RETIREMENT PLANS:

Employees of the Corporation are covered by a retirement program that consists of a defined benefit plan and an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Plan assets consist primarily of the Corporation's stock and obligations of U.S. Government agencies. Benefits under the defined benefit plan are actuarially determined based on an employee's service and compensation, as defined, and funded as necessary. This plan was frozen for the majority of employees as of December 31, 2012.Those employees will be eligible to participate in a 401K plan that the Corporation can contribute a discretionary match of the pay contributed by the employee. In addition the ESOP plan will continue in place for all employees.

Assets in the ESOP are considered in calculating the funding to the defined benefit plan required to provide such benefits. Any shortfall of benefits under the ESOP are to be provided by the defined benefit plan. The ESOP may provide benefits beyond those determined under the defined benefit plan. Contributions to the ESOP are determined by the Corporation's Board of Directors. The Corporation made contributions to the defined benefit plan of $1.84 million, $3.24 million and $2.11 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013. The Corporation contributed $1.29 million, $1.25 million and $1.22 million to the ESOP in 2015, 2014 and 2013. There were contributions of $746 thousand, $716 thousand and $629 thousand to the ESOP for employees no longer participating in the defined benefit plan in 2015, 2014 and 2013 respectively.

The Corporation uses a measurement date of December 31.

Net periodic benefit cost and other amounts recognized in other comprehensive income included the following components:



(Dollar amounts in thousands)	2015			2014			2013
Service cost - benefits earned	$	2,153		$	2,040		$	2,238
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	3,516			3,756			3,383
Loss due to settlement	—			2,676			—
Expected return on plan assets	(3,452		)	(3,794		)	(3,309		)
Net amortization and deferral	2,065			750			2,075
Net periodic pension cost	4,282			5,428			4,387
Net loss (gain) during the period	(1,894		)	23,111			(14,697		)
Adjustment to loss due to settlement	—			(2,676		)	—
Settlement	—			(7,148		)	—
Amortization of prior service cost	(1		)	9			16
Amortization of unrecognized gain (loss)	(2,064		)	(759		)	(2,091		)
Total recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss	(3,959		)	12,537			(16,772		)
Total recognized net periodic pension cost and other comprehensive income	$	323		$	17,965		$	(12,385	)

The estimated net loss and prior service costs (credits) for the defined benefit pension plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year are $1.9 million and $1 thousand.

The information below sets forth the change in projected benefit obligation, reconciliation of plan assets, and the funded status of the Corporation's retirement program. Actuarial present value of benefits is based on service to date and present pay levels.



(Dollar amounts in thousands)	2015			2014
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at January 1	$	98,135		$	81,469
Service cost	2,153			2,040
Interest cost	3,516			3,756
Actuarial (gain) loss	(8,802		)	22,274
Settlement	—			(7,148		)
Benefits paid	(4,147		)	(4,256		)
Benefit obligation at December 31	90,855			98,135
Reconciliation of fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at January 1	62,565			67,233
Actual return on plan assets	(205		)	2,957
Employer contributions	2,389			3,779
Settlement	—			(7,148		)
Benefits paid	(4,147		)	(4,256		)
Fair value of plan assets at December 31	60,602			62,565
Funded status at December 31 (plan assets less benefit obligation)	$	(30,253	)	$	(35,570	)

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31, 2015 and 2014 consist of:



(Dollar amounts in thousands)	2015		2014
Net loss (gain)	$	33,502	$	29,544
Prior service cost (credit)	6		5
	$	33,508	$	29,549

The accumulated benefit obligation for the defined benefit pension plan was $85.1 million and $91.5 million at year-end

2015 and 2014.



Principal assumptions used to determine pension benefit obligation at year end:	2015		2014
Discount rate	4.34	%	3.95	%
Rate of increase in compensation levels	3.00		3.00



Principal assumptions used to determine net periodic pension cost:	2015		2014
Discount rate	3.95	%	4.95	%
Rate of increase in compensation levels	3.00		3.50
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	6.00		6.00

The expected long-term rate of return was estimated using market benchmarks for equities and bonds applied to the plan's target asset allocation. Management estimated the rate by which plan assets would perform based on historical experience as adjusted for changes in asset allocations and expectations for future return on equities as compared to past periods.

Plan Assets — The Corporation's pension plan weighted-average asset allocation for the years 2015 and 2014 by asset category are as follows:



	Pension Plan Target Allocation	ESOP Target Allocation	Pension Pecentage of Plan Assets at December 31,				ESOP Pecentage of Plan Assets at December 31,
ASSET CATEGORY	2015	2015	2015		2014		2015		2014
Equity securities	40-65%	95-99%	63	%	59	%	100	%	99	%
Debt securities	35-60%	0-0%	35	%	38	%	—	%	—	%
Other	0-10%	0-5%	2	%	3	%	—	%	1	%
TOTAL			100	%	100	%	100	%	100	%

Fair Value of Plan Assets — Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. It also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

The Corporation used the following methods and significant assumptions to estimate the fair value of each type of financial instrument:

Equity, Debt, Investment Funds and Other Securities — The fair values for investment securities are determined by quoted market prices, if available (Level 1). For securities where quoted prices are not available, fair values are calculated based on market prices of similar securities (Level 2). For securities where quoted prices or market prices of similar securities are not available, fair values are calculated using discounted cash flows or other market indicators (Level 3).

The fair value of the plan assets at December 31, 2015 and 2014, by asset category, is as follows:



			Fair Value Measurments at December 31, 2015 Using:
			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Observable Inputs
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Plan assets
Equity securities	$	44,052	$	44,052	$	—	$	—
Debt securities	14,264		—		14,264		—
Investment Funds	2,286		2,286		—		—
Total plan assets	$	60,602	$	46,338	$	14,264	$	—



			Fair Value Measurments at December 31, 2014 Using:
			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Observable Inputs
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Plan assets
Equity securities	$	44,732	$	44,732	$	—	$	—
Debt securities	15,245		—		15,245		—
Investment Funds	2,588		2,588		—		—
Total plan assets	$	62,565	$	47,320	$	15,245	$	—

The investment objective for the retirement program is to maximize total return without exposure to undue risk. Asset allocation favors equities. This target includes the Corporation's ESOP, which is fully invested in corporate stock. Other investment allocations include fixed income securities and cash.

The plan is prohibited from investing in the following: private placement equity and debt transactions; letter stock and uncovered options; short-sale margin transactions and other specialized investment activity; and fixed income or interest rate futures. All other investments not prohibited by the plan are permitted.

Equity securities in the defined benefit plan include First Financial Corporation common stock in the amount of $20.4 million (34 percent of total plan assets) and $22.5 million (36 percent of total plan assets) at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. In addition the ESOP for non plan participants holds an estimated $2.1 million and $1.4 million of First Financial Corporation stock at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 respectively. Other equity securities are predominantly stocks in large cap U.S. companies.

Contributions — The Corporation expects to contribute $2.7 million to its pension plan and $1.1 million to its ESOP in 2016.

Estimated Future Payments — The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are expected:



PENSION BENEFITS
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
2016	$	4,752
2017	4,879
2018	5,000
2019	5,281
2020	5,428
2021-2025	30,078

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan — The Corporation has established a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) for certain executive officers. The provisions of the SERP allow the Plan's participants who are also participants in the Corporation's defined benefit pension plan to receive supplemental retirement benefits to help recompense for benefits lost due to the imposition of IRS limitations on benefits under the Corporation's tax qualified defined benefit pension plan. Expenses related to the plan were $437 thousand in 2015 and $268 thousand in 2014. The plan is unfunded and has a measurement date of December 31. The amounts recognized in other comprehensive income in the current year are as follows:



(Dollar amounts in thousands)	2015			2014			2013
Net loss (gain) during the period	$	(255	)	$	932		$	(333	)
Amortization of prior service cost	—			—			—
Amortization of unrecognized gain (loss)	(88		)	(7		)	(68		)
Total recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss	$	(343	)	$	925		$	(401	)

The Corporation has $3.7 million and $3.6 million recognized in the balance sheet as a liability at December 31, 2015 and 2014. Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of $900 thousand net loss at December 31, 2015 and $1.2 million net loss at December 31, 2014. The estimated loss for the SERP that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year is $57 thousand.

Estimated Future Payments — The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are expected:



(Dollar amounts on thousands)
2016	$	—
2017	315
2018	320
2019	325
2020	331
2021-2025	1,762

Post-retirement medical benefits —

The Corporation also provides medical benefits to certain employees subsequent to their retirement. The Corporation uses a measurement date of December 31. Accrued post-retirement benefits as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:



	December 31,
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	2015			2014
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at January 1	$	4,559		$	4,088
Service cost	63			53
Interest cost	173			175
Plan participants' contributions	57			39
Actuarial (gain) loss	(200		)	456
Benefits paid	(269		)	(252		)
Benefit obligation at December 31	$	4,383		$	4,559
Funded status at December 31	$	4,383		$	4,559

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of a net loss of $318 thousand at December 31, 2015 and $521 thousand net loss at December 31, 2014. The post-retirement benefits paid in 2015 and 2014 of $269 thousand and $252 thousand, respectively, were fully funded by company and participant contributions.

There is no estimated transition obligation for the post-retirement benefit plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year.

Weighted average assumptions at December 31:



	December 31,
	2015		2014
Discount rate	4.34	%	3.95	%
Initial weighted health care cost trend rate	5.00	%	7.50	%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	5.00		5.00
Year that the rate is assumed to stabilize and remain unchanged	2015		2015

Post-retirement health benefit expense included the following components:



	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	2015			2014		2013
Service cost	$	63		$	53	$	68
Interest cost	173			175		173
Amortization of transition obligation	—			—		60
Recognized actuarial loss	—			—		—
Net periodic benefit cost	236			228		301
Net loss (gain) during the period	(200		)	456		(338		)
Amortization of prior service cost	—			—		(59		)
Total recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)	(200		)	456		(397		)
Total recognized net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	36		$	684	$	(96	)

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the health care plans. A one-percentage-point change in the assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:



	1% Point		1% Point
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	Increase		Decrease
Effect on total of service and interest cost components	$	2	$	1
Effect on post-retirement benefit obligation	37		34

Contributions — The Corporation expects to contribute $262 thousand to its other post-retirement benefit plan in 2016.

Estimated Future Payments — The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are expected:



(Dollar amounts in thousands)
2016	$	262
2017	268
2018	267
2019	269
2020	275
2021-2025	1,387

The Corporation's post retirement benefit plans described above were all impacted by the introduction of new mortality tables that were introduced in 2014. Each plan experienced an increase in benefit obligation during 2014 of which approximately $8.5 million is attributable to the adoption of these new tables.