Employee Benefit Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans

8. Employee Benefit Plans

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s defined benefit and other postretirement plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, included the following:

Components of Net Periodic	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
Benefit Cost	2013			2012			2013			2012
	(in thousands)
Service cost	$	4,473		$	3,363		$	11,676		$	10,013
Interest cost	6,340			6,876			18,939			20,588
Expected return on plan assets	(4,065		)	(4,022		)	(12,196		)	(12,048		)
Recognized net actuarial loss	2,280			1,863			6,381			5,338
Net periodic benefit cost	$	9,028		$	8,080		$	24,800		$	23,891

The Company made contributions of $11.9 million and $18.6 million to its defined benefit and other postretirement plans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, satisfying the Company’s required contributions for 2013.