Top 100 Largest Asset Owners with $23 Trillion AUM, Japan Pension Fund Largest at $1.7 Trillion
26th November 2021 | Hong Kong
The top 100 largest asset owners in the world grew by 15.7% in 2020 to reach $23.5 trillion AUM with Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) of Japan remaining as the largest asset owner in the world with $1.7 trillion AUM. Asia-Pacific accounts for 37% of the total AUM in the ranking, with Pension funds representing 58% of assets, Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) representing 34% of assets and Outsourced Chief Investment Officers & Master Trusts representing 7.2% of assets. Asia-Pacific funds asset allocations are: 44.3% in Fixed Income, 44.7% in Equity, 11% in Alternative Assets. According to the research, there are only 3 accredited net zero committed organisations in the top 20 and only 14 in the top 100. The research on The Asset Owner 100 2021 is released by Willis Tower Watson Thinking Ahead Institute (TAI) – Visit: Report
“ Top 100 Largest Asset Owners with $23 Trillion AUM, Japan Pension Fund Largest at $1.7 Trillion “
AUM ~ Assets under Management
Top 20 APAC Asset Owners
| Rank | Organisation | Country | Total Assets | Type |
| 1 | Government Pension Investment | Japan | $1.71 trillion | Pension Fund |
| 3 | China Investment Corporation1 | China | $1.04 trillion | SWF |
| 5 | SAFE Investment Company | China | $817 billion | SWF |
| 6 | National Pension | South Korea | $765 billion | Pension Fund |
| 10 | GIC Private Limited | Singapore | $550 billion | SWF |
| 11 | HKMA Investment Portfolio | Hong Kong | $517 billion | SWF |
| 12 | National Social Security3 | China | $448 billion | Pension Fund |
| 18 | Central Provident Fund | Singapore | $349 billion | Pension Fund |
| 22 | Temasek Holdings2 | Singapore | $283 billion | SWF |
| 24 | Employees Provident Fund | Malaysia | $248 billion | Pension Fund |
| 25 | Local Government Officials | Japan | $248 billion | Pension Fund |
| 32 | Employees’ Provident3 | India | $193 billion | Pension Fund |
| 35 | Korea Investment Corporation | South Korea | $183 billion | SWF |
| 39 | BLF | Taiwan | $177 billion | Pension Fund |
| 42 | Future Fund Management Agency | Australia | $168 billion | SWF |
| 46 | AustralianSuper | Australia | $156 billion | Pension Fund |
| 53 | Pension Fund Association4 | Japan | $121 billion | Pension Fund |
| 58 | National Federation of Mutual Aid | Japan | $118 billion | Pension Fund |
| 59 | MPFA | Hong Kong | $115 billion | Pension Fund |
| 63 | Aware Super | Australia | $106 billion | Pension Fund |
1 As of February 28, 2021
2 As of September 30, 2020
3 Estimate
4 As of March 31, 2021
Roger Urwin, Co-founder of the Thinking Ahead Institute:
“This relatively small group of investors are right on the front line of the investment community’s fight to become net zero, and their power is even more concentrated among the top 20, which are responsible for nearly US$13 trillion.
While the pledges from Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) organisations are critical, the largest asset owners hold the ‘keys to the castle’. Their allocations, ownership muscle and trickle-down influence will be important in opening the door to net zero pathways. But to successfully manage the complexity and challenges of sustainable investment and net zero pathways, asset owners will need to develop enhanced governance and investment sophistication. The Glasgow COP summit has highlighted how asset owners can work together as part of a wider collaboration framework to produce better long-term outcomes for the whole system.”
Jayne Bok, Head of Investments, Asia at Willis Towers Watson:
“Over US$8.3 trillion is concentrated within the top 20 APAC asset owners, making it a hugely impactful sum of capital to be used for positive change. Leading APAC asset owners have the power to drive change in the investments industry and hold the keys and the pathways to net zero. By thinking about the investment ecosystem* as a whole, and collaborating across it, this group can have even greater impact than their large asset size implies.
The research highlights how some asset owner groups have attempted to overcome these impediments by ‘maturing’ their governance, investment and sustainability models and revamping their organisational purpose. As part of this they have built their capacity to innovate in readiness for the imminent transformational change, and other asset owners should take note.”
About the Thinking Ahead Institute
The Thinking Ahead Institute was established in January 2015 and is a global not-for-profit investment research and innovation member group made up of engaged institutional asset owners and service providers committed to mobilising capital for a sustainable future. It has over 50 members around the world and is an outgrowth of the Thinking Ahead Group which was set up in 2002. Learn more at www.thinkingaheadinstitute.org.
About Willis Towers Watson
Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW) is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating to 1828, Willis Towers Watson has 45,000 employees serving more than 140 countries and markets. We design and deliver solutions that manage risk, optimize benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and individuals. Our unique perspective allows us to see the critical intersections between talent, assets and ideas – the dynamic formula that drives business performance. Together, we unlock potential. Learn more at willistowerswatson.com.
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