Politics, Legal & Regulation

June 22, 2015 @ 7:30 am By Samuel Guzik  |  

And Regulation A+’s Forgotten Crowdfunding Cousin Quietly Comes to Life in Congress Some History Lessons Though some may quibble over the details, June 19, 2015, was an historic day in U.S. regulatory history, at least as far as raising capital for small businesses is concerned… Read More

June 18, 2015 @ 7:54 pm By JD Alois  |  

Indiegogo has been very forthright about it’s intent on entering into investment crowdfunding.  While the process may be similar to its rewards based platform today, investment crowdfunding is a highly regulated space where the SEC, and others, will always be on guard. Tomorrow, Title IV… Read More

June 18, 2015 @ 11:45 am By Anthony Zeoli  |  

As you may know, Montana has filed a “Petition For Review” to challenge the final rules adopted by the SEC under Title IV of the JOBS Act (commonly referred to as Regulation A+). In connection with its suit, Monica J. Lindeen, Montana State Auditor and… Read More

June 17, 2015 @ 10:42 am By Anthony Zeoli  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies met in early June to discuss various topics concerning, of course, small businesses. One of the primary topics the Committee addressed was the growing enactment and use of state-based crowdfunding (i.e. “Intrastate… Read More

June 17, 2015 @ 1:54 am By Midori Yoshimura  |  

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the UK tax authority, will allow savers to hold peer-to-peer lending investment trusts in their Individual Savings Accounts (ISA), according to CityWire Money. The change will take effect July 1–in about two weeks. The move is part of the government’s alternative… Read More

June 16, 2015 @ 9:35 pm By JD Alois  |  

As expected, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signed the MNVest bill, making it law, and thus legalizing investment crowdfunding in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.  The legislation was sponsored by Senator Terri Bonoff and Representative Jen Loon but benefited by popular bipartisan support and the backing… Read More

June 12, 2015 @ 5:33 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Subcommittee on Capital Markets an Government Sponsored Enterprises, part of the Committee on Financial Services, has scheduled a hearing to discuss two bills. The first is the Small Business Credit Availability Act which has been crafted to amend the Investment Committee Act of 1940… Read More

June 12, 2015 @ 1:20 pm By Erin Hobey  |  

Yesterday, the Malaysian Securities Commission (MSC) has approved of six equity crowdfunding (ECF) platforms to start their operations by the end of the year. Today updates and further comments were shared by key innovators regarding the approval. “It is timely to further widen access through innovation in financial… Read More

June 12, 2015 @ 9:59 am By JD Alois  |  

OTC Markets has published proposed new rules and standards for companies seeking to use newly adopted “Regulation A+,” or Title IV of the JOBS Act.  The objective is to have companies using this new exemption  to list their securities on OTCQX Best or OTCQB Venture… Read More

June 11, 2015 @ 10:42 am By JD Alois  |  

Malaysia has been at the forefront of advocating on behalf of internet finance in Southeast Asia.  This week the Securities Commission Malaysia took another step in providing greater access to capital for innovative firms by announcing six approved equity crowdfunding platforms. Revealed during the Synergy and… Read More

June 9, 2015 @ 7:01 pm By JD Alois  |  

Several publicly traded companies have sent a letter to Representatives Scott  Garrett and Carolyn Maloney addressing the hot topic of venture exchanges.  The subject of venture exchanges has been making the rounds on Capital Hill, and at the SEC, as policy makers search for the best path to create liquidity… Read More

June 9, 2015 @ 3:01 am By Anthony Zeoli  |  

Early last week the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rolled out a multi-million dollar ad campaign promoting its online research tool called “BrokerCheck.” BrokerCheck is free online database intended to provide the investing public with an east way to research brokers and investment advisers before… Read More

June 7, 2015 @ 3:53 pm By JD Alois  |  

The current definition of an accredited investor is something that has been in use for decades.  Basically the rule defines who may invest in certain private placement securities offers. In general you need to be earning over $200,000 a year ($300,000 if married) or alternatively have… Read More

June 5, 2015 @ 9:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

Senator Elizabeth Warren, an outspoken critic of all things associated with Wall Street, launched a blistering frontal assault against the current Chair of the SEC – Mary Jo White. It should be noted that Mary Jo White was selected by President Barack Obama to reinvigorate… Read More

June 5, 2015 @ 9:19 am By JD Alois  |  

Aussie MP and Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was quoted on new forms of finance this past week indicating peer to peer lending requires further regulatory oversight.  This is according to a report in Mortgage Business.  Frydenberg was quoted at the Stockbrokers Association of Australia Conference in Sydney… Read More

June 4, 2015 @ 11:53 am By Georgia Quinn  |  

A CATO Institute event on the status of capital markets in the US provided a bright spot to an otherwise bleak and rainy day in New York City. Amidst the libertarian rhetoric and literature, two speakers stood out with certain observations and proposed remedies to… Read More

June 4, 2015 @ 10:50 am By JD Alois  |  

SEC Commissioner Daniel Gallagher has consistently criticized the “Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act” – otherwise affectionately know as Dodd-Frank.  It should come to no surprise to anyone who has operated inside the beltway that Dodd-Frank has accomplished little except to bog down the… Read More

June 4, 2015 @ 7:37 am By JD Alois  |  

SEC Commissioner Daniel Gallagher has completed the final update of his “crazy quilt” chart of regulations that smother financial services firms.  It is a wonder that anyone working in the financial sector does anything else but review and comply with mandatory rules.  And these are… Read More

June 3, 2015 @ 4:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

In a highly regulated industry, such as finance, there will never be a perfect set of rules. The diversity of opinion and perspective by nature engenders a constant debate between what is right – and what is wrong.  The internet finance industry has evolved quite… Read More

June 2, 2015 @ 11:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

There has been much debate, discussion and recent consternation regarding Title IV of the JOBS Act, something commonly labeled as Reg A+.  Some prognosticators believe it is much ado about nothing but others believe Reg A+ can become an important step in the evolving capital… Read More