Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

7. Pension plans and other postretirement benefits

The Company provides defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefits (including health care and life insurance benefits) to qualified retired employees. Net periodic defined benefit cost for defined benefit plans consisted of the following:

	Pension benefits						Other postretirement benefits
	Three months ended June 30
	2013			2012			2013			2012
	(in thousands)
Service cost	$	6,130			6,875			171			159
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		14,939			15,418			670			919
Expected return on plan assets		(21,802	)		(17,581	)		—			—
Amortization of prior service cost		(1,628	)		(1,629	)		(329	)		10
Amortization of net actuarial loss		10,138			9,183			80			165
Net periodic benefit cost	$	7,777			12,266			592			1,253

	Pension benefits						Other postretirement benefits
	Six months ended June 30
	2013			2012			2013			2012
	(in thousands)
Service cost	$	12,180			14,775			371			334
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		30,065			31,018			1,345			1,869
Expected return on plan assets		(43,677	)		(35,256	)		—			—
Amortization of prior service cost		(3,278	)		(3,279	)		(679	)		10
Amortization of net actuarial loss		20,538			18,583			180			265
Net periodic benefit cost	$	15,828			25,841			1,217			2,478

Expense incurred in connection with the Company’s defined contribution pension and retirement savings plans totaled $12,563,000 and $11,390,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $28,318,000 and $26,015,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.