The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) published a Market Insights report on the international distribution of Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS), using Broadridge Global Market Intelligence data to identify where UCITS are sold outside Europe and which fund types are driving flows. The report positions regulatory stability and predictability as central to sustaining UCITS’ global reach amid intensifying competition from growing domestic fund industries and regional alternatives. EFAMA finds UCITS are distributed in over 50 countries beyond the EU, with cross-border UCITS net assets reaching EUR 6.1 trillion within the EU and EUR 5.7 trillion outside the EU, representing growth of 145% and 133% respectively over the past decade. Asia-Pacific is the largest owner outside Europe (8.7% of all cross-border UCITS), led by Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, while Latin America and the Middle East & Africa account for 3.3% and 1.2%. The report highlights regional differences in demand, noting that multi-asset UCITS have continued to attract modest but steady inflows in Asia and the Middle East & Africa despite falling out of favour in Europe, and recommends that EU policymakers avoid frequent rule changes, explore extending UCITS-style success to Alternative Investment Funds including the ELTIF label, and deepen engagement with foreign regulators through regulatory dialogues.
European Fund and Asset Management Association 2025-09-23
European Fund and Asset Management Association research maps UCITS distribution outside Europe and calls for regulatory stability
The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) released a report on the global distribution of UCITS, noting their presence in over 50 countries outside the EU. The report highlights significant growth in cross-border UCITS net assets, with EUR 6.1 trillion within the EU and EUR 5.7 trillion outside, emphasizing regulatory stability's importance for maintaining UCITS' global reach. EFAMA recommends EU policymakers avoid frequent rule changes and engage with foreign regulators to extend UCITS' success to Alternative Investment Funds.