Politics, Legal & Regulation

December 9, 2016 @ 10:13 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has released their much anticipated interim report on debt and equity crowdfunding. The document addresses both peer to peer lending and investment crowdfunding platforms and the current state of operations as the new approach to capital formation evolves. Andrew Bailey,… Read More

December 8, 2016 @ 10:48 am By JD Alois  |  

European Parliament is looking to adjust the prospectus requirement for small companies raising capital. This policy shift can directly impact the amount an issuer can raise using investment crowdfunding – across Europe. Members of European Parliament have increased the lower exemption threshold, under which no… Read More

December 6, 2016 @ 5:24 pm By JD Alois  |  

  The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced the departure of Keith Higgins, the Director of SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance. Higgins, having joined the SEC in June of 2013, will depart in early January. Higgins has been deeply engaged with Dodd-Frank rulemaking, the FAST… Read More

December 6, 2016 @ 3:04 pm By Jessica Pham  |  

Senior Fellow at Harvard Business School Karen Gordon Mills along with VP of Strategy at Fundera, Brayden McCarthy, have recently posted a working paper on SME lending. Mills is also the former Administrator of the Small Business Administration – a post she held during the Obama administration just… Read More

December 5, 2016 @ 7:46 pm By JD Alois  |  

Chief Deputy Whip, Patrick McHenry, who is also Vice Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, welcomed the passage of HR 6427 today or the Creating Financial Prosperity for Businesses & Investors Act.  The last minute legislative push by the House saw a bundling of six… Read More

December 5, 2016 @ 7:16 pm By JD Alois  |  

Entrepreneurs and small business may have something for them under the Christmas tree this year courtesy of Congress.  The House of Representatives passed HR 6427 today as legislators scrambled to get a few things done before they disperse for the coming Holiday.  While there is… Read More

December 2, 2016 @ 4:29 pm By JD Alois  |  

In a speech today, Thomas Curry, Comptroller of the Currency, announced the creation of National Bank Charters for Fintech firms.  As part of the announcement, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) published a paper entitled; Exploring Special Purpose National Bank Charters for… Read More

December 2, 2016 @ 3:44 pm By JD Alois  |  

Thomas Curry, Comptroller of the Currency, Officially Announces Bank Charters for Fintech In a speech delivered at Georgetown University today, Thomas Curry, Comptroller of the Currency, announced the creation of special purpose national bank charters for Fintech companies. The announcement was driven by an ongoing discussion… Read More

December 2, 2016 @ 11:37 am By JD Alois  |  

Congressman Jeb Hensarling will continue his leadership as Chairman of the influential House Financial Services Committee during the forthcoming 115th Congress in 2017. Hensarling has been a vocal advocate of regulatory rationalization regarding the financial services sector. Hensarling has attempted to address the current environment of… Read More

December 2, 2016 @ 7:56 am By Jessica Pham  |  

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond delivered the annual autumn statement late last month and underlined the UK’s numerous economic weaknesses that the Brexit vote only enunciated.  As Brexit negotiations continue between now and 2019, Britain will have to tackle its poor productivity record, particularly… Read More

December 1, 2016 @ 4:11 pm By JD Alois  |  

The SEC Advisory Committee on Small & Emerging Companies (ACSEC) has scheduled a conference call for its next public meeting. The December 7 meeting of ACSEC will begin at 11:00 a.m. ET and live audio will be available on the SEC’s website.  According to the… Read More

November 30, 2016 @ 3:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

Financial Innovation Now (FIN) has published an open letter to the incoming Trump administration. FIN demanded the President-Elect embrace technology when it comes to financial innovation. FIN is a group that represents several very big names in tech. Think Apple, Google, Amazon and more. Tipping… Read More

November 30, 2016 @ 8:17 am By JD Alois  |  

Jacqueline Loh, Deputy Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, delivered a wide-ranging speech today at the 2nd Shanghai-Singapore Financial Forum in Shanghai. Lo acknowledged the opportunities that exist between China and Singapore noting that China may become 1/3 of the world’s economy by… Read More

November 26, 2016 @ 11:47 am By JD Alois  |  

The Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA) was created to advocate on behalf of the small companies that greatly benefit from the progressive tax benefits given to investors in UK SMEs.  EISA works closely with HM Treasury, HM Revenue and Customs, Government Ministers, MPs and the… Read More

November 25, 2016 @ 10:25 am By JD Alois  |  

The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Statement contained various boosts to business including acknowledgment of the importance of early stage companies for the UK economy. Chancellor Philip Hammond stated; “By injecting an additional £400m into venture capital funds through the British Business Bank, unlocking £1… Read More

November 24, 2016 @ 12:14 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Australian House of Parliament has re-introduced legislation to improve the environment for investment crowdfunding. The bill, or Corporations Amendment (“Crowd-Sourced Funding”) Bill 2016, has been widely anticipated to begin the legislative process this year.  The bill was introduced by the Treasurer, Scott Morrison, MP…. Read More

November 23, 2016 @ 3:46 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has outlined its strategic goals for 2017 to 2020 and like much of the developed world, the financial regulator is embracing innovation and Fintech disruption. The strategic goals were approved were approved this past week by the Federal… Read More

November 23, 2016 @ 3:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

The final rule updates to Rules 147 and 504 have finally hit the pages of the Federal Register. Now the countdown begins for the rules to become actionable. The amendments to Rule 147 and new Rule 147A are designed to facilitate capital formation, including through… Read More

November 23, 2016 @ 11:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Lawrence Wintermeyer, CEO of Innovate Finance, welcomed Chancellor of the Exchequer,  Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement delivered to Parliament today. Wintermeyer said he was “pleased to see a focus on investment, productivity, and digital innovation”. Innovate Finance had called for the UK government to advance on… Read More

November 23, 2016 @ 9:16 am By JD Alois  |  

Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond delivered the annual Autumn Statement designed to deal with Brexit repercussions while announcing that in the future only a single major fiscal presentation will be delivered. HM Treasury will move to a single fiscal event will be made after the… Read More