We offer defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution pension plans, and various postretirement benefit plans. The following tables provide the retirement-related benefit plans’ impact on income before income taxes for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30, 2024 and 2023:


	U.S. Plans						Non-U.S. Plans
	Three Months Ended						Three Months Ended
(In thousands)	November 30,			November 30,			November 30,			November 30,
Pension Benefits	2024			2023			2024			2023
Service cost	$	10,804		$	10,913		$	1,120		$	887
Interest cost		9,795			8,992			1,963			1,935
Expected return on plan assets		(12,017	)		(10,518	)		(2,376	)		(2,400	)
Amortization of:
Prior service cost (credit)		1			1			(32	)		(31	)
Net actuarial losses recognized		2,153			4,205			294			209
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	10,736		$	13,593		$	969		$	600


	U.S. Plans						Non-U.S. Plans
	Three Months Ended						Three Months Ended
(In thousands)	November 30,			November 30,			November 30,			November 30,
Postretirement Benefits	2024			2023			2024			2023
Service cost	$	-		$	-		$	425		$	569
Interest cost		21			22			318			390
Amortization of:
Net actuarial (gains) recognized		(6	)		(4	)		(140	)		(12	)
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	15		$	18		$	603		$	947


	U.S. Plans						Non-U.S. Plans
	Six Months Ended						Six Months Ended
(In thousands)	November 30,			November 30,			November 30,			November 30,
Pension Benefits	2024			2023			2024			2023

Service cost	$	21,608		$	21,826		$	2,240		$	1,774
Interest cost		19,590			17,984			3,926			3,870
Expected return on plan assets		(24,034	)		(21,036	)		(4,752	)		(4,800	)
Amortization of:
Prior service cost (credit)		1			2			(64	)		(62	)
Net actuarial losses recognized		4,306			8,410			588			418
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	21,471		$	27,186		$	1,938		$	1,200


	U.S. Plans						Non-U.S. Plans
	Six Months Ended						Six Months Ended
(In thousands)	November 30,			November 30,			November 30,			November 30,
Postretirement Benefits	2024			2023			2024			2023

Service cost	$	-		$	-		$	850		$	1,138
Interest cost		42			44			636			780
Amortization of:
Net actuarial (gains) recognized		(12	)		(8	)		(280	)		(24	)
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	30		$	36		$	1,206		$	1,894

Net periodic pension cost for fiscal 2025 is less than our fiscal 2024 cost due to an increase in expected return on plan assets and a reduction in the amortization of the net actuarial loss to be recognized. We expect that pension expense will fluctuate on a year-to-year basis, depending upon the investment performance of plan assets and potential changes in interest rates, and these fluctuations may have a material impact on our consolidated financial results in the future. We are required and expect to contribute approximately $5.9 million to plans outside the U.S. during the current fiscal year and we will evaluate whether to make additional contributions to plans in the U.S. and outside the U.S. throughout fiscal 2025.