Pension fund savers should have opportunity to invest in Irish tech sector – IVCA
Ireland’s ability to continue to develop indigenous world class technology companies is seriously threatened by over reliance on foreign investors, according to the Irish Venture Capital Association’s pre-budget submission. Last year 57% of overall venture capital funding into Irish companies came from investors outside Ireland.
“Irish pension funds seriously lag the rest of world when it comes to VC investment,” said Leo Hamill, chairperson, Irish Venture Capital Association. “Public pension funds contribute 65% of the capital in the US VC market, 18% in Europe and 12% in the UK. Here it is estimated to be significantly less than 1%.”
He added, “We must find new sources of capital if we are to fund the growth of indigenous post start-up enterprises. Last week’s Exchequer returns highlight our reliance on corporation tax generated by a small number of multinational companies and the need to grow our own large enterprises.”
Sarah-Jane Larkin, director general, IVCA, said: “Other EU countries and the UK have already implemented or are planning to source VC investment through pension funds. For example, Germany has just announced a scheme to invest €30 billion into venture capital through pension fund assets and institutional investors.”
The IVCA’s pre-budget submission highlights the impact of a scheme introduced in France which mandated that corporate employee savings schemes offer a solidarity investment funds option. “This resulted in significant growth in the amount of capital allocated from €200m to €6bn between 2002 and 2016,” states the report.
The submission added: “We are not only witnessing a global economic slowdown but also the weaponisation of international trade. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has accelerated this trend. Chinese and U.S. trade tensions, combined with potential UK and EU ones… will impact the availability of scaling capital for Irish companies. If we are unable to fund our own leaders in these areas, we risk having our economic future dictated by interests outside Ireland.”
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