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Pension and Postretirement Benefit Obligations
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Pension and Postretirement Benefit Obligations

17.Pension and Postretirement Benefit Obligations

 

Pension Plans

 

There are two Company-sponsored pension plans. The primary Company-sponsored pension plan was frozen as of June 30, 2006 and no benefits accrued to participants after this date. The second Company-sponsored pension plan (the “Bargaining Plan”) is for certain employees under collective bargaining agreements. Benefits under the Bargaining Plan are determined in accordance with negotiated formulas for the respective participants. Contributions to the plans are based on actuarially determined amounts and are limited to the amounts currently deductible for income tax purposes.

 

The components of net periodic pension cost were as follows:

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

(in thousands)

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Service cost

 

$

1,207

 

 

$

1,412

 

Interest cost

 

 

3,063

 

 

 

2,856

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(2,574

)

 

 

(3,852

)

Recognized net actuarial loss

 

 

901

 

 

 

933

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

 

5

 

 

 

6

 

Net periodic pension cost

 

$

2,602

 

 

$

1,355

 

 

The Company did not make any contributions to the two Company sponsored pension plans during the first quarter of 2019. Contributions to the two Company-sponsored pension plans are expected to be in the range of $1 million to $2 million for the remainder of 2019.

 

Postretirement Benefits

 

The Company provides postretirement benefits for a portion of its current employees. The Company recognizes the cost of postretirement benefits, which consist principally of medical benefits, during covered employees’ periods of active service. The Company does not pre-fund these benefits and has the right to modify or terminate certain of these benefits in the future.

 

The components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost were as follows:

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

(in thousands)

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Service cost

 

$

389

 

 

$

502

 

Interest cost

 

 

693

 

 

 

696

 

Recognized net actuarial loss

 

 

196

 

 

 

499

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

 

(324

)

 

 

(462

)

Net periodic postretirement benefit cost

 

$

954

 

 

$

1,235

 

 

Multi-Employer Benefits

 

Certain employees of the Company whose employment is covered under collective bargaining agreements participate in a multiemployer pension plan, the Employers-Teamsters Local Union Nos. 175 and 505 Pension Fund (the “Teamsters Plan”). The Company makes monthly contributions to the Teamsters Plan on behalf of such employees. The collective bargaining agreements covering the Teamsters Plan expire at various times by July 2021. The Company expects these agreements will be re-negotiated.

 

The risks of participating in the Teamsters Plan are different from single employer plans as contributed assets are pooled and may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers. If a participating employer stops contributing to the Teamsters Plan, the unfunded obligations of the Teamsters Plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers. If the Company chooses to stop participating in the Teamsters Plan, the Company could be required to pay the Teamsters Plan a withdrawal liability based on the underfunded status of the Teamsters Plan. The Company does not anticipate withdrawing from the Teamsters Plan.

 

In 2015, the Company increased its contribution rates to the Teamsters Plan, with additional increases occurring annually, as part of a rehabilitation plan, which was incorporated into the renewal of collective bargaining agreements with the unions effective April 28, 2014 and adopted by the Company as a rehabilitation plan effective January 1, 2015. This was a result of the Teamsters Plan being certified by its actuary as being in “critical” status for the plan year beginning January 1, 2013.