Pension Plans And Postretirement Benefits

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Pension Plans And Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pension Plans And Postretirement Benefits

9. Pension Plans and Postretirement Benefits

Pension expense charged to operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 related to defined benefit pension plans included the following components (in thousands):

	For the Three Month						For the Nine Month
	Period Ended September 30,						Period Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Interest cost	$	2,722		$	2,800		$	8,165		$	8,432
Expected return on plan assets		(2,073	)		(1,641	)		(6,219	)		(4,449	)
Actuarial loss		1,463			241			4,389			732
Net pension expense	$	2,112		$	1,400		$	6,335		$	4,715

The Company contributed $2,900,000 to its defined benefit pension plan during the nine month period ended September 30, 2012.

Several subsidiaries provide certain healthcare and other benefits to certain retired employees under plans which are currently unfunded.  The Company pays the cost of postretirement benefits as they are incurred.  Amounts charged to expense were not significant in each of the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.