ROUNDTABLE & SURVEY RESULTS

Mission: Discuss CSEF (Equity Crowdfunding) in Australia

The Financial Services Council hosted today’s Equity Crowd Funding Roundtable with the Minister for Small Business, Bruce Billson chairing an excellent event. CFIA directors and key contributors included, Chris Gilbert, Paul Niederer, Matthew Pinter, Jack Quigley & Tony Puls (with Nick Karolidis scheduled for the Feb 16th Melbourne event).
Both Treasury and industry stakeholders took away new insight into the changes required to bring innovative finance to small business and start-ups. A high degree of policy alignment, risk management and shared wisdom was evident.
Previously contested issues such as Caps, Public Company Status & Secondary markets were unpacked and debated with few outright contests and a commitment to legislating in the spring session of parliament.
With special thanks to Dr William Neill, the CFIA survey featured heavily by informing the hosts of the views of members and the public alike. The full dataset, charts & analysis will be available via the CFIA website, however you may find the info graphic more user-friendly and packed with important insights.

Our hosts rounded out the session summarising the key learnings & action items, including; a more defined roll & obligation for intermediaries and the importance of Investor & Issuer education.
Intermediary ownership (e.g. fee subsidy) and secondary markets for shares remained somewhat unresolved, whereas a clear NO was delivered (and received) in respect of mandatory Public company status for start-ups.
All parties appeared to leave with some positives to take away and a long to-do list, the least of which is completion of our formal replies to the Treasury discussion paper.
We encourage you to put your views across before the deadline on the 6th.