PUBLICA’s funded ratio rises further
Bern, 24.04.2025 — The Swiss Federal Pension Fund PUBLICA is publishing its annual report and sustainability report for 2024. At the end of 2024, the collective institution’s funded ratio stood at 104.6%. The investment performance was 5.9%. In responsible investment, efforts to enhance transparency are having an impact.
Results: financial situation more stable
As at the end of 2024, the PUBLICA collective institution has a funded ratio of 104.6%. All pension plans have funded ratios of more than 100%. All asset classes, with the exception of foreign real estate and some foreign bonds, performed positively in 2024. The consolidated net investment return was 5.9%.
At the mid-point of its 2023–2026 strategy period, PUBLICA has achieved significant progress. To simplify structures, the seven closed pension plans were merged into a single plan. This recorded a performance of 4.3%. The open pension plans posted a performance of 6%. PUBLICA provided input into the draft revision of the Federal Personnel Act and PUBLICA Act, which will separate responsibilities and simplify processes. PUBLICA has also identified a marked increase in the proportion of members drawing their retirement assets either wholly or partially as a lump sum. It conducted a survey to find out why, and published the results in the form of a study.
Responsible investment in 2024: more transparency
PUBLICA took part in the PACTA Climate Test run by the Federal Office for the Environment. PUBLICA’s portfolio is overweighted in power generation and underweighted in fossil energy producers, which reduces its exposure to climate-relevant sectors overall. The Scope 1 CO2 emissions of the directly held real estate fell. Private infrastructure debt was classified in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for the first time, leading to greater transparency.
The Swiss Federal Pension Fund PUBLICA is an independent pension institution established under public law. It is organised as a collective institution currently comprising twelve pension plans. PUBLICA serves around 70,000 active members and around 42,000 pension recipients from the Federal Administration, the ETH Domain and other decentralised administrative units as well as around 70 other organisations that are closely associated with the Confederation or fulfil a public task on behalf of the Confederation, a canton or a commune.
With total assets currently standing at CHF 42.5 billion as at 31 December 2024 it is one of the largest pension funds in Switzerland. Its highest management and strategic body is the PUBLICA Board of Directors.