Why should I buy community investment bonds?
We need your investment to help purchase The Wharf. Without sufficient investment from the community we will be unable to establish the business.
Who will benefit from this project?
Business Advisor, Marketing Consultant and Community Campaigner. MBA FCIM
The residents (and their friends) of Marple and its surrounding area will benefit directly from having a heritage building and valuable amenity preserved for future generations, both through the use of the facility itself but also because The Wharf will play a part in making Marple a stronger, more vibrant and cohesive community in which to live.
Is this a good business proposition?
Structural Engineer BSc (Hons) CEng FIStructE
We expect and will require the business to be a profitable venture. We have carefully evaluated its strengths and weaknesses and our projections show that we can establish it as a successful business. It is well proven that communities that work together to set up such an enterprise will support it in the future. For the full business case go to: www.thewharfmarple.co.uk
Who are the people behind this project? Do they have a personal interest?
The Management Board consists of a group of local residents who care passionately about The Wharf, the local community, and the historic legacy of the area. They donated money to help register the company and will be investing in investment bonds. They will have no personal financial interest in the project, above and beyond their own investment in community investment bonds. They have voluntarily contributed a large amount of time to the project and this has been supplemented with advice and considerable support from many people and organisations.
Who will run The Wharf and make the day-to-day decisions about the business?
The Management Board will oversee the business and ensure that it meets the goals set down in the vision statement. There will be governance and reporting arrangements in place to monitor financial and other performance. Investors will be invited to meetings to discuss significant decisions about The Wharf.
Do my investment bonds give me voting rights?
Yes, they do. Everyone has an equal voice, regardless of the size of their investment.
How do I get my money back?
You will be unable to withdraw your investment bonds in the first three years. After that, you will need to give at least three months’ notice. You cannot sell or transfer your investment bonds, and withdrawals must be funded from surpluses or new capital raised from members. The Board may suspend withdrawals depending on the long-term interests of the Company, the need to maintain adequate reserves, and the commitment to the community we serve.
What happens if the purchase of The Wharf falls through?
It is possible that we will be unable to complete the purchase, even though we have an in-principle agreement with the Canal Rivers Trust and their partner venture but we are confident we can secure the funds and we expect to be able to attract grant funding. In the unlikely event that this happens we will return any funds we have received in full.
Will I get my investment back if The Wharf fails?
All the business’s assets, including the leasehold of the building, would be sold and the proceeds of the sale (after paying any creditors) divided between the investors up to the value of their investment bonds. You might receive the full value of your investment bonds back or you might lose part or all of your investment.
What redress do I have if the business fails and I lose the value of my investment bonds?
This investment offer is unregulated, as it is exempt from the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or subsidiary regulations, which means there is no right of complaint to the Financial Ombudsman, nor can you apply to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Will I receive interest from my investment bonds?
We aim to pay a reasonable interest rate to our members. Our business plan assumes we will pay 3% interest, but this will always be dependent on the success of the business and at the discretion of the Board. Interest will be paid gross and it is each member’s responsibility to declare such earnings to HMRC if appropriate.
Will my investment be eligible for tax relief?
We have applied for advance assurance from HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) that the investment bonds in The Wharf Community Interest Company are eligible for tax relief under the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) which are both government-backed schemes designed to encourage investment in smaller enterprises.
How can I find out more about the project?
You can find our business plan, the Rules for our Company and further contact details at www.thewharfmarple.co.uk
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING BUYING INVESTMENT BONDS IN “THE WHARF MARPLE COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY LIMITED”.