Fraud & Risk

Fraud Warning

We would like to make our VCT shareholders aware that they may be contacted in connection with increasingly sophisticated but fraudulent financial scams.

Most commonly shareholders are called from an international number. The caller will claim to represent a corporate finance firm and offer to buy VCT shares at an inflated price in connection with a possible takeover bid or acquisition. Shareholders who express interest, are sent further information by email, which can appear to be genuine. This inevitably results in a request for shareholders to transfer funds in order to set up a ‘bond’ or settle an advance tax payment before VCT shares can be purchased or sale proceeds can be sent.

If you are contacted out of the blue with an offer that seems too good to be true, it is likely to be a scam. Your contact details have not been obtained from AlbionVC. We strongly suggest that you do not provide any personal information and that you end the call.

We are also aware of scams where individuals falsely claim to represent Albion Capital, the former name of AlbionVC, in connection with an investment or trading platform, including online or cryptocurrency-related activity. AlbionVC LLP does not operate any such platforms and will never contact individuals to promote these types of investments. If in doubt, please verify any communication by contacting us directly via details listed on our website.

For more information on how to protect yourself from investment scams or to report them please visit FCA’s ScamSmart website.

You can also contact AlbionVC on 020 7601 1850 or by e-mail to info@albion.vc if you wish to check whether we have been approached in relation to a genuine takeover or acquisition.

Risk Warning

The information on these pages relating to venture capital trusts (“VCTs”) managed by AlbionVC LLP (AlbionVC) is directed at United Kingdom residents only.

No reliance is to be placed on the information contained on this website in making an application to subscribe for shares in VCTs managed by AlbionVC.

Any such application may only be made on the basis of the relevant prospectus and/or offer document, which can be downloaded from this website or obtained from: AlbionVC LLP, 1 Benjamin Street, London EC1M 5QL (0207 601 1850). Prospective investors should ensure that they read the risk warnings set out in the prospectus and/or offer document. We also advise you to read the Key Information Documents. AlbionVC does not provide financial advice and nothing on these web pages should be construed as investment or tax advice. An investment in a VCT should be considered a long-term investment and the tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each investor and may be subject to change in the future.

The tax reliefs available to investors in a VCT are dependent on it maintaining HM Revenue & Customs approval. Under current legislation shares must be held for a minimum of five years for maximum tax benefits. If certain criteria are not met, for example if the investment is not held for five years or if the VCT does not invest 80% of its funds in qualifying investments, the tax breaks will be withdrawn and you may be required to repay any tax relief which you have received upfront. The tax rules and regulations governing VCTs are subject to change.

No VCT can guarantee that its investors will qualify for tax relief. You should not invest in a VCT simply for the tax benefits. The market price of VCT shares may not reflect the full underlying net asset value (“NAV”) of shares and the market price and the income from them may fluctuate and investors may not get back the amount they invested. It is possible that there may not be a liquid market in the shares of VCTs and shareholders may have difficulty in selling their shares. Any sale is likely to be at a discount to the NAV. Potential investors in VCTs managed by AlbionVC should consult their financial advisers before investing.

The net asset value of a VCT represents the per-share value of that VCT’s underlying assets, which are unlisted investments. The VCTs’ assets are valued by AlbionVC quarterly following the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation Guidelines and are subsequently approved by the VCTs’ Boards. Investors should be aware that the NAV and ultimately the price of the new shares reflect both realised and unrealised values.

VCTs invest in a portfolio of small companies, which by their nature carry greater risk than larger, quoted companies.

The past performance of AlbionVC as a fund manager is no guide to the future performance of its VCTs.