Risk Warning

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

WHAT ARE THE KEY RISKS?

1. You could lose all the money you invest:

If the business you invest in fails, there is a high risk that you will lose your money. Many small businesses fail.
Target rates of return aren’t guaranteed. This is not a savings account. If you are investing in a loan and the investee company doesn’t pay you back as agreed, you could earn less money than expected. A higher target rate of return means a higher risk of losing your money. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Loan investments are sometimes held in an Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA). An IFISA does not reduce the risk of the investment or protect you from losses, so you can still lose all your money. It only means that any potential gains from your investment will be tax free.

2. 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 here.
Protection from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) does not cover poor investment performance. If you have a complaint against an FCA-regulated firm, FOS may be able to consider it. Learn more about FOS protection here.

3. You are unlikely to get your money back quickly

Even if the business you invest in is successful, it may take several years to get your money back. You are unlikely to be able to sell your investment early.
The most likely way to get your money back is if the business is bought by another business. These events are not common.
You should not expect to get your money back through dividends. The investee companies rarely pay these.
Each investment is expected to last for several years, so you should be prepared to wait for your money to be returned even if the business you’re investing in repays on time or is sold by the target exit date.
You are unlikely to be able to cash in your investment early by selling your investment. You are usually locked in until the business has paid you back over the period agreed or been sold.

4. 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.

5. The value of your investment can be reduced

If you invest in shares, the percentage of the investee company that you own will decrease if the investee company issues more shares. This could mean that the value of your investment reduces, depending on how much the business grows. Some investee companies may 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 in shares.

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

Thank you. To access Rockpool opportunities you will need to agree to the declaration below. Please read it carefully. It does not commit you to invest or pay any money.

I declare that I am a self-certified sophisticated investor for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 because at least one of the following applies:
1. I am a member of a network or syndicate of business angels and have been so for at least the last six months prior to registering with Rockpool;
2. I have made more than one investment in an unlisted company in the two years prior to registering with Rockpool;
3. I am working, or have worked in the two years prior to registering with Rockpool, in a professional capacity in the private equity sector, or in the provision of finance for small and medium enterprises;
4. I am currently, or have been in the two years prior to registering with Rockpool, a director of a company with an annual turnover of at least £1 million.
I understand that this means:
1. I can receive financial promotions that may not have been approved by a person authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority;
2. the content of such financial promotions may not conform to rules issued by the Financial Conduct Authority;
I understand that by making this declaration I may lose significant rights:
1. I may have no right to complain to either of the Financial Conduct Authority or the Financial Ombudsman Scheme;
2. I may have no right to seek compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
I accept that I can lose the money I invest by making investment decisions based on financial promotions. I am aware that it is open to me to seek advice from someone who specialises in advising on investments.

I understand that Rockpool will store my personal information and will send me details of investments and other relevant information. My personal information will be protected in line with Rockpool’s privacy policy. I accept that information relating to investment opportunities will be provided to me on a strictly confidential basis and I undertake not to disclose such information to any person without prior written permission from Rockpool.

Rockpool will hold and process your data in order to fulfil our legitimate interest in serving you and communicating with you and in complying with regulatory and legal requirements. For details of how and why we process your data and details of how to exercise your rights, please visit Rockpool’s Privacy Policy.
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Thank you. To access Rockpool opportunities you will need to agree to the declaration below. Please read it carefully. It does not commit you to invest or pay any money.

I declare that I am a certified high net worth individual because at least one of the following applies:
1. I had, during the financial year immediately preceding my registration with Rockpool, an annual income to the value of £100,000 or more;
2. I held, throughout the financial year immediately preceding my registration with Rockpool, net assets to the value of £250,000 or more. Net assets for these purposes do not include:
I understand that this means:
1. I can receive financial promotions that may not have been approved by a person authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority;
2. the content of such financial promotions may not conform to rules issued by the Financial Conduct Authority;
I understand that by making this declaration I may lose significant rights:
1. I may have no right to complain to either of the Financial Conduct Authority or the Financial Ombudsman Scheme
2. I may have no right to seek compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
I accept that I can lose the money I invest by making investment decisions based on financial promotions. I am aware that it is open to me to seek advice from someone who specialises in advising on investments. I confirm that I have the necessary knowledge and experience to make my own decisions in relation to investments in unquoted smaller companies.

I understand that Rockpool will store my personal information and will send me details of investments and other relevant information. My personal information will be protected in line with Rockpool’s privacy policy. I accept that information relating to investment opportunities will be provided to me on a strictly confidential basis and I undertake not to disclose such information to any person without prior written permission from Rockpool

Rockpool will hold and process your data in order to fulfil our legitimate interest in serving you and communicating with you and in complying with regulatory and legal requirements. For details of how and why we process your data and details of how to exercise your rights, please visit Rockpool’s Privacy Policy.
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Thank you. To access Rockpool opportunities you will need to agree to the declaration below. Please read it carefully. It does not commit you to invest or pay any money.

I declare that for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 because at least one of the following applies:
1. I am a director or employee of a company with net assets of at least £5m
2. a director or employee of a company with net assets of at least at least £500,000 and the company has more than 20 shareholders
3. a trustee of a trust with assets of £10m or more
I understand that this means:
1. I can receive financial promotions that may not have been approved by a person authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority;
2. the content of such financial promotions may not conform to rules issued by the Financial Conduct Authority;
I understand that by making this declaration I may lose significant rights:
1. I may have no right to complain to either the Financial Conduct Authority or the Financial Ombudsman Scheme;
2. I may have no right to seek compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
I accept that I can lose the money I invest by making investment decisions based on financial promotions. I am aware that it is open to me to seek advice from someone who specialises in advising on investments.

I understand that Rockpool will store my personal information and will send me details of investments and other relevant information. My personal information will be protected in line with Rockpool’s privacy policy. I accept that information relating to investment opportunities will be provided to me on a strictly confidential basis and I undertake not to disclose such information to any person without prior written permission from Rockpool.

Rockpool will hold and process your data in order to fulfil our legitimate interest in serving you and communicating with you and in complying with regulatory and legal requirements. For details of how and why we process your data and details of how to exercise your rights, please visit Rockpool’s Privacy Policy.
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Thank you. To access Rockpool opportunities you will need to agree to the declaration below. Please read it carefully. It does not commit you to invest or pay any money.
- I undertake not to invest personally in any investment opportunity promoted by Rockpool unless I have provided a separate declaration in a form satisfactory to Rockpool that I am eligible to make such investments.
- I accept that information relating to investment opportunities will be provided to me on a strictly confidential basis and I undertake not to disclose such information to any person without prior written permission from Rockpool.
- I understand that Rockpool will store my personal information and will send me details of investments and other relevant information. My personal information will be protected in line with Rockpool’s privacy policy.
Rockpool will hold and process your data in order to fulfil our legitimate interest in serving you and communicating with you and in complying with regulatory and legal requirements. For details of how and why we process your data and details of how to exercise your rights, please visit Rockpool’s Privacy Policy.
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