Politics, Legal & Regulation

March 24, 2015 @ 8:58 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority is a relatively new entity having only been formed in 2013, reconstituted from its predecessor the FSA.  The transformation, which saw the responsibilities of the FSA migrated over to three different regulatory bodies, was engendered in part by the financial… Read More

March 23, 2015 @ 12:54 pm By JD Alois  |  

The UK has just announced a new £2 million fund created to back social organisations via peer to peer lending and crowdfunding platforms. The announcement did not mention specific platforms by name by disclosed platforms are being reviewed with an announcement coming  which platforms have… Read More

March 20, 2015 @ 6:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced an open meeting to be held on Wednesday, March 25th, to consider whether to adopt rules and forms related to the offer and sale of securities pursuant to Section 3(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 to implement… Read More

March 20, 2015 @ 10:42 am By JD Alois  |  

Earlier this week George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, took his story up to Parliament to share his view of the UK economy and his strategic vision going forward.  The speech was broadly well-received, and as politicians typically do, there was something for everyone including a… Read More

March 20, 2015 @ 9:43 am By JD Alois  |  

The SEC Investor Advisory Committee (IAC) has scheduled their next gathering at F Street in DC to be held on April 9th.  The group is ostensibly an advocate on behalf of all investors but has a tendency to be more on the side of protection as opposed… Read More

March 19, 2015 @ 2:20 pm By JD Alois  |  

Florida, a state that hosts the worlds largest crowdfunding festival and wants to develop an innovation economy, failed in legalizing investment crowdfunding last year. While the details of the story as to why the initiative to boost funding for SMEs, improve the regional economy and grow… Read More

March 19, 2015 @ 8:44 am By JD Alois  |  

The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) is preparing to tighten the regulatory environment for the fast growing peer to peer lending industry. According to multiple reports, rules have been drafted and are being distributed for review by various industry experts and platform operators. An internal… Read More

March 18, 2015 @ 12:44 pm By JD Alois  |  

At the annual presentation of the budget to the House of Commons, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne checked off a wide ranging list of successes as the UK economy has segregated itself from much of the rest of Europe.  The contrast between the years of… Read More

March 17, 2015 @ 4:42 pm By JD Alois  |  

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has been engaged with internet finance for some time recognizing the importance of crowdfunding to their industry. The EBA is an independent EU authority that strives to ensure effective regulation across Europe – a bit of a tall task.  Across… Read More

March 16, 2015 @ 5:55 pm By JD Alois  |  

Crowdfund Insider Senior Contributor, Sam Guzik, joined David Weild, former Vice Chair of Nasdaq, in a presentation last week on current issues regarding capital formation for SME’s. The discussion reviewed Title IV of the JOBS  Act (Regulation A+), the need for venture exchanges for secondary transactions… Read More

March 15, 2015 @ 11:41 am By JD Alois  |  

Lawrence Lessig’s movement to crowdfund political change via his Mayday PAC has been quiet since the last political cycle revealed minimal success in his organization’s attempt to support candidates that back his vision of fundamental political change.  The first attempt is being described as “experimental”. Now Lessig… Read More

March 14, 2015 @ 5:42 pm By JD Alois  |  

  According to a recent report, aspiring UK crowdfunding platforms are suffering from extended delays in platform approval by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).  In an article published in the Guardian, the missive declared that, “the FCA has approved only two crowdfunding platforms in the… Read More

March 13, 2015 @ 1:51 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revealed its guidance on promoting financial offerings via social media.  Social Media, such as Twitter, Facebook and an increasing number of other networks, have grown dramatically in recent years representing a shift in how individuals, and businesses, communicate. Acknowledging… Read More

March 13, 2015 @ 12:53 pm By Charles Kaufman and Jor Law  |  

This the second part, of a two part series, reviewing Bad Actors in private placements.  The first article may be viewed here. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued new Rule 506(d) in 2013, a rule that bars felons and other specified “bad actors” from… Read More

March 13, 2015 @ 10:01 am By Erin Hobey  |  

2005: A Zopa Odyssey In these weeks, Zopa has celebrated a decade as a innovative and disruptive alternative financial leader.  Led by CEO Giles Andrews,  Zopa has lent over £750 million and predicts it will top £1 billion within the next couple of months.  To recap, in… Read More

March 11, 2015 @ 7:00 am By Samuel Guzik  |  

To borrow a line from SEC Commissioner Daniel M. Gallagher, quoting from the fight song of his alma mata, Georgetown University:  Oh How Long It’s Been! As we approach the three year anniversary of the signing into law of the JOBS Act of 2012 it… Read More

March 10, 2015 @ 3:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

OTC Markets has issues a comment on the Senate hearing that took place today to discuss the creation of Venture Exchanges. OTC Markets has positioned its platform to provide these services to smaller companies and new types of securities as legalized by the JOBS Act…. Read More

March 10, 2015 @ 2:48 pm By JD Alois  |  

In a broad ranging discussion on Capitol Hill today, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs subcommittee addressed the issue of Venture Exchanges. Recently there has been a growing amount of discourse on the Hill, and within the offices of the SEC, regarding the propriety and… Read More

March 9, 2015 @ 12:32 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Massachusetts Securities Division has published a call for feedback regarding the state’s crowdfunding exemption.  The rules were released as an “emergency” measure and now state authorities are asking the crowdfunding industry and other interested parties to respond to the enacted rules. Massachusetts has scheduled… Read More

March 8, 2015 @ 10:42 pm By JD Alois  |  

Capitol Hill is an ever-revolving series of meetings, hearings and committees that too frequently get mired in petty political squabbles and posturing. Most of what occurs on the Hill these days is lost to much of the rest of the country who are simply too… Read More