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Conventional bonds are currently returning lower yields than historic averages. This, combined with interest rates offering miserly returns on cash, is forcing an increasing number of investors to look at alternative investments.
Crowd bonds offer a fixed rate of interest, repaying on a predetermined date and are generally secured against specific assets such as property, renewable energy and leisure venues.
Capital is at risk and returns are not guaranteed.
Bonds are investments not deposits and investors’ capital is at risk. Downing will seek to minimise risks but you should be aware that returns are not guaranteed and you may not get back the amount invested.
Why Choose Downing?
Downing is a long-established investment manager that is regulated by the FCA, has over 30 years investment management experience and currently has over £1.2bn under management. Downing shows this experience when selecting these opportunities for its customers to invest in. Thus, Best Price Financial Services has selected Downing Investments as a partner for bonds. Downing acts as the arranger and security trustee for the bonds.
Best Price Financial Services will receive a small commission for these investments from Downing, however this will not affect your return.
Your personal decision to invest
A decision to invest in a company is a personal decision by you and no responsibility for the consequences of that decision is accepted by Downing LLP (“Downing”) or by any of its partners, directors, agents, employees or other members. To invest through Downing’s crowdfunding platform on www.downingcrowd.co.uk (the “platform” you need to understand the following important risks:
You are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme Deposit protection scheme
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) deposit protection scheme does not apply to Downing Crowd Bonds. It does, however, apply to funds held in the client money account prior to investment in Downing Crowd Bonds or once the proceeds of that investment are returned from the borrower.
The client money account is held by Thompson Taraz Depositary Limited at the Royal Bank of Scotland plc. Downing is authorised and regulated by the FCA and is responsible for arranging and promoting Downing Crowd Bonds. Under the FSCS investment protection scheme there may be circumstances in which investors can claim up to £50,000 of compensation where Downing is unable or unlikely to honour legally enforceable obligations against it (e.g. claims for fraud or misrepresentation).
However, investors will not be able to claim under the FSCS simply because a bond fails to repay capital or pay interest. This is unlikely to significantly affect the risk of investing in the Downing Crowd Bonds.Click here for more details on the FSCS and its eligibility criteria
Liquidity
You should be aware that no established market exists for the trading of bonds in private companies (which the companies that are listed on the platform are), and such bonds are not easily realisable. There could be difficulty in selling such investments at a reasonable price and, in some circumstances, it may be difficult to sell them at all.
Diversify your portfolio
We highly recommend you maintain a balanced portfolio. Diversification (by spreading your money across different types of investments) should reduce your overall risk. You should only invest a proportion of your available investment funds via the platform due to the high risks involved.
Tax
We recommend that you take your own tax advice on any investments which you make via the platform.
Recommendation
We do not provide advice or make personal recommendations. If you are in any doubt about the action you should take or the contents of a particular Offer Document, you should seek advice from a financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
Past performance
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. You should not rely on any past performance as a guarantee of future investment performance.
