Retirement benefits
Pension plans
We have various defined-benefit pension plans covering eligible current and former employees. Benefits under most plans are based on salary and years of service.
The components of net periodic pension cost for our pension plans were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | U.S. Plans | | Non-U.S. Plans | | Total | (In millions) | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Three months ended September 30, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Service cost | $ | — |
| | — |
| | 2.6 |
| | 2.6 |
| | 2.6 |
| | 2.6 |
| Interest cost on projected benefit obligation | 9.3 |
| | 9.0 |
| | 3.0 |
| | 2.9 |
| | 12.3 |
| | 11.9 |
| Return on assets – expected | (13.7 | ) | | (13.6 | ) | | (2.4 | ) | | (2.4 | ) | | (16.1 | ) | | (16.0 | ) | Amortization of losses | 6.4 |
| | 7.7 |
| | 1.2 |
| | 1.1 |
| | 7.6 |
| | 8.8 |
| Settlement loss | — |
| | — |
| | 0.4 |
| | 1.5 |
| | 0.4 |
| | 1.5 |
| Net periodic pension cost | $ | 2.0 |
| | 3.1 |
| | 4.8 |
| | 5.7 |
| | 6.8 |
| | 8.8 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Nine months ended September 30, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Service cost | $ | — |
| | — |
| | 8.1 |
| | 8.1 |
| | 8.1 |
| | 8.1 |
| Interest cost on projected benefit obligation | 27.8 |
| | 27.0 |
| | 9.5 |
| | 9.1 |
| | 37.3 |
| | 36.1 |
| Return on assets – expected | (41.0 | ) | | (40.9 | ) | | (7.2 | ) | | (7.2 | ) | | (48.2 | ) | | (48.1 | ) | Amortization of losses | 18.7 |
| | 23.2 |
| | 3.6 |
| | 3.6 |
| | 22.3 |
| | 26.8 |
| Amortization of prior service cost | — |
| | — |
| | 0.2 |
| | 0.2 |
| | 0.2 |
| | 0.2 |
| Settlement loss | — |
| | — |
| | 1.8 |
| | 4.9 |
| | 1.8 |
| | 4.9 |
| Net periodic pension cost | $ | 5.5 |
| | 9.3 |
| | 16.0 |
| | 18.7 |
| | 21.5 |
| | 28.0 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Included in: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| Continuing operations | $ | 5.5 |
| | 9.3 |
| | 16.0 |
| | 17.6 |
| | 21.5 |
| | 26.9 |
| Discontinued operations | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1.1 |
| | — |
| | 1.1 |
| Net periodic pension cost | $ | 5.5 |
| | 9.3 |
| | 16.0 |
| | 18.7 |
| | 21.5 |
| | 28.0 |
|
We did not make cash contributions to the primary U.S. pension plan in 2015 or the first nine months of 2016. Based on current assumptions, as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, we do not expect to make any additional contributions to the primary U.S. pension plan until 2020.
Retirement benefits other than pensions We provide retirement healthcare benefits for eligible current and former U.S., Canadian, and Brazilian employees. Retirement benefits related to our former U.S. coal operation include medical benefits provided by the Pittston Coal Group Companies Employee Benefit Plan for United Mine Workers of America Represented Employees (the “UMWA plans”) as well as costs related to Black Lung obligations.
The components of net periodic postretirement cost related to retirement benefits other than pensions were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UMWA Plans | | Black Lung and Other Plans | | Total | (In millions) | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Three months ended September 30, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligations | $ | 4.7 |
| | 4.2 |
| | 0.7 |
| | 0.7 |
| | 5.4 |
| | 4.9 |
| Return on assets – expected | (4.4 | ) | | (5.1 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (4.4 | ) | | (5.1 | ) | Amortization of losses | 4.7 |
| | 3.7 |
| | 0.6 |
| | 0.8 |
| | 5.3 |
| | 4.5 |
| Amortization of prior service (credit) cost | (1.2 | ) | | (1.1 | ) | | 0.4 |
| | 0.5 |
| | (0.8 | ) | | (0.6 | ) | Net periodic postretirement cost | $ | 3.8 |
| | 1.7 |
| | 1.7 |
| | 2.0 |
| | 5.5 |
| | 3.7 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Nine months ended September 30, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Service cost | $ | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 0.1 |
| | — |
| | 0.1 |
| Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligations | 14.1 |
| | 12.9 |
| | 2.0 |
| | 2.1 |
| | 16.1 |
| | 15.0 |
| Return on assets – expected | (13.1 | ) | | (15.4 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (13.1 | ) | | (15.4 | ) | Amortization of losses | 13.5 |
| | 11.7 |
| | 1.8 |
| | 2.3 |
| | 15.3 |
| | 14.0 |
| Amortization of prior service (credit) cost | (3.5 | ) | | (3.4 | ) | | 1.3 |
| | 1.4 |
| | (2.2 | ) | | (2.0 | ) | Net periodic postretirement cost | $ | 11.0 |
| | 5.8 |
| | 5.1 |
| | 5.9 |
| | 16.1 |
| | 11.7 |
|
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