Politics, Legal & Regulation

February 11, 2016 @ 11:14 pm By JD Alois  |  

  In Australia, the process to update the regulatory environment to facilitate equity crowdfunding has been a long journey. Back in 2014,  proposed rules by the Corporations and Markets Advisory Committee (CAMAC) were criticized by one industry leader as “totally unworkable”. No need to say more. At… Read More

February 11, 2016 @ 10:12 am By JD Alois  |  

Janet Yellen, Chair of the Federal Reserve, returns to Capitol Hill again today to continue her testimony.  Today she returns to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.  The hearing, entitled, “The Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress”, will give Yellen a… Read More

February 10, 2016 @ 10:24 am By JD Alois  |  

Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy Testimony by Janet Yellen, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, to the House Financial Services Committee.   Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen will appear before the full committee to deliver the Federal Reserve’s semi-annual Monetary Policy Report to… Read More

February 8, 2016 @ 10:33 am By Therese Torris  |  

Real estate crowdfunding started late in 2014 in France. But, hardly a year later, it is going strong with 26 platforms vying for a share of the market. However, as crowdfunding moves from real estate development to buy-to-let projects, new platforms are encountering some resistance… Read More

February 5, 2016 @ 4:46 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee has an interesting schedule next week. On Wednesday, February 10th, Janet Yellen, Chair of the Federal Reserve, will wander up to Capitol Hill for a thorough grilling by Committee members. The Fed raised rates by 25 basis points last December… Read More

February 4, 2016 @ 11:30 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced the updated roster of the Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies (ACSEC). Within the announcement was an important change as Sara Hanks has been elevated to Co-Chair of the advisory group.  Hanks, a former SEC attorney and… Read More

February 4, 2016 @ 6:00 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (FSA), which regulates the banking and non-banking sector, is working with the Ministry of Communications and Information to bring out regulations governing online startup companies offering financial services, popularly referred to as fintech, reported DealStreetAsia. Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest economy (US$890B).  The new regulation will… Read More

February 3, 2016 @ 2:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

In the UK, similar to other parts of the world, SMEs are the engine of economic growth and associated job and wealth creation.  According to the Federation of Self-Employed and Small Businesses (FSB); Small businesses account for 99.3% of all private sector businesses at the… Read More

February 2, 2016 @ 9:20 am By JD Alois  |  

The House of Representatives started February of 2016 on a high note this year, leading with several bi-partisan pro-business bills that received little opposition on the floor.  The House Financial Services Committee which forwarded the legislation released a statement calling the bills a “win” for… Read More

February 1, 2016 @ 9:30 pm By Samuel Guzik  |  

For those of you who have followed my articles on Crowdfund Insider over the past two years, you know that I have not been shy about voicing my concerns over the foot dragging that too often has often characterized the attitude of the Securities and… Read More

February 1, 2016 @ 10:17 am By Georgia Quinn  |  

Last week both the SEC and FINRA finalized the rules for funding portals to offer securities under Title III of the JOBS Act of 2012.  The journey to get to this place has been long and at times challenging as regulators and industry participants debated… Read More

January 31, 2016 @ 10:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

GLI Finance, an alternative finance portfolio company, was apparently queued up to aid the  Irish government in its creation of a fund that would boost non-bank lenders.  According to a report in the Independent, negotiations were “unsuccessful”. GLI apparently declined to comment. The Ireland Strategic… Read More

January 30, 2016 @ 6:22 pm By JD Alois  |  

The SEC has published the agenda for next week’s meeting of the Equity Market Structure Advisory Committee (EMSAC). The bulk of the meeting will tackle the “Flash Crash” that occurred on August 24th, 2015.  This was a bone-jarring event that saw the Dow nose-dived 1000… Read More

January 29, 2016 @ 10:54 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the FINRA crowdfunding portal rules and related forms. These new rules apply to portals that seek to operate under Title III of the JOBS Act and are not affiliated with a Broker – Dealer.  They are effective as… Read More

January 28, 2016 @ 12:40 pm By JD Alois  |  

As expected, the funding portal rules operating under Title III of the JOBS Act have hit the pages of the Federal Register.  Platforms intent on leveraging the new exemption to issue securities of up to $1 million are able to start the process of registering… Read More

January 28, 2016 @ 10:27 am By JD Alois  |  

  As marketplace lending grows and matures it is natural, even expected, for policy makers and regulators to stand up and take notice. While in the overall world of finance direct online lenders are still relatively small, more and more frequently amounts are measured in… Read More

January 27, 2016 @ 2:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

The SEC Investor Advisory Committee met last week in Washington, DC. The periodic meeting was opened by Chair White who mentioned Title III retail crowdfunding specifically; “Regulation Crowdfunding becomes effective in May and funding portals can begin to register with the Commission later this month. … Read More

January 27, 2016 @ 9:54 am By JD Alois  |  

The Payment Systems Regulator has hired Paul Smith as its new Head of Policy. Smith was previously at the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) where he was the Chief Executive Officer.  He will assume his responsibilities on February 1st. Smith resigned from the AEMC in… Read More

January 26, 2016 @ 8:30 am By JD Alois  |  

HM Treasury has selected Andrew Bailey as the new Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).  Bailey replaces interim CEO Tracey McDermott who publicly revealed her decision not to seek a permanent assignment at the FCA in early January.  McDermott took over the helm… Read More

January 25, 2016 @ 4:14 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission submitted a filing last Friday regarding FINRA’s regulatory role pertaining to investment crowdfunding portals operating under Title III of the JOBS Act.  According to the SEC, FINRA just responded (January 21st) to several comment letters and the Commission is now… Read More