56 TORSTAR 2004 Information concerning the company's post employment benefit plans as at December 31 is as follows: Pension Plans Post Employment Benefit Plans 2004 2003 2004 2003 Accrued benefit obligations Balance, beginning of year $557,496 $492,595 $56,815 $47,609 Current service cost 13,375 11,067 660 589 Interest cost 33,368 31,785 3,369 3,086 Benefits paid (35,377) (21,292) (2,271) (2,099) Actuarial losses 21,375 36,525 1,509 7,430 Participant contributions 7,760 7,387 Past service costs 388 Foreign exchange (802) (2,159) Special termination benefits 2,009 Acquisitions 430 200 Plan amendments 52 1,158 Balance, end of year $599,644 $557,496 $60,082 $56,815 Plans’ assets Fair value, beginning of year $502,572 $421,844 Return on plan assets 52,574 63,359 Benefits paid (35,377) (21,292) Contributions to plan 50,078 17,057 Incremental employer contribution 23,000 Foreign exchange (548) (1,396) Fair value, end of year $569,299 $502,572 Funded status – deficit ($30,345) ($54,923) ($60,082) ($56,815) Unamortized losses 107,120 107,727 9,612 8,260 Unrecognized prior service costs 9,304 8,925 Accrued benefit asset (liability) $86,079 $61,729 ($50,470) ($48,555) Recorded in: Other assets $103,216 $86,752 Other liabilities (17,137) (25,023) ($50,470) ($48,555) Accrued benefit asset (liability) $86,079 $61,729 ($50,470) ($48,555) Net benefit expense for the year Current service cost $13,375 $11,067 $660 $589 Interest cost on benefit obligation 33,368 31,785 3,369 3,086 Actual return on plan assets (52,574) (63,359) Actuarial loss on benefit obligation 21,375 36,525 1,509 7,430 Past service costs 595 1,340 Difference between expected return  and actual return on plan assets 17,481 34,006 Difference between net actuarial loss recognized and actual actuarial loss on benefit obligation (17,712) (32,104) (1,299) (7,427) Difference between recognized and  actual past service costs 133 (706) Net benefit expense $16,041 $18,554 $4,239 $3,678 TORSTAR CORPORATION