• Iconic Holding GmbH has agreed to acquire Bernhardt Advisory GmbH by January 26, 2022

• The company intends to become a licensed Crypto Portfolio Manager and Advisor in Europe

• Dr. Bernhardt will join the Iconic team as a Managing Partner

FRANKFURT GERMANY, January, 31 2022 – Iconic Holding GmbH (“Iconic”) is pleased to announce it has agreed to acquire Bernhardt Advisory GmbH, a licensed investment firm under the WpIG in compliance with EU-directives 2019/2033 and 2019/2034. The deal is subject to review by the German financial services regulatory authority, BaFin, as part of its shareholder control procedure. With this acquisition, Iconic expands its business activities and can act as licensed and supervised crypto asset portfolio manager, investment broker and advisor.

Driving the Adoption of Crypto Asset

Iconic’s mission is to drive the adoption of crypto assets by building the bridge between the traditional financial world and crypto markets. With the completion of the acquisition, Iconic will be able to offer crypto investment advisory, portfolio and even corporate treasury management as a regulated company. Iconic, via its subsidiaries, currently offers several Crypto ETPs, index funds and managed crypto investment strategies. With completion of the acquisition of Bernhardt Advisory, Iconic is one step closer to realizing its vision of becoming a one-stop-shop for crypto investors to gain exposure to the crypto asset ecosystem through a holistic investment service and product suite.

Dr. Bernhardt joins Iconic Team

Iconic and Bernhardt Advisory’s current owner, Dr. Jens Bernhardt, have agreed on the takeover, BaFin still has to approve the transaction. It is expected that the transaction can be closed this calendar year. Dr. Bernhardt will join the Iconic team as an additional Managing Partner (MP) alongside existing MPs Patrick Lowry and Maximilian Lautenschläger.

Dr. Bernhardt has a long track record with over 30 years’ experience in the financial industry, having worked as Managing Director and CIO for Zurich Group Invest Europe (Deutschland) GmbH and Skandia Lebensversicherung. He was also a member of the supervisory board of Deutsche Wohnen SE and Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist of Germany’s largest Family Office, Oppenheim Vermögenstreuhand GmbH, which was a fully owned subsidiary of the former Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. KGaA.

One-Stop-Shop for Crypto Investments

Patrick Lowry, CEO of Iconic, said “Crypto is still in the early innings of adoption. Iconic’s vision is to be investors’ one-stop-shop partner for accessing the crypto market through traditional investment vehicles and soon-to-be investment and crypto treasury advisory services. Combining the long-term asset management expertise of Jens with our crypto know-how, we will be able to offer a full suite of regulated and innovative crypto products and services for European investors.”

Crypto Assets Are Here to Stay

Dr. Jens Bernhardt added “There is a growing acceptance among Family Offices and Institutional Investors of the necessity to include crypto in existing and future portfolios. In short, crypto assets are here to stay. At the same time, we also see a clear desire for regulation and a need for the commissioning of adequately qualified Crypto Asset Managers for the management of portfolios. Through this acquisition, Iconic is now positioned to address such needs. I am looking forward to working with such a unique group of specialists in the fast moving and growing market for crypto assets.”

About Iconic Holding:

Iconic Holding GmbH (“Iconic”) is a global crypto asset management group headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. As the bridge for investors to gain exposure to crypto assets, Iconic’s licensed and regulated vehicles, issued or managed by its subsidiaries, offer investors a menu of investment choices ranging from passive index exposure to managed crypto investment strategies.

The marriage of state-of-the-art technology, innovative investment products, and uncompromising professionalism places Iconic at the vanguard of crypto asset management.

About Bernhardt Advisory:

Bernhardt Advisory GmbH (“Bernhardt Advisory”) is a Multi-Family Office service provider with a focus on direct and indirect participation in unlisted national and international companies. The company provides M&A service for family-owned, medium-sized companies, predominantly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Bernhardt Advisory is a licensed and BaFin-regulated investment firm in accordance with section 2 clauses 1 and 2 numbers 3, 4, 5 and 9 of the German Securities Institutions Act (Wertpapierinstitutsgesetz; WpIG).

Legal Disclaimer

In no event will you hold ICONIC HOLDING GMBH, its subsidiaries or any affiliated party liable for any direct or indirect investment losses caused by any information in this article.

ICONIC HOLDING GMBH is not registered as an investment advisor in any jurisdiction. You agree to do your own research and due diligence before making any investment decision with respect to securities or investment opportunities discussed herein. 

ICONIC HOLDING GMBH believes all information contained herein is accurate and reliable and has been obtained from public sources we believe to be accurate and reliable. However, such information is presented “as is,” without warranty of any kind.