VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Block Capital Inc. (“First Block”) is pleased to release details of a private placement offering of units of FBC Bitcoin Trust (“FBT”), an investment fund managed by First Block that invests exclusively in bitcoin. First Block is also pleased to announce that it has been granted registration as an investment fund manager in British Columbia and Ontario, making it the first registered investment fund manager in Canada dedicated solely to cryptocurrency investments. The registration granted to First Block by the Canadian securities regulatory authorities places Canada at the forefront of this market.
“Our team is excited to bring new opportunities for investors in Canada,” said Sean Clark, Co-Founder and CEO of First Block. “Being a market leader in the cryptocurrency space will only open more doors and create new investment avenues. As the demand for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies increases, it’s important for us to help educate the market and provide an accessible avenue for people to invest.”
FBT is an open-end investment fund established as a trust under the laws of the province of British Columbia that has been designed to track the market price of bitcoin, less FBT’s liabilities and expenses, by investing FBT’s assets in bitcoin. FBT will allow qualified investors to obtain exposure to bitcoin in an efficient manner without having to acquire, store or manage the underlying bitcoins. Xapo GmbH of Zurich, Switzerland (“Xapo”) is the custodian of FBT’s bitcoin investments. Xapo is viewed as a leader in bitcoin security and will oversee the retention, security and transfer of bitcoins for FBT. Xapo is also principally responsible for the execution of transactions in bitcoin for FBT.
In conjunction with the launch of FBT, First Block has engaged GMP Securities L.P. to act as lead agent in a syndicated private placement offering of units of FBT (the “Agency Offering”). Under the Agency Offering, the agents will offer units of FBT on a best efforts basis to accredited investors in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. The initial closing of the Agency Offering is expected to occur on or about September 28, 2017, with subsequent closings on or about October 5, 2017 and October 12, 2017. Prospective investors are encouraged to obtain a copy of the Confidential Offering Memorandum dated September 12, 2017 and related offering documents, which outline the key terms and risk factors of investing in FBT.
“Many accredited investors have been watching bitcoin appreciate in value, but until now they haven’t been able to invest in it through a managed fund as they would with a commodity like gold or silver,” added Marc van der Chijs, Co-Founder of First Block. “FBC Bitcoin Trust removes the complicated barriers to investing in bitcoin, making it more accessible to the mainstream investment community.”
Disclaimer:
An investment in FBT is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Investors in FBT could lose all or a substantial portion of their investment. Changes in the net asset value per unit of FBT may be both volatile and rapid, with potentially large variations over a short period of time. Past pricing of bitcoin is not indicative of future performance. Interested investors should read the Confidential Offering Memorandum and contact their dealer.
The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
About First Block Capital:
First Block Capital Inc. is Canada’s first registered investment firm committed to providing investment exposure to the emerging digital currency asset class based on Blockchain technology.
