Retirement plans and postretirement benefits other than pension

3 Months Ended

Mar. 25, 2012

Pension Plans, Defined Benefit

Retirement plans and postretirement benefits other than pension

NOTE 6 – Retirement plans

The Company and its subsidiaries have various retirement plans, including plans established under collective bargaining agreements. The Gannett Retirement Plan is the Company’s principal retirement plan. The Company’s pension costs, which include costs for qualified and nonqualified plans, are presented in the following table:

(in thousands of dollars)

	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	Mar. 25, 2012			Mar. 27, 2011
Service cost-benefits earned during the period	$	2,032		$	2,105
Interest cost on benefit obligation		39,654			42,872
Expected return on plan assets		(47,649	)		(53,099	)
Amortization of prior service cost		1,928			1,875
Amortization of actuarial loss		13,505			9,281
Pension expense for Company-sponsored retirement plans	$	9,470		$	3,034

In the first quarter and mid-April of 2012, the Company made contributions to the Gannett Retirement Plan of $54 million and $22 million, respectively.

Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit

Retirement plans and postretirement benefits other than pension

NOTE 7 – Postretirement benefits other than pension

The Company provides health care and life insurance benefits to certain retired employees who meet age and service requirements. Most of the Company’s retirees contribute to the cost of these benefits and retiree contributions are increased as actual benefit costs increase. The Company’s policy is to fund benefits as claims and premiums are paid. Postretirement benefit costs for health care and life insurance are presented in the following table:

(in thousands of dollars)

	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	Mar. 25, 2012			Mar. 27, 2011
Service cost-benefits earned during the period	$	175		$	175
Interest cost on net benefit obligation		2,050			2,375
Amortization of prior service credit		(4,800	)		(4,875	)
Amortization of actuarial loss		650			1,200
Net periodic postretirement benefit credit	$	(1,925	)	$	(1,125	)