6. Deferred Compensation and Retirement Plans

The Company has several deferred compensation and retirement plans for eligible consultants and vice-presidents that provide defined benefits to participants based on the deferral of current compensation or contributions made by the Company subject to vesting and retirement or termination provisions. In June 2003, the Company amended the deferred compensation plans, with the exception of the ECAP and international retirement plans, so as not to allow new participants or the purchase of additional deferral units by existing participants.

The components of net periodic benefit costs are as follows:


	Three Months Ended January 31,				Nine Months Ended January 31,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Amortization of actuarial loss	$	763	$	780	$	2,288	$	2,339
Interest cost		747		675		2,242		2,027

Net periodic benefit costs	$	1,510	$	1,455	$	4,530	$	4,366

The Company purchased COLI contracts insuring employees eligible to participate in the deferred compensation and pension plans as a means of funding benefits under such plans. The gross CSV of these contracts of $169.9 million and $167.2 million is offset by outstanding policy loans of $69.6 million and $72.9 million in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2015 and April 30, 2014, respectively. The CSV value of the underlying COLI investments increased by $3.0 million and $8.5 million during the three and nine months ended January 31, 2015, respectively, and is recorded as a decrease in compensation and benefits expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of income. The CSV value of the underlying COLI investments increased by $1.8 million and $6.4 million during the three and nine months ended January 31, 2014, respectively, and is recorded as a decrease in compensation and benefits expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of income.

The Company has an ECAP, which is intended to provide certain employees an opportunity to defer salary and/or bonus on a pre-tax basis or make an after-tax contribution. In addition, the Company, as part of its compensation philosophy, makes discretionary contributions into the ECAP and such contributions may be granted to key employees annually based upon employee performance. Certain key management may also receive Company ECAP contributions upon commencement of employment. The Company made contributions to the ECAP during the three and nine months ended January 31, 2015 of $0.5 million and $19.1 million, respectively. The Company made contributions to the ECAP during the three and nine months ended January 31, 2014 of $0.4 million and $17.1 million, respectively. As these contributions vest, the amounts are recorded as a liability in deferred compensation and other retirement plans on the accompanying balance sheet and compensation and benefits on the accompanying consolidated statement of income. Participants generally vest in Company contributions over a four year period.

The ECAP is accounted for whereby the changes in the fair value of the vested amounts owed to the participants are adjusted with a corresponding charge (or credit) to compensation and benefits costs. During the three months ended January 31, 2015, deferred compensation liability decreased; therefore, the Company recognized a decrease in compensation expense of $0.4 million. During the nine months ended January 31, 2015, deferred compensation liability increased; therefore, the Company recognized an increase in compensation expense of $2.3 million. During the three and nine months ended January 31, 2014, deferred compensation liability increased; therefore, the Company recognized an increase in compensation expense of $1.1 million and $6.1 million, respectively. Offsetting these changes in compensation and benefits expense was a decrease in the fair value of marketable securities classified as trading (held in trust to satisfy obligations under certain deferred compensation liabilities), therefore, the Company recognized an increase in other (loss) income of $0.2 million during the three months ended January 31, 2015 (see Note 5 — Marketable Securities). During the nine months ended January 31, 2015, there was an increase in the fair value of marketable securities classified as trading (held in trust to satisfy obligations under certain deferred compensation liabilities), therefore, the Company recognized a decrease in other (loss) income of $4.3 million (see Note 5 — Marketable Securities). During the three and nine months ended January 31, 2014, there was an increase in the fair value of marketable securities classified as trading (held in trust to satisfy obligations under certain deferred compensation liabilities), therefore, the Company recognized a decrease in other (loss) income of $1.2 million and $7.6 million during the three and nine months ended January 31, 2014, respectively (see Note 5 — Marketable Securities).