PBGC Reaches Pension Settlement with United Airlines

WASHINGTON—The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) announced today that it has reached a settlement with United Airlines over the termination of the company’s pension plans.

“We believe that this agreement, under the circumstances, is in the best interests of the pension insurance program and its stakeholders," said PBGC Executive Director Bradley D. Belt. “The PBGC has an obligation to reduce its losses for the protection of workers and retirees, other companies that pay insurance premiums, and taxpayers. By reaching a settlement now, we further that goal.

Under the terms of the agreement, which must still be approved by the bankruptcy court overseeing UAL’s restructuring, the PBGC would terminate and become trustee of the company’s four pension plans and the agency’s claims against the company would be settled. The PBGC and its financial advisers believe the settlement is superior to the recovery the agency would have received as an unsecured creditor in bankruptcy.

Collectively, United’s pension plans are underfunded by $9.8 billion on a termination basis, $6.6 billion of which is guaranteed, according to the PBGC. The four plans are: the UA Pilot Defined Benefit Plan, which covers 14,100 participants and has $2.8 billion in assets to pay $5.7 billion in promised benefits; the United Airlines Ground Employees Retirement Plan, which covers 36,100 participants and has $1.3 billion in assets to pay $4.0 billion in promised benefits; the UA Flight Attendant Defined Benefit Pension Plan, which covers 28,600 participants and has $1.4 billion in assets to pay $3.3 billion in promised benefits; and the Management, Administrative and Public Contact Defined Benefit Pension Plan, which covers 42,700 participants and has $1.5 billion in assets to pay $3.8 billion in promised benefits.

As of September 30, 2004, the PBGC’s own balance sheet showed a $23.3 billion deficit, with $39 billion in assets to pay $62.3 billion in guaranteed pension benefits to more than 1 million workers and retirees. By law, the PBGC is required to keep premiums as low as possible and has no call on the U.S. Treasury beyond a $100 million line of credit.

“This again highlights the need for the comprehensive pension reform. Unless and until Congress fixes the rules that allow pension plans to become so underfunded, the insurance program and plan participants are at risk of suffering large financial losses," Belt said.

The PBGC is a federal corporation created under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. It currently guarantees payment of basic pension benefits for about 44 million American workers and retirees participating in over 31,000 private-sector defined benefit pension plans.

PBGC No. 05-36