Pensions and Other Post-retirement Benefits

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Pensions and Other Post-retirement Benefits

Pensions and Other Post-retirement Benefits

12.Pensions and Other Post-retirement Benefits

The following provides information at March 31, 2016 and 2015 related to the Company-sponsored domestic defined benefit pension plan:

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
	(in thousands)						(in thousands)
Interest cost	$	1,115		$	1,171		$	2,231		$	2,342
Expected return on plan assets	(1,490		)	(1,743		)	(2,980		)	(3,486		)
Recognized net actuarial loss	493			309			986			618
Settlement	1,454			—			1,454			—
Net pension expense (benefit)	$	1,572		$	(263	)	$	1,691		$	(526	)

We record settlement expense when benefit payments exceed the total annual service and interest costs.

Employer Contributions

We did not contribute to the Pension Plan during the six months ended March 31, 2016.  We could make contributions for the remainder of fiscal 2016 to fund distributions in lieu of liquidating assets.