PENSION BENEFITS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Pension Disclosure Paragraph Details [Abstract]

Pension Benefits

Note13. Pension Benefits

Net periodic pension benefit costs for our significant defined benefit plans include the following components:

		Three Months Ended
		U.S. Plans				Non-U.S. Plans
		March 31,				March 31,
		2018		2017		2018		2017
Service cost	$	35	$	43	$	7	$	9
Interest cost		143		147		37		35
Expected return on plan assets		(357)		(315)		(115)		(99)
Amortization of prior service (credit)		(11)		(11)		-		-
	$	(190)	$	(136)	$	(71)	$	(55)

In the first quarter of 2018, the asset mix of our U.S. Qualified Pension Plan (the “Plan”) was changed. Fixed income assets were increased to approximately 50% of the Plan’s total assets and matched with the liability profile of the Plan. The Plan’s remaining assets are comprised of return-seeking assets including, equity securities, private equity investments and real estate investments.We review our asset allocations on a regular basis in order to achieve our long-term investment objectives on a risk adjusted basis.