As with any investment, there are risks. The Key Investment Information Sheet (KIIS) for the project will cover the risks specific to an individual project investment, but it is also important you understand the following risk warnings and regulatory disclosures.
Platform and regulatory status
Green Crowd Limited, trading as Green Crowd, operates this crowdfunding investment platform (the “Platform”). Green Crowd does not provide investment advice or makes recommendations regarding the suitability, merits or risks of any investment offered on the Platform.
Green Crowd Limited, trading as Green Crowd, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
WARNING: Investment in crowdfunding projects entails risks, including the risk of partial or entire loss of the money invested.
Your investment is not covered by the deposit guarantee schemes established in accordance with Directive 2014/49/EU and is not covered by the investor compensation schemes established in accordance with Directive 97/9/EC.
You may not receive any return on your investment. This is not a savings product. You may lose all of the money you invest.
Crowdfunding investments are illiquid. You may not be able to sell your investment when you wish, or at all. If you are able to sell your investment, you may nonetheless incur losses.
We advise you not to invest more than 10% of your net worth in crowdfunding projects.
WARNING: Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance.
Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each investor and may be subject to change.
Where referenced, EIIS relief is available only to qualifying Irish taxpayers who invest in eligible projects, subject to a minimum holding period of four years and Revenue approval. Investors must claim any relief directly through their tax return. Green Crowd does not provide tax advice and investors should seek independent professional tax advice.
4-Day Reflection Period (For Non-Sophisticated Investors)
All non-sophisticated investors benefit from a statutory four-day reflection period starting from the date they pledge to invest in a crowdfunding offer.
During this period, you may withdraw your investment commitment without penalty or justification.
Investment advice
Green Crowd is not authorised to provided financial advice and does not do so. It is therefore your responsibility to seek independent financial and/or legal advice prior to investing.
Additional risk information relating to early-stage equity investments
Please see below some information relating to investing equity in early‑stage businesses which are not quoted on any stock exchange:
General Investment Risk
Investment in new and early-stage businesses carries high risk as well as the possibility of high reward. These investments are speculative.
Potential investors should be aware that:
- You may lose the total value of your investment
- There is no established market for trading shares in private companies
- You may not be able to sell your investment before maturity, or at all
Before investing, investors are strongly advised to seek advice from a Qualified Financial Adviser (QFA) who specialises in high-risk and illiquid investments.
Only Invest What You Can Afford to Lose
Investors should invest only a small proportion of their available funds and should balance this with safer, more liquid investments. The majority of early‑stage businesses fail or do not scale as planned. Therefore, investing in these businesses may involve significant risk. It is likely that you may lose all or part of your investment. If a business you invest in fails, neither the company, nor Green Crowd will pay back your investment.
Dependence On the Directors
The success of many investee companies will depend in part upon the ability of their directors to develop and maintain a strategy that achieves the company’s investment objectives. Should the directors leave the business for any reason, then performance in the investee company is likely to deteriorate.
Lack of Operating History
Some companies that appear on the Platform are relatively early‑stage and have no substantive operating history upon which prospective investors can evaluate likely performance.
Forecasts
Forecasts (including any targeted returns, illustrative returns, estimates, beliefs, opinions or similar information) are not reliable indicators of future performance. Forecasts are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by any potential subscriber as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions; many are beyond the control of the company and its advisers. Factors such as changes in interest rates, taxation legislation, or domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions can cause actual results to differ materially. Calculations in any forecasts have been prepared without necessarily seeking public disclosure or conformity with published guidelines or generally accepted accounting principles. Such forecasts should be considered alongside all other information available and independent advice received.
Look to Spread Your Risk by Diversifying
You can reduce your risk by spreading your investment across multiple projects rather than investing all available funds into a single project. However, diversification does not lessen all types of risk. These investments may not be suitable for all investors. You should invest only if you understand the risks involved and are comfortable making your own investment decisions.
Lack of Liquidity
Liquidity refers to the ease with which you can sell your shares after purchase. Equity investments cannot be sold easily and are unlikely to be listed on a secondary trading market such as the Irish Stock Exchange. Even successful companies rarely list their shares, so you should assume you will be holding your investment for the long term.
Dividend Policy
Dividends are payments made by a business to its shareholders from the company’s profits. Most of the companies featured on the Platform will rarely pay dividends to their investors. This means that you are unlikely to see a return on your investment until you are able to sell your shares. Businesses have no obligation to pay shareholder dividends.
Dilution
Equity investments may be subject to dilution if the investee company issues more shares. If there are “pre‑emption rights” in the investor agreement, it means you will be offered a chance to buy more shares if there is a further fundraising, enabling you to maintain your percentage shareholding in the company. Dilution affects every existing shareholder who does not buy any of the new shares being issued. As a result, an existing shareholder’s proportionate shareholding of the company is reduced or ‘diluted’ – affecting voting, dividends and value.
Taxation & EIIS Eligibility
Rates of tax, tax benefits and allowances may change from time to time and are not guaranteed and may even change retrospectively. The value of any tax relief depends on your personal circumstances, and you must hold the shares for a minimum of four years to retain EIIS relief. Other taxes such as capital‑gains tax or income tax may apply, and tax rules may change. The companies appearing on this Platform are targeted at Irish‑resident taxpayers; if you are not resident or ordinarily resident in Ireland for tax purposes, it may not be appropriate or advantageous for you to invest. Neither the company, the Directors nor the company’s advisers give any assurances, warranties or undertakings that EIIS relief will be available or that, if given, such relief will not be withdrawn. Failure to obtain or retain relief for the four‑year period could have a material effect on investments in the company. The Directors may, if considered in the best interests of the company and shareholders, take actions that breach the EIIS rules and jeopardise the tax status. Obtaining tax relief is contingent upon making the correct filings with Revenue within required timescales.
ABILITY TO BEAR LOSS CALCULATOR
Use our calculator to understand your ability to bear the loss of the capital invested. If you would prefer to calculate this yourself, or find out more information click here
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