Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Hauck & Aufhäuser Fund Services Group (HAFS Group) is extending its exchange-traded fund (ETF) services in Europe as demand for ETF structures and ETF share classes increases. The expansion focuses on providing operational and regulatory frameworks that enable asset managers to launch ETF products efficiently in Ireland and Luxembourg.
A central element of the initiative is the Group’s Irish white-label ETF platform, designed to allow asset managers to bring ETF products to market without building their own ETF infrastructure. The platform operates with J.P. Morgan as depositary and administrator. Although domiciled in Ireland, ETF structures on the platform are managed from Luxembourg.
According to Lisa Backes, Deputy CEO and Member of the Management Board at HAFS Group, the setup supports German asset managers considering Irish ETF structures by offering local-language guidance. She notes that the white-label model allows managers to launch ETFs under their own brands while outsourcing technical and regulatory requirements.
The first product launched on the Irish platform was the eNova Active Core EUR Ultra Short Term ETF by Active Core Asset Management. The fund was converted from an existing structure into an ETF share class and listed on Frankfurt Stock Exchange (XETRA) on 27 November 2025. The ETF invests in short-term euro-denominated sovereign bonds.
In addition, the Irish platform is positioned as an entry point for US-based asset managers seeking access to European investors via ETFs, using established structures and branding within a defined regulatory framework.
Alongside Ireland, the HAFS Group is offering ETF structures from its Luxembourg operations, aimed at providing additional flexibility for a broader range of strategies. The Group developed this capability in cooperation with the NaroIQ technology platform. One outcome of this approach was the launch of the Inyova Impact Investing Active Equity Fund UCITS ETF in Luxembourg, listed on XETRA on 19 December 2025. The actively managed ETF follows an impact-investing strategy focused on environmental and social criteria within a UCITS framework.
Backes adds that the Group’s role extends beyond fund administration to include support during product development, including structuring advice and ESG-related services. Looking ahead, the HAFS Group plans to conduct roadshows in German-speaking markets in 2026 to provide information on ETF structures and mechanics for initiators considering ETF launches for the first time.
