RETIREMENT AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

RETIREMENT AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

RETIREMENT AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

NOTE 15 — RETIREMENT AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

The components of total pension cost were as follows:

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Service cost	$	4,544		$	3,847		$	13,205		$	11,530
Interest cost	11,127			10,810			33,067			32,331
Expected return on plan assets	(14,323		)	(12,620		)	(43,061		)	(37,758		)
Amortization of prior service cost	(16		)	(12		)	(47		)	(34		)
Amortization of net loss	5,444			5,201			16,392			15,597
Defined benefit plans	6,776			7,226			19,556			21,666
Multi-employer plans	241			235			717			764
Defined contribution plans	2,137			1,865			6,327			5,554
Total pension cost	$	9,154		$	9,326		$	26,600		$	27,984

The Company voluntarily contributed $30,000 to its defined benefit plans in the United States during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  The expected return on plan assets increased in 2011 due to higher investment balances in plan assets at December 31, 2010 than at December 31, 2009.