Employee Benefit Plans

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans

NOTE 10. Employee Benefit Plans

The Company has a defined contribution plan covering all eligible employees. Contributions are based on certain percentages of an employee’s eligible compensation. Expenses related to this plan were $215 and $620, respectively, for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2011 and $176 and $526, respectively, for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2010.

The Company provides postretirement benefits to certain former union employees. The Company funds these benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis. The measurement date is March 31.

In February 2002, the Company’s subsidiary, Seeger-Orbis GmbH & Co. OHG, now known as TransTechnology Germany GmbH (the “Selling Company”), sold its retaining ring business in Germany to Barnes Group Inc. (“Barnes”). German law prohibits the transfer of unfunded pension obligations which have vested for retired and former employees, so the legal responsibility for the pension plan that related to the business (the “Pension Plan”) remained with the Selling Company. At the time of the sale and subsequent to the sale, that pension liability was recorded based on the projected benefit obligation since future compensation levels will not affect the level of pension benefits. The relevant information for the Pension Plan is shown below under the caption Pension Plan. The measurement date is December 31. Barnes has entered into an agreement with the Company whereby Barnes is obligated to administer and discharge the pension obligation as well as indemnify and hold the Selling Company and the Company harmless from these pension obligations. Accordingly, the Company has recorded an asset equal to the benefit obligation for the Pension Plan of $3,061 and $3,358 as of December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2011, respectively. This asset is included in other long-term assets and it is restricted in use to satisfy the legal liability associated with the Pension Plan.

The net periodic pension cost is based on estimated values provided by independent actuaries. The following tables provide the components of the net periodic benefit cost.

	Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	December 31, 2011		December 31, 2010		December 31, 2011		December 31, 2010
Interest cost	$	9	$	11	$	28	$	32
Amortization of net (gain) loss		4		5		11		17
Net periodic cost	$	13	$	16	$	39	$	49

	Pension Plan
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	December 31, 2011		December 31, 2010		December 31, 2011		December 31, 2010
Interest cost	$	40	$	47	$	125	$	136
Amortization of net (gain) loss		—		—		—		—
Net periodic cost	$	40	$	47	$	125	$	136