Three European institutional investors are among the top 20 “most influential” asset owners in the world, with the majority being from Asia.
Norway’s Government Pension Fund, and APG and PGGM – which are both Dutch pension funds – are in the top 20 Willis Towers Watson Thinking Ahead Institute’s ‘Asset Owner 100’.
Asset Owner 100 is described as a list of the “most influential capital on the planet” because the investors have the discretion to place their capital into any country and asset class.
They have the “ability to shape capital markets and to play a key role in the smooth running of the global economy”, Willis Towers Watson said.
Japan’s Government Pension Investment fund ranks as highest (see below). Nine investors in the top 20 are from Asia, including Japan.
The full 20 have $11 trillion of assets under management – or 56% of the $19 trillion in capital held by the entire top 100.
Roger Urwin, global head of investment content at the Thinking Ahead Institute, said: “With around US$55 trillion in assets – a sum that is more than $10,000 for every adult on the planet – asset owners globally are too important to fail in their mission. They have little choice but to take their financial and social responsibilities seriously, and not to shirk the big issues. These include the need to develop stronger leadership, respond effectively to regulation, manage agency issues and improve control over outcomes.”
Top 20 asset owners (in US$ million)
| 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 |
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