Linqto’s Complete Guide for International Investors

Welcome to Linqto! We’re thrilled to extend our private equity investment opportunities to international members. Regardless of whether you’re outside the United States, you can join our growing community of investors. This guide is designed to simplify your investment journey with Linqto.

Investment Eligibility for Global Investors

You’re likely eligible to invest with us, as we welcome members from most countries. However, due to US regulations, we cannot accommodate investors from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and certain regions of Crimea and Ukraine. If you are from these areas, we regret that we cannot offer our services due to US law.

The Accreditation Process

Once you’ve created an account with Linqto and verified your identity, the final step before being able to add funds and invest will be to verify your status as an accredited investor per the terms of your country of citizenship.

What is an Accredited Investor?

Being an “accredited investor” means you meet certain financial requirements, indicating a deeper understanding of financial markets. This status is a prerequisite for investing with Linqto. It involves demonstrating a certain level of income, net worth, or financial knowledge, depending on your country’s regulations.

Wealth or Income Thresholds

This is the criteria most often used by Linqto to verify a person’s status as an accredited investor. In the words of the SEC: “Individuals (i.e., natural persons) may qualify as accredited investors based on wealth and income thresholds, as well as other measures of financial sophistication”. While the thresholds required by different countries can vary, this is typically the most common way to show accreditation.

Proof of Qualification

Citizens of these countries will need to show proof of being qualified according to their standards. After signing up for an account on the Linqto platform, you’ll need to upload officially issued documents showing your income or net worth has met these criteria. Note that any documents submitted must be dated within the last 90 days (for net worth verification) or must be official tax documents showing your yearly income.

Country-Specific Accreditation: What You Need to Know

• Canada: Show proof of CAD $200,000 income or a net worth of CAD $1,000,000
• Australia: A gross annual income of AUD $250,000 or net assets of AUD $2,500,000
• Mexico: Investment in securities averaging UDI $1,500,000 or an annual net income of UDI $500,000
• European Union: Self-certify your accreditation status directly within the Linqto platform
• United Kingdom: Similar to the EU, complete self-certification after ID verification

Country-Specific Accreditation: How to Become an Accredited Investor

• Canada: Learn how to become verified an accredited investor in Canada by providing proof of an income of CAD $200,000 or a net worth of CAD $1,000,000. To be recognized as an accredited investor in Canada, individuals must either have a yearly income exceeding CAD $200,000 (or CAD $300,000 when combined with a spouse’s income).
• Australia: To understand how to become verified as an accredited investor in Australia, demonstrate a gross annual income of AUD $250,000 or net assets of AUD $2,500,000. Investors need to demonstrate a gross annual income of at least AUD $250,000 over the last two years or show net assets amounting to AUD $2,500,000.
• Mexico: Find out how to become verified an accredited investor in Mexico with an investment in securities averaging UDI $1,500,000 or an annual net income of UDI $500,000. Becoming an accredited investor requires having investments in securities that average UDI $1,500,000 or achieving an annual net income of UDI $500,000.
• European Union: Discover how to become an accredited investor in the EU by self-certifying your status directly within the Linqto platform. Accredited investor status in the EU is somewhat more accessible; you can self-certify directly within the Linqto platform.
• United Kingdom: Learn how to become verified an accredited investor in the UK, which involves a process similar to the EU, including self-certification after ID verification. The UK follows a similar approach to the EU regarding accredited investor status, which includes self-certification after ID verification. 

Accreditation in No Regulation Countries

For those residing in countries without specific regulations for investing in private equities, the accreditation process is straightforward. This situation often applies to countries outside the European Union and North America, such as Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Haiti, and many African nations.

If you are an investor from a country with no specific investment regulations, the process involves a simple but essential step: Reach out to our team at invest@linqto.com. We will provide you with a letter for you to sign, confirming that you are a citizen of a country without private investment regulations. Once you sign and return this letter, you will be able to add funds to your account and place your first order on the Linqto platform.

Important Note for Dual Citizenships

Please be aware that if you hold dual citizenship, one of which is in the United States or the European Union, and another in a no regulation country, you will need to meet the accreditation criteria of the United States or the EU. The accreditation requirements for the US and EU take precedence over those of countries with no regulation. For instance, if you have dual citizenship in the EU and South Africa, you must qualify as an accredited investor by the EU’s standards. If you have questions regarding dual citizenship and accreditation criteria, do not hesitate to contact our team at invest@linqto.com for clarification and guidance.

Funding Your Account and Managing Withdrawals

After confirming your status as an accredited investor, you’re all set to start investing with Linqto. International members have two primary methods for funding their accounts:

Wire Transfer:

• Go to the “Wallet” tab in your profile.
• Select the cash account to which you want to add funds.
• Click on “Add Funds” and then choose the “Wire Transfer” option.
• Follow the instructions to complete the wire transfer from your bank to your Linqto cash account.

Uphold Wallet (if available in your country):

• Navigate to the “Wallet” tab.
• Select your desired cash account.
• Link your Uphold wallet by logging in and authorizing Linqto.
• Choose “Add funds,” select your currency and amount, and follow the prompts to complete the transaction.

Withdrawals: For withdrawals, funds must be returned to their source. This means that if your investment was funded through Uphold, any withdrawal will be processed back to your Uphold wallet. Similarly, for wire transfers, the funds will be returned via the same method.

Initiating Withdrawals: International members looking to withdraw funds should contact our Customer Success team to initiate the process. You’ll be guided to provide necessary information such as banking credentials for the return of funds. Typically, withdrawals are processed within 1-2 business days of submitting your request.

Selling Positions and Navigating IPOs

Certain companies on the Linqto platform offer the option to sell your positions, providing you with liquidity when needed. The list of companies with available sell options can be found under the FAQ ‘Selling’ tab. To initiate a sell order, simply navigate to the asset you’d like to sell from your ‘Portfolio’ tab and select the sell option if it’s available. While this feature offers some degree of flexibility, it’s important to remember that private equity investments are typically illiquid, and the ability to sell your positions cannot be guaranteed.

In the event of an IPO, you have options regarding the handling of your shares. You can choose to have your shares sent to a brokerage account. It’s important to note that the chosen brokerage must be registered on the DTC network. For many international members, we often recommend Interactive Brokers, which meets these criteria. You have the flexibility to link a brokerage at any point, and you can do so through Linqto Brokerage Information. We will contact you at the time of an IPO exit to confirm all details.

If instead you’d like to opt for instant liquidity rather than redeem your shares on a brokerage, we also offer this as an option. In this case, we will liquidate your holdings after an IPO has occurred and send the proceeds of this transaction to your Linqto cash account, at which point you will be able to withdraw them to your bank or Uphold wallet using the process described above.

For more insights on IPOs, including their advantages, disadvantages, and the process of going public, we encourage you to explore our additional resources and articles on the topic (Advantages or Disadvantages of an IPO; IPO Process: What It Means to Go Public)

Your Questions Answered and Continuous Support

Our Customer Success team is ready to assist with any specific questions about your country’s requirements or any other inquiries you may have. Contact us at invest@linqto.com for personalized support.

Get Started on Your Investment Journey

With all the necessary information at your fingertips, we warmly invite you to join us. Start by creating your Linqto account today and embark on a rewarding journey into the world of private equity investing. Welcome aboard! As you embark on your private investment journey, remember it involves potential rewards as well as significant risks. We encourage all potential investors to review the information accessible on each company’s invest tab, and to do as much research as they can before making an investment decision. Once you have been verified as an accredited investor, you’ll also have access to meet with our Member Investments team, who are a great resource for additional information on all the companies we have available.

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Disclaimer: Private equity investments are speculative and involve a high degree of risk, including the risk of substantial loss of investment. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This material is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. The information contained herein is not a representation by Linqto and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and are encouraged to consult with a financial advisor to determine the suitability of any investment. Linqto does not guarantee any specific outcome or profit, and all investments are subject to loss. International investing involves additional risks, including differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risk, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets.