.60
%
 
2.39
%
 
4.26
%
 
3.58
%
 
4.25
%
 
3.58
%
Rate of compensation increase
n/a

 
 n/a

 
4.49

 
4.31

 
4.00

 
4.00

 
n/a

 
n/a

Interest-crediting rate
5.18

 
5.08

 
1.47

 
1.49

 
4.50

 
4.53

 
n/a

 
n/a

(1) 
The measurement date for the Qualified Pension Plan, Non-U.S. Pension Plans, Nonqualified and Other Pension Plans, and Postretirement Health and Life Plans was December 31 of each year reported.
n/a = not applicable
The Corporation’s estimate of its contributions to be made to the Non-U.S. Pension Plans, Nonqualified and Other Pension Plans, and Postretirement Health and Life Plans in 2019 is $21 million, $91 million and $15 million, respectively. The Corporation does not expect to make a contribution to the Qualified Pension Plan in 2019. It is the policy of the Corporation to fund no less than the
minimum funding amount required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Pension Plans with ABO and PBO in excess of plan assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are presented in the table below. For these plans, funding strategies vary due to legal requirements and local practices.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plans with ABO and PBO in Excess of Plan Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-U.S.
Pension Plans
 
Nonqualified
and Other
Pension Plans
(Dollars in millions)
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
PBO
$
615

 
$
671

 
$
950

 
$
1,054

ABO
605

 
644

 
949

 
1,053

Fair value of plan assets
173

 
191

 
1

 
1


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Qualified Pension Plan
 
Non-U.S. Pension Plans
(Dollars in millions)
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
Components of net periodic benefit cost (income)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
19

 
$
24

 
$
25

Interest cost
563

 
606

 
634

 
65

 
72

 
86

Expected return on plan assets
(1,136
)
 
(1,068
)
 
(1,038
)
 
(126
)
 
(136
)
 
(123
)
Amortization of net actuarial loss
147

 
154

 
139

 
10

 
8

 
6

Other
—

 
—

 
—

 
12

 
(7
)
 
2

Net periodic benefit cost (income)
$
(426
)
 
$
(308
)
 
$
(265
)
 
$
(20
)
 
$
(39
)
 
$
(4
)
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net cost for years ended December 31
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Discount rate
3.68
%
 
4.16
%
 
4.51
%
 
2.39
%
 
2.56
%
 
3.59
%
Expected return on plan assets
6.00

 
6.00

 
6.00

 
4.37

 
4.73

 
4.84

Rate of compensation increase
n/a

 
n/a

 
n/a

 
4.31

 
4.51

 
4.67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nonqualified and
Other Pension Plans
 
Postretirement Health
and Life Plans
(Dollars in millions)
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
Components of net periodic benefit cost (income)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
—

 
$
6

 
$
6

 
$
7

Interest cost
105

 
117

 
127

 
36

 
43

 
47

Expected return on plan assets
(84
)
 
(95
)
 
(101
)
 
(6
)
 
—

 
—

Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)
43

 
34

 
25

 
(27
)
 
(21
)
 
(81
)
Other
—

 
—

 
3

 
(3
)
 
4


4

Net periodic benefit cost (income)
$
65

 
$
57

 
$
54

 
$
6

 
$
32

 
$
(23
)
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net cost for years ended December 31
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Discount rate
3.58
%
 
4.01
%
 
4.34
%
 
3.58
%
 
3.99
%
 
4.32
%
Expected return on plan assets
3.19

 
3.50

 
3.66

 
2.00

 
 n/a

 
 n/a

Rate of compensation increase
4.00

 
4.00

 
4.00

 
n/a

 
 n/a

 
 n/a

n/a = not applicable
The asset valuation method used to calculate the expected return on plan assets component of net periodic benefit cost for the Qualified Pension Plan recognizes 60 percent of the prior year’s market gains or losses at the next measurement date with the remaining 40 percent spread equally over the subsequent four years.
Gains and losses for all benefit plans except postretirement health care are recognized in accordance with the standard amortization provisions of the applicable accounting guidance. Net periodic postretirement health and life expense was determined using the “projected unit credit” actuarial method. For the Postretirement Health and Life Plans, 50 percent of the unrecognized gain or loss at the beginning of the fiscal year (or at
subsequent remeasurement) is recognized on a level basis during the year.
Assumed health care cost trend rates affect the postretirement benefit obligation and benefit cost reported for the Postretirement Health and Life Plans. The assumed health care cost trend rate used to measure the expected cost of benefits covered by the Postretirement Health and Life Plans is 6.50 percent for 2019, reducing in steps to 5.00 percent in 2023 and later years.
The Corporation’s net periodic benefit cost (income) recognized for the plans is sensitive to the discount rate and expected return on plan assets. For the Qualified Pension Plan, Non-U.S. Pension Plans, Nonqualified and Other Pension Plans, and Postretirement Health and Life Plans, a 25 bp decline in discount rates and expected return on assets would not have a significant impact on the net periodic benefit cost for 2018.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pretax Amounts included in Accumulated OCI
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Qualified
Pension Plan
 
Non-U.S.
Pension Plans
 
Nonqualified
and Other
Pension Plans
 
Postretirement
Health and
Life Plans
 
Total
(Dollars in millions)
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net actuarial loss (gain)
$
4,386

 
$
3,992

 
$
454

 
$
196

 
$
912

 
$
1,014

 
$
(75
)
 
$
(30
)
 
$
5,677

 
$
5,172

Prior service cost (credits)
—

 
—

 
18

 
4

 
—

 
—

 
(9
)
 
(11
)
 
9

 
(7
)
Amounts recognized in accumulated OCI
$
4,386

 
$
3,992

 
$
472

 
$
200

 
$
912

 
$
1,014

 
$
(84
)
 
$
(41
)
 
$
5,686

 
$
5,165


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pretax Amounts Recognized in OCI
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Qualified
Pension Plan
 
Non-U.S.
Pension Plans
 
Nonqualified
and Other
Pension Plans
 
Postretirement
Health and
Life Plans
 
Total
(Dollars in millions)
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Current year actuarial loss (gain)
$
541

 
$
(283
)
 
$
270

 
$
(12
)
 
$
(59
)
 
$
95

 
$
(73
)
 
$
(7
)
 
$
679

 
$
(207
)
Amortization of actuarial gain (loss) and
prior service cost
(147
)
 
(154
)
 
(11
)
 
(8
)
 
(43
)
 
(34
)
 
30

 
21

 
(171
)
 
(175
)
Current year prior service cost (credit)
—

 
—

 
13

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(23
)
 
13

 
(23
)
Amounts recognized in OCI
$
394

 
$
(437
)
 
$
272

 
$
(20
)
 
$
(102
)
 
$
61

 
$
(43
)
 
$
(9
)
 
$
521

 
$
(405
)

Plan Assets
The Qualified Pension Plan has been established as a retirement vehicle for participants, and trusts have been established to secure benefits promised under the Qualified Pension Plan. The Corporation’s policy is to invest the trust assets in a prudent manner for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to participants and defraying reasonable expenses of administration. The Corporation’s investment strategy is designed to provide a total return that, over the long term, increases the ratio of assets to liabilities. The strategy attempts to maximize the investment return on assets at a level of risk deemed appropriate by the Corporation while complying with ERISA and any applicable regulations and laws. The investment strategy utilizes asset allocation as a principal determinant for establishing the risk/return profile of the assets. Asset allocation ranges are established, periodically reviewed and adjusted as funding levels and liability characteristics change. Active and passive investment managers are employed to help enhance the risk/return profile of the assets. An additional aspect of the investment strategy used to minimize risk (part of the asset allocation plan) includes matching the exposure of participant-selected investment measures.
The assets of the Non-U.S. Pension Plans are primarily attributable to a U.K. pension plan. This U.K. pension plan’s assets are invested prudently so that the benefits promised to members are provided with consideration given to the nature and the duration
of the plan’s liabilities. The selected asset allocation strategy is designed to achieve a higher return than the lowest risk strategy.
The expected rate of return on plan assets assumption was developed through analysis of historical market returns, historical asset class volatility and correlations, current market conditions, anticipated future asset allocations, the funds’ past experience, and expectations on potential future market returns. The expected return on plan assets assumption is determined using the calculated market-related value for the Qualified Pension Plan and the Other Pension Plan and the fair value for the Non-U.S. Pension Plans and Postretirement Health and Life Plans. The expected return on plan assets assumption represents a long-term average view of the performance of the assets in the Qualified Pension Plan, the Non-U.S. Pension Plans, the Other Pension Plan, and Postretirement Health and Life Plans, a return that may or may not be achieved during any one calendar year. The Other Pension Plan is invested solely in an annuity contract which is primarily invested in fixed-income securities structured such that asset maturities match the duration of the plan’s obligations.
The target allocations for 2019 by asset category for the Qualified Pension Plan, Non-U.S. Pension Plans, and Nonqualified and Other Pension Plans are presented in the following table. Equity securities for the Qualified Pension Plan include common stock of the Corporation in the amounts of $221 million (1.22 percent of total plan assets) and $261 million (1.33 percent of total plan assets) at December 31, 2018 and 2017.
 
 
 
 
2019 Target Allocation
 
 
 
 
 
Percentage
Asset Category
Qualified
Pension Plan
Non-U.S.
Pension Plans
Nonqualified
and Other
Pension Plans
Equity securities
20-50
5-35
0-5
Debt securities
45-75
40-80
95-100
Real estate
0-10
0-15
0-5
Other
0-5
5-30
0-5

Fair Value Measurements
For more information on fair value measurements, including descriptions of Level 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy and the valuation methods employed by the Corporation, see Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Principles and Note 20 – Fair Value Measurements. Combined plan investment assets measured at fair value by level and in total at December 31, 2018 and 2017 are summarized in the Fair Value Measurements table.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
(Dollars in millions)
December 31, 2018
Cash and short-term investments
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Money market and interest-bearing cash
$
1,530

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
1,530

Cash and cash equivalent commingled/mutual funds
—

 
644

 
—

 
644

Fixed income
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. government and agency securities
3,637

 
805

 
9

 
4,451

Corporate debt securities
—

 
2,852

 
—

 
2,852

Asset-backed securities
—

 
2,119

 
—

 
2,119

Non-U.S. debt securities
539

 
961

 
—

 
1,500

Fixed income commingled/mutual funds
933

 
1,177

 
—

 
2,110

Equity
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Common and preferred equity securities
4,414

 
—

 
—

 
4,414

Equity commingled/mutual funds
288

 
1,275

 
—

 
1,563

Public real estate investment trusts
104

 
—

 
—

 
104

Real estate
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Private real estate
—

 
—

 
5

 
5

Real estate commingled/mutual funds
—

 
13

 
885

 
898

Limited partnerships
—

 
158

 
82

 
240

Other investments (1)
93

 
364

 
588

 
1,045

Total plan investment assets, at fair value
$
11,538

 
$
10,368

 
$
1,569

 
$
23,475

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
Cash and short-term investments
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Money market and interest-bearing cash
$
2,190

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
2,190

Cash and cash equivalent commingled/mutual funds
—

 
1,004

 
—

 
1,004

Fixed income
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. government and agency securities
3,331

 
854

 
9

 
4,194

Corporate debt securities
—

 
2,417

 
—

 
2,417

Asset-backed securities
—

 
1,832

 
—

 
1,832

Non-U.S. debt securities
693

 
898

 
—

 
1,591

Fixed income commingled/mutual funds
775

 
1,676

 
—

 
2,451

Equity
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Common and preferred equity securities
5,833

 
—

 
—

 
5,833

Equity commingled/mutual funds
271

 
1,753

 
—

 
2,024

Public real estate investment trusts
138

 
—

 
—

 
138

Real estate
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Private real estate
—

 
—

 
93

 
93

Real estate commingled/mutual funds
—

 
13

 
831

 
844

Limited partnerships
—

 
155

 
85

 
240

Other investments (1)
101

 
649

 
74

 
824

Total plan investment assets, at fair value
$
13,332

 
$
11,251

 
$
1,092

 
$
25,675

(1) 
Other investments include commodity and balanced funds of $305 million and $451 million, insurance annuity contracts of $562 million and $50 million and other various investments of $178 million and $323 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017.
The Level 3 Fair Value Measurements table presents a reconciliation of all plan investment assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during 2018, 2017 and 2016.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance
January 1
 
Actual Return on
Plan Assets Still
Held at the
Reporting Date
 
Purchases, Sales and Settlements
 
Balance
December 31
(Dollars in millions)
2018
Fixed income
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. government and agency securities
$
9

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
9

Real estate
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Private real estate
93

 
(7
)
 
(81
)
 
5

Real estate commingled/mutual funds
831

 
52

 
2

 
885

Limited partnerships
85

 
(12
)
 
9

 
82

Other investments
74

 
—

 
514

 
588

Total
$
1,092

 
$
33

 
$
444

 
$
1,569

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017
Fixed income
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. government and agency securities
$
10

 
$
—

 
$
(1
)
 
$
9

Real estate
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Private real estate
150

 
8

 
(65
)
 
93

Real estate commingled/mutual funds
748

 
63

 
20

 
831

Limited partnerships
38

 
14

 
33

 
85

Other investments
83

 
5

 
(14
)
 
74

Total
$
1,029

 
$
90

 
$
(27
)
 
$
1,092

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2016
Fixed income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency securities
$
11

 
$
—

 
$
(1
)
 
$
10

Real estate
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Private real estate
144

 
1

 
5

 
150

Real estate commingled/mutual funds
731

 
21

 
(4
)
 
748

Limited partnerships
49

 
(2
)
 
(9
)
 
38

Other investments
102

 
4

 
(23
)
 
83

Total
$
1,037

 
$
24

 
$
(32
)
 
$
1,029


Projected Benefit Payments
Benefit payments projected to be made from the Qualified Pension Plan, Non-U.S. Pension Plans, Nonqualified and Other Pension Plans, and Postretirement Health and Life Plans are presented in the table below.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Benefit Payments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Dollars in millions)
Qualified
Pension Plan (1)
 
Non-U.S.
Pension Plans (2)
 
Nonqualified
and Other
Pension Plans (2)
 
Postretirement Health and Life Plans (3)
2019
$
905

 
$
98

 
$
241

 
$
85

2020
932

 
103

 
244

 
82

2021
920

 
110

 
239

 
79

2022
925

 
119

 
234

 
77

2023
915

 
125

 
228

 
74

2024 - 2028
4,451

 
671

 
1,046

 
323

(1) 
Benefit payments expected to be made from the plan’s assets.
(2) 
Benefit payments expected to be made from a combination of the plans’ and the Corporation’s assets.
(3) 
Benefit payments (net of retiree contributions) expected to be made from a combination of the plans’ and the Corporation’s assets.
Defined Contribution Plans
The Corporation maintains qualified and non-qualified defined contribution retirement plans. The Corporation recorded expense of $1.0 billion in each of 2018, 2017, and 2016 related to the qualified defined contribution plans. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, 212 million and 218 million shares of the Corporation’s
common stock were held by these plans. Payments to the plans for dividends on common stock were $115 million, $86 million and $60 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Certain non-U.S. employees are covered under defined contribution pension plans that are separately administered in accordance with local laws.