The Quinn Group has launched an incentive scheme for its employees by offering them an opportunity to invest in a private equity fund.

The scheme is open to all employees of the company who wish to avail of the investment opportunity.

Employees invest their own money in the fund, which is understood to be medium- to high risk, but the group is guaranteeing the capital element for staff.

This means that the maximum downside is that employees would get their money back if the fund performed badly, but it would have a big upside if it performed well.

The group declined to provide further details of the incentive scheme. "It wouldn't be appropriate to comment on what would be an internal staff matter," a spokesman said.

The Quinn Group, which has its headquarters in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, employs about 6,500 people in various locations throughout Europe.

The company has interests in a variety of industry sectors, including cement and concrete products, container glass, general insurance, radiators, plastics, hospitality and real estate.

The scheme is already in place and predates comments by company chairman Seán Quinn last month in which he indicated that staff would share in the success of the company in the future.