Note 11 - Pensions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2013

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

11. Pensions

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the three and nine and months ended September 28, 2013, compared with the three and nine months ended September 29, 2012, were (in thousands):

	U.S. Pension Benefits												Foreign Plans
	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	Sept. 28, 2013			Sept. 29, 2012			Sept. 28, 2013			Sept. 29, 2012			Sept. 28, 2013			Sept. 29, 2012			Sept. 28, 2013			Sept. 29, 2012
Service cost	$	150		$	150		$	450		$	450		$	290		$	192		$	813		$	575
Interest cost		891			1,240			2,674			3,721			532			195			1,014			586
Expected return on plan assets		(1,340	)		(1,655	)		(4,020	)		(4,965	)		(446	)		(120	)		(717	)		(362	)
Amortization of net loss		235			85			706			254			39			17			116			51
Total cost (credit) of the plan		(64	)		(180	)		(190	)		(540	)		415			284			1,226			850
Expected plan participants’ contribution		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$	(64	)	$	(180	)	$	(190	)	$	(540	)	$	415		$	284		$	1,226		$	850

The expected rate of return assumption on domestic pension assets is approximately 6.8% and 7.8% in 2013 and 2012, respectively. The expected return on foreign pension assets is approximately 4.9% and 4.5% in 2013 and 2012, respectively.