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Preferred Plans at a glance

Colin McLachlan, CompareStructuredProducts.com - 17/08/2016

Products marked as ‘Preferred’ are those plans that we, as Independent Financial Advisers, will potentially be recommending to our clients. The granting of ‘Preferred’ status to any plan is a judgement that is made solely on our subjective opinion, based upon qualitative individual assessment of the plans, and cross-referencing against other current plans available at the date of review. Please ensure that you read the product literature thoroughly and satisfy yourself as to the terms of the investment; only choose to invest in a plan if YOU think that the product gives good value for the risks taken.

A ‘Preferred’ product may not necessarily be the right plan for you, and the granting of ‘Preferred’ status should not be construed as advice or a recommendation to invest.

We would welcome the opportunity to talk to you about the products that are available. If you would like to speak to an adviser from Lowes Financial Management about your investments, please call 0191 281 8811.

Five capital-at-risk plans which have been granted our ‘preferred’ status have forthcoming closing dates, the below summary paragraphs highlight the main features and benefits:

Mariana Capital 10:10 Plan September 2016 (Option 1) (Collateralised)

This maximum ten-year and two-week plan features the potential to mature on any of the plan's anniversaries from year three onwards, provided that the FTSE 100 Index closes at a level equal to, or higher than 90% of the Initial Index Level, returning the capital investment in full, plus a 7.1% gain on the invested capital for each year the plan has been in force.

If the plan fails to mature early and the Final Index Level is more than 10% below the Initial Index Level, no gain will be achieved; however, investors' capital should still be returned in full, unless the Final Index Level is more than 30% below the Initial Index Level. If such a fall does occur, the invested capital will be reduced by 1% for every 1% the Final Index Level is below the Initial Index Level. For example, if the plan fails to mature early and the Final Index Level is 35% below the Initial Index Level, investors' will suffer a 35% reduction to their invested capital.

Counterparties: Macquarie Bank Ltd (A), Lloyds Bank Plc (A), Santander UK Plc (A) and Standard Chartered Bank (A) *

Closing Date: 31/08/2016

To read our review please click here

Mariana Capital 10:10 Plan September 2016 (Option 2) (Collateralised)

This maximum ten-year and two-week plan features the potential to mature on any of the plan's anniversaries from year three onwards, provided that the FTSE 100 Index closes at a level equal to, or higher than the Initial Index Level, returning the capital investment in full, plus a 9.4% gain on the invested capital for each year the plan has been in force.

If the plan fails to mature early and the Final Index Level is below the Initial Index Level, no gain will be achieved; however, investors' capital should still be returned in full, unless the Final Index Level is more than 30% below the Initial Index Level. If such a fall does occur, the invested capital will be reduced by 1% for every 1% the Final Index Level is below the Initial Index Level. For example, if the plan fails to mature early and the Final Index Level is 35% below the Initial Index Level, investors' will suffer a 35% reduction to their invested capital.

Counterparties: Macquarie Bank Ltd (A), Lloyds Bank Plc (A), Santander UK Plc (A) and Standard Chartered Bank (A) *

Closing Date: 31/08/2016 To read our review please click here

Mariana Capital 10:10 Plan September 2016 (Option 3) (Collateralised)

This maximum ten-year and two-week plan features the potential to mature on any of the plan's anniversaries from year three onwards, provided that the FTSE 100 Index closes 10% or more higher than the Initial Index Level, returning the capital investment in full, plus a 12% gain on the invested capital for each year the plan has been in force.

If the plan fails to mature early and the Final Index Level is below 110% of the Initial Index Level, no gain will be achieved; however, investors' capital should still be returned in full, unless the Final Index Level is more than 30% below the Initial Index Level. If such a fall does occur, the invested capital will be reduced by 1% for every 1% the Final Index Level is below the Initial Index Level. For example, if the plan fails to mature early and the Final Index Level is 35% below the Initial Index Level, investors' will suffer a 35% reduction to their invested capital.

Counterparties: Macquarie Bank Ltd (A), Lloyds Bank Plc (A), Santander UK Plc (A) and Standard Chartered Bank (A) *

Closing Date: 31/08/2016

To read our review please click here

Societe Generale UK Defensive Growth Plan (UK Four) Issue 13 (Collateralised)

This six-year product offers investors the potential for growth at maturity equivalent to five times any rise in the FTSE 100 Index above 90% of its Initial Index Level, subject to a maximum gain of 56%.

If the Final Index Level is equal to or below 90% of the Initial Index Level, no gain will be achieved; however, investors' capital should still be returned in full, unless the Final Index Level is more than 40% below the Initial Index Level. If such a fall does occur, the invested capital will be reduced by 1% for every 1% the Final Index Level is below the Initial Index Level. For example, if the Final Index Level is 45% below the Initial Index Level, investors will suffer a 45% reduction to their invested capital.

Counterparties: Barclays Bank Plc (A-), HSBC Plc (AA-), Aviva Plc (A-) and Lloyds Bank Plc (A) *

Closing Date: 26/08/2016

To read our review please click here

Societe Generale UK Kick-out Plan (UK Four) Issue 26 (Collateralised)

This maximum six-year plan features the potential to mature on any of the plan's anniversaries from year two onwards, provided that the FTSE 100 Index closes at a level equal to, or higher than the Initial Index Level, returning the capital investment in full plus a 9.2% gain for each year the plan has been in force.

If the plan fails to mature early, and the Final Index Level is below the Initial Index Level, no growth will be achieved; however, investors' capital should still be returned in full, unless the Index closes more than 50% below the Initial Index Level on any day during the investment term and fails to recover by maturity. In this event, investors will suffer a reduction to their invested capital of 1% for every 1% the Final Index Level is below the Initial Index Level. For example, if the Index falls to a level more than 50% below the Initial Index Level on any business day during the investment term, and the Final Index Level is 20% below the Initial Index Level, investors will suffer a reduction to their invested capital of 20%.

Counterparties: Barclays Bank Plc (A-), HSBC Plc (AA-), Aviva Plc (A-) and Lloyds Bank Plc (A) *

Closing date: 26/08/2016 To read our review please click here

* Standard & Poor’s Credit Ratings

Disclosure of Interests: Lowes has provided input into the concept, development, promotion and distribution of the Mariana 10:10 Plan. The provider’s charges/fees are built into the terms of the investment - Lowes has a commercial interest in the Plan as a result of its involvement in its development and promotion. All Plan returns are stated after allowing for the provider’s charges/fees. Where Lowes is involved in advice on or the intermediation of this investment to retail clients, it will not be paid a fee from Mariana for its input. The aim of developing Plans in co-operation with providers, with Lowes input, is that they should be amongst the best available in the market – and, as such, be granted ‘Preferred’ status, on their merits. Lowes has robust systems and controls in place to ensure that it manages any actual or potential conflicts of interests in its activities.