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 2024: Unions take a more active role in pensions
Unions have a new role in determining the shape of occupational pensions but are mindful of their duty to protect workers
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
Amundi builds on multi-layer private markets strategy for DACH region
The next steps in Amundi’s private markets strategy in Germany are to promote ‘healthy growth’ among institutional investors and double AUM to €5bn in the next 3 years
German parties relaunch pensions policies as election campaign starts
The Union plans to introduce mandatory pension schemes for the self-employed, while SPD will continue to support stable pensions at 48% of an early retirement for people with 45 years of contributions
Germany pushes EU Commission to scale back sustainability reporting rules
Germany asks EU Commission to postpone the CSRD application deadline by two years
German associations relax exclusion criteria for investments in defence sector
BVI and others publish a new version of ESG target market concept (Zielmarkt Konzept), scrapping revenues threshold to invest sustainably in the defence sector
Verka takes over operational business of German Red Cross pension scheme
Verka will manage close to €4bn by adding the €780m under the Deutschen Roten Kreuz scheme
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
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German pension reforms in limbo after coalition government collapse
The collapse of Germany’s three-way ‘traffic light’ coalition in November opens questions about the fate of the pension reforms it had drafted over the past couple of years. The government, led by Olaf Scholz, started in 2021 with a mission to reinforce the capital-funded component of the pension system.
IPE DACH Briefing: Germany mulls over increasing security/defence spending
Plus: Bundesrat recommends reviewing second pillar pension system; Swiss Federal Supreme Court rejects complaints on pension reform
Amundi builds on multi-layer private markets strategy for DACH region
The next steps in Amundi’s private markets strategy in Germany are to promote ‘healthy growth’ among institutional investors and double AUM to €5bn in the next 3 years
German parties relaunch pensions policies as election campaign starts
The Union plans to introduce mandatory pension schemes for the self-employed, while SPD will continue to support stable pensions at 48% of an early retirement for people with 45 years of contributions
Germany pushes EU Commission to scale back sustainability reporting rules
Germany asks EU Commission to postpone the CSRD application deadline by two years
German associations relax exclusion criteria for investments in defence sector
BVI and others publish a new version of ESG target market concept (Zielmarkt Konzept), scrapping revenues threshold to invest sustainably in the defence sector
Verka takes over operational business of German Red Cross pension scheme
Verka will manage close to €4bn by adding the €780m under the Deutschen Roten Kreuz scheme
German funds for professionals to apply new asset allocation stress test
Pension funds will pass the test if they have sufficient risk capital to cover stressed assets, and if the funding ratio is at least 100%
German government backs sustainable investing in defence sector
Sustainable investments association FNG says weapons are ‘not compatible with the principles of sustainable investing’
German Spezialfonds record worse capital inflows since 2008/09 financial crisis
Spezialfonds received net cash inflows of €1.7bn in July, but in August and September stood at almost the same amount, so ‘net new business’ came to only €45m
WTW to set up shop in Germany for pension buyout deals
German buyout market is worth potentially €600bn, according to consultancy Lurse
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