Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

v2.4.0.6
Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense [Abstract]  
Schedule of Net Benefit Costs
The net periodic benefit (income) cost of Merrill Lynch's plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 included the following components:

(dollars in millions)
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
 
U.S. Defined
Benefit
Pension Plans
Non-U.S. Defined
Benefit
Pension Plans
Postretirement
Plans(1)
 
U.S. Defined
Benefit
Pension Plans
Non-U.S. Defined
Benefit
Pension Plans
Postretirement
Plans(1)
Service cost
$
—

$
10

$
1

 
$
—

$
29

$
3

Interest cost
22

21

3

 
67

62

11

Expected return on plan assets
(38
)
(33
)
—

 
(114
)
(95
)
—

Amortization of prior service cost
—

—

2

 
—

—

4

Amortization of net actuarial losses (gains)
1

(2
)
(1
)
 
2

(6
)
3

Net periodic benefit (income) cost
$
(15
)
$
(4
)
$
5

 
$
(45
)
$
(10
)
$
21

(1)
Approximately 96% of the postretirement benefit obligation at September 30, 2012 relates to the U.S. postretirement plan.
(dollars in millions)
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2011
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011
 
U.S. Defined
Benefit
Pension Plans
Non-U.S. Defined
Benefit
Pension Plans
Postretirement
Plans(1)
 
U.S. Defined
Benefit
Pension Plans
Non-U.S. Defined
Benefit
Pension Plans
Postretirement
Plans(1)
Service cost
$
—

$
11

$
1

 
$
—

$
31

$
3

Interest cost
24

23

4

 
72

63

11

Expected return on plan assets
(35
)
(28
)
—

 
(106
)
(78
)
—

Amortization of prior service cost
—

—

1

 
—

—

3

Amortization of net actuarial losses
1

—

1

 
4

—

3

Net periodic benefit (income)cost
$
(10
)
$
6

$
7

 
$
(30
)
$
16

$
20

(1)
Approximately 95% of the postretirement benefit obligation at September 30, 2011 relates to the U.S. postretirement plan.