United States Steel Corp., Pittsburgh, contributed $130 million to its main U.S. pension plan in the first quarter, according to a filing with the SEC. U.S. Steel had $7.55 billion in combined pension assets as of Dec. 31, according to its annual report. The plans were underfunded by $381 million at the end of 2004. U.S. Steel contributed $295 million to the main domestic plan in 2004, and company officials estimated it would make $130 million in voluntary contributions to the main domestic plan in 2005, the annual report said. D. John Armstrong, U.S. Steel spokesman, said the company does not break down total plan assets cited in the annual report.
Separately, United Technologies Corp., Hartford, Conn., contributed $80 million — including $65 million in voluntary contributions — to its $11.8 billion U.S. defined benefit plan in the first quarter, according to the company's 10-Q report filed today with the SEC. The company also contributed $39 million to its $11.2 billion defined contribution plan in the first quarter. United Technologies plans to contribute at least $500 million in cash and stock to its global pension plans this year, as company officials previously indicated.
