22.

Pension Plan

We operate a combined scheme which is comprised of a defined benefit section and a defined contribution section. The defined benefit section is closed to future accruals for services rendered to the Company. We estimate that $3.2 million will be contributed to the pension plan during the year ending September 30, 2017.

The total amount of employer contributions paid during the period ended December 31, 2016 amounted to $0.8 million. We expect to pay $2.4 million during the remaining part of the fiscal period.

For the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the components of total periodic benefit costs were as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	December 31,
	2016		2015
Components of net periodic benefit (benefit) cost:
Service cost	$	-	$	-
Interest cost		815		1,001
Expected return on plan assets		(761)		(935)
Net periodic (benefit) cost	$	54	$	66