Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

v3.20.1
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
 6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
The Company provides defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans to certain employees. Net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit cost for the plans included the following:
  Three months ended March 31,
  Pension Other Postretirement
  2020 2019 2020 2019
Service cost $ 2,170    $ 2,000    $ 64    $ 61   
Interest cost * 1,933    2,301    140    180   
Expected return on plan assets * (2,232)   (2,596)   —    —   
Amortization:        
Prior service cost (47)   (46)   (23)   (49)  
Net actuarial loss (gain) * 2,386    1,100    —    (15)  
Net benefit cost $ 4,210    $ 2,759    $ 181    $ 177   

  Six months ended March 31,
  Pension Other Postretirement
  2020 2019 2020 2019
Service cost $ 4,340    $ 4,000    $ 128    $ 122   
Interest cost * 3,866    4,602    280    360   
Expected return on plan assets * (4,464)   (5,192)   —    —   
Amortization:        
Prior service cost (94)   (92)   (46)   (98)  
Net actuarial loss (gain) * 4,773    2,161    —    (30)  
Net benefit cost $ 8,421    $ 5,479    $ 362    $ 354   
* Non-service components of pension and postretirement expense are included in other income (deductions), net.
Benefit payments under the Company's principal retirement plan are made from plan assets, while benefit payments under the postretirement benefit plan are made from the Company's operating funds. In response to coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19"), the federal government passed a modified relief bill, which provides additional funding measures associated with IRS regulations. In accordance with this bill, the Company is no longer required to make contributions for fiscal 2020 to its principal retirement plan.
Note 11.   Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (continued)

Contributions made and anticipated for fiscal year 2020 are as follows:
Contributions Pension Other Postretirement
Contributions during the six months ended March 31, 2020:    
Supplemental retirement plan $ 382    $ —   
Other postretirement plan —    457   
Additional contributions expected in fiscal 2020:    
Supplemental retirement plan $ 500    $ —   
Other postretirement plan —    532