Pension Fund Managers Focus on Risk

Source: MetLife Press Release

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: MARKET VOLATILITY LEADS TO BROADENED VIEW OF U.S. PENSION RISKS, ACCORDING TO METLIFE STUDY

Second Annual MetLife U.S. Pension Risk Behavior Index Study^SM Shows a “Democratization” of Pension Risk Factors and Greater Attention Paid to Liability-Related Risks

New York, NY, February 23, 2010 — What a difference a year makes. Against the backdrop of one of the most volatile market environments in recent memory, risk management priorities for the largest U.S. defined benefit (DB) pension plans have expanded significantly in the last twelve months. According to MetLife’s second annual U.S. Pension Risk Behavior Index Study^SM, a survey of 166 corporate plan sponsors from among the 1,000 largest U.S. defined benefit (DB) pension plans, plan sponsors are now taking a much broader view of the 18 investment, liability and business risks to which their plans are exposed. As a result, most plan sponsors believe that they’re doing a better job implementing risk management measures this year than they did last. Despite a broadened view and greater self-ascribed success, the gap between the risk factors plan sponsors identify as “important” — and their reported “success” at managing those risk factors — has widened considerably.

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