Politics, Legal & Regulation

December 10, 2015 @ 3:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

There was much chatter regarding the origin of the $28,500 transfer into the accounts of Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik, the San Bernardino terrorist that brutally killed 14 innocent people. It quickly came to light the loan had originated from Prosper, a leading marketplace lending… Read More

December 8, 2015 @ 1:00 pm By Erin Hobey  |  

Quote 2 Fund announced that it has become a signatory to the Small Business Borrower’s Bill of Rights, a public commitment to ensure small business owners have access to funding that is both transparent and fair. By signing, Quote 2 Fund joins a coalition of industry… Read More

December 8, 2015 @ 12:35 pm By Erin Hobey  |  

First State Super will invest tens of millions of dollars into fintech start-ups over the coming years, in partnership with H2 Ventures, a specialist fintech VC fund, according to the Sydney Morning Herald‘s James Eyers.  The launch of the First State Super-H2 partnership was attended by Prime… Read More

December 8, 2015 @ 11:20 am By JD Alois  |  

  The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in its ongoing quest to promote competition within the financial services sector, has announced upcoming rules designed to improve the plight of consumers who save money in banks.  From December 2016, financial firms will be required to provide specific… Read More

December 8, 2015 @ 7:00 am By Samuel Guzik  |  

  December 2, 2015, seemed no different than any other day in Washington, D.C. With a light rain falling, it was a rather dismal day for sightseeing in our Nation’s Capitol – yet the sun seemed to be shining for our small and emerging businesses… Read More

December 7, 2015 @ 10:47 am By JD Alois  |  

Last week the government announced the US economy had delivered 211,000 new jobs in the month of November with the unemployment rate holding at 5%. The announcement set off a new flurry of debate and discussion regarding whether or not the Federal Reserve will finally… Read More

December 7, 2015 @ 8:55 am By JD Alois  |  

The so-called FAST Act or “Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act” was shuffled off to be signed by President Obama after the Senate approved the massive bill.  It was a piece of legislation that saw the likes of Senators Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio, join… Read More

December 5, 2015 @ 3:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

The UK has just released figures showing that 27.1% of central government purchasing was with small business in the past fiscal year.  According to the report, 10.9% was directly with SME’s and 16.2% was through the supply chain.  This tops the goal set by Parliament… Read More

December 3, 2015 @ 10:25 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Tandem has been granted authorization from the Bank of England and will be regulated by Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, blogged co-founder Ricky Knox. Tandem aims to be the most helpful, not the most painful, bank for its customers. “This is very… Read More

December 3, 2015 @ 7:21 am By Erin Hobey  |  

After much anticipation from key crowdfunding leaders, including Jon Medved, today marked the landmark occasion for small businesses throughout Australia, according to Crowd Funding Institute of Australia. With support from a burgeoning crowdfunding industry, the first steps have been taken to introduce legislative changes that tackle… Read More

December 3, 2015 @ 1:15 am By JD Alois  |  

The Australian Parliament has revealed the expected legislation regarding the regulatory structure of investment crowdfunding.  The bill, along with an explanatory memorandum, is embedded below.  The government had previously stated final rules were a priority for completion before the end of the year. “Crowd-sourced funding”… Read More

December 1, 2015 @ 8:00 am By Erin Hobey  |  

“I do not recycle or repackage the ideas of others.  I try to focus instead on broader JOBS Act issues and events which have thus far gone unnoticed – or barely noticed – and which require further thought, analysis and hopefully, action, by louder and… Read More

November 30, 2015 @ 10:54 am By JD Alois  |  

The Bank of England (BOE) announced the extension of the Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) that was designed to provide easier access to capital for SMEs.  The BoE stated the program will provide lenders with continued certainty over the availability of cheap funding to support lending… Read More

November 27, 2015 @ 9:17 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Government has published its response to the Enterprise Bill that was created to establish, as a new public body, a Small Business Commissioner.  The new position was described as including the functions of providing general advice and information to small businesses, and considering… Read More

November 26, 2015 @ 9:42 am By JD Alois  |  

The Peer to Peer Finance Association (P2PFA) in the UK has consistently advocated for a separate ISA only for P2P assets.  While recognition has grown that alternative assets should be allowed into retirement accounts, the P2PFA believes it is prudent to separate debt from equity…. Read More

November 26, 2015 @ 8:43 am By Conrad Ford  |  

Overdrafts have been small businesses’ go-to source of working capital for years now — a dependable way to cover short-term cash flow issues and ride out periods of instability. But since 2011, the banks have reduced or removed business overdrafts at a rate of £5… Read More

November 25, 2015 @ 4:08 pm By JD Alois  |  

Alongside the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, there were several associated releases published by the Exchequer’s office.  Louise Beaumont, Head of Public Affairs at GLI Finance and a frequent commenter on policy issues regarding SME’s and the economy, has shared some thoughts regarding specific announcements presented by… Read More

November 25, 2015 @ 10:46 am By JD Alois  |  

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne gave a rousing speech highlighting the government’s success and pinpointing areas for economic improvement today in his annual trip to Parliament. The Autumn Statement delivered by Osborne can certainly be viewed as a success once you compare the UK economy… Read More

November 24, 2015 @ 7:23 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority has launched another “call for inputs” as it digs into the retail insurance industry and the use of data to drive decisions. Interested participants have until January 8th to submit comments with a feedback statement expected in mid-2016.  The FCA notes… Read More

November 21, 2015 @ 5:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

SEC Chair Mary Jo White opened the 34th annual Government- Business Forum on Small Business Formation. The prepared remarks were largely a re-cap of the JOBS Act. Completion of the rulemaking process occured with the release of Title III retail crowdfunding rules. White highlighted several… Read More