Republic operates multiple regulated entities to provide investment services to investors in different jurisdictions. Historically, many investors residing in the European Union opened their accounts through our UK platform, which is operated by Seedrs Limited, a UK-entity regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This allowed EU-based investors to access crowdfunding opportunities hosted through the UK service. Over time, EU regulation governing crowdfunding platforms has evolved, and we have established a dedicated EU-authorised platform to serve our investors who reside in the European Union.
The European Crowdfunding Service Provider Regulation (ECSP) requires that crowdfunding services offered to investors residing in the EU be provided through an EU-authorised platform. As part of our commitment to this regulatory framework, Republic operates an EU-authorised platform that is designed specifically to provide investment services to EU-based investors under harmonised EU protections. Because of these requirements, future investments must be processed through the EU-regulated platform rather than through the UK platform.
If you hold legal residency in the European Union and already have an account with our UK platform, you may be asked to open an additional investment account under the EU platform when you attempt to make certain new investments. This does not mean that your existing account is closing or that your current investments are being moved. Your UK account remains active and continues to hold any investments or balances you already have there. The EU account simply allows new investments that fall within the scope of EU crowdfunding regulation to be processed through the appropriate regulated entity.
Opening the EU account is intended to be a straightforward process. When required, you will be guided through the account creation flow the next time you attempt to invest in an opportunity that must be offered through the EU platform. Most of your existing profile information can be reused to make the process as seamless as possible, although certain regulatory steps such as identity verification, suitability assessment or acceptance of updated terms will be required under EU regulations. Once the EU account is created, both your UK account and EU account will be connected to the same login credentials. You will continue to access Republic using the same email address and password, and you will be able to switch between the two accounts within the platform.
Your existing investments remain exactly where they are today. Investments that were made through the UK platform continue to be held under that account and are governed by the legal and operational framework of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This change does not affect your ownership of those assets, the rights attached to those investments, or your ability to access and manage them. If a company in which you already hold shares launches a follow-on investment opportunity such as a pre-emption campaign, you will still be able to participate through your existing UK account where applicable. Likewise, if secondary trading is available for a company in which you already hold shares, you may continue to use your UK account to sell or trade those holdings in accordance with the platform’s existing rules.
What changes is how new crowdfunding investments are processed for EU-resident investors. Under the ECSP framework, new crowdfunding opportunities offered to investors residing in the EU must be executed through the EU-authorised platform. When you attempt to invest in a campaign that falls within the scope of EU crowdfunding regulation, you will be asked to complete the EU account setup if you have not already done so. Once your EU account is active, those investments will be processed through the EU platform while your existing UK investments remain under the UK account.
While most crowdfunding opportunities will transition to our EU-authorised platform, certain specialised investments i.e. certain fund-structured investments may be offered through the UK entity provided the specific terms and local regulations allow it. In those cases, EU-based investors may still be able to participate using their existing UK account, subject to the terms of the specific offering and applicable regulatory requirements. Each opportunity will clearly state which platform and regulatory framework applies before you commit any funds.
You may therefore see two separate accounts within your profile: one associated with the UK platform and one associated with the EU platform. These accounts operate independently from a regulatory perspective. This means that investment portfolios, balances, and regulatory disclosures may differ between them, and the available investment opportunities may also vary depending on the jurisdiction in which an investment is offered. However, both accounts remain connected to the same Republic identity, so you will continue to use a single login and password to access them.
The introduction of the EU platform does not require you to move your existing investments or close your UK account. It simply ensures that new investments made by EU-resident investors are processed through the entity that is authorised to provide crowdfunding services under EU regulation. This approach allows us to comply with regulatory requirements while preserving your access to the investments you already hold and maintaining continuity of your existing account.
If you attempt to invest in a campaign and are prompted to open an EU account, this simply means that the investment must be processed through the EU-regulated platform. The onboarding flow will guide you through the required steps, and once completed you will be able to proceed with the investment under the EU platform.
Republic continues to operate both the UK and EU platforms so that investors can access opportunities in a way that aligns with the applicable regulatory frameworks. Our goal is to make this transition as seamless as possible while ensuring that investments are offered and executed in accordance with the relevant regulations in each jurisdiction.