Bird & Bird advises WIWIN on application for authorisation as a crowdfunding service provider
Associate
Germany
As an associate in our Finance & Financial Regulation practice group I advise national and international clients on financial regulatory and finance matters, focusing in particular on the intersection of financial regulation and technology.
Partner
Germany
As partner in our Finance & Financial Regulation Group in Frankfurt, I advise our national and international clients on banking regulatory issues and finance law.
International law firm Bird & Bird has provided comprehensive advice to the crowd investing platform WIWIN on its application for authorisation as a crowdfunding service provider under the European Crowdfunding Service Provider Regulation (EU) 2020/1503 (“ECSPR”).
The authorisation as a crowdfunding service provider was granted on 27th of September 2024 and now also opens up the possibility for the WIWIN Group to operate throughout Europe on the level playing field established by the ECSPR. Therefore, it is a first step towards a possible expansion and internationalisation of WIWIN's business.
Bird & Bird's advice included the submission of the application to BaFin and the provision comprehensive assistance to WIWIN in its application for authorisation. WIWIN is only the fifth company in Germany to be granted such an authorisation.
As one of the leading online platforms for sustainable investments in Germany, WIWIN, founded by energy transition pioneer Matthias Willenbacher, provides capital to project owners in the real estate and renewable energy sectors, as well as to founders with a sustainable business model. WIWIN was founded with the motivation of creating greater public participation in energy transition and giving investors more choice and opportunities to spread their capital across different projects or companies. In order to achieve this objective, WIWIN offers project owners crowd investing structures to, thereby facilitating financings with a consistent focus on sustainability. WIWIN is now in position to provide this service a fully regulated authorisation.
WIWIN has been advised by the following Bird & Bird lawyers: partner Johannes Wirtz, LL.M. (lead) and associate Pascal Leitmann (both Frankfurt, Finance & Financial Regulation).