BENEFIT PLANS

We sponsor several defined benefit pension plans. Additionally, we provide varying levels of postretirement health care and life insurance benefits to some U.S. employees.

During the nine months ended March 31, 2015 we recognized a special termination benefit charge of $0.5 million and a curtailment loss of $0.4 million for one of our U.S.-based defined benefit pension plans resulting from a plant closure. The special termination benefit charge was recognized in restructuring expense.

The table below summarizes the components of net periodic pension (income):



	Three Months Ended March 31,						Nine Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2015			2014			2015			2014
Service cost	$	1,349		$	1,731		$	4,148		$	5,179
Interest cost	9,575			10,311			29,256			30,795
Expected return on plan assets	(14,797		)	(14,920		)	(44,744		)	(44,632		)
Amortization of transition obligation	18			20			58			58
Amortization of prior service credit	(72		)	(58		)	(213		)	(175		)
Recognition of actuarial losses	871			671			2,809			1,983
Curtailment loss	—			—			358			—
Special termination benefit charge	—			—			459			—
Net periodic pension (income)	$	(3,056	)	$	(2,245	)	$	(7,869	)	$	(6,792	)

The table below summarizes the components of net periodic other postretirement benefit cost:



	Three Months Ended March 31,						Nine Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2015			2014			2015			2014
Service cost	$	27		$	14		$	81		$	42
Interest cost	259			251			778			753
Amortization of prior service credit (cost)	(28		)	(28		)	(83		)	(84		)
Recognition of actuarial loss	207			79			621			237
Curtailment gain	—			—			(221		)	—
Net periodic other postretirement benefit cost	$	465		$	316		$	1,176		$	948

The curtailment gain of $0.2 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2015 was a result of the plant closure discussed above.