Investing in equity securities is risky.
Any investment in unlisted equity securities involves a high degree of risk and may not be suitable for everyone depending on personal circumstances and financial resources. Equity ranks junior to all other forms of securities offered by a company and is therefore a speculative investment that should only be pursued after careful evaluation of the potential risks and merits of such investment. You should only invest in an equity project if you understand the risks and have sufficient resources to bear any loss that might result from such an investment.
Unlisted companies are not subject to certain shareholder protection regimes.
The companies that post projects on CrowdBnk are unlisted and will not be subject to protections the Listing Rules of the United Kingdom Listing Authority, the AIM Rules, the UK Corporate Governance Code or any other similar rules or regulations applying to companies with securities admitted to or traded on a regulated market, an investment exchange or other public market. Accordingly, persons who invest in equity securities through the CrowdBnk platform will not have the same rights and protections as those available to shareholders in publicly listed companies.
There is no existing market for the shares offered in projects listed on CrowdBnk and we cannot be certain that an active trading market will develop.
There is currently no public market for the shares on CrowdBnk and there can be no assurance that an active trading market for the shares will develop in the future. The lack of an active market may make it more difficult for you to sell or transfer the shares you subscribe for through the CrowdBnk platform.
Your percentage ownership in a company may be diluted in the future.
Your percentage ownership in a company may be diluted in the future as a result of equity awards that may be granted to a company’s directors, officers and employees. In addition, a company may raise additional capital by issuing new shares to finance all or part of the consideration paid for acquisitions and strategic investments it may make in the future.
There is no guarantee that a company will pay dividends.
Although provision is made in the Articles of Association to allow companies to pay dividends to shareholders, early-stage companies like those using the CrowdBnk platform generally do not pay dividends. There is no guarantee that any company will pay dividends in the future.
Minority shareholders may not be able to influence the strategic direction of a company.
Even though the Articles of Association provide every share with one vote on matters put before a general meeting of shareholders, the founding entrepreneur or other significant investors may be able to carry any vote to be made at a general meeting in relation to general commercial matters.
Provisions in the UK Takeover Code may prevent or delay an acquisition of a company.
Each company that offers equity on the CrowdBnk platform will be subject to the Takeover Code which imposes conditions on certain persons looking to acquire a significant ownership interest in a company. While these restrictions are designed to protect all shareholders, they may prevent or delay an acquisition or deter some investors from acquiring an ownership interest in a company.
No advice.
Neither we nor BriceAmery Capital will give any advice or personal recommendation in relation to shares offered on the CrowdBnk platform. If you require investment advice, you should consult an adviser authorized and regulated by the FSA and who specialises in investments of this kind.
There may be tax consequences to investing in shares on the CrowdBnk platform.
You should take tax advice relevant to your own position on all matters relating to your acquiring, holding or disposing of shares on the CrowdBnk platform.