15 USC 689 - Definitions

Collapse to view only § 689. Definitions

§ 689. Definitions
§ 689a. Purposes
§ 689b. Establishment
§ 689c. Selection of New Markets Venture Capital companies
§ 689d. Debentures
§ 689e. Issuance and guarantee of trust certificates
§ 689f. Fees
§ 689g. Operational assistance grants
§ 689h. Bank participation
§ 689i. Federal Financing Bank
§ 689j. Reporting requirement
§ 689k. Examinations
§ 689l. Injunctions and other orders
§ 689m. Additional penalties for noncompliance
§ 689n. Unlawful acts and omissions; breach of fiduciary duty
§ 689o. Removal or suspension of directors or officers
§ 689p. Regulations
§ 689q. Authorization of appropriations

§ 689. DefinitionsIn this part, the following definitions apply:

(1) Developmental venture capital

(2) Low-income individualThe 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 areathe 1

1 So in original. Probably should be capitalized.

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

2 See References in Text note below.

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 companyThe term “New Markets Venture Capital company” means a company that—

(A) has been granted final approval by the Administrator under section 689c(e) of this title; and

(B) has entered into a participation agreement with the Administrator.

(5) Operational assistance

(6) Participation agreementThe term “participation agreement” means an agreement, between the Administrator and a company granted final approval under section 689c(e) of this title, that—

(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 companyThe 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

(8) State

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 351, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–653.)

§ 689a. PurposesThe 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.

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 352, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–655.)

§ 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 section 689c(e) of this title for the purposes set forth in section 689a of this title;

(2) guarantee the debentures issued by New Markets Venture Capital companies as provided in section 689d of this title; and

(3) make grants to New Markets Venture Capital companies, and to other entities, under section 689g of this title.

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 353, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–655.)

§ 689c. Selection of New Markets Venture Capital companies

(a) EligibilityA 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) ApplicationTo 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.

(1) In general

(2) Selection criteriaIn 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

(d) Requirements to be met for final approvalThe Administrator shall grant each conditionally approved company a period of time, not to exceed 2 years, to satisfy the following requirements:

(1) Capital requirement

(2) Nonadministration resources for operational assistance

(A) In generalIn 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) ExceptionThe 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).

(e) Final approval; designationThe 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.

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 354, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–655.)

§ 689d. Debentures

(a) In general

(b) Terms and conditions

(d) Maximum guarantee

(1) In general

(2) Treatment of certain Federal funds

(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 section 689c(e) of this title on or after March 1, 2002; and

(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.

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 355, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–658; amended Pub. L. 111–240, title I, § 1115, Sept. 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 2508.)

§ 689e. Issuance and guarantee of trust certificates

(a) Issuance

(b) Guarantee

(1) In general

(2) Limitation

(3) Prepayment or default

(d) Fees

(e) Subrogation and ownership rights

(1) Subrogation

(2) Ownership rights

(f) Management and administration

(1) Registration

(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

(3) Regulation of brokers and dealers

(4) Electronic registration

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 356, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–658.)

§ 689f. Fees

Except as provided in section 689e(d) of this title, the Administrator may charge such fees as it deems appropriate with respect to any guarantee or grant issued under this part.

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 357, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–660.)

§ 689g. Operational assistance grants

(a) In general

(1) Authority

(2) Terms

(3) Grants to specialized small business investment companies

(A) Authority

(B) Use of funds

(4) Grant amount

(A) New Markets Venture Capital companies

(B) Other entities

(5) Pro rata reductions

(b) Supplemental grants

(1) In general

(2) Matching requirement

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 358, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–660.)

§ 689h. Bank participation

(a) In general

(b) Limitation

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 359, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–661.)

§ 689i. Federal Financing Bank

Section 687k of this title shall not apply to any debenture issued by a New Markets Venture Capital company under this part.

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 360, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–661.)

§ 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.

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 361, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–661.)

§ 689k. Examinations

(a) In general

(b) Assistance of private sector entities

(1)1

1 So in original. No par. (2) has been enacted.

Assessment

(A) In general

(B) Payment

(d) Deposit of funds

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 362, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–662.)

§ 689l. Injunctions and other orders

(a) In general

(b) Jurisdiction

(1) Authority

(2) Appointment

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 363, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–662.)

§ 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

(2) Parties authorized to file causes of action

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 364, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–663.)

§ 689n. Unlawful acts and omissions; breach of fiduciary duty

(a) Parties deemed to commit a violation

(b) Fiduciary duties

(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

1 So in original. Probably should be followed by “to”.

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.

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 365, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–663.)

§ 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 section 687e of this title (to the extent such procedures are not inconsistent with the requirements of this part), the Administrator may remove or suspend any director or officer of any New Markets Venture Capital company.

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 366, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–664.)

§ 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.

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 367, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–664.)

§ 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

(Pub. L. 85–699, title III, § 368, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(8) [§ 1(b)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–664.)