Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong.
Take 2 mins to learn more
Risk Summary

Estimated reading time: 2 min

Due to the potential for losses, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) considers this investment to be high risk.

What are the key risks?

  • You could lose all the money you invest
  • Most investments are shares in start-up businesses or bonds issued by them. Investors in these shares or bonds often lose 100% of the money they invested, as most start-up businesses fail.
  • Checks on the businesses you are investing in, such as how well they are expected to perform, may not have been carried out by the platform you are investing through. You should do your own research before investing.

You won't get your money back quickly

  • Even if the business you invest in is successful, it will likely take several years to get your money back.
  • The most likely way to get your money back is if the business is bought by another business or lists its shares on an exchange such as the London Stock Exchange. These events are not common.
  • Start-up businesses very rarely pay you back through dividends. You should not expect to get your money back this way.
  • Some platforms may give you the opportunity to sell your investment early through a 'secondary market' or 'bulletin board', but there is no guarantee you will find a buyer at the price you are willing to sell.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

  • Putting all your money into a single business or type of investment for example, is risky. Spreading your money across different investments makes you less dependent on any one to do well. A good rule of thumb is not to invest more than 10% of your money in high-risk investments. Learn more here.

The value of your investment can be reduced

  • If your investment is shares, the percentage of the business that you own will decrease if the business issues more shares. This could mean that the value of your investment reduces, depending on how much the business grows. Most start-up businesses issue multiple rounds of shares.
  • These new shares could have additional rights that your shares don't have, such as the right to receive a fixed dividend, which could further reduce your chances of getting a return on your investment.

You are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong

  • Protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), in relation to claims against failed regulated firms, does not cover poor investment performance. Try the FSCS investment protection checker.
  • Protection from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) does not cover poor investment performance. If you have a complaint against an FCA-regulated platform, FOS may be able to consider it. Learn more about FOS protection here.

If you are interested in learning more about how to protect yourself, visit the FCA's website here.

For further information about investment-based crowdfunding, visit the crowdfunding section of the FCA's website here.
Weekly Briefing
Jo Bentham
· 4 min read
· Updated on

Weekly Briefing: Bank Rate stays at 16-year high, tech SMEs continue to invest in young talent & IMF raises outlook for global economic growth

This week, we cover the news that the Bank of England (BoE) has once again chosen to keep the bank rate at 5.25%, the young talent surge being experienced by UK tech SMEs, the Government’s tightening crackdown on IHT payments, and more.                   

                                 

UK Economy

Bank Rate Stays The Same But BOE Opens Door To Cuts

  • The BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to keep the bank rate at its 16-year high of 5.25% last Wednesday. 
  • This decision was in line with City forecasts, and markets are expecting the BoE to maintain the 5.25% rate at its next meeting in mid-March too. 
  • Six members of the committee voted in favour of maintaining the current rate, whilst two members voted for an increase and one for a decrease.
  • Andrew Bailey, BoE Governor, said: “We have had good news on inflation over the past few months. It has fallen a long way, from 10% a year ago to 4%. But we need to see more evidence that inflation is set to fall all the way to the 2% target, and stay there, before we can lower interest rates."
  • Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “It's obviously very positive news for families with mortgages that interest rates appear to have peaked, but we should remember that inflation never falls in a straight line.”

 

Global Economy

The IMF States A "Soft Landing" For Global Economic Growth Is Now A Possibility

  • In its World Economic Outlook Update, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected global growth to 3.1% in 2024 and 3.2% in 2025, with the 2024 forecast 0.2% higher than that in the October 2023 World Economic Outlook.
  • The increased outlook is due to greater-than-expected resilience in the US and several large emerging market and developing economies, as well as fiscal support in China.
  • Global headline inflation is expected to fall to 5.8% in 2024, whilst the 2025 forecast has been revised down to 4.4%. 
  • IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said: “The global economy continues to display remarkable resilience, with inflation declining steadily and growth holding up. We are very far from a global recession scenario.”

 

UK Tech

UK Tech SMEs Continue To Invest In Young Talent Despite Tough Economic Landscape

  • SMEs within the UK’s tech sector are continuing to invest in young talent, demonstrating optimism and resilience amidst a challenging economic climate.
  • The Skill’s Horizon Barometer reported that 69% are investing in young talent through low-cost recruitment tactics.
  • The report highlights a growing appetite for technical education among SMEs, with 80% observing benefits from such initiatives in other businesses.
  • Technical education options – including staff training and direct recruitment – are viewed as economical means of upskilling and hiring by 55% of tech SMEs.
  • Encouragingly, the report also indicates that the outlook for tech SMEs remains positive, as an impressive 95% plan to grow their revenue in 2024.
  • Launched by the Skills for Life campaign under the Department for Education, the report coincides with National Apprenticeship Week and aims to address challenges, opportunities and solutions for SMEs.

 

Tax

Over 2,000 Families Being Investigated By HMRC Over IHT Shortfalls

  • According to The Times, HMRC opened 2,029 investigations into potential Inheritance Tax (IHT) underpayments between April and November 2023.
  • There were more than 3,100 investigations and £251 million recovered in the prior tax year.
  • The Treasury is expected to raise £7.6 billion IHT in 2023/24, a £500 million increase on 2022/23.
  • Sean McCann from NFU Mutual said: “HMRC has substantial investigation powers if it suspects Inheritance Tax has been underpaid through error, omission or by undervaluing assets. It will check other information sources to build up a picture of the deceased and their financial affairs – including bank statements or looking at income which may suggest the existence of undisclosed assets such as investments, property or significant foreign currency transactions.”
  • It’s clear that IHT remains a significant obstacle for many families, and for investors, considering IHT-free investment vehicles such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) is as important as ever. 


Private Equity

Private Equity Is Changing The Global Soccer Landscape

  • In 2021, private equity group CVC Capital Partners made a deal to invest $2.1 billion in the Spanish soccer league – the first deal of its kind in Europe’s top soccer leagues.
  • The agreement gives Luxembourg-based CVC a 8.25% stake in a new company that manages TV rights from the Spanish league.
  • This week, the Spanish clubs benefiting from a share of the funds are meeting to showcase and discuss the projects being funded by the capital injection.
  • Private equity and other investment funds have built a strong presence in global soccer in recent years, as investors seized the opportunity during the Covid pandemic when clubs became cash-strapped.
  • According to Pitchbook, more than one-third of the teams in the top five European leagues currently have financial backing from private equity, venture capital or private debt firms.
  • They have invested $5.4 billion in Spain, France, Italy, Germany and England, up from $71 million in 2018.

 

Property

Nationwide Say Outlook For UK Housing Market Is "More Positive"

  • Nationwide’s House Price Index found that the average house price increased by 0.7% in January to £257,656.
  • This shows a further recovery in the annual rate of change, with prices down just 0.2% compared to one year ago.
  • Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist, said: “While a rapid rebound in activity or house prices in 2024 appears unlikely, the outlook is looking a little more positive.” 
  • Meanwhile, Yopa’s Chief Executive Verona Frankish said that the BoE maintaining the base rate will help to “steady the market further, providing buyers with the confidence that they can proceed with their purchase without the goalposts of mortgage affordability moving during the process.”

 

A Final Note

There’s been a steady stream of promising news this week. Figures from January have been showing a positive start to 2024, with the news that the BoE is maintaining the bank rate and the IMF’s global economic growth outlook has improved further reinforcing this. 

It’s also excellent to see that the UK’s tech SME sector is looking robust, as is the housing market, with demand and market activity slowly strengthening. 

On the other hand, The Times’ report on an uptick in IHT-related investigations should serve as a reminder to investors to keep IHT tax mitigating measures at the forefront of their investment decisions.

At GCV, we remain committed to providing the latest insights into the investment and wider economic landscape in order to support investors in making well-informed decisions when choosing where to allocate their capital.

If you would like to find out more about a number of tax-efficient investment strategies available to UK investors, discover our range of downloadable resources here.
Driving Growth.
Creating Value.
Delivering Impact.

Backed by

Growth Capital Ventures (GCV) is backed by funds managed by Maven Capital Partners, one of the UK’s leading private equity and alternative asset managers.