Norton Rose Fulbright works with EBRD to build Armenian crowdfunding regime

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has helped to establish a new investment-based crowdfunding regime in Armenia, which will support SMEs seeking to access new sources of capital.

Investment-based crowdfunding provides a way for companies to raise capital from private individuals, including retail and consumer investors. By their nature, investment-based crowdfunding platforms tend to be high tech businesses, often providing financial services in new and innovative ways.

Norton Rose Fulbright acted as International Legal Expert and Technical Legal Expert for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in support of the Central Bank of Armenia. 

Partner Hannah Meakin and Counsel Matthew Gregory led the project, working closely with local law firm TK&Partners, to provide a combination of policy, legal and regulatory support to develop and implement the new regulatory framework. This was based on international best practice, including from countries such as the UK, which has one of the world’s most sophisticated approaches to crowdfunding regulation.

On February 8, 2022 the Central Bank of Armenia approved a package of laws to enable the regulation of investment-based crowdfunding services in Armenia and support the development of this new sector. The project is now in its final stage, which consists of capacity building and outreach, in order to publicise and explain the regime to the Armenian market and wider public.

Hannah Meakin, partner at Norton Rose Fulbright said: “We’re grateful to have been able to contribute to such an important project, which could make a real difference to a broad range of businesses and investors across Armenia and the wider Armenian diaspora.” 

Matthew Gregory, counsel at Norton Rose Fulbright added: “Crowdfunding is becoming increasingly recognised across the world as a key source of funding for SMEs and this is a trend we expect will continue to grow over the coming decade. We anticipate a growing need for jurisdictions to develop more sophisticated regulatory regimes as part of their wider framework to ensure that businesses and individuals are properly supported, and protected, and we’ve been delighted to work with the EBRD on this important area of policy.”