![List of the 400 largest Pension Funds in Europe [Update 2024]](https://www.thousandinvestors.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Pension-Funds-Europe.png)
This list includes the 400 largest pension funds from Europe. Available data points within the lists are email addresses, LinkedIn pages and AUM approximations (in €M). The list was created on February 15th, 2024.Description
Pension funds in Europe are crucial institutions that manage savings for retirement, ensuring individuals’ long-term financial security. These funds pool contributions from employees, employers, and sometimes the government, investing them across a diverse portfolio of assets such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and infrastructure. With the aging population in many European countries, pension funds are becoming increasingly important in driving investment in sustainable industries, with many funds integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into their investment strategies. The stability and performance of these funds are essential for the economic well-being of retirees and the broader financial system. In the following, we are introducing you to three of the largest pension investment funds in Europe that are also part of our list.
1. Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP (Netherlands)
The Dutch ABP (Algemeen Burgerlijk Pensioenfonds) is one of the largest pension funds globally, managing assets exceeding €570 billion. Based in Heerlen, Netherlands, the fund was established in 1922 and primarily serves civil servants. Its investment strategy spans a variety of asset classes, including bonds, equities, and real estate. With an ambitious target of achieving an average annual return of 4.5%, ABP has been a prominent player in the pension fund sector.
In 2021, ABP made a significant decision to divest from fossil fuel producers, aligning its investments with sustainability goals. This move underscores the fund’s growing emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in its portfolio, reflecting a broader trend in the investment community to address climate change and support sustainable industries
Update 2024: In 2023, the Dutch pension fund Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP acquired Kentner, a Dutch energy infrastructure solutions company, together with OMERS.
2. Pensioenfonds Zorg en Welzijn (Netherlands)
The PGGM pension fund, based in Zeist, the Netherlands, is one of the country’s largest pension funds, with over €270 billion in assets under management. It is a key player in global investment markets, notably through its subsidiary AlpInvest Partners, which focuses on private equity investments. PGGM’s investment strategy also includes shares, bonds, funds managed by external asset managers, and securities lending.
Aiming to align its investment portfolio with sustainable development goals (SDGs), PGGM has set a target for 30% of its investments to contribute to SDGs by 2030. By the end of 2022, the fund had already invested over €46.7 billion in projects and companies that support these global sustainability objectives. This commitment highlights PGGM’s proactive approach in integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into its investment strategy, making it a notable example of a pension fund prioritizing long-term, responsible investing.
3. Norway Government Pension Fund Global (Norway)
The Norwegian Government Pension Fund is a major global investor, holding substantial stakes in over 8,800 companies across the world. With investments representing about 1.5% of all listed companies globally, the fund is one of the largest and most influential investors in financial markets.It is actively involved in four main investment areas: equities, bonds, real estate, and renewable energy infrastructure.
The fund’s commitment to responsible investing is a cornerstone of its strategy. In renewable energy, for example, it holds a 50% stake in a joint wind project with Ørsted A/S and a 16.63% share in the “He Dreiht” offshore wind farm, a collaboration with EnBW in Germany. These investments highlight the Norwegian Government Pension Fund’s ongoing shift towards sustainable projects and its role in supporting the global transition to cleaner energy. The fund’s diversified portfolio also demonstrates its broader financial influence and dedication to long-term, responsible investing strategies
Picture source: Unsplash+
Columns included in our list
Through our list, you can get an overview of the largest European pension funds. In detail, the list offers the most important data points to get in touch with the most important pension plan providers:
- Name
- Country
- URL
- E-Mail (if available)
- LinkedIn Page (if available)
- Assets under Management in €M (approximation, if available)
Especially the LinkedIn pages of the pension funds helps to get in touch with the executives and investment managers of the included firms.
Picture source: Alexander Kagan
European countries with most pension funds
In Europe, only a few countries in Europe have a relevant number of active pension funds. The European countries with most pension funds are the United Kingdom (UK), Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland.
UK Pension Funds
In the United Kingdom (UK), there are more than 70 major pension funds. Many firms in the UK offer workplace pension schemes. One major pension fund in the UK is, for example, the Universities Superannuation Scheme. The pension fund invests in listed equities, private markets, fixed income, as well as govermental bonds.
Netherlands Pension Funds
One pillar of the Dutch pension system is based on collectively contributing to a pension fund together with the employer. A major Dutch pension fund is, for instance, the Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP. The fund manages more than €600BN and is an active investor. For instance, the pension fund is a large stakeholder in an European car park manager or the Portuguese motorway opeartion company.
Switzerland Pension Funds
Also in Switzerland, company-powered pension plans are an essential part of the retirement planning of the employees. Hence, there is a large number of pension funds in Switzerland. For example, one major pension fund is the “Pensionskasse des Bundes PUBLICA”. The Swiss pension fund invests in various asset classes, for instance goverment bonds, corporate bonds, Swiss and global equities and real estate.
Germany Pension Funds
In Germany, once pension funds, mostly initiated by large companies, were a cornerstone of the retirement system. Today, most pension funds are slowly disappearing from the market. However, there are still some major pension plans active in Germany. For example, the Bayerische Versorgungskammer is still a large-scale pension plan that is also an active investor in real estate. The fund manages more than €107BN and invests in equities, alternative investments (like private equity, infrastructure, timber and hedge funds), as well as debt papers and real estate. In the real estate sector, the pension fund invests in funds as well as direct investments.
Source: Benjamin Davies, Charles Postiaux (UK), Javier M (Netherlands), Henrique Ferreira (Switzerland), Jan Antonin Kolar (Germany)
![List of the 100 largest Pension Funds in the Netherlands [Update 2024]](https://www.thousandinvestors.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Pension-Funds-Netherlands.png)
![List of the 80 largest Pension Funds in Switzerland [Update 2024]](https://www.thousandinvestors.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Pension-Funds-Switzerland-1.png)
![List of the 70 largest Pension Funds in the UK [Update 2024]](https://www.thousandinvestors.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Pension-Funds-UK-1.png)
Tom Sagan (verified owner) –
The list offers basic information of all the important pension funds in Europe, it is good for the price. All pension funds active in EU financial markets we are dealing with are included, as well as hundreds we didn’t know yet. We already scheduled first meetings, which were initiated through through the LinkedIn column of the list. For more detailed information we would be willing to pay even more.