Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits

Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits

NOTE 10—Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits:

The following information is provided for domestic and foreign pension and postretirement defined benefit plans:

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
	(In thousands)
Net Periodic Pension Benefit Cost (Credit):
Service cost	$	3,242		$	2,802		$	9,677		$	8,443
Interest cost		8,252			7,942			24,713			23,875
Expected return on assets		(12,152	)		(10,397	)		(36,438	)		(31,200	)
Amortization of net transition asset		—			(2	)		—			(7	)
Amortization of prior service benefit		(238	)		(247	)		(714	)		(740	)
Amortization of net loss		6,562			4,338			19,669			13,050
Total net periodic pension benefit cost	$	5,666		$	4,436		$	16,907		$	13,421
Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (Credit):
Service cost	$	65		$	95		$	197		$	286
Interest cost		848			891			2,545			2,673
Expected return on assets		(127	)		(132	)		(382	)		(395	)
Amortization of prior service benefit		(174	)		(426	)		(523	)		(1,278	)
Amortization of net loss		602			423			1,807			1,267
Total net periodic postretirement benefit cost	$	1,214		$	851		$	3,644		$	2,553
Total net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost	$	6,880		$	5,287		$	20,551		$	15,974

We have made contributions of $1.1 million and $54.7 million to our qualified and nonqualified pension plans during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively. Also, we made $2.5 million and $24.6 million in contributions to our qualified and nonqualified pension plans during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010, respectively.

We paid approximately $0.7 million and $2.8 million in premiums to the U.S. postretirement benefit plan during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively. Also, we paid approximately $1.1 million and $2.5 million in premiums to the U.S. postretirement benefit plan during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010, respectively.