Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Matters

U.S Plans

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the three and six months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:



	Pension Benefits						Other Post-Retirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended April 30,						Three Months Ended April 30,
	2019			2018			2019		2018
Interest cost	$	841		$	792		$	3	$	2
Expected return on plan assets	(835		)	(840		)			—
Amortization of net actuarial loss	286			328			2		2
Net periodic cost	$	292		$	280		$	5	$	4



	Pension Benefits						Other Post-Retirement Benefits
	Six Months Ended April 30,						Six Months Ended April 30,
	2019			2018			2019		2018
Interest cost	$	1,682		$	1,584		$	6	$	5
Expected return on plan assets	(1,670		)	(1,680		)	—		—
Amortization of net actuarial loss	573			656			3		4
Net periodic cost	$	585		$	560		$	9	$	9

We were not required to and therefore did not contribute to our U.S. pension plans during the three and six months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018. We expect to contribute at least $1,620 to our U.S. pension plans in fiscal 2019.

We report the service cost component of the net periodic pension and post-retirement costs in the same caption as other compensation costs arising from services rendered. The other components of net period costs are presented outside of operating income in other (income) expense, net.

Non-U.S. Plans

For our Swedish operations, the majority of the pension obligations are covered by insurance policies with insurance companies. Pension commitments in our Polish operations were $1,182 at April 30, 2019 and $1,081 at October 31, 2018. The liability represents the present value of future obligations and is calculated on an actuarial basis. The Polish operations recognized expense of $97 and $183 for the three and six months ended April 30, 2019 and $54 and $111 for the three and six months ended April 30, 2018, respectively.

The insurance contracts guarantee a minimum rate of return. We have no input into the investment strategy of the assets underlying the contracts, but they are typically heavily invested in active bond markets and are highly regulated by local law.