NOTE 8—BENEFIT PLANS

Net periodic benefit expense (income) and contributions for defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans consisted of the following:



	Third Quarter Ended
	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	December 5, 2015 (12 weeks)			November 29, 2014 (12 weeks)			December 5, 2015 (12 weeks)			November 29, 2014 (12 weeks)
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Interest cost	24			28			1			1
Expected return on assets	(32		)	(35		)	—			—
Amortization of prior service benefit	—			—			(4		)	(4		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	18			15			1			1
Pension settlement charge	—			63			—			—
Net periodic benefit expense (income)	$	10		$	71		$	(2	)	$	(2	)
Contributions to benefit plans	$	—		$	(47	)	$	—		$	—



	Year-To-Date Ended
	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	December 5, 2015 (40 weeks)			November 29, 2014 (40 weeks)			December 5, 2015 (40 weeks)			November 29, 2014 (40 weeks)
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Interest cost	81			94			3			3
Expected return on assets	(108		)	(118		)	—			—
Amortization of prior service benefit	—			—			(12		)	(12		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	60			49			4			3
Pension settlement charge	—			63			—			—
Net periodic benefit expense (income)	$	33		$	88		$	(5	)	$	(6	)
Contributions to benefit plans	$	(27	)	$	(114	)	$	(11	)	$	(1	)

During the third quarter ended December 5, 2015, the Company amended the SUPERVALU Retiree Benefit Plan to eliminate benefits provided by the plan for certain participants under a collective bargaining agreement. As a result of the plan amendment, certain SUPERVALU Retiree Benefit Plan obligations were re-measured using a discount rate of 4.25 percent and the MP-2015 mortality improvement scale. This re-measurement resulted in a $28 reduction of postretirement benefit obligations within Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations with a corresponding decrease to Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax.

Multiemployer Pension Plans

During fiscal 2016 and 2015 year-to-date, the Company contributed $31 and $29, respectively, to various multiemployer pension plans, primarily defined benefit pension plans, under collective bargaining agreements.

Pension Contributions

No minimum pension contributions are required to the Company's pension plans in fiscal 2016 in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). The Company anticipates fiscal 2016 discretionary pension contributions and required minimum other postretirement benefit plan contributions will be approximately $40 to $50.

Lump Sum Pension Settlement

During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company made lump sum settlement payments to certain deferred vested pension plan participants under a lump sum payment option window. The payments were equal to the present value of the participant’s pension benefits, and were made to certain former employees who were deferred vested participants in the SUPERVALU INC. Retirement Plan (the “SUPERVALU Retirement Plan”), who had not yet begun receiving monthly pension benefit payments and who elected to participate in the lump sum payment option window. In fiscal 2015 year-to-date, the SUPERVALU Retirement Plan made lump sum settlement payments of approximately $267. The lump sum settlement payments resulted in a non-cash pension settlement charge of $63 from the acceleration of a portion of the accumulated unrecognized actuarial loss. As a result of the lump sum settlements, the SUPERVALU Retirement Plan assets and liabilities were re-measured at November 29, 2014 using a discount rate of 4.1 percent, an expected rate of return on plan assets of 6.5 percent and the RP-2014 Generational Mortality Table. The re-measurement resulted in an increase to accumulated other comprehensive loss of $200 pre-tax ($141 after-tax) and a corresponding decrease to the SUPERVALU Retirement Plan's funded status.