Fossar Investment Bank

What Fossar Investment Bank does

Fossar Investment Bank (Fossar fjárfestingarbanki hf.) is an Icelandic investment bank founded in 2015 and headquartered at Ármúli 3 in Reykjavík. The bank operates four core business lines: Capital Markets (securities trading and brokerage on Icelandic financial markets), Corporate Finance (M&A advisory, capital raising and bond issuance management), Asset Management / Private Banking (Einkabanki), and Credit (Lánasvið, lending to corporates, investment funds and institutions). It is the leading independent investment bank in Iceland, holding the largest market share in reported bond trading on Nasdaq Iceland — rising from approximately 16% in 2017 to a peak of 29.3% in bonds and 24.3% in equities in October 2020 — and dominates the domestic green bond market, having managed all Icelandic green bond issuances to date.

The bank's go-to-market blends direct enterprise sales with channel partnerships: Saxo Bank provides access to 50+ global exchanges and 30,000+ investment options, Neuberger Berman provides international fund distribution, and Redington provides asset-manager research and analytics. Since 2016–2018 the bank has expanded internationally through Fossar Markets AB in Stockholm (led by Andri Guðmundsson) and Fossar Markets Ltd. in London (FCA-licensed, led by David Witzer), and was the first Icelandic financial institution in over a decade to obtain direct memberships on Nasdaq Copenhagen and Nasdaq Stockholm (September 2018).

Fossar serves institutional investors, Icelandic corporates, investment funds, municipalities (including Reykjavík City), real-estate issuers (Reitir, Reginn), energy/utilities issuers (Orkuveita Reykjavíkur) and foreign investors seeking Icelandic market exposure. Revenue derives from transaction fees (brokerage), professional services fees (advisory and bond issuance), recurring asset management fees, and credit-related income. The firm is privately held with no disclosed parent company, no funding rounds, and no publicly disclosed revenue.

Name

Fossar Investment Bank

Legal name

Fossar fjárfestingarbanki hf.

Website

https://fossar.is

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fossar Investment Bank is Iceland's leading independent investment bank, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Reykjavík with offices in Stockholm and London. It offers capital markets trading, corporate finance advisory, asset management, and credit services to corporates and institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Banking

NAICS

Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Investment Advice (6282), Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Debt Capital Raising Intermediation (Private Debt/Mezzanine/Bonds) (FSAEALAM), Debt & Capital Advisory (Debt Raising, Refinancing, Private Credit) (BPAHAOAD)

Keywords

• Investment banking services
• Capital markets trading
• Corporate finance advisory
• Asset management
• Securities brokerage

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavík

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Securities Trading/Brokerage: Comprehensive service in Icelandic financial markets for securities trading and brokerage
2. Corporate Finance Advisory: Advisory services for corporations and individuals in financial markets
3. Asset Management: Private banking and asset management services meeting diverse customer needs
4. Credit Services: Services for companies, investment funds, and institutions requiring tailored credit solutions

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fossar Investment Bank is an Icelandic investment bank that provides securities brokerage and trading on domestic and Nordic exchanges, corporate finance advisory including bond issuance and M&A, private banking and asset management for institutional and high-net-worth clients, and tailored credit and lending solutions for companies, investment funds, and institutions. The bank manages bond auctions and listings on Nasdaq Iceland and acts as a primary bridge between Icelandic businesses and international capital markets via offices in Reykjavík, Akureyri, Stockholm, and London.

Product overview

Fossar Investment Bank (Fossar fjárfestingarbanki hf.) is an Icelandic investment bank providing a comprehensive suite of financial services through four core business lines: Capital Markets (Markaðsviðskipti) for securities trading and brokerage, Corporate Finance (Fyrirtækjaráðgjöf) for advisory and capital markets transactions, Asset Management (Einkabanki) for private banking, and Credit (Lánasvið) for corporate lending. The bank serves institutional investors, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals with both domestic and international investment services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Capital Markets Trading Full-service securities trading and brokerage operations on Icelandic financial markets (Markaðsviðskipti), with direct exchange memberships extending trading access to Nasdaq Iceland, Nasdaq Copenhagen, and Nasdaq Stockholm for domestic and international investors.
• Corporate Finance Advisory Corporate advisory services (Fyrirtækjaráðgjöf) including mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, bond issuance management, and strategic financial consulting for corporations and individuals. Fossar manages all domestic green bond issuances in Iceland and led 50% of the twenty largest Nasdaq Iceland transactions in 2019.
• Asset Management and Private Banking Private banking and wealth management services (Einkabanki) addressing the diverse needs of various client segments, including portfolio management, international fund distribution via Neuberger Berman partnership (USD 246 billion in assets), and manager research via Redington covering 45+ asset classes.
• Credit and Lending Lending services (Lánasvið) for businesses, investment funds, and institutions requiring customized and efficient financing solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Managed bond offerings raising over 20 billion ISK in green bonds as of 2019
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2019Fossar Markets became a partner of Climate Bonds Initiative, the first Icelandic company to do so. CBI is an international organization working to activate bond markets for climate change solutions. CBI advises governments on green bond issuances and maintains international standards and certification systems for green bonds. Fossar has been leading in green bond market on Iceland, managing all domestic green bond issuances.
• RedingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 October 2018Partnership with UK-based investment advisory firm Redington. Provides Fossar's professional investor services team and clients access to Redington's research and analysis on asset management firms globally. Redington's specialized research team covers 45+ asset classes worldwide, identifying top 5-10% performing managers in each class.
• Nasdaq Copenhagen and Nasdaq StockholmflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 September 2018Exchange memberships enabling direct trading of all securities listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen and Nasdaq Stockholm. Fossar is the first Icelandic financial company in over a decade to connect directly to foreign exchanges in this manner.
• Olaf RoggeminorOthers · 21 February 2018International investment specialist joining Fossar Markets' strategic advisory board to support the company's growing services on international markets. Rogge has decades of experience in global investments, having built Rogge Global Partners Ltd. from 1984 to managing over USD 60 billion before selling to Allianz Global Investors in 2016.
• UK Financial Conduct AuthoritycoreOthers · 18 August 2017UK regulatory authority that granted Fossar Markets Ltd. an independent operating license to provide financial services in the UK. This enables Fossar to provide comprehensive international financial services to both domestic and foreign customers.
• Neuberger Berman Europe LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 November 2016Partnership for sale and distribution of Neuberger Berman's foreign funds to Icelandic investors. Neuberger Berman Group is an established asset management company founded in 1939 in the US, fully employee-owned with about 2,000 employees in 19 countries, managing approximately USD 246 billion in assets. Offers wide range of equity, bond, alternative, and hedge funds.
• Saxo BankcoreTechnology or Integration · 4 October 2016Partnership agreement providing Fossar customers access to over 50 exchanges worldwide with over 30,000 investment options including stocks, bonds, currencies, and registered investment funds. Customers can access trading systems via desktop, tablet, and smartphone. The partnership is part of Fossar's strategy to expand international activities, including the opening of office in Stockholm.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Carnegie Investment Bank: Leading Nordic independent investment bank offering securities, investment banking and private banking — comparable independent boutique with multi-line franchise in the geographies Fossar is entering.
• ABG Sundal Collier: Nordic independent investment bank providing equity research, sales/trading, and corporate finance advisory; closely parallels Fossar's positioning as an independent Nordic-focused boutique.
• Kvika banki: Icelandic investment and transaction bank offering capital markets, corporate finance, asset management and lending — the closest direct domestic competitor to Fossar's four-line business model.
• Pareto Securities: Nordic independent investment bank with strong equity sales, trading and corporate finance presence — comparable boutique full-service model operating across the Nordic region where Fossar is now expanding.
• Kepler Cheuvreux: European independent investment bank with equity research, sales/trading and corporate advisory — direct competitor for the kind of cross-Nordic institutional mandates Fossar targets from its Stockholm office.

Broad incumbents

• SEB: Major Nordic universal bank with a substantial investment banking franchise; competes with Fossar in Stockholm for cross-Nordic institutional mandates and corporate finance advisory.
• Íslandsbanki: One of Iceland's three large universal banks with a full investment banking, capital markets and asset management franchise; Fossar's principal domestic competitor for corporate finance and trading mandates.
• Landsbankinn: Largest Icelandic universal bank with broad investment banking and capital markets capabilities — sets pricing benchmarks that constrain Fossar's fee economics on Icelandic-only deals.
• Arion Banki: Icelandic universal bank with investment banking, capital markets and wealth management divisions — competes directly with Fossar for Icelandic corporate finance and bond issuance mandates.

Others

• Neuberger Berman: USD 246bn AUM global asset manager partnered with Fossar to distribute international funds to Icelandic investors — illustrates the distribution-as-a-service model Fossar monetizes via its asset management arm.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fossar Investment Bank