Technology & Innovation

Appleby advised Bittrex Global on acquiring their Digital Asset Business License to operate their cryptocurrency exchange from Bermuda.

Appleby acted as Bittrex Global GmbH’s Bermuda counsel, on their application for a Class F Digital Asset Business (DABA) License which represents the third such license issued by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA). The DABA license will provide Bittrex Global with an additional important gateway for global accounts. From its Bermuda hub, the company will offer additional digital asset services over time subject to further approval by the BMA.

Appleby advised Bittrex Global GmbH, an international fintech company that operates a digital asset exchange platform from Liechtenstein and is a member of the Bittrex Global Group, on the establishment of Bermuda based Bittrex Global (Bermuda) Ltd.

Bittrex Global (Bermuda) Ltd. will operate a full service digital asset derivatives exchange platform from Bermuda, under its Class F DABA License. Appleby advised on all aspects of the DABA license application, including all AML/ATF regulatory requirements.

Bittrex Global (Bermuda) Ltd.’s digital asset exchange platform will provide customers with the ability to trade digital asset derivatives. Currently, the platform allows customers to trade digital asset leverage tokens, with a view to allow digital asset futures contracts and digital asset perpetual contracts to be traded in the future.

“The entire crypto industry is about looking forward,” said Bittrex Global’s CEO Tom Albright. “Working with the Bermuda government and the BMA to be part of another regulatory community that keeps innovating is extremely exciting and is an important step in increasing crypto’s penetration at all levels of the financial industry,” Albright said.

The Appleby team included Partner Matthew Ebbs-Brewer, Associate Kit Cunningham and Associate Amber Farrington on the establishment of the Bermuda company and the DABA application, and by Partner Sally Penrose on the AML/ATF regulatory aspects.

APPLEBY ADVISED ON THE CARLYLE GROUP’S INVESTMENT IN ANT INTERNATIONAL

Leading offshore law firm Appleby acted as Cayman Islands counsel to The Carlyle Group on its subscription of Series C preference shares issued by Ant International Co., Limited, a Cayman Islands company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd. (Ant Financial). This deal forms part of Ant Financial’s circa USD 14 billion equity financing programme. Since its establishment in 2014, Ant Financial has formed international partnerships with global strategic partners to serve local users in those markets, and serve Chinese travellers overseas by connecting Alipay with online and offline merchants in popular destinations. The deal was led by Partner Nicholas Davies and Counsel Vincent Chan, both based in Appleby’s Hong Kong office. Commenting on the matter, Nicholas said “We are delighted to have advised the Carlyle Group on the Cayman law aspects of this high-profile FinTech deal. As a leading global offshore law firm with full service capability on the ground in Hong Kong and in each of our jurisdictional offices, we take great pride in assisting our clients with their key transactions wherever in the world they might need us.”

Appleby advised CoinZoom, Inc. on its application for a Class M Digital Asset Business licence pursuant to the Digital Asset Business Act 2018.

Appleby provided Bermuda law advice to Coinzoom, Inc. on the legal and regulatory requirements to carry on digital asset business in Bermuda.

CoinZoom, Inc. is a U.S. based cryptocurrency exchange offering services in buying, selling, spending and sending crypto. They are a Registered Money Services Business in all 50 states and territories, and a Money Transmitter in numerous states. CoinZoom is also registered as a Digital Currency Exchange in Australia. In partnership with Visa, CoinZoom offers a Visa debit card allowing customers to spend their crypto at over 53m merchants worldwide and earn up to five percent back on each purchase. The exchange also recently became the Official Cryptocurrency platform and NFT Marketplace for the Utah Jazz – as the exclusive provider, all of the NFTs issued by the Utah Jazz are listed on CoinZoom’s NFT marketplace.

Jerome Wilson, Partner and Head of Appleby’s Technology & Innovation practice in Bermuda, led the transaction with support from Sally Penrose, Partner and Head of Appleby’s Regulatory practice in Bermuda, along with Associates Carl Meyer and Ashley Bento, Specialist Compliance Advisor Jarion Richardson and Legal Trainee Karim Creary.

Jerome said, “It was a pleasure to work with the dynamic and innovative CoinZoom team on their DABA license. We look forward to working with them on many of their future plans. CoinZoom’s attraction to Bermuda further highlights the Island’s strength as a leading jurisdiction in the Digital Asset Business industry.”

Appleby acted as Bermuda counsel for the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index ETF

The world’s first exchange-traded fund designed to track digital assets investments has been approved for listing on the Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX).

The Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index ETF is an open-ended investment fund that will work as a traditional ETF, with a creation and redemption mechanism involving the delivery of a basket of assets or cash by authorised participants. It will track the Nasdaq Crypto Index to represent the institutional investable landscape of cryptocurrency assets.

Marcelo Sampaio, Hashdex CEO stated, “We are truly excited to bring to market the first true crypto ETF in the world with the support of the BSX, MIH and Nasdaq. We believe that the launch of the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index ETF is significant and is poised to transform financial markets in big ways in the years to come.”

Appleby advises iFinex on its USD 1bn LEO token offering

Appleby acted as BVI legal advisers to iFinex on the private token sale of LEO tokens, which commenced on 8 May 2019. iFinex’s Chief Technology Officer, Paolo Ardoino, took to Twitter to announce that the sale had raised approximately USD 1 billion in 10 days. The sale of LEO tokens was made privately to select purchasers who met the qualifications set out in the purchase documentation.

iFinex began operations in 2012 and, among other cryptocurrency and cryptoasset-related products and services, operates Bitfinex, one of the world’s largest virtual currency trading platforms. The LEO tokens were issued by a newly formed BVI subsidiary of iFinex, Unus Sed Leo Limited, and are intended to be utility tokens at the heart of the iFinex ecosystem.

The Appleby team was led by BVI partner Andrew Jowett with assistance from Peter Colegate, counsel in Appleby’s Cayman office, and Rebecca Jack, senior associate in Appleby’s BVI office. Appleby advised iFinex alongside US counsel, Steptoe & Johnson LLP.

The latest real-life application for blockchain technology has arrived: live events. Our Music Festival (OMF), the world’s first blockchain-powered music festival, took place in front of a sell-out crowd in San Francisco in October 2018. OMF has created a music festival network powered by a cryptocurrency to give the power back to the fans. Announced at the event in San Francisco, the OMF Token will be redeemable for products, services and experiences within the OMF festival network, to drive all transactions between consumers, artists and event organisers from merchandising, production and hospitality to food and beverage services, brand sponsors and transportation. The brainchild of musician and producer 3LAU, aka Justin Blau, OMF is all about connecting with the fans and giving them the power to change the traditional festival model. The benefits of blockchain technology to the music industry are obvious, and for OMF, it’s an opportunity to use the technology to correct some of the problems that infuriate music fans, from cutting out unnecessary administrative and third party fees to stamping out ticket touts and ticket price inflation on secondary markets. Blockchain technology could quickly improve the situation in a number of ways. For example, the technology could make the sales of counterfeit tickets impossible by permanently tying the original ticket holder’s identity to their ticket, regardless of how many times the ticket changes hands. The possibilities are endless but ultimately, the hope is that OMF token holders take the power back by using their tokens to influence future festival line-ups, where they take place and everything in between.

Appleby’s Technology and Innovation Group in the Cayman Islands has been working with OMF since its inception and has advised OMF on its corporate structuring, funding and the issuance of the native OMF Token.

Legal Advisors for SelfKey Token Sale

SelfKey, a transformative, blockchain-based digital identity solution, which allows individuals and companies to truly own, control and manage their digital identity, recently completed its sell-out token sale with the support of offshore law firm Appleby. After a USD 15.8 million pre-sale in December, SelfKey’s public crowdsale, which was originally projected to last two weeks, was oversubscribed and reached its sale cap just 11 minutes after the KEY tokens were made available for sale on 14 January. Appleby acted as lead legal adviser to SelfKey on the offering, which raised a total of USD 22 million. The Appleby team was led by Cayman based corporate attorney Peter Colegate who devised and implemented an innovative corporate structure to conduct the sale and to govern the SelfKey network as the community grows. Appleby headed a team of 12 lawyers across multiple jurisdictions and formed an integral part of the 70-strong SelfKey team. The Appleby team also included Cayman Corporate partner Bryan Hunter, Mauritius corporate lawyers Melissa Virahsawmy and Sharmilla Bhima and Cayman trusts attorney, Esmond Brown. Commenting on the transaction, Peter Colegate noted: “Blockchain technology will revolutionise the way we manage our identities and the way we conduct business, online. SelfKey’s vision is to enhance know-your-client and anti- money laundering compliance whilst dramatically improving efficiency. We feel privileged to have been a part of the team that introduced the world to such a transformative technology.” The SelfKey technology is now live and anyone can download the SelfKey Identity Wallet for free.

SelfKey founder, Edmund Lowell, commented: “After the successful sale, we are pleased to be able to carry out our mission to put identity owners in control of their data and change the current centralized approach of identity management systems to one which is decentralised and self-sovereign. Without the help of our core team, advisers, lawyers including Appleby and in particular Peter Colegate, none of this would be possible.”

Appleby advised the Southern Cross Group of Bermuda companies in respect of all aspects of Bermuda law in relation to Telstra’s acquisition of a 25% equity interest in the Southern Cross Group and the Group’s subsequent network investment in the Southern Cross Next subsea cable project.   Although the transaction is still subject to some conditions, these are procedural in nature and are expected to be satisfied within the next few days.

Southern Cross NEXT will provide data connectivity between Sydney, Auckland, and Los Angeles and is scheduled for completion by January 2022. The new route will also provide critical international cable connectivity to the Pacific Islands of Fiji, Tokelau and Kiribati.

The new 13,483 kilometre (main trunk length) cable system, (16,148km including all branches), has been developed as an extension of the existing Southern Cross two cable eco-system. It will allow customers to leverage Southern Cross’ extensive point-of-presence network and access infrastructure already in place. It will also allow Southern Cross NEXT customers to flexibly assign new and existing capacity across the three routes across the Pacific, connecting Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the United States, maximising diversity and resiliency.

Southern Cross NEXT represents a network investment of around US$300 million by Southern Cross and is designed to carry 72 Terabits per second of traffic across its 4 fibre pair design using C-band technology, ensuring Southern Cross can cater for its customers’ growing data requirements well into the future. Services offered on the new system will be an extension and integration of the services offered across the current Southern Cross eco-system.

Stablehouse successfully applied for a Class M Licence pursuant to the Digital Asset Business Act 2018 (DABA). The Class M Licence was granted for a limited duration of not more than 18 months. Stablehouse intends to conduct its digital asset business as an ‘electronic exchange.’ It will adopt a classic centralised clearing-house model for the trading of ‘Stablecoins’ which are a type of block-chain technology. The reasoning behind acquiring a temporary Class M Licence is for Stablehouse to effect Beta-Testing of its exchange Platform.  The Beta-Testing shall assess the robustness and user experience of the Platform, and the ability of it to scale its transaction infrastructure, with intent to ultimately apply for a Class F Licence. Such marks a significant development in Bermuda’s Fintech sector.

Stablehouse’s Class M Licence is the fourth DABA Licence ever granted by the BMA. As such, Appleby is now poised as market-leader with respect to legal advice in connection with digital assets. Appleby has advised two thirds of all successful DABA applicants currently issued Licences, evidencing our leading role, experience and expertise in the Fintech sector. The successful application also showcases Bermuda as global-leader in digital asset regulation.

Appleby acted as counsel to Stablehouse in connection with its application for a Class M Licence. The Appleby team included Sally Penrose, Jerome Wilson, Matthew Ebbs-Brewer and Josephine Noddings.

Appleby Isle of Man advised Strix Group PLC on its £190 million flotation on the London Stock Exchange (Alternative Investment Market)

Appleby acted as Isle of Man legal counsel to Strix Group PLC during the process of scheduling and listing its shares on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market. The listing went live on 8 August 2017 and raised £190 million. The flotation provided a clean exit for AAC Capital Partners, which invested in Strix in 2005. Strix is incorporated and registered in the Isle of Man and operates a sizeable commercial operation in the Island, employing more than 65 people locally. Appleby’s Isle of Man office advised on a range of legal areas, including corporate, banking, pensions, property and employment. The Appleby Corporate team which worked on the project was led by Kyle Sutherland, Partner, Tom Brook, Counsel, and Associate Katherine Johnson. Kyle commented: “We were pleased to share our listing expertise with one of the most well-known, established businesses in the Isle of Man as it prepared to take a significant step in its future development. It is particularly satisfying that this IPO is in respect of a locally based manufacturing business with strong roots in the Island.

“We very much enjoyed working with the Strix team on this project against a challenging timescale. We also note the appointment of Gary Lamb as interim non-executive chairman, who we have worked closely with previously on the listing of Manx Telecom back in 2014.” Appleby advised Strix alongside CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP (English law), Zeus Capital Limited (broker and nomad), PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP (tax and structuring), Eversheds Sutherland LLP (legal advisers to the nomad), Estera Trust (Isle of Man) Limited (corporate services) and Conyers (Bermudan law). Strix was established in the Isle of Man as Castletown Thermostats in 1951 by Eric Taylor, inventor of a revolutionary thermostat during World War II to control heated flying suits worn by bomber crews at high altitudes. The firm is a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of kettle safety controls and other components for devices involving water heating and temperature control, steam management and water filtration.

Appleby advised Wejo Group Limited, Wejo Bermuda Limited and Wejo Limited on matters of Bermuda law in its USD1.1 billion merger with Virtuoso Acquisition Corp.

Appleby advised on all matters of Bermuda law including, but not limited to: forming and structuring the Bermuda companies; the business combination between the Wejo group of companies and Virtuoso Acquisition Corp; the listing of Wejo Group Limited on NASDAQ; and all pre and post-closing matter relating to the transaction.

The parties chose Bermuda as the jurisdiction of incorporation for Wejo Group Limited, which is the group parent and company listed on NASDAQ, and Wejo Bermuda Limited. The world of SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) and de-SPACs has been active over the last 18 months. Bermuda’s reputation as a financial and regulatory powerhouse is further evidenced by the parties choosing to structure the ultimate parent and its affiliate (WBL) as a Bermuda companies.

The Appleby team included Partner Jerome Wilson, Senior Associate Josephine Noddings and Associates Riley O’Brien, Carl Meyer and Ashley Bento. Weil Gotshal & Manges acted as lead legal advisors to Wejo.

Wejo is a global leader in connected vehicle data. The company enables smarter mobility by organizing trillions of data points from 11.8 million vehicles and more than 58 billion journeys globally, across multiple brands, makes and models, and then standardizing and enhancing those streams of data on a vast scale. Wejo partners with ethical, like-minded companies and organizations to turn that data into insights that unlock value for consumers. With the most comprehensive and trusted data, information and intelligence, Wejo is creating a smarter, safer, more sustainable world for all.

Virtuoso Acquisition Corp. was a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, stock purchase or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

Appleby acted as XBTO’s Bermuda counsel on their application for a Digital Asset Business Licence as a Digital Asset Service Vendor (Market maker for digital assets). This license allows XBTO to provide market maker services for digital assets in and from within Bermuda and are now regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) under the Digital Asset Business Regulations. Appleby advised on and prepared documentation for XBTO’s license, which is one of only 3 DABA licenses issued to date in Bermuda under the new FinTech regime.

XBTO International Ltd. (Bermuda) (“XBTOI“) is a licensee of XBTO Group, one of the most active global crypto investors. XBTOI is a leading digital asset provider offering best-in-class market making products through superior proprietary technology and connectivity. “This is a significant development for our business in Bermuda and across the global trading landscape,” said Julien Auchecorne, Chief Operating Officer of XBTOI. “We are engaged in many exciting projects and are proud to showcase Bermuda’s growing status as a leading offshore digital asset hub. Our local commitment extends beyond our own office presence and working relationships with service providers on the island.”

The Appleby team included Matt Ebbs-Brewer (Partner) and Jo Noddings (Counsel)  on the DABA application and Sally Penrose (Partner) on the AML/ATF aspects.  Luisa Olander (Associate) also assisted on this transaction.