The global hedge funds industry is worth over €1 trillion and represents a major opportunity for Ireland, a conference in Dublin heard today.
The Irish Alternative Investment Forum was organised by the Irish Association of Pension Funds and the Department of Banking and Finance at University College Dublin.
'Ireland is increasingly recognised as a centre of excellence for hedge fund administration,' commented Aidan Tiernan, Partner with Ernst and Young. 'Hedge funds have become an integral part of the investment funds industry in Ireland and are set to contribute further to its ongoing growth,' he added.
The Chairman of the IAPF, Gerry Ryan, said the reappearance of positive returns to markets more recently should not distract Pension Funds from the need to continue to focus on maximising returns while minimising risk.
'Trustees will need to continue to assess their investment strategies and may now wish to investigate investment products outside the mainstream categories to see if additional returns can be generated, always ensuring that any risks are minimised,' he said.
