FCA’s new rules for crowdfunding met with anger and disappointment

The announcement from the FCA on new rules for crowdfunding has been met with anger and disappointment by members of the crowdfunding industry.

Barry James, Founder of The Crowdfunding Centre, says on a day like today one has to wonder whether our FCA is the worst regulator in the western world. The words that spring first to mind are inflexible, stubborn and unimaginative. Maybe it’s time for a change.”

The FCA has announced changes to peer-to-peer lending and equity investment based crowdfunding, the two types of crowdfunding that they say need regulatory oversight.

But it’s the 10 percent rule, just one of the amendments to equity-based crowdfunding, that has provoked the greatest outcry.

The rule insists that investors must certify that they will not invest more than 10 percent of their net investible assets / ‘portfolio’ (i.e. excluding their primary residence, pensions and life cover) in crowdfunding.

Christopher Woolard, the FCA’s Director of Policy, Risk and Research, says consumers need to be clear on what they’re getting into and what the risks of crowdfunding are: “Our rules provide this clarity and extra protection for consumers, balanced by a desire to ensure firms and individuals continue to have access to this innovative source of funding.”

However, those in the crowdfunding sector believe this regulation locks the ordinary investor out of crowdfunding. “Make no mistake, the infamous 10 percent rule – however it’s dressed up – does just that:  it takes the crowd out of equity crowdfunding,” says Barry.

“Over the centuries Britain has led the world with inventions and innovations – and then thrown away that lead. It’s tragic that just as we seem to be on the brink of changing that habit the FCA seem determined to repeat that history for us by taking the crowd out of crowdfunding at just the time when France has opened it up to the crowd following New Zealand and, increasingly, the USA.”

Stephen Hazell-Smith, Architect and Co-founder of AIM and PLUS markets, says the French regulator recently threw open the doors to its adult population to invest in equity crowdfunding as it pleases. This week our regulator has taken the crowd out of crowdfunding by putting in place rules on just who may be permitted to be an investor. How absurd to have the French beating us in a sector where we have the infrastructure in place to lead the world.”

And Bloom VC CEO Amanda Boyle added on Twitter: “The UK is now the only country where the crowd is regulated out of #crowdfunding. Now just another asset class for investors. Shame!”