Sara Lee Corp., Chicago, expects to contribute $236 million to its pension plans in its fiscal year ended July 2, 2005, compared with $112 million the year earlier, according to the company's annual report filed with the SEC. The plans have a combined $3.56 billion in assets, and the company's pension liabilities exceeded assets by $1.54 billion as of July 3. Kathleen Gilgunn, spokeswoman, would not say how many pension plans the company has; according to Money Market Directory, Sara Lee has a defined benefit plan, two 401(k) plans and an ESOP.
The plans had a net actuarial loss of $1.34 billion at the end of fiscal 2004, compared with a net actuarial loss of $1.62 billion at the end of fiscal 2003.
