Advisers whose clients are looking for an ethical investment could consider a second £700,000 share offering of shares in biodynamic farmland in exchange for a 5 per cent return through Stockwood Community Benefit Society.
Rush Farm in Worcestershire – where the radio show The Archers was originally recorded – was bought by Stockwood CBS in June 2014, after the society raised £700,000 through an initial share offering.
Sebastian Parsons, chief executive of Stockwood Community Benefit Society, said: “We transferred the farm we love into community ownership to preserve it as a showcase of biodynamic farming forever.
“Our investors are joint owners and we welcome the chance to show them the impact their money is making when we open our doors for lambing days, summer fetes and other events.”
Key features
■ Stockwood CBS is offering shares paying 5 per cent return, financed by rents from its business park
■ The minimum investment is £100 and shares are available through the investment platform Ethex until 30 November
■ Investors who buy at least £5,000 of shares will have the opportunity to make a further investment of £5,000 or more in loan stock qualifying for Social Investment Tax Relief.
■ This will pay 3 per cent interest and offer an upfront 30 per cent income tax relief, a combined 9.9 per cent return over six years
Adviser view
Sebastian Hurst, an adviser with London-based Plutus Wealth Management, said: “It sounds quite esoteric, and a huge consideration would be any tax break you could get on this.
“We take huge ethical considerations with our clients, and ethical funds have done quite well of late, but that’s not the sole determinant.”
