Luxembourg remains one of Europe’s most dynamic hubs for alternative funds, and interest in the region continues to rise. Our recent webinar, Gateway to Europe: setting up an alternative investment fund in Luxembourg, brought together a panel of specialists who have worked closely with managers entering the market. The discussion explored fund launches, distribution routes, and how digital models are shaping investor access across the region.
Luxembourg's central role in European fund distribution
Hosted by Regina Gannon, Global Head of Business Development, the discussion featured insights from Renaud Oury (Chief Growth Officer of Luxembourg), David Barry (Head of Operations in Luxembourg), and Peter O'Hara (Head of Fund Rock Sales). Together they explained why Luxembourg continues to hold its position as the leading hub for cross-border fund distribution.
A key theme was Luxembourg’s global connectivity. Managers view the jurisdiction not only as an entry point into Europe but as a base that links them to investors across the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Regina noted that demand from these regions is growing as managers widen their investor base and broaden their distribution activity.
Tokenisation reshapes fund access
Tokenisation was a focal point of the discussion. The panel described how digital subscription models are beginning to influence how certain investors access alternative funds.
Using the recent partnership with Hamilton Lane and Signum as an example, Renaud explained that tokenisation has reduced minimum investment amounts, created a secondary market and reduced operational costs. This demonstrates how digital models can broaden participation without altering the underlying asset strategy.
David added that tokenisation also enhances transparency for auditors. He explained that blockchain records create a clearer data trail, which can support the movement of certain assets from Level 3 to Level 2 classification due to improved information availability. The panel clarified that the current trend is focused on tokenising traditional assets at the share-class level, rather than creating new asset categories.
Preparing for tomorrow's investors
The panel also addressed how investor behaviour is shifting, with a clear rise in mobile-first investment patterns. Peter observed that many investors now transact directly from their phones and that this trend is likely to strengthen over time. The discussion emphasised that managers expanding into Europe should consider how their fund infrastructure supports these behaviours.
“People invest today off their phones and that’s going to continue to grow. It may not be the main flow of assets today, but it’s going to be in time.” - Peter O'Hara
While established distribution networks remain central, the panel agreed that digital access will become increasingly relevant for global managers planning long-term operations in the region.
Practical next steps
The session reinforced that a successful fund launch in Europe involves more than regulatory approval. Managers benefit from understanding the local environment, choosing experienced partners, and building a distribution plan that blends established frameworks with modern distribution channels.
Regina closed the discussion by highlighting the growing interest from global managers and the value of informed support throughout the setup process.
“We are really excited about this continued trend of alternative asset managers establishing presence in Europe. It is here to stay.” – Regina Gannon
Watch the full discussion
To explore the full discussion on Luxembourg fund launches, tokenisation, investor access trends and our role in supporting managers entering Europe, we encourage you to watch the complete Gateway to Europe: setting up an alternative investment fund in Luxembourg webinar.
We have supported fund managers in Luxembourg for more than 20 years through fund administration, depositary services, distribution support and digital solutions, including tokenisation capabilities.
