Retirement Benefits

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

14. RETIREMENT BENEFITS

The Company maintains both qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans for its U.S. employees employed prior to April 1, 2010. Generally, the Company computes the benefits based on average earnings over a period prescribed by the plans and credited length of service. The Company's non-qualified defined benefit pension plan provided compensating pension benefits for participants whose benefits have been curtailed under the qualified plan due to Internal Revenue Code limitations. Effective January 1, 2018, participants of the Company's non-qualified defined benefit pension plan may no longer accrue additional service benefits.

Net periodic benefit cost for U.S. employees included the following components for the periods indicated:


Pension Benefits	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2019			2018
Service cost	$	2,276		$	2,977		$	4,553		$	5,954
Interest cost		2,930			2,585			5,860			5,170
Expected return on plan assets		(5,016	)		(3,670	)		(10,031	)		(7,341	)
Amortization of net (income) loss		1,601			2,237			3,203			4,473
FAS 88 settlement charge		104			-			208			-
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,895		$	4,129		$	3,793		$	8,256


Other Benefits	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2019			2018
Service cost	$	286		$	446		$	573		$	893
Interest cost		295			307			590			614
Amortization of prior service cost		(144	)		(33	)		(289	)		(66	)
Amortization of net (income) loss		-			94			-			188
Net periodic benefit cost	$	437		$	814		$	874		$	1,629

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

The service cost component of net periodic benefit costs is included within other underwriting expenses on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss). In accordance with ASU 2017-07, other staff compensation costs are also primarily recorded within this line item.

The Company did not make any contributions to the qualified pension benefit plan for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018.