CoinShares, Europe’s largest digital asset investment firm, has acquired Napoleon Asset Management, one of the first ever digital asset managers, licensed under the AIFM Directive since March 2019.
CoinShares is Europe’s largest and longest standing digital asset investment firm, managing billions of dollars of assets on behalf of its client base. The Group is focused on expanding investor access to the digital asset ecosystem by pioneering new financial products and services that seek to provide trust and transparency when accessing this new asset class. CoinShares is publicly listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market under the ticker CS and the OTCQX under the ticker CNSRF.
The transaction follows the acquisition of the Napoleon Group last December and fits with CoinShares’ strategy of developing into a full-service digital asset investment and trading group, within a strong regulatory framework.
CoinShares is a strong advocate of regulation in the digital asset industry and has an extensive list of regulated products and services. CoinShares mentioned in a press release shared with AlexaBlockchain that the Alternative Investment Fund Manager (“AIFM”) licence is one of the most rigorous European regulations for Asset Managers and is a key component in CoinShares’ ambition to become the leading investment group in the digital asset sector.
The acquisition of Napoleon Asset Management allows CoinShares to offer AIFM compliant products and services, in addition to its market leading position as an issuer of crypto Exchange Traded Products (ETPs).
The AIFM licence carries a passporting regime that allows it to provide and market services and products throughout the European Union. The acquisition will also enhance CoinShares’ offering by leveraging active investment strategies based on algorithmic trading and artificial intelligence for digital assets built by Napoleon Asset Management quants teams.
Jean-Marie Mognetti, Chief Executive Officer of CoinShares, said:
“After the recent events in the digital asset sector, it has never been more clear that strong regulation is needed for crypto to thrive. As such we are very pleased to have received this approval from the AMF to acquire Napoleon Asset Management. Bringing the company into our group is a further step in the right direction towards investor protection. We are proud to be one of the most regulated digital asset investment firms in the industry. Our regulated status in a growing number of jurisdictions is one of CoinShares’ principal strengths; it reassures our clients and demonstrates our plans to lead Europe’s digital asset sector.”
Jean-Charles Dudek, Chief Executive Officer of Napoleon Asset Management, said:
“We have continued to build upon the synergies between our two businesses since CoinShares acquired the Napoleon Group last December. The integration of Napoleon Asset Management into the group was anticipated at that time but necessarily needed to await consideration by and approval of the change of control by the AMF. Now that approval has been granted, this acquisition by CoinShares will further strengthen the ties between us.”
CoinShares entered into a sale and purchase agreement to acquire the entire Napoleon Group on 30 November 2021. The transaction was completed on Thursday, 16 December 2021. The Group SPA contained an option to acquire Napoleon Asset Management, the exercise of which was subject to prior approval of the change of control by the Autorité des Marchés Financier.
The acquisition was completed following receipt of approval from the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on 28 June 2022. The transaction was signed and completed on 30 June 2022.
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