Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011


	Pension Benefits
	Defined Benefit Pension Plan				Supplementary Pension Plan
	2011		2010		2011		2010
Change in benefit obligations:
Beginning projected benefit obligation	$	48,018	$	42,829	$	9,220	$	9,029
Service cost		1,516		1,400		196		320
Interest cost		2,607		2,493		485		533
Actuarial (gain)/loss		7,239		2,510		2,043		(516)
Benefits paid		(1,273)		(1,214)		(376)		(146)

Ending projected benefit obligation		58,107		48,018		11,568		9,220

Change in plan assets:
Beginning fair value		35,755		31,455		-		-
Actual return		(1,516)		4,014		-		-
Company contribution		1,500		1,500		376		146
Benefits paid		(1,273)		(1,214)		(376)		(146)

Ending fair value		34,466		35,755		-		-


Funded status of the plan		(23,641)		(12,263)		(11,568)		(9,220)


	Defined Benefit Pension Plan						Supplementary Pension Plan
	2011		2010		2009		2011		2010		2009
Service cost – benefits earned during the year	$	1,516	$	1,400	$	1,647	$	196	$	320	$	216
Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation		2,607		2,493		2,605		485		533		450
Expected return on plan assets		(2,858)		(2,618)		(2,146)		-		-		-
Net amortization and deferral		65		64		490		88		131		74

Net periodic pension cost		1,330		1,339		2,596		769		984		740


	Defined Benefit Pension Plan				Supplementary Pension Plan
	2011		2010		2011		2010
Discount rate		4.70%		5.51%		4.63%		5.36%
Rate of compensation increase		4.00%		4.00%		4.00%		4.00%
Long-term rate of return on plan assets		7.50%		8.00%		N/A		N/A


	Defined Benefit Pension Plan						Supplementary Pension Plan
	2011		2010		2009		2011		2010		2009
Discount rate		5.51%		5.91%		6.25%		5.36%		5.95%		6.25%
Rate of compensation increase		4.00%		4.00%		5.75%		4.00%		4.00%		4.00%
Long-term rate of return on plan assets		8.00%		8.25%		8.25%		N/A		N/A		N/A


	Defined Benefit Pension Plan		Supplementary Pension Plan

2012	$	1,687	$	379
2013		1,853		378
2014		2,113		394
2015		2,307		451
2016		2,575		448
2017 through 2021		16,457		3,598

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Fair values of our defined benefit pension plan assets at December 31, by asset category, are as follows:


	Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2011
			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Significant Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Short term investment funds	$	727	$	-	$	727	$	-
Equity securities:
US equity securities		11,244		-		11,244		-
International equity securities		5,959		2,028		3,931		-
AMCOL International common stock		1,880		1,880		-		-
Fixed income securities and bonds
Governmental agencies		1,011		1,011		-		-
Corporate bonds		4,981		4,981		-		-
Guaranteed investment contracts		2,473		-		2,473		-
Other investments
Real estate index funds		601		-		601		-
Commodities linked funds		1,693		1,693		-		-
Hedge funds		3,897		-		-		3,897

Total		34,466		11,593		18,976		3,897


	Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2010
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets Level 1		Significant Observable Inputs Level 2		Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3
Short term investment funds	$	612	$	-	$	612	$	-
Equity securities:
US equity securities		10,781		-		10,781		-
International equity securities		9,489		3,367		6,122		-
AMCOL International common stock		2,170		2,170		-		-
Fixed income securities and bonds
Governmental agencies		1,774		831		943		-
Corporate bonds		2,477		2,477		-		-
Guaranteed investment contracts		3,633		-		3,633		-
Other investments
Real estate index funds		656		-		656		-
Commodities linked funds		1,996		1,996		-		-
Hedge funds		2,167		-		-		2,167

Total		35,755		10,841		22,747		2,167


	2011		2010
Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income:
Net actuarial loss (gain)	$	13,657	$	597
Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)		(96)		(137)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		(59)		(59)

Total change in other comprehensive income		13,502		401



	Hedge Funds
Beginning balance at December 31, 2009		1,596
Purchases, sales, and settlements		500
Actual return on plan assets still held at reporting date		71

Ending balance at December 31, 2010		2,167

Purchases, sales, and settlements		1,815
Actual return on plan assets still held at reporting date		(85)

Ending balance at December 31, 2011		3,897