Pensions and other postretirement benefit plans

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2021

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pensions and other postretirement benefit plans

NOTE 8 — Pensions and other postretirement benefit plans

We, along with our subsidiaries, sponsor various defined benefit retirement plans, including plans established under collective bargaining agreements. Our retirement plans include the Gannett Retirement Plan (the "GR Plan"), the Newsquest and Romanes Pension Schemes in the U.K. (the "U.K. Pension Plans"), and other defined benefit and defined contribution plans. We also provide health care and life insurance benefits to certain retired employees who meet age and service requirements.

Retirement plan costs include the following components:

	Pension Benefits				Postretirement Benefits
	Three months ended June 30,				Three months ended June 30,
In thousands	2021		2020		2021		2020
Operating expenses:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$	469	$	704	$	13	$	19
Non-operating expenses:
Interest cost on benefit obligation	17,106		20,416		401		593
Expected return on plan assets	(41,408)		(38,551)		—		—
Amortization of actuarial loss (gain)	42		(27)		(47)		16
Total non-operating (benefit) expenses	$	(24,260)	$	(18,162)	$	354	$	609
Total expense (benefit) for retirement plans	$	(23,791)	$	(17,458)	$	367	$	628

	Pension Benefits				Postretirement Benefits
	Six months ended June 30,				Six months ended June 30,
In thousands	2021		2020		2021		2020
Operating expenses:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$	980	$	1,385	$	44	$	52
Non-operating expenses (Other income):
Interest cost on benefit obligation	34,137		41,133		902		1,160
Expected return on plan assets	(82,838)		(78,367)		—		—
Amortization of actuarial loss (gain)	77		(54)		(62)		29
Total non-operating (benefit) expenses	$	(48,624)	$	(37,288)	$	840	$	1,189
Total expense (benefit) for retirement plans	$	(47,644)	$	(35,903)	$	884	$	1,241

During the six months ended June 30, 2021, we contributed $27.8 million and $3.5 million to our pension and other postretirement plans, respectively, including $11 million in minimum required contributions for the GR Plan attributable to the 2019 plan year, as required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"), which were deferred until January 4, 2021. Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our GR Plan in the U.S. has deferred certain contractual contributions and negotiated a contribution payment plan of $5.0 million per quarter starting December 31, 2020 through the end of September 30, 2022.