Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Employee Benefit Plans

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Employee Benefit Plans
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense [Abstract]  
Employee Benefit Plans
Note 15.
Employee Benefit Plans

Merrill Lynch provides pension and other postretirement benefits to its employees worldwide through sponsorship of defined contribution pension, defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. These plans vary based on the country and local practices. Effective January 1, 2009, the Bank of America Corporation Corporate Benefits Committee assumed overall responsibility for the administration of all of Merrill Lynch's employee benefit plans. Merrill Lynch continues as the plan sponsor. Refer to Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the 2011 Annual Report for a complete discussion of employee benefit plans.
Defined Benefit Pension Plans

In 1988, Merrill Lynch purchased a group annuity contract that guarantees the payment of benefits vested under the terminated U.S. pension plan. Merrill Lynch, under a supplemental agreement, may be responsible for, or benefit from, actual experience and investment performance of the annuity assets. Merrill Lynch made no contribution under this agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. Additional contributions may be required in the future under this agreement.

The net periodic benefit (income) cost of Merrill Lynch's plans for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 included the following components:

(dollars in millions)
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 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
$
—

$
9

$
1

 
$
—

$
10

$
1

Interest cost
22

20

4

 
25

21

4

Expected return on plan assets
(38
)
(30
)
—

 
(35
)
(25
)
—

Amortization of prior service cost (gains) losses
—

—

1

 
—

—

2

Amortization of net actuarial (gains) losses
1

(2
)
2

 
2

—

2

Net periodic benefit (income)cost
$
(15
)
$
(3
)
$
8

 
$
(8
)
$
6

$
9

(1)
Approximately 96% and 97% of the postretirement benefit obligation at March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 relates to the U.S. postretirement plan.

For the full year 2012, Merrill Lynch expects to contribute approximately $1 million to its nonqualified pension plans, $84 million to its non-U.S. pension plans, and $20 million to its postretirement health and life plans. Through the first quarter of 2012, Merrill Lynch has contributed $60 million to the non-U.S. pension plans and $5 million to its postretirement health and life plans.