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The 2002 Farm Bill |
Rural Business Investment Program, Sec. 6029
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SEC. 6029. RURAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT PROGRAM. The Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (as amended by section 6028) is amended by adding at the
end the following: ‘‘Subtitle H—Rural Business
Investment Program ‘‘SEC. 384A. DEFINITIONS. ‘‘In this subtitle: ‘‘(1) ARTICLES.—The term
‘articles’ means articles of incorporation for an incorporated body or
the functional equivalent or other similar documents specified by the
Secretary for other business entities. ‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENTAL VENTURE CAPITAL.—The term ‘developmental venture capital’ means capital
in the form of equity capital investments in rural business investment
companies with an objective of fostering economic development in rural
areas. ‘‘(3) EMPLOYEE WELFARE BENEFIT PLAN; PENSION PLAN.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The terms
‘employee welfare benefit plan’ and ‘pension plan’ have the
meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002). ‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The terms
‘employee welfare benefit plan’ and ‘pension plan’ include— ‘‘(i) public and private
pension or retirement plans subject to this subtitle; and ‘‘(ii) similar plans not
covered by this subtitle that have been established, and that are
maintained, by the Federal Government or any State (including by a
political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal
Government or a State) for the benefit of employees. ‘‘(4) EQUITY CAPITAL.—The term
‘equity capital’ means common or preferred stock or a similar
instrument, including subordinated debt with equity features. ‘‘(5) LEVERAGE.—The term
‘leverage’ includes— ‘‘(A) debentures purchased or
guaranteed by the Secretary; ‘‘(B) participating securities
purchased or guaranteed by the Secretary; and ‘‘(C) preferred securities
outstanding as of the date of enactment of this subtitle. ‘‘(6) LICENSE.—The term ‘license’ means a
license issued by the Secretary as provided in section 384D(e). ‘‘(7) LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.—The
term ‘limited liability company’ means a business entity that is
organized and operating in accordance with a State limited liability
company law approved by the Secretary. ‘‘(8) MEMBER.—The term ‘member’ means,
with respect to a rural business investment company that is a limited
liability company, a holder of an ownership interest or a person otherwise
admitted to membership in the limited liability company. ‘‘(9) OPERATIONAL ASSISTANCE.—The
term ‘operational assistance’ means management, marketing, and other
technical assistance that assists a rural business concern with business
development. ‘‘(10) PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT.—The
term ‘participation agreement’ means an agreement, between the
Secretary and a rural business investment company granted final approval
under section 384D(e), that requires the rural business investment company
to make investments in smaller enterprises in rural areas. ‘‘(11) PRIVATE CAPITAL.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term
‘private capital’ means the total of— ‘‘(i)(I) the paid-in capital
and paid-in surplus of a corporate rural business investment company; ‘‘(II) the contributed capital
of the partners of a partnership rural business investment company; or ‘‘(III) the equity investment
of the members of a limited liability company rural business investment
company; and ‘‘(ii) unfunded binding
commitments from investors that meet criteria established by the Secretary
to contribute capital to the rural business investment company, except
that— ‘‘(I) unfunded commitments may
be counted as private capital for purposes of approval by the Secretary of
any request for leverage; but ‘‘(II) leverage shall not be
funded based on the commitments. ‘‘(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term
‘private capital’ does not include— ‘‘(i) any funds borrowed by a
rural business investment company from any source; ‘‘(ii) any funds obtained
through the issuance of leverage; or ‘‘(iii) any funds obtained
directly or indirectly from the Federal Government or any State (including
by a political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal
Government or a State), except for— ‘‘(I) funds obtained from the
business revenues (excluding any governmental appropriation) of any
federally chartered or government-sponsored enterprise established prior
to the date of enactment of this subtitle; ‘‘(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
rural business investment company). ‘‘(12) QUALIFIED NONPRIVATE FUNDS.—The term ‘qualified nonprivate funds’ means any— ‘‘(A) funds directly or
indirectly invested in any applicant or rural business investment company
on or before the date of enactment of this subtitle, by any Federal
agency, other than the Department of Agriculture, under a provision of law
explicitly mandating the inclusion of those funds in the definition of the
term ‘private capital’; and ‘‘(B) funds invested in any
applicant or rural business investment company by 1 or more entities of
any State (including by a political subdivision, agency, or
instrumentality of the State and 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 rural business investment company. ‘‘(13) RURAL BUSINESS CONCERN.—The
term ‘rural business concern’ means— ‘‘(A) a public, private, or
cooperative for-profit or nonprofit organization; ‘‘(B) a for-profit or nonprofit
business controlled by an Indian tribe on a Federal or State reservation
or other federally recognized Indian tribal group; or ‘‘(C) any other person or
entity; that primarily operates in a rural area, as determined by the
Secretary. ‘‘(14) RURAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANY.—The term ‘rural business investment company’ means a
company that— ‘‘(A) has been granted final
approval by the Secretary under section 384D(e); and ‘‘(B) has entered into a
participation agreement with the Secretary. ‘‘(15) SMALLER ENTERPRISE.—The term
‘smaller enterprise’ means any rural 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 subtitle to the rural business concern; and ‘‘(ii) an average net income for the
2-year period preceding the date on which assistance is provided under
this subtitle to the rural 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 rural 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 total of— ‘‘(I) if the rural 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 rural business concern were a
corporation; or ‘‘(B) satisfies the standard
industrial classification size ‘‘SEC. 384B. PURPOSES. ‘‘The purposes of the Rural Business
Investment Program established under this subtitle are— ‘‘(1) to promote economic
development and the creation of wealth and job opportunities in rural
areas and among individuals living in those areas by encouraging
developmental venture capital investments in smaller enterprises primarily
located in rural 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 rural areas,
by authorizing the Secretary— ‘‘(A) to enter into
participation agreements with rural business investment companies; ‘‘(B) to guarantee debentures
of rural business investment companies to enable each rural business
investment company to make developmental venture capital investments in
smaller enterprises in rural areas; and ‘‘(C) to make grants to rural business investment
companies, and to other entities, for the purpose of providing operational
assistance to smaller enterprises financed, or expected to be financed, by
rural business investment companies ‘‘SEC. 384C.
ESTABLISHMENT. ‘‘In accordance with this subtitle,
the Secretary shall establish a Rural Business Investment Program, under
which the Secretary may— ‘‘(1) enter into participation
agreements with companies granted final approval under section 384D(e) for
the purposes set forth in section 384B; ‘‘(2) guarantee the debentures
issued by rural business investment companies as provided in section 384E;
and ‘‘(3) make grants to rural
business investment companies, and to other entities, under section 384H. ‘‘SEC. 384D. SELECTION OF RURAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT
COMPANIES. ‘‘(a) ELIGIBILITY.—A company
shall be eligible to apply to participate, as a rural business investment
company, in the program established under this subtitle if— ‘‘(1) the company is a newly
formed for-profit entity or a newly formed for-profit subsidiary of such
an entity; ‘‘(2) the company has a
management team with experience in community development financing or
relevant venture capital financing; and ‘‘(3) the company will invest
in enterprises that will create wealth and job opportunities in rural
areas, with an emphasis on smaller enterprises. ‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—To
participate, as a rural business investment company, in the program
established under this subtitle, a company meeting the eligibility
requirements of subsection (a) shall submit an application to the
Secretary that includes— ‘‘(1) a business plan
describing how the company intends to make successful developmental
venture capital investments in identified rural areas; ‘‘(2) information regarding the
community development finance or relevant venture capital qualifications
and general reputation of the management of the company; ‘‘(3) a description of how the
company intends to work with community-based organizations and local
entities (including local economic development companies, local lenders,
and local investors) and to seek to address the unmet equity capital needs
of the communities served; ‘‘(4) a proposal describing how
the company intends to use the grant funds provided under this subtitle to
provide operational assistance to smaller enterprises financed by the
company, including information regarding whether the company intends to
use licensed professionals, as necessary, on the staff of
the company or from an outside entity; ‘‘(5) with respect to binding
commitments to be made to the company under this subtitle, 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 purposes of the program established under this subtitle; ‘‘(7) information regarding the
management and financial strength of any parent firm, affiliated firm, or
any other firm essential to the success of the business plan of the
company; and ‘‘(8) such other information as
the Secretary may require. ‘‘(c) STATUS.—Not later than 90 days after
the initial receipt by the Secretary of an application under this section,
the Secretary shall provide to the applicant a written report describing
the status of the application and any requirements remaining for
completion of the application. ‘‘(d) MATTERS CONSIDERED.—In reviewing
and processing any application under this section, the Secretary— ‘‘(1) shall determine
whether— ‘‘(A) the applicant meets the
requirements of subsection (e); and ‘‘(B) the management of the
applicant is qualified and has the knowledge, experience, and capability
necessary to comply with this subtitle; ‘‘(2) shall take into
consideration— ‘‘(A) the need for and
availability of financing for rural business concerns in the geographic
area in which the applicant is to commence business; ‘‘(B) the general business
reputation of the owners and management of the applicant; and ‘‘(C) the probability of
successful operations of the applicant, including adequate profitability
and financial soundness; and ‘‘(3) shall not take into
consideration any projected shortage or unavailability of grant funds or
leverage. ‘‘(e) APPROVAL; LICENSE.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as
provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary may approve an applicant to
operate as a rural business investment company under this subtitle and
license the applicant as a rural business investment company, if— ‘‘(A) the Secretary determines
that the application satisfies the requirements of subsection (b); ‘‘(B) the area in which the rural
business investment company is to conduct its operations, and
establishment of branch offices or agencies (if authorized by the
articles), are approved by the Secretary; and ‘‘(C) the applicant enters into a participation agreement
with the Secretary. ‘‘(2) CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding
any other provision of this subtitle, the Secretary may approve an
applicant to operate as a rural business investment company under this
subtitle and designate the applicant as a rural business investment
company, if the Secretary determines that the applicant— ‘‘(i) has private capital of
more than $2,500,000; ‘‘(ii) would otherwise be
approved under this subtitle, except that the applicant does not satisfy
the requirements of section 384I(c); and ‘‘(iii) has a viable business
plan that— ‘‘(I) reasonably projects
profitable operations; and ‘‘(II)
has a reasonable timetable for achieving a
level of private capital that satisfies the requirements of
section 384I(c). ‘‘(B) LEVERAGE.—An applicant
approved under subparagraph (A) shall not be eligible to receive leverage
under this subtitle until the applicant satisfies the requirements of
section 384I(c). ‘‘(C) GRANTS.—An applicant approved under
subparagraph (A) shall be eligible for grants under section 384H in
proportion to the private capital of the applicant, as determined by the
Secretary. ‘‘SEC. 384E. DEBENTURES. ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may guarantee the
timely payment of principal and interest, as scheduled, on debentures
issued by any rural business investment company. ‘‘(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The
Secretary may make guarantees under this section on such terms and
conditions as the Secretary considers 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.—Section 381H(i) shall apply to
any guarantee under this section. ‘‘(d) MAXIMUM GUARANTEE.—Under this
section, the Secretary may— ‘‘(1) guarantee the debentures issued
by a rural business investment company only to the extent that the total
face amount of outstanding guaranteed debentures of the rural business
investment company does not exceed the lesser of— ‘‘(A) 300 percent of the
private capital of the rural business investment company; or ‘‘(B) $105,000,000; and ‘‘(2) provide for the use of
discounted debentures. ‘‘SEC. 384F. ISSUANCE AND GUARANTEE OF TRUST CERTIFICATES. ‘‘(a) ISSUANCE.—The
Secretary may issue trust certificates representing ownership of all or a
fractional part of debentures issued by a rural business investment
company and guaranteed by the Secretary under this subtitle, if the
certificates are based on and backed by a trust or pool approved by the
Secretary and composed solely of guaranteed debentures. ‘‘(b) GUARANTEE.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The
Secretary may, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers
appropriate, guarantee the timely payment of the principal of and interest
on trust certificates issued by the Secretary or agents of the Secretary
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.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In the event
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 the prepaid debenture represents in the
trust or pool. ‘‘(B) INTEREST.—Interest on
prepaid or defaulted debentures shall accrue and be guaranteed by the
Secretary only through the date of payment of the guarantee. ‘‘(C) REDEMPTION.—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.—Section 381H(i) shall apply to
any guarantee of a trust certificate issued by the Secretary under this
section. ‘‘(d) SUBROGATION AND OWNERSHIP RIGHTS.— ‘‘(1) SUBROGATION.—If the
Secretary pays a claim under a guarantee issued under this section, the
claim shall be subrogated fully to the rights satisfied by the payment. ‘‘(2) OWNERSHIP RIGHTS.—No Federal,
State, or local law shall preclude or limit the exercise by the Secretary
of the ownership rights of the Secretary in a debenture residing in a
trust or pool against which 1 or more trust certificates are issued under
this section. ‘‘(e) MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.— ‘‘(1) REGISTRATION.—The
Secretary shall provide for a central registration of all trust
certificates issued under this section. ‘‘(2) CREATION OF POOLS.—The
Secretary may— ‘‘(A) maintain 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 subtitle; and ‘‘(B) issue trust certificates
to facilitate the creation of those trusts or pools. ‘‘(3) FIDELITY BOND OR INSURANCE REQUIREMENT.—Any agent performing functions on behalf of the Secretary
under this paragraph shall provide a fidelity bond or insurance in such
amount as the Secretary considers to be necessary to fully protect the
interests of the United States. ‘‘(4) REGULATION OF BROKERS AND DEALERS.—The Secretary may regulate brokers and dealers in trust
certificates issued under this section. ‘‘(5) ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION.—Nothing
in this subsection prohibits the use of a book-entry or other electronic
form of registration for trust certificates issued under this section. ‘‘SEC. 384G. FEES. ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may charge such
fees as the Secretary considers appropriate with respect to any guarantee
or grant issued under this subtitle. ‘‘(b) TRUST CERTIFICATE.—Notwithstanding
subsection (a), the Secretary shall not collect a fee for any guarantee of
a trust certificate under section 384F, except that any agent of the
Secretary may collect a fee approved by the Secretary for the functions
described in section 384F(e)(2). ‘‘(c) LICENSE.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The
Secretary may prescribe fees to be paid by each applicant for a license to
operate as a rural business investment company under this subtitle. ‘‘(2) USE OF AMOUNTS.—Fees
collected under this subsection— ‘‘(A) shall be deposited in the
account for salaries and expenses of the Secretary; and ‘‘(B) are authorized to be
appropriated solely to cover the costs of licensing examinations. ‘‘SEC. 384H. OPERATIONAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS. ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with this
section, the Secretary may make grants to rural business investment
companies and to other entities, as authorized by this subtitle, to
provide operational assistance to smaller enterprises financed, or
expected to be financed, by the entities. ‘‘(b) TERMS.—Grants made under this section
shall be made over a multiyear period (not to exceed 10 years) under such
terms as the Secretary may require. ‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—The proceeds of a grant made
under this section may be used by the rural business investment company
receiving the grant only to provide operational assistance in connection
with an equity or prospective equity investment in a business located in a
rural area. ‘‘(d) SUBMISSION OF PLANS.—A rural business investment
company shall be eligible for a grant under this section only if the rural
business investment company submits to the Secretary, in such form and
manner as the Secretary may require, a plan for use of the grant. ‘‘(e) GRANT AMOUNT.— ‘‘(1) RURAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANIES.—The amount of a grant made under this section to a rural
business investment company shall be equal to the lesser of— ‘‘(A) 10 percent of the private
capital raised by the rural business investment company; or ‘‘(B) $1,000,000. ‘‘(2) OTHER ENTITIES.—The amount
of a grant made under this section to any entity other than a rural
business investment company shall be equal to the resources (in cash or in
kind) raised by the entity in accordance with the requirements applicable
to rural business investment companies under this subtitle. ‘‘SEC. 384I. RURAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANIES. ‘‘(a) ORGANIZATION.—For the
purpose of this subtitle, a rural business investment company shall— ‘‘(1) 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 authorized by this
subtitle; ‘‘(2)(A) if incorporated, have
succession for a period of not less than 30 years unless earlier dissolved
by the shareholders of the rural business investment company; and ‘‘(B) if a limited partnership
or a limited liability company, have succession for a period of not less
than 10 years; and ‘‘(3) possess the powers
reasonably necessary to perform the functions and conduct the activities. ‘‘(b) ARTICLES.—The articles
of any rural business investment company— ‘‘(1) shall specify in general
terms— ‘‘(A) the purposes for which
the rural business investment company is formed; ‘‘(B) the name of the rural
business investment company; ‘‘(C) the area or areas in
which the operations of the rural business investment company are to be
carried out; ‘‘(D) the place where the
principal office of the rural business investment company is to be
located; and ‘‘(E) the amount and classes of
the shares of capital stock of the rural business investment company; ‘‘(2) may contain any other
provisions consistent with this subtitle that the rural business
investment company may determine appropriate to adopt for the regulation
of the business of the rural business investment company and the conduct
of the affairs of the rural business investment company; and ‘‘(3) shall be subject to the
approval of the Secretary. ‘‘(c) CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as
provided in paragraph (2), the private capital of each rural business
investment company shall be not less than— ‘‘(A) $5,000,000; or ‘‘(B) $10,000,000, with respect
to each rural business investment company authorized or seeking authority
to issue participating securities to be purchased or guaranteed by the
Secretary under this subtitle. ‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The
Secretary may, in the discretion of the Secretary and based on a showing
of special circumstances and good cause, permit the private capital of a
rural business investment company described in paragraph (1)(B) to be less
than $10,000,000, but not less than $5,000,000, if the Secretary
determines that the 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 Secretary shall— ‘‘(A) determine whether the
private capital of each rural business investment company is adequate to
ensure a reasonable prospect that the rural business investment company
will be operated soundly and profitably, and managed actively and
prudently in accordance with the articles of the rural business investment
company; ‘‘(B) determine that the rural
business investment company will be able to comply with the requirements
of this subtitle; ‘‘(C) require that at least 75
percent of the capital of each rural business investment company is
invested in rural business concerns and not more than 10 percent of the investments shall be made in an area containing a city of
over 150,000 in the last decennial census and the Census Bureau defined
urbanized area containing or adjacent to that city; ‘‘(D) ensure that the rural
business investment company is designed primarily to meet equity capital
needs of the businesses in which the rural business investment company
invests and not to compete with traditional small business financing by
commercial lenders; and ‘‘(E) require that the rural
business investment company makes short-term non-equity investments of
less than 5 years only to the extent necessary to preserve an existing
investment. ‘‘(d) DIVERSIFICATION OF OWNERSHIP.—The
Secretary shall ensure that the management of each rural business
investment company licensed after the date of enactment of this subtitle
is sufficiently diversified from and unaffiliated with the ownership of
the rural business investment company so as to ensure independence and objectivity in the financial management and oversight of
the investments and operations of the rural business investment company. ‘‘SEC. 384J. FINANCIAL INSTITUTION INVESTMENTS. ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in
this section and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following
banks, associations, and institutions are eligible both to establish and
invest in any rural business investment company or in any entity
established to invest solely in rural business investment companies: ‘‘(1) Any bank or savings
association the deposits of which are insured under the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.). ‘‘(2) Any Farm Credit System
institution described in section 1.2(a) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12
U.S.C. 2002(a)). ‘‘(b) LIMITATION.—No bank,
association, or institution described in subsection (a) may make
investments described in subsection (a) that are greater than 5 percent of
the capital and surplus of the bank, association, or institution. ‘‘(c) LIMITATION ON RURAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANIES CONTROLLED BY FARM CREDIT SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS.—If a Farm
Credit System institution described in section 1.2(a) of the Farm Credit
Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2002(a)) holds more than 15 percent of the shares
of a rural business investment company, either alone or in conjunction
with other System institutions (or affiliates), the rural business
investment company shall not provide equity investments in, or provide
other financial assistance to, entities that are not otherwise eligible to
receive financing from the Farm Credit System under that Act (12 U.S.C.
2001 et seq.). ‘‘SEC. 384K. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. ‘‘(a) RURAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANIES.—Each rural
business investment company that participates in the program established
under this subtitle shall provide to the Secretary such information as the
Secretary may require, including— ‘‘(1) information relating to
the measurement criteria that the rural business investment company
proposed in the program application of the rural business investment
company; and ‘‘(2) in each case in which the
rural business investment company under this subtitle makes an investment
in, or a loan or grant to, a business that is not located in a rural area,
a report on the number and percentage of employees of the business who
reside in those areas. ‘‘(b) PUBLIC REPORTS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The
Secretary shall prepare and make available to the public an annual report
on the program established under this subtitle, including detailed
information on— ‘‘(A) the number of rural
business investment companies licensed by the Secretary during the
previous fiscal year; ‘‘(B) the aggregate amount of
leverage that rural business investment companies have received from the
Federal Government during the previous fiscal year; ‘‘(C) the aggregate number of
each type of leveraged instruments used by rural business investment
companies during the previous fiscal year and how each number compares to
previous fiscal years; ‘‘(D) the number of rural
business investment company licenses surrendered and the number of rural
business investment companies placed in liquidation during the previous
fiscal year, identifying the amount of leverage each rural business
investment company has received from the Federal Government and the type
of leverage instruments each rural business investment company has used; ‘‘(E) the amount of losses
sustained by the Federal Government as a result of operations under this
subtitle during the previous fiscal year and an estimate of the total
losses that the Federal Government can reasonably expect to incur as a
result of the operations during the current fiscal year; ‘‘(F) actions taken by the
Secretary to maximize recoupment of funds of the Federal Government
expended to implement and administer the Rural Business Investment Program
under this subtitle during the previous fiscal year and to ensure
compliance with the requirements of this subtitle (including regulations); ‘‘(G) the amount of Federal
Government leverage that each licensee
received in the previous fiscal year and the types of leverage instruments
each licensee used; ‘‘(H) for each type of
financing instrument, the sizes, types of geographic locations, and other
characteristics of the small business investment companies using the
instrument during the previous fiscal year, including the extent to which
the investment companies have used the leverage from each instrument to
make loans or equity investments in rural areas; and ‘‘(I) the actions of the
Secretary to carry out this subtitle.
‘‘(2) PROHIBITION.—In compiling
the report required under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not— ‘‘(A) compile the report in a manner that permits
identification of any particular type of investment by an individual rural
business investment company or small business concern in which a rural
business investment company invests; and ‘‘(B) may not release any
information that is prohibited under section 1905 of title 18, United
States Code. ‘‘SEC. 384L. EXAMINATIONS. ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each rural business investment
company that participates in the program established under this subtitle
shall be subject to examinations made at the direction of the Secretary in
accordance with this section. ‘‘(b) ASSISTANCE OF PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITIES.—An
examination under this section may be conducted with the assistance of a
private sector entity that has the qualifications and the expertise
necessary to conduct such an examination. ‘‘(c) COSTS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The
Secretary may assess the cost of an examination under this section,
including compensation of the examiners, against the rural business
investment company examined. ‘‘(2) PAYMENT.—Any rural business investment company against which the
Secretary assesses costs under this paragraph shall pay the costs. ‘‘(d) DEPOSIT OF FUNDS.—Funds collected under this
section shall— ‘‘(1) be deposited in the
account that incurred the costs for carrying out this section; ‘‘(2) be made available to the
Secretary to carry out this section, without further appropriation; and ‘‘(3) remain available until
expended. ‘‘SEC. 384M. INJUNCTIONS AND OTHER ORDERS. ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— ‘‘(1) APPLICATION BY SECRETARY.—Whenever,
in the judgment of the Secretary, a rural business investment company or
any other person has engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice
that constitutes or will constitute a violation of a provision of this
subtitle (including any rule, regulation, order, or participation
agreement under this subtitle), the Secretary may apply to the appropriate
district court of the United States for an order enjoining the act or
practice, or for an order enforcing compliance with the provision, rule,
regulation, order, or participation agreement. ‘‘(2) JURISDICTION; RELIEF.—The court shall have
jurisdiction over the action and, on a showing by the Secretary that the
rural business investment company or other person has engaged or is about
to engage in an act or practice described in paragraph
(1), a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or
other order, shall be granted without bond. ‘‘(b) JURISDICTION.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In any
proceeding under subsection (a), the court as a court of equity may, to
such extent as the court considers necessary, take exclusive jurisdiction
over the rural business investment company and the assets of the rural
business investment company, wherever located. ‘‘(2) TRUSTEE OR RECEIVER.—The court
shall have jurisdiction in any proceeding described in paragraph (1) to
appoint a trustee or receiver to hold or administer the assets. ‘‘(c) SECRETARY AS TRUSTEE OR RECEIVER.— ‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—The
Secretary may act as trustee or receiver of a rural business investment
company. ‘‘(2) APPOINTMENT.—On the
request of the Secretary, the court shall appoint the Secretary to act as
a trustee or receiver of a rural business investment company unless the
court considers the appointment inequitable or otherwise inappropriate by
reason of any special circumstances involved. ‘‘SEC. 384N. ADDITIONAL PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE. |