ARTEX and Euroclear collaborate to offer art via equity shares

Euroclear has facilitated ARTEX Global Markets (ARTEX) as issuer CSD through the process to bring B-shares of a Francis Bacon painting to the market, totalling to the value of USD 55 million. This is the first issuance of equity shares that has been issued directly in Euroclear Bank.

This initial offering marks the first time that an artwork has been taken public, opening up new avenues for investors to participate in the art market. It enables investment in iconic masterpieces previously inaccessible to all but the wealthiest collectors. Starting at approximately 100 euros per art share, you can now own a portion of Francis Bacon’s triptych “Three Studies for Portrait of George Dyer” (1963). These shares are actively traded on the newly established art trading facility in Liechtenstein, ARTEX. After a successful launch, share value gained 4.77% at the end of the first quarter this year.

“The first listing of a work of art in the world, with this amazing triptych is another major step forward in our objective of democratising investment in art. It is now possible to invest securely and transparently in one of the major works in the history of modern art. Future listings will continue and we will be announcing them in the second half of the year”, commented Yassir  Benjelloun-Touimi, co-founder and CEO of ARTEX.

Bacon’s iconic work previously was part of a private collection. ARTEX aims to broaden the scope of the art market and provide the public with opportunities to engage with and invest in cultural assets. With continued leveraging of the market expertise and experience of Euroclear’s guidance and primary market services, investors can expect to see more art pieces  brought to ARTEX.

“Euroclear is delighted to have been able to support this truly innovative development in the world of art investment.  Not only does this transaction serve as a catalyst to open up the world of art investment to the public, it also furthers strengthens the value of Euroclear as a key financial market infrastructure. By issuing its first international share offering directly in Euroclear Bank, Euroclear stresses its ambition to expand available asset classes in an efficient way to continue to connect issuers and investors and facilitating a more attractive and integrated capital market in Europe”, said  Philippe Laurensy, Managing Director and Head of Product, Strategy and Innovation at Euroclear.

Euroclear group is the financial industry’s trusted provider of post trade services. Guided by its purpose, Euroclear innovates to bring safety, efficiency and connections to financial markets for sustainable economic growth. Euroclear provides settlement and custody of domestic and cross-border securities for bonds, equities and derivatives and investment funds. As a proven, resilient capital market infrastructure, Euroclear is committed to delivering risk-mitigation, automation and efficiency at scale for its global client franchise. The Euroclear group comprises Euroclear Bank, the International CSD, as well as Euroclear Belgium, Euroclear Finland, Euroclear France, Euroclear Nederland, Euroclear Sweden, Euroclear UK & International.

ARTEX Global Markets (ARTEX GM) operates a secure and liquid art-focused multilateral trading facility, regulated, and supervised by the Financial Markets Authority of Liechtenstein within the European MiFID II legislative framework. Providing easy access to a traditionally exclusive fine art market, ARTEX GM aims to democratise investing in artworks from the world’s greatest masters, spanning a period from the Renaissance to the twentieth century. ARTEX GM-listed masterpieces will be on public display, in museums and exhibitions around the world. ARTEX GM will strive to empower investors by offering the latest news, market insights and educational content to allow wider participation in art investing. ARTEX GM was co-founded in 2020 by art enthusiasts and financial markets experts H.S.H. Prince Wenceslas of Liechtenstein and Yassir Benjelloun-Touimi.

ARTEX GM is operated by ARTEX Global Markets AG, a company incorporated in the Principality of Liechtenstein under company number FL-0002.682.571-2 with registered offices at Wuhrstrasse 6, 9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein.

ARTEX GM is regulated by the Financial Markets Authority under reference number 307407.

For more information about ARTEX, please visit www.artexgm.com