What is an experienced or sophisticated investor?
In the UK, an experienced investor is a person or organisation considered to be experienced enough to make investments outside some financial regulations. They will have a high level of financial understanding that allows a thorough risk assessment.
Since 2005, High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and sophisticated investors can be more easily approached by people offering financial promotions about investing in unlisted securities. It has opened up alternative channels of investment for those looking for potentially more significant yields.
This post will examine the meaning and definitions of experienced and sophisticated investors, along with the risks and benefits.
Experienced Investors
The UK definition of the term Experienced Investor is from the Financial Services (Experienced Investor Funds) Regulations 2012.
An experienced investor is described as a person or body who meets specific requirements that enable them to operate professionally. This will allow them to make an investment and view a company’s documentation.
What are the key requirements for an Experienced Investor in the UK and Europe?
You will find eight main requirements that can be considered to determine if someone is an Experienced Investor as defined by the EIF (Experienced Investor Funds) Regulations 2012.
For full details and explanations, see here.
- A person or partnership whose day-to-day business includes acquiring, underwriting, managing, holding or disposing of investments, including advice regarding investments.
- A body, corporation, or unincorporated association with net assets above €1,000,000 or part of a group with net assets over €1,000,000.
- The trustee of a trust with cash and investments valuing over €1,000,000 in assets.
- An individual with a net worth over €1,000,000, excluding the value of their primary place of residence. Joint worth with a spouse may also be considered.
- An investor who already has a total of €100,000 invested in an experienced investor fund.
- An investor who invests at least €50,000 in an experienced investor fund on the advice of a professional advisor with confirmation of that advice.
- An investor who is defined as a professional client according to the Financial Services (Markets in Financial Instruments) Act 2006.
- An investor in a fund domiciled to Gibraltar where they have been permitted to be explicitly included.
- An Experienced Investor who does not meet these requirements must make a minimum investment of €100,000 (or equivalent).
- If an investment is only open to experienced investors, this will explicitly be detailed in the prospectus or memorandum.
What are Sophisticated Investors?
In the UK, in 2005, rules were relaxed regarding the self-certification of sophisticated investors to allow people of high net worth (HNWI) to be approached by businesses seeking finance or informal venture capital.
This self-certification applies to individuals with earnings of over £100,000 per year or net assets of at least £250,000, excluding their main residence.
Sophisticated investors must comply with one of the following:
- Been a member of a business angels network for at least six months
- Have invested at least once in an unlisted security
- Worked professionally in the provision of finance to small or medium-sized businesses
- Been a director of a company with a turnover of at least £1 million
What is the purpose of experienced investors?
Experienced Investors in the UK are labelled so because they are considered financially sophisticated and can assess risks without the added protection provided by additional financial regulations.
It applies to high net worth individuals, financial companies and those with professional experience making investments because unregistered securities are riskier than regulated investments.
Sellers of unregistered securities can only sell to experienced investors judged financially sophisticated enough to assess the risks.
Experienced investors can buy and invest in unregistered investments if they meet the requirements outlined in the financial regulations in the UK.
What are the benefits of Experienced Investor Funds?
As you will gather from the name, products under the EIF regulations are aimed at professional investors, and as such, the products are only lightly regulated.
As there is no need for the promoters of an EIF to be licensed, the directors must be authorised to carry out due diligence by the FSC.
There is no requirement for prior regulatory approval, and EIFs can be set up quickly. The prospectus must conform to industry standards.
Professional investors appreciate the ability to make informed decisions about risk and look for potentially higher-yielding investments.
What are the risks and benefits associated with unregulated investment schemes?
Unregulated investments have experienced significant growth in the UK since the introduction of pension freedoms in 2015, but they are often high risk.
Promotional materials may indicate the benefits of high yields without fully explaining the potential losses.
Unregulated investments include property development, cryptocurrencies, sports betting, fine wine, forestry and foreign exchange. Advertised returns are often much higher than regulated investments.
A glossy prospectus may make an investment highly attractive, but to ensure an understanding of the risks, only sophisticated investors or people of high net worth (HNW) can invest.
While financial regulators are concerned about potential risks, they also acknowledge the significant benefits for sophisticated and experienced investors. It has opened up opportunities outside traditional investments that potentially offer more significant gains.
As well as a potential higher yield, investors may be reassured that their fellow investors will have similar experiences and thoughts, enabling them to contribute to making informed decisions over the future management of assets.
If you are an investment business seeking to generate leads for unregulated investments, get in touch with us at Pinnacle. We are experienced inbound investment lead generators with extensive knowledge in developing campaigns targeting sophisticated and experienced investors.
