The performance of Austrian pension companies (PKs; Pensionskassen) and corporate provision companies (BVKs; Betrieblichen Vorsorgekassen) suffered during the opening quarter of 2026 from the turbulence of the global financial markets as a result of tensions in the Middle East. These statistics on their quarterly performance were published by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) today.
During the 1st quarter assets managed by pension companies fell by 0.8% quarter-on-quarter and stood at €30.1 billion at the end of March. The number of beneficiaries (entitled and recipients) increased slightly to approx 1.145 million people. The number of them drawing a pension grew to 161,389 of 14% of all beneficiaries.
In the case of corporate provision companies assets managed rose by 0.4% compared with year-end 2025, standing at an all-time high of €23.8 billion at the end of March 2026. Due to corporate provision companies’ assets having been strongly weighted towards bonds, the volatilities witnessed in the stock markets as seen during the 1st quarter are less pronounced than for pension companies. The number of entitlements increased slightly to 11.49 million (including instances of multiple entitlements at different corporate provision companies, e.g. due to changing employers).
Almost a quarter of non-self-employed in Austria have an entitlement to a benefit from a pension company. This figure has remained almost unchanged in recent years. Contributions to a pension company are made by employers on a voluntary basis. In contrast, all employees pay into corporate provision companies under the “Abfertigung neu” severance scheme. This happens automatically through the employer, who pays in 1.53% of gross salary into a provision company every month.
The quarterly reports about pension companies and corporate provision companies can be downloaded from the FMA website (in German only). These reports are being consolidated into a new streamlined form that displays the figures in a compact and clear design on two pages. The data basis for these figures is more detailed and is also available for download in digital form.
Journalists may address further enquiries to
Boris Gröndahl (FMA Media Spokesperson)
Telephone: +43/(1)249/59-6010
Mobile: +43 676 8824 9995
E-Mail: [email protected]