Employee Benefits

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Employee Benefits [Abstract]

Employee Benefits

Note 9. Employee Benefits:

Pension and other defined contribution retirement plan expenses included the following components:

U.S. Plans	Three Months Ended March 31,
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)	2012			2011
Service cost for benefits earned	$	938		$	864
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		6,002			6,007
Expected return on plan assets		(6,041	)		(6,269	)
Net amortization and deferrals		4,913			2,822
Net periodic benefit cost		5,812			3,424
Defined contribution and other retirement plans		1,889			1,890
Total expense	$	7,701		$	5,314
Non-U.S. Plans	Three Months Ended March 31,
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)	2012			2011
Service cost for benefits earned	$	3,194		$	2,612
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		7,822			8,522
Expected return on plan assets		(11,488	)		(11,345	)
Net amortization and deferrals		1,614			1,352
Loss due to settlements and special terminations		456			-
Net periodic benefit cost		1,598			1,141
Defined contribution and other retirement plans		1,251			1,403
Total expense	$	2,849		$	2,544

The Company expects to contribute $15 - $20 million to its qualified U.S. pension plans and approximately $17 - $20 million to its non-U.S. pension plans during 2012. In the three months ended March 31, 2012, no contributions were made to the qualified U.S. pension plan. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, $3.7 million of contributions were made to the non-U.S. plans. In the three months ended March 31, 2012, $1.0 million of benefit payments were made with respect to the Company's non-qualified U.S. pension plan.

Expense recognized for postretirement benefits other than pensions included the following components:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)	2012			2011
Service cost for benefits earned	$	341		$	258
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		1,447			1,454
Net amortization and deferrals		(361	)		(672	)
Total postretirement benefit expense	$	1,427		$	1,040

The Company expects to contribute approximately $6.0 million to its postretirement benefits other than pension plans during 2012. In the three months ended March 31, 2012, $1.3 million of contributions were made.