Risk management and solvency in investing pension assets

The goal of investing pension assets is to safeguard our ability to pay current and future pensions. We invest the pension assets profitably and securely. From this page you can find more information about our risk management in our investment operations.

Solvency describes the ability to bear investment risks 

The goal of investing pension assets is to safeguard our ability to pay current and future pensions. That is why the pension assets must be invested both profitably and securely. Profitable investing always means taking risks. A key objective of investment operations is to make use of the company’s risk-bearing ability in order to maximise long-term returns without compromising compliance with regulatory solvency requirements in the short term.

We manage the market risk affecting our investment assets by following the solvency regulations and taking care of our solvency and sufficient diversification of the investment portfolio. The pension system also bears part of the market risk.

We have systematically linked our risk management priorities to our basic mission as well as our strategic and operative targets. The risk management system, which is independent of the business operations, is documented in the operating principles of the risk management system that encompass all of the company’s operations and which are annually reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors.

The table below shows the most recent investment allocations and returns disclosed by us. We present the figures in the comparable format agreed on jointly between employment pension insurance companies.

  Basic breakdown
EUR mill.		 % Risk breakdown
EUR mill.		 % Return % Volatility
Fixed-income investments 17,799 33.4 17,701 33.2 -0.4  
Loan receivables 1,747 3.3 1,747 3.3 -0.9  
Bonds 13,838 26.0 14,469 27.2 0.0 7.9
Public corporation bonds 5,433 10.2 5,135 9.6 0.2  
Other bonds 8,403 15.8 9,334 17.5 -0.2  
Other money market instruments
and deposits (incl. investment
receivables and payables)		 2,214 4.2 1,485 2.8 -3.7  
Equities and shares 25,162 47.2 25,095 47.1 12.4  
Listed equities and shares 19,052 35.8 18,985 35.6 11.9 18.0
Private equity investments 4,985 9.4 4,985 9.4 12.9  
Non-listed equities and shares 1,125 2.1 1,125 2.1 19.0  
Real estate investments 6,246 11.7 6,264 11.8 0.4  
Real estate investments 5,657 10.6 5,659 10.6 0.7  
Real estate funds and
joint investments		 589 1.1 606 1.1 -2.1  
Other 4,076 7.7 4,407 8.3 20.2  
Hedge fund investments 2,952 5.5 2,952 5.5 3.7 4.9
Commodity investments 93 0.2 -12 0.0 -  
Other investments 1,031 1.9 1,467 2.8 71.7  
Investments total 53,284 100.0 53,468 100.3 7.1 7.1
Effect of derivates     -184 -0.3    
Investments at current value 53,284   53,284 100.0    



The modified duration of bond investments is 2.1 years.
The open currency position is 16.1 % of the market value of the investments.
The total return percentage includes income, expenses and operating expenses not allocated to any investment types.

How do we manage risks in our overall operations?

Learn more about risk management in the section ’The way we work’ >