PENSION AND POST RETIREMENT PLANS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

PENSION AND POST RETIREMENT PLANS

PENSION AND POST RETIREMENT PLANS

NOTE 8.  PENSION AND POST RETIREMENT PLANS

The following tables summarize the components of net periodic pension and postretirement costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
	(in thousands)
Service cost	$	422	$	466	$	1,203	$	1,118
Interest cost	2,182		2,025		6,453		6,269
Expected return on plan assets	(2,575)		(2,363)		(7,592)		(7,026)
Amortization of prior service cost	(20)		(30)		(57)		(89)
Amortization of transition asset	(76)		(56)		(215)		(161)
Amortization of loss	472		218		1,356		638
	$	405	$	260	$	1,148	$	749

	Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
	(in thousands)
Service cost	$	5	$	5	$	14	$	13
Interest cost	34		39		103		117
Amortization of prior service cost	(89)		(93)		(265)		(278)
	$	(50)	$	(49)	$	(148)	$	(148)

The expected contributions to be paid during the year ending December 31, 2011 to the domestic defined benefit plans are $2.1 million. Contributions to the domestic plans were $1.7 million and $0.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. 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 $2.4 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 $1.8 million and $1.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Each of the foreign plans requires employee and employer contributions, except for Taiwan, to which only employer contributions are made.