Category: Corporate Compliance

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Adopts Rule Amendments to Implement JOBS Act Provisions for the Elimination of Prohibitions Against General Solicitation in Private Offerings

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On July 10, 2013, the SEC adopted final amendments to Rule 506 of Regulation D and Rule 144A under the Securities Act in order to implement Section 201(a) of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act). Section 201(a)(1) of the JOBS Act directed the SEC to eliminate the prohibition against general solicitation in private security offerings made under Rule 506 provided that all purchasers of the securities are accredited investors. New Rule 506(c) permits issuers to use general solicitation and general advertising in private security offerings made under Rule 506 provided that: (1) the issuer takes reasonable steps to verify that investors are accredited investors; (2) each investor qualifies, or the issuer reasonably believes that each investor qualifies, as an accredited investor at the time of the sale of securities; and (3) all terms and conditions of Rules 501, 502(a) and 502(d) are satisfied.

The SEC noted that whether the steps taken by an issuer to verify accredited investor status are “reasonable” is an objective determination based on the particular facts and circumstances of each investor and transaction. Factors to be considered in this analysis are:

(1) the nature of the purchaser and type of accredited investor that the purchaser claims to be;

(2) the amount and type of information that the issuer has about the purchaser; and

(3) the nature of the offering, such as the manner in which the purchaser was solicited to participate in the offering, and the terms of the offering, such as the minimum investment amount.

In response to commenters’ requests, Rule 506(c) also provides a non-exclusive list of specific methods that investors may use to verify an investor’s accredited investor status. This list includes:

(1) with respect to verifying income, review copies of any IRS form that reports income (e.g., W-2, Form 1099 or a copy of a filed Form 1040), along with a written representation that the investor will likely continue to earn the necessary income in the current year;

(2) with respect to verifying net worth, review copies of bank statements, brokerage or other statements of securities holdings, or CDs for evidence of sufficient net worth, along with a credit report for evidence of total liabilities; or

(3) obtain a written confirmation from a broker-dealer, an investment adviser, a licensed attorney or a certified public accountant that such entity or person has taken reasonable steps to verify the investor’s accredited investor status.

Section 201(a)(1) of the JOBS Act also directed the SEC to revise Rule 144A(d)(1) to provide that securities resold pursuant to Rule 144A may be offered, including by means of general solicitation, to persons other than  qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) as long as the securities are sold only to persons that the seller and any person acting on behalf of the seller reasonably believe is a QIB. The SEC adopted amendments to Rule 144A as directed under the JOBS Act.

The rule amendments became effective on September 23, 2013.

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Financial Services Legislative and Regulatory Law Update – September 30, 2013

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Leading the Past Week

Working through a rare weekend session, the Congress appeared no closer to being able to avoid a shutdown of the Federal Government.  Early Sunday morning the House sent back to the Senate its version of the spending bill, including two provisions – one delaying Obamacare for one year and the other repeals the medical device tax which helps fund the law.   While there are other differences in the bills – notably how long they keep the government operating, Leader Reid has made it clear that the Senate will strip out these two provisions when it meets at 2pm on Monday.  With the midnight Monday deadline quickly approaching, all sides appear resigned to a shutdown occurring and have turned their attention to positioning for the fallout.

While the political ramifications of a shutdown are unclear – with both sides believing that they will benefit, the practical results were announced late last week as various federal agencies disclosed how they will act starting on Tuesday.  For example on Friday, Treasury announced that a government shutdown would affect some activities, but that “critical functions” would continue. The IRS would have to pull back on some functions, such as fielding taxpayer queries, but other functions like managing the government’s funds, implementing tax policy would continue.  Other offices that are not funded under annual appropriations, such as the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), or the GSE’s, would continue to operate as normal.   The CFTC also released a shutdown plan, which outlined the “vast bulk” of oversight and surveillance responsibilities would be stopped.   Perhaps most troubling for the economy is the fact that the shutdown will also prevent the FHA from processing mortgages, and with nearly 45% of the market using FHA backed mortgages, the fear of a disruption to the real estate market, and thus potentially the economy as a whole.

Although there are options that both sides have to avert, or at least delay the shutdown, it now seems more likely than not, that the time will run out and the government will shut down for the first time since 1996 later this week.

Legislative Branch

Senate

Senate Banking Examines TRIA Extension

On September 25th, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee held a hearing to examine the reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA).  Similar to House hearing on the subject last week, the members of the Senate Banking Committee expressed general support for a reauthorization of the program but acknowledged that there is a need to evaluate and improve the program during an extension. For example, Ranking Member Crapo noted that several changes to the program which have been discussed are modifying the business deductible, changing the aggregate loss threshold, and instituting business co-insurance. Another option considered at the hearing for overhauling TRIA was instituting pre-funding of the government backstop. Lawmakers are also considering whether TRIA’s backstop should be extended to cover chemical, biological, radiological, cyber, and nuclear attacks

Majority of Senators Urge White House to Push for Currency Manipulation Protections in TPP

On September 24th, sixty senators signed onto a letter to the White House requesting the Obama Administration work to negotiate rules against currency manipulation as part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other future trade deals. The letter was led by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) could complicate the Administration’s TPP talks with Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and other countries. The House, led by Representative Sander Levin (D-MI), sent a similar letter to the White House over the summer. Levin, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee has said that “there is no point in negotiating a TPP agreement to eliminate import duties if countries are allowed to effectively re-impose those duties by manipulating their currencies.”

Senate Budget Committee Examines the Economic Effects of Political Uncertainty

As Congress continues to debate a final version of the CR to fund the government and with the debt ceiling deadline fast approaching, the Senate Budget Committee met to hear testimony from three economists on the economic effects of political uncertainty. Witnesses included Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody’s Analytics; Chad Stone, chief economist for the Center of Budget and Policy Priorities; and Allan Meltzer, Professor of Political Economy at Carnegie Mellon University. Witnesses warned that a default would have a large effect on “everyday Americans” as it would become more difficult to get a mortgage, stock prices decline, and unemployment grows.

Senate Banking Subcommittee Explores Economic Conditions in India

On September 25th, the Senate Banking Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance held a hearing to consider investment and market access in India. Witnesses included Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Senior Fellow with the Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics; Mr. Richard Rossow, Director for South Asia with McLarty Associates; and Dr. Reena Aggarwal, Professor of Business Administration and Professor of Finance at Georgetown University. The hearing came ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Obama.

House of Representatives

Lawmakers Question Big Banks on Student Debit Cards

On September 26th, Democratic lawmakers on the Education and Workforce Committee, joined by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), wrote to the CEOs of several large banks requesting they explain their student debit card agreements with colleges.  Copies of the letter were sent to Wells Fargo, US Bancorp, PNC Financial Services Group, SunTrust Banks, Inc., TCF Bank, Citigroup, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, Commerce Bancshares, Inc., and Higher One Holdings, Inc.

CBO Briefs House Committee on Budget Outlook

On September 26th, the House Budget Committee met to hear testimony from Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Doug Elmendorf on the nation’s long-term budget outlook. CBO’s most recent report was released on September 17th and notes that although in the short-term the budget will shrink, deficits are expected to begin to grow again after 2018.

Executive Branch

Federal Reserve

Basel Framework to Be Part of Stress Tests

On September 24th, the Federal Reserve announced two interim final rules clarifying how companies should incorporate Basel III regulatory capital requirements into their capital and business projections submitted as part of stress tests.  The first rule clarifies that during the upcoming stress test cycle, large banks with more than $50 billion in assets will be required to incorporate the Basel framework into their projections. The first interim final rule also directs banks to consider capital adequacy assessed against a minimum 5 percent tier 1 common ratio. The second rule provides a one-year transition period for stress test projections for most banking organizations with between $10 billion and $50 billion in total consolidated assets. The interim final rules are effective immediately but the Fed will accept comments through November 25th.

Banking Regulators Release Joint Guidance About Financial Abuse of Older Adults

On September 24th, regulators released joint guidance to clarify privacy provisions under the Graham-Leach-Bliley Act, saying that it is generally permitted for financial institutions to report suspected elder financial abuse to appropriate authorities. Regulators noted that, as older adults can be attractive targets for financial exploitation, employees of financial institutions that are able to spot irregularities or other signs of financial abuse can help protect against elder financial fraud. The guidance was released by the Federal Reserve, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

SEC

White Lays Out Enforcement, Implementation Priorities

On September 26th, speaking at the Council of Institutional Investors fall conference, Chairwoman Mary Jo White laid out the agency’s enforcement plans. White said that the SEC plans to shift its focus, to bring more cases against individuals who are in violation of securities law and to seek more mandatory compliance measures in settlements to prevent future wrongdoings. Earlier in the week, in a speech before the 2013 Bloomberg Markets 50 Summit, White also addressed enforcement, saying she has sought to make improvements to their operations, including by revising the “neither admit nor deny” policies. White also spoke to other items on the SEC’s regulatory agenda, telling summit participants that regulators have made “lots of progress” on finalizing a joint Volcker Rule and noting that the agency’s “highest immediate priority” is finalizing rulemakings under the Dodd-Frank Act and the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act.

CFTC

CFTC Announces Phase in of Swap Execution Facility (SEF) Rules

On September 27th, the CFTC announced that it would delay enforcement of new rules for Swap Execution Facilities (SEF).  The rules were slated to take effect on October 2nd but the Commission received significant push back from industry stake holders.  For example, on September 23rd the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) wrote to the CFTC requesting the agency delay the rules governing swap execution facilities (SEFs).  In addition, it was clear that within the CFTC, there were some who agreed with the industry’s perspective, as on September 26thCommissioner Scott O’Malia said an extension of the SEF effective date would allow market participants time for a smooth transition and then Commissioner Chilton echoed these comments on September 27th, saying that the Commission should extend the compliance date by two months as soon as possible.   Later that day, the CFTC announced that the delay would extend to October 30th for foreign exchange (fx) swaps, and until December 2nd for commodity and equity swaps.

Agriculture Committee Leadership Ask CFTC to Use Caution Crafting Customer Protections

On September 25th, the leadership of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees wrote to the CFTC urging the agency to use caution when drafting futures consumer protection rules which could have a large impact on the agriculture sector. The CFTC proposed rules in October 2012 following the collapse of ML Global and Peregrine Financial that the agriculture sector has warned could prove costly to customers. Chairman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-MS), and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) advised the CFTC that it should “weigh the benefits of these regulations against both the costs to America’s farmers and ranchers and the potential impact on consolidation in the industry.”

CFPB

Bureau and Jackson, Mississippi Begin 311 Line for Financial Issues

On September 20th, the CFPB and the City of Jackson, Mississippi announced a partnership to connect consumers with the CFPB to answer questions and submit complaints about financial products and services using their local 311 service.  Residents who dial 311 with a financial problem or complaint will be transferred directly to the Bureau where the CFPB will work with consumers on financial problems and handle consumer complaints on credit cards, mortgages, bank accounts or services, private student loans, consumer loans, credit reporting, money transfers, and debt collection.

CFPB Denies Petition to Dismiss Investigation of Tribal Lenders

On September 26th the CFPB denied a petition from three tribal payday lenders requesting that the CFPB end their investigation into whether the companies violated consumer laws. The lenders argued that the Bureau lacked the authority to make civil investigative demands to the companies due to sovereignty of the lenders via their affiliation with Native American tribes. In announcing the Bureau’s decision to proceed with the investigation, Director Cordray said that courts have agreed that “Indian tribes, like individual states, do not enjoy immunity from suits by the federal government.”

FHA

FHA to Draw on Treasury Funds to Cover Shortfall

On September 27th, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced that it will need to draw on $1.7 billion from the Treasury in order to cover shortfalls in the mortgage insurance fund. The shortfall, though expected, was larger than the anticipated $942 million estimate that was included in the President’s FY2014 budget proposal. In a letter to Congress on the announcement, FHA Commissioner Carol Galante said that the “required mandatory appropriation is an accounting transfer and does not reflect an up-to-date view” of the long-term fiscal health of the insurance fund.

NCUA

NCUA Sues Firms Over MBS Credit Union Failures

On September 23rd, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) filed lawsuits against JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Barclays, Credit Suisse, Royal Bank of Scotland, UBS, Ally and Wachovia alleging the firms sold $2.4 billion in faulty mortgage-backed securities to two failed credit unions. Speaking on the suits, NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz said that credit unions the agency supervises are sharing the costs of the losses and “the people who are responsible should be required to shoulder that burden, as well.”

Miscellaneous

CRFP Examines Tax Exempt Status of IRAs

On September 27th, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) released an analysis of the preferential tax treatment of the Individual Retirement Account (IRA). The report notes that IRAs hold less than 25 percent of all the nation’s retirement assets and are used by only 5 percent of workers. The analysis notes numbers from the Joint Committee on Taxation which estimates that the subsidy will cost $15 billion in lost income tax revenue in 2013, or more than $250 billion over 10 years.

Upcoming Hearings

**(Schedule subject to change contingent on status of Federal Government)**

On Monday September 30th, in H-313 of The Capitol, the House Rules Committee will meet to consider a rule for H.R. 992, the Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act, and H.R. 2374, the Retail Investor Protection Act.

On Tuesday October 1st at 10am, in 2128 Rayburn, the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee of House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing on legislative proposals intended to create more accountability and transparency to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

On Tuesday, October 1st at 10am, in 538 Dirksen, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee will hold a hearing titled “Housing Finance Reform: Fundamentals of a Functioning Private Label Mortgage Backed Securities Market.”

On Wednesday, October 2nd at 10am, in 106 Dirksen, the Joint Economic Committee will hold a hearing on the economic outlook.

On Wednesday, October 2nd at 10am, in 2128 Rayburn, the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee of House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing on the status of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

On Wednesday, October 2nd at 2:30pm, in 538 Dirksen, the Economic Policy Subcommittee of Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on rebuilding American manufacturing.

On Wednesday, October 9th at 2pm, in 2128 Rayburn, the Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee of House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing on legislation that would attempt to reduce impediments to capital formation.

On Thursday, October 10th at 10am, in 2128 Rayburn, the Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee of House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing to examine international central banking models.

On Thursday, October 10th at 2pm, in 2128 Rayburn, the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee of House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing on un-banked and under-banked areas in the United States.

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Former Head of Investor Relations Penalized by SEC for Selectively Disclosing Material Nonpublic Information, While Self-Disclosing Company Escapes Charges

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The selective and early disclosure of material non-public information resulted in a Securities and Exchange Commission cease and desist order and civil penalties against the former head of investor relations at First Solar, Inc. (First Solar or the Company), an Arizona-based solar energy company. The SEC determined that Lawrence D. Polizzotto violated Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Regulation FD by informing certain analysts and investors ahead of the market that First Solar would likely not receive an important and much anticipated loan guarantee commitment of nearly $2 billion from the US Department of Energy (DOE). The day after those disclosures, the Company publicly disclosed this information in a press release, causing its stock price to dip six percent.

On September 13, 2011, First Solar’s then-CEO publicly expressed confidence at an investor conference that the Company would receive three loan guarantees of close to $4.5 billion, which the DOE previously committed to granting upon satisfaction of certain conditions. Polizzotto and several other First Solar executives learned a couple of days later that the Company would not receive the largest of the three guarantees. An in-house lawyer expressly advised a group of First Solar employees, including Polizzotto, that they could not answer questions from analysts and investors until the Company both received official notice from the DOE and issued a press release or posted an update on the guarantee to its website. According to the SEC, notwithstanding this instruction, Polizzotto and a subordinate, acting at Polizzotto’s direction, had one-on-one phone conversations with approximately 30 sell-side analysts and institutional investors prior to First Solar’s public disclosure. In the conversations, they conveyed the low probability that First Solar would receive one of the three guarantees. In some instances, Polizzotto went further and said that a conservative investor should assume that the guarantee would not be granted.

Polizzotto agreed to pay $50,000 to settle the charges without admitting or denying any of the SEC’s findings. He, however, was not subject to even a temporary industry bar. The SEC did not bring an enforcement action against First Solar due to the Company’s cooperation with the investigation, as well as its self-disclosure to the SEC promptly after discovering Polizzotto’s selective disclosure. In addition, the SEC emphasized the strong “environment of compliance” at the Company, including the “use of a disclosure committee that focused on compliance with Regulation FD” and the fact that the Company took remedial measures to address improper conduct, including conducting additional compliance training.

In the Matter of Lawrence D. Polizzotto, File No. 3-15458 (Sept. 6, 2013).

Could Your Business Qualify for a 179D Green Building Tax Break?

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If your company has built a new facility or upgraded an existing one anytime in the past six years, you might find that you qualify — at least partially — for a tax break of up to $1.80 per square foot under federal tax code section 179D, or the energy efficient commercial buildings deduction. This could be the case even if you had no concrete intention to focus on green building standards at the time.

A couple of great features of this deduction are, first, that you might be able to substantially mitigate your tax burden  as far back as six years and, second, it’s very likely that you will qualify if your facility exceeds 50,000 square feet and it meets current state building codes, according to a business tax writer for Forbes, who spent eight years as the U.S. Senate Finance Committee’s tax counsel.

The 179D tax deduction gives the business an immediate deduction in the current year plus a basis reduction for the value of the facility, which can be anything from a warehouses or parking garage to an office park or a multi-family housing unit. For private-sector projects, the building owner, assuming it paid for the construction or improvements, generally gets the deduction. In public projects, the architect, engineer or contractor can obtain it by seeking a certification letter from the government unit. Nonprofits and native American tribes are not eligible.

The green building deduction was created in recognition of the fact that around 70 percent of all electricity used in the U.S. is consumed by commercial buildings. The deduction, which is up for renewal — and possible expansion — this year, has already proven that efforts to mitigate the tax burden of businesses in a technology-neutral way is an effective way to encourage energy efficiency, according to the Forbes writer.

What improvements must be made to qualify for the green building credit? Currently, the new or renovated building merely needs to exceed the 2001 energy efficiency standards developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, or ASHRAE — and most state building codes already require this. That means the vast majority of new and improved buildings already meet this requirement.

It’s also possible to partially qualify for the deduction by meeting the standards only for the building envelope itself, which includes HVAC, the hot water system, and the interior lighting system. A building could qualify based upon only one of these systems, or all three.

Source: Forbes, “179D Tax Break for Energy Efficient Buildings — Update,” Dean Zerbe, Aug. 19, 2013

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Resale Price Maintenance in China: Enforcement Authorities Imposing Large Fines for Anti-Monopoly Law Violations

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Recently Shanghai High People’s Court reached a decision in the first lawsuit involving resale price maintenance (RPM) since China’s Anti-Monopoly Law (AML) came into effect five years ago.  Shortly thereafter, a key enforcement agency announced RPM-related fines against six milk powder companies, five of which are non-Chinese.  Both cases clearly show that RPM can be a violation of the AML, and that RPM is currently under much greater scrutiny by enforcement authorities.  It would be prudent for all foreign corporations active in China’s consumer markets to take heed of these changes in China and conduct an immediate review of any potential RPM violations.

On 1 August 2013 the Shanghai High People’s Court reached a decision in the first anti-monopoly lawsuit involving resale price maintenance (RPM) since China’s Anti-Monopoly Law (AML) came into effect in August 2008.  In addition to this judicial decision, on 7 August 2013 one of the key agencies in charge of enforcing the AML, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), announced RPM-related fines of USD 109 million against six milk powder companies, five of which are non-Chinese.  Both the High People’s Court and the NDRC have been striving to clarify how they will treat RPM, and specifically have focused on the issue of whether RPM should be treated as a per se violation or should be evaluated according to a “rule of reason” analysis.

Judicial Decisions in Civil Lawsuits

According to the recent decision by the Shanghai High People’s Court, in order to hold that an RPM provision is a monopoly agreement, the court must find that the RPM provision has restricted or eliminated competition.  Furthermore, the burden of proof will be on the plaintiff to show a restriction or elimination of competition arising out of the RPM.  The High People’s Court explicitly stated that this burden is the opposite from the burden of proof for horizontal monopolies, such as a cartel, in which case the burden of proof falls on the defendant to show that the agreement does not have any effect of eliminating or restricting competition.  This burden for horizontal monopolies has been further examined and confirmed by the “Judicial Interpretation of Anti-Monopoly Disputes” that was issued by China’s Supreme People’s Court on 1 June 2012.

Administrative Decisions in Enforcement Actions—Liquor and Infant Milk Formula

There have been several key RPM enforcement actions in 2013.  In February, the NDRC imposed a fine of USD 80 million on the famous Chinese liquor brands Maotai and Wuliangye for requiring distributors to resell the products above a certain price, which is common in some sectors in China.  On 2 July, according to the Price Supervision and Anti-Monopoly Bureau of the NDRC, six milk powder companies came under investigation for RPM violations of the AML.  According to the NDRC’s statements on the case, “from the evidence obtained, the milk powder companies under investigation instituted price controls over distributors and retailers, which excluded and limited market competition and therefore are alleged to have violated the Anti-Monopoly Law”.  The NDRC later announced record fines in that case of USD 109 million, which were the equivalent of between 3 per cent and 6 per cent of the companies’ revenue in 2012.

According to media reports, in the Maotai and Wuliangye cases, the NDRC provided clear indications about some of the factors that it will consider when determining whether the RPM has “eliminated or restricted competition”.   Specifically, when assessing the relevant market and market power of the two companies, the NDRC analysed the market structure and the role played by the two companies in the liquor industry, as well as the degree to which the products are substitutable with similar products and the loyalty of consumers towards the two liquors.  Based on this analysis, the NDRC concluded that the RPM provisions in the agreements with distributors of the two liquor giants eliminated and restricted competition, and thus were vertical “monopoly agreements”.

According to recent media reports, the NDRC has indicated it will “severely crack down” on and sanction vertical monopoly agreements such as RPM if they are maintained by business operators dominant in the market.  If business operators are not dominant, the NDRC reportedly indicated that it would still investigate all vertical monopoly conduct and determine if there has been any elimination or restriction of competition.

Conclusions

These civil lawsuits and administrative cases clearly show that RPM can be a violation of the AML and that RPM is currently under much greater scrutiny by enforcement authorities.  If RPM is an issue in civil lawsuits, a plaintiff will have to prove that RPM eliminates or restricts competition.  However, there are some indications that this burden of proof may be easily met.  In administrative cases, the NDRC will have to be satisfied that it has sufficient proof to show there is an elimination or restriction of competition.  However, it is unclear what level of evidence would be required to show such a restriction and it may not be a very high level, especially if the accused business operator is dominant in the market.

RPM has been a common feature of distribution agreements and other contracts in many sectors in China.  However, the recent cases clearly show there is a serious compliance risk if RPM continues to be part of a corporation’s normal practices.  This is particularly true for business operators that have a dominant market position or a group of business operators that are regarded as jointly dominant under the AML (in China, in certain circumstances, dominance is presumed with a market share as low as 10 per cent).  Unless the RPM conduct clearly falls within an exception in Article 15 of the AML, a company using RPM may face serious fines and confiscation of illegal gains.  It would be prudent for all foreign corporations active in China’s consumer markets to take heed of these changes to the enforcement priorities of the competition/antitrust authorities in China and conduct an immediate review of any potential RPM violations.

Alex An and Jared Nelson also contributed to this article.

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Starting an Online Business: Licensing Requirements

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Individuals interested in starting an online business are often confused or uninformed as to the licensing requirements for such businesses.  In many ways, an online business is like any “brick and mortar” store and the owner will probably be required to obtain certain licenses or permits to operate.

Federal Requirements

Business Licenses.  Most businesses do not require a federal business license or permit.  However, a business engaged in one of the following activities should contact the responsible federal agency to determine the requirements for doing business:  Investment Advising, Drug Manufacturing, Preparation of Meat Products, Broadcasting, Ground Transportation, Selling Alcohol, Tobacco, or Firearms.

Tax Identification Number.  A federal tax identification number, also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a federal identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service to identify a business entity.  Nearly all businesses are required to have a tax identification number.

If a business is operated as a sole proprietorship, the owner may use his or her social security number in place of an EIN on all governmental forms and other official documents.  However, most small business advisors recommend using a federal tax identification number instead.

To obtain a federal tax identification number, a business owner should contact the nearest Local IRS Field Office or call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Hotline at 800-829-4933.  The necessary form, IRS Form SS-4, can be downloaded directly from the Small Business Administration website.

State Requirements

Many states and local jurisdictions require a person to obtain a business license or permit before beginning business operations.  A business that operates without the required license or permit may be subjected to fines or may be barred from further business activity.  In some localities, a business operating out of a residence may require an additional permit.

While business licensing requirements vary from state-to-state, the most common types include:

·    Basic Business Operation License – a legal document issued by a local governmental authority that authorizes a person to conduct business within the boundaries of the municipality.  Many states have established small business assistance agencies to help small businesses comply with state requirements;

  • Fictitious Name Certificate – a document, usually filed with a state agency, which is required to operate a business using an assumed name or trade name (essentially, any name other than the full, formal name of the individual or company);
  • Home Occupation Permit – a permit which may be required to conduct business from a residence;
  • Tax Registration – if the state has a state income tax, a business owner must usually register and obtain an employer identification number from the state Department of Revenue or Treasury Department.  If the business engages in retail sales, the owner must usually obtain a sales tax license;
  • Special State-Issued Business Licenses or Permits – these permits may be required for a business that sell highly-regulated products like firearms, gasoline, liquor, or lottery tickets;
  • Zoning and Land Use Permits – may be required to develop a site or property for specific purposes
  • Employer Registrations – if the business has employees, the owner must usually make unemployment insurance contributions;

Additional state licenses may be required for regulated occupations such as building contractors, physicians, appraisers, accountants, barbers, real estate agents, auctioneers, private investigators, private security guards, funeral directors, bill collectors, and cosmetologists.

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New Requirements for Illinois Businesses under Concealed Carry Act

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Illinois employers may be surprised to learn what action items may be necessary for their businesses following enactment of Illinois’ new Concealed Carry Act.

Facing a deadline imposed by the Seventh Circuit’s 2012 ruling that the state’s concealed carry ban was unconstitutional, on July 9 the Illinois state legislature overrode Governor Quinn’s amendatory veto to enact Public Act 98-0063, which includes the new Firearm Concealed Carry Act (“Act”) and related laws and amendatory legislation. The Act makes Illinois the 50th state to enact legislation allowing concealed carry, and permits Illinois residents and non-residents who meet specified qualifications to apply for a license to carry a “concealed firearm” — defined as a concealed loaded or unloaded handgun carried on or about a person or within a vehicle — in the state. Among other provisions, the Act specifies qualifications, procedures and content of applications for licenses and areas where those holding licenses will be prohibited from carrying firearms. Individuals cannot apply for a concealed carry license in Illinois until the Department of State Police issues the applications (the Department has up to 180 days to do so).

Required Postings for “Prohibited Areas”

The Act prohibits authorized licensees from carrying a firearm into “prohibited areas” and further mandates clear notices at entrances of such venues that firearms are prohibited. (Required signage and accompanying rules will be issued by the Department of State Police and are not yet available.) Among others, the following are types of establishments subject to these requirements that must post clear notices prohibiting the carrying of firearms:

  • Areas controlled by public or private hospitals or their affiliates, mental health facilities, nursing homes, public or private elementary or secondary schools, pre-schools, and child care facilities.
  • Areas under the control of an establishment serving alcohol on its premises, if more than 50% of the establishment’s gross receipts within the prior 3 months is from the sale of alcohol. (The Act further provides that owners of such establishments who fail to prohibit concealed firearms are subject to penalties up to $5000.)
  • Buildings, classrooms, laboratories, clinics, hospitals, artistic, athletic or entertainment venues and other areas under the control of a public or private community college, college, or university.
  • Events authorized by Special Event Retailer’s license during the time alcohol will be sold.
  • Areas under the control of a gaming facility licensed under the Riverboat Gambling Act or the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975.
  • Public gatherings or special events conducted on property open to the public that requires the issuance of a government permit.
  • Any stadium, arena, or the property or areas under the control of a stadium, arena, or any collegiate or professional sporting event.
  • Areas under the control of a museum, amusement park, zoo, or airport.
  • Any areas owned, leased, controlled or used by a nuclear energy storage, weapons, or development site.
  • Buses, trains, or other forms of transportation paid in whole or in part with public funds, and any areas controlled by a public transportation facility.
  • Areas where firearms are prohibited under federal law.

Prohibition by Other Owners Desiring to Maintain Gun-Free Facilities

Employers and other property owners can still prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms on property under their control that is not among the enumerated “prohibited areas” provided they post the state-approved sign indicating that firearms are prohibited. (Owners of private residences desiring to prohibit firearms need not post the sign.) Because this provision of the Act applies to owners of “private real property” however, it raises questions for businesses operating on leased premises who desire to ban firearms. At a minimum, such businesses should ensure that their landlord’s concealed carry policy is consistent with their own.

Special Provisions for Parking Areas

Note that while the carrying of concealed firearms may be prohibited in buildings, facilities and properties — including parking areas — authorized licensees can still drive with concealed firearms into the parking areas, and can store the firearms and ammunition in a case in their locked vehicle or in a locked container out of plain view. Thus while licensed employees and visitors may be prohibited from bringing a firearm into a business or venue, they cannot be prohibited from keeping the firearm in their car. Employers must be sure that any policies or procedures governing handguns in the workplace do not infringe on the rights of employees to keep authorized handguns locked in their cars, even if in employer-owned parking lots.

An Evolving Area of Law

This area of the law continues to evolve. On July 16, Chicago’s City Council unanimously voted to strengthen the City’s assault weapons ban with measures that prohibit more weapons, add stricter penalties for violations, and outline student safety zones in order to meet a 10-day deadline imposed by companion amendments within Public Act 98-0063.

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Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Settles with HTC America Over Charges it Failed to Secure Smartphone Software

RaymondBannerMED

Smartphone manufacturer HTC agreed in February to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that the company failed to take reasonable steps to secure software it developed for its mobile devices including smartphones and tablet computers. In its complaint, the FTC charged HTC with violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act.  On July 2 the FTC approved a final order settling these charges.

trade FTC smartphone HTC

The FTC alleged HTC failed to employ reasonable security measures in its software which led to the potential exposure of consumer’s sensitive information. Specifically, the FTC alleged HTC failed to implement adequate privacy and security guidance or training for engineering staff, failed to follow well-known and commonly accepted secure programming practices which would have ensured that applications only had access to users’ information with their consent. Further, the FTC alleged the security flaws exposed consumers to malware which could steal their personal information stored on the device, the user’s geolocation information and the contents of the user’s text messages.

HTC is a manufacturer of smartphones but it also installs its own proprietary software on each device. It is this software that the FTC targeted. While HTC smartphones run Google’s Android operating system, the HTC software allegedly introduced significant vulnerabilities which circumvented some of Android’s security measures.

As part of the settlement consent order, HTC agreed to issue security patches to eliminate the vulnerabilities. HTC also agreed to establish a comprehensive security program to address the security risks identified by the FTC and to protect the security and confidentiality of consumer information stored on or transmitted through a HTC device. HTC further agreed to hire a third party to evaluate its data and privacy security program and to issue reports every two years for the consent order’s 20 year term. The implication of the FTC’s policy makes it clear that companies must affirmatively address both privacy and data security issues in their custom applications and software for consumer use.

Financial Services Legislative and Regulatory Update – July 15, 2013

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Leading the Past Week

Although there were several hearings and major implementations of Dodd-Frank rules, the leading story from the past week had to be Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) filing cloture on seven Administration nominees, including Richard Cordray to continue as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).  This is the start of a process that could end up with Leader Reid going for the “nuclear option” of changing the Senate rules dealing with the filibuster of certain nominations.  Based on some reports, it appears that Reid has the votes and that Cordray may be the sticking point in the negotiations.  Interestingly,  late last week Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) and the eleven other Democratic Members of the Banking Committee, wrote Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to end the Republican filibuster of Cordray’s nomination, requesting “an up-or-down vote on the nominee’s merits.”

While it remains to be seen how the filibuster cold war will resolve itself, last week the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) announced that the government achieved a surplus of $116.5 billion in June, the largest in five years.  This surplus, due in part to $66.3 billion in dividend payments from the GSEs, only solidified that this fall will see yet another convergence of a debt ceiling / government funding fight as both the debt limit and end of the federal fiscal year appear to be aligned to come due at the same time.  

We also saw several important steps forward in the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act, including a proposed leverage ratio rule, approval of a final rule implementing capital requirements in excess of those required by Basel III, the designation of two nonbanks as SIFIs, and the long awaited announcement of the Commodity and Futures Trade Commission’s (CFTC) cross-border derivatives rulemaking.

Legislative Branch

Senate

Senate Banking Hearing Discusses Dodd-Frank Progress, Risk Mitigation

On July 11th, the Senate Banking Committee met to discuss Dodd-Frank implementation progress and whether financial reforms have succeeded in mitigating systematic risk from large financial institutions.  Witnesses included Treasury Under Secretary for Domestic Finance Mary Miller, Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo, Federal Deposit Insurance Commission (FDIC) Chairman Martin Gruenberg, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) head Thomas Curry.  In their testimony, regulators said that they expect almost all remaining Dodd-Frank rules, including capital surcharges for systematically important banks, the Volcker Rule, and liquidity rules to be finalized by the end of the year.  Regulators also expressed confidence that the recently finalized Basel III rules, when combined with proposed stricter leverage requirements, will be an effective means of ensuring that banks carry enough capital.  Notwithstanding the assertion of the regulators that the implementation of Dodd-Frank was nearing a close, Ranking Member Crapo remarked in his opening statement that there is a growing bipartisan consensus that some parts of Dodd-Frank need to be reformed.  In particular, he mentioned the burden of regulations on community banks, short-term wholesale funding, debt to equity ratios for large banks, and the perceived continuation of “too big to fail” as areas that require address.   

Democratic Senators Request CFPB, DOL Look Into Prepaid Payroll Cards

Following a front page story in the New York Times, on July 11th, sixteen Senate Democrats wrote to the CFPB and Department of Labor (DOL) requesting that the agencies investigate fees and practices associated with pre-paid payroll cards.  The letter was particularly strong, including the assertion “that mandating the use of a particular payroll card, with no available alternative, seems clearly to violate federal law,” the lawmakers requested that CFPB Director Cordray clarify whether employers provide sufficient alternatives for payment. The letter was signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL),  Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Robert Casey (D-PA), Jeffrey Merkley (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Al Franken (D-MN).  It is unclear whether this letter will spur the CFPB to re-engage on its broader general purpose reloadable card ANPRM that is still pending with the agency.

Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce the 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act

On July 11th, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), John McCain (R-AZ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Angus King (I-ME) introduced legislation that would reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act by separating FDIC insured depository divisions from riskier banking activities such as investment banking, insurance, swaps dealing, and hedge fund and private equity activities.  By curbing those activities at federally insured institutions, the bill aims to eliminate the concept of “too big to fail” by making institutions smaller and thus decreasing the need, either real or perceived for a government bailout if the institution were to fail.

Senate Banking Leaders to Introduce FHA Reform Bill

Last week, Senate Banking Committee Chairman and Ranking Member Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) announced they will introduce legislation this week to provide the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) with additional authority, including the ability to charge higher premiums, to “get back on stable footing.” The FHA currently has a $943 million short fall in its insurance fund and a Treasury bailout is expected without additional Congressional action. The House has already passed a measure this year which would allow the agency to make changes to the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program.

House of Representatives

House Approves FSOC, PCAOB Bills

On July 8th, the House passed two bills, the first to require the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) to study the effects of derivatives-related capital exemptions, and the second to bar the Public Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) from requiring public companies to regularly change auditors. The Financial Competitive Act of 2013 (H.R. 1341) passed the House by a 353 to 24 vote and directs the FSOC to study and report to Congress on an exemption for EU banks from the credit valuation adjustment (CVA) capital charge which was part of the Basel III agreements. The Audit Integrity and Job Protection Act (H.R. 1564) passed the House by a 321 to 62 vote and would do away with mandatory audit-form rotations currently required by the agency. Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee Maxine Waters (D-CA) expressed concern that the bill would result in “diminished information” and increased costs. The legislation also directs the Government Accountability Office to update a 2003 study on the Potential Effects of Mandatory Audit Firm Rotation.

House Republicans Unveil Housing Finance Reform Legislation

On July 11th, Chairman of the Financial Services Committee Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), unveiled the Protecting American Taxpayers and Homeowners (PATH) Act which would reform the US housing finance system by phasing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and moving to a largely private system. The legislation would continue to wind down the GSEs’ portfolios while establishing new rules for private covered bonds and mortgage bonds. The legislation would also reign in the FHA and its ability to insure loans for only low income borrowers, reducing how much of a loan the FHA can insure. Notably, the proposal would also repeal the Dodd-Frank Act’s risk-retention rule and place a two year hold on Basel III capital rules. Also worth noting is that despite earlier hopes that Hensarling and Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) might be able to find some common ground housing reform, Ms. Waters said she was “strongly disappointed” by Hensarling’s proposal.  The Committee would hold a hearing on July 18th to examine the legislation.

House Financial Services Subcommittee Grills CFPB Over Data Collection

On July 9th, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing to examine how the CFPB collects and uses consumer data and personal information. CFPB Acting Deputy Director Steven Antonakes received heavy criticism from Committee Republicans for being unable to provide exact numbers on how many Americans the Bureau has collected information.  Republican lawmakers also criticized many of the data collection practices of the agency, citing concerns that the collection infringes on citizens’ right to privacy and attempting to draw analogies to the current NSA and IRS scandals.  Still, Antonakes and to some extent, Committee Democrats insisted that the CFPB is a data-driven agency, that the data being collected is, except when the result of a consumer contact, anonymized and that the CFPB takes very seriously its obligation to protect its data as it is vital to the Bureau’s work.                                                   

 

House Financial Services Subcommittee Explores Constitutionality of Dodd-Frank

On July 9th, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing to consider potential legal uncertainties in the Dodd-Frank Act.  The hearing featured testimony from three constitutional scholars, each of whom expressed concern that certain provisions of the law may be unconstitutional.  Professor Thomas Merrill, of Columbia Law School, argued that there are large constitutional concerns surrounding the orderly liquidation provision and the government’s power to seize control of an institution.  While the provision is likely legal, he said, it would undoubtedly be litigated the first time it is invoked. In addition, Boyden Gray, testified that Dodd-Frank violates separation of power by giving too much power to regulators, while Timothy McTaggart, a partner at Pepper Hamilton LLP, argued that Dodd-Frank ultimately does not violate separation of powers or the due process clause. 

House Financial Services Subcommittee Explores Small Business Capital Formation

On July 10th, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises held the second in a series of hearings exploring existing barriers to capital formation.  In his opening statement, Chairman Scott Garrett (R-NJ) made it clear that the sponsors of last year’s JOBS Act are not satisfied with the bill’s implementation and are looking for new ideas to help small businesses build capital.  Additional proposals could include increasing tick sizes, creating special exchanges for the stock of small companies, and changing filing rules for small business financial statements. Witnesses expressed additional concerns; Kenneth Moch, CEO of Chimerix, noting the cost of compliance with internal controls associated with Sarbanes-Oxley, and Christopher Nagy, President of Kor Trading, calling for patent litigation reform.

House Appropriations Subcommittee Marks Up FY 2014 Financial Services Spending Bill

On July 10th, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government met to consider the $17 billion FY2014 Financial Services and General Government spending bill, approving the legislation by voice vote. The bill funds a variety of agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and others. The legislation boosts the SEC’s budget by $50 million to $1.4 billion, a figure that is still over $300 million dollars short of the President’s budget request.  In addition, the bill would bring the CFPB into the normal appropriations process beginning in 2015, something which Republicans have sought to do since the standing up of the Bureau. Despite serving as one of the main sticking points against Director Cordray’s confirmation, the bid to move the Bureau’s funding out from the control of the Federal Reserve is unlikely to be successful.

Executive Branch

CFTC

CFTC Finalizes Cross-Border Derivatives Rule, Including Effective Date Delay

Following several weeks of rampant speculation over the fate of the CFTC’s proposal to regulate cross-border swaps trades, the CFTC voted 3 to 1 on July 12th phase in guidance governing how U.S. derivatives laws apply to foreign banks. The CFTC also approved an “exemptive order” extending the effective date for the new requirements to 75 days after the guidance is published in the Federal Register. In addition, by December 21st, the Commission hopes to approve additional “substituted compliance” requests that will enable market participants to meet the requirements put out by other countries, including the EU, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, and Switzerland.

The CFTC’s vote follows the news that the Commission reached an agreement with EU regulators on how the two regulatory zones would oversee cross-border derivatives deals. The agreement will allow uncleared transactions that are deemed to fall under certain “essentially identical” US and EU rules to be governed by just the EU. In addition, the agreement allows US market participants to directly trade on a foreign board of trade and addresses US fears over loopholes for firms engaged in high-risk overseas operations, among other things. The CFTC also released four “no-action letters” on July 11thwhich implement the agreement with the EU.

Federal Reserve

Federal Reserve Releases Minutes of June FOMC Meeting

On July 10th, the Fed released the minutes of the June 18th and 19th meeting of the Federal Open Markets Committee. Following market disruptions after Chairman Bernanke’s statements after the June meeting, the FOMC minutes shed light on how the Fed plans to proceed in winding down its quantitative easing program by stressing that continuation of the monthly billion dollar asset purchases will largely depend on continued economic growth. Regardless of the exact timing, it appears a tapering of the highly accommodative monetary policy will occur in the near- to mid-term, as the minutes state: “several members judged that a reduction in asset purchases would likely soon be warranted, in light of the cumulative decline in unemployment since the September meeting and ongoing increases in private payrolls, which had increased their confidence in the outlook for sustained improvement in labor market conditions.”

Regulators Propose Exempting Certain Mortgages from Appraisal Requirements

On June 10th, six regulatory agencies issued a proposed rule exempting certain subsets of high-priced mortgages from Dodd-Frank appraisal requirements.  The exempted mortgages include loans of $25,000 or less, certain “streamlined” refinancings, and some loans for manufactured homes. The new rule is meant to lower cost hurdles for borrowers and improve mortgage lending practices.  The proposal was released jointly by the Fed, CFPB, FDIC, OCC, Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA), and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

FDIC

Regulators Propose Leverage Ration Rule; Finalize Rule Implementing Basel III Agreement

On July 9th, the Fed, FDIC, and OCC released a new proposal which would require federally insured banks with more than $700 billion in assets to meet a 6 percent leverage ratio, double the 3 percent ratio agreed to under the Basel III. The proposed rule would currently capture eight US banks, including: JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Bank of New York Mellon, State Street, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and Morgan Stanley. The holding companies of these institutions would be required to meet a 5 percent leverage threshold, the Basel III 3 percent minimum plus a 2 percent buffer. The same day the FDIC and OCC finalized an interim final rule to implement the Basel III international bank capital agreement, which the Federal Reserve adopted unanimously the previous week.

Treasury

FSOC Releases Final AIG, GE SIFI Designations

On July 9th, the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) voted to designate American International Group (AIG) and GE Capital as the first two nonbank financial companies required to meet additional regulatory and supervisory requirements associated with being systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs). As such, these companies will be subject to supervision by the Fed’s Board of Governors and to enhanced prudential standards. In deciding to designate these two nonbanks, the FSOC noted AIG’s “size and interconnectedness” and GE’s role as a “significant participant in the global economy and financial markets.” Remarking on the designations, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said that they will help “protect the financial system and broader economy” and that the Council will “continue to review additional companies in the designations process.”

CFPB

Bureau Updates 2013 Rulemaking Schedule

On July 8th, the OIRA released an updated list of rulemakings and their status at the CFPB.  The list included a variety of items, at different stages of the rulemaking process. 

CFPB Warns it Will Closely Scrutinize Debt Collection

On July 0th, the CFPB announced that it will be heavily examining the practices used to collect debt from borrowers.  The CFBP also said that it will be looking into the activities of both third-party collection agencies, which are subject to regulations under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), in addition to lenders trying to collect directly from borrowers who are not covered by FDCPA. As part of this effort, the Bureau has published two bulletins outlining illegal and deceptive debt collection practices. The first bulletin outlines that any creditor subject to CFPB supervision can be held accountable for any unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices in collecting a consumer’s debts. The first bulletin also warns against threatening actions, falsely representing the debt, and failing to post payments. The second bulletin cautions companies about statements they make about how paying a debt will affect a consumer’s credit score, credit report, or creditworthiness. As part of this crackdown, the CFPB will also begin accepting debt collection complaints from consumers.

SEC

Commission Finalizes JOBS Act General Solicitation Rule

On July 10th, the SEC adopted in a 4 to 1 vote a final rule to lift the ban on general solicitation and general advertising for certain private securities offerings. Commissioner Luis Aguilar was the sole no vote, saying that the rule puts investors at risk. In remarks delivered the same day, Aguilar said that the rule does not contain sufficient investor protections as is, and it is not enough to rely on “speculative future actions to implement common sense improvements” to ensure investor safety. In conjunction with this vote, the agency proposed for comment a separate rule which will increase the amount of disclosures which issuers must provide on public offerings, such as providing the SEC with 15 days advance notice of the sale of unregistered securities, and provide for other new safeguards.  Commissioners Dan Gallagher and Troy Paredes both opposed the new disclosure requirements, citing concerns that they would “undermine the JOBS Act goal of spurring our economy and job creation.” The SEC also approved in a 5 to zero vote a rule which would prohibit felons and other “bad actors” from participating in offerings.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had strong opinions about the final general solicitation rule. Democratic lawmakers, though somewhat assuaged by the additional disclosure safeguards, echoed Commissioner Aguilar’s sentiments regarding investor safety. In particular, Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) said in a statement that he was disappointed in Chairman Mary Jo White for advancing a rule with too few investor protections.  On the other hand, Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) accused the SEC of flaunting Congressional intent by moving forward with the additional filing and disclosure requirements, saying the requirements will “unjustifiably burden American entrepreneurs” and “neutralize congressional intent.”

SEC Delays Rules on Retail Forex Transactions

On June 11th, the SEC agreed to delay rulemaking on restrictions to retail foreign exchange (forex) trading by up to three years.  The SEC said that it would use the additional time to assess the market for off-exchange foreign currency contracts and determine if more targeted regulations are necessary.  While the vote for the extension was private, Commissioner Aguilar publically criticized the delay, saying that the transactions, while profitable, pose unnecessary risks to small investors in the economy.   

OCC

Martin Pfinsgraff to be OCC Senior Deputy Comptroller for Large-Bank Supervision

On July 11th, US Comptroller of the Currency Thomas Curry named Martin Pfinsgraff Senior Deputy Comptroller for Large-Bank Supervision.  Pfinsgraff has filled the role on an acting basis since January 30th, and has worked in the OCC since 2011.  Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer for iJet International, a risk management company, and Treasurer for Prudential Insurance.  In this position, he will continue to supervise 19 of the nation’s biggest banks with over $8 trillion in combined assets.  

International

Basel Committee Considering Simplified Capital Regime

On July 8th, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision released a paper positing alternative proposals to reform the international capital regime in ways which would simpler and easier to compare global capital levels. Specifically, the Committee proposed reforms such as enhanced disclosures, additional metrics, strategies to ensure effective leverage ratios, and reigning in national discretion as potential options for simplifying the framework. The paper reiterated that risk-based procedures will remain at the heart of the Basel capital framework but these will be complemented by liquidity and leverage ratio metrics.

Upcoming Hearings

  • On Tuesday, July 16th at 10am, in 538 Dirksen, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee will meet in executive session to vote on pending nominations. Immediately following votes on nominees, the Committee will hold a hearing titled “Oversight of the Defense Production Act: Issues and Opportunities for Reauthorization.”
  • On Wednesday, July 17th at 10am, in 538 Dirksen, the Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection Subcommittee of Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the consumer debt industry.
  • On Wednesday, July 17th at 10am, in 2128 Rayburn, the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing to receive the Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report to Congress.
  • On Wednesday, July 17th at 2:30pm, in 216 Hart, the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee will hold a hearing on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Reauthorization.
  • On Thursday, July 18th at 10:30am, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the Federal Reserve’s Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress.
  • On Thursday, July 18th at 1pm, in 2154 Rayburn, the Economic Growth, Job Creation and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing titled “Regulatory Burdens: The Impact of Dodd-Frank on Community Banking.”
  • On Thursday, July 18th at 1pm in 2128 Rayburn, the House Financial Services Committee will holding a hearing titled “A Legislative Proposal to Protect Americas Taxpayers and Homeowners by Creating a Sustainable Housing Finance System.”
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Insurer Enters Into $1.7 Million Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Settlement

vonBriesen

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced yesterday that it has entered into a resolution agreement with a national managed care organization and health insurance company (hereinafter “Company”) to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

Investigation and Resolution Agreement

The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) conducted an investigation after receiving the Company’s breach report, a requirement for breaches of unsecured protected health information (PHI) pursuant to the Health Information Technology for Economic Clinical Health Act (HITECH) Breach Notification Rule.

The investigation indicated that the Company had not implemented appropriate administrative and technical safeguards required by the Security Rule; and as a result, security weaknesses in an online application database left electronic PHI (ePHI) of 612,042 individuals unsecured and accessible to unauthorized individuals over the internet. PHI at issue included names, dates of birth, addresses, social security numbers, telephone numbers, and health information. Specifically, with regard to ePHI maintained in its web-based application database, the Company did not:

  1. Adequately implement policies and procedures for authorizing access to ePHI;
  2. Perform an adequate technical evaluation in response to a software upgrade affecting the security of ePHI; or
  3. Adequately implement technology to verify the identity of the person/entity seeking access to ePHI.

HHS and the Company entered into a resolution agreement, and the Company agreed to pay a $1.7 million settlement.  Notably, the resolution agreement did not include a corrective action plan for the Company.

Stepped up Enforcement

Beginning with the September 23, 2013 Omnibus Rule compliance date, HHS will have direct enforcement authority over business associates and subcontractors.  The settlement is an indication that HHS will not hesitate to extend enforcement actions to business associates and subcontractors.

The settlement is also a reminder of HHS expectations regarding compliance with HIPAA and HITECH standards.  HHS noted “whether systems upgrades are conducted by covered entities or their business associates, HHS expects organizations to have in place reasonable and appropriate technical, administrative and physical safeguards to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of electronic protected health information – especially information that is accessible over the Internet.”

More information regarding the Omnibus Rule and its expanded liability is available here.

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