EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

The Company sponsors defined benefit pension plans that cover certain U.S., Canadian, German and United Kingdom employees and which provide benefits of stated amounts for each year of service of the employee.

The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for the plans.

The following tables provide information regarding the Company’s defined benefit pension plans summarized by U.S. and international components.



	U.S.						International
	Three Months Ended September 30,						Three Months Ended September 30,
In thousands, except percentages	2018			2017			2018			2017
Net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	87		$	86		$	691		$	614
Interest cost	333			356			1,834			1,677
Expected return on plan assets	(445		)	(433		)	(3,466		)	(2,910		)
Net amortization/deferrals	243			248			554			685
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$	218		$	257		$	(387	)	$	66



	U.S.						International
	Nine Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands, except percentages	2018			2017			2018			2017
Net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	261		$	258		$	2,073		$	1,842
Interest cost	999			1,068			5,502			5,031
Expected return on plan assets	(1,335		)	(1,299		)	(10,398		)	(8,730		)
Net amortization/deferrals	729			744			1,662			2,055
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$	654		$	771		$	(1,161	)	$	198



Assumptions
Discount Rate	3.56	%	3.95	%	2.40	%	2.51	%
Expected long-term rate of return	5.15	%	4.95	%	5.10	%	4.93	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.00	%	3.00	%	2.60	%	2.54	%

The Company’s funding methods are based on governmental requirements and differ from those methods used to recognize pension expense. The Company expects to contribute $7.3 million to the international plans during 2018. The company does not expect to contribute to the U.S. plans during 2018.

Post Retirement Benefit Plans

In addition to providing pension benefits, the Company has provided certain unfunded postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for a portion of North American employees. The Company is not obligated to pay health care and life insurance benefits to individuals who had retired prior to 1990.

The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for all post retirement plans.

The following tables provide information regarding the Company’s postretirement benefit plans summarized by U.S. and international components.



	U.S.						International
	Three Months Ended September 30,						Three Months Ended September 30,
In thousands, except percentages	2018			2017			2018			2017
Net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	1		$	1		$	8		$	7
Interest cost	81			88			26			24
Net amortization/deferrals	(76		)	(73		)	(4		)	(7		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	6		$	16		$	30		$	24



	U.S.						International
	Nine Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands, except percentages	2018			2017			2018			2017
Net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	3		$	3		$	24		$	21
Interest cost	243			264			78			72
Net amortization/deferrals	(228		)	(219		)	(12		)	(21		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	18		$	48		$	90		$	72



Assumptions
Discount Rate	3.43	%	3.76	%	3.21	%	3.46	%