The SEC final rule permitting reporting companies to use a Regulation A exemption from registration for their securities offerings was published in the Federal Register. As previously covered, the final rule amends Securities Act Rule 251 to permit companies subject to the Exchange Act Section 13 or 15(d) reporting requirements to use the exemption provided by Regulation A. The final rule also revises Securities Act Rule 257 to provide that companies satisfying the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act have met the Regulation A reporting requirements. In addition, the SEC made conforming

A proposal by the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve Board and FDIC to increase the major assets prohibition thresholds for management interlock rules was published in the Federal Register ( see prior coverage). Comments must be submitted before April 1, 2019.

U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Chair Mike Crapo (R-IA) outlined the Committee's agenda for the 116th Congress. According to Mr. Crapo, the Committee will, among other priorities: evaluate housing finance reforms to (i) "fix the flawed system," (ii) create taxpayer protections, (iii) continue the provision of a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, (iv) increase competition between mortgage guarantors and (v) foster access to affordable housing; promote capital formation, mitigate burdens for smaller businesses and bolster corporate governance; review the efficacy of

ISDA provided "high-level" guidance on the application of smart contracts to derivatives. ISDA also identified several contractual and documentation issues that are relevant as market participants look to "implement new platforms, products and solutions."

In a letter to U.S. Treasury Department ("Treasury") Secretary Steve Mnuchin, U.S. Representatives Maxine Waters (Chair of the House Financial Services Committee), Adam Schiff (Chair of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence) and Eliot Engel (Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee) requested documents related to the recent decision to terminate sanctions against three companies tied to designated Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. The Committee leaders asked Treasury to provide each of their respective committees copies of all relevant documents before February 5, 2019.