RETIREMENT FUND AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

RETIREMENT FUND AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN [Abstract]

11. RETIREMENT FUND AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN

The Company maintains the Bel Fuse Inc. Employees’ Savings Plan, a defined contribution plan that is intended to meet the applicable requirements for tax-qualification under sections 401(a) and (k) of the IRC. The Employees’ Savings Plan allows eligible employees to voluntarily contribute a percentage of their eligible compensation, subject to Code limitations, which contributions are matched by the Company. The Company’s matching contributions are equal to 100% of the first 1% of compensation contributed by participants, and 50% of the next 5% of compensation contributed by participants. The expense for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to approximately $0.1 million in each period. The expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to approximately $0.4 million in each period. Prior to January 1, 2012, the plan’s structure provided for a Company match and discretionary profit sharing contributions that were made in the form of the Company’s common stock. As of September 30, 2013, the plan owned 14,911 and 203,069 shares of Bel Fuse Inc. Class A and Class B common stock, respectively.

The Company also has a retirement fund in Asia which covers substantially all of its Hong Kong-based full-time employees. Eligible employees contribute up to 5% of salary to the fund. In addition, the Company must contribute a minimum of 5% of eligible salary, as determined by Hong Kong government regulations. The Company currently contributes 7% of eligible salary in cash or Company stock. The expense for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to approximately $0.1 million in each period. The expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to approximately $0.2 million in each period. As of September 30, 2013, the plan owned 3,323 and 17,342 shares of Bel Fuse Inc. Class A and Class B common stock, respectively.

The SERP is designed to provide a limited group of key management and highly compensated employees of the Company with supplemental retirement and death benefits.

The components of SERP expense are as follows (dollars in thousands):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2013		2012		2013		2012
Service cost	$	139	$	109	$	417	$	327
Interest cost		112		104		337		312
Amortization of adjustments		77		58		231		174
Total SERP expense	$	328	$	271	$	985	$	813

	September 30,		December 31,
	2013		2012
Balance sheet amounts:
Minimum pension obligation
and unfunded pension liability	$	11,964	$	11,045

Amounts recognized in accumulated
other comprehensive loss, pretax:
Prior service cost	$	931	$	877
Net gains		2,764		2,884
	$	3,695	$	3,761

- Definition

The entire disclosure for pension and other postretirement benefits.

+ References

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