Employee Benefit Plans

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Employee Benefit Plans

10. Employee Benefit Plans

On October 26, 2005, the Company purchased Helix Technology Corporation and assumed responsibility for the liabilities and assets of the Helix Employees’ Pension Plan (the “Helix Plan”). During fiscal year 2012, the Company advised participants of the Helix Plan that it intended to settle this pension obligation. The settlement, which occurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, resulted in accelerated cash payments of approximately $6.4 million to fully satisfy the pension liability and accelerated amortization of approximately $8.9 million of prior pension losses.

The Company acquired Nexus Biosystems, Inc. on July 25, 2011, and in connection with this acquisition, assumed responsibility for the liabilities of the Nexus Biosystems AG Pension Plan (the “Nexus Plan”). The Nexus Plan covers substantially all employees of the Company’s Swiss subsidiary. Admittance for risk benefits (disability and death) is as of January 1 for employees who are 17 or older. Admittance into the pension plan with retirement pension occurs as of January 1 for employees who are age 24 or older. Pension benefits are based on the accumulated savings credits plus interest. The amount of the savings credit is based on the employee’s age. The Company expects to contribute $0.5 million to the Nexus Plan in fiscal 2013. In connection with actions taken under the Company’s restructuring programs, the number of employees accumulating benefits under the Nexus Plan has declined significantly. As a result, a partial settlement event occurred and resulted in accelerated amortization of approximately $0.1 million of prior pension losses. The settlement loss, recorded in the quarter ended December 31, 2012, is included in restructuring and other charges in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company also has a pension plan covering certain employees of its Taiwan subsidiary that were employed by this entity on or before July 1, 2005 (the “Taiwan Plan”). After July 1, 2005, most participants of this plan decided to join a defined contribution plan and as a result, their service earned under the Taiwan Plan was frozen.

The components of the Company’s net pension cost related to the Helix Plan (for December 31, 2011), the Nexus Plan and the Taiwan Plan for the three months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (in thousands):

	Three months ended December 31,
	2012			2011
Service cost	$	178		$	151
Interest cost		45			249
Amortization of losses		2			115
Expected return on assets		(77	)		(235	)
Net periodic pension cost		148			280
Settlement loss		87			—
Total pension cost	$	235		$	280