Switzerland: Pensions and Investment News and Analysis
The country’s direct democracy has a lot to say about pensions in what is Europe’s third-largest pension market. A March 2024 referendum backed a higher state pension – the only issue is financing the hike, a problem the government is currently grappling with. A referendum on 22 September 2024 centres on a proposal to boost workplace pensions by maintaining benefits and protecting lower paid and part-time workers. It will lower pension accrual and increase contributions. The central motion has been backed by government, parliament, employers and the pension association ASIP, but not by unions.
Pension Funds in Switzerland - Country Report
Switzerland country report 2024: The trouble with Swiss second-pillar pension reform
Attempts to reform occupational pensions continue to fail, risking undermining public trust. But pension funds have already been making their own pragmatic changes
TOP SWISS PENSION FUNDS 2024
Pension fund/entity | Assets (€’000)
- Compenswiss/Swiss Federal Social Security Funds | 45,603,811
- PUBLICA | 43,640,320
- Kanton Zürich (BVK) | 42,843,506
- UBS Pensionskasse | 30,635,160
- Migros (MPK) | 30,597,045
©IPE Research; View the Top 1000 European Pensions Funds 2024 for a comprehensive market overview
Ethos sets stricter voting conditions on corporate governance
The situation in terms of diversity on the board of directors of Swiss companies is ‘worrying’, says foundation
Swiss alliance pushes for stricter constitutional rules on climate, biodiversity
Finanzplatz-Initiative aims to collect 100,000 signatures necessary to hold a referendum and enshrine new set of rules on sustainability in constitution
Publica hires new chief investment officer from VBL
Sandro Doudin will take over as head of asset management and member of the Publica’s management board on 1 July 2025
Swiss pension fund CEO slams regulator for meddling in schemes’ operations
Emmanuel Ullmann of PKSO says OAK BV is ‘intervening very heavily in the operational machine room’ of a pension fund
Swiss pension funds call for review of ESG reporting standards
Swiss schemes have faced challenges with data collection, processing and consolidation when reporting for the first time
TOP MANAGERS: SWISS INSTITUTIONAL ASSETS
Company | Assets (€m)
- Zürcher Kantonalbank | 259,829*
- UBS Asset Management | 257,813[1]
- Swiss Life Asset Management | 131,028
- Pictet Asset Management | 72,132*
- AXA Investment Managers | 66,904
- BlackRock | 55,609
- Record Currency Mangement | 53,436***
- Vontobel | 51,459*
- Mesirow Currency Management | 47,619**
- Baloise Asset Management | 38,295
As at 30.6.24, *31.8.24, **30.9.24 ***28.6.24
[1] Excludes Credit Suisse Asset Management AUM
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IPE BEST PENSION FUND IN SWITZERLAND AWARD WINNERS
- 2023 - Pensionskasse Manor
- 2022 - CERN Pension Fund
- 2021 - Pensionskasse Bosch Schweiz
- 2020 - Pensionskasse Manor
- 2019 - CPEG, Caisse de prévoyance de l’Etat de Genève
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Swiss pension funds reform second-pillar pensions from the bottom up
September’s referendum on the reform of second-pillar pensions demonstrates that comprehensive proposals engineered from the top down don’t always bring the expected results. The latest proposal was roundly defeated by two thirds of the electorate.
Ethos sets stricter voting conditions on corporate governance
The situation in terms of diversity on the board of directors of Swiss companies is ‘worrying’, says foundation
Swiss alliance pushes for stricter constitutional rules on climate, biodiversity
Finanzplatz-Initiative aims to collect 100,000 signatures necessary to hold a referendum and enshrine new set of rules on sustainability in constitution
Publica hires new chief investment officer from VBL
Sandro Doudin will take over as head of asset management and member of the Publica’s management board on 1 July 2025
IPE DACH Briefing: Germany’s pensions industry looks to new government for reforms
Plus: Transition to DC schemes in Germany; ASIP and Publica in Switzerland warn of consequences of higher lump-sum withdrawals
Swiss pension fund CEO slams regulator for meddling in schemes’ operations
Emmanuel Ullmann of PKSO says OAK BV is ‘intervening very heavily in the operational machine room’ of a pension fund
Swiss pension funds call for review of ESG reporting standards
Swiss schemes have faced challenges with data collection, processing and consolidation when reporting for the first time
Swiss government assesses 71 pension funds on climate
More than 60% of respondents have partially integrated a net zero target into internal strategy, however, only just under a third have publicly committed to it, says report
Swiss government backs opposing tax rules on pensions
Backing law that allows retroactive payments of pension contributions contrasts with government’s plan to increase taxes on savings withdrawals
Increasing lump sum withdrawals weaken pension system, says Publica
Capital withdrawals upon retirement are becoming increasingly important throughout Switzerland
Swiss parliamentary committee reopens discussions on financing 13th month of pension payout
MPs in the committee concluded that the parliament should take time to conduct a “serious and documented analysis” of different financing options
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