Retirement Plans and Postretirement Health Care and Life Insurance Benefits

9 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2011

Retirement Plans and Postretirement Health Care and Life Insurance Benefits [Abstract]

RETIREMENT PLANS AND POSTRETIREMENT HEALTH CARE AND LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS

NOTE 13 — RETIREMENT PLANS AND POSTRETIREMENT HEALTH CARE AND LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS

The components of net periodic pension cost include the following (Dollars in thousands):

	Three months ended						Nine months ended
	July 31						July 31
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Service cost	$	2,239		$	2,293		$	6,717		$	6,879
Interest cost		4,159			3,998			12,477			11,994
Expected return on plan assets		(4,928	)		(4,524	)		(14,784	)		(13,572	)
Amortization of prior service cost, initial net asset and net actuarial gain		2,160			1,700			6,480			5,100
Net periodic pension costs	$	3,630		$	3,467		$	10,890		$	10,401

The Company made $16.9 million in pension contributions in the nine months ended July 31, 2011. The Company estimates $29.7 million of pension contributions for the entire 2011 fiscal year.

The components of net periodic cost for postretirement benefits include the following (Dollars in thousands):

	Three months ended						Nine months ended
	July 31						July 31
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Service cost	$	2		$	1		$	6		$	3
Interest cost		219			283			657			849
Amortization of prior service cost and recognized actuarial gain		(334	)		(251	)		(1,002	)		(753	)
Net periodic cost for postretirement benefits	$	(113	)	$	33		$	(339	)	$	99