Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

The Company sponsors several defined benefit pension plans covering U.S. salaried employees and certain foreign and other employee groups. These plans provide retirement benefits based primarily on employee compensation and years of service. The Company also sponsors defined benefit plans that provide postretirement health and life insurance benefits for eligible U.S. employees attaining specific age and service levels.

The components of the Company’s net periodic benefit cost were as follows:



	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended June 30,						Three Months Ended June 30,
(in thousands of dollars)	2016			2015			2016			2015

Service cost	$	1,361		$	1,483		$	73		$	108
Interest cost	2,469			2,346			375			407
Expected return on plan assets	(3,589		)	(3,576		)	(11		)	(15		)
Net amortization and deferral	838			1,199			(100		)	(44		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,079		$	1,452		$	337		$	456

The net periodic benefit cost for the Company's pension and other postretirement benefit plans has declined from the prior fiscal year, primarily reflecting actuarial gains from higher market discount rates applicable to the most recent actuarial measurement of benefit liabilities.

During the three months ended June 30, 2016, the Company made contributions of approximately $3.2 million to its pension plans. Additional contributions of approximately $4.1 million are expected during the remaining nine months of fiscal year 2017, including $2.7 million to the Company's ERISA-regulated U.S. plan and $1.4 million to its non-ERISA regulated and other plans.