The professional investor designation includes all investors qualifying as professional investors under Directive 2004/39/EC (MiFID).In order to be considered a professional investor, you must meet two of the following criteria:
You have carried out transactions, in significant size, on the relevant market at an average frequency of 10 per quarter over the previous four quarters.
Your financial instrument portfolio, including cash deposits and financial instruments, exceeds EUR 500,000.
You work or have worked in the financial sector for at least one year in a professional position requiring knowledge of the transactions or services envisaged.
Please click here for more information on the professional investor qualification.
In order to be considered a high net worth investor, you must certify the statement below is true:
HIGH NET WORTH INVESTOR STATEMENT
“I make this statement so that I can receive promotional communications which are exempt from the restriction on promotion of non-mainstream pooled investments. The exemption relates to certified high net worth investors and I declare that I qualify as such because at least one of the following applies to me:
I had, throughout the financial year immediately preceding the date below, an annual income to the value of £100,000 or more. Annual income for these purposes does not include money withdrawn from my pension savings (except where the withdrawals are used directly for income in retirement).
I held, throughout the financial year immediately preceding the date below, net assets to the value of £250,000 or more. Net assets for these purposes do not include:
the property which is my primary residence or any money raised through a loan secured on that property; or any rights of mine under a qualifying contract of insurance; or any benefits (in the form of pensions or otherwise) which are payable on the termination of my service or on my death or retirement and to which I am (or my dependants are), or may be, entitled; or any withdrawals from my pension savings (except where the withdrawals are used directly for income in retirement).
I accept that the investments to which the promotions will relate may expose me to a significant risk of losing all of the money or other property invested. I am aware that it is open to me to seek advice from an authorised person who specialises in advising on non-mainstream pooled investments.”
Certified sophisticated Investor
In order to be considered a certified sophisticated Investor, you must meet following criteria:
You have been assessed by that firm as sufficiently knowledgeable to understand the risks associated with engaging in investment activity in non-mainstream pooled investments; and
You must certify the statement below is true:
SOPHISTICATED INVESTOR STATEMENT
“I make this statement so that I can receive promotional communications which are exempt from the restriction on promotion of non-mainstream pooled investments. The exemption relates to certified sophisticated investors and I declare that I qualify as such.
I accept that the investments to which the promotions will relate may expose me to a significant risk of losing all of the money or other property invested. I am aware that it is open to me to seek advice from an authorised person who specialises in advising on non-mainstream pooled investments.”
Self-certified sophisticated Investor
In order to be considered a self-certified sophisticated Investor, you must certify the statement below is true:
SELF-CERTIFIED SOPHISTICATED INVESTOR STATEMENT
“I declare that I am a self-certified sophisticated investor for the purposes of the restriction on promotion of non-mainstream pooled investments. I understand that this means:
I can receive promotional communications made by a person who is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority which relate to investment activity in non-mainstream pooled investments;
the investments to which the promotions will relate may expose me to a significant risk of losing all of the property invested.
I am a self-certified sophisticated investor because at least one of the following applies:
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 the date below
I have made more than one investment in an unlisted company in the two years prior to the date below
I am working, or have worked in the two years prior to the date below, in a professional capacity in the private equity sector, or in the provision of finance for small and medium enterprises
I am currently, or have been in the two years prior to the date below, a director of a company with an annual turnover of at least £1 million.
I accept that the investments to which the promotions will relate may expose me to a significant risk of losing all of the money or other property invested. I am aware that it is open to me seek advice from someone who specialises in advising on non-mainstream pooled investments.”
If you do not fit the criteria above, please get in touch with Dot Investing team or find more information on the high net worth and sophisticated investor qualification here.
