This is a new record for employee savings plans. At the end of December 2023, nearly 188 billion euros were invested in these products, either in the medium term, in company savings plans (PEE), or in the long term, in collective retirement savings plans ( the old Perco, or their successors, the Percol). A figure up 16% over one year, according to figures published on March 21 by the French Association of Financial Management (AFG).
The net collection for 2023 (payments, less withdrawals) is generally stable compared to that of 2022, at 2.4 billion euros. The strong increase in outstanding amounts (nearly 26 billion) is therefore largely explained by the valuation of investments, linked to the good performance of the stock and bond markets.
As for the number of equipped companies, it increased by 5% in 2023, to reach 397,200, and twelve and a half million employees are now affected (+ 4.5%), “thanks, among other things, to the measures adopted in the Pacte law [de 2019]the elimination of the social package as well as the mobilization of actors on the ground and public authorities”indicates the AFG in a press release, specifying that 63,500 companies have a Perco (948,600 employees with them) and 158,700 with a Percol (3 million employees).
Furthermore, the appeal is confirmed for solidarity funds, products which must be invested up to 5% to 10% in structures of the social and solidarity economy: “At the end of 2023, 18 billion euros were placed in such funds, or around 18% more than at the end of 2022”, underlines Thomas Valli, the director of economic studies at the AFG. As part of a PEE, at least one solidarity fund must be offered to employees.
New cases of early release
Remember that the sums placed in a PEE, a Perco or a Percol are temporarily blocked – for five years on the PEE, until retirement for retirement savings products. But certain life events (they vary depending on the type of plan) allow you to withdraw your funds before maturity.
In 2023, “early releases represent 35% of the redemption amounts [les retraits d’argent] (stable compared to 2022), supported by the reasons for termination of the employment contract and acquisition or expansion of the main residence. These two reasons represent respectively 39% and 37% of the amounts of anticipated releases”details the association.
During 2024, three new reasons for early release should be admitted specifically for PEE holders, in application of the inter-professional agreement on value sharing within the company signed by the social partners in February 2023. “The implementing decrees are expected shortly. They must allow the employee to request release for the energy renovation of their main residence, the acquisition of a “clean” vehicle or even for their activity as a caregiver.notes Gregory Miroux, director of employee savings and retirement savings at AFG.
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