Retirement plans (Tables) - Retirement Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures

Our pension costs, which include costs for our qualified and non-qualified plans, are presented in the following table:

In thousands of dollars
	2016			2015			2014
Service cost—benefits earned during the period	$	816		$	920		$	812
Interest cost on benefit obligation	26,111			23,800			23,558
Expected return on plan assets	(26,764		)	(31,464		)	(28,697		)
Amortization of prior service costs	670			673			599
Amortization of actuarial loss	7,615			6,335			4,003
Total pension expense for company-sponsored retirement plans	$	8,448		$	264		$	275

Schedule of Changes in Projected Benefit Obligations

The following table provides a reconciliation of pension benefit obligations (on a projected benefit obligation measurement basis), plan assets and funded status of company-sponsored retirement plans, along with the related amounts that are recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In thousands of dollars
	Dec. 31, 2016			Dec. 31, 2015
Change in benefit obligations
Benefit obligations at beginning of year	$	586,624		$	566,224
Service cost	816			920
Interest cost	26,111			23,800
Actuarial loss (gain)	17,755			(12,514		)
Gross benefits paid	(38,532		)	(34,401		)
Adjustment due to spin-off of publishing businesses	13,639			42,595
Benefit obligations at end of year	$	606,413		$	586,624
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	400,193		$	387,626
Actual return on plan assets	21,316			(725		)
Employer contributions	5,191			12,008
Gross benefits paid	(38,532		)	(34,401		)
Transfers	—			35,685
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	388,168		$	400,193
Funded status at end of year	$	(218,245	)	$	(186,431	)
Amounts recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets
Accrued benefit cost—current	$	(30,955	)	$	(7,587	)
Accrued benefit cost—noncurrent	$	(187,290	)	$	(178,844	)

Schedule of Net Funded Status

The funded status (on a projected benefit obligation basis)

of our principal retirement plans at December 31, 2016, is as follows:

In thousands of dollars
	Fair Value of Plan Assets		Benefit Obligation		Funded Status
TRP	$	388,168	$	502,922	$	(114,754	)
SERP (a)	—		102,856		(102,856		)
All other	—		635		(635		)
Total	$	388,168	$	606,413	$	(218,245	)

(a) The SERP is an unfunded, unsecured liability

Schedule of Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets

The following table presents information for our retirement plans for which accumulated benefits exceed assets:

In thousands of dollars
	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	601,430	$	576,333
Fair value of plan assets	$	388,168	$	400,193

Schedule of Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets

The following table presents information for our retirement plans for which projected benefit obligations exceed assets:

In thousands of dollars
	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Projected benefit obligation	$	606,413	$	586,624
Fair value of plan assets	$	388,168	$	400,193

Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Not yet Recognized

The following table summarizes the amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) that have not yet been recognized as a component of pension expense as of the dates presented (pre-tax):

In thousands of dollars
	Dec. 31, 2016			Dec. 31, 2015
Net actuarial losses	$	(204,761	)	$	(184,808	)
Prior service cost	(2,717		)	(3,367		)
Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(207,478	)	$	(188,175	)

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) consist of the following for continuing operations only:

In thousands of dollars
	2016
Current year actuarial loss	$	(23,203	)
Amortization of previously deferred actuarial loss	7,615
Amortization of previously deferred prior service costs	670
Adjustment due to spin-off of publishing businesses	(4,386		)
Total	$	(19,304	)

Schedule of Assumptions Used

Pension costs: The following assumptions were used to determine net pension costs:

	2016	2015	2014
Discount rate	4.46%	4.19%	4.84%
Expected return on plan assets	7.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Rate of compensation increase	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%

Schedule Of Assumptions Used In Calculating Pension Benefit Obligations Table

Benefit obligations and funded status: The following assumptions were used to determine the year-end benefit obligations:

	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Discount rate	4.12%	4.46%
Rate of compensation increase	3.00%	3.00%

Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets

The asset allocation for the TRP at the end of 2016 and 2015, and target allocations for 2017, by asset category, are presented in the table below: 

Target Allocation			Allocation of Plan Assets
	2017		2016		2015
Equity securities	60	%	59	%	58	%
Debt securities	25		34		35
Other	15		7		7
Total	100	%	100	%	100	%

Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments

We estimate we will make the following benefit payments (from either retirement plan assets or directly from our funds), which reflect expected future employee service, as appropriate:

In thousands of dollars
2017	$	62,588
2018	$	36,675
2019	$	38,514
2020	$	38,030
2021	$	38,272
2022-2026	$	196,925