All investments carry an element of risk; Goji’s Bonds are no exception. You should make sure you are aware of the risks before investing.
Capital is at risk: At Goji risk is defined as the probability of obtaining a different and typically negative outcome to the one anticipated. Investing in the Bond involves the risk of Goji Investment Holdings Limited (“GIHL”), or its subsidiaries becoming insolvent. Should this happen you may lose some or all of your initial investment and lose some or all of any outstanding or future expected interest payments. Although Goji has comprehensive controls in place, it is important you understand that such a risk exists.
Investing in Goji’s Bonds means you are acquiring bonds issued by a corporate subsidiary of GIHL which will invest the money it receives from you for your benefit through online lending platforms. You will not have any ownership stake in the company or the underlying loans it makes. Instead, subject to the risks described here, when the bonds mature, your initial investment amount plus any interest earned will be returned. It is important to understand that GIHL is solely responsible for its financial status and consequently its ability to pay interest and return your capital when the Bond reaches maturity. Bondholders will have interests in different portfolios of loans. If one portfolio underperforms so that GIHL is unable to repay the subscription amount to relevant Bondholders, this could affect GIHL’s solvency and other bondholders whose portfolios achieve a return in excess of the subscription amount. To mitigate insolvency risk, GIHL does not engage in any other activity than bond issuance and bondholders are given a charge against the loans in their portfolio, so they would rank ahead of other bondholders claiming against GIHL assets upon insolvency. Interest rate and inflation risks: Goji invests in loans that pay a fixed rate of interest. The rate of interest paid by the Bond to bondholders is based on aggregating the interest received from these loans. The interest rate available from the Bond can become less attractive if interest rates available elsewhere go up. Similarly, high inflation could adversely impact the value of your investment in real terms over time.
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme is a fund of last resort to cover any claims you might have against a firm that is in default. The FSCS does not cover investment performance of the Bond, but it does cover up to £50,000 of any liability that Goji may owe eligible investors in the event of its insolvency. It also covers the insolvency of the bank holding client money account (where investor money is held pending investment into a bond), by up to £75,000 per investor For more detail on the FSCS and their eligibility criteria, visit their website: www.fscs.org.uk/what-we-cover/eligibility-rules.