15 U.S.C. § 681
Section 681 · Organization
Current version, with additions and removals from the November 3, 1988 version.
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 chapter 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.
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 chapter 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.
The articles and amendments thereto shall be forwarded to the Administration for consideration and approval or disapproval. In determining whether to approve such a company's articles and permit it to operate under the provisions of this chapter, the Administration shall give due regard, among other things, to the need and availability for the financing of small business concerns in the geographic area in which the proposed company is to commence business, the general business reputation and character of the proposed owners and management of the company, and the probability of successful operations of such company including adequate profitability and financial soundness. After consideration of all relevant factors, if it approves the company's articles, the Administration may in its discretion approve the company to operate under the provisions of this chapter and issue the company a license for such operation.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a small business investment company, the investment policy of which is that its investments will be made solely in small business concerns which will 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 may be organized and chartered under State business or nonprofit corporation statutes, or formed as a limited partnership, and may be licensed by the Administration to operate under the provisions of this chapter.
(1) Submission of application
Each applicant for a license to operate as a small business investment company under this chapter 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 682 of this title; and
(ii) the management of the applicant is qualified and has the knowledge, experience, and capability necessary to comply with this chapter;
(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 profitability and financial soundness;
(C) shall not take into consideration any projected shortage or unavailability of leverage; and
(D) shall give first priority to an applicant that is located in an underlicensed State with below median financing, as determined by the Administrator.
(4) Exception
(A) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, 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 682(a) of this title; 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 682(a) of this title.
(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 682(a) of this title, unless the applicant—
(i) is located in a State that—
(I) is not served by a licensee; or
(II) is an underlicensed State; and
(ii) agrees to be limited to 1 tier of leverage available under section 682(b) of this title, until the applicant meets the requirements of section 682(a) of this title.
(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 chapter.
(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.