Retirement Plans

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

The following tables show the net periodic benefit cost related to the Retirement Income Plan for Selective Insurance Company of America (“Retirement Income Plan”) and the life insurance benefits provided to eligible Selective Insurance Company of America retirees (referred to as the "Retirement Life Plan"). For more information concerning these plans, refer to Note 15. “Retirement Plans” in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” of our 2014 Annual Report.



	Retirement Income Plan Quarter ended June 30,					Retirement Life Plan Quarter ended June 30,
($ in thousands)	2015			2014		2015	2014
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:

Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Service cost	$	1,963		1,626		—	—
Interest cost	3,501			3,253		63	73
Expected return on plan assets	(3,990		)	(3,918	)	—	—
Amortization of unrecognized net actuarial loss	1,695			368		14	13
Total net periodic cost	$	3,169		1,329		77	86



	Retirement Income Plan Six Months ended June 30,					Retirement Life Plan Six Months ended June 30,
($ in thousands)	2015			2014		2015	2014
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:

Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Service cost	$	3,927		3,253		—	—
Interest cost	7,003			6,507		126	146
Expected return on plan assets	(7,981		)	(7,837	)	—	—
Amortization of unrecognized net actuarial loss	3,390			735		28	26
Total net periodic cost	$	6,339		2,658		154	172



	Retirement Income Plan Six Months ended June 30,			Retirement Life Plan Six Months ended June 30,
	2015		2014	2015		2014
Weighted-Average Expense Assumptions:
Discount rate	4.29	%	5.16	4.08	%	4.85
Expected return on plan assets	6.27		6.92	—		—
Rate of compensation increase	4.00		4.00	—		—

We presently anticipate contributing $11.9 million to the Retirement Income Plan in 2015, $6.4 million of which has been funded as of June 30, 2015.