Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

PENSIONS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

v3.19.1
PENSIONS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]  
PENSIONS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
NOTE 9 - PENSIONS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
We offer defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution pension plans and OPEB plans, primarily consisting of retiree healthcare benefits, to most employees as part of a total compensation and benefits program. The defined benefit pension plans are noncontributory and benefits generally are based on a minimum formula or employees’ years of service and average earnings for a defined period prior to retirement.
The following are the components of defined benefit pension and OPEB costs:
Defined Benefit Pension Costs
 
(In Millions)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Service cost
$
4.1

 
$
4.7

Interest cost
8.7

 
7.6

Expected return on plan assets
(13.6
)
 
(15.0
)
Amortization:
 
 
 
Prior service costs
0.3

 
0.5

Net actuarial loss
5.9

 
5.3

Net periodic benefit cost
$
5.4

 
$
3.1


Other Postretirement Benefits Credits
 
(In Millions)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Service cost
$
0.4

 
$
0.5

Interest cost
2.3

 
2.1

Expected return on plan assets
(4.2
)
 
(4.6
)
Amortization:
 
 
 
Prior service credits
(0.5
)
 
(0.8
)
Net actuarial loss
1.3

 
1.2

Net periodic benefit credit
$
(0.7
)
 
$
(1.6
)

Based on funding requirements, we made pension contributions of $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to pension contributions of $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. OPEB contributions are typically made on an annual basis in the first quarter of each year, but due to plan funding requirements being met, no OPEB contributions were required or made for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.