================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
(Rule 13d-102)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULES 13d-1(b)(c), AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b)
(Amendment No. __)*
New Ireland Fund Inc.
-----------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
common stock
-----------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
645673104
-----------------------------------------------------
(CUSIP Number)
31st December, 2004
-----------------------------------------------------
(Date of Event Which requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:
[X] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[X] Rule 13d-1(d)
----------
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
Page 1 of 9 Pages
CUSIP No. 645673104 Schedule 13G Page 2 of 9 Pages
________________________________________________________________________________
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Bank of Ireland Asset Management Limited
________________________________________________________________________________
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
________________________________________________________________________________
3. SEC USE ONLY
________________________________________________________________________________
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Republic of Ireland
________________________________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 0
_________________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY 330,124
_________________________________________________________________
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING 0
_________________________________________________________________
PERSON 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 330,124
________________________________________________________________________________
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
330,124
________________________________________________________________________________
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
[_]
________________________________________________________________________________
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
7.0%
________________________________________________________________________________
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IA
________________________________________________________________________________
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 645673104 Schedule 13G Page 3 of 9 Pages
________________________________________________________________________________
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland
________________________________________________________________________________
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
________________________________________________________________________________
3. SEC USE ONLY
________________________________________________________________________________
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Republic of Ireland
________________________________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 0
_________________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY 341,672
_________________________________________________________________
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING 0
_________________________________________________________________
PERSON 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 341,672
________________________________________________________________________________
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
341,672
________________________________________________________________________________
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
[_]
________________________________________________________________________________
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
7.3%
________________________________________________________________________________
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
HC
________________________________________________________________________________
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 645673104 Schedule 13G Page 4 of 9 Pages
________________________________________________________________________________
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
BIAM Holdings
________________________________________________________________________________
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
________________________________________________________________________________
3. SEC USE ONLY
________________________________________________________________________________
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Republic of Ireland
________________________________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 0
_________________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY 341,672
_________________________________________________________________
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING 0
_________________________________________________________________
PERSON 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 341,672
________________________________________________________________________________
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
341,672
________________________________________________________________________________
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
[_]
________________________________________________________________________________
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
7.3%
________________________________________________________________________________
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
HC
________________________________________________________________________________
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 645673104 Schedule 13G Page 5 of 9 Pages
________________________________________________________________________________
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Bank of Ireland Asset Management (U.S.) Limited
________________________________________________________________________________
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
________________________________________________________________________________
3. SEC USE ONLY
________________________________________________________________________________
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Republic of Ireland
________________________________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 0
_________________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY 11,548
_________________________________________________________________
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING 0
_________________________________________________________________
PERSON 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 11,548
________________________________________________________________________________
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
11,548
________________________________________________________________________________
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
[_]
________________________________________________________________________________
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
0.3%
________________________________________________________________________________
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
CO
________________________________________________________________________________
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 645673104 Schedule 13G Page 6 of 9 Pages
________________________________________________________________________________
Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:
The New Ireland Fund Inc.
________________________________________________________________________________
Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
c/o PFPC Inc.
99 High Street
27th Floor
Boston, MA 02110
________________________________________________________________________________
Item 2.
(a) Name of Person Filing.
This Statement is being filed by and on behalf of Bank of Ireland Asset
Management Limited ("BIAML), The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland
(the "Bank of Ireland"), BIAM Holdings ("BIAMH") and Bank of Ireland Asset
Management (U.S.) Limited ("BIAMUS") (collectively, the "Reporting Persons").
(b) Address of Principal Business Office:
The principal business address of BIAML and BIAMH is 40 Mespil Road, Dublin 4,
Ireland
The principal business address of Bank of Ireland is Head Office, Lower
Baggot Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
The principal business address of BIAMUS is 75 Holly Hill Lane, Greenwich
Connecticut, 06830
(c) Citizenship or Place of Organization:
Bank of Ireland, BIAML, BIAMH and BIAMUS are Irish companies.
d) Title of Class of Securities:
This Statement relates to the shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of
The New Ireland Fund Inc.
(e) CUSIP Number: The CUSIP number is 645673104.
CUSIP No. 645673104 SCHEDULE 13G Page 7 of 9 Pages
_______________________________________________________________________________
Item 3. If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or
(c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:
(a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
(b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.
(c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange
Act.
(d) [ ] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment
Company Act.
(e) [X] An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g) [ ] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h) [ ] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act;
(i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
Company Act;
(j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check this box. [ ]
_______________________________________________________________________________
Item 4. Ownership.
(a) and (b). Amount Beneficially Owned and Percent of Class:
As of the date of this Statement, the Reporting Persons beneficially owned in
the aggregate 341,672 shares of Common Stock which equates to approximately 7.3%
of the outstanding shares(the percentage of shares of Common Stock owned being
based upon 4,688,528 shares of Common Stock outstanding at January 6, 2005.
BIAML has direct beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock in the
accounts for which it serves as the investment adviser under its investment
management agreements.
BIAMUS has direct beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock which it
it purchased to provide seed capital to the Issuer.
BIAMH, as the controlling member of BIAML and BIAMUS, may be deemed to possess
beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by
BIAML and BIAMUS. Bank of Ireland, as the sole shareholder of BIAMH, may be
deemed to possess beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by BIAMH.
As used herein, "beneficial ownership" has the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
CUSIP No. 645673104 SCHEDULE 13G Page 8 of 9 Pages
(c) Power to vote or dispose.
BIAML has the direct power to vote or direct the vote, and the direct power to
dispose or direct the disposition, of 330,124 shares of Common Stock.
BIAMUS has the direct power to vote or direct the vote, and the direct power to
dispose or direct the disposition, of 11,548 shares of Common Stock.
________________________________________________________________________________
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof
the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five
percent of the class of securities, check the following: ____
Not Applicable.
________________________________________________________________________________
Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
Not Applicable.
________________________________________________________________________________
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.
The item 3 classification of each Reporting Person is as follows:
BIAML is an Irish investment adviser authorised by the Irish Financial
Services Regulatory Authority and is making this filing in accordance with Rule
13d-1(d).
BIAMUS, an affiliate of BIAML, is an investment adviser under Section 203 of
the Investment Advisers Act,1940 and is making this filing in accordance with
Rule 13d-1(b).
BIAMH is a parent holding company or control person of BIAML and BIAMUS
and is making this filing in accordance with Rule 13d-1(d).
The Bank of Ireland is a parent holding company or control person of BIAMH and
is making this filing in accordance with Rule 13d-1(d).
________________________________________________________________________________
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
Not Applicable
________________________________________________________________________________
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
Not Applicable.
________________________________________________________________________________
Item 10. Certifications.
By signing below the undersigned certifies that, to the best of its or his
knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are
held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held
for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the
control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held
in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or
effect.
CUSIP No. 645673104 SCHEDULE 13-G Page 9 of 9 Pages
SIGNATURE.
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its or his knowledge and belief, we
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
Date: January 14, 2005
THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF IRELAND
By: /s/ John Murphy
----------------------------------
John Murphy
Group Head of Regulatory Risk & Compliance
BIAM Holdings
By: /s/ Sean O'Dwyer
----------------------------------
Sean O'Dwyer
Director
Bank of Ireland Asset Management Limited
By: /s/ Sean O'Dwyer
----------------------------------
Sean O'Dwyer
Director
Bank of Ireland Asset Management (U.S.) Limited
By: /s/ Rosemary Mahon
----------------------------------
Rosemary Mahon
Director