PENSION AND POST RETIREMENT PLANS

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

PENSION AND POST RETIREMENT PLANS

PENSION AND POST RETIREMENT PLANS

NOTE 7.  PENSION AND POST RETIREMENT PLANS

A summary of the components of net periodic pension costs for our consolidated Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 is presented below.

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
	(in thousands)				(in thousands)
Service cost	$	404	$	318	$	781	$	652
Interest cost	2,157		2,105		4,271		4,244
Expected return on plan assets	(2,538)		(2,313)		(5,017)		(4,663)
Amortization of prior service cost	(20)		(29)		(37)		(59)
Amortization of transition asset	(72)		(51)		(139)		(105)
Amortization of loss	455		205		884		420
Net periodic benefit cost	$	386	$	235	$	743	$	489

A summary of the components of net postretirement benefits costs for our consolidated Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 is presented below.

	Post Retirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
	(in thousands)				(in thousands)
Service cost	$	4	$	4	$	9	$	8
Interest cost	35		39		69		78
Amortization of prior service cost	(88)		(93)		(176)		(185)
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost	$	(49)	$	(50)	$	(98)	$	(99)

The expected contributions to be paid during the year ending December 31, 2011 to the domestic defined benefit plans are $1.9 million.  Contributions to the domestic plans were $1.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, during the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010.  The Company also provides defined benefit pension plans for some of its foreign subsidiaries.  The expected contributions to be paid during the year ending December 31, 2011 to the foreign defined benefit plans are $2.3 million.  For each of the Company’s foreign plans, contributions are made on a monthly or quarterly basis and are determined by applicable governmental regulations.  Contributions to the foreign plans were $1.2 million and $1.0 million, respectively, during the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010. Each of the foreign plans requires employee and employer contributions, except for Taiwan, to which only employer contributions are made.