Germany: Pensions and Investment News and Analysis
There has been much talk and little progress in German occupational pensions in recent years – certainly when it comes to DC-style ‘social partner pensions’, introduced in 2018, where takeup has been minimal. Now the government is looking reform the law to make them more attractive. A state buffer fund has been under discussion for several years – this could amass assets of €200bn. The current finance minister, Christian Lindner, is now also looking to boost third-pillar savings. With federal elections in September 2025, time is looking tight.
Pension Funds in Germany - Country Report
Germany country report 2025: New government faces choices on pensions reform
The collapse of Germany’s three-party coalition last year left behind a backlog of laws and proposals on pensions. What happens now?
TOP GERMAN PENSION FUNDS 2024
Pension fund/entity | Assets (€’000)
- Bayersiche Versorgungskamer (BVK) | 111,900,000
- VBL | 59,300,000
- BVV | 34,158,074
- Siemens AG | 26,055,000
- Daimler AG | 21,890,000
©IPE Research; View the Top 1000 European Pensions Funds 2024 for a comprehensive market overview
Leading German pension fund brands infrastructure rule changes ‘useless’ without stress test
Rule changes also allow five percentage points extra headroom for equity, private equity and riskier debt
IPE DACH Briefing: Germany’s historic deal on €500bn fund
Plus: German Association of Actuaries (DAV) warns industry not to lose sight of pension reform; Switzerland’s custodian mandates
German Pensionskassen want progress to free up capital for private markets
BASF Pensionskasse chair calls for clarity from new government on reforms and for BaFin to speed up on allowing greater risk-taking by Pensionskassen
Germany’s first pillar manager, employers slam first grand coalition pension plans
Discussions should revolve around the contribution rate and the level of pension, says DRV’s Gundula Rossbach
Germany expects new wave of buyout transactions tipped to reach €60bn
VEDRA Pensions has signed a deal to take over pension obligations of Hauck Aufhäuser Lampe Privatbank, the first in Germany for a bank
TOP MANAGERS: GERMAN INSTITUTIONAL ASSETS
Company | Assets (€m)
- MEAG | 261,068
- Union Investement | 211,291**
- Allianz Global Investors | 163,831***
- DWS | 162,690***
- DekaBank | 146,760*
- Generali Asset Management | 103,665***
- BayernInvest 91,462***
- LBBW Asset Management | 71,518**
- AXA Investment Managers | 65,951
- Amundi | 59,951
As at 30.9.23, *29.10.23, **30.11.23, ***31.12.23
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IPE BEST PENSION FUND IN GERMANY AWARD WINNERS
- 2023 - Bosch Pensionsfonds
- 2022 - Bosch Pensionsfonds
- 2021 - Bosch Pensionsfonds
- 2020 - Bosch Pensionsfonds
- 2019 - Ärzteversorgung Westfalen-Lippe | Telekom Pension Fund
Interviews
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German pension funds need to step up in fight to boost economic growth
Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) parties, together with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), have now entered negotiations to form a new ‘grand coalition’ government
Leading German pension fund brands infrastructure rule changes ‘useless’ without stress test
Rule changes also allow five percentage points extra headroom for equity, private equity and riskier debt
IPE DACH Briefing: Germany’s historic deal on €500bn fund
Plus: German Association of Actuaries (DAV) warns industry not to lose sight of pension reform; Switzerland’s custodian mandates
German Pensionskassen want progress to free up capital for private markets
BASF Pensionskasse chair calls for clarity from new government on reforms and for BaFin to speed up on allowing greater risk-taking by Pensionskassen
Germany’s first pillar manager, employers slam first grand coalition pension plans
Discussions should revolve around the contribution rate and the level of pension, says DRV’s Gundula Rossbach
Germany expects new wave of buyout transactions tipped to reach €60bn
VEDRA Pensions has signed a deal to take over pension obligations of Hauck Aufhäuser Lampe Privatbank, the first in Germany for a bank
Germany’s historic deal on €500bn fund is a game changer for future growth
CDU/CSU and SPD have agreed on financial package and a reform of the debt brake to invest in infrastructure and revitalise the country’s economy
Germany country report 2025: New government faces choices on pensions reform
The collapse of Germany’s three-party coalition last year left behind a backlog of laws and proposals on pensions. What happens now?
Can pension funds help German economy get back on its feet through investment in growth start-ups?
WIN, a government-sponsored initiative to boost investment in growth start-ups, has received widespread but not wholesale backing
A long-term view on German institutional investment
A 10-year Spezialfonds analysis of German institutional funds highlights how significantly the institutional investment landscape has evolved
IPE institutional market survey: Managers of German institutional assets 2025
The IPE Germany Survey 2025 captures €2.1trn in assets managed on behalf of German institutional clients by 80 asset managers, including €438bn belonging to German pension funds.
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