By OURCROWD
The information contained on this page has been compiled, as of its date of publication, with considerable care to ensure investors are informed. The purpose of this page is to provide you with general information about qualified investors residing in Hong Kong.
The information provided should not be considered as investment or other advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold a particular investment. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made to the accuracy or completeness of the information.
OurCrowd’s platform is currently set up to accept members with a “Qualified”, “Accredited”, “Sophisticated”, or “Professional” accreditation status in their country of residence. What are the criteria, and what actions are required on your part? We have a general answer for you below. Please note: for specific questions about the qualifications of your investor status, contact OurCrowd.
Why must I be accredited or be a qualified investor?
Early stage, privately-held companies are high-risk investments, and therefore many countries require individuals to meet certain financial criteria before being allowed to participate in these investments.
What are the overall criteria of qualification/accreditation?
OurCrowd follows the rules of your country of residence – the one in which you pay taxes. These rules vary country by country, but many address the following two questions:
- What are the criteria to qualify as a Qualified/Accredited investor, e.g., what is the minimum level of income and/or net worth, and the knowledge and experience investors need to meet in order to participate in certain types of investments?
- What proof do investors have to give in order to proof they meet these criteria?
🇭🇰 Criteria of qualification for investors residing in Hong Kong:
In Hong Kong, to be a professional, sophisticated investor, one must have:
Either alone or with his/her spouse or child on a joint account, a portfolio of not less than HKD 8 million
(or its equivalent in foreign currency):
a) At the relevant date (the date on which the offer is made); or
b) As stated in a certificate issued by an auditor or a certified public accountant of the individual within 12 months before the relevant date; or
c) As ascertained by referring to one or more custodian statements issued to the individual (either alone or with the associate) within 12 months before the relevant date
🇭🇰 Paperwork for investors residing in Hong Kong:
Investors residing in Hong Kong self-certify that they meet the above criteria when accessing OurCrowd’s site. However, upon an investor’s first commitment to invest in a company, OurCrowd will provide a checklist and letter for the investor to verify whether an investor meets the required experience and has the relevant assets or portfolio threshold to qualify as a professional investor. For example, for an individual professional investor, OurCrowd will rely on (1) a certificate issued by an auditor or a certified public accountant within 12 months before the relevant date; or (2) one or more custodian statements issued to the individual (either alone or with his/her spouse or children in a joint account) within 12 months before the relevant date as evidence to satisfy the applicable assets or portfolio thresholds.
Please note that this is not an OurCrowd-only requirement. Since 2018 SFC has standardized and amended the rules for prescribing professional investors. Every company that offers these types of investments to investors residing in Hong Kong must comply with SFC amended regulations that came into effect on July 13, 2018.
For more information: If you have any questions about the accreditation process, don’t hesitate to contact us for guidance.
