Irish Funds Industry Special Report

EU membership gives investment fund managers seamless access to the EU and EEA through regulatory passporting

Exchange-traded funds domiciled in the State account for about 73 per cent of the EU market

Support provided by basis.point extends from financial assistance to getting the Irish funds sector involved on the ground with partner charities

To stay at the forefront as a domicile for funds, industry must look to newer areas such as private and digital assets investment

High-value jobs across the State, a broader talent pool and lower costs for companies, and potentially better quality of life for employees

How the Irish funds industry is attracting the best possible workforce

Reducing the ‘burden’ to report on and, by extension, engage in sustainable practices means capital cannot be channelled towards sustainable, resilient business models

Cryptocurrencies, in particular bitcoin, could have a bigger role in funds from now on

It is critical that Irish asset managers have the toolkit and capabilities necessary to match products with investors

Investors took a more cautious approach to ESG investing in 2023 in the wake of the underperformance of ESG and sustainable strategies in 2022, research indicates

Funds sector has had a growing presence in Ireland for about 30 years and there are opportunities to work in the area

The EU Taxonomy is a classification system that defines criteria for economic activities that are aligned with a net zero trajectory by 2050 as well as broader environmental goals other than climate. We explain how this affects the investment funds industry.

Bitcoin crashed after the crisis from about €56,000 to €15,000, but has since climbed back, to €43,000, so many still see value in it

‘The scale of the transformation that is under way is enormous and challenges are inevitable in this context’

Alternative Investment Funds often offer investors a broader array of investment strategies compared to more conventional instruments

‘It’s a big success story internationally but that’s not as well known here. It’s a massive export industry that a lot of people have never heard of’

A combination of factors has meant that the Irish funds Industry is in rude health

A look at the wide variety of rewarding careers offered by the funds industry

How regulatory compliance protects investors, the funds industry and Ireland’s reputation

The funds industry is a sector that changes regularly, so people have to keep on top of learning, and most firms provide in-house support and plenty of professional development opportunities

Brexit bonanza fails to materialise but Ireland continues to benefit

As we look to the next decade, the transparency promoted by European regulation is likely to add fuel to a transition of funds towards a greener future as investors can easily identify greener funds and interrogate the authenticity of a fund’s ESG characteristics

Investing in cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) is complex and highly speculative

AIFs typically provide exposure to alternative private market assets which you can’t invest in publicly

‘We’re at the leading edge of what’s happening with cloud platforms and cryptography’

Funds industry case study: Sonia Howard, tax director of BDO

Sustainable investment has increased dramatically, with great policing of standards

Experts explain difference between AIF and UCITS funds

Cop26 and growing fears of a climate disaster have helped to refocus the minds of investors

Sustainable investing is based on environmental, social and governance ideals

Increase in UK and US managers establishing funds in Ireland due to Brexit

Case study: LGIM CEO Eve Finn says Brexit prompted a change in strategy for Ireland

One fear is that UK could now make domiciling there more attractive

Taxonomy covers six environmental goals, two of which have applied since January 1

Sector contributing almost €1bn annually to exchequer has remained strong and resilient

Variety of roles and career paths open to people with an interest in the sector is truly vast