Defined Benefit Plan

Maxwell SA, a subsidiary of the Company, has a retirement plan that is classified as a defined benefit pension plan. The employee pension benefit is based on compensation, length of service and credited investment earnings. The plan guarantees both a minimum rate of return as well as minimum annuity purchase rates. The Company’s funding policy with respect to the pension plan is to contribute the amount required by Swiss law, using the required percentage applied to the employee’s compensation. In addition, participating employees are required to contribute to the pension plan. This plan has a measurement date of December 31.

Components of net periodic pension cost are as follows (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2013			2012			2013			2012
Service cost	$	207		$	164		$	618		$	502
Interest cost	125			159			374			487
Expected return on plan assets	(383		)	(342		)	(1,145		)	(1,048		)
Prior service cost amortization	11			11			33			32
Deferred loss amortization	45			53			135			162
Net periodic pension cost	$	5		$	45		$	15		$	135

Employer contributions of $178,000 and $173,000 were paid during the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Employer contributions of $539,000 and $544,000 were paid during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Additional employer contributions of approximately $128,000 are expected to be paid during the remainder of fiscal 2013.