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Sunday, July 15, 2007

Pinnacle Notes - do you know the risks?

The Pinnacle Notes offers an interset rate of 5.25% per annum, with the following disclaimer:

The notes are not principal protected. Payment of interest and repalyment of 100% of the principal amount at maturity is dependent upon, amongst other things, the occurence of a Credit Event, a Mandatory Redemption Event or if the issuer exercises its Issuer Call Option.

In such circumstances, you will lose all or substantially all of your investment in the Notes.

Please refer to the Prospectus for more details.

With these types of unclear risks, it is really worth while to invest in the Pinnacle notes? Will you be stuck for the next 6 years with a low return? How much will you lose, if any of the events happen? What is the chance of it happening?

How much commission is earned by the distributing banks? How much does the Arranger earn on the product? Are the small investors getting a fair return for the risk that they are shouldering?

These types of products are too complicated for me. I do not invest in them. I discourage my family members from investing in these products.

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