Altegris, an alternative investment research and management firm, and Artivest, an alternative investment technology firm, said Thursday that they plan to merge. The joint company, to be named Artivest, will include about 100 employees servicing about $3 billion in client capital.
"This merger scales up a great team to serve an even broader range of investors while it preserves the benefits of independent ownership," said Peter Thiel, Artivest's earliest angel investor, who is taking a seat on the board, in a statement.
Artivest, which will remain privately held by employees and outside investors — including Aquiline Capital Partners, Genstar Capital, KKR and Thiel Capital — says the merger makes it among the largest independent alternative investment technology and solutions firms.
A PwC industry report from October 2017 estimated that alternative investments will surpass $21 trillion in assets by 2025 — more than doubling in size in eight years — and reaching 15% of all global assets under management.
"Artivest has been heralded for its efforts to reshape the future of alternative investing. Combining Artivest's leading technology with Altegris' deep investing expertise benefits clients and employees alike," said Matt Osborne, founder and chief investment officer of Altegris, in a statement.
