Ireland is the managers’ choice for both UCITS and alternatives investments in 2011, according to latest independent figures
On the alternative side, managers gearing up for AIFMD are rapidly turning their sights to Ireland with figures for its AIFMD ready Qualifying Investor Fund (QIF) soaring.
Recent figures from the Central Bank of Ireland show that the number of QIFs is at an all time high of 1,273 with assets also reaching a peak of EUR159 billion.
Ireland, which already administers more than 40 per cent of the world’s alternative investments, has seen QIF assets grow some 18 per cent in the past 12 months.
On the retail side, this news follows that from EFAMA which showed that Ireland was also the domicile of choice for UCITS in 2011 attracting the highest inflow of net assets of any domicile for the year so far.
In fact, the statistics show that the gains made by Ireland were almost two and half times that of the next most successful domicile.
The revelations from EFAMA demonstrate that Ireland attracted EUR41.5 billion in net assets of UCITS in the year to date. The largest inflows experienced by any other jurisdiction was only EUR17 billion.
In fact most jurisdictions saw significant losses - some of more than EUR40 billion.
Ken Owens, Chairperson of the IFIA said: “This record success for Ireland in terms of both alternative investments and UCITS demonstrates that Ireland is the fund managers' domicile of choice, providing the solutions to all aspects of the funds industry.
“It is no co-incidence that Ireland has experienced such remarkable success during 2011 as the industry in Ireland is constantly striving to ensure the optimum business environment for internationally distributed funds.
“What is also important is that Ireland’s robust regulatory regime means we already have the product solutions to AIFMD and this has and will continue to provide us with real advantages.”
Mr Owens went on to explain that Ireland was in the position to provide other solutions post AIFMD and, as an example, outlined that a number of PE funds had recently launched in Ireland under the Investment Limited Partnership legislation.
“With the industry keen to build on this recent success the existing partnership legislation is being reviewed to ensure that Ireland’s PE and partnership product is even more efficient whilst remaining compatible under upcoming AIFMD,” he said.
Ireland saw more than 400 new jobs created in the industry in 2010 and looks set for more than 1,500 in 2011.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS 
Net Sales of UCITS Euro bn
France -41.9
Germany -0.3
Ireland 41.5
Italy -14.3
Luxembourg 6.4
Switzerland 8.0
Spain -4.6
United Kingdom 17.0 |
