Duncan Milwain, Head of The Charity and Social Enterprise Group at Lupton Fawcett Lee and Priestley, spoke at Leeds Empties event on investment and empty homes on 20 March 2013.

1. Community investment using bonds:
a worthwhile supplement?
March 2013
Presented by Duncan Milwain
Director/Head of the Charity & Social Enterprise Group

2. What is a bond?
• Longer term debt capital
• Repayment with agreed amount over agreed time
• Does not confer voting or ownership rights
© Lupton Fawcett Lee & Priestley 2013

3. Advantages / disadvantages
 Less risky to investor than shares
 Flexible: can be issued by CLGs, CICs, Cooperative Societies and
Benefit to Community Societies
 Can also be issued by charities (unlike shares)
 For wealthier individuals who wish to invest larger sums
 Does not confer membership
 No community engagement
 Repayment required over pre-agreed schedule
© Lupton Fawcett Lee & Priestley 2013

4. Predominance of shares. Why?
• Community Shares Unit
• Types of investor
– Local Community Investor
– Community of Interest Investor
– Social Investor
– Ethical Investor
• 65% of community share investors more likely to be Guardian readers
(Wessex Community Assets report 2010) - is there a branding issue?
• http://allia.org.uk/
• http://greenpastures.net/invest
© Lupton Fawcett Lee & Priestley 2013

5. Use of tax relief
• Incentivisation
• Community Investment Tax Relief (CITR) through
Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI)
available on loan stock (if wholly in cash and not
redeemable for 5 years)
• Relief at up to 25% on the investment in CDFI over 5
years
© Lupton Fawcett Lee & Priestley 2013

6. Use of tax relief
• Incentivisation
• Community Investment Tax Relief (CITR) through
Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI)
available on loan stock (if wholly in cash and not
redeemable for 5 years)
• Relief at up to 25% on the investment in CDFI over 5
years
© Lupton Fawcett Lee & Priestley 2013