EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

NOTE 13 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The following provides information at March 31, 2019 related to the Company-sponsored domestic defined benefit pension plan, the Helmerich & Payne, Inc. Employee Retirement Plan (the “Pension Plan”):

	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	March 31,				March 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
	(in thousands)
Interest cost	$	1,097	$	1,014	$	2,194	$	2,028
Expected return on plan assets		(1,386)		(1,386)		(2,772)		(2,772)
Recognized net actuarial loss		291		460		583		921
Net pension expense	$	2	$	88	$	5	$	177

Employer Contributions

We did not contribute to the Pension Plan during the six months ended March 31, 2019. We could make contributions for the remainder of fiscal year 2019 to fund distributions in lieu of liquidating assets.