PENSION BENEFIT PLANS

The following table presents the components of pension expense and components of other post-retirement benefit (income) expense for the HNH pension plans included the following:



	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2014			2013			2014			2013
Interest cost	$	4,928		$	4,639		$	15,504		$	13,954
Expected return on plan assets	(6,033		)	(5,976		)	(18,167		)	(17,988		)
Amortization of actuarial loss	255			1,196			1,417			3,863
Total	$	(850	)	$	(141	)	$	(1,246	)	$	(171	)

HNH expects to have required minimum contributions to the WHX Pension Plan of $2,900 for the remainder of 2014, $15,600, $10,400, $9,400, $9,800 and $47,500 in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and for the five years thereafter, respectively. Required future contributions are estimated based upon assumptions regarding such matters as discount rates on future obligations, assumed rates of return on plan assets and legislative changes. Pension costs and required funding obligations will be affected by changes in the factors and assumptions described in the previous sentence, as well as other changes such as any plan termination.

In addition to its pension plans, which are included in the table above, HNH also maintains several other post-retirement benefit plans covering certain of its employees and retirees. The approximate aggregate expense for these plans was $500 and $400 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $1,500 and $1,400 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.