Note 12 - Pensions

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

12. Pensions

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared with the three months ended April 2, 2011, were (in thousands):

	U.S. Pension Benefits						Foreign Plans
	Three Months Ended						Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2012			April 2, 2011			March 31, 2012			April 2, 2011
Service cost	$	150		$	125		$	192		$	153
Interest cost		1,240			1,273			195			182
Expected return on plan assets		(1,655	)		(1,628	)		(121	)		(121	)
Amortization of net loss		85			179			17			7
Total cost of the plan		(180	)		(51	)		283			221
Expected plan participants’ contribution		—			—			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	(180	)	$	(51	)	$	283		$	221

The expected rate of return assumption on domestic pension assets is 7.8% and 8.5% in 2012 and 2011, respectively. The expected return on foreign pension assets is 4.5% and 4.5% in 2012 and 2011, respectively.