Table of Contents Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued) Becton, Dickinson and Company The change in benefit obligation, change in fair value of pension plan assets, funded status and amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for these plans were as follows: International pension plan assets at fair value included in the preceding table were $859 million and $821 million at September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The international pension plan projected benefit obligations were $1.244 billion and $1.064 billion at September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  78 Pension Plans (Millions of dollars) 2019 2018 Change in benefit obligation: Beginning obligation $ 3,246 $ 2,647 Service cost 134 136 Interest cost 107 90 Plan amendments 3 — Benefits paid (153) (162) Impact of (divestitures) acquisitions (9 ) 758 Actuarial loss (gain) 514 (82) Settlements (63 ) (122 ) Other, includes translation (49) (19) Benefit obligation at September 30 $ 3,731 $ 3,246 Change in fair value of plan assets: Beginning fair value $ 2,642 $ 1,932 Actual return on plan assets 279 70 Employer contribution 258 400 Benefits paid (153) (162) Impact of (divestitures) acquisitions (7 ) 539 Settlements (63) (122) Other, includes translation (30 ) (15 ) Plan assets at September 30 $ 2,926 $ 2,642 Funded Status at September 30: Unfunded benefit obligation $ (804) $ (604) Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30: Other $ 11 $ 15 Salaries, wages and related items (22 ) (15 ) Long-term Employee Benefit Obligations (793) (604) Net amount recognized $ (804 ) $ (604 ) Amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes at September 30: Prior service credit $ 44 $ 60 Net actuarial loss (1,289) (982) Net amount recognized $ (1,246 ) $ (921 )