EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS

The components of net periodic benefit cost (income) for Employers Mutual’s pension and postretirement benefit plans is as follows:



	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
($ in thousands)	2017			2016			2017			2016
Pension plans:
Service cost	$	3,783		$	3,639		$	11,351		$	10,824
Interest cost	2,798			2,551			8,393			7,620
Expected return on plan assets	(5,192		)	(4,841		)	(15,574		)	(14,521		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	911			1,111			2,732			3,233
Amortization of prior service cost	5			9			15			24
Net periodic pension benefit cost	$	2,305		$	2,469		$	6,917		$	7,180

Postretirement benefit plans:
Service cost	$	341		$	319		$	1,022		$	955
Interest cost	570			553			1,710			1,661
Expected return on plan assets	(1,077		)	(1,056		)	(3,233		)	(3,168		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	342			374			1,028			1,121
Amortization of prior service credit	(2,788		)	(2,835		)	(8,365		)	(8,504		)
Net periodic postretirement benefit income	$	(2,612	)	$	(2,645	)	$	(7,838	)	$	(7,935	)

Net periodic pension benefit cost allocated to the Company amounted to $692,000 and $1.1 million for the three months and $2.1 million and $2.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Net periodic postretirement benefit income allocated to the Company amounted to $736,000 and $937,000 for the three months and $2.2 million and $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Company’s share of Employers Mutual’s remaining 2017 planned contribution to the pension plan, if made, will be approximately $2.7 million. No contributions will be made to the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust in 2017.