Politics, Legal & Regulation

March 19, 2016 @ 8:00 am By JD Alois  |  

On April 1st, the regulatory environment for investment crowdfunding will change in the Netherlands. The Netherlands Authority for Financial Markets (AFM) published recommendations in December of 2014 regarding a regulatory approach for internet finance. A proposal was released back in December that was summarily updated the… Read More

March 18, 2016 @ 8:18 pm By Louise Beaumont  |  

  The global alternative finance industry has undergone staggering growth in recent years. In 2015 combined market activity in the UK grew 84% from £1.74bn the year before to £3.2bn. Around 20,000 SMEs raised approximately £2.2bn in funding through online channels, representing a year-on-year growth… Read More

March 18, 2016 @ 1:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

SEC nominees Hester Peirce and Lisa Fairfax each had the opportunity to share their perspectives with the Senate Banking Committee this week as part of the confirmation process.  Appointed by President Obama at the end of last year, both Peirce and Fairfax received tough questions… Read More

March 16, 2016 @ 3:16 pm By JD Alois  |  

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne revealed his list of policy changes for the forthcoming year as the UK attempts to keep the economy forward while keeping expenses in check. Osborne announced several new initiatives that will impact business both large and small. Some of… Read More

March 16, 2016 @ 8:39 am By JD Alois  |  

The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) convenes today to discuss and determine if interest rates need to rise. Recent geopolitical realities, such as the ECB going all in as growth sputters, have pushed most Fed watchers into the camp that rising rates are on… Read More

March 15, 2016 @ 9:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

The China Banking Regulatory Commission is talking tough when it comes to bogus online lenders. As reported in the China Daily,  Shang Fulin, Chairman of the CBRC, explained at a news conference regulators were cracking down of dodgy platforms; “The CBRC will strengthen regulation, intensify… Read More

March 12, 2016 @ 9:11 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK government has published a report on innovation after culling data from over 30,000 employers between 2012 and 2014. According to their research, 53% of UK businesses are actively pursuing new products and services – an increase of 8% versus two years prior. Business… Read More

March 10, 2016 @ 9:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

Richard Cordray, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), will be visiting the House Financial Services Committee next week to testify before Chairman Jeb Hensarling and the rest of the group. The CFPB is a relatively new agency, crafted out of the ashes of… Read More

March 10, 2016 @ 3:55 pm By JD Alois  |  

Enforcement is how the bulk of the Securities and Exchange Commission spends their budget and much of their time. There will always be a never-ending trail of ne’er-do-wells and scoundrels looking for an opportunity to separate hard-earned money from good people via duplicitous means. High… Read More

March 9, 2016 @ 10:52 am By JD Alois  |  

IW Capital, a financial firm that has facilitated over £60 million worth of investment into the UK’s SME sector, has published a report on the UK tax landscape.  The report, embedded below, states that with the forthcoming Budget report (March 16), scrutiny of the tax environment… Read More

March 9, 2016 @ 7:19 am By JD Alois  |  

The Senate Committee on Banking,Housing and Urban Affairs will meet on March 10th to review President Obama’s nominations for SEC Commissioners.  Hester Peirce and Lisa Fairfax were selected to fill openings on the Commission following the departure of former Commissioner Gallagher and former Commissioner Aguilar. Peirce,… Read More

March 5, 2016 @ 12:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

As the very first equity crowdfunding offer to go through the process of issuing shares and then listing on a public exchange under Reg A+, Elio Motors was bound to encounter a few bumps along the way.  One of the challenges was the transfer process… Read More

March 3, 2016 @ 10:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

OTC Markets Questions Monopoly Model for Venture Exchange. The House Financial Services Committee has been busy once again with a slew of proposed laws designed to improve the environment for smaller companies.  One of the bills on the list for the Committee yesterday (March 2,… Read More

March 2, 2016 @ 1:02 pm By JD Alois  |  

The HALOS Act (HR 4498) or “Helping Angels Lead Our Startups Act” is a bill in the House of Representatives that seeks to fix a nagging issue for startups: You are not legally allowed to pitch your business to investors in public – unless you… Read More

March 2, 2016 @ 11:17 am By JD Alois  |  

As Fintech heats up around the world, a growing number of government’s are looking for ways to engender a vibrant Fintech entrepreneurial ecosystem.  Finance is a profoundly important industry and the entire sector is quickly moving online.  While the UK is broadly viewed as the… Read More

March 1, 2016 @ 9:46 pm By Anthony Zeoli  |  

  To date, most crowdfunded investment opportunities have been limited to wealthy investors who meet the current definition of “accredited investor.” This has left an absolutely HUGE market of potential investor capital, represented by those individuals who currently do not qualify as accredited investors, virtually untapped…. Read More

March 1, 2016 @ 8:03 am By JD Alois  |  

In July 2014, the Financial Conduct Authority published the results of the general insurance add-ons market study which showed that competition was not working well for many consumers. In June 2015, the regulator proposed a number of options for publishing product information, including: claims ratio… Read More

February 29, 2016 @ 3:55 pm By JD Alois  |  

Embedded below is the most recent run at creating an intrastate crowdfunding exemption for the state of California. The bill (AB 2178) was introduced earlier this month by Assembly Member David Chiu, with principle coauthor Senator Ben Allen. Granted, the legislation has a long ways… Read More

February 28, 2016 @ 10:58 am By JD Alois  |  

The Australian Senate referred the provisions of the Corporations Amendment Bill 2015 (or Crowd-sourced Funding as it is called)  to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by February 22nd, which was then extended until February 29th. The proposed bill has come under pointed criticism… Read More

February 27, 2016 @ 2:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

For many small businesses to thrive, they need access to capital.  A promising business must be able to find financing to grow their business. If you do not have sufficient cash on hand you must go elsewhere. Typically SMEs start with the proprietor using their… Read More