Aetna making $245 million pension contribution

Aetna Inc., Hartford, Conn., will make a voluntary pension contribution of $245 million in 2004, the company said in its 2003 annual report, filed with the SEC. "In good years and bad, the company has made voluntary contributions to the plan," said Fred Laberge, Aetna spokesman. Aetna recorded a net pension cost of $159 million in 2003, according to the annual report. Plan assets totaled $3.5 billion on Sept. 30, with total liabilities of $4.3 billion, the report said.