Pension shortfalls threaten to explode

Date: Monday, May 12, 2003

$18-billion in investment losses will force companies to shell out more to fund benefits plans. Canada's largest corporations face mounting demands on cash and higher expenses because of dramatically deepening losses last year in their employee pension plans. There also is a move to what he describes as "alternative investments" such as hedge funds and private equity deals. Managers, he says, are looking to improve their risk-adjusted returns. But higher returns are unlikely to take funds entirely out of their $18.7-billion hole. For the full story go to: http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030512.wxrpens/BNStory/Business/