Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

6 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Abstract]

Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

NOTE 10.   PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has several defined benefit pension plans covering U.S. salaried employees and certain foreign and other employee groups.  These plans provide retirement benefits based primarily on employee compensation and years of service.  The Company also provides postretirement health and life insurance benefits for eligible U.S. employees attaining specific age and service levels.

The components of the Company's net periodic benefit cost were as follows:

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended						Three Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
(in thousands of dollars)	2011			2010			2011			2010
Service cost	$	1,274		$	1,242		$	189		$	204
Interest cost		3,386			3,556			578			625
Expected return on plan assets		(3,646	)		(3,703	)		(34	)		(36	)
Net amortization and deferral		1,335			997			(59	)		(78	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	2,349		$	2,092		$	674		$	715

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	Six Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
(in thousands of dollars)	2011			2010			2011			2010
Service cost	$	2,564		$	2,482		$	378		$	408
Interest cost		6,837			7,103			1,156			1,249
Expected return on plan assets		(7,355	)		(7,399	)		(68	)		(72	)
Net amortization and deferral		2,677			1,993			(117	)		(156	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	4,723		$	4,179		$	1,349		$	1,429

During the six months ended September 30, 2011, the Company made contributions of approximately $4.7 million to its qualified and non-qualified pension plans.  Additional contributions of approximately $4.6 million are expected during the remaining six months of fiscal year 2012.