Part B—New Markets Venture Capital Program
§689. Definitions
In this part, the following definitions apply:
(1) Developmental venture capital
The term "developmental venture capital" means capital in the form of equity capital investments in businesses made with a primary objective of fostering economic development in low-income geographic areas. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term "equity capital" has the same meaning given such term in
(2) Low-income individual
The term "low-income individual" means an individual whose income (adjusted for family size) does not exceed—
(A) for metropolitan areas, 80 percent of the area median income; and
(B) for nonmetropolitan areas, the greater of—
(i) 80 percent of the area median income; or
(ii) 80 percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan area median income.
(3) Low-income geographic area
the 1 term "low-income geographic area" means—
(A) any population census tract (or in the case of an area that is not tracted for population census tracts, the equivalent county division, as defined by the Bureau of the Census of the Department of Commerce for purposes of defining poverty areas), if—
(i) the poverty rate for that census tract is not less than 20 percent;
(ii) in the case of a tract—
(I) that is located within a metropolitan area, 50 percent or more of the households in that census tract have an income equal to less than 60 percent of the area median gross income; or
(II) that is not located within a metropolitan area, the median household income for such tract does not exceed 80 percent of the statewide median household income; or
(iii) as determined by the Administrator based on objective criteria, a substantial population of low-income individuals reside, an inadequate access to investment capital exists, or other indications of economic distress exist in that census tract; or
(B) any area located within—
(i) a HUBZone (as defined in section 632(p) 2 of this title and the implementing regulations issued under that section);
(ii) an urban empowerment zone or urban enterprise community (as designated by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development); or
(iii) a rural empowerment zone or rural enterprise community (as designated by the Secretary of Agriculture).
(4) New Markets Venture Capital company
The term "New Markets Venture Capital company" means a company that—
(A) has been granted final approval by the Administrator under
(B) has entered into a participation agreement with the Administrator.
(5) Operational assistance
The term "operational assistance" means management, marketing, and other technical assistance that assists a small business concern with business development.
(6) Participation agreement
The term "participation agreement" means an agreement, between the Administrator and a company granted final approval under
(A) details the company's operating plan and investment criteria; and
(B) requires the company to make investments in smaller enterprises at least 80 percent of which are located in low-income geographic areas.
(7) Specialized small business investment company
The term "specialized small business investment company" means any small business investment company that—
(A) invests solely in small business concerns that contribute to a well-balanced national economy by facilitating ownership in such concerns by persons whose participation in the free enterprise system is hampered because of social or economic disadvantages;
(B) is organized or chartered under State business or nonprofit corporations statutes, or formed as a limited partnership; and
(C) was licensed under
(8) State
The term "State" means such 3 of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
1 So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
2 See References in Text note below.
3 So in original. Probably should be "each".
§689a. Purposes
The purposes of the New Markets Venture Capital Program established under this part are—
(1) to promote economic development and the creation of wealth and job opportunities in low-income geographic areas and among individuals living in such areas by encouraging developmental venture capital investments in smaller enterprises primarily located in such areas; and
(2) to establish a developmental venture capital program, with the mission of addressing the unmet equity investment needs of small enterprises located in low-income geographic areas, to be administered by the Administrator—
(A) to enter into participation agreements with New Markets Venture Capital companies;
(B) to guarantee debentures of New Markets Venture Capital companies to enable each such company to make developmental venture capital investments in smaller enterprises in low-income geographic areas; and
(C) to make grants to New Markets Venture Capital companies, and to other entities, for the purpose of providing operational assistance to smaller enterprises financed, or expected to be financed, by such companies.
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§689b. Establishment
In accordance with this part, the Administrator shall establish a New Markets Venture Capital Program, under which the Administrator may—
(1) enter into participation agreements with companies granted final approval under
(2) guarantee the debentures issued by New Markets Venture Capital companies as provided in
(3) make grants to New Markets Venture Capital companies, and to other entities, under
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§689c. Selection of New Markets Venture Capital companies
(a) Eligibility
A company shall be eligible to apply to participate, as a New Markets Venture Capital company, in the program established under this part if—
(1) the company is a newly formed for-profit entity or a newly formed for-profit subsidiary of an existing entity;
(2) the company has a management team with experience in community development financing or relevant venture capital financing; and
(3) the company has a primary objective of economic development of low-income geographic areas.
(b) Application
To participate, as a New Markets Venture Capital company, in the program established under this part a company meeting the eligibility requirements set forth in subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Administrator that includes—
(1) a business plan describing how the company intends to make successful developmental venture capital investments in identified low-income geographic areas;
(2) information regarding the community development finance or relevant venture capital qualifications and general reputation of the company's management;
(3) a description of how the company intends to work with community organizations and to seek to address the unmet capital needs of the communities served;
(4) a proposal describing how the company intends to use the grant funds provided under this part to provide operational assistance to smaller enterprises financed by the company, including information regarding whether the company intends to use licensed professionals, when necessary, on the company's staff or from an outside entity;
(5) with respect to binding commitments to be made to the company under this part, an estimate of the ratio of cash to in-kind contributions;
(6) a description of the criteria to be used to evaluate whether and to what extent the company meets the objectives of the program established under this part;
(7) information regarding the management and financial strength of any parent firm, affiliated firm, or any other firm essential to the success of the company's business plan; and
(8) such other information as the Administrator may require.
(c) Conditional approval
(1) In general
From among companies submitting applications under subsection (b), the Administrator shall, in accordance with this subsection, conditionally approval 1 companies to participate in the New Markets Venture Capital Program.
(2) Selection criteria
In selecting companies under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall consider the following:
(A) The likelihood that the company will meet the goal of its business plan.
(B) The experience and background of the company's management team.
(C) The need for developmental venture capital investments in the geographic areas in which the company intends to invest.
(D) The extent to which the company will concentrate its activities on serving the geographic areas in which it intends to invest.
(E) The likelihood that the company will be able to satisfy the conditions under subsection (d).
(F) The extent to which the activities proposed by the company will expand economic opportunities in the geographic areas in which the company intends to invest.
(G) The strength of the company's proposal to provide operational assistance under this part as the proposal relates to the ability of the applicant to meet applicable cash requirements and properly utilize in-kind contributions, including the use of resources for the services of licensed professionals, when necessary, whether provided by persons on the company's staff or by persons outside of the company.
(H) Any other factors deemed appropriate by the Administrator.
(3) Nationwide distribution
The Administrator shall select companies under paragraph (1) in such a way that promotes investment nationwide.
(d) Requirements to be met for final approval
The Administrator shall grant each conditionally approved company a period of time, not to exceed 2 years, to satisfy the following requirements:
(1) Capital requirement
Each conditionally approved company shall raise not less than $5,000,000 of private capital or binding capital commitments from one or more investors (other than agencies or departments of the Federal Government) who met criteria established by the Administrator.
(2) Nonadministration resources for operational assistance
(A) In general
In order to provide operational assistance to smaller enterprises expected to be financed by the company, each conditionally approved company—
(i) shall have binding commitments (for contribution in cash or in kind)—
(I) from any sources other than the Small Business Administration that meet criteria established by the Administrator;
(II) payable or available over a multiyear period acceptable to the Administrator (not to exceed 10 years); and
(III) in an amount not less than 30 percent of the total amount of capital and commitments raised under paragraph (1);
(ii) shall have purchased an annuity—
(I) from an insurance company acceptable to the Administrator;
(II) using funds (other than the funds raised under paragraph (1)), from any source other than the Administrator; and
(III) that yields cash payments over a multiyear period acceptable to the Administrator (not to exceed 10 years) in an amount not less than 30 percent of the total amount of capital and commitments raised under paragraph (1); or
(iii) shall have binding commitments (for contributions in cash or in kind) of the type described in clause (i) and shall have purchased an annuity of the type described in clause (ii), which in the aggregate make available, over a multiyear period acceptable to the Administrator (not to exceed 10 years), an amount not less than 30 percent of the total amount of capital and commitments raised under paragraph (1).
(B) Exception
The Administrator may, in the discretion of the Administrator and based upon a showing of special circumstances and good cause, consider an applicant to have satisfied the requirements of subparagraph (A) if the applicant has—
(i) a viable plan that reasonably projects the capacity of the applicant to raise the amount (in cash or in-kind) required under subparagraph (A); and
(ii) binding commitments in an amount equal to not less than 20 percent of the total amount required under paragraph (A).
(C) Limitation
In order to comply with the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B), the total amount of a company's in-kind contributions may not exceed 50 percent of the company's total contributions.
(e) Final approval; designation
The Administrator shall, with respect to each applicant conditionally approved to operate as a New Markets Venture Capital company under subsection (c), either—
(1) grant final approval to the applicant to operate as a New Markets Venture Capital company under this part and designate the applicant as such a company, if the applicant—
(A) satisfies the requirements of subsection (d) on or before the expiration of the time period described in that subsection; and
(B) enters into a participation agreement with the Administrator; or
(2) if the applicant fails to satisfy the requirements of subsection (d) on or before the expiration of the time period described in that subsection, revoke the conditional approval granted under that subsection.
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1 So in original. Probably should be "approve".
§689d. Debentures
(a) In general
The Administrator may guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest, as scheduled, on debentures issued by any New Markets Venture Capital company.
(b) Terms and conditions
The Administrator may make guarantees under this section on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, except that the term of any debenture guaranteed under this section shall not exceed 15 years.
(c) Full faith and credit of the United States
The full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to pay all amounts that may be required to be paid under any guarantee under this part.
(d) Maximum guarantee
(1) In general
Under this section, the Administrator may guarantee the debentures issued by a New Markets Venture Capital company only to be 1 extent that the total face amount of outstanding guaranteed debentures of such company does not exceed 150 percent of the private capital of the company, as determined by the Administrator.
(2) Treatment of certain Federal funds
For the purposes of paragraph (1), private capital shall include capital that is considered to be Federal funds, if such capital is contributed by an investor other than an agency or department of the Federal Government.
(e) Investment limitations
(1) Definition
In this subsection, the term "covered New Markets Venture Capital company" means a New Markets Venture Capital company—
(A) granted final approval by the Administrator under
(B) that has obtained a financing from the Administrator.
(2) Limitation
Except to the extent approved by the Administrator, a covered New Markets Venture Capital company may not acquire or issue commitments for securities under this subchapter for any single enterprise in an aggregate amount equal to more than 10 percent of the sum of—
(A) the regulatory capital of the covered New Markets Venture Capital company; and
(B) the total amount of leverage projected in the participation agreement of the covered New Markets Venture Capital.
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
2010—Subsec. (e).
1 So in original. Probably should be "the".
§689e. Issuance and guarantee of trust certificates
(a) Issuance
The Administrator may issue trust certificates representing ownership of all or a fractional part of debentures issued by a New Markets Venture Capital company and guaranteed by the Administrator under this part, if such certificates are based on and backed by a trust or pool approved by the Administrator and composed solely of guaranteed debentures.
(b) Guarantee
(1) In general
The Administrator may, under such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, guarantee the timely payment of the principal of and interest on trust certificates issued by the Administrator or its agents for purposes of this section.
(2) Limitation
Each guarantee under this subsection shall be limited to the extent of principal and interest on the guaranteed debentures that compose the trust or pool.
(3) Prepayment or default
In the event that a debenture in a trust or pool is prepaid, or in the event of default of such a debenture, the guarantee of timely payment of principal and interest on the trust certificates shall be reduced in proportion to the amount of principal and interest such prepaid debenture represents in the trust or pool. Interest on prepaid or defaulted debentures shall accrue and be guaranteed by the Administrator only through the date of payment of the guarantee. At any time during its term, a trust certificate may be called for redemption due to prepayment or default of all debentures.
(c) Full faith and credit of the United States
The full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to pay all amounts that may be required to be paid under any guarantee of a trust certificate issued by the Administrator or its agents under this section.
(d) Fees
The Administrator shall not collect a fee for any guarantee of a trust certificate under this section, but any agent of the Administrator may collect a fee approved by the Administrator for the functions described in subsection (f)(2).
(e) Subrogation and ownership rights
(1) Subrogation
In the event the Administrator pays a claim under a guarantee issued under this section, it shall be subrogated fully to the rights satisfied by such payment.
(2) Ownership rights
No Federal, State, or local law shall preclude or limit the exercise by the Administrator of its ownership rights in the debentures residing in a trust or pool against which trust certificates are issued under this section.
(f) Management and administration
(1) Registration
The Administrator may provide for a central registration of all trust certificates issued under this section.
(2) Contracting of functions
(A) In general
The Administrator may contract with an agent or agents to carry out on behalf of the Administrator the pooling and the central registration functions provided for in this section including, notwithstanding any other provision of law—
(i) maintenance, on behalf of and under the direction of the Administrator, of such commercial bank accounts or investments in obligations of the United States as may be necessary to facilitate the creation of trusts or pools backed by debentures guaranteed under this part; and
(ii) the issuance of trust certificates to facilitate the creation of such trusts or pools.
(B) Fidelity bond or insurance requirement
Any agent performing functions on behalf of the Administrator under this paragraph shall provide a fidelity bond or insurance in such amounts as the Administrator determines to be necessary to fully protect the interests of the United States.
(3) Regulation of brokers and dealers
The Administrator may regulate brokers and dealers in trust certificates issued under this section.
(4) Electronic registration
Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit the use of a book-entry or other electronic form of registration for trust certificates issued under this section.
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§689f. Fees
Except as provided in
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§689g. Operational assistance grants
(a) In general
(1) Authority
In accordance with this section, the Administrator may make grants to New Markets Venture Capital companies and to other entities, as authorized by this part, to provide operational assistance to smaller enterprises financed, or expected to be financed, by such companies or other entities.
(2) Terms
Grants made under this subsection shall be made over a multiyear period not to exceed 10 years, under such other terms as the Administrator may require.
(3) Grants to specialized small business investment companies
(A) Authority
In accordance with this section, the Administrator may make grants to specialized small business investment companies to provide operational assistance to smaller enterprises financed, or expected to be financed, by such companies after the effective date of the New Markets Venture Capital Program Act of 2000.
(B) Use of funds
The proceeds of a grant made under this paragraph may be used by the company receiving such grant only to provide operational assistance in connection with an equity investment (made with capital raised after the effective date of the New Markets Venture Capital Program Act of 2000) in a business located in a low-income geographic area.
(C) Submission of plans
A specialized small business investment company shall be eligible for a grant under this section only if the company submits to the Administrator, in such form and manner as the Administrator may require, a plan for use of the grant.
(4) Grant amount
(A) New Markets Venture Capital companies
The amount of a grant made under this subsection to a New Markets Venture Capital company shall be equal to the resources (in cash or in kind) raised by the company under
(B) Other entities
The amount of a grant made under this subsection to any entity other than a New Markets Venture Capital company shall be equal to the resources (in cash or in kind) raised by the entity in accordance with the requirements applicable to New Market Venture Capital companies set forth in
(5) Pro rata reductions
If the amount made available to carry out this section is insufficient for the Administrator to provide grants in the amounts provided for in paragraph (4), the Administrator shall make pro rata reductions in the amounts otherwise payable to each company and entity under such paragraph.
(b) Supplemental grants
(1) In general
The Administrator may make supplemental grants to New Markets Venture Capital companies and to other entities, as authorized by this part under such terms as the Administrator may require, to provide additional operational assistance to smaller enterprises financed, or expected to be financed, by the companies.
(2) Matching requirement
The Administrator may require, as a condition of any supplemental grant made under this subsection, that the company or entity receiving the grant provide from resources (in a 1 cash or in kind), other then 2 those provided by the Administrator, a matching contribution equal to the amount of the supplemental grant.
(c) Limitation
None of the assistance made available under this section may be used for any overhead or general and administrative expense of a New Markets Venture Capital company or a specialized small business investment company.
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
The effective date of the New Markets Venture Capital Program Act of 2000, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(A), (B), probably means the date of enactment of section 1 of H.R. 5663, as enacted by
1 So in original. The article probably should not appear.
2 So in original. Probably should be "than".
§689h. Bank participation
(a) In general
Except as provided in subsection (b), any national bank, any member bank of the Federal Reserve System, and (to the extent permitted under applicable State law) any insured bank that is not a member of such system, may invest in any New Markets Venture Capital company, or in any entity established to invest solely in New Markets Venture Capital companies.
(b) Limitation
No bank described in subsection (a) may make investments described in such subsection that are greater than 5 percent of the capital and surplus of the bank.
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§689i. Federal Financing Bank
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§689j. Reporting requirement
Each New Markets Venture Capital company that participates in the program established under this part shall provide to the Administrator such information as the Administrator may require, including—
(1) information related to the measurement criteria that the company proposed in its program application; and
(2) in each case in which the company under this part makes an investment in, or a loan or grant to, a business that is not located in a low-income geographic area, a report on the number and percentage of employees of the business who reside in such areas.
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§689k. Examinations
(a) In general
Each New Markets Venture Capital company that participates in the program established under this part shall be subject to examinations made at the direction of the Investment Division of the Small Business Administration in accordance with this section.
(b) Assistance of private sector entities
Examinations under this section may be conducted with the assistance of a private sector entity that has both the qualifications and the expertise necessary to conduct such examinations.
(c) Costs
(1) 1 Assessment
(A) In general
The Administrator may assess the cost of examinations under this section, including compensation of the examiners, against the company examined.
(B) Payment
Any company against which the Administrator assesses costs under this paragraph shall pay such costs.
(d) Deposit of funds
Funds collected under this section shall be deposited in the account for salaries and expenses of the Small Business Administration.
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1 So in original. No par. (2) has been enacted.
§689l. Injunctions and other orders
(a) In general
Whenever, in the judgment of the Administrator, a New Markets Venture Capital company or any other person has engaged or is about to engage in any acts or practices which constitute or will constitute a violation of any provision of this chapter, or of any rule or regulation under this chapter, or of any order issued under this chapter, the Administrator may make application to the proper district court of the United States or a United States court of any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States for an order enjoining such acts or practices, or for an order enforcing compliance with such provision, rule, regulation, or order, and such courts shall have jurisdiction of such actions and, upon a showing by the Administrator that such New Markets Venture Capital company or other person has engaged or is about to engage in any such acts or practices, a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order, shall be granted without bond.
(b) Jurisdiction
In any proceeding under subsection (a), the court as a court of equity may, to such extent as it deems necessary, take exclusive jurisdiction of the New Market Venture Capital company and the assets thereof, wherever located, and the court shall have jurisdiction in any such proceeding to appoint a trustee or receiver to hold or administer under the direction of the court the assets so possessed.
(c) Administrator as trustee or receiver
(1) Authority
The Administrator may act as trustee or receiver of a New Markets Venture Capital company.
(2) Appointment
Upon request of the Administrator, the court may appoint the Administrator to act as a trustee or receiver of a New Markets Venture Capital company unless the court deems such appointment inequitable or otherwise inappropriate by reason of the special circumstances involved.
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
For definition of "this chapter", referred to in subsec. (a), see References in Text note set out under
§689m. Additional penalties for noncompliance
(a) In general
With respect to any New Markets Venture Capital company that violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter, of any regulation issued under this chapter, or of any participation agreement entered into under this chapter, the Administrator may in accordance with this section—
(1) void the participation agreement between the Administrator and the company; and
(2) cause the company to forfeit all of the rights and privileges derived by the company from this chapter.
(b) Adjudication of noncompliance
(1) In general
Before the Administrator may cause a New Markets Venture Capital company to forfeit rights or privileges under subsection (a), a court of the United States of competent jurisdiction must find that the company committed a violation, or failed to comply, in a cause of action 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 the company is located.
(2) Parties authorized to file causes of action
Each cause of action brought by the United States under this subsection shall be brought by the Administrator or by the Attorney General.
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
For definition of "this chapter", referred to in subsec. (a), see References in Text note set out under
§689n. Unlawful acts and omissions; breach of fiduciary duty
(a) Parties deemed to commit a violation
Whenever any New Markets Venture Capital company violates any provision of this chapter, of a regulation issued under this chapter, or of a participation agreement entered into under this chapter, by reason of its failure to comply with its terms or by reason of its engaging in any act or practice that constitutes or will constitute a violation thereof, such violation shall also be deemed to be a violation and an unlawful act committed by any person who, directly or indirectly, authorizes, orders, participates in, causes, brings about, counsels, aids, or abets in the commission of any acts, practices, or transactions that constitute or will constitute, in whole or in part, such violation.
(b) Fiduciary duties
It shall be unlawful for any officer, director, employee, agent, or other participant in the management or conduct of the affairs of a New Markets Venture Capital company to engage in any act or practice, or to omit any act or practice, in breach of the person's fiduciary duty as such officer, director, employee, agent, or participant if, as a result thereof, the company suffers or is in imminent danger of suffering financial loss or other damage.
(c) Unlawful acts
Except with the written consent of the Administrator, it shall be unlawful—
(1) for any person to take office as an officer, director, or employee of any New Markets Venture Capital company, or to become an agent or participant in the conduct of the affairs or management of such a company, if the person—
(A) has been convicted of a felony, or any other criminal offense involving dishonesty or breach of trust; or
(B) has been found civilly liable in damages, or has been permanently or temporarily enjoined by an order, judgment, or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, by reason of any act or practice involving fraud, or breach of trust; and
(2) for any person 1 continue to serve in any of the capacities described in paragraph (1), if—
(A) the person is convicted of a felony, or any other criminal offense involving dishonesty or breach of trust; or
(B) the person is found civilly liable in damages, or is permanently or temporarily enjoined by an order, judgment, or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, by reason of any act or practice involving fraud or breach of trust.
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
For definition of "this chapter", referred to in subsec. (a), see References in Text note set out under
1 So in original. Probably should be followed by "to".
§689o. Removal or suspension of directors or officers
Using the procedures for removing or suspending a director or an officer of a licensee set forth in
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§689p. Regulations
The Administrator may issue such regulations as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this part in accordance with its purposes.
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§689q. Authorization of appropriations
(a) In general
There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2001 through 2006, to remain available until expended, the following sums:
(1) Such subsidy budget authority as may be necessary to guarantee $150,000,000 of debentures under this part.
(2) $30,000,000 to make grants under this part.
(b) Funds collected for examinations
Funds deposited under
(