Contributing Firms:
Inflationary pressures and uncertain market conditions helping push a digitalisation agenda
Going into the latter part of the year, what are the prevailing challenges the industry is facing currently?
In the June issue of Finance Dublin the Minister of Finance invited Ireland’s investment funds industry ‘to challenge us’ in future-proofing the industry and emphasised that Ireland is playing ‘an increasing important role in the future of the sector’. Can you provide an example, drawn from your company’s own global and/or Irish business, of how this ‘increasing important’ role can dovetail with your company’s market plans?
Investors and industry bodies have called on the European Commission to uphold ‘the integrity and ambition’ of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards to maintain alignment with the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). Any such failure, they say, would risk leaving asset managers without the ESG data required to make SFDR disclosures, adding further confusion for end investors and undermining the EU’s sustainable finance ambitions. As the years long wait for clearly defined ESG boundaries and definitions continues, how can asset managers’ and investors’ ESG investment goals be supported by the funds services industry?
The tokenisation of existing asset classes is gaining traction, especially in private markets, and is seen as helping to reduce friction in the distribution of private funds. In what other areas are you seeing the use of tokenisation and where do you see the area of greatest potential for its application?
Private credit has been identified as a fast-growing area of opportunity for Ireland’s funds industry. What growth are you seeing in the private credit space and what services are being developed to cater for this area, and the wider private assets space?
Global ETF assets broke through the previous high water mark of $10.262 trillion, set at the end of 2021, on 15th June 2023 reaching $10.364 trillion according to figures compiled by consultancy ETFGI. What do you expect to be the dominant growth trends in the European ETF space in the coming 12 months?
How is new technology changing the Transfer Agency function and how do you see this evolving in the next three to five years? Often classified as a threat to the Transfer Agency function, what opportunities does increased digitalisation present for the reinvention of the Transfer Agency function?
The European Council and European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on revisions to the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MiFIR) and the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) which includes plans for a consolidated tape of market data, initially for equities and ETFs, and a general ban on ‘payment for order flow’. What is your view of the proposed revisions and their expected benefits for Europe’s asset management industry and broader capital markets?
The Future of Funds: In the June issue of Finance Dublin, which contains the latest issue of the Irish Funds Monitor, the Minister of Finance invited Ireland's investment funds industry 'to challenge us' in future-proofing the industry, and emphasised that Ireland is playing 'an increasing important role in the future of the sector'. Can you provide an example, drawn from your company's own global and/or Irish business, of how this 'increasing important' role can dovetail with your company's market plans?
Digitalisation and Transfer Agency: How is new technology changing the Transfer Agency function and how do you see this evolving in the next three to five years? Often classified as a threat to the Transfer Agency function, what opportunities does increased digitalisation present for the reinvention of the Transfer Agency function?
Private Credit: Private credit has been identified as a fast-growing area of opportunity for Ireland's funds industry. What growth are you seeing in the private credit space and what services are being developed to cater for this area, and the wider private assets space?
ETFs: Global ETF assets broke through the previous high water mark of $10.262 trillion, set at the end of 2021, on 15th June 2023 reaching $10.364 trillion according to figures compiled by consultancy ETFGI. What do you expect to be the dominant growth trends in the European ETF space in the coming 12 months?
Market Data: The European Council and European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on revisions to the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MiFIR) and the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) which includes plans for a consolidated tape of market data, initially for equities and ETFs, and a general ban on ‘payment for order flow’. What is your view of the proposed revisions and their expected benefits for Europe’s asset management industry and broader capital markets?
Crypto Assets: With the higher standards demanded under the EU’s MiCA regulation do you expect it to create an environment conducive to responsible growth of the European crypto asset space and how well-placed is the industry in Ireland to cater to any increased demand for crypto-asset services?
Tokenisation: The tokenisation of existing asset classes is gaining traction, especially in private markets, and is seen as helping to reduce friction in the distribution of private funds. In what other areas are you seeing the use of tokenisation and where do you see the area of greatest potential for its application?.
ESG standards: Investors and industry bodies have called on the European Commission to uphold ‘the integrity and ambition’ of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards to maintain alignment with the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). Any such failure, they say, would risk leaving asset managers without the ESG data required to make SFDR disclosures, adding further confusion for end investors and undermining the EU’s sustainable finance ambitions. As the years long wait for clearly defined ESG boundaries and definitions continues, how can asset managers’ and investors’ ESG investment goals be supported by the funds services industry?