Funds industry hits record highs amid challenging global conditions

Wednesday 07 April 2021

The upward trajectory of Jersey’s funds industry continued in 2020, with the value of regulated funds business serviced in the jurisdiction growing by 9% over the year to reach a new record level, according to the new statistics.

Figures for the last quarter of 2020 collated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) show that the net asset value of regulated funds under administration in Jersey grew by £32.4bn annually to reach £378.1bn.

The increase reflects a period of sustained growth for Jersey’s funds industry, with the figure at the end of 2020 having increased by more than two thirds (67%) over the last five years.

The alternative asset classes, which now represent 89% of total funds business in Jersey, experienced the most growth, with private equity and venture capital up by 21% year-on-year to £164.6bn.

In addition, the number of registered Jersey Private Funds, which are not included in the headline figures, grew by almost 100 over the year to reach a total of 403.

Corporate activity was also very strong in 2020, with a record level of company incorporations in the fourth quarter of 2020 and the total number of live companies on the register standing at the second highest level in ten years at the end of the year (33,626).

Meanwhile, deposits held in Jersey banking institutions stood at £131.7 billion at the end of last year, 8% less than in 2019, a reduction which it's said to have been heavily influenced by currency movements and global market volatility, with 56% of deposits in Jersey held in foreign currencies.

Pictured: Jersey Finance CEO, Joe Moynihan.

“Against the backdrop of a really challenging year for global markets, this is a positive picture for our industry, and for our funds sector in particular which has again achieved stellar growth to reach new record levels," Jersey Finance CEO, Joe Moynihan, said.

"The resilience and stability Jersey has shown has clearly resonated amongst investors and managers, as they have continued to put their faith in Jersey as a specialist high quality centre for alternative funds. Despite currency movements impacting overall bank deposits, material deposit levels have stayed largely stable and consistent over recent years, while the positive corporate activity we saw in 2020 is a reflection of the health of the industry and our role in supporting cross-border activity.

“Overall, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Jersey’s industry, government and regulator, we are in a strong place at the start of 2021 and stand ready to deliver on our duty as a responsible IFC and support global economic recovery in the months ahead.”

Pictured: Tim Morgan, Chair of the Jersey Funds Association.

Tim Morgan, Chair of the Jersey Funds Association, added: “Jersey continues to work tirelessly to create the ideal ecosystem for alternative funds, and these latest figures provide welcome evidence of the appeal Jersey continues to have, in particular in the private equity, venture capital and alternative space, with a number of big-ticket funds coming to market through Jersey over the past twelve months.

"The fact that almost 100 new Jersey Private Funds have been registered over the year is also hugely positive, underlining both the appeal of the JPF as the go-to vehicle for professional investors but also Jersey’s ability more widely to innovate in the right areas.”