MERJ Exchange and CurioInvest
Stuttgart, 31 January 2020 — One of the world’s most exclusive asset classes is set to become accessible to investors worldwide thanks to a partnership between hybrid stock exchange MERJ Exchange and the supercar tokenization platform CurioInvest.
The listings could bring up to 500 tokenized cars worth over $200 million onto a stock exchange compliant with the highest international regulatory standards. An affiliate member of World Federation of Exchanges, MERJ Exchange expects buying to be led by institutional investors and regions with restrictions on auto imports such as China.
As an asset class, rare and luxury cars have consistently been among the world’s best performers, beating not just traditional asset classes such as commodities and equities but other collectables such as fine wines, watches and jewellery. Over a five- and ten-year period, vintage cars have outperformed all other collectable assets with returns of 91% and 288%, respectively. Average returns for the past decade have been 334%, according to the latest Knight Frank Luxury Investment Wealth Report. Up until now the exclusive preserve of the world’s super rich, CurioInvest’s listings will be investable with one dollar.
Stored and maintained in a vault in Stuttgart, the first supercar on the slate will be a $1.1 million Ferrari F12tdf. Ferraris currently account for 60% of cars sold for over US $5 million.
“Right now, MERJ Exchange is the only regulated market globally that can support digital securities from end to end,” said Jim Needham, head of digital strategy at MERJ Exchange. “CurioInvest has identified pent up demand from institutional investors such as hedge funds and wealth managers. Through its partnership with MERJ Exchange, we are creating an access point for these investors that is compliant through the full cycle of exchange, clearing, settlement and registry.”
Operating to IOSCO standards, MERJ Exchange is creating a bridge between digital and non-digital securities by providing all investors with a fully regulated and licensed trading platform, with all of the hallmarks of traditional markets, such as a familiar ISIN code.
By listing on MERJ Exchange, CurioInvest is able to reach a broader base of both retail and institutional investors, while reducing costs and creating a more efficient process for buying and selling in what has traditionally been a niche and illiquid asset class, said Fernando Verboonen, Founder and CEO of CurioInvest.
“For years, many investors have had to sit and watch as rare and elite asset classes outperformed equities and bonds,” said Fernando Verboonen. “Now we have created a way for all institutional and retail investors to gain access to this booming asset class. In this era of ultra low interest rates it seems likely that demand for collectables will continue to grow.”
With a passion for vintage cars and an aspiration to democratise ownership, Jim Needham and Fernando Verboonen determined to apply Distributed Ledger Technology to supercar ownership during a blockchain programme at Oxford University.
“CurioInvest and MERJ Exchange offer investors a unique combination of old world assets, tokenized on a distributed ledger, but now made available on traditional securities markets infrastructure,” said Fernando Verboonen. “This is the best of all worlds and ensures that as wide a group of people possible is reached.”
CurioInvest was a top finalist at the UBS Future of Finance competition and a top pick for fintech by TechCrunch at Disrupt Berlin 2019.
About
About MERJ Exchange:
MERJ Exchange Limited, formerly Trop-X Limited, is an established securities exchange operating a vertically integrated combination of exchange, clearing house and securities depository. The group is the only regulated exchange operator in the Seychelles and operates to IOSCO standards as an affiliate of the World Federation of Exchanges. MERJ is also currently the only recognised securities exchange globally to support primary and secondary markets for regulated digital tokens alongside traditional listed securities.
About CurioInvest:
CurioInvest is a Liechtenstein technology-enabled platform allowing individuals to invest in top-tier fine collectables at low minimums and fees. Technology aggregates demand and creates a hassle-free investment experience with improved liquidity and the ability to invest directly in curated fine collectables. CurioInvest is on a mission to fundamentally transform the investment products people have access to on a global scale and believes asset-backed digital tokens that represent collectables are the best medium to achieve that.
Disclaimer:
Ferrari is a copyright brand not related to CurioInvest or MERJ Exchange.
