N. Retirement Plans

ASC 715, “Compensation—Retirement Benefits” requires an employer with defined benefit plans or other postretirement benefit plans to recognize an asset or a liability on its balance sheet for the overfunded or underfunded status of the plans as defined by ASC 715. The pension asset or liability represents a difference between the fair value of the pension plan’s assets and the projected benefit obligation.

On October 27, 2014, the U.S. Society of Actuaries released new mortality tables. Teradyne will use the new mortality tables along with other updated pension valuation assumptions (discount rate, asset rate of return, etc.) as part of its annual fourth quarter pension obligation remeasurement. The estimated actuarial loss as a result of the new mortality tables and current discount rates is approximately $50 million.

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

Teradyne has defined benefit pension plans covering a portion of domestic employees and employees of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries. Benefits under these plans are based on employees’ years of service and compensation. Teradyne’s funding policy is to make contributions to these plans in accordance with local laws and to the extent that such contributions are tax deductible. The assets of these plans consist primarily of fixed income and equity securities. In addition, Teradyne has an unfunded supplemental executive defined benefit plan in the United States to provide retirement benefits in excess of levels allowed by the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) and the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), as well as unfunded foreign plans. In the nine months ended September 28, 2014, Teradyne contributed $1.3 million to the U.S. supplemental executive defined benefit pension plan and $1.2 million to certain qualified plans for non-U.S. subsidiaries.

For the three and nine months ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013, Teradyne’s net periodic pension cost was comprised of the following:


	For the Three Months Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2014			September 29, 2013			September 28, 2014			September 29, 2013
	(in thousands)
Service cost	$	761		$	871		$	2,368		$	2,557
Interest cost		3,650			3,350			11,102			10,001
Expected return on plan assets		(3,335	)		(3,664	)		(10,060	)		(10,925	)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost		34			41			101			123
Actuarial loss (gain)		—			—			362			(1,123	)

Total net periodic pension cost	$	1,110		$	598		$	3,873		$	633

Postretirement Benefit Plan

In addition to receiving pension benefits, U.S. Teradyne employees who meet early retirement eligibility requirements as of their termination dates may participate in Teradyne’s Welfare Plan, which includes death, and medical and dental benefits up to age 65. Death benefits provide a fixed sum to retirees’ survivors and are available to all retirees. Substantially all of Teradyne’s current U.S. employees could become eligible for these benefits, and the existing benefit obligation relates primarily to those employees.

For the three and nine months ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013, Teradyne’s net periodic postretirement benefit was comprised of the following:


	For the Three Months Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2014			September 29, 2013			September 28, 2014			September 29, 2013
	(in thousands)
Service cost	$	15		$	19		$	44		$	56
Interest cost		84			86			252			257
Amortization of unrecognized prior service benefit		(150	)		(150	)		(449	)		(449	)
Actuarial gain		—			—			(247	)		(236	)

Total net periodic post-retirement benefit	$	(51	)	$	(45	)	$	(400	)	$	(372	)