This Quarter in Venture Capital: Dealflow and Funding At Highest Levels

The venture capital database CB Insights has just released its report of investment from the second quarter of 2011, and based on the deals it’s tracked, venture capital funding is at a nine-quarter high – both in terms of the amount of funding and the number of deals. Compared to this time last year, deals are up 25% and funding up 29%.

Of course, those wanting to point to this as yet another sign of a tech bubble will have ammo here, but the data from the report demands a bit more of a nuanced assessment. Even though investment is up, early stage VC funding is down. In fact, the overall portion of VC deals to early stage companies (primarily Series A deals) dipped to a five quarter low. It will be interesting to watch the impact of this over the next few months because, as CB Insights points out, “it’s possible companies who’ve raised their Seed rounds might be orphaned.”

Across all Internet companies tracked in the CB Insights’ database, deals were up 28% year-over-year and funding grew 69% as compared to the second quarter of 2010. Of course, a number of “mega-deals” in the group buying industries… read more here.

Finra authorizes regulatory notice on non-traded REITs, private placements

Finra is continuing to shake up the way broker-dealers show the value of illiquid investments such as non-traded real estate investment trusts and private placements on clients’ account statements.

Last week, the board of governors of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. authorized staff to issue a regulatory notice on the amendments to the rule.

The proposed amendments would change how client account statements showed an illiquid securities estimated value.

For example, the proposals include requiring broker-dealers to subtract upfront fees and expenses that are deducted from the offering proceeds if par value is listed as the estimated value of the shares. At the moment, shares of non-traded REITs, for example, are listed at par.

Another proposal would permit broker-dealers to use par value for the investment only under the initial offering period, and not during the secondary period.

And broker-dealers … read more here.

Trend: Registering Businesses in Singapore

The recently released Monthly Digest of Statistics Singapore, by the Department of Statistics, Ministry of Trade & Industry, shows a sharp increase in the number of new companies registered in Singapore in the year 2010. 29,798 new companies were registered in 2010, recording an 11.4% increase over the previous year total of 26,414 companies. So far for the year 2011, until the end of second quarter 16,047 new companies have been formed in Singapore. Of all the various types of business entities registered in Singapore, Companies – including Exempt Private Limited, Private Limited and Public Limited – account for a larger share, with an average of over 53%. Registration of new Business Firms, such as Sole Proprietorship and Partnerships, fall behind Companies despite the relaxed regulatory requirements. Rikvin consultancy explains the reasons why businesses are registered as companies in Singapore.

In the era of globalization, protection of investment, innovation and intellectual resources is crucial to ensure a protracted growth and sustainability amidst…Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/07/19/prweb8652877.DTL#ixzz1SaVP8PaE