pre_text: Defined Benefit Plan We maintain defined benefit pension plans for certain of our non-U.S. employees in the U.K., Germany, and Philippines. Each plan is managed locally and in accordance with respective local laws and regulations. In order to measure the expense and related benefit obligation, various assumptions are made including discount rates used to value the obligation, expected return on plan assets used to fund these expenses and estimated future inflation rates. These assumptions are based on historical experience as well as facts and circumstances. An actuarial analysis is used to measure the expense and liability associated with pension benefits. In connection with the acquisition of Artesyn in September of 2019, the Company acquired certain pension plans and, as a result, started including the related balances in its Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2019 and the expenses attributable to these plans for the period from September 10, 2019 to December 31, 2019 in its Consolidated Statement of Operations. See Note 2. Business Acquisitions for more details on this transaction. ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) (in thousands, except per share amounts) The information provided below includes one pension plan which is part of discontinued operations. As such, all related liabilities and expenses are reported in discontinued operations in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Operations for all periods presented. The Company’s projected benefit obligation and plan assets for defined benefit pension plans at December 31, 2019 and 2018 and the related assumptions used to determine the related liabilities are as follows:
table: Years Ended December 31,
table: 2019 2018
table: Projected benefit obligation, beginning of year $  33,178 $  34,498
table: Acquisition 48,350 1,063
table: Service cost 272 841
table: Interest cost 1,211 802
table: Actuarial loss (193) (988)
table: Benefits paid (1,779) (1,113)
table: Translation adjustment 2,223 (1,925)
table: Projected benefit obligation, end of year $  83,262 $  33,178
table: Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year $  13,433 $  14,181
table: Acquisitions 102 981
table: Actual return on plan assets 380 675
table: Contributions 644 828
table: Benefits paid (1,176) (1,086)
table: Actuarial gain 1,064 (1,357)
table: Translation adjustment 456 (789)
table: Fair value of plan assets, end of year $  14,903 $  13,433
table: Funded status of plan $  (68,359) $  (19,745)
question: Analyse this data from a financial earnings document. What was the change in service cost between 2018 and 2019?