Ferbrache & Farrell and Aztec Group together support launch and close of first Guernsey regulated defence fund and Europe’s largest dedicated dual-use and defence technology fund

Ferbrache & Farrell (F&F) and Aztec Group (Aztec) assisted their long-standing mutual client, Lakestar, a leading European venture capital investment adviser, on the successful closing of the USD 300 Million Resilience I Fund (Resilience I), the first Guernsey-regulated defence fund and Europe’s largest dedicated dual-use and defence technology fund.

Resilience I invests in dual-use and defence technology companies across European and NATO-allied markets. The fund was oversubscribed, with investor interest significantly exceeding the fund’s target size.

The Resilience I portfolio spans a broad range of defence technologies for European and allies’ security and resilience capabilities including advanced autonomous systems, AI driven defence software, sovereign drone manufacturing, missile technology, space technologies and maritime platforms. Investments have strictly adhered to guidelines and guidance issued by the UN, NATO, the US, the EU and Guernsey. Guernsey regulatory approval followed extensive engagement with Guernsey’s regulator, the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.

The launch of Resilience I involved Clifford Chance, Munich as lead legal counsel, F&F as Guernsey legal counsel and Aztec as fund administrator. The F&F team, led by Gavin Farrell, Stuart Nash, Helen McGeoch, David Millar and Glyn Davies, advised on all Guernsey regulatory and corporate aspects of the launch. The Aztec team comprised Matt Chick, Mark Thoume, Chris England and Will Bodkin, supported by colleagues across the wider business.

Founders in the Resilience I portfolio have raised over USD 5 billion in private capital to pioneer Europe’s resilience capabilities. Resilience I’s investments in products and technologies have been procured by major European and allied nations, generating several billion USD in revenue. With the companies employing more than five thousand experts in their fields, this cluster is one of the most important and fastest growing talent pools in European technology.