Ireland: The Compelling Location For An EU

Adam Donoghue and Pádraig Brosnan of Maples and Calder explain why Ireland is the domicile of choice for EU alternative investment fund managers.

After several challenging years during which the alternative asset management industry has grappled with the impact of the AIFMD – the most comprehensive regulatory restructure in the industry's history – the fog appears to finally be clearing (in Ireland, at least). In the six months since the 22 July 2013 deadline for AIFMD implementation across EU member states, we have seen a notable growth (and an even more substantial pipeline) in new Irish regulated structures.

On the product side, the marketing appeal of EU-domiciled AIFs in the new regulatory paradigm (which under AIFMD can provide a pan-European product passport) has substantially increased. Ireland's Qualifying Investor Fund (QIF) had already developed a brand as a leading onshore regulated product for hedge and other alternative funds. As part of the