Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans

As of March 31, 2015, the Company maintains a defined benefit pension plan that covers certain domestic Lydall employees (“domestic pension plan”) that is closed to new employees and benefits are no longer accruing. The domestic pension plan is noncontributory and benefits are based on either years of service or eligible compensation paid while a participant is in the plan. The Company’s funding policy is to fund not less than the ERISA minimum funding standard and not more than the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes.

The Company expects to contribute approximately $5.9 million in cash to its domestic pension plan in 2015. There were no contributions made during the first quarter of 2015. Contributions of $3.0 million were made during the first quarter of 2014.

The following is a summary of the components of net periodic benefit cost, which is recorded primarily within selling, product development and administrative expenses, for the domestic pension plan for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:

	Quarter Ended   March 31,
In thousands	2015			2014
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Interest cost	$	516		$	666
Expected return on assets	(590		)	(794		)
Amortization of actuarial loss	225			180
Net periodic benefit cost	$	151		$	52