Athena Art Finance was formed in 2015 as an institutional asset-based lender against high-value fine art, and, as of April 8, 2019, is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of YieldStreet Inc. The Originator focuses on the premium segment of the art market which has exhibited a proven market depth with multiple sales channels. The Originator’s growth to date can be attributed to key art market partnerships and strong borrower relationships. The Originator’s credit underwriting follows a disciplined process that is focused on the borrower, collateral and loan structure. The Originator’s performance reflects the specialized credit and collateral screening policies that address both upfront due diligence and on-going monitoring processes. These processes are supported by internal data analytics developed by the Originator to assist in consistent decision making and efficient review and management of its collateral.
The Originator developed underwriting standards that guide its lending activities designed to safeguard its invested capital which may include:
It is important to note that the Originator’s underwriting standards are the framework under which all transactions are reviewed and any proposed deviations or exceptions from these standards may be considered on a selective basis. The Originator’s diligence process is composed of six distinct areas:
The Originator is responsible for monitoring the loan and collateral immediately following the close of a transaction. This servicing process is performed by the Originator as a form of continuing diligence to ensure the loan and collateral are consistently in compliance with the terms of the transaction. The multi-faceted servicing process includes:
For more than 25 years, Ms. Fine has provided legal and business advice to art collectors, galleries, dealers, and financial services clients. Prior to joining Athena in 2015, Ms. Fine was a partner at Schindler Cohen & Hochman LLP, a litigation and art law boutique. Ms. Fine was previously an associate at the law firms of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Hale and Dorr, LLP (now Wilmer Hale). Fluent in French and Italian, Ms. Fine has extensive cross-border transactional and litigation experience and has acted as liaison counsel to corporations and ultra-high net worth individuals in many in foreign (multinational) jurisdictions.
Ms. Fine is the Chair of the New York City Bar Association Art Law Subcommittee on Art Finance, Funds and Fiduciaries. A recognized speaker on the topics of art law, finance and business, Ms. Fine has lectured widely to various professional and academic audiences, including Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Christie’s Education, and Cardozo Law School’s Fashion Arts Media Entertainment Law Center. She also sits on the Board of Creative Art Works, a nonprofit that empowers young people in New York City through the visual and multimedia arts. Ms. Fine graduated from Columbia College and received her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, where she was an editor of the VLA Journal of Law and the Arts.
Maureen joined Athena Art Finance as a Senior Investment Associate in 2021. Prior to joining Athena, Maureen was an Associate at Jefferies Credit Partners, a private credit alternatives group within Jefferies, focusing specifically on the Direct Lending strategy. While at JCP, Maureen took an active role in the underwriting and portfolio management processes, providing financing solutions for private equity backed transactions across all sectors. Maureen graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.B.A. in Finance and a second major in Anthropology.