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Complex investments

Complex investments

Under current Financial Services Authority rules, some investments are defined as complex. We are required to make sure you understand how dealing in this type of investment differs from trading non-complex investments, such as most shares and funds.

Where you have not dealt in a particular complex investment in the past with us, we are also required to carry out an appropriateness assessment. This involves asking you a number of questions about your investment experience in relation to the class of complex investment you wish to deal in.

Different instruments involve different levels of exposure to risk and in deciding whether to trade in such instruments you need to be aware of the following points:

Warrants

A warrant is a time-limited right to subscribe for shares, debentures, loan stock or government securities and is exercisable against the original issuer of the underlying securities. A relatively small movement in the price of the underlying security results in a disproportionately large movement, unfavourable or favourable, in the price of the warrant. The prices of warrants can therefore be volatile. It is essential for anyone who is considering purchasing warrants to understand that the right to subscribe which a warrant confers is invariably limited in time. This means that if the investor fails to exercise this right within the predetermined time-scale then the investment becomes worthless.

Securitised Derivatives

These instruments may give you a time-limited right to acquire or sell one or more types of investment, which are normally exercisable against someone other than the issuer of that investment. Or they may give you rights under a contract for differences, which allow for speculation on fluctuations in the value of the property of any description or an index, such as the FTSE 100 index. In both cases, the investment or property may be referred to as the "underlying instrument". These instruments often involve a high degree of gearing or leverage, so that a relatively small movement in the price of the underlying investment results in a much larger movement, unfavourable or favourable, in the price of the instrument. The price of these instruments can therefore be volatile. These instruments have a limited life, and may (unless there is some form of guaranteed return to the amount you are investing in the product) expire worthless if the underlying instrument does not perform as expected.

Convertible Bonds

A convertible bond is one which has an equity convertible element contained within it. This allows the investor the option to convert the bond into a given number/ratio of shares in the underlying company at a given price. Throughout the specified life of the bond, holders receive a regular dividend income, albeit generally at levels lower than those associated with the vast majority of bonds. However, at the specified point in time, holders have the right to convert into the said number of shares. The conversion is at the holder’s choice and cannot be forced by the issuing company. Having the option to convert to shares, the bonds are often seen as having an embedded ‘call’.

Convertible Preference Shares

This form of investment is similar to that already outlined for Convertible Bonds. The investor has the option at a pre-defined date or dates, to convert the holding of preference shares into the class of underlying ordinary shares. Due to the investor having the option to convert, they are seen to have an embedded ‘call’ option. The risk exposure to which the investor should be aware is that of general market volatility. As with Convertible Bonds, the option to exercise the ‘call’ is entirely at the discretion of the holder subject to the specified conversion dates. Like convertible bonds, the convertible preference shareholder is ranked higher than ordinary shareholders in terms of repayment, although it is outranked by bond holders.

Exchange Traded Commodities (ETCs)

Exchange Traded Commodities are investments (asset backed bonds) that allow the investor to track the underlying performance of a commodity index, including total return indices. Trading is exactly the same as any normal share, in that prices are available throughout the trading day, with market maker support, thereby stimulating liquidity. ETCs themselves will either focus solely on a single commodity or on an Index, examples being Gold, Silver or Lean Hogs for individual commodity exposure or energy and livestock for Index exposure. Exposure via the ETC allows the investor to invest in an asset class previously thought to be off limits to the general retail investor. Commodities have formed a key part of institutional investment strategies historically. However, inherent risks such as contingent liability (where your liability may be greater than the initial purchase price of the investment), margining requirements (where you are required to make a series of payments against the purchase price, depending on whether the underlying investment or index is moving in your favour) and international exchanges (which can mean a reduced level of investor protection, as well as currency fluctuation if the investment is not traded in sterling) meant these were out of reach.

In terms of risk, due to the very nature of the underlying commodity in which the ETC invests, this asset class is not for the faint hearted as sudden swings and drops in worldwide demand will immediately impact the share price. The commodity investment will be either directly within the physical product, or be priced on the futures market. If the investment is based on the futures market, the risks associated with this form of investment include gearing or leverage.

Nil Paid Rights

Sometimes, companies may decide to raise further funds from its shareholders in return for the issue of further shares. This is known as a ‘rights issue’. Should an entitled shareholder decline to take up the rights allocated to them, they have the opportunity to sell these rights to the new shares ‘nil paid’ (i.e. without paying anything further to the company) or let them lapse (where the company sells the ‘nil paid rights’ on the investors behalf and remits any realising proceeds to the relevant investors). The purchaser in the open market will then have the opportunity to take up the shares at the discounted rights issue price. The new investor has effectively purchased a short dated (maximum 21 days) ‘call’ option, which can only be exercised within this given period.

Investment carries a variety of risks

We understand that investing isn't right for everyone. It's well known that investments, their value and the income they provide can go down as well as up and you might not get back what you originally invested. If you're not sure about the suitability of an investment please contact our Advice team.

01296 41 41 41