Suva achieved a pleasing overall performance of 4.1 per cent in 2016 despite interest rates being at historic lows. Real estate, bonds, shares, gold and commodities made particularly positive contributions to the result. The SNB’s negative interest rates resulted in negative earnings from money market investments and high hedging costs for foreign currencies.
Suva’s fixed assets increased from CHF 46.4 billion to CHF 48.0 billion in financial year 2016, while the financial coverage ratio rose from 134 per cent to around 136 per cent, meaning Suva remains very soundly financed.

Each year, despite major prevention efforts, a large number of occupational and leisure-time accidents occur which lead to disability or even death. In some 1,900 cases, accident victims receive a disability pension or widows/widowers or orphans receive a survivor’s pension. In the year a pension is awarded, Suva defers funds for future pension payments as pension actuarial reserves. This capital constitutes the largest share of fixed assets.
Provisions for short-term insurance benefits, such as treatment costs and daily allowances, as well as reserves make up the remaining assets.

The investment strategy is based on longevity and broad diversification. It has a balanced investment portfolio. About half of the assets are invested in variable- or fixed-interest securities, with 31.5 per cent invested in shares, 12.5 per cent in real estate and the remainder in capability-based investments (non-traditional investments) and commodities. With this strategy, Suva achieves adequate return on the long-term average. Low-risk, fixed-interest capital investments alone would not meet the return requirements.
To compensate for significant fluctuations in value on capital investments, in good years Suva increases fluctuation reserves. In bad years it releases them again.

Suva’s investment strategy can best be compared to that of a pension fund. Thanks to its balanced investment portfolio, Suva is able to survive even the most difficult times. Since 1918, a portfolio with a comparable distribution of assets would have achieved an annual yield of 5.6 %. The realised performance since 2000 exceeds similar pension fund indices, e.g. the BVG-25-Index and the CS Pension Fund Index.

In addition to the financial aspects, Suva also takes into account ecological, ethical and social issues. The normative basis for this is Swiss legislation as well as the ten basic principles of the UN Global Compact . These follow the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of the International Labour Organization. They also take into account the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development as well as the UN Convention against Corruption .

Suva strongly believes that the effects of a responsible investment strategy can be enhanced when different market actors pursue the same goals together.

Suva and its pension fund foundation make active use of their voting rights when it comes to Swiss shares. Information on their voting record is available here in the language of the respective general meeting.

• General meetings 2015 
• General meetings 2016