Offloading pension liabilities.

Companies sell unwanted pension debts to insurers
:

"Under structured buyouts, companies can select a group of current or deferred pension fund members and sell the assets and liabilities relating to their retirement savings to the insurer. For example, a medium-sized business with a few directors or executives whose generous pension promises make up a huge part of the company’s liabilities could sell those promises to the Pru."

It makes sense to me that these liabilities are managed by financial firms rather than those that make plastic cups. It sems to be bizzar structure that allow mortal firms to be in charge of the long term assets of individuals. However, it appears that, in many cases, only some of the liabilities can be removed. Many firms will not be able to afford the immediate cost of removing this problem.