Note 11 - Pensions

6 Months Ended

Jun. 29, 2013

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

11. Pensions

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the three and six and months ended June 29, 2013, compared with the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, were (in thousands):

	U.S. Pension Benefits												Foreign Plans
	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 29, 2013			June 30, 2012			June 29, 2013			June 30, 2012			June 29, 2013			June 30, 2012			June 29, 2013			June 30, 2012
Service cost	$	150		$	150		$	300		$	300		$	268		$	191		$	523		$	383
Interest cost		892			1,241			1,783			2,481			299			196			482			391
Expected return on plan assetsassets		(1,340	)		(1,655	)		(2,680	)		(3,310	)		(197	)		(121	)		(271	)		(242	)
Amortization of net loss		235			84			471			169			38			17			77			34
Total cost (credit) of the plan		(63	)		(180	)		(126	)		(360	)		408			283			811			566
Expected plan participants’ contribution		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$	(63	)	$	(180	)	$	(126	)	$	(360	)	$	408		$	283		$	811		$	566

The expected rate of return assumption on domestic pension assets is approximately 6.8% and 7.8% in 2013 and 2012, respectively. The expected return on foreign pension assets is approximately 3.7% and 4.5% in 2013 and 2012, respectively.