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SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT ACT OF 1958
Laws and Regulations
SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT ACT OF 1958
SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT ACT OF 1958
(Public Law 85 699, as amended)
Sec. 101. SHORT TITLE
This Act may be cited as the .Small Business Investment Act of 1958..
Sec. 102. STATEMENT OF POLICY
It is declared to be the policy of the Congress and the purpose of this Act to improve and stimulate the national economy in general and the small business segment thereof in particular by establishing a program to stimulate and supplement the flow of private equity capital and long term loan funds which small business concerns need for the sound financing of their business operations and for their growth, expansion, and modernization, and which are not available in adequate supply: Provided, however, That this policy shall be carried out in such manner as to insure the maximum participation of private financing sources.
It is the intention of the Congress that the provisions of this Act shall be so administered that any financial assistance provided hereunder shall not result in a substantial increase of unemployment in any area of the country.
It is the intention of the Congress that in the award of financial assistance under this Act, when practicable, priority be accorded to small business concerns which lease or purchase equipment and supplies which are produced in the United States and that small business concerns receiving such assistance be encouraged to continue to lease or purchase such equipment and supplies.
Sec. 103. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act
(1) the term .Administration. means the Small Business Administration;
(2) the term .Administrator. means the Administrator of the Small Business Administration;
(3) the terms .small business investment company., .company., and .licensee. mean a company approved by the Administration to operate under the provisions of this Act and issued a license as provided in section 301;
(4) the term .State. includes the several States, the Territories and possessions of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia;
(5) the term .small business concern" shall have the same meaning as in the Small Business Act, except that, for purposes of this Act.
(A) an investment by a venture capital firm, investment company (including a small business investment company) employee welfare benefit plan or pension plan, or trust, foundation, or endowment that is exempt from Federal income taxation-
(i) shall not cause a business concern to be deemed not independently owned and operated regardless of the allocation of control during the investment period under any investment agreement between the business concern and the entity making the investment;
(ii) shall be disregarded in determining whether a business concern satisfies size standards established pursuant to section 3(a)(2) of the Small Business Act; and
(iii) shall be disregarded in determining whether a small business concern is a smaller enterprise; and
(B) in determining whether a business concern satisfies net income standards established pursuant to section 3(a)(2) of the Small Business Act, if the business concern is not required by law to pay Federal income taxes at the enterprise level, but is required to pass income through to the shareholders, partners, beneficiaries, or other equitable owners of the business concern, the net income of the business concern shall be determined by allowing a deduction in an amount equal to the sum of.
(i) if the business concern is not required by law to pay State (and local, if any) income taxes at the enterprise level, the net income (determined without regard to this subparagraph), multiplied by the marginal State income tax rate (or by the combined State and local income tax rates, as applicable) that would have applied if the business concern were a corporation; and
(ii) the net income (so determined) less any deduction for State (and local) income taxes calculated under clause (i), multiplied by the marginal Federal income tax rate that would have applied if the business concern were a corporation;
(6) the term .development companies. means enterprises incorporated under State law with the authority to promote and assist the growth and development of small business concerns in the areas covered by their operations;
(7) the term .license. means a license issued by the Administration as provided in section 301; and
(8) the term .articles. means articles of incorporation for an incorporated body and means the functional equivalent or other similar documents specified by the Administrator for other business entities.
(9) the term .private capital..
(A) means the sum of.
(i) the paid-in capital and paid-in surplus of a corporate licensee, the contributed capital of the partners of a partnership licensee, or the equity investment of the members of a limited liability company licensee; and
(ii) unfunded binding commitments, from investors that meet criteria established by the Administrator, to contribute capital to the licensee: Provided, That such unfunded commitments may be counted as private capital for purposes of approval by the Administrator of any request for leverage, but leverage shall not be funded based on such commitments; and
(B) does not include any-
(i) funds borrowed by a licensee from any source;
(ii) funds obtained through the issuance of leverage; or
(iii) funds obtained directly or indirectly from any Federal, State, or local government, or any government agency or instrumentality, except for-
(I) funds obtained from the business revenues (excluding any governmental appropriation) of any federally chartered or government-sponsored corporation established prior to October 1, 1987;
(II) funds invested by an employee welfare benefit plan or pension plan; and
(III) any qualified nonprivate funds (if the investors of the qualified nonprivate funds do not control, directly or indirectly, the management, board of directors, general partners, or members of the licensee);
(10) the term .leverage. includes.
(A) debentures purchased or guaranteed by the Administration;
(B) participating securities purchased or guaranteed by the Administration; and
(C) preferred securities outstanding as of October 1, 1995;
(11) the term .third party debt. means any indebtedness for borrowed money, other than indebtedness owed to the Administration;
(12) the term .smaller enterprise. means any small business concern that, together with its affiliates.
(A) has.
(i) a net financial worth of not more than $6,000,000, as of the date on which assistance is provided under this Act to that business concern; and
(ii) an average net income for the 2-year period preceding the date on which assistance is provided under this Act to that business concern, of not more than $2,000,000, after Federal income taxes (excluding any carryover losses) except that, for purposes of this clause, if the business concern is not required by law to pay Federal income taxes at the enterprise level, but is required to pass income through to the shareholders, partners, beneficiaries, or other equitable owners of the business concern, the net income of the business concern shall be determined by allowing a deduction in an amount equal to the sum of.
(I) if the business concern is not required by law to pay State (and local, if any) income taxes at the enterprise level, the net income (determined without regard to this clause), multiplied by the marginal State income tax rate (or by the combined State and local income tax rates, as applicable) that would have applied if the business concern were a corporation; and
(II) the net income (so determined) less any deduction for State (and local) income taxes calculated under subclause (I), multiplied by the marginal Federal income tax rate that would have applied if the business concern were a corporation; or
(B) satisfies the standard industrial classification size standards established by the Administration for the industry in which the small business concern is primarily engaged;
(13) the term .qualified nonprivate funds. means any-
(A) funds directly or indirectly invested in any applicant or licensee on or before August 16, 1982, by any Federal agency, other than the Administration, under a provision of law explicitly mandating the inclusion of those funds in the definition of the term "private capital";
(B) funds directly or indirectly invested in any applicant or licensee by any Federal agency under a provision of law enacted after September 4, 1992, explicitly mandating the inclusion of those funds in the definition of the term "private capital"; and
(C) funds invested in any applicant or licensee by one or more State or local government entities (including any guarantee extended by those entities) in an aggregate amount that does not exceed 33 percent of the private capital of the applicant or licensee;
(14) the terms .employee welfare benefit plan. and .pension plan. have the same meanings as in section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and are intended to include-
(A) public and private pension or retirement plans subject to such Act; and
(B) similar plans not covered by such Act that have been established and that are maintained by the Federal Government or any State or political subdivision, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, for the benefit of employees;
(15) the term .member. means, with respect to a licensee that is a limited [li]ability company, a holder of an ownership interest or a person otherwise admitted to membership in the limited liability company;
(16) the term .limited liability company. means a business entity that is organized and operating in accordance with a State limited liability company statute approved by the Administration;
(17) the term .long term,. when used in connection with equity capital or loan funds invested in any small business concern or smaller enterprise, means any period of time not less than 1 year;
(18) the term .Energy Saving debenture. means a deferred interest debenture that.
(A) is issued at a discount;
(B) has a 5-year maturity or a 10-year maturity;
(C) requires no interest payment or annual charge for the first 5 years;
(D) is restricted to Energy Saving qualified investments; and
(E) is issued at no cost (as defined in section 502 of the Credit Reform Act of 1990) with respect to purchasing and guaranteeing the debenture; and
(19) the term .Energy Saving qualified investment. means investment in a small business concern that is primarily engaged in researching, manufacturing, developing, or providing products, goods, or services that reduce the use or consumption of non-renewable energy resources.
TITLE II SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT DIVISION OF THE
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Sec. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT DIVISION
There is hereby established in the Small Business Administration a division to be known as the Small Business Investment Division. The Division shall be headed by an Associate Administrator who shall be appointed by the Administrator, and shall receive compensation at the rate provided by law for other Associate Administrators of the Small Business Administration.
TITLE III.INVESTMENT DIVISION PROGRAMS
PART A.SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Sec. 301. ORGANIZATION OF SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANIES
(a) A small business investment company shall be an incorporated body, a limited liability company, or a limited partnership organized and chartered or otherwise existing under State law solely for the purpose of performing the functions and conducting the activities contemplated under this title, which, if incorporated, has succession for a period of not less than thirty years unless sooner dissolved by its shareholders, and if a limited partnership, has succession for a period of not less than ten years, and possesses the powers reasonably necessary to perform such functions and conduct such activities. The area in which the company is to conduct its operations, and the establishment of branch offices or agencies (if authorized by the articles), shall be subject to the approval of the Administration.
(b) The articles of any small business investment company shall specify in general terms the objects for which the company is formed, the name assumed by such company, the area or areas in which its operations are to be carried on, the place where its principal office is to be located, and the amount and classes of its shares of capital stock. Such articles may contain any other provisions not inconsistent with this Act that the company may see fit to adopt for the regulation of its business and the conduct of its affairs. Such articles and any amendments thereto adopted from time to time shall be subject to the approval of the Administration.
(c) ISSUANCE OF LICENSE..
(1) SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION..Each applicant for a license to operate as a small business investment company under this Act shall submit to the Administrator an application, in a form and including such documentation as may be prescribed by the Administrator.
(2) PROCEDURES..
(A) STATUS..Not later than 90 days after the initial receipt by the Administrator of an application under this subsection, the Administrator shall provide the applicant with a written report detailing the status of the application and any requirements remaining for completion of the application.
(B) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL..Within a reasonable time after receiving a completed application submitted in accordance with this subsection and in accordance with such requirements as the Administrator may prescribe by regulation, the Administrator shall.
(i) approve the application and issue a license for such operation to the applicant if the requirements of this section are satisfied; or
(ii) disapprove the application and notify the applicant in writing of the disapproval.
(3) MATTERS CONSIDERED..In reviewing and processing any application under this subsection, the Administrator.
(A) shall determine whether.
(i) the applicant meets the requirements of subsections (a) and (c) of section 302; and
(ii) the management of the applicant is qualified and has the knowledge, experience, and capability necessary to comply with this Act;
(B) shall take into consideration.
(i) the need for and availability of financing for small business concerns in the geographic area in which the applicant is to commence business;
(ii) the general business reputation of the owners and management of the applicant; and
(iii) the probability of successful operations of the applicant, including adequate probability [profitability] and financial soundness; and
(C) shall not take into consideration any projected shortage or unavailability of leverage.
(4) EXCEPTION..
(A) IN GENERAL..Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Administrator may, in the discretion of the Administrator and based on a showing of special circumstances and good cause, approve an application and issue a license under this subsection with respect to any applicant that.
(i) has private capital of not less than $3,000,000;
(ii) would otherwise be issued a license under this subsection, except that the applicant does not satisfy the requirements of section 302(a); and
(iii) has a viable business plan reasonably projecting profitable operations and a reasonable timetable for achieving a level of private capital that satisfies the requirements of section 302(a).
(B) LEVERAGE..An applicant licensed pursuant to the exception provided in this paragraph shall not be eligible to receive leverage as a licensee until the applicant satisfies the requirements of section 302(a), unless the applicant.
(i) files an application for a license not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997;
(ii) is located in a State that is not served by a licensee; and
(iii) agrees to be limited to 1 tier of leverage available under section 302(b), until the applicant meets the requirements of section 302(a).
(d) [Repealed].
(e) FEES.
(1) IN GENERAL..The Administration may prescribe fees to be paid by each applicant for a license to operate as a small business investment company under this Act.
(2) USE OF AMOUNTS..Fees collected under this subsection.
(A) shall be deposited in the account for salaries and expenses of the Administration; and
(B) are authorized to be appropriated solely to cover the costs of licensing examinations.
Sec. 302. CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
(a) AMOUNT..
(1) IN GENERAL..Except as provided in paragraph (2), the private capital of each licensee shall be not less than.
(A) $5,000,000; or
(B) $10,000,000, with respect to each licensee authorized or seeking authority to issue participating securities to be purchased or guaranteed by the Administration under this Act.
(2) EXCEPTION..The Administrator may, in the discretion of the Administration and based on a showing of special circumstances and good cause, permit the private capital of a licensee authorized or seeking authorization to issue participating securities to be purchased or guaranteed by the Administration to be less than $10,000,000, but not less than $5,000,000, if the Administrator determines that such action would not create or otherwise contribute to an unreasonable risk of default or loss to the Federal Government.
(3) ADEQUACY..In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), the Administrator shall.
(A) determine whether the private capital of each licensee is adequate to assure a reasonable prospect that the licensee will be operated soundly and profitably, and managed actively and prudently in accordance with its articles; and
(B) determine that the licensee will be able, both prior to licensing and prior to approving any request for financing, to make periodic payments on any debt of the company which is interest bearing and shall take into consideration the income which the company anticipates on its contemplated investments, the experience of the company's owners and managers, the history of the company as an entity, if any, and the company's financial resources.
(4) EXEMPTION FROM CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS..The Administrator may, in the discretion of the Administrator, approve leverage for any licensee licensed under subsection (c) or (d) of section 301 before the date of enactment of the Small Business Program Improvement Act of 1996 that does not meet the capital requirements of paragraph (1), if.
(A) the licensee certifies in writing that not less [than] 50 percent of the aggregate dollar amount of its financings after the date of enactment of the Small Business Program Improvement Act of 1996 will be provided to smaller enterprises; and
(B) the Administrator determines that such action would not create or otherwise contribute to an unreasonable risk of default or loss to the United States Government.
(b) FINANCIAL INSTITUTION INVESTMENTS..
(1) CERTAIN BANKS..Notwithstanding the provisions of section 6(a)(1) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, any national bank, or any member bank of the Federal Reserve System or nonmember insured bank to the extent permitted under applicable State law, may invest in any 1 or more small business investment companies, or in any entity established to invest solely in small business investment companies, except that in no event shall the total amount of such investments of any such bank exceed 5 percent of the capital and surplus of the bank.
(2) CERTAIN SAVINGS ASSOCIATIONS..Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any Federal savings association may invest in any 1 or more small business investment companies, or in any entity established to invest solely in small business investment companies, except that in no event may the total amount of such investments by any such Federal savings association exceed 5 percent of the capital and surplus of the Federal savings association.
(c) DIVERSIFICATION OF OWNERSHIP..The Administrator shall ensure that the management of each licensee licensed after the date of enactment of the Small Business Program Improvement Act of 1996 is sufficiently diversified from and unaffiliated with the ownership of the licensee in a manner that ensures independence and objectivity in the financial management and oversight of the investments and operations of the licensee.
Sec. 303. BORROWING POWER.
(a) Each small business investment company shall have authority to borrow money and to issue its securities, promissory notes, or other obligations under such general conditions and subject to such limitations and regulations as the Administration may prescribe.
(b) To encourage the formation and growth of small business investment companies the Administration is authorized when authorized in appropriation Acts, to purchase, or to guarantee the timely payment of all principal and interest as scheduled on, debentures or participating securities issued by such companies. Such purchases or guarantees may be made by the Administration on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, pursuant to regulations issued by the Administration. The full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of all amounts which may be required to be paid under any guarantee under this subsection. Debentures purchased or guaranteed by the Administration under this subsection shall be subordinate to any other debenture bonds, promissory notes, or other debts and obligations of such companies, unless the Administration in its exercise of reasonable investment prudence and in considering the financial soundness of such company determines otherwise. Such debentures may be issued for a term of not to exceed fifteen years and shall bear interest at a rate not less than a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into consideration the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the average maturities on such debentures, adjusted to the nearest one eighth of 1 percent, plus, for debentures obligated after September 30, 2001, an additional charge, in an amount established annually by the Administration, as necessary to reduce to zero the cost (as defined in section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a)) to the Administration of purchasing and guaranteeing debentures under this Act, which amount may not exceed 1.38 percent per year, and which shall be paid to and retained by the Administration. The debentures or participating securities shall also contain such other terms as the Administration may fix, and shall be subject to the following restrictions and limitations:
(1) The total amount of debentures and participating securities that may be guaranteed by the Administration and outstanding from a company licensed under section 301(c) of this Act shall not exceed 300 per centum of the private capital of such company: Provided, That nothing in this paragraph shall require any such company that on March 31,
1993, has outstanding debentures in excess of 300 per centum of its private capital to repay such excess: And provided further, That any such company may apply for an additional debenture guarantee or participating security guarantee with the proceeds to be used solely to pay the amount due on such maturing debenture, but the maturity of the new debenture or security shall be not later than September 30, 2002.
(2) MAXIMUM LEVERAGE..
(A) IN GENERAL..After March 31, 1993, the maximum amount of outstanding leverage made available to a company licensed under section 301(c) of this Act shall be determined by the amount of such company's private capital.
(i) if the company has private capital of not more than $15,000,000, the total amount of leverage shall not exceed 300 percent of private capital;
(ii) if the company has private capital of more than $15,000,000 but not more than $30,000,000, the total amount of leverage shall not exceed $45,000,000 plus 200 percent of the amount of private capital over $15,000,000; and
(iii) if the company has private capital of more than $30,000,000, the total amount of leverage shall not exceed $75,000,000 plus 100 percent of the amount of private capital over $30,000,000 but not to exceed an additional $15,000,000.
(B) ADJUSTMENTS..
(i) IN GENERAL..The dollar amounts in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A) shall be adjusted annually to reflect increases in the Consumer Price Index established by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.
(ii) INITIAL ADJUSTMENTS..The initial adjustments made under this subparagraph after the date of enactment of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997 shall reflect only increases from March 31, 1993.
(C) INVESTMENTS IN LOW-INCOME GEOGRAPHIC AREAS..In calculating the outstanding leverage of a company for the purposes of subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall not include the amount of the cost basis of any equity investment made by the company in a smaller enterprise located in a low-income geographic area (as defined in section 351), to the extent that the total of such amounts does not exceed 50 percent of the company.s private capital.
(D) INVESTMENTS IN ENERGY SAVING SMALL BUSINESSES..
(i) IN GENERAL..Subject to clause (ii), in calculating the outstanding leverage of a company for purposes of subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall exclude the amount of the cost basis of any Energy Saving qualified investment in a smaller enterprise made in the first fiscal year after the date of enactment of this subparagraph or any fiscal year thereafter by a company licensed in the applicable fiscal year.
(ii) LIMITATIONS..
(I) AMOUNT OF EXCLUSION..The amount excluded under clause (i) for a company shall not exceed 33 percent of the private capital of that company.
(II) MAXIMUM INVESTMENT..A company shall not make an Energy Saving qualified investment in any one entity in an amount equal to more than 20 percent of the private capital of that company.
(III) OTHER TERMS..The exclusion of amounts under clause (i) shall be subject to such terms as the Administrator may impose to ensure that there is no cost (as that term is defined in section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a)) with respect to purchasing or guaranteeing any debenture involved.
(3) Subject to the foregoing dollar and percentage limits, a company licensed under section 301(c) of this Act may issue and have outstanding both guaranteed debentures and participating securities: Provided, That the total amount of participating securities outstanding shall not exceed 200 per centum of private capital.
(4) MAXIMUM AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF LEVERAGE.
(A) IN GENERAL..Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the aggregate amount of outstanding leverage issued to any company or companies that are commonly controlled (as determined by the Administrator) may not exceed $90,00,000, as adjusted annually for increases in the Consumer Price Index.
(B) EXCEPTIONS..The Administrator may, on a case-by-case basis.
(i) approve an amount of leverage that exceeds the amount described in subparagraph (A) for companies under common control; and
(ii) impose such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator determines to be appropriate to minimize the risk of loss to the Administration in the event of default.
(C) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS..Any leverage that is issued to a company or companies commonly controlled in an amount that exceeds $90,000,000, whether as a result of an increase in the Consumer Price Index or a decision of the Administrator, is subject to subsection (d).
(D) INVESTMENTS IN LOW-INCOME GEOGRAPHIC AREAS..In calculating the aggregate outstanding leverage of a company for the purposes of subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall not include the amount of the cost basis of any equity investment made by the company in a smaller enterprise located in a low-income geographic area (as defined in section 351), to the extent that the total of such amounts does not exceed 50 percent of the company.s private capital.
(E) INVESTMENTS IN ENERGY SAVING SMALL BUSINESSES..
(i) IN GENERAL..Subject to clause (ii), in calculating the aggregate outstanding leverage of a company for purposes of subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall exclude the amount of the cost basis of any Energy Saving qualified investment in a smaller enterprise made in the first fiscal year after the date of enactment of this subparagraph or any fiscal year thereafter by a company licensed in the applicable fiscal year.
(ii) LIMITATIONS..
(I) AMOUNT OF EXCLUSION..The amount excluded under clause (i) for a company shall not exceed 33 percent of the private capital of that company.
(II) MAXIMUM INVESTMENT..A company shall not make an Energy Saving qualified investment in any one entity in an amount equal to more than 20 percent of the private capital of that company.
(III) OTHER TERMS..The exclusion of amounts under clause (i) shall be subject to such terms as the Administrator may impose to ensure that there is no cost (as that term is defined in section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a)) with respect to purchasing or guaranteeing any debenture involved.
For purposes of this subsection, the term .venture capital. includes such common stock, preferred stock, or other financing with subordination or nonamortization characteristics as the Administration determines to be substantially similar to equity financing.
(c) THIRD PARTY DEBT..The Administrator.
(1) shall not permit a licensee having outstanding leverage to incur third party debt that would create or contribute to an unreasonable risk of default or loss to the Federal Government; and
(2) shall permit such licensees to incur third party debt only on such terms and subject to such conditions as may be established by the Administrator, by regulation or otherwise.
(d) REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS.
(1) IN GENERAL..The Administrator shall require each licensee, as a condition of approval of an application for leverage, to certify in writing.
(A) for licensees with leverage less than or equal to $90,000,000, that not less than 20 percent of the licensee.s aggregate dollar amount of financings will be provided to smaller enterprises; and
(B) for licensees with leverage in excess of $90,000,000, that, in addition to satisfying the requirements of subparagraph (A), 100 percent of the licensee.s aggregate dollar amount of financings made in whole or in part with leverage in excess of $90,000,000 will be provided to smaller enterprises (as defined in section 103(12)).
(2) MULTIPLE LICENSEES..Multiple licensees under common control (as determined by the Administrator) shall be considered to be a single licensee for purposes of determining both the applicability of and compliance with the investment percentage requirements of this subsection.
(e) CAPITAL IMPAIRMENT..Before approving any application for leverage submitted by a licensee under this Act, the Administrator.
(1) shall determine that the private capital of the licensee meets the requirements of section 302(a); and
(2) shall determine, taking into account the nature of the assets of the licensee, the amount and terms of any third party debt owed by such licensee, and any other factors determined to be relevant by the Administrator, that the private capital of the licensee has not been impaired to such an extent that the issuance of additional leverage would create or otherwise contribute to an unreasonable risk of default or loss to the Federal Government.
(f) REDEMPTION OR REPURCHASE OF PREFERRED STOCK..Notwithstanding any other provision of law.
(1) the Administrator may allow the issuer of any preferred stock sold to the Administration before November 1, 1989, to redeem or repurchase such stock, upon the payment to the Administration of an amount less than the par value of such stock, for a repurchase price determined by the Administrator after consideration of all relevant factors, including.
(A) the market value of the stock;
(B) the value of benefits provided and anticipated to accrue to the issuer;
(C) the amount of dividends paid, accrued, and anticipated; and
(D) the estimate of the Administrator of any anticipated redemption; and
(2) any moneys received by the Administration from the repurchase of preferred stock shall be available solely to provide debenture leverage to licensees having 50 percent or more in aggregate dollar amount of their financings invested in smaller enterprises.
(g) In order to encourage small business investment companies to provide equity capital to small businesses, the Administration is authorized to guarantee the payment of the redemption price and prioritized payments on participating securities issued by such companies which are licensed pursuant to section 301(c) of this Act, and a trust or a pool acting on behalf of the Administration is authorized to purchase such securities. Such guarantees and purchases shall be made on such terms and conditions as the Administration shall establish by regulation. For purposes of this section, (A) the term .participating securities. includes preferred stock, a preferred limited partnership interest or a similar instrument, including debentures under the terms of which interest is payable only to the extent of earnings and (B) the term .prioritized payments. includes dividends on stock, interest on qualifying debentures, or priority returns on preferred limited partnership interests which are paid only to the extent of earnings. Participating securities guaranteed under this subsection shall be subject to the following restrictions and limitations, in addition to such other restrictions and limitations as the Administration may determine:
(1) Participating securities shall be redeemed not later than 15 years after their date of issuance for an amount equal to 100 per centum of the original issue price plus the amount of any accrued prioritized payment: Provided, That if, at the time the securities are redeemed, whether as scheduled or in advance, the issuing company (A) has not paid all accrued prioritized payments in full as provided in paragraph (2) below and (B) has not sold or otherwise disposed of all investments subject to profit distributions pursuant to paragraph (11), the company's obligation to pay accrued and unpaid prioritized payments shall continue and payments shall be made from the realized gain, if any, on the disposition of such investments, but if on disposition there is no realized gain, the obligation to pay accrued and unpaid prioritized payment shall be extinguished: Provided further, That in the interim, the company shall not make any in-kind distributions of such investments unless it pays to the Administration such sums, up to the amount of the unrealized appreciation on such investments, as may be necessary to pay in full the accrued prioritized payments.
(2) Prioritized payments on participating securities shall be preferred and cumulative and payable out of the retained earnings available for distribution, as defined by the Administration, of the issuing company at a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into consideration the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the average maturities on such securities, adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of 1 percent, plus, for participating securities obligated after September 30, 2001, an additional charge, in an amount established annually by the Administration, as necessary to reduce to zero the cost (as defined in section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a)) to the Administration of purchasing and guaranteeing participating securities under this Act, which amount may not exceed 1.46 percent per year, and which shall be paid to and retained by the Administration.
(3) In the event of liquidation of the company, participating securities shall be senior in priority for all purposes to all other equity interests in the issuing company, whenever created.
(4) Any company issuing a participating security under this Act shall commit to invest or shall invest an amount equal to the outstanding face value of such security solely in equity capital. As used in this subsection, .equity capital. means common or preferred stock or a similar instrument, including subordinated debt with equity features which is not amortized and which provides for interest payments from appropriate sources, as determined by the Administration.
(5) The only debt other than leverage obtained in accordance with this title which any company issuing a participating security under this subsection may have outstanding shall be temporary debt in amounts limited to not more than 50 per centum of private capital.
(6) The Administration may permit the proceeds of a participating security to be used to pay the principal amount due on outstanding debentures guaranteed by the Administration, if (A) the company has outstanding equity capital invested in an amount equal to the amount of the debentures being refinanced and (B) the Administration receives profit participation on such terms and conditions as it may determine, but not to exceed the per centums specified in paragraph (11).
(7) For purposes of computing profit participation under paragraph (11), except as otherwise determined by the Administration, the management expenses of any company which issues participating securities shall not be greater than 2.5 per centum per annum of the combined capital of the company, plus $125,000 if the company's combined capital is less than $20,000,000. For purposes of this paragraph, (A) the term .combined capital. means the aggregate amount of private capital and outstanding leverage and (B) the term .management expenses. includes salaries, office expenses, travel, business development, office and equipment rental, bookkeeping and the development, investigation and monitoring of investments, but does not include the cost of services provided by specialized outside consultants, outside lawyers and outside auditors, who perform services not generally expected of a venture capital company nor does such term include the cost of services provided by any affiliate of the company which are not part of the normal process of making and monitoring venture capital investments.
(8) Notwithstanding paragraph (9), if a company is operating as a limited partnership or as a subchapter S corporation or an equivalent pass-through entity for tax purposes and if there are no accumulated and unpaid prioritized payments, the company may make annual distributions to the partners, shareholders, or members in amounts not greater than each partner's, shareholder's, or member's maximum tax liability. For purposes of this paragraph, the term .maximum tax liability. means the amount of income allocated to each partner, shareholder, or member (including an allocation to the Administration as if it were a taxpayer) for Federal income tax purposes in the income tax return filed or to be filed by the company with respect to the fiscal year of the company immediately preceding such distribution, multiplied by the highest combined marginal Federal and State income tax rates for corporations or individuals, whichever is higher, on each type of income included in such return. For purposes of this paragraph, the term .State income tax. means the income tax of the State where the company's principal place of business is located. A company may also elect to make a distribution under this paragraph at any time during any calendar quarter based on an estimate of the maximum tax liability. If a company makes 1 or more interim distributions for a calendar year, and the aggregate amount of those distributions exceeds the maximum amount that the company could have distributed based on a single annual computation, any subsequent distribution by the company under this paragraph shall be reduced by an amount equal to the excess amount distributed.
(9) After making any distributions as provided in paragraph (8), a company with participating securities outstanding may distribute the balance of income to its investors, specifically including the Administration, in the per centums specified in paragraph (11), if there are no accumulated and unpaid prioritized payments and if all amounts due the Administration pursuant to paragraph (11) have been paid in full, subject to the following conditions:
(A) As of the date of the proposed distribution, if the amount of leverage outstanding is more than 200 per centum of the amount of private capital, any amounts distributed shall be made to private investors and to the Administration in the ratio of leverage to private capital.
(B) As of the date of the proposed distribution, if the amount of leverage outstanding is more than 100 per centum but not more than 200 per centum of the amount of private capital, 50 per centum of any amounts distributed shall be made to the Administration and 50 per centum shall be made to the private investors.
(C) If the amount of leverage outstanding is 100 per centum, or less, of the amount of private capital, the ratio shall be that for distribution of profits as provided in paragraph (11).
(D) Any amounts received by the Administration under subparagraph (A) or (B) shall be applied first as profit participation as provided in paragraph (11) and any remainder shall be applied as a prepayment of the principal amount of the participating securities or debentures.
(10) After making any distributions pursuant to paragraph (8), a company with participating securities outstanding may return capital to its investors, specifically including the Administration, if there are no accumulated and unpaid prioritized payments and if all amounts due the Administration pursuant to paragraph (11) have been paid in full. Any distributions under this paragraph shall be made to private investors and to the Administration in the ratio of private capital to leverage as of the date of the proposed distribution: Provided, That if the amount of leverage outstanding is less than 50 per centum of the amount of private capital or $10,000,000, whichever is less, no distribution shall be required to be made to the Administration unless the Administration determines, on a case by case basis, to require distributions to the Administration to reduce the amount of outstanding leverage to an amount less than $10,000,000.
(11) (A) A company which issues participating securities shall agree to allocate to the Administration a share of its profits determined by the relationship of its private capital to the amount of participating securities guaranteed by the Administration in accordance with the following:
(i) If the total amount of participating securities is 100 per centum of private capital or less, the company shall allocate to the Administration a per centum share computed as follows: the amount of participating securities divided by private capital times 9 per centum.
(ii) If the total amount of participating securities is more than 100 per centum but not greater than 200 per centum of private capital, the company shall allocate to the Administration a per centum share computed as follows:
(I) 9 per centum, plus
(II) 3 per centum of the amount of participating securities minus private capital divided by private capital.
(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph.
(i) in no event shall the total per centum required by this paragraph exceed 12 per centum, unless required pursuant to the provisions of (ii) below,
(ii) if, on the date the participating securities are marketed, the interest rate on Treasury bonds with a maturity of 10 years is a rate other than 8 per centum, the Administration shall adjust the rate specified in paragraph (A) above, either higher or lower, by the same per centum by which the Treasury bond rate is higher or lower than 8 per centum, and
(iii) this paragraph shall not be construed to create any ownership interest of the Administration in the company.
(12) A company may elect to make an in-kind distribution of securities only if such securities are publicly traded and marketable. The company shall deposit the Administration's share of such securities for disposition with a trustee designated by the Administration or, at its option and with the agreement of the company, the Administration may direct the company to retain the Administration's share. If the company retains the Administration's share, it shall sell the Administration's share and promptly remit the proceeds to the Administration. As used in this paragraph, the term .trustee. means a person who is knowledgeable about and proficient in the marketing of thinly traded securities.
(13) Repealed.
(h) The computation of amounts due the Administration under participating securities shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(1) The formula in subsection (g)(11) shall be computed annually and the Administration shall receive distributions of its profit participation at the same time as other investors in the company.
(2) The formula shall not be modified due to an increase in the private capital unless the increase is provided for in a proposed business plan submitted to and approved by the Administration.
(3) After distributions have been made, the Administration's share of such distributions shall not be recomputed or reduced.
(4) If the company prepays or repays the participating securities, the Administration shall receive the requisite participation upon the distribution of profits due to any investments held by the company on the date of the repayment or prepayment.
(5) If a company is licensed on or before March 31, 1993, it may elect to exclude from profit participation all investments held on that date and in such case the Administration shall determine the amount of the future expenses attributable to such prior investment: Provided, That if the company issues participating securities to refinance debentures as authorized in subsection (g)(6), it may not elect to exclude profits on existing investments under this paragraph.
(i) LEVERAGE FEE..With respect to leverage granted by the Administration to a licensee, the Administration shall collect from the licensee a nonrefundable fee in an amount equal to 3 percent of the face amount of leverage granted to the licensee in the following manner: 1 percent upon the date on which the Administration enters into any commitment for such leverage with the licensee, and the balance of 2 percent (or 3 percent if no commitment has been entered into by the Administration) on the date on which the leverage is drawn by the licensee.
(j) CALCULATION OF SUBSIDY RATE..All fees, interest, and profits received and retained by the Administration under this section shall be included in the calculations made by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to offset the cost (as that term is defined in section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990) to the Administration of purchasing and guaranteeing debentures and participating securities under this Act.
Sec. 304. PROVISION OF EQUITY CAPITAL FOR SMALL BUSINESS
CONCERNS
(a) It shall be a function of each small business investment company to provide a source of equity capital for incorporated and unincorporated small business concerns, in such manner and under such terms as the small business investment company may fix in accordance with the regulations of the Administration.
(b) Before any capital is provided to a small business concern under this section
(1) the company may require such concern to refinance any or all of its outstanding indebtedness so that the company is the only holder of any evidence of indebtedness of such concern; and
(2) except as provided in regulations issued by the Administration, such concern shall agree that it will not thereafter incur any indebtedness without first securing the approval of the company and giving the company the first opportunity to finance such indebtedness.
(c) [Repealed.]
(d) Equity capital provided to incorporated small business concerns under this section may be provided directly or in cooperation with other investors, incorporated or unincorporated, through agreements to participate on an immediate basis.
Sec. 305. LONG TERM LOANS TO SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS
(a) Each company is authorized to make loans, in the manner and subject to the conditions described in this section, to incorporated and unincorporated small business concerns in order to provide such concerns with funds needed for sound financing, growth, modernization, and expansion.
(b) Loans made under this section may be made directly or in cooperation with other lenders, incorporated or unincorporated, through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred basis.
(c) The maximum rate of interest for the company's share of any loan made under this section shall be determined by the Administration: Provided, That the Administration also shall permit those companies which have issued debentures pursuant to this Act to charge a maximum rate of interest based upon the coupon rate of interest on the outstanding debentures, determined on an annual basis, plus such other expenses of the company as may be approved by the Administration.
(d) Any loan made under this section shall have a maturity not exceeding twenty years.
(e) Any loan made under this section shall be of such sound value, or so secured, as reasonably to assure repayment.
(f) Any company which has made a loan to a small business concern under this section is authorized to extend the maturity of or renew such loan for additional periods, not exceeding ten years, if the company finds that such extension or renewal will aid in the orderly liquidation of such loan.
Sec. 306. AGGREGATE LIMITATIONS
(a) If any small business investment company has obtained financing from the Administration and such financing remains outstanding, the aggregate amount of obligations and securities acquired and for which commitments may be issued by such company under the provisions of this title for any single enterprise shall not exceed 20 per centum of the private capital of such company, without the approval of the Administration.
(b) [Repealed.]
(c) With respect to obligations or securities acquired prior to the effective date of the Small Business Investment Act Amendments of 1967, and with respect to legally binding commitments issued prior to such date, the provisions of this section as in effect immediately prior to such effective date shall continue to apply.
Sec. 307. EXEMPTIONS
(a) Section 3 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (15 U.S.C. 77c), is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new subsection (c):
.(c) The Commission may from time to time by its rules and regulations and subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed therein, add to the securities exempted as provided in this section any class of securities issued by a small business investment company under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 if it finds, having regard to the purposes of that Act, that the enforcement of this Act with respect to such securities is not necessary in the public interest and for the protection of investors..
(b) Section 304 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. 77ddd) is hereby amended by adding the following subsection (e):
.(e) The Commission may from time to time by its rules and regulations, and subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed herein, add to the securities exempted as provided in this section any class of securities issued by a small business investment company under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 if it finds, having regard to the purposes of that Act, that the enforcement of this Act with respect to such securities is not necessary in the public interest and for the protection of investors..
(c) Section 18 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a 18) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following:
.(k) The provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to investment companies operating under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958..
Sec. 308. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Wherever practicable the operations of a small business investment company, including the generation of business, may be undertaken in cooperation with banks or other investors or lenders, incorporated or unincorporated, and any servicing or initial investigation required for loans or acquisitions of securities by the company under the provisions of this Act may be handled through such banks or other investors or lenders on a fee basis. Any small business investment company may receive fees for services rendered to such banks and other investors and lenders.
(b) Each small business investment company may make use, wherever practicable, of the advisory services of the Federal Reserve System and of the Department of Commerce which are available for and useful to industrial and commercial businesses, and may provide consulting and advisory services on a fee basis and have on its staff persons competent to provide such services. Any Federal Reserve bank is authorized to act as a depository or fiscal agent for any company operating under the provisions of this Act. Any such company that is licensed before October 1, 2004 and has outstanding financings is authorized to invest funds not needed for its operations.
(1) in direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the United States;
(2) in certificates of deposit or other accounts of federally insured banks or other federally insured depository institutions, if the certificates or other accounts mature or are otherwise fully available not more than 1 year after the date of the investment; or
(3) in mutual funds, securities, or other instruments that consist of, or represent pooled assets of, investments described in paragraphs (1) or (2).
(c) The Administration is authorized to prescribe regulations governing the operations of small business investment companies, and to carry out the provisions of this Act, in accordance with the purposes of this Act.
(d) Should any small business investment company violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of this Act or of regulations prescribed hereunder, all of its rights, privileges, and franchises derived therefrom may thereby be forfeited. Before any such company shall be declared dissolved, or its rights, privileges, and franchises forfeited, any noncompliance with or violation of this Act shall be determined and adjudged by a court of the United States of competent jurisdiction in a suit brought for that purpose in the district, territory, or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, in which the principal office of such company is located. Any such suit shall be brought by the United States at the instance of the Administration or the Attorney General.
(e) Except as expressly provided otherwise in this Act, nothing in this Act or in any other provision of law shall be deemed to impose any liability on the United States with respect to any obligations entered into, or stocks issued, or commitments made, by any company operating under the provisions of this Act.
(f) In the performance of, and with respect to the functions, powers, and duties vested by this Act, the Administrator and the Administration shall (in addition to any authority otherwise vested by this Act) have the functions, powers, and duties set forth in the Small Business Act, and the provisions of sections 13 and 16 of that Act, insofar as applicable, are extended to the functions of the Administrator and the Administration under this Act.
(g) (1) The Administration shall include in its annual report, made pursuant to section 10(a) of the Small Business Act, a full and detailed account of its operations under this Act. Such report shall set forth the amount of losses sustained by the Government as a result of such operations during the preceding fiscal year, together with an estimate of the total losses which the Government can reasonably expect to incur as a result of such operations during the then current fiscal year.
(2) In its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1967, and in each succeeding annual report made pursuant to section 10(a) of the Small Business Act, the Administration shall include full and detailed accounts relative to the following matters:
(A) The Administration's recommendations with respect to the feasibility and organization of a small business capital bank to encourage private financing of small business investment companies to replace Government financing of such companies.
(B) The Administration's plans to insure the provision of small business investment company financing to all areas of the country and to all eligible small business concerns including steps taken to accomplish same.
(C) Steps taken by the Administration to maximize recoupment of Government funds incident to the inauguration and administration of the small business investment company program and to insure compliance with statutory and regulatory standards relating thereto.
(D) An accounting by the Bureau of the Budget with respect to Federal expenditures to business by executive agencies, specifying the proportion of said expenditures going to business concerns falling above and below small business size standards applicable to small business investment companies.
(E) An accounting by the Treasury Department with respect to tax revenues accruing to the Government from business concerns, incorporated and unincorporated, specifying the source of such revenues by concerns falling above and below the small business size standards applicable to small business investment companies.
(F) An accounting by the Treasury Department with respect to both tax losses and increased tax revenues related to small business investment company financing of both individual and corporate business taxpayers.
(G) Recommendations to the Treasury Department with respect to additional tax incentives to improve and facilitate the operations of small business investment companies and to encourage the use of their financing facilities by eligible small business concerns.
(H) A report from the Securities and Exchange Commission enumerating actions undertaken by that agency to simplify and minimize the regulatory requirements governing small business investment companies under the Federal securities laws and to eliminate overlapping regulation and jurisdiction as between the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Administration, and other agencies of the executive branch.
(I) A report from the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to actions taken to facilitate and stabilize the access of small business concerns to the securities markets.
(J) Actions undertaken by the Securities and Exchange Commission to simplify compliance by small business investment companies with the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and to facilitate the election to be taxed as regulated investment companies pursuant to section 851 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
(3) In its annual report for the year ending on December 31, 1993, and in each succeeding annual report made pursuant to section 10(a) of the Small Business Act, the Administration shall include a full and detailed description or account relating to.
(A) the number of small business investment companies the Administration licensed, the number of licensees that have been placed in liquidation, and the number of licensees that have surrendered their licenses in the previous year, identifying the amount of government leverage each has received and the type of leverage instruments each has used;
(B) the amount of government leverage that each licensee received in the previous year and the types of leverage instruments each licensee used;
(C) for each type of financing instrument, the sizes, geographic locations, and other characteristics of the small business investment companies using them, including the extent to which the investment companies have used the leverage from each instrument to make small business loans, equity investments, or both; and
(D) the frequency with which each type of investment instrument has been used in the current year and a comparison of the current year with previous years.
(h) CERTIFICATIONS OF ELIGIBILITY..
(1) CERTIFICATION BY SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN..Prior to receiving financial assistance from a company licensed pursuant to section 301, a small business concern shall certify in writing that it meets the eligibility requirements of the Small Business Investment Company Program or the Specialized Small Business Investment Company Program, as applicable.
(2) CERTIFICATION BY COMPANY..Prior to providing financial assistance to a small business concern under this Act, a company licensed pursuant to section 301 shall certify in writing that it has reviewed the application for assistance of the small business concern and that all documentation and other information supports the eligibility of the applicant.
(3) RETENTION OF CERTIFICATIONS..Certificates made pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be retained by the company licensed pursuant to section 301 for the duration of the financial assistance.
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