The SEC Division of Corporation Finance granted an exemption from Exchange Act Rule 14e-1(a) ("Unlawful Tender Offer Practices") to Indian Energy Exchange Limited, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of India. The relief permits the company to keep its tender offer open for only a "10-working day" period, in accordance with Indian law.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB") requested information on the financing of residential Property Assessed Clean Energy ("PACE"). PACE financing is defined by the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act ("EGRRCPA") as "financing to cover the costs of home improvements that results in a tax assessment on the real property of the consumer." In an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ("ANPR"), the CFPB said the information solicited will allow the CFPB to better understand the PACE financing market. CFPB stated it will be seeking to adopt new rules under

In a Report to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Government Accountability Office ("GAO") recommended that Congress pursue comprehensive federal legislation on cybersecurity and data privacy. It is the GAO's latest call for a national strategy to protect consumers. A similar approach - the General Data Protection Regulation - was adopted by the European Union and went live last year. The GAO explained that the United States lacks a comprehensive internet privacy law governing the "collection, use and sale or other disclosure of consumers' personal information," relying instead on

CFTC Commissioner Dawn Stump proposed various measures for the CFTC to improve CFTC data protection. Ms. Stump stated that her aim is to ensure that the CFTC (i) collects only data required for its regulatory responsibilities, (ii) eliminates "duplicative reporting streams," (iii) considers alternative ways to access sensitive data and (iv) reviews internal controls, including data retention practices and procedures for responding to cyber incidents. Ms. Stump noted that, given the breadth of the CFTC's oversight functions, "it is time for the CFTC to comprehensively evaluate our approach to

The NFA reminded member firms of resources provided by the NFA to help them with regulatory compliance (s ee here and here for the Notices). These resources, which are available on the NFA's website, pertain to requirements for: payment of dues; completion of annual questionnaires; filing of ongoing updates; computation of financial ratios; anti-money laundering compliance; and disclosure compliance.