Assess their risks, liquidity, investments, returns, timeframes and other terms
Invest in a portfolio of highly desirable wines
Buy pre-IPO stock in private companies
Minimum investment levels start at $35,000 for the Premier Cru tier and go up to £1 million for the Black Tier.
The minimum investment on EquityZen is $10,000, though this may vary by offering.
Investing with Cult Wine Investment involves market risks, potential fluctuations in wine prices, and variable liquidity, which could impact the value and sale of the assets.
Investing in private companies via EquityZen involves risks such as limited liquidity, market volatility, company performance uncertainties, regulatory changes, less available information, and potential lack of diversification, which could impact investment returns.
Cult Wine Investment allows for portfolio liquidation, typically within 8 to 12 weeks, through sales to global trade, collectors, and consumers.
EquityZen offers liquidity for vested shares only. It does not provide liquidity for unvested shares, unvested RSUs, or options directly.
Cult Wine Investment has achieved a compound annual growth rate of 8% since 2009.
Unlike public market investments, private investments carry higher risks and unpredictability. Consequently, it's challenging to define a standard return rate for EquityZen investments.
Cult Wine Investment advises a 3-5 year minimum investment term, ideally extending to 5-10 years for optimal results.
Typically, companies on EquityZen have received late-stage funding, suggesting an expected investment horizon of 2-5 years, but outcomes can vary widely.
Cult Wine Investment accepts investors worldwide with no geographic restrictions. Minimum age requirement: 18 or legal drinking age in your country.
Fine wine values can fluctuate due to various factors, resulting in lower volatility compared to traditional markets, yet still subject to changes in market conditions.
Assets on EquityZen, which are shares in private companies, can be highly volatile due to limited public information, sensitivity to market conditions, low liquidity, and company-specific events, leading to significant price fluctuations.
Wine investment is not regulated by financial authorities such as the Financial Conduct Authority or the Securities Commission.
EquityZen Securities is registered with the SEC and is a member of FINRA/SIPC, ensuring it adheres to regulatory standards and practices for investor protection and undergoes regular audits.
Cult Wine Investment's stored wines are fully insured against physical loss or damage, kept in a secure facility near London.
EquityZen is a FINRA/SIPC member firm, offering account protection up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for cash claims) through SIPC in case of brokerage failure, not covering market value losses.
Investors in private companies on EquityZen typically do not receive dividends, as these companies often reinvest profits to fuel growth.
To receive funds from Cult Wine Investment, investors sell their wine, typically within 8-12 weeks, and then the proceeds are returned to them.
Investors can get their money back from investments on EquityZen mainly through an IPO, acquisition of the company, or secondary market sales on the platform. However, returns depend on market demand and timing of these liquidity events, with no guaranteed timeline.
Cult Wine Investment charges an annual fee based on the investment tier, with the Premier Cru tier at 2.75%, Grand Cru at 2.50%, Cult Cru at 2.25%, and Black Tier at 2%. Fees are divided into monthly payments calculated from the portfolio's end-of-month value, rather than an annual lump sum.
EquityZen charges a 5% fee to sellers upon transaction closure. For investors, a one-time sales fee applies: 5% for investments up to $500,000, 4% for $500,000 to $1 million, and 3% for over $1 million.
Cult Wine Investment assists with tax documentation upon request or through a Relationship Manager for higher-tier investors.
EquityZen issues a Schedule K-1 for taxable events and provides vetted tax documentation to investors. Upon investment, individuals complete necessary tax forms (W-9 or W8-BEN) and receive annual tax updates.