PENSION AND POST RETIREMENT PLANS

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

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 benefit costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 is presented below.

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands)						(in thousands)
Service cost	$	310		$	404		$	627		$	781
Interest cost	2,037			2,157			4,085			4,271
Expected return on plan assets	(2,371		)	(2,538		)	(4,756		)	(5,017		)
Amortization of prior service cost	(13		)	(20		)	(27		)	(37		)
Amortization of transition asset	(67		)	(72		)	(135		)	(139		)
Amortization of loss	602			455			1,213			884
Net periodic benefit cost	$	498		$	386		$	1,007		$	743

A summary of the components of net postretirement benefits costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 is presented below.

	Post Retirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands)						(in thousands)
Service cost	$	4		$	4		$	8		$	9
Interest cost	28			35			56			69
Amortization of prior service cost	(88		)	(88		)	(176		)	(176		)
Amortization of loss	(2		)	—			(4		)	—
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost	$	(58	)	$	(49	)	$	(116	)	$	(98	)

The Company provides defined benefit plans to eligible domestic and foreign employees. Contributions to the domestic plans for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 were $4.8 million and $1.1 million, respectively. Contributions to the foreign plans for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 were $1.2 million and $1.2 million, respectively. The expected contributions to be paid during the year ending December 31, 2012 to the domestic and foreign defined benefit plans are $6.0 million and $2.2 million, respectively.