82_FR_39494 82 FR 39335 - Small Business Investment Companies: Passive Business Expansion and Technical Clarifications

82 FR 39335 - Small Business Investment Companies: Passive Business Expansion and Technical Clarifications

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 159 (August 18, 2017)

Page Range39335-39341
FR Document2017-17456

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is withdrawing the final rule concerning Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) investments in passive businesses that was published on December 28, 2016, and is replacing it with this final rule. This final rule expands SBIC permitted investments in passive businesses and includes new reporting and other requirements for passive investments. This rule also makes a few minor technical amendments.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 159 (Friday, August 18, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 159 (Friday, August 18, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39335-39341]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17456]



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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 39335]]



SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

13 CFR Part 107

RIN 3245-AG67


Small Business Investment Companies: Passive Business Expansion 
and Technical Clarifications

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.

ACTION: Final rule and withdrawal of final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is withdrawing 
the final rule concerning Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) 
investments in passive businesses that was published on December 28, 
2016, and is replacing it with this final rule. This final rule expands 
SBIC permitted investments in passive businesses and includes new 
reporting and other requirements for passive investments. This rule 
also makes a few minor technical amendments.

DATES: As of August 18, 2017, the final rule published December 28, 
2016 (81 FR 95424), delayed until March 21, 2017, on January 26, 2017 
(82 FR 8499), further delayed until May 20, 2017, on March 21, 2017 (82 
FR 14428), and further delayed until August 18, 2017, on May 2, 2017 
(82 FR 20433), is withdrawn. The amendments in this rule are effective 
September 18, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theresa Jamerson, Office of Investment 
and Innovation, (202) 205-7563 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background Information

    The SBIC Program is an SBA financing program authorized under Title 
III of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, 15 U.S.C. 681 et seq. 
Congress created the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program 
to ``stimulate and supplement the flow of private equity capital and 
long-term loan funds, which small-business concerns need for the sound 
financing of their business operations and for their growth, expansion, 
and modernization, and which are not available in adequate supply. . . 
.'' 15 U.S.C. 661. Congress intended that the program ``be carried out 
in such manner as to insure the maximum participation of private 
financing sources.'' Id. In accordance with that policy, SBA does not 
invest directly in small businesses. Rather, through the SBIC Program, 
SBA licenses and provides debenture leverage (Leverage) to SBICs. SBICs 
are privately-owned and professionally managed for-profit investment 
funds that make loans to, and investments in, qualified small 
businesses using a combination of privately raised capital and Leverage 
guaranteed by SBA. SBA will guarantee the repayment of debentures 
issued by an SBIC up to a maximum of $150 million or three times the 
amount of the SBIC's qualifying private capital, whichever is less 
(although pursuant to SBA's regulations and credit policies, SBA rarely 
approves an SBIC to have a maximum amount of Leverage outstanding in 
excess of two times the amount of the SBIC's qualifying private 
capital).
    SBICs are generally prohibited from investing in passive businesses 
under the Act. Prior to this final rule, the SBIC program regulations 
provided for the following two exceptions that allowed an SBIC to 
structure an investment utilizing a passive small business as a pass-
through:
    A. ``Holding company exception''--Sec.  107.720(b)(2): This 
exception provides conditions under which an SBIC may structure an 
investment through up to two levels of passive entities to make an 
investment in a non-passive business that is a subsidiary of the 
passive business directly financed by the SBIC. The regulation defines 
a subsidiary company as one in which the financed passive business 
directly or indirectly owns at least 50% of the outstanding voting 
securities. As an example, this exception allows an SBIC to finance ABC 
Holdings 1, a passive small business, with the proceeds flowing through 
ABC Holdings 2, another passive small business, and then to ABC 
Manufacturing, a non-passive small business in which ABC Holdings 1 
owns directly or indirectly at least 50% of the outstanding voting 
securities.
    B. ``Blocker corporation exception''--Sec.  107.720(b)(3): This 
exception enables a partnership SBIC, with SBA's prior approval, to 
provide financing to a small business through a passive, wholly-owned C 
corporation, but only if a direct financing would cause one or more of 
the SBIC's investors to incur Unrelated Business Taxable Income (UBTI). 
A passive C corporation formed under the second exception is commonly 
known as a blocker corporation.
    On October 5, 2015, SBA published a proposed rule, Small Business 
Investment Companies: Passive Business Expansion and Technical 
Clarifications (80 FR 60077), to further expand the permitted use of 
passive businesses, provide clarification with regard to investments in 
such businesses, and make minor technical clarifications. SBA received 
three comments on the proposed rule, not including one comment that 
generally questioned the fairness of the Act as a whole and did not 
provide any specific comments on the rule. The three comments pertinent 
to the rule are addressed in Section II.
    On December 28, 2016, SBA published a final rule regarding SBIC 
investments in passive businesses, 81 FR 95419, which had an effective 
date of January 27, 2017. On January 26, 2017, SBA published a notice 
in the Federal Register at 82 FR 8499, to delay the effective date of 
the final rule until March 21, 2017, and to re-open the rule for 
additional public comment in accordance with the memorandum dated 
January 20, 2017, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of 
Staff, entitled ``Regulatory Freeze Pending Review.'' SBA received one 
comment that supported the December 2016 final rule. On March 21, 2017, 
SBA published another notice to delay the effective date of the final 
rule until May 20, 2017, to give the new administration time to further 
consider the rule. 82 FR 14428. After completing its review, SBA issued 
another delay notice at 82 FR 20433 (May 2, 2017), which stated that 
SBA was considering removing a provision in the final rule published on 
December 28, 2016 that would allow SBICs to use a blocker corporation 
if an investor in an SBIC had elected to be taxed as a regulated 
investment company (RIC), and if a direct investment into the operating 
company

[[Page 39336]]

would jeopardize the investor's RIC status. As part of this document, 
SBA asked for additional comments regarding the removal of this 
provision, and delayed the effective date of the December 28, 2016 
final rule until August 18, 2017. SBA received one comment in response 
to its proposed change. This comment is addressed in Section II.
    SBA is withdrawing the final rule published on December 28, 2016, 
and is replacing it with this final rule. This final rule expands 
permitted investments in passive businesses, provides further 
clarification with regard to investments in such businesses, and adds 
certain requirements to improve SBA's ability to monitor such 
investments. The rule also includes a conforming change to the 
regulations regarding the amount of Leverage available to SBICs under 
common control to be consistent with the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2016, Public Law 114-113, 129 Stat. 2242 (December 22, 2015), 
which increased the maximum amount of such Leverage from $225 million 
to $350 million.

II. Section-by-Section Analysis

    This section discusses the comments SBA received on the proposed 
rule dated October 5, 2017 (80 FR 60077), as well as the comment 
received in response to the notice published on May 2, 2017 (82 FR 
20433).

A. Passive Business Rules

Section 107.720--Small Businesses That May Be Ineligible for Financing
    1. Changes to Holding Company Exception Sec.  107.720(b)(2): SBA 
proposed revisions to Sec.  107.720(b)(2) to explicitly permit an SBIC 
to form and finance a passive business that will either pass the 
proceeds through to or use the proceeds to acquire all or part of a 
non-passive business. These changes were intended to codify SBA's 
existing interpretation of the regulations.
    SBA received two comments on Sec.  107.720(b)(2) indicating that 
the proposed changes would be more effective if the passive business 
directly financed was not required to own at least 50 percent of the 
underlying active business. Commenters also suggested that SBICs be 
allowed to structure investments using passive investment vehicles 
``irrespective of the number of parent entities involved so long as the 
parent entities in question directly or indirectly own or control at 
least 50 percent of the voting or economic interests of the active 
business.'' SBA received similar comments as part of the rulemaking 
process when it last proposed expanding the permitted use of passive 
businesses on December 23, 2013 (78 FR 77377). SBA considered these 
comments a second time in developing this final rule; however, neither 
set of comments was adopted. SBA believes that complex investment 
structures involving passive entities require more protections, not 
fewer. Although the new Sec.  107.720(b)(4) should help address some of 
SBA's credit concerns with respect to these structures, SBA believes 
that the subsidiary relationship between the financed passive business 
and the active company must be maintained to facilitate SBA's access to 
the information and records needed to effectively monitor these 
transactions and to aid in the recovery of assets in the event of a 
default. SBA also maintains its position that effective monitoring of 
transactions with unlimited levels of passive companies would require 
resources well beyond those available to the Agency. Proposed Sec.  
107.720(b)(2) is adopted without change.
    2. Changes to Blocker Corporation Exception--Sec.  107.720(b)(3): 
The proposed rule included the following changes to Sec.  
107.720(b)(3):
    a. Removing the requirement to obtain SBA's prior approval to form 
a blocker corporation;
    b. Permitting an SBIC to form a blocker corporation to enable any 
foreign investors to avoid effectively connected income (ECI) under the 
Internal Revenue Code;
    c. Permitting a blocker corporation to provide financing to a 
second passive small business that passes the proceeds through to a 
non-passive small business in which it owns at least 50 percent of the 
outstanding voting securities (effectively permitting an investment 
structured with two levels of passive companies, one of which is the 
blocker corporation); and
    d. Removing outdated language indicating that an SBIC's ownership 
of a blocker corporation formed under Sec.  107.720(b)(3) will not 
constitute a violation of Sec.  107.865(a). This provision was rendered 
unnecessary by a rule change in 2002 (67 FR 64789) that revised Sec.  
107.865(a) to permit an SBIC to exercise control over a small business 
for up to seven years without SBA approval.
    SBA received comments on proposed Sec.  107.720(b)(3) as discussed 
below:
    a. Regulated Investment Company (RIC) Exception. All three 
commenters asked that the regulations provide an additional exception 
for SBICs that are wholly owned subsidiaries of Business Development 
Companies (BDCs). A BDC typically elects to be taxed as a RIC pursuant 
to Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In general, a RIC 
is not subject to U.S. Federal income taxes on income and gains that it 
distributes to stockholders, provided that it satisfies certain minimum 
distribution requirements. To qualify as a RIC, a BDC must satisfy 
certain source of income and asset-diversification tests; among other 
things, a RIC must generally derive at least 90% of its gross income 
for each taxable year from certain types of investment. In particular, 
the commenters explained that equity interests in pass-through entities 
(such as an LLC or S corporation) generate operating income that, if 
received or deemed received directly by a BDC, could disqualify the BDC 
from maintaining RIC status, and therefore, such interests must often 
be held through a blocker corporation. The commenters requested that 
Sec.  107.720(b)(3) be revised to permit an SBIC to form a blocker 
corporation to avoid adverse tax consequences to an investor (typically 
a parent BDC) that has elected to be taxed as a RIC.
    The final rule published on December 28, 2016 (81 FR 95419) adopted 
this comment. However, in the delay notice published on May 2, 2017 (82 
FR 20433), SBA stated that it was considering removing this provision 
and solicited comment from the public on that proposed action. The 
notice cited SBA's concern that, in light of the increased complexities 
involved in monitoring and examining investments structured through 
blocker entities, the expanded use of such entities could increase risk 
to the SBIC program unless SBA were to increase examination resources 
to monitor these complex transactions. The notice further explained 
that while SBA expects limited use of blocker entities for the purposes 
of avoiding UBTI and ECI (because these situations apply to only a few 
SBICs), SBA would expect significantly greater usage of blocker 
entities by SBICs that are subsidiaries of BDCs that have elected to be 
taxed as RICs. Currently, there are 31 SBICs with BDC investors (BDC-
SBICs) that collectively account for over 23% of SBA's outstanding 
Leverage, and SBA expects that most of them would make use of blocker 
entities if the RIC exception were to be finalized.
    SBA received one comment stating that not including the RIC 
exception would prevent BDC-SBICs from taking equity positions and 
benefiting from the upside afforded by equity investments. While the 
commenter strongly

[[Page 39337]]

supported SBA's goal of protecting taxpayers, the commenter believed 
that this goal may be better served by including the RIC exception and 
thereby increasing a BDC-SBIC's potential for maximizing profits. The 
commenter further noted that the profits from a single successful 
equity investment can offset losses on other investments and that SBA's 
guarantee is protected by a BDC-SBIC's portfolio as a whole. The 
commenter suggested that SBA consider creating the RIC exception, but 
making the exception subject to SBA prior approval. SBA recognizes that 
not including the RIC exception for blocker corporations limits a BDC-
SBIC's ability to execute some transactions; however, due to the large 
amount of outstanding Leverage held by BDC-SBICs, SBA remains concerned 
that these investments would unacceptably increase risk to SBA absent 
an increase in SBA's resources to monitor and examine such investments. 
Adding a requirement for SBA's prior approval of a blocker entity does 
not address this concern; SBA would still need to review and approve 
the transactions and examine each of the passive businesses used in the 
transaction. For this reason, this final rule does not include the RIC 
exception. SBA notes that BDC-SBICs may still take equity positions in 
small businesses not structured as pass through entities and also may 
invest using any passive structure permitted under Sec.  107.720(b)(2).
    b. Blocker Entity Form of Organization. At the proposed stage of 
this rule, SBA received two comments suggesting that non-corporate 
forms of organization should be permitted for blocker entities. The 
commenters explained that these structures are often ``more streamlined 
in terms of corporate formalities than a C corporation'' and suggested 
the regulations allow ``any entity that elects to be taxed as a 
corporation for Federal income tax purposes.'' SBA considered this 
suggestion to be overly broad, but partially adopted this suggestion in 
this final rule by allowing a blocker entity to be structured as an LLC 
that elects to be taxed as a corporation.
    c. Two Level Holding Company Financing. Two commenters indicated 
that Sec.  107.720(b)(3) should allow SBICs to structure a financing 
with a blocker entity coupled with two additional levels of passive 
holding companies as defined in Sec.  107.720(b)(2). The commenters 
stated that the proposed rule puts an SBIC that requires a blocker 
entity to accommodate its investors at a disadvantage compared to other 
SBICs that do not require a blocker entity, since the blocker entity 
can only finance a single passive business entity that in turn makes an 
investment into an active business. For example, an SBIC with a foreign 
investor would not be able to participate in a financing that is 
structured as a two-level passive business financing under Sec.  
107.720(b)(2), if it also needed a separate passive business to serve 
as a blocker entity in order to avoid effectively connected income. If 
adopted, this suggestion would effectively permit up to three levels of 
passive businesses between the SBIC and the operating business. These 
additional levels of passive businesses impose a burden on SBA as 
regulator and increase the Agency's credit risk. SBA believes that two 
levels of passive businesses under either exception should provide 
SBICs with sufficient flexibility to operate successfully, and this 
final rule does not adopt the suggested change.
    d. SBA did not receive any comments on the proposed change to Sec.  
107.720(b)(3) regarding the removal of outdated language. This rule 
adopts the change as proposed.
    3. Additional Passive Business Guidance--Sec.  107.720(b)(4): The 
proposed rule identified SBA's concerns with regard to passive 
investments, including ensuring the financing dollars go to the 
eligible non-passive small business, fees being charged at each passive 
business level, and SBA's ability to access passive business financial 
records, especially in the case of a defaulting SBIC. To address these 
concerns, SBA proposed making the following changes in new Sec.  
107.720(b)(4), which would apply to any eligible passive investment 
made under Sec.  107.720(b)(2) or (b)(3):
    a. ``Substantially All'' Definition. Clarifying the meaning of 
``substantially all'' in Sec.  107.720(b)(2) and (b)(3) to mean 99 
percent of the financing proceeds after deduction of actual application 
fees, closing fees, and expense reimbursements, which may not exceed 
those permitted under Sec.  107.860.
    b. Fee Requirements. Requiring fees charged by an SBIC or its 
Associate under Sec. Sec.  107.860 and 107.900 to not exceed those 
permitted if the SBIC had directly financed the eligible Small Business 
and requiring any such fees received by an SBIC's Associate to be paid 
to the SBIC in cash within 30 days of receipt.
    c. ``Portfolio Concern'' Clarification. Clarifying that both 
passive and non-passive businesses included in a financing are 
``Portfolio Concerns''; therefore, they are subject to record keeping 
and reporting obligations with respect to any ``Portfolio Concern,'' 
defined in Sec.  107.50 as ``a Small Business Assisted by a Licensee.''
    SBA received 3 comments on proposed Sec.  107.720(b)(4) as 
discussed below:
    a. ``Substantially All'' Definition. Commenters suggested that the 
definition of ``substantially all'' be lowered to 95 percent of the 
proceeds instead of 99% of the proceeds because they were concerned 
that the 99 percent threshold ``may be too limiting and pose issues in 
deal structuring.'' SBA did not adopt this comment. The definition 
already excludes allowable fees and expense reimbursements permitted 
under Sec. Sec.  107.860 and 107.900, and SBA believes that a 95 
percent threshold could result in excessive expenses being charged by 
the passive businesses, effectively diverting proceeds from the 
intended operating business. Although this percentage may seem 
inconsequential, 4% of a $20 million financing represents $800,000 that 
could be diverted from the operating business.
    b. Fee Requirements. Two commenters suggested removing the 
requirement that fees received by an Associate must be paid over in 
cash to the SBIC. They noted that SBIC program policy guidance known as 
TechNote 7a, which provides guidelines concerning allowable management 
expenses for leveraged SBICs (see www.sba.gov/sbicpolicy), already 
requires that 100% of fees collected under Sec.  107.860 or Sec.  
107.900 must benefit the SBIC, either by being paid directly to the 
SBIC or (if paid to an Associate) through a corresponding reduction in 
the management fee paid by the SBIC, typically called a ``management 
fee offset.'' Commenters also indicated that management fee offsets 
have tax advantages relative to other approaches. Although SBA 
recognizes that management fee offsets can provide tax advantages, SBA 
did not adopt this suggestion because of the difficulty in monitoring 
investments utilizing passive businesses and identifying fees 
associated with each passive business in addition to those paid by the 
operating business.
    c. ``Portfolio Concern'' Clarification. Two commenters indicated 
that the clarification of Portfolio Concern should be revised to apply 
only ``for the purposes of this part 107.720'' to avoid any unintended 
effects arising from the use of the term ``Portfolio Concern'' in other 
sections of the regulations. The commenters indicated that this 
adjustment would still allow SBA to retain the necessary information 
rights contemplated by the proposed rule. A search for the term 
``Portfolio Concern''

[[Page 39338]]

within the regulations identified the following:
     Sec.  107.50 defines ``Portfolio Concern'' as ``a Small 
Business Assisted by a Licensee.''
     Sec. Sec.  107.600-107.660 describe record keeping and 
information requirements, including those for a Portfolio Concern.
     Sec.  107.730 discusses conflicts of interest with regards 
to Portfolio Concerns.
     Sec.  107.760 discusses how a change in size or activity 
affect the Licensee with regard to a Portfolio Concern.
     Sec.  107.850 discusses restrictions on redemption of 
Equity Securities of a Portfolio Concern.

SBA believes that all of the requirements in these sections are 
applicable to passive business financings. Therefore, this suggestion 
was not adopted.
    4. Section 107.610 Required certifications for Loans and 
Investments. The proposed rule also added a certification requirement 
to Sec.  107.610 to require an SBIC that finances a business under 
Sec.  107.720(b)(3) to certify as to the qualifying basis for such 
financing. The certification replaces the requirement for SBA prior 
approval of the formation and financing of a blocker corporation.
    As previously discussed under the changes to Sec.  107.720(b)(3) 
paragraph, the December 2016 final rule, 81 FR 95419 (December 28, 
2016), would have permitted the formation of a blocker entity by an 
SBIC with an investor that had elected to be taxed as a RIC. Since this 
final rule does not include the RIC exception, that portion of the 
certification requirement has been removed from Sec.  107.610 in this 
final rule. The final Sec.  107.610 adopts the proposed rule (80 FR 
60077) language with respect to the formation of blocker entities to 
accommodate investors subject to UBTI or ECI with minor technical 
changes to clarify these two permitted exceptions.

B. Technical Changes

    SBA also proposed the following technical changes to the 
regulations:
    1. Section 107.50 Definition of terms. Changing ``Associates's'' to 
``Associate's''.
    2. Section 107.210 Minimum capital requirements for Licensees. 
Modifying paragraph (a) of Sec.  107.210 to allow both Leverageable 
Capital and Regulatory Capital to fall below the stated minimums if the 
reductions are performed in accordance with an SBA-approved wind-up 
plan per Sec.  107.590(c), to conform with SBA's current oversight 
practices.
    3. Section 107.503 Licensee's adoption of an approved valuation 
policy. Changing the last sentence of Sec.  107.503(a) to indicate that 
valuation guidelines for SBICs may be obtained from the SBIC program's 
public Web site, www.sba.gov/sbic.
    4. Section 107.630 Requirement for Licensees to file financial 
statements with SBA (Form 468). Removing current Sec.  107.630(d), 
which provides a mailing address for submission of SBA Form 468, and 
re-designating paragraph (e) as paragraph (d). These instructions are 
no longer necessary because SBICs submit this information 
electronically using the SBA's web-based application.
    5. Section 107.1100 Types of Leverage and application procedures. 
Correcting the misspelling of ``Yu'' to ``You'' and removing paragraph 
(c), which identifies where to send Leverage applications. This 
paragraph is unnecessary because the application forms provide these 
instructions.
    None of the comments SBA received in response to the proposed rule 
were related to these technical changes. This final rule incorporates 
these changes as proposed.

C. Increase to Maximum Leverage to SBICs Under Common Control

    Section 521 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, amended 
section 303(b)(2) of the Act to increase the maximum amount of Leverage 
available to two or more SBICs under Common Control from $225 million 
to $350 million. SBA defines Common Control in 13 CFR 107.50 to mean a 
condition where two or more persons, either through ownership, 
management, contract, or otherwise, are under the control of one group 
or person. SBA presumes that two or more SBICs are under Common Control 
if, among other things, they have common officers, directors, or 
general partners. Currently, 13 CFR 107.1150(b) limits two or more 
SBICs under Common Control to the maximum aggregate amount of 
outstanding Leverage of $225 million, which amount is subject to 
further limitations under SBA's credit policies. Solely as a conforming 
change, this rule increases the maximum amount set forth in the 
regulation from $225 million to $350 million. This statutory change was 
not addressed previously because it had not yet been enacted when the 
rule was proposed. Now that it has, the technical change has been 
included to ensure consistency between the regulations and the current 
law.

Compliance With Executive Orders 12866, 12988, 13132, 13563, and 13771, 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Ch. 35) and the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612)

Executive Order 12866

    The Office of Management and Budget has determined that this rule 
is not a ``significant'' regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. 
This is also not a ``major'' rule under the Congressional Review Act, 5 
U.S.C. 801, et seq.

Executive Order 12988

    This rule meets applicable standards set forth in section 3(a) and 
3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize 
litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden. The rule does not 
have retroactive or presumptive effect.

Executive Order 13132

    This final rule will not have substantial direct effects on the 
States, or the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Therefore, for the purposes of Executive 
Order 13132, Federalism, SBA determines that this rule has no 
federalism implications warranting the preparation of a federalism 
assessment.

Executive Order 13563

    This final rule was developed in response to comments received on 
previously proposed amendments to these regulations on investments in 
passive businesses. See 78 FR 77377 (December 23, 2013). SBA received 
one set of comments on that proposed rule that suggested changes to 
further liberalize permitted financings to passive businesses under 
Sec.  107.720(b). In response to the comment, SBA indicated in the 
related final rule published on October 21, 2014 (79 FR 62819), that it 
would further consider the suggested changes in a future rulemaking. As 
part of that reconsideration, SBA discussed the comments with industry 
representatives and solicited additional comments in the proposed rule 
published in October 2015 at 80 FR 60077. In December 2016, SBA 
published a final rule that reflected the industry feedback, as well as 
comments from the general public. 81 FR 95419 (December 28, 2016). 
After reconsideration of that published final rule in accordance with 
the memorandum, dated January 20, 2017, from the Assistant to the 
President and Chief of Staff, entitled ``Regulatory Freeze Pending 
Review,'' as discussed above, on three separate occasions SBA delayed 
implementation of the rule.

[[Page 39339]]

SBA also solicited additional comments from the public. Any comments 
received in response to those requests were also considered in 
finalizing this rule.

Executive Order 13771

    This rule is not an EO 13771 regulatory action because this rule is 
not significant under EO 12866.

Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. Ch. 35

    SBA has determined that this rule would impose additional reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act. In 
particular, this rule implements changes to the Portfolio Financing 
Report, SBA Form 1031 (OMB Control Number 3245-0078), to clarify 
information to be reported in Parts A, B, and C of the form. Both the 
proposed rule (80 FR 60077) and the December 2016 Final Passive 
Business Rule (81 FR 95419) included additional questions in a new Part 
D on the Form 1031 to collect information regarding Impact SBIC 
investments. These additions were related to the proposed rule, 
entitled ``Impact SBICs,'' published on February 3, 2016 (81 FR 5666), 
which would have defined a new class of SBICs in the regulations. 
However, because SBA is not finalizing that rule, these questions are 
no longer required and have been removed from the Form 1031. As a 
result, proposed Parts E and F have been designated as Parts D and E, 
respectively, in the revised Form 1031 and are discussed in detail 
below.
    The title, description of respondents, description of the 
information collection and the changes to it are discussed below with 
an estimate of the revised annual burden. Included in the estimate is 
the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing 
each collection of information.
    Title: Portfolio Financing Report, SBA Form 1031 (OMB Control 
Number 3245-0078).
    Summary: SBA Form 1031 is a currently approved information 
collection. SBA regulations, specifically Sec.  107.640, require all 
SBICs to submit a Portfolio Financing Report using SBA Form 1031 for 
each financing that an SBIC provides to a Small Business Concern within 
30 days after closing an investment. SBA uses the information provided 
on Form 1031 to evaluate SBIC compliance with regulatory requirements. 
The form is also SBA's primary source of information for compiling 
statistics on the SBIC program as a provider of capital to small 
businesses. The proposed rule (80 FR 60077) invited the public to 
provide comments on the following changes to SBA Form 1031:
    (1) Clarifying that SBICs should report the non-passive Small 
Business Concern information in the Form 1031. SBA has noted that SBICs 
sometimes report data on the passive Small Business Concern rather than 
the non-passive Small Business Concern when reporting financing 
information. SBA has clarified that the SBIC should report data on the 
non-passive Small Business Concern when reporting information on 
financings using passive businesses in the Form 1031 Part A--the Small 
Business Concern; Part B--the pre-financing data; and Part C--the 
financing information, with the exception of the financing dollars in 
Question 29. The amount of financing dollars provided by the SBIC 
should be the total amount of such financing, regardless of whether the 
dollars were provided directly or indirectly to the non-passive 
business concern. Example: The SBIC provides $5 million in equity to 
ABC Holding Corporation, which passes $4.98 million to the non-passive 
business, Acme Manufacturing LLC. In addition, the SBIC provides $5 
million in debt directly to Acme Manufacturing LLC. The SBIC would 
report information on Acme Manufacturing LLC in Parts A, B, and C. 
However, the total financing dollars would be reported as $5 million in 
equity and $5 million in debt for a total of $10 million in total 
financing dollars.
    (2) Identifying financings using one or more passive businesses. 
SBA has added a question on whether the financing utilizes one or more 
passive businesses as part of the financing, to help SBA identify these 
financings.
    (3) Adding information on passive business financings to aid in 
regulatory compliance monitoring. SBA has also added a requirement 
under the new Part D for SBICs to upload a file in Portable Document 
Format (PDF) that contains the following information, which SBA will 
use to help assess whether the financing meets regulatory compliance:
    (a) Qualifying exception: Identification of the passive business 
exception under which the financing is made (i.e., Sec.  107.720(b)(2) 
Exception for pass-through of proceeds to subsidiary, or Sec.  
107.720(b)(3) Exception for certain Partnership Licensees). If the SBIC 
indicates that the financing is made under Sec.  107.720(b)(3), it 
would also indicate the qualifying basis for the financing (i.e., 
financing would cause an investor in the fund to incur unrelated 
business taxable income or effectively connected income).
    (b) Passive Business Entities: Identification of the name and 
employer ID number for each passive business entity used within the 
financing. This is needed so that SBA can identify all Portfolio 
Concerns involved in the financing.
    (c) Financing Structure Description: A description of the financing 
structure, including the flow of the money between the SBIC and the 
non-passive Small Business Concern that receives the proceeds 
(including amounts and types of securities between each entity), and 
the ownership from the SBIC through each entity to the non-passive 
Small Business Concern. This information will help SBA assess that the 
Small Business Concern receives ``substantially all'' the financing 
dollars and the ownership percentages are in compliance with the 
regulations. This will also help SBA with SBICs transferred to the 
Office of Liquidation to identify the structure of the financing and 
aid in recovery of SBA leverage.
    SBA did not receive any comments on the proposed changes. 
Therefore, except as described above, all other changes are adopted as 
final in this rule. SBA updated the below burden estimates from the 
December 2016 final rule (81 FR 31489) to remove the Impact SBIC burden 
estimate and update the estimates based on the SBIC portfolio as of 
June 2017, more recent SBIC financing data, and updated hourly costs.
    Description of Respondents and Burden: As of June 2017 there were 
approximately 316 licensed SBICs. All of these SBICs are required to 
submit SBA Form 1031 for each financing. The current estimated number 
of responses (i.e., number of financings) is 2,695 based on a recent 
three year period (FY 2014 through 2016). The current estimate 
indicates that it takes approximately 12 minutes to complete the form, 
for a total annual burden of 539 hours.
    Neither the number of respondents nor the number of responses per 
year is expected to be affected by this rule. However, SBA estimates an 
increase in the burden hours as a result of the additional reporting in 
new passive business reporting section, as discussed below.
    Passive Business Reporting. SBA believes that the SBIC should be 
able to provide the passive business information since it should be 
readily available as part of the financing. SBA estimates that 
providing the information will take on average an additional 30 minutes 
for those financings utilizing passive businesses, with no incremental 
burden for those financings that do not

[[Page 39340]]

use a passive business. SBA estimates that about 14% of the annual 
responses relate to passive businesses financings (based on financing 
data for the three year period of FYs 2014 through 2016). Based on the 
number of SBICs reporting such financings the total estimated annual 
hour burden resulting from Part D reporting would be 189.
    Therefore, the total estimated annual hour burden for all SBICs 
submitting SBA Form 1031s in a year would be 728 hours.
    The current cost estimate for completing SBA Form 1031 uses a rate 
of $35 per hour for an accounting manager to fill out the form. Using 
that same rate, the cost per form would change from $7 per form to 
$9.45 per form. However, SBA has increased its estimate of an hourly 
rate for an accounting manager to $46 per hour (estimated using 
www1.salary.com/Accounting-Manager-hourly-wages.html in May 2017), 
which rate results in a new cost per form of $12.43 for an aggregate 
cost of $33,488 for the 2,695 estimated responses.
    This final rule also identifies information that an SBIC must 
maintain in its files to support the required changes. SBA believes 
that the SBICs should already be maintaining this information since a 
passive business by definition is a Portfolio Concern and the SBIC 
should be maintaining all documents needed to support each financing. 
The rule makes this expectation explicit. Furthermore, currently, an 
SBIC must maintain this information for it to effectively monitor and 
evaluate an investment that uses a passive business to finance a non-
passive business. Therefore, SBA does not believe this recordkeeping 
requirement increases the burden.
    The rule also requires a certification under Sec.  107.610 when the 
SBIC makes a financing using the exemption in Sec.  107.720(b)(3). This 
includes maintaining records supporting the certification. Since this 
regulation effectively replaces the requirement for SBICs to seek prior 
SBA approval, SBA does not believe this change will increase the 
burden.

Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601, requires 
administrative agencies to consider the effect of their actions on 
small entities, small non-profit businesses, and small local 
governments. Pursuant to the RFA, when an agency issues a rule, the 
agency must prepare a Final Regulatory Flexibility Act (FRFA) analysis 
which describes whether the impact of the rule will have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. However, 
Section 605 of the RFA allows an agency to certify a rule, in lieu of 
preparing an FRFA, if the rulemaking is not expected to have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
This rule would affect all SBICs, of which there are currently 316. SBA 
estimates that approximately 98 percent of these SBICs are small 
entities. Therefore, SBA has determined that this rule would have an 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. However, SBA has 
determined that the economic impact on entities affected by the rule 
would not be significant. As discussed under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act section, SBICs would need to provide descriptions of the 
transactions in the Form 1031 for which the annual burden totals 189 
hours for the 316 SBICs. Based on the estimated $46 per hour, the cost 
for each SBIC would be approximately $28 per year (189 hours divided by 
316 SBICs multiplied by $46 per hour). The changes in the passive 
business regulation provide SBICs with additional flexibility to employ 
transaction structures commonly used by private equity or venture 
capital funds that are not SBICs.
    SBA asserts that the economic impact of the rule, if any, would be 
minimal and beneficial to small SBICs. Accordingly, the Administrator 
of the SBA certifies that this rule would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

List of Subjects in 13 CFR Part 107

    Investment companies, Loan programs--business, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Small businesses.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Small Business 
Administration amends 13 CFR part 107 as follows:

PART 107--SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANIES

0
1. The authority citation for part 107 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 681, 683, 687(c), 687b, 687d, 687g, 687m.


Sec.  107.50  [Amended]

0
2. Amend Sec.  107.50 by removing from the definition of ``Lending 
Institution'' the term ``Associates's'' and adding in its place the 
term ``Associate's''.

0
3. Amend Sec.  107.210 by revising paragraph (a) introductory text to 
read as follows:


Sec.  107.210  Minimum capital requirements for Licensees.

    (a) Companies licensed on or after October 1, 1996. A company 
licensed on or after October 1, 1996, must have Leverageable Capital of 
at least $2,500,000 and must meet the applicable minimum Regulatory 
Capital requirement in this paragraph (a), unless lower Leverageable 
Capital and Regulatory Capital amounts are approved by SBA as part of a 
Wind-Up Plan in accordance with Sec.  107.590(c):
* * * * *

0
4. Amend Sec.  107.503 by revising the last sentence of paragraph (a) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  107.503  Licensee's adoption of an approved valuation policy.

    (a) * * * These guidelines may be obtained from SBA's SBIC Web site 
at www.sba.gov/sbic.
* * * * *

0
5. Amend Sec.  107.610 by adding paragraph (g) to read as follows:


Sec.  107.610  Required certifications for Loans and Investments.

* * * * *
    (g) For each passive business financed under Sec.  107.720(b)(3), a 
certification by you, dated as of the closing date of the Financing, as 
to the basis for the qualification of the Financing under Sec.  
107.720(b)(3) and identifying one or more limited partners for which a 
direct Financing would cause those investors:
    (1) To incur ``unrelated business taxable income'' under section 
511 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 511); or
    (2) To incur ``effectively connected income'' to foreign investors 
under sections 871 and 882 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 871 
and 882).


Sec.  107.630  [Amended]

0
6. Amend Sec.  107.630 by removing paragraph (d) and redesignating 
paragraph (e) as paragraph (d).

0
7. Amend Sec.  107.720 by revising paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) and adding 
paragraph (b)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  107.720  Small Businesses that may be ineligible for financing.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) Exception for pass-through of proceeds to subsidiary. You may 
provide Financing directly to a passive business, including a passive 
business that you have formed, if it is a Small Business and it passes 
substantially all the proceeds through to (or uses substantially all 
the proceeds to acquire) one or more subsidiary companies, each of 
which is an eligible Small Business

[[Page 39341]]

that is not passive. For the purpose of this paragraph (b)(2), 
``subsidiary company'' means a company in which the financed passive 
business either:
    (i) Directly owns, or will own as a result of the Financing, at 
least 50 percent of the outstanding voting securities; or
    (ii) Indirectly owns, or will own as a result of the Financing, at 
least 50 percent of the outstanding voting securities (by directly 
owning the outstanding voting securities of another passive Small 
Business that is the direct owner of the outstanding voting securities 
of the subsidiary company).
    (3) Exception for certain Partnership Licensees. If you are a 
Partnership Licensee, you may form one or more blocker entities in 
accordance with this paragraph (b)(3). For the purposes of this 
paragraph, a ``blocker entity'' means a corporation or a limited 
liability company that elects to be taxed as a corporation for Federal 
income tax purposes. The sole purpose of a blocker entity must be to 
provide Financing to one or more eligible, unincorporated Small 
Businesses. You may form such blocker entities only if a direct 
Financing to such Small Businesses would cause any of your investors to 
incur ``unrelated business taxable income'' under section 511 of the 
Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 511) or to incur ``effectively 
connected income'' to foreign investors under sections 871 and 882 of 
the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 871 and 882). Your ownership and 
investment of funds in such blocker entities will not constitute a 
violation of Sec.  107.730(a). For each passive business financed under 
this section 107.720(b)(3), you must provide a certification to SBA as 
required under Sec.  107.610(g). A blocker entity formed under this 
paragraph may provide Financing:
    (i) Directly to one or more eligible non-passive Small Businesses; 
or
    (ii) Directly to a passive Small Business that passes substantially 
all the proceeds directly to (or uses substantially all the proceeds to 
acquire) one or more eligible non-passive Small Businesses in which the 
passive Small Business directly owns, or will own as a result of the 
Financing, at least 50% of the outstanding voting securities.
    (4) Additional conditions for permitted passive business 
financings. Financings permitted under paragraphs (b)(2) or (3) of this 
section must meet all of the following conditions:
    (i) For the purposes of this paragraph (b), ``substantially all'' 
means at least 99 percent of the Financing proceeds after deduction of 
actual application fees, closing fees, and expense reimbursements, 
which may not exceed those permitted by Sec.  107.860.
    (ii) If you and/or your Associate charge fees permitted by Sec.  
107.860 and/or Sec.  107.900, the total amount of such fees charged to 
all passive and non-passive businesses that are part of the same 
Financing may not exceed the fees that would have been permitted if the 
Financing had been provided directly to a non-passive Small Business. 
Any such fees received by your Associate must be paid to you in cash 
within 30 days of the receipt of such fees.
    (iii) For the purposes of this part 107, each passive and non-
passive business included in the Financing is a Portfolio Concern. The 
terms of the financing must provide SBA with access to Portfolio 
Concern information in compliance with this part 107, including without 
limitation Sec. Sec.  107.600 and 107.620.
* * * * *


Sec.  107.1100   [Amended]

0
8. Amend Sec.  107.1100 by removing the term ``Yu'' in the second to 
the last sentence of paragraph (b) and adding in its place ``You'', and 
by removing paragraph (c).


Sec.  107.1150  [Amended]

0
9. Amend Sec.  107.1150 by removing the term ``$225 million'' in the 
first sentence of paragraph (b) and adding in its place ``$350 
million''.

    Dated: August 10, 2017.
Linda E. McMahon,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2017-17456 Filed 8-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8025-01-P



                                                                                                                                                                                                39335

                                                Rules and Regulations                                                                                         Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                              Vol. 82, No. 159

                                                                                                                                                              Friday, August 18, 2017



                                                This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    long-term loan funds, which small-                       B. ‘‘Blocker corporation exception’’—
                                                contains regulatory documents having general            business concerns need for the sound                  § 107.720(b)(3): This exception enables a
                                                applicability and legal effect, most of which           financing of their business operations                partnership SBIC, with SBA’s prior
                                                are keyed to and codified in the Code of                and for their growth, expansion, and                  approval, to provide financing to a small
                                                Federal Regulations, which is published under           modernization, and which are not                      business through a passive, wholly-
                                                50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
                                                                                                        available in adequate supply. . . .’’ 15              owned C corporation, but only if a
                                                The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by              U.S.C. 661. Congress intended that the                direct financing would cause one or
                                                the Superintendent of Documents.                        program ‘‘be carried out in such manner               more of the SBIC’s investors to incur
                                                                                                        as to insure the maximum participation                Unrelated Business Taxable Income
                                                                                                        of private financing sources.’’ Id. In                (UBTI). A passive C corporation formed
                                                SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION                           accordance with that policy, SBA does                 under the second exception is
                                                                                                        not invest directly in small businesses.              commonly known as a blocker
                                                13 CFR Part 107                                         Rather, through the SBIC Program, SBA                 corporation.
                                                RIN 3245–AG67                                           licenses and provides debenture                          On October 5, 2015, SBA published a
                                                                                                        leverage (Leverage) to SBICs. SBICs are               proposed rule, Small Business
                                                Small Business Investment                               privately-owned and professionally                    Investment Companies: Passive
                                                Companies: Passive Business                             managed for-profit investment funds                   Business Expansion and Technical
                                                Expansion and Technical Clarifications                  that make loans to, and investments in,               Clarifications (80 FR 60077), to further
                                                                                                        qualified small businesses using a                    expand the permitted use of passive
                                                AGENCY:   U.S. Small Business                           combination of privately raised capital               businesses, provide clarification with
                                                Administration.                                         and Leverage guaranteed by SBA. SBA                   regard to investments in such
                                                ACTION: Final rule and withdrawal of                    will guarantee the repayment of                       businesses, and make minor technical
                                                final rule.                                             debentures issued by an SBIC up to a                  clarifications. SBA received three
                                                                                                        maximum of $150 million or three times                comments on the proposed rule, not
                                                SUMMARY:   The U.S. Small Business
                                                                                                        the amount of the SBIC’s qualifying                   including one comment that generally
                                                Administration (SBA) is withdrawing
                                                                                                        private capital, whichever is less                    questioned the fairness of the Act as a
                                                the final rule concerning Small Business
                                                                                                        (although pursuant to SBA’s regulations               whole and did not provide any specific
                                                Investment Company (SBIC)
                                                                                                        and credit policies, SBA rarely approves              comments on the rule. The three
                                                investments in passive businesses that
                                                                                                        an SBIC to have a maximum amount of                   comments pertinent to the rule are
                                                was published on December 28, 2016,
                                                                                                        Leverage outstanding in excess of two                 addressed in Section II.
                                                and is replacing it with this final rule.
                                                                                                        times the amount of the SBIC’s                           On December 28, 2016, SBA
                                                This final rule expands SBIC permitted
                                                                                                        qualifying private capital).                          published a final rule regarding SBIC
                                                investments in passive businesses and
                                                                                                           SBICs are generally prohibited from                investments in passive businesses, 81
                                                includes new reporting and other
                                                                                                        investing in passive businesses under                 FR 95419, which had an effective date
                                                requirements for passive investments.
                                                                                                        the Act. Prior to this final rule, the SBIC           of January 27, 2017. On January 26,
                                                This rule also makes a few minor
                                                                                                        program regulations provided for the                  2017, SBA published a notice in the
                                                technical amendments.
                                                                                                        following two exceptions that allowed                 Federal Register at 82 FR 8499, to delay
                                                DATES: As of August 18, 2017, the final                 an SBIC to structure an investment                    the effective date of the final rule until
                                                rule published December 28, 2016 (81                    utilizing a passive small business as a               March 21, 2017, and to re-open the rule
                                                FR 95424), delayed until March 21,                      pass-through:                                         for additional public comment in
                                                2017, on January 26, 2017 (82 FR 8499),                    A. ‘‘Holding company exception’’—                  accordance with the memorandum
                                                further delayed until May 20, 2017, on                  § 107.720(b)(2): This exception provides              dated January 20, 2017, from the
                                                March 21, 2017 (82 FR 14428), and                       conditions under which an SBIC may                    Assistant to the President and Chief of
                                                further delayed until August 18, 2017,                  structure an investment through up to                 Staff, entitled ‘‘Regulatory Freeze
                                                on May 2, 2017 (82 FR 20433), is                        two levels of passive entities to make an             Pending Review.’’ SBA received one
                                                withdrawn. The amendments in this                       investment in a non-passive business                  comment that supported the December
                                                rule are effective September 18, 2017.                  that is a subsidiary of the passive                   2016 final rule. On March 21, 2017, SBA
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        business directly financed by the SBIC.               published another notice to delay the
                                                Theresa Jamerson, Office of Investment                  The regulation defines a subsidiary                   effective date of the final rule until May
                                                and Innovation, (202) 205–7563 or sbic@                 company as one in which the financed                  20, 2017, to give the new administration
                                                sba.gov.                                                passive business directly or indirectly               time to further consider the rule. 82 FR
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              owns at least 50% of the outstanding                  14428. After completing its review, SBA
                                                                                                        voting securities. As an example, this                issued another delay notice at 82 FR
                                                I. Background Information                               exception allows an SBIC to finance                   20433 (May 2, 2017), which stated that
                                                   The SBIC Program is an SBA                           ABC Holdings 1, a passive small                       SBA was considering removing a
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES




                                                financing program authorized under                      business, with the proceeds flowing                   provision in the final rule published on
                                                Title III of the Small Business                         through ABC Holdings 2, another                       December 28, 2016 that would allow
                                                Investment Act of 1958, 15 U.S.C. 681                   passive small business, and then to ABC               SBICs to use a blocker corporation if an
                                                et seq. Congress created the Small                      Manufacturing, a non-passive small                    investor in an SBIC had elected to be
                                                Business Investment Company (SBIC)                      business in which ABC Holdings 1                      taxed as a regulated investment
                                                program to ‘‘stimulate and supplement                   owns directly or indirectly at least 50%              company (RIC), and if a direct
                                                the flow of private equity capital and                  of the outstanding voting securities.                 investment into the operating company


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                                                39336              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                would jeopardize the investor’s RIC                     received similar comments as part of the              wholly owned subsidiaries of Business
                                                status. As part of this document, SBA                   rulemaking process when it last                       Development Companies (BDCs). A BDC
                                                asked for additional comments                           proposed expanding the permitted use                  typically elects to be taxed as a RIC
                                                regarding the removal of this provision,                of passive businesses on December 23,                 pursuant to Subchapter M of the
                                                and delayed the effective date of the                   2013 (78 FR 77377). SBA considered                    Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In
                                                December 28, 2016 final rule until                      these comments a second time in                       general, a RIC is not subject to U.S.
                                                August 18, 2017. SBA received one                       developing this final rule; however,                  Federal income taxes on income and
                                                comment in response to its proposed                     neither set of comments was adopted.                  gains that it distributes to stockholders,
                                                change. This comment is addressed in                    SBA believes that complex investment                  provided that it satisfies certain
                                                Section II.                                             structures involving passive entities                 minimum distribution requirements. To
                                                   SBA is withdrawing the final rule                    require more protections, not fewer.                  qualify as a RIC, a BDC must satisfy
                                                published on December 28, 2016, and is                  Although the new § 107.720(b)(4)                      certain source of income and asset-
                                                replacing it with this final rule. This                 should help address some of SBA’s                     diversification tests; among other things,
                                                final rule expands permitted                            credit concerns with respect to these                 a RIC must generally derive at least 90%
                                                investments in passive businesses,                      structures, SBA believes that the                     of its gross income for each taxable year
                                                provides further clarification with                     subsidiary relationship between the                   from certain types of investment. In
                                                regard to investments in such                           financed passive business and the active              particular, the commenters explained
                                                businesses, and adds certain                            company must be maintained to                         that equity interests in pass-through
                                                requirements to improve SBA’s ability                   facilitate SBA’s access to the                        entities (such as an LLC or S
                                                to monitor such investments. The rule                   information and records needed to                     corporation) generate operating income
                                                also includes a conforming change to                    effectively monitor these transactions                that, if received or deemed received
                                                the regulations regarding the amount of                 and to aid in the recovery of assets in               directly by a BDC, could disqualify the
                                                Leverage available to SBICs under                       the event of a default. SBA also                      BDC from maintaining RIC status, and
                                                common control to be consistent with                    maintains its position that effective                 therefore, such interests must often be
                                                the Consolidated Appropriations Act,                    monitoring of transactions with                       held through a blocker corporation. The
                                                2016, Public Law 114–113, 129 Stat.                     unlimited levels of passive companies                 commenters requested that
                                                2242 (December 22, 2015), which                         would require resources well beyond                   § 107.720(b)(3) be revised to permit an
                                                increased the maximum amount of such                    those available to the Agency. Proposed               SBIC to form a blocker corporation to
                                                Leverage from $225 million to $350                      § 107.720(b)(2) is adopted without                    avoid adverse tax consequences to an
                                                million.                                                change.                                               investor (typically a parent BDC) that
                                                                                                           2. Changes to Blocker Corporation                  has elected to be taxed as a RIC.
                                                II. Section-by-Section Analysis                         Exception—§ 107.720(b)(3): The                           The final rule published on December
                                                   This section discusses the comments                  proposed rule included the following                  28, 2016 (81 FR 95419) adopted this
                                                SBA received on the proposed rule                       changes to § 107.720(b)(3):                           comment. However, in the delay notice
                                                dated October 5, 2017 (80 FR 60077), as                    a. Removing the requirement to obtain              published on May 2, 2017 (82 FR
                                                well as the comment received in                         SBA’s prior approval to form a blocker                20433), SBA stated that it was
                                                response to the notice published on May                 corporation;                                          considering removing this provision and
                                                2, 2017 (82 FR 20433).                                     b. Permitting an SBIC to form a                    solicited comment from the public on
                                                                                                        blocker corporation to enable any                     that proposed action. The notice cited
                                                A. Passive Business Rules                               foreign investors to avoid effectively                SBA’s concern that, in light of the
                                                Section 107.720—Small Businesses That                   connected income (ECI) under the                      increased complexities involved in
                                                May Be Ineligible for Financing                         Internal Revenue Code;                                monitoring and examining investments
                                                                                                           c. Permitting a blocker corporation to             structured through blocker entities, the
                                                   1. Changes to Holding Company                        provide financing to a second passive                 expanded use of such entities could
                                                Exception § 107.720(b)(2): SBA                          small business that passes the proceeds               increase risk to the SBIC program unless
                                                proposed revisions to § 107.720(b)(2) to                through to a non-passive small business               SBA were to increase examination
                                                explicitly permit an SBIC to form and                   in which it owns at least 50 percent of               resources to monitor these complex
                                                finance a passive business that will                    the outstanding voting securities                     transactions. The notice further
                                                either pass the proceeds through to or                  (effectively permitting an investment                 explained that while SBA expects
                                                use the proceeds to acquire all or part                 structured with two levels of passive                 limited use of blocker entities for the
                                                of a non-passive business. These                        companies, one of which is the blocker                purposes of avoiding UBTI and ECI
                                                changes were intended to codify SBA’s                   corporation); and                                     (because these situations apply to only
                                                existing interpretation of the                             d. Removing outdated language                      a few SBICs), SBA would expect
                                                regulations.                                            indicating that an SBIC’s ownership of                significantly greater usage of blocker
                                                   SBA received two comments on                         a blocker corporation formed under                    entities by SBICs that are subsidiaries of
                                                § 107.720(b)(2) indicating that the                     § 107.720(b)(3) will not constitute a                 BDCs that have elected to be taxed as
                                                proposed changes would be more                          violation of § 107.865(a). This provision             RICs. Currently, there are 31 SBICs with
                                                effective if the passive business directly              was rendered unnecessary by a rule                    BDC investors (BDC–SBICs) that
                                                financed was not required to own at                     change in 2002 (67 FR 64789) that                     collectively account for over 23% of
                                                least 50 percent of the underlying active               revised § 107.865(a) to permit an SBIC                SBA’s outstanding Leverage, and SBA
                                                business. Commenters also suggested                     to exercise control over a small business             expects that most of them would make
                                                that SBICs be allowed to structure                      for up to seven years without SBA                     use of blocker entities if the RIC
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES




                                                investments using passive investment                    approval.                                             exception were to be finalized.
                                                vehicles ‘‘irrespective of the number of                   SBA received comments on proposed                     SBA received one comment stating
                                                parent entities involved so long as the                 § 107.720(b)(3) as discussed below:                   that not including the RIC exception
                                                parent entities in question directly or                    a. Regulated Investment Company                    would prevent BDC–SBICs from taking
                                                indirectly own or control at least 50                   (RIC) Exception. All three commenters                 equity positions and benefiting from the
                                                percent of the voting or economic                       asked that the regulations provide an                 upside afforded by equity investments.
                                                interests of the active business.’’ SBA                 additional exception for SBICs that are               While the commenter strongly


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                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                        39337

                                                supported SBA’s goal of protecting                      a single passive business entity that in              defined in § 107.50 as ‘‘a Small Business
                                                taxpayers, the commenter believed that                  turn makes an investment into an active               Assisted by a Licensee.’’
                                                this goal may be better served by                       business. For example, an SBIC with a                    SBA received 3 comments on
                                                including the RIC exception and thereby                 foreign investor would not be able to                 proposed § 107.720(b)(4) as discussed
                                                increasing a BDC–SBIC’s potential for                   participate in a financing that is                    below:
                                                maximizing profits. The commenter                       structured as a two-level passive                        a. ‘‘Substantially All’’ Definition.
                                                further noted that the profits from a                   business financing under                              Commenters suggested that the
                                                single successful equity investment can                 § 107.720(b)(2), if it also needed a                  definition of ‘‘substantially all’’ be
                                                offset losses on other investments and                  separate passive business to serve as a               lowered to 95 percent of the proceeds
                                                that SBA’s guarantee is protected by a                  blocker entity in order to avoid                      instead of 99% of the proceeds because
                                                BDC–SBIC’s portfolio as a whole. The                    effectively connected income. If                      they were concerned that the 99 percent
                                                commenter suggested that SBA consider                   adopted, this suggestion would                        threshold ‘‘may be too limiting and pose
                                                creating the RIC exception, but making                  effectively permit up to three levels of              issues in deal structuring.’’ SBA did not
                                                the exception subject to SBA prior                      passive businesses between the SBIC                   adopt this comment. The definition
                                                approval. SBA recognizes that not                       and the operating business. These                     already excludes allowable fees and
                                                including the RIC exception for blocker                 additional levels of passive businesses               expense reimbursements permitted
                                                corporations limits a BDC–SBIC’s ability                impose a burden on SBA as regulator                   under §§ 107.860 and 107.900, and SBA
                                                to execute some transactions; however,                  and increase the Agency’s credit risk.                believes that a 95 percent threshold
                                                due to the large amount of outstanding                  SBA believes that two levels of passive               could result in excessive expenses being
                                                Leverage held by BDC–SBICs, SBA                         businesses under either exception                     charged by the passive businesses,
                                                remains concerned that these                            should provide SBICs with sufficient                  effectively diverting proceeds from the
                                                investments would unacceptably                          flexibility to operate successfully, and              intended operating business. Although
                                                increase risk to SBA absent an increase                 this final rule does not adopt the                    this percentage may seem
                                                in SBA’s resources to monitor and                       suggested change.                                     inconsequential, 4% of a $20 million
                                                examine such investments. Adding a                         d. SBA did not receive any comments                financing represents $800,000 that
                                                requirement for SBA’s prior approval of                 on the proposed change to                             could be diverted from the operating
                                                a blocker entity does not address this                  § 107.720(b)(3) regarding the removal of              business.
                                                concern; SBA would still need to review                 outdated language. This rule adopts the                  b. Fee Requirements. Two
                                                and approve the transactions and                        change as proposed.                                   commenters suggested removing the
                                                examine each of the passive businesses                     3. Additional Passive Business                     requirement that fees received by an
                                                used in the transaction. For this reason,               Guidance—§ 107.720(b)(4): The                         Associate must be paid over in cash to
                                                this final rule does not include the RIC                proposed rule identified SBA’s concerns               the SBIC. They noted that SBIC program
                                                exception. SBA notes that BDC–SBICs                     with regard to passive investments,                   policy guidance known as TechNote 7a,
                                                may still take equity positions in small                including ensuring the financing dollars              which provides guidelines concerning
                                                businesses not structured as pass                       go to the eligible non-passive small                  allowable management expenses for
                                                through entities and also may invest                    business, fees being charged at each                  leveraged SBICs (see www.sba.gov/
                                                using any passive structure permitted                   passive business level, and SBA’s ability             sbicpolicy), already requires that 100%
                                                under § 107.720(b)(2).                                  to access passive business financial                  of fees collected under § 107.860 or
                                                   b. Blocker Entity Form of                            records, especially in the case of a                  § 107.900 must benefit the SBIC, either
                                                Organization. At the proposed stage of                  defaulting SBIC. To address these                     by being paid directly to the SBIC or (if
                                                this rule, SBA received two comments                    concerns, SBA proposed making the                     paid to an Associate) through a
                                                suggesting that non-corporate forms of                  following changes in new                              corresponding reduction in the
                                                organization should be permitted for                    § 107.720(b)(4), which would apply to                 management fee paid by the SBIC,
                                                blocker entities. The commenters                        any eligible passive investment made                  typically called a ‘‘management fee
                                                explained that these structures are often               under § 107.720(b)(2) or (b)(3):                      offset.’’ Commenters also indicated that
                                                ‘‘more streamlined in terms of corporate                   a. ‘‘Substantially All’’ Definition.               management fee offsets have tax
                                                formalities than a C corporation’’ and                  Clarifying the meaning of ‘‘substantially             advantages relative to other approaches.
                                                suggested the regulations allow ‘‘any                   all’’ in § 107.720(b)(2) and (b)(3) to mean           Although SBA recognizes that
                                                entity that elects to be taxed as a                     99 percent of the financing proceeds                  management fee offsets can provide tax
                                                corporation for Federal income tax                      after deduction of actual application                 advantages, SBA did not adopt this
                                                purposes.’’ SBA considered this                         fees, closing fees, and expense                       suggestion because of the difficulty in
                                                suggestion to be overly broad, but                      reimbursements, which may not exceed                  monitoring investments utilizing
                                                partially adopted this suggestion in this               those permitted under § 107.860.                      passive businesses and identifying fees
                                                final rule by allowing a blocker entity to                 b. Fee Requirements. Requiring fees                associated with each passive business in
                                                be structured as an LLC that elects to be               charged by an SBIC or its Associate                   addition to those paid by the operating
                                                taxed as a corporation.                                 under §§ 107.860 and 107.900 to not                   business.
                                                   c. Two Level Holding Company                         exceed those permitted if the SBIC had                   c. ‘‘Portfolio Concern’’ Clarification.
                                                Financing. Two commenters indicated                     directly financed the eligible Small                  Two commenters indicated that the
                                                that § 107.720(b)(3) should allow SBICs                 Business and requiring any such fees                  clarification of Portfolio Concern should
                                                to structure a financing with a blocker                 received by an SBIC’s Associate to be                 be revised to apply only ‘‘for the
                                                entity coupled with two additional                      paid to the SBIC in cash within 30 days               purposes of this part 107.720’’ to avoid
                                                levels of passive holding companies as                  of receipt.                                           any unintended effects arising from the
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                                                defined in § 107.720(b)(2). The                            c. ‘‘Portfolio Concern’’ Clarification.            use of the term ‘‘Portfolio Concern’’ in
                                                commenters stated that the proposed                     Clarifying that both passive and non-                 other sections of the regulations. The
                                                rule puts an SBIC that requires a blocker               passive businesses included in a                      commenters indicated that this
                                                entity to accommodate its investors at a                financing are ‘‘Portfolio Concerns’’;                 adjustment would still allow SBA to
                                                disadvantage compared to other SBICs                    therefore, they are subject to record                 retain the necessary information rights
                                                that do not require a blocker entity,                   keeping and reporting obligations with                contemplated by the proposed rule. A
                                                since the blocker entity can only finance               respect to any ‘‘Portfolio Concern,’’                 search for the term ‘‘Portfolio Concern’’


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                                                39338              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                within the regulations identified the                   policy. Changing the last sentence of                 Compliance With Executive Orders
                                                following:                                              § 107.503(a) to indicate that valuation               12866, 12988, 13132, 13563, and 13771,
                                                   • § 107.50 defines ‘‘Portfolio                       guidelines for SBICs may be obtained                  the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
                                                Concern’’ as ‘‘a Small Business Assisted                from the SBIC program’s public Web                    U.S.C. Ch. 35) and the Regulatory
                                                by a Licensee.’’                                        site, www.sba.gov/sbic.                               Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601–612)
                                                   • §§ 107.600–107.660 describe record
                                                keeping and information requirements,                      4. Section 107.630 Requirement for                 Executive Order 12866
                                                including those for a Portfolio Concern.                Licensees to file financial statements                   The Office of Management and Budget
                                                   • § 107.730 discusses conflicts of                   with SBA (Form 468). Removing current                 has determined that this rule is not a
                                                interest with regards to Portfolio                      § 107.630(d), which provides a mailing                ‘‘significant’’ regulatory action under
                                                Concerns.                                               address for submission of SBA Form                    Executive Order 12866. This is also not
                                                   • § 107.760 discusses how a change                   468, and re-designating paragraph (e) as              a ‘‘major’’ rule under the Congressional
                                                in size or activity affect the Licensee                 paragraph (d). These instructions are no              Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801, et seq.
                                                with regard to a Portfolio Concern.                     longer necessary because SBICs submit
                                                   • § 107.850 discusses restrictions on                                                                      Executive Order 12988
                                                                                                        this information electronically using the
                                                redemption of Equity Securities of a                    SBA’s web-based application.                             This rule meets applicable standards
                                                Portfolio Concern.                                                                                            set forth in section 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of
                                                                                                           5. Section 107.1100 Types of Leverage
                                                SBA believes that all of the                                                                                  Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice
                                                                                                        and application procedures. Correcting                Reform, to minimize litigation,
                                                requirements in these sections are
                                                                                                        the misspelling of ‘‘Yu’’ to ‘‘You’’ and              eliminate ambiguity, and reduce
                                                applicable to passive business
                                                financings. Therefore, this suggestion                  removing paragraph (c), which                         burden. The rule does not have
                                                was not adopted.                                        identifies where to send Leverage                     retroactive or presumptive effect.
                                                   4. Section 107.610 Required                          applications. This paragraph is
                                                                                                        unnecessary because the application                   Executive Order 13132
                                                certifications for Loans and Investments.
                                                The proposed rule also added a                          forms provide these instructions.                       This final rule will not have
                                                certification requirement to § 107.610 to                  None of the comments SBA received                  substantial direct effects on the States,
                                                require an SBIC that finances a business                in response to the proposed rule were                 or the distribution of power and
                                                under § 107.720(b)(3) to certify as to the              related to these technical changes. This              responsibilities among the various
                                                qualifying basis for such financing. The                                                                      levels of government. Therefore, for the
                                                                                                        final rule incorporates these changes as
                                                certification replaces the requirement                                                                        purposes of Executive Order 13132,
                                                                                                        proposed.
                                                for SBA prior approval of the formation                                                                       Federalism, SBA determines that this
                                                and financing of a blocker corporation.                 C. Increase to Maximum Leverage to                    rule has no federalism implications
                                                   As previously discussed under the                    SBICs Under Common Control                            warranting the preparation of a
                                                changes to § 107.720(b)(3) paragraph,                                                                         federalism assessment.
                                                the December 2016 final rule, 81 FR                        Section 521 of the Consolidated
                                                                                                        Appropriations Act, 2016, amended                     Executive Order 13563
                                                95419 (December 28, 2016), would have
                                                permitted the formation of a blocker                    section 303(b)(2) of the Act to increase                 This final rule was developed in
                                                entity by an SBIC with an investor that                 the maximum amount of Leverage                        response to comments received on
                                                had elected to be taxed as a RIC. Since                 available to two or more SBICs under                  previously proposed amendments to
                                                this final rule does not include the RIC                Common Control from $225 million to                   these regulations on investments in
                                                exception, that portion of the                          $350 million. SBA defines Common                      passive businesses. See 78 FR 77377
                                                certification requirement has been                      Control in 13 CFR 107.50 to mean a                    (December 23, 2013). SBA received one
                                                removed from § 107.610 in this final                    condition where two or more persons,                  set of comments on that proposed rule
                                                rule. The final § 107.610 adopts the                    either through ownership, management,                 that suggested changes to further
                                                proposed rule (80 FR 60077) language                                                                          liberalize permitted financings to
                                                                                                        contract, or otherwise, are under the
                                                with respect to the formation of blocker                                                                      passive businesses under § 107.720(b).
                                                                                                        control of one group or person. SBA
                                                entities to accommodate investors                                                                             In response to the comment, SBA
                                                                                                        presumes that two or more SBICs are
                                                subject to UBTI or ECI with minor                                                                             indicated in the related final rule
                                                                                                        under Common Control if, among other                  published on October 21, 2014 (79 FR
                                                technical changes to clarify these two                  things, they have common officers,
                                                permitted exceptions.                                                                                         62819), that it would further consider
                                                                                                        directors, or general partners. Currently,            the suggested changes in a future
                                                B. Technical Changes                                    13 CFR 107.1150(b) limits two or more                 rulemaking. As part of that
                                                                                                        SBICs under Common Control to the                     reconsideration, SBA discussed the
                                                   SBA also proposed the following
                                                technical changes to the regulations:                   maximum aggregate amount of                           comments with industry representatives
                                                   1. Section 107.50 Definition of terms.               outstanding Leverage of $225 million,                 and solicited additional comments in
                                                Changing ‘‘Associates’s’’ to                            which amount is subject to further                    the proposed rule published in October
                                                ‘‘Associate’s’’.                                        limitations under SBA’s credit policies.              2015 at 80 FR 60077. In December 2016,
                                                   2. Section 107.210 Minimum capital                   Solely as a conforming change, this rule              SBA published a final rule that reflected
                                                requirements for Licensees. Modifying                   increases the maximum amount set                      the industry feedback, as well as
                                                paragraph (a) of § 107.210 to allow both                forth in the regulation from $225                     comments from the general public. 81
                                                Leverageable Capital and Regulatory                     million to $350 million. This statutory               FR 95419 (December 28, 2016). After
                                                Capital to fall below the stated                        change was not addressed previously                   reconsideration of that published final
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                                                minimums if the reductions are                          because it had not yet been enacted                   rule in accordance with the
                                                performed in accordance with an SBA-                    when the rule was proposed. Now that                  memorandum, dated January 20, 2017,
                                                approved wind-up plan per                               it has, the technical change has been                 from the Assistant to the President and
                                                § 107.590(c), to conform with SBA’s                     included to ensure consistency between                Chief of Staff, entitled ‘‘Regulatory
                                                current oversight practices.                            the regulations and the current law.                  Freeze Pending Review,’’ as discussed
                                                   3. Section 107.503 Licensee’s                                                                              above, on three separate occasions SBA
                                                adoption of an approved valuation                                                                             delayed implementation of the rule.


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                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                         39339

                                                SBA also solicited additional comments                  businesses. The proposed rule (80 FR                     (b) Passive Business Entities:
                                                from the public. Any comments                           60077) invited the public to provide                  Identification of the name and employer
                                                received in response to those requests                  comments on the following changes to                  ID number for each passive business
                                                were also considered in finalizing this                 SBA Form 1031:                                        entity used within the financing. This is
                                                rule.                                                      (1) Clarifying that SBICs should report            needed so that SBA can identify all
                                                                                                        the non-passive Small Business Concern                Portfolio Concerns involved in the
                                                Executive Order 13771                                   information in the Form 1031. SBA has                 financing.
                                                  This rule is not an EO 13771                          noted that SBICs sometimes report data                   (c) Financing Structure Description: A
                                                regulatory action because this rule is not              on the passive Small Business Concern                 description of the financing structure,
                                                significant under EO 12866.                             rather than the non-passive Small                     including the flow of the money
                                                Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C.                      Business Concern when reporting                       between the SBIC and the non-passive
                                                Ch. 35                                                  financing information. SBA has clarified              Small Business Concern that receives
                                                                                                        that the SBIC should report data on the               the proceeds (including amounts and
                                                   SBA has determined that this rule                    non-passive Small Business Concern                    types of securities between each entity),
                                                would impose additional reporting and                   when reporting information on                         and the ownership from the SBIC
                                                recordkeeping requirements under the                    financings using passive businesses in                through each entity to the non-passive
                                                Paperwork Reduction Act. In particular,                 the Form 1031 Part A—the Small                        Small Business Concern. This
                                                this rule implements changes to the                     Business Concern; Part B—the pre-                     information will help SBA assess that
                                                Portfolio Financing Report, SBA Form                    financing data; and Part C—the                        the Small Business Concern receives
                                                1031 (OMB Control Number 3245–                          financing information, with the                       ‘‘substantially all’’ the financing dollars
                                                0078), to clarify information to be                     exception of the financing dollars in                 and the ownership percentages are in
                                                reported in Parts A, B, and C of the                    Question 29. The amount of financing                  compliance with the regulations. This
                                                form. Both the proposed rule (80 FR                     dollars provided by the SBIC should be                will also help SBA with SBICs
                                                60077) and the December 2016 Final                      the total amount of such financing,                   transferred to the Office of Liquidation
                                                Passive Business Rule (81 FR 95419)                     regardless of whether the dollars were                to identify the structure of the financing
                                                included additional questions in a new                  provided directly or indirectly to the                and aid in recovery of SBA leverage.
                                                Part D on the Form 1031 to collect                      non-passive business concern. Example:                   SBA did not receive any comments on
                                                information regarding Impact SBIC                       The SBIC provides $5 million in equity                the proposed changes. Therefore, except
                                                investments. These additions were                       to ABC Holding Corporation, which                     as described above, all other changes are
                                                related to the proposed rule, entitled                  passes $4.98 million to the non-passive               adopted as final in this rule. SBA
                                                ‘‘Impact SBICs,’’ published on February                 business, Acme Manufacturing LLC. In                  updated the below burden estimates
                                                3, 2016 (81 FR 5666), which would have                  addition, the SBIC provides $5 million                from the December 2016 final rule (81
                                                defined a new class of SBICs in the                     in debt directly to Acme Manufacturing                FR 31489) to remove the Impact SBIC
                                                regulations. However, because SBA is                    LLC. The SBIC would report                            burden estimate and update the
                                                not finalizing that rule, these questions               information on Acme Manufacturing                     estimates based on the SBIC portfolio as
                                                are no longer required and have been                    LLC in Parts A, B, and C. However, the                of June 2017, more recent SBIC
                                                removed from the Form 1031. As a                        total financing dollars would be                      financing data, and updated hourly
                                                result, proposed Parts E and F have been                reported as $5 million in equity and $5               costs.
                                                designated as Parts D and E,                            million in debt for a total of $10 million               Description of Respondents and
                                                respectively, in the revised Form 1031                  in total financing dollars.                           Burden: As of June 2017 there were
                                                and are discussed in detail below.                         (2) Identifying financings using one or            approximately 316 licensed SBICs. All
                                                   The title, description of respondents,               more passive businesses. SBA has                      of these SBICs are required to submit
                                                description of the information collection               added a question on whether the                       SBA Form 1031 for each financing. The
                                                and the changes to it are discussed                     financing utilizes one or more passive                current estimated number of responses
                                                below with an estimate of the revised                   businesses as part of the financing, to               (i.e., number of financings) is 2,695
                                                annual burden. Included in the estimate                 help SBA identify these financings.                   based on a recent three year period (FY
                                                is the time for reviewing instructions,                    (3) Adding information on passive                  2014 through 2016). The current
                                                searching existing data sources,                        business financings to aid in regulatory              estimate indicates that it takes
                                                gathering and maintaining the data                      compliance monitoring. SBA has also                   approximately 12 minutes to complete
                                                needed, and completing and reviewing                    added a requirement under the new Part                the form, for a total annual burden of
                                                each collection of information.                         D for SBICs to upload a file in Portable              539 hours.
                                                   Title: Portfolio Financing Report, SBA               Document Format (PDF) that contains                      Neither the number of respondents
                                                Form 1031 (OMB Control Number                           the following information, which SBA                  nor the number of responses per year is
                                                3245–0078).                                             will use to help assess whether the                   expected to be affected by this rule.
                                                   Summary: SBA Form 1031 is a                          financing meets regulatory compliance:                However, SBA estimates an increase in
                                                currently approved information                             (a) Qualifying exception:                          the burden hours as a result of the
                                                collection. SBA regulations, specifically               Identification of the passive business                additional reporting in new passive
                                                § 107.640, require all SBICs to submit a                exception under which the financing is                business reporting section, as discussed
                                                Portfolio Financing Report using SBA                    made (i.e., § 107.720(b)(2) Exception for             below.
                                                Form 1031 for each financing that an                    pass-through of proceeds to subsidiary,                  Passive Business Reporting. SBA
                                                SBIC provides to a Small Business                       or § 107.720(b)(3) Exception for certain              believes that the SBIC should be able to
                                                Concern within 30 days after closing an                 Partnership Licensees). If the SBIC                   provide the passive business
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                                                investment. SBA uses the information                    indicates that the financing is made                  information since it should be readily
                                                provided on Form 1031 to evaluate SBIC                  under § 107.720(b)(3), it would also                  available as part of the financing. SBA
                                                compliance with regulatory                              indicate the qualifying basis for the                 estimates that providing the information
                                                requirements. The form is also SBA’s                    financing (i.e., financing would cause an             will take on average an additional 30
                                                primary source of information for                       investor in the fund to incur unrelated               minutes for those financings utilizing
                                                compiling statistics on the SBIC                        business taxable income or effectively                passive businesses, with no incremental
                                                program as a provider of capital to small               connected income).                                    burden for those financings that do not


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                                                39340              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                use a passive business. SBA estimates                   will have a significant economic impact               § 107.210 Minimum capital requirements
                                                that about 14% of the annual responses                  on a substantial number of small                      for Licensees.
                                                relate to passive businesses financings                 entities. However, Section 605 of the                   (a) Companies licensed on or after
                                                (based on financing data for the three                  RFA allows an agency to certify a rule,               October 1, 1996. A company licensed on
                                                year period of FYs 2014 through 2016).                  in lieu of preparing an FRFA, if the                  or after October 1, 1996, must have
                                                Based on the number of SBICs reporting                  rulemaking is not expected to have a                  Leverageable Capital of at least
                                                such financings the total estimated                     significant economic impact on a                      $2,500,000 and must meet the
                                                annual hour burden resulting from Part                  substantial number of small entities.                 applicable minimum Regulatory Capital
                                                D reporting would be 189.                               This rule would affect all SBICs, of                  requirement in this paragraph (a), unless
                                                   Therefore, the total estimated annual                which there are currently 316. SBA                    lower Leverageable Capital and
                                                hour burden for all SBICs submitting                    estimates that approximately 98 percent               Regulatory Capital amounts are
                                                SBA Form 1031s in a year would be 728                   of these SBICs are small entities.                    approved by SBA as part of a Wind-Up
                                                hours.                                                  Therefore, SBA has determined that this               Plan in accordance with § 107.590(c):
                                                   The current cost estimate for                        rule would have an impact on a                        *     *     *    *     *
                                                completing SBA Form 1031 uses a rate                    substantial number of small entities.                 ■ 4. Amend § 107.503 by revising the
                                                of $35 per hour for an accounting                       However, SBA has determined that the                  last sentence of paragraph (a) to read as
                                                manager to fill out the form. Using that                economic impact on entities affected by               follows:
                                                same rate, the cost per form would                      the rule would not be significant. As
                                                change from $7 per form to $9.45 per                    discussed under the Paperwork                         § 107.503 Licensee’s adoption of an
                                                form. However, SBA has increased its                    Reduction Act section, SBICs would                    approved valuation policy.
                                                estimate of an hourly rate for an                       need to provide descriptions of the                     (a) * * * These guidelines may be
                                                accounting manager to $46 per hour                      transactions in the Form 1031 for which               obtained from SBA’s SBIC Web site at
                                                (estimated using www1.salary.com/                       the annual burden totals 189 hours for                www.sba.gov/sbic.
                                                Accounting-Manager-hourly-wages.html                    the 316 SBICs. Based on the estimated                 *     *    *     *     *
                                                in May 2017), which rate results in a                   $46 per hour, the cost for each SBIC                  ■ 5. Amend § 107.610 by adding
                                                new cost per form of $12.43 for an                      would be approximately $28 per year
                                                aggregate cost of $33,488 for the 2,695                                                                       paragraph (g) to read as follows:
                                                                                                        (189 hours divided by 316 SBICs
                                                estimated responses.                                    multiplied by $46 per hour). The                      § 107.610 Required certifications for Loans
                                                   This final rule also identifies                                                                            and Investments.
                                                                                                        changes in the passive business
                                                information that an SBIC must maintain                                                                        *     *     *     *     *
                                                                                                        regulation provide SBICs with
                                                in its files to support the required                                                                            (g) For each passive business financed
                                                                                                        additional flexibility to employ
                                                changes. SBA believes that the SBICs                                                                          under § 107.720(b)(3), a certification by
                                                                                                        transaction structures commonly used
                                                should already be maintaining this                                                                            you, dated as of the closing date of the
                                                                                                        by private equity or venture capital
                                                information since a passive business by                                                                       Financing, as to the basis for the
                                                                                                        funds that are not SBICs.
                                                definition is a Portfolio Concern and the                                                                     qualification of the Financing under
                                                                                                           SBA asserts that the economic impact
                                                SBIC should be maintaining all                                                                                § 107.720(b)(3) and identifying one or
                                                                                                        of the rule, if any, would be minimal
                                                documents needed to support each                                                                              more limited partners for which a direct
                                                                                                        and beneficial to small SBICs.
                                                financing. The rule makes this                                                                                Financing would cause those investors:
                                                                                                        Accordingly, the Administrator of the
                                                expectation explicit. Furthermore,                                                                              (1) To incur ‘‘unrelated business
                                                                                                        SBA certifies that this rule would not
                                                currently, an SBIC must maintain this                                                                         taxable income’’ under section 511 of
                                                                                                        have a significant economic impact on
                                                information for it to effectively monitor                                                                     the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.
                                                                                                        a substantial number of small entities.
                                                and evaluate an investment that uses a                                                                        511); or
                                                passive business to finance a non-                      List of Subjects in 13 CFR Part 107                     (2) To incur ‘‘effectively connected
                                                passive business. Therefore, SBA does                                                                         income’’ to foreign investors under
                                                                                                          Investment companies, Loan
                                                not believe this recordkeeping                                                                                sections 871 and 882 of the Internal
                                                                                                        programs—business, Reporting and
                                                requirement increases the burden.                                                                             Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 871 and 882).
                                                                                                        recordkeeping requirements, Small
                                                   The rule also requires a certification
                                                                                                        businesses.                                           § 107.630   [Amended]
                                                under § 107.610 when the SBIC makes
                                                a financing using the exemption in                        For the reasons stated in the                       ■ 6. Amend § 107.630 by removing
                                                § 107.720(b)(3). This includes                          preamble, the Small Business                          paragraph (d) and redesignating
                                                maintaining records supporting the                      Administration amends 13 CFR part 107                 paragraph (e) as paragraph (d).
                                                certification. Since this regulation                    as follows:
                                                                                                                                                              ■ 7. Amend § 107.720 by revising
                                                effectively replaces the requirement for                                                                      paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) and adding
                                                SBICs to seek prior SBA approval, SBA                   PART 107—SMALL BUSINESS
                                                                                                        INVESTMENT COMPANIES                                  paragraph (b)(4) to read as follows:
                                                does not believe this change will
                                                increase the burden.                                                                                          § 107.720 Small Businesses that may be
                                                                                                        ■ 1. The authority citation for part 107              ineligible for financing.
                                                Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601–               continues to read as follows:
                                                                                                                                                              *     *    *      *     *
                                                612                                                       Authority: 15 U.S.C. 681, 683, 687(c), 687b,          (b) * * *
                                                  The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA),                 687d, 687g, 687m.                                       (2) Exception for pass-through of
                                                5 U.S.C. 601, requires administrative                   § 107.50    [Amended]                                 proceeds to subsidiary. You may
                                                agencies to consider the effect of their                                                                      provide Financing directly to a passive
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                                                actions on small entities, small non-                   ■  2. Amend § 107.50 by removing from                 business, including a passive business
                                                profit businesses, and small local                      the definition of ‘‘Lending Institution’’             that you have formed, if it is a Small
                                                governments. Pursuant to the RFA,                       the term ‘‘Associates’s’’ and adding in               Business and it passes substantially all
                                                when an agency issues a rule, the                       its place the term ‘‘Associate’s’’.                   the proceeds through to (or uses
                                                agency must prepare a Final Regulatory                  ■ 3. Amend § 107.210 by revising                      substantially all the proceeds to acquire)
                                                Flexibility Act (FRFA) analysis which                   paragraph (a) introductory text to read               one or more subsidiary companies, each
                                                describes whether the impact of the rule                as follows:                                           of which is an eligible Small Business


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                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                        39341

                                                that is not passive. For the purpose of                 reimbursements, which may not exceed                  air duct and detection system; and
                                                this paragraph (b)(2), ‘‘subsidiary                     those permitted by § 107.860.                         revising the maintenance or inspection
                                                company’’ means a company in which                        (ii) If you and/or your Associate                   program, as applicable. This AD was
                                                the financed passive business either:                   charge fees permitted by § 107.860 and/               prompted by a report of a possibility
                                                   (i) Directly owns, or will own as a                  or § 107.900, the total amount of such                that the shrouds of the high pressure
                                                result of the Financing, at least 50                    fees charged to all passive and non-                  bleed air ducts could deteriorate and
                                                percent of the outstanding voting                       passive businesses that are part of the               their maximum permitted leakage rate
                                                securities; or                                          same Financing may not exceed the fees                could be exceeded. We are issuing this
                                                   (ii) Indirectly owns, or will own as a               that would have been permitted if the                 AD to address the unsafe condition on
                                                result of the Financing, at least 50                    Financing had been provided directly to               these products.
                                                percent of the outstanding voting                       a non-passive Small Business. Any such                DATES: This AD becomes effective
                                                securities (by directly owning the                      fees received by your Associate must be               September 5, 2017.
                                                outstanding voting securities of another                paid to you in cash within 30 days of                    The Director of the Federal Register
                                                passive Small Business that is the direct               the receipt of such fees.                             approved the incorporation by reference
                                                owner of the outstanding voting                           (iii) For the purposes of this part 107,            of certain publications listed in this AD
                                                securities of the subsidiary company).                  each passive and non-passive business
                                                   (3) Exception for certain Partnership                                                                      as of September 5, 2017.
                                                                                                        included in the Financing is a Portfolio                 We must receive comments on this
                                                Licensees. If you are a Partnership                     Concern. The terms of the financing
                                                Licensee, you may form one or more                                                                            AD by October 2, 2017.
                                                                                                        must provide SBA with access to                       ADDRESSES: You may send comments,
                                                blocker entities in accordance with this                Portfolio Concern information in
                                                paragraph (b)(3). For the purposes of                                                                         using the procedures found in 14 CFR
                                                                                                        compliance with this part 107,                        11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following
                                                this paragraph, a ‘‘blocker entity’’ means              including without limitation §§ 107.600
                                                a corporation or a limited liability                                                                          methods:
                                                                                                        and 107.620.                                             • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
                                                company that elects to be taxed as a
                                                corporation for Federal income tax                      *      *     *    *     *                             http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
                                                purposes. The sole purpose of a blocker                                                                       instructions for submitting comments.
                                                                                                        § 107.1100    [Amended]
                                                entity must be to provide Financing to                                                                           • Fax: 202–493–2251.
                                                one or more eligible, unincorporated                    ■  8. Amend § 107.1100 by removing the                   • Mail: U.S. Department of
                                                Small Businesses. You may form such                     term ‘‘Yu’’ in the second to the last                 Transportation, Docket Operations, M–
                                                blocker entities only if a direct                       sentence of paragraph (b) and adding in               30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
                                                Financing to such Small Businesses                      its place ‘‘You’’, and by removing                    W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
                                                would cause any of your investors to                    paragraph (c).                                        Washington, DC 20590.
                                                incur ‘‘unrelated business taxable                                                                               • Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of
                                                                                                        § 107.1150    [Amended]
                                                income’’ under section 511 of the                                                                             Transportation, Docket Operations, M–
                                                Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 511)                   ■  9. Amend § 107.1150 by removing the                30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
                                                or to incur ‘‘effectively connected                     term ‘‘$225 million’’ in the first                    W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
                                                income’’ to foreign investors under                     sentence of paragraph (b) and adding in               Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5
                                                sections 871 and 882 of the Internal                    its place ‘‘$350 million’’.                           p.m., Monday through Friday, except
                                                Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 871 and 882).                     Dated: August 10, 2017.                             Federal holidays.
                                                Your ownership and investment of                        Linda E. McMahon,                                        For service information identified in
                                                funds in such blocker entities will not                 Administrator.                                        this final rule, contact Bombardier, Inc.,
                                                constitute a violation of § 107.730(a).                                                                       400 Côte-Vertu Road West, Dorval,
                                                                                                        [FR Doc. 2017–17456 Filed 8–17–17; 8:45 am]
                                                For each passive business financed                                                                            Québec H4S 1Y9, Canada; Widebody
                                                                                                        BILLING CODE 8025–01–P
                                                under this section 107.720(b)(3), you                                                                         Customer Response Center North
                                                must provide a certification to SBA as                                                                        America toll-free telephone 1–866–538–
                                                required under § 107.610(g). A blocker                                                                        1247 or direct-dial telephone 1–514–
                                                entity formed under this paragraph may                  DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                          855–2999; fax 514–855–7401; email
                                                provide Financing:                                                                                            ac.yul@aero.bombardier.com; Internet
                                                                                                        Federal Aviation Administration                       http://www.bombardier.com. You may
                                                   (i) Directly to one or more eligible
                                                non-passive Small Businesses; or                                                                              view this referenced service information
                                                   (ii) Directly to a passive Small                     14 CFR Part 39                                        at the FAA, Transport Airplane
                                                Business that passes substantially all the              [Docket No. FAA–2017–0699; Directorate                Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW.,
                                                proceeds directly to (or uses                           Identifier 2017–NM–004–AD; Amendment                  Renton, WA. For information on the
                                                substantially all the proceeds to acquire)              39–18968; AD 2017–15–08]                              availability of this material at the FAA,
                                                one or more eligible non-passive Small                                                                        call 425–227–1221. It is also available
                                                                                                        RIN 2120–AA64
                                                Businesses in which the passive Small                                                                         on the Internet at http://
                                                Business directly owns, or will own as                  Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier,                 www.regulations.gov by searching for
                                                a result of the Financing, at least 50%                 Inc., Airplanes                                       and locating Docket No. FAA–2017–
                                                of the outstanding voting securities.                                                                         0699.
                                                   (4) Additional conditions for                        AGENCY:  Federal Aviation
                                                                                                                                                              Examining the AD Docket
                                                permitted passive business financings.                  Administration (FAA), DOT.
                                                Financings permitted under paragraphs                   ACTION: Final rule; request for                         You may examine the AD docket on
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                                                (b)(2) or (3) of this section must meet all             comments.                                             the Internet at http://
                                                of the following conditions:                                                                                  www.regulations.gov by searching for
                                                   (i) For the purposes of this paragraph               SUMMARY:  We are adopting a new                       and locating Docket No. FAA–2017–
                                                (b), ‘‘substantially all’’ means at least 99            airworthiness directive (AD) for certain              0699; or in person at the Docket
                                                percent of the Financing proceeds after                 Bombardier, Inc., Model CL–600–2E25                   Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5
                                                deduction of actual application fees,                   (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes.                 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
                                                closing fees, and expense                               This AD requires modifying the bleed-                 Federal holidays. The AD docket


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Document Created: 2017-08-18 07:40:18
Document Modified: 2017-08-18 07:40:18
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule and withdrawal of final rule.
DatesAs of August 18, 2017, the final rule published December 28, 2016 (81 FR 95424), delayed until March 21, 2017, on January 26, 2017 (82 FR 8499), further delayed until May 20, 2017, on March 21, 2017 (82 FR 14428), and further delayed until August 18, 2017, on May 2, 2017 (82 FR 20433), is withdrawn. The amendments in this rule are effective September 18, 2017.
ContactTheresa Jamerson, Office of Investment and Innovation, (202) 205-7563 or [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 39335 
RIN Number3245-AG67
CFR AssociatedInvestment Companies; Loan Programs-Business; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements and Small Businesses

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