African Land
African Land was an ethical investment vehicle.
They invited investors to purchase plots of land at a farm in Sierra Leone and then grew rice which was sold on, providing local people with jobs and a return on investment.
Investors in the UK and around the world were invited to buy plots of a single acre or more at Yoni Farm. The land would remain theirs for a period of 49 years.
The cost of investment is £2250 per acre inclusive of a £500 set-up fee for each acre.
Rice harvested from each plot would be sold with a percentage of profits split between African Land and investor with the balance donated to local people.
Onside PR agreed to work with African Land after it was announced they would be the subject of a Financial Conduct Authority investigation.
The FCA claim African Land is a Collective Investment Scheme and, as a result, subject to their strict rules.
African Land have refute the claims on the basis that each investment is made by of individual plots which are farmed individually.
Onside PR founder James Fletcher was tasked with providing crisis management support to African Land, it’s directors and investors whilst conducting a fundamental review of the schemes internal and external communications strategy.
Onside PR providing crisis management support to investors and directors of African Land.
We provided regularly updates and bulletins and manned a 24/7 hotline for concerned investors and consulted with lawyers over the proposed FCA defence and future steps.
Onside PR launched a new website for African Land providing a crucial link between the company and concerned investors and managed external messaging and media attention.