AK Steel Holding Corp., Middletown, Ohio, expects to contribute $45...

AK Steel Holding Corp., Middletown, Ohio, expects to contribute $45 million to its pension plans in 2004, according to the company's second-quarter report. AK Steel isn't obligated to fund its plans this year or in 2005 because of recent changes in federal pension funding rules, the filing said. The pension plans had total assets of $2.58 billion as of Dec. 31 and liabilities of $1.13 billion. AK Steel officials didn't return calls seeking comment by press time.