10. PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSION PLANS:

Net periodic pension expense reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations included the following components for the respective periods (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Interest cost	$	891		$	966		$	2,706		$	2,896
Expected return on plan assets		(1,051	)		(1,021	)		(3,098	)		(3,061	)
Amortization of net actuarial loss		282			307			861			921
Net settlement loss		1,218			1,567			1,218			1,567

Total net periodic pension expense	$	1,340		$	1,819		$	1,687		$	2,323

As a result of increased lump-sum distributions from the Company’s qualified retirement plan during 2017 and 2016, net settlement losses of $1.2 million and $1.6 million were recognized in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. These net settlement losses have been classified as corporate operating expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

In addition, the increase in lump-sum distributions required the Company to re-measure its liability under its pension plan as of September 30, 2017. As a result of the re-measurement, partially offset by a decrease in the pension plan’s assumed discount rate from 3.7% at December 31, 2016 to 3.3% at September 30, 2017, the Company recorded a $0.3 million decrease in its liability under the pension plan and a corresponding decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2017.

Net postretirement benefit income reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations included the following components for the respective periods (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Interest cost	$	27		$	30		$	81		$	90
Amortization of net actuarial loss		61			60			184			181
Amortization of prior service credit		(328	)		(328	)		(985	)		(985	)

Total net postretirement benefit income	$	(240	)	$	(238	)	$	(720	)	$	(714	)