Note 9 – Employee Benefits

The Company sponsors several qualified and nonqualified pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans for certain of its employees. The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in the plans' benefit obligations and the fair value of the plans' assets for 2011 and 2010, and a statement of the plans' aggregate funded status as of December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010 as follows:

	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
(In thousands)	2011			2010			2011			2010
Change in benefit obligation:
Obligation at beginning of year	$	174,464		$	164,644		$	21,083		$	21,381
Service cost		1,394			823			344			275
Interest cost		9,051			9,374			993			1,334
Actuarial loss (gain)		6,077			12,417			(1,369	)		(697	)
Benefit payments		(10,942	)		(10,636	)		(937	)		(1,100	)
Effect of curtailments and settlements		-			-			-			(167	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		297			(2,158	)		(169	)		57

Obligation at end of year		180,341			174,464			19,945			21,083

Change in fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		156,215			147,703			-			-
Actual return on plan assets		(1,306	)		17,585			-			-
Employer contributions		3,094			3,042			937			1,100
Benefit payments		(10,942	)		(10,636	)		(937	)		(1,100	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		441			(1,479	)		-			-

Fair value of plan assets at end of year		147,502			156,215			-			-

Underfunded status at end of year	$	(32,839	)	$	(18,249	)	$	(19,945	)	$	(21,083	)

The following represents amounts recognized in accumulated OCI (before the effect of income taxes) at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010:

	Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
(In thousands)	2011		2010		2011		2010

Unrecognized net actuarial loss	$	58,436	$	41,935	$	118	$	1,455
Unrecognized prior service cost		3		4		17		16

The Company sponsors one pension plan in the U.K. which comprised 36 percent and 35 percent of the above benefit obligation at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, respectively, and 33 percent and 32 percent of the above plan assets at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, respectively.

As of December 31, 2011, $3.7 million of the actuarial net loss will, through amortization, be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost in 2012.

In aggregate, the underfunded plans are recognized as a liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amounts recognized as a liability are classified as current or long-term on a plan-by-plan basis. Liabilities are classified as current to the extent the actuarial present value of benefits payable within the next 12 months exceed the fair value of plan assets, with all remaining amounts being classified as long-term. As of December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, the total funded status of the plans recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets was as follows:

	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
(In thousands)	2011			2010			2011			2010

Current liability	$	-		$	-		$	(1,333	)		(1,362	)
Long-term liability		(32,839	)		(18,249	)		(18,612	)		(19,721	)

Total underfunded status	$	(32,839	)	$	(18,249	)	$	(19,945	)	$	(21,083	)

The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:

(In thousands)	2011			2010			2009
Pension benefits:
Service cost	$	1,394		$	823		$	865
Interest cost		9,051			9,374			8,907
Expected return on plan assets		(11,569	)		(11,443	)		(10,732	)
Amortization of prior service cost		2			294			305
Amortization of net loss		2,346			2,307			833

Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,224		$	1,355		$	178

Other benefits:
Service cost	$	344		$	273		$	235
Interest cost		993			1,333			1,824
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost		(3	)		1			2
Amortization of net (gain) loss		(2	)		156			156
Effect of curtailments and settlements		-			25			28

Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,332		$	1,788		$	2,245

During 2009, the Company executed a Deed of Amendment (the Amendment) which froze the accrual of future benefits related to its U.K. pension plan. Pursuant to U.K. law, past service accruals are adjusted for the effects of inflation after the execution of the Amendment. The Amendment did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations.

Prior service costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of active participants. Gains and losses in excess of 10 percent of the greater of the benefit obligation and the market-related value of assets are amortized over the average remaining service period of active participants.

The weighted average assumptions used in the measurement of the Company's benefit obligations are as follows:

	Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
	2011		2010		2011		2010

Discount rate		4.80%		5.25%		4.97%		5.39%
Expected long-term return on plan assets		7.11%		7.51%		N/A		N/A
Rate of compensation increases		N/A		N/A		5.04%		5.04%
Rate of inflation		3.00%		3.40%		N/A		N/A

The weighted average assumptions used in the measurement of the Company's net periodic benefit cost are as follows:

	Pension Benefits									Other Benefits
	2011			2010			2009			2011			2010			2009

Discount rate		5.25	%		5.77	%		6.44	%		5.39	%		6.08	%		6.24	%
Expected long-term return on plan assets		7.51	%		8.04	%		8.12	%		N/A			N/A			N/A
Rate of compensation increases		3.40	%		3.75	%		2.75	%		5.04	%		5.04	%		5.04	%

The Company's Mexican postretirement plans and the U.K. pension plan (prior to the execution of the Amendment) use the rate of compensation increase in the benefit formulas. After execution of the Amendment, past service on the U.K. pension plan will be adjusted for the effects of inflation. All other pension plans use benefit formulas based on length of service.

The annual assumed rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered benefits (i.e., health care cost trend rate) is assumed to range from 6.55 to 10.00 percent for 2012, gradually decrease to 5.00 percent for 2021, and remain at that level thereafter. The health care cost trend rate assumption could have a significant effect on the amounts reported. For example, increasing the assumed health care cost trend rates by one percentage point would increase the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation by $1.9 million and the service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement benefit costs by $0.1 million for 2012. Decreasing the assumed health care cost trend rates by one percentage point in each year would decrease the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation and the service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement benefit costs for 2012 by $1.6 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

The weighted average asset allocation of the Company's pension fund assets are as follows:

	Pension Plan Assets
Asset category	2011			2010

Equity securities (includes equity mutual funds)		80	%		73	%
Fixed income securities (includes fixed income mutual funds)		5			4
Cash and equivalents (includes money market funds)		8			16
Alternative investments		7			7

Total		100	%		100	%

At December 31, 2011, the Company's target allocation, by asset category, of assets of its defined benefit pension plans was: (i) equity securities, including equity index funds – at least 60 percent; (ii) fixed income securities – not more than 25 percent; and (iii) alternative investments – not more than 20 percent.

The Company's pension plan obligations are long-term and, accordingly, the plan assets are invested for the long-term. The Company believes that a diversified portfolio of equity securities (both actively managed and index funds) and private equity funds have an acceptable risk-return profile that, over the long-term, is better than fixed income securities. Consequently, the pension plan assets are heavily weighted to equity investments. Plan assets are monitored periodically. Based upon results, investment managers and/or asset classes are redeployed when considered necessary. Expected rates of return on plan assets were determined based on historical market returns giving consideration to the targeted composition of each plan's portfolio. None of the plans' assets are expected to be returned to the Company during the next fiscal year.

The Company's investments for its pension plans are reported at fair value. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of the Company's plan asset investments:

Cash and money market funds – Valued at cost, which approximates fair value.

Common stock – Valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded.

Mutual funds – Valued at the net asset value of shares held by the plans at December 31, 2011, based upon quoted market prices.

Limited partnerships – Limited partnerships include investments in various Cayman Island multi-strategy hedge funds. The plans' investments in limited partnerships are valued at the estimated fair value of the class shares owned by the plans based upon the equity in the estimated fair value of those shares. The estimated fair values of the limited partnerships are determined by the investment managers. In determining fair value, the investment managers of the limited partnerships utilize the estimated net asset valuations of the underlying investment entities. The underlying investment entities value securities and other financial instruments on a mark-to-market or estimated fair value basis. The estimated fair value is determined by the investment managers based upon, among other things, the type of investments, purchase price, marketability, current financial condition, operating results, and other information. The estimated fair values of substantially all of the investments of the underlying investment entities, which may include securities for which prices are not readily available, are determined by the investment managers or management of the respective underlying investment entities and may not reflect amounts that could be realized upon immediate sale. Accordingly, the estimated fair values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for these investments.

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the assets of the plans at fair value as of December 31, 2011:

(In thousands)	Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total

Cash and money market funds	$	11,707	$	-	$	-	$	11,707
Common stock (a)		58,498		-		-		58,498
Mutual funds (b)		19,054		47,098		-		66,152
Limited partnerships		-		-		11,145		11,145

Total	$	89,259	$	47,098	$	11,145	$	147,502

(a)	Approximately 88 percent of common stock represents investments in U.S. companies primarily in the health care, utilities, financials, consumer staples, industrials, information technology, and telecommunications sectors. All investments in common stock are listed on U.S. stock exchanges.

(b)	Approximately 30 percent of mutual funds are actively managed funds and approximately 70 percent of mutual funds are index funds. Additionally, 32 percent of the mutual funds' assets are invested in U.S. equities, 57 percent in non-U.S. equities, and 11 percent in non-U.S. fixed income securities.

The table below reflects the changes in the assets of the plan measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 hierarchy as defined by ASC 820) during the year ended December 31, 2011:

(In thousands)	Limited Partnerships

Balance, December 25, 2010	$	11,590
Purchases		1,068
Redemptions		(1,668	)
Net appreciation in fair value		155

Balance, December 31, 2011	$	11,145

Redemption of the plans' investments in limited partnerships requires advance written notice. One of the funds can be redeemed quarterly with 60 days' notice, and the other fund can be redeemed monthly with 30 days' notice. There are no other restrictions on the redemption of the investments.

The assets of the plans do not include investments in securities issued by the Company. The Company expects to contribute approximately $1.5 million to its pension plans and $1.3 million to its other postretirement benefit plans in 2012. The Company expects future benefits to be paid from the plans as follows:

(In thousands)	Pension Benefits		Other Benefits

2012	$	10,311	$	1,333
2013		10,384		1,350
2014		10,513		1,370
2015		10,657		1,433
2016		10,783		1,386
2017-2021		53,809		7,328

Total	$	106,457	$	14,200

The Company contributes to the I.A.M. National Pension Fund, National Pension Plan (I.A.M. Plan), a multiemployer defined benefit plan. Participation in the I.A.M. Plan was negotiated under the terms of two collective bargaining agreements in Port Huron, Michigan, the Local 218 I.A.M. and Local 44 U.A.W that expire on May 1, 2013 and July 20, 2013, respectively. The Employer Identification Number for this plan is 51-6031295.

The risks of participating in multiemployer plans are different from single-employer plans in the following aspects: (i) Assets contributed to the multiemployer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers, (ii) if a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the underfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers, (iii) if the Company chooses to stop participating in the plan, the Company may be required to pay the plan an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.

The Company makes contributions to the I.A.M. Plan trusts that cover certain union employees; contributions by employees are not required nor are they permitted. Contributions to the I.A.M. Plan were $0.9 million in 2011, $0.7 million in 2010, and $1.4 million in 2009. The Company's contributions are less than five percent of total employer contributions made to the I.A.M. Plan indicated in the most recently filed Form 5500.

Under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, the I.A.M. Plan's actuary must certify the plan's zone status annually. Plans in the red zone are generally less than 65 percent funded, plans in the yellow zone are less than 80 percent funded, and plans in the green zone are at least 80 percent funded. If a plan is determined to be in endangered status, red zone or yellow zone, the plan's trustees must develop a formal plan of corrective action, a Financial Improvement Plan and/or a Rehabilitation Plan. For 2011 and 2010 the I.A.M Plan was determined to have green zone status; therefore, no formal plan of corrective action is either pending or has been implemented.

The Company sponsors voluntary employee savings plans that qualify under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Compensation expense for the Company's matching contribution to the 401(k) plans was $3.0 million in 2011, $2.5 million in 2010, and $2.4 million in 2009. The Company's match is a cash contribution. Participants direct the investment of their account balances by allocating among a range of asset classes including mutual funds (equity, fixed income, and balanced funds), and money market funds. The plans do not allow direct investment in securities issued by the Company.

In October 1992, the Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act of 1992 (the Act) was enacted. The Act mandates a method of providing for postretirement benefits to the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) current and retired employees, including some retirees who were never employed by the Company. In October 1993, beneficiaries were assigned to the Company and the Company began its mandated contributions to the UMWA Combined Benefit Fund, a multiemployer trust. Beginning in 1994, the Company was required to make contributions for assigned beneficiaries under an additional multiemployer trust created by the Act, the UMWA 1992 Benefit Plan. The ultimate amount of the Company's liability under the Act will vary due to factors which include, among other things, the validity, interpretation, and regulation of the Act, its joint and several obligation, the number of valid beneficiaries assigned, and the extent to which funding for this obligation will be satisfied by transfers of excess assets from the 1950 UMWA pension plan and transfers from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund. Contributions to the plan were $338 thousand, $478 thousand, and $475 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2011, December 25, 2010, and December 26, 2009, respectively.