FINDINGS
1. Research from Willis Towers Watson’s Thinking Ahead Institute reveals that 61% of the AO100’s $19trn (£15trn) in assets are held by pension funds, while sovereign wealth funds are responsible for 32%.
2. Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund is the largest asset owner with $1.4trn, followed by Norway’s Government Pension Fund on $1.06trn, and the China Investment Corporation on $900bn.
3. The research shows that asset owners hold around $55trn in capital globally – more than $10,000 for every adult on the planet – and that the AO100 is responsible for around one-third.
4. The Asia-Pacific is the largest region in terms of assets under management, holding around 36%, followed by Europe, the Middle East and Africa with 34%, and North America on 30%.
5. It found that 405 of the world’s largest asset managers recording rising interest in sustainable investment among their clients over 2017, while nearly two-thirds reported an increase in regulation.
A100 LISTING
Rank
|
Organisation
|
Country
|
Total Assets
|
1
|
Government Pension Investment
|
Japan
|
$1,443,554
|
2
|
Government Pension Fund
|
Norway
|
$1,063,456
|
3
|
China Investment Corporation
|
China
|
$900,000
|
4
|
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
|
UAE
|
$828,000
|
5
|
National Pension
|
South Korea
|
$582,938
|
6
|
APG
|
Netherlands
|
$564,508
|
7
|
Federal Retirement Thrift
|
U.S.
|
$531,489
|
8
|
Kuwait Investment Authority
|
Kuwait
|
$524,000
|
9
|
SAMA Foreign Holdings
|
Saudi Arabia
|
$514,000
|
10
|
Hong Kong Monetary Authority Investment Portfolio
|
Hong Kong
|
$456,600
|
11
|
SAFE Investment Company
|
China
|
$441,000
|
12
|
GIC Private Limited
|
Singapore
|
$359,000
|
13
|
National Social Security
|
China
|
$341,361
|
14
|
California Public Employees
|
U.S.
|
$336,684
|
15
|
Qatar Investment Authority
|
Qatar
|
$335,000
|
16
|
Canada Pension
|
Canada
|
$283,454
|
17
|
Central Provident Fund
|
Singapore
|
$269,133
|
18
|
PGGM
|
Netherlands
|
$262,290
|
19
|
Temasek Holdings
|
Singapore
|
$230,310
|
20
|
Public Investment Fund/Sanabil Investments
|
Saudi Arabia
|
$230,000
|
VIEWS
1. There is an over-arching need for these large asset owners to understand the world in which they operate, and over which they potentially hold such influence
2. This means doing more to institutionalize professionalism, streamline operating models, leverage culture and diversity more effectively and evolve the investment model into increasingly smart and sustainable arrangements.
(Source: theactuary, willistowerswatson)
