83_FR_20003 83 FR 19915 - Debt Refinancing in 504 Loan Program

83 FR 19915 - Debt Refinancing in 504 Loan Program

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 88 (May 7, 2018)

Page Range19915-19921
FR Document2018-09638

This rule finalizes the interim final rule (IFR) that was published on May 25, 2016, to implement the debt refinancing program reauthorized by Section 521 of Division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016. In response to comments received on the IFR, this final rule makes some additional revisions to the program's regulations with respect to the definition of Qualified debt, the requirements related to Eligible Business Expenses, the refinancing of Projects involving single or limited use properties, and the disbursement period.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 88 (Monday, May 7, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 88 (Monday, May 7, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19915-19921]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09638]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

13 CFR Part 120

RIN 3245-AG79


Debt Refinancing in 504 Loan Program

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule finalizes the interim final rule (IFR) that was 
published on May 25, 2016, to implement the debt refinancing program 
reauthorized by Section 521 of Division E of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2016. In response to comments received on the IFR, 
this final rule makes some additional revisions to the program's 
regulations with respect to the definition of Qualified debt, the 
requirements related to Eligible Business Expenses, the refinancing of 
Projects involving single or limited use properties, and the 
disbursement period.

DATES: This rule is effective June 6, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Reilly, 504 Program Chief at 
[email protected] or 202-205-9949.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background Information

    The 504 Loan Program is an SBA financing program authorized under 
Title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (the ``SBIAct''), 
15 U.S.C. 695 et seq. The core mission of the 504 Loan Program is to 
provide long-term financing to small businesses for the purchase or 
improvement of land, buildings, and major equipment, in an effort to 
facilitate the creation or retention of jobs and local economic 
development. Under the 504 Loan Program, loans are made to small 
business applicants by Certified Development Companies (``CDCs''), 
which are certified and regulated by SBA to promote economic 
development within their community. In general, a project in the 504 
Loan Program (a ``504 Project'') includes: A loan obtained from a 
private sector lender with a senior lien covering at least 50 percent 
of the project cost; a loan obtained from a CDC (a ``504 Loan'') with a 
junior lien covering up to 40 percent of the total cost (backed by a 
100 percent SBA-guaranteed debenture); and a contribution from the 
Borrower of at least 10 percent equity.
    The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (the ``Jobs Act''), Public Law 
111-240, 124 Stat. 2504, enacted on September 27, 2010, temporarily 
expanded the ability of a small business to use the 504 Loan Program to 
refinance certain qualifying debt. Prior to the Jobs Act, a 504 Project 
could include a refinancing component only if the project involved an 
expansion of the small business and the existing indebtedness did not 
exceed 50% of the project cost of the expansion. See 13 CFR 120.882(e). 
The temporary Jobs Act program authorized the use of the 504 Loan 
Program for the refinancing of debt where there is no expansion of the 
small business concern (the ``Debt Refinancing Program''). That program 
expired on September 27, 2012.
    Section 521 of Division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2016 (the ``2016 Act''), Public Law 114-113, enacted on December 22, 
2015, reauthorized the Debt Refinancing Program with three 
modifications:
    (1) The Debt Refinancing Program shall be in effect only in those 
fiscal years during which the cost to the Federal Government of making 
guarantees under the Debt Refinancing Program and under the 504 Loan 
Program is zero;
    (2) A CDC is required to limit its financings under the 504 Loan 
Program so that, during any fiscal year, new financings under the Debt 
Refinancing Program do not exceed 50% of the dollars the CDC loaned 
under the 504 Loan Program during the previous fiscal year. The 2016 
Act provides that this limitation may be waived by SBA upon application 
by a CDC and after determining that the refinance loan is needed for 
good cause; and
    (3) The alternate job retention goal authorized by the Jobs Act for 
the Debt Refinancing Program is eliminated.
    On May 25, 2016, SBA published an interim final rule to implement 
the 2016 Act (81 FR 33123) and, with the ``zero cost'' requirement 
satisfied for fiscal year 2016, SBA began accepting applications for 
assistance under the Debt Refinancing Program on June 25, 2016, the 
effective date of the interim final rule. With the ``zero cost'' 
requirement satisfied for fiscal years 2017 and 2018, the Debt 
Refinancing Program has continued to be in effect without interruption. 
The regulations governing this program are found at 13 CFR 120.882(g).

II. Summary of Comments Received

    SBA received 49 comments during the comment period for the interim 
final rule, which closed on July 25, 2016. Of the comments received, 
44, or 90%, were from Certified Development Companies, one was from a 
trade association, one was from a law firm, one was from a commercial 
real estate broker, one was from a financial institution, and one was 
from a private citizen. Below is a summary of the comments received.

A. Definition of Qualified Debt--Section 120.882(g)(15)

    The Jobs Act authorizes the refinancing of ``Qualified Debt'' which 
is defined to mean, among other factors, ``indebtedness'' that ``was 
incurred not less than 2 years before the date of the application for 
assistance'', that ``is a commercial loan'', and the proceeds of which 
were used to acquire an Eligible Fixed Asset. See section 
502(7)(C)(III)(aa)(AA), (BB), and (DD) of the SBIAct. In imposing the 
two-year requirement, Congress clearly did not want the Debt 
Refinancing Program to apply to new loans (i.e., loans less than two 
years old). In implementing this statutory requirement, the current 
regulations define ``Qualified debt'', in part, as a ``commercial loan 
. . . [t]hat was incurred not less than 2 years before the date of the 
application for the refinancing available under [the 504 Debt 
Refinancing Program]''. See 13 CFR 120.882(g)(15) (definition of 
``Qualified debt''). Debt that was refinanced through the execution of 
a new Note within the two year period would not be considered Qualified 
debt under the current regulations.

[[Page 19916]]

    Twenty-nine commenters requested that the definition of Qualified 
debt be revised to include debt that has been refinanced within the 2 
years prior to the date of the 504 Debt Refinancing application. The 
commenters argue that, as long as the debt being refinanced was 
originally incurred more than 2 years before application, it falls 
under the statutory definition. Some of the commenters also contend 
that the term ``indebtedness'' is broader than the term ``commercial 
loan'', and that SBA should look to the date of the ``original'' 
indebtedness and not the date that the loan was refinanced. One 
commenter suggested that a refinancing within two years of the 
application date that extends the date of the balloon payment should be 
allowed if the borrower did not receive any additional funds with the 
new loan.
    SBA has reconsidered this issue and agrees that it is appropriate 
to consider the substance of the refinancing, rather than the form 
(i.e., whether the most recent debt is evidenced by a new Note), to 
determine whether it is the same ``indebtedness'' as the prior loan. 
SBA has concluded that certain loans that are refinanced within two 
years of the date of application (the resulting loan herein referred to 
as the ``most recent loan'') may qualify as the same indebtedness, but 
only if the most recent loan is, in effect, a replacement for the prior 
loan. Specifically, in order to be considered the same indebtedness, 
the most recent loan cannot have advanced any additional funds to the 
Borrower (other than to pay the closing costs of the refinancing). SBA 
is revising the definition of ``Qualified debt'' to reflect that SBA 
will consider the most recent loan to be the same indebtedness as the 
prior loan if the effect of the most recent loan was to extend the 
prior loan's maturity date without advancing any additional proceeds to 
the Borrower. The collateral for the most recent loan must also 
include, at a minimum, the same Eligible Fixed Asset(s) that served as 
collateral for the prior loan that was refinanced. (Other terms of the 
most recent loan, however, such as interest rate or amortization 
schedule, may be different and may also include the addition of other 
eligible collateral.) In order to ensure that the Debt Refinancing 
Program complies with the statutory prohibition against refinancing new 
indebtedness, CDCs must submit to SBA as part of the application copies 
of the most recent loan and lien instruments, as well as copies of the 
loan and lien instruments for the loan that was replaced by the most 
recent loan, to show that the effect of the most recent loan was to 
extend the prior loan's maturity date without advancing any additional 
funds to the Borrower (other than to pay the closing costs of the 
refinancing).
    In addition, SBA received comments relating to the statutory 
requirement that the applicant be current on all payments due for not 
less than one year preceding the date of application. See section 
502(7)(C)(III)(bb) of the SBIAct. The current regulations define 
``current on all payments due'' to mean that ``no payment was more than 
30 days past due from either the original payment terms or modified 
payment terms (including deferments) if such modification was agreed to 
in writing by the Borrower and the lender of the existing debt no less 
than one year preceding the date of application.'' See 13 CFR 
120.882(g)(15) (definition of ``Qualified debt'', ] (vii)). In the 
Interim Final Rule published on May 25, 2016, SBA explained that it 
established the requirement that the modification be executed no less 
than one year preceding the 504 application because a debt should not 
be considered ``current on all payments due for not less than one year 
preceding the date of application'' if the payment terms were modified 
during the one year period. This requirement was imposed, in part, to 
ensure that the Debt Refinancing Program would not be used to refinance 
loans that had been modified for the sole purpose of avoiding a 
delinquency or default within the prior year.
    Some commenters requested that SBA allow a modification (including 
through a renewal or extension) within the one year period when the 
purpose of the modification is to extend a balloon payment. SBA has 
reconsidered this issue and agrees that modifications that extend the 
maturity date of the loan may be allowed, provided that, during the one 
year period prior to the date of application (i.e., in the months prior 
to and after the modification), the applicant is current on all 
payments due, there have been no deferments of any payments, and no 
additional proceeds were advanced through the modification. To conform 
the current regulation to this revision, SBA is removing the reference 
to deferments from the regulatory text.
    In addition, as SBA is now allowing certain refinanced loans to 
satisfy the 2-year indebtedness requirement described in ] II.A. above, 
these refinanced loans should not be excluded from the definition of 
``current on all payments due for not less than one year preceding the 
date of application'' merely because the refinance occurred within the 
year prior to application. Thus, SBA will allow a refinanced loan to 
satisfy the ``current on all payments due'' requirement provided that 
it satisfies the same requirements as a modified loan, including that, 
during the one year period prior to the date of application (i.e., in 
the months prior to and after the refinancing), the applicant was 
current on all payments due, there were no deferments of any payments, 
and no additional proceeds were advanced through the refinancing (other 
than to pay the closing costs of the refinancing). (To be consistent 
with the change to the ``Qualified debt'' definition regarding when the 
indebtedness is incurred, the modified or refinanced loan may also 
change the interest rate and other terms.)
    SBA emphasizes that it expressly reserves the right to determine, 
at its discretion on a loan-by-loan basis, whether the modified or 
refinanced repayment terms fail to satisfy prudent lending standards.

B. Refinancing Projects Involving Limited or Single Purpose 
Properties--13 CFR 120.882(g)(5)

    Concerns were expressed by 24 commenters about requiring Borrowers 
to contribute 15%, instead of 10%, for the refinancing of projects 
involving limited/single purpose properties. The commenters noted that, 
under the temporary Debt Refinancing Program, SBA required such 
Borrowers to make only a 10% contribution but, when SBA began to 
process applications under the reauthorized Debt Refinancing Program, 
SBA required Borrowers to contribute 15%. SBA notes that the temporary 
Debt Refinancing Program was implemented during very different economic 
conditions, when the projects to be refinanced under this program were 
sometimes significantly under-collateralized. By requiring Borrowers to 
contribute only 10% and not 15% for refinancing projects involving 
limited or single purpose properties, SBA made the program more 
available to Borrowers at a time when it was difficult for small 
businesses to access capital. Because the project was for the 
refinancing of an existing debt, and was not for the acquisition, 
construction, conversion, or expansion of a limited or single purpose 
property, SBA concluded that the 15% contribution was not required 
under statutory or regulatory requirements. See section 502(3)(C)(ii) 
and 13 CFR 120.910(a)(2). Due to the critical need to provide small 
businesses with access to capital during that time, SBA was willing to 
absorb the additional risk posed by debt refinancing projects where the

[[Page 19917]]

underlying collateral was limited or single purpose properties.
    However, when SBA implemented the 2016 Act, SBA reconsidered this 
policy in light of the fact that, with the economic recovery, project 
properties are now typically over-collateralized and can readily 
provide the additional 5% equity and often more, thereby mitigating the 
risk presented to SBA by projects involving single or limited purpose 
properties in the event of liquidation. The 2016 Act states that the 
Debt Refinancing Program may provide ``not more than 90% of the value 
of the collateral'' for the refinancing of the Qualified Debt, and SBA 
has determined that, where the underlying collateral is limited or 
single purpose properties, the financing provided through the Debt 
Refinancing Program will be limited to 85% of the collateral value, 
with 15% being contributed by the Borrower.
    In the event that general market conditions result again in 504 
Projects that are significantly under-collateralized, however, SBA 
wants the Debt Refinancing Program to have the flexibility to allow 
Borrowers to contribute only 10% toward the cost of a project involving 
single or limited use properties. Accordingly, the rule will provide 
that, if the Refinancing Project involves a limited or single purpose 
building or structure, the Borrower must contribute not less than 15%; 
provided, however, that SBA may determine, in its discretion, that in 
the event of an economic recession, as determined by the National 
Bureau of Economic Research or its equivalent, the required Borrower 
contribution may be not less than 10% for such projects. In such 
circumstance, SBA will publish a notice in the Federal Register of its 
determination and setting forth the justification for the lower 
required Borrower contribution. This lower Borrower contribution 
requirement would be in effect until the first day of the calendar 
quarter after the economic recession has ended as determined by the 
National Bureau of Economic Research or its equivalent. SBA will 
publish a notice in the Federal Register to announce that the lower 
required Borrower contribution ceased being in effect as of that date.
    With respect to the loan provided by the Third Party Lender, the 
statute requires the Third Party Lender to contribute 50% to the 
project cost when the project is financing the construction (or 
acquisition, conversion or expansion) of a single or limited purpose 
property. See section 502(3)(B)(ii) of the SBIAct. While this statutory 
requirement does not strictly apply to the refinancing of existing debt 
involving single/limited purpose property, SBA has considered whether 
Third Party Lenders should nevertheless be required to contribute 50% 
in the case of refinancing a debt involving such properties. As 
Borrowers are now often able in the current market to contribute 20% or 
more equity to the Refinancing Project's costs, the 504 loan would 
amount to 30% or less of the project cost if the Third Party Lender 
were required to contribute 50%, which does not maximize the economic 
benefit of the 504 Loan Program to the small business. Thus, SBA has 
determined that Third Party Lenders will not be required to contribute 
50% but, as required for all projects financed under the Debt 
Refinancing Program, their participation must be at least equal to the 
SBA 504 loan.

C. Extension of Disbursement Deadline--13 CFR 120.882(g)(12)

    The current rule requires that the 504 loan proceeds be disbursed 
within 6 months after loan approval, and authorizes the Director, 
Office of Financial Assistance, or his or her designee, to approve any 
request for extension of the disbursement period for good cause. 13 CFR 
120.882(g)(12). A commenter stated that, now that the program is 
permanent, the rule should be revised to allow up to one year for 
disbursement. The commenter observed that six months may not be 
sufficient time to, for example, satisfy certain environmental 
requirements. SBA has considered this comment and agrees to change the 
disbursement period to nine months, and to provide the Director, Office 
of Financial Assistance (D/FA), or his or her designee, with the 
authority to approve any request for extension of the disbursement 
period for not more than an additional six months for good cause. SBA 
finds that this increase, along with the limited authority to approve 
any request for extension for good cause, is sufficient to address the 
commenter's concerns. SBA is revising 13 CFR 120.882(g)(12) 
accordingly.

D. Financing of Eligible Business Expenses--13 CFR 120.882(g)(6)(i) and 
(ii)

1. Loan-to-Value Limitations With Financing of Eligible Business 
Expenses
    Under the Debt Refinancing Program, Borrowers may finance Eligible 
Business Expenses as part of the Refinancing Project if the amount of 
cash funds that will be provided for the Refinancing Project exceeds 
the amount to be paid to the lender of the Qualified debt. See 13 CFR 
120.882(g)(6)(ii).
    When SBA first implemented the reauthorized Debt Refinancing 
Program in 2016, SBA applied a maximum 75% loan-to-value (LTV) for any 
project that financed business expenses and limited such financing of 
business expenses to no more than 25% of the value of the Eligible 
Fixed Asset(s) securing the Qualified Debt. See Policy Notice 5000-
1382, effective May 26, 2016. Thirty-six commenters expressed concerns 
that the 75% LTV was severely restrictive and would impair utilization 
of the program, and many urged SBA to allow for a 90% LTV for all 
Refinancing Projects. SBA considered these comments and decided to 
revise 13 CFR 120.882(g)(6)(i) to allow a maximum LTV of 85% for any 
project that includes the financing of Eligible Business Expenses. SBA 
concludes that this higher LTV will provide increased access to credit 
without adding undue risk to SBA.
    In addition, most of the commenters expressed support for the 25% 
limitation on the amount that may be financed for business expenses, 
though SBA did receive at least one comment suggesting that the small 
business should determine the percentage of these expenses that may be 
financed. SBA notes that the financing of business expenses during 
Fiscal Year 2017 averaged less than 15% of the value of the Eligible 
Fixed Asset(s) securing the Qualified Debt. In addition, with the 
statutory requirement that SBA maintain the Debt Refinancing Program at 
zero subsidy in order for the program to be in effect during any fiscal 
year, SBA must be diligent in placing prudent controls on the program 
to mitigate SBA's risk and exposure. Accordingly, SBA has decided to 
limit the portion of the financing that may be for business expenses to 
20% of the value of the Eligible Fixed Asset(s). In addition, if the 
Refinancing Project includes the financing of Eligible Business 
Expenses, SBA will not accept as collateral any fixed assets other than 
the Eligible Fixed Asset(s) securing the Qualified Debt. Accordingly, 
SBA is revising 13 CFR 120.882(g)(6)(i) and (ii) and the definition of 
``Refinancing Project'' in 13 CFR 120.882(g)(15).
2. Eligible Business Expenses May Include Non-Capital Expenditures
    Twenty-eight commenters requested that SBA allow Borrowers to 
finance minor renovations or ``non-substantial modifications or 
improvements to the Eligible Fixed Assets'' as an Eligible Business 
Expense under the Debt Refinancing Program. Enacted by Congress in 
2010, the Jobs Act created the temporary Debt Refinancing Program for 
projects that do not involve

[[Page 19918]]

the expansion of a small business. See section 502(7)(C)(ii) of the 
SBIAct. SBA has concluded that the regulations would benefit from 
greater clarity regarding the type of minor renovations or ``non-
substantial modifications or improvements'' that SBA regards as not 
involving the expansion of the small business.
    SBA believes that a reasonable approach to this issue is to permit 
the financing of business expenses in the program as long as the 
expenses may be deducted as ordinary and necessary expenses on the 
small business's federal tax returns during the taxable year in which 
they were paid or incurred. See Internal Revenue Code, section 162. 
Examples of such expenses may include repairs, maintenance and minor 
improvements or renovations. Capital expenditures, on the other hand, 
would not be eligible for financing in the program because they have a 
useful life substantially beyond the taxable year. See Internal Revenue 
Code, section 263(a). Examples of such capital expenses may include the 
acquisition of land or improvements or betterments made to increase the 
value of any property. SBA believes that using this distinction between 
operating and capital expenditures is consistent with the statutory 
requirement that the Debt Refinancing Program be used for Refinancing 
Projects that do not involve the expansion of a small business.
    Accordingly, SBA is revising the definition of Eligible Business 
Expenses to allow the financing of ``any other expenses of the business 
that are not capital expenditures.'' With the addition of this 
category, SBA is clarifying that the Borrower may finance any operating 
expense that it records and deducts as an expense in the taxable year 
in which it was paid or incurred, but may not finance any capital 
expense that is used to acquire or improve assets and which the 
Borrower may not claim as a deduction in the taxable year in which the 
expense was paid or incurred. SBA will rely upon the CDC and the small 
business to represent the nature of the expense and that the expense 
may be deducted as an ordinary and necessary expense during the taxable 
year in which it was paid or incurred. CDCs must document their 
determination regarding the nature of the expense in the credit 
memorandum.
    SBA is also removing the phrase ``or other obligations of the 
business'' from the definition to clarify that, except as described 
below, other debt of the business is not included as an Eligible 
Business Expense. As SBA recently clarified, credit card debt may be 
included as an Eligible Business Expense if the credit card is issued 
in the name of the Applicant small business and the Applicant certifies 
that the credit card debt being refinanced was incurred exclusively for 
business related purposes. See SOP 50 10 5(J), Subpart C, Chapter 2, ] 
IV.E.3.g). SBA has also determined that business lines of credit may be 
included as an Eligible Business Expense if the business line of credit 
satisfies the same requirements as credit card debt. For debt that was 
incurred with a credit card or a business line of credit, the proceeds 
of the debt being refinanced, like all other business expenses financed 
under the Debt Refinancing Program, must have been used for expenses of 
the business that are not capital expenditures.

E. Waiver of the 50% Limitation--13 CFR 120.882(g)(10)

    The 2016 Act requires that a CDC limit its financings under the 504 
Loan Program so that, during any fiscal year, new financings under the 
Debt Refinancing Program do not exceed 50% of the dollars the CDC 
loaned under the 504 Loan Program during the previous fiscal year. The 
2016 Act also provides that this limitation may be waived upon 
application by a CDC and upon SBA's determination that the refinance 
loan is needed for good cause. In the interim final rule, SBA stated 
that it would provide guidance regarding the good cause determination 
in its Standard Operating Procedures or other guidance documents. SBA 
received many comments suggesting various factors for SBA to consider 
in making the good cause determination, including projects that (i) 
assist manufacturing firms, (ii) will employ 1 full time equivalent job 
for every $100,000 in requested assistance, (iii) include the 
participation of another economic development entity, (iv) involve a 
borrower who has a pre-existing relationship with the CDC, or (v) 
involve a CDC with less than $5 million in 504 loans during the prior 
fiscal year. Some commenters also expressed concerns that the 50% 
limitation is disadvantageous to smaller or rural CDCs that may not 
have the same capacity as larger CDCs to finance these projects.
    SBA considered these comments and concludes that the focus of the 
good cause determination should be only on the Borrower's financing 
needs, and not on the circumstances of the CDCs or other factors. 
Accordingly, as reflected in the recently issued SOP 50 10 5(J), 
Subpart C, Chapter 2, Sec.  IV.E.2, SBA will consider the following 
factors in determining whether there is good cause for the Borrower to 
obtain the refinancing through a CDC that exceeds the 50% requirement: 
(1) Whether the Borrower has access to other sources of financing, 
including other CDCs that have not exceeded their 50% cap; and (2) 
whether the CDC has an existing 504 loan with the Borrower that is in 
current status. No change to the regulation is necessary.

F. Statutory Requirements

    Several commenters requested changes to other program requirements 
in the Debt Refinancing Program, including that SBA: (i) Allow 504 or 
7(a) loans to be refinanced in the Debt Refinancing Program, (ii) allow 
CDCs participating in the Premier Certified Lenders Program (PCLP) to 
use their delegated authority to approve loans made in the Debt 
Refinancing Program, and (iii) reinstate the alternative job retention 
goal provided in the Jobs Act for Borrowers that do not meet the job 
creation and retention goals under sections 501(d) and (e) of the Small 
Business Investment SBIAct.
    However, each of these program requirements is mandated by statute: 
the prohibition against refinancing a loan subject to a guarantee by a 
Federal agency is mandated by section 502(7)(C)(i)(III)(aa)(CC) of the 
SBIAct; the prohibition against PCLP CDCs using their delegated 
authority to approve loans made in the Debt Refinancing Program is 
mandated by section 502(7)(C)(v) of the SBIAct; and the elimination of 
the alternative job retention goal was made by section 521(a)(1) of the 
2016 Act. SBA notes that, with the elimination of the alternate job 
retention goal, all applicants for a loan under the Debt Refinancing 
Program are required to meet the job creation and retention goals under 
section 501(d) and (e) of the SBIAct. Based on these goals, a 504 
Project, including a project financed under the Debt Refinancing 
Program, must achieve one of the economic development objectives set 
forth in 13 CFR 120.861 or 120.862.
    Accordingly, SBA cannot adopt the requested changes.

III. Section-by-Section Analysis

    Except as set forth below, 13 CFR 120.882(g) remains unchanged.
    Section 120.882(g) Introductory Text. In the Interim Final Rule, 
SBA revised the introductory text in this section to remove the 
following phrase that is no longer applicable: ``For applications 
received on or after February 17, 2011 and approved by SBA no later 
than September 27, 2012''. Also, with the permanent reauthorization of 
the Debt Refinancing Program by the 2016 Act, a specific application 
period is

[[Page 19919]]

unnecessary. No comments were received on this provision and no further 
changes are being made.
    Section 120.882(g)(3). In the Interim Final Rule, SBA revised this 
section by removing the maturity date requirement. In its place, SBA 
inserted the 2016 Act's requirement that, for the Debt Refinancing 
Program to be in effect during any fiscal year, the cost to the Federal 
government of making guarantees under the Debt Refinancing Program and 
under the 504 Loan Program must be zero. No comments were received on 
this provision and no further changes are being made.
    Section 120.882(g)(5). This paragraph is being revised to provide 
that, if the Refinancing Project involves a limited or single purpose 
building or structure, the Borrower must contribute not less than 15%. 
However, SBA may determine, in its discretion, that in the event of an 
economic recession as determined by the National Bureau of Economic 
Research or its equivalent, the required Borrower contribution may be 
not less than 10% for such projects. This lower Borrower contribution 
requirement may be in effect until the recession ends as determined by 
the National Bureau of Economic Research or its equivalent. As 
explained above, SBA will publish a notice in the Federal Register to 
announce the lower Borrower contribution requirement and explaining its 
justification, and a notice to announce that, due to the end of the 
recession, the lower Borrower contribution requirement is no longer in 
effect.
    Section 120.882(g)(6). As discussed above, SBA is revising Sec.  
120.882(g)(6)(i) to allow a maximum LTV of 85% for any project that 
includes the financing of Eligible Business Expenses, and to limit the 
portion of the financing that may be used for Eligible Business 
Expenses to 20% of the value of the Eligible Fixed Asset(s). SBA is 
also revising Sec.  120.882(g)(6)(ii) to amend the definition of 
Eligible Business Expenses to include ``any other expenses of the 
business that are not capital expenditures'', and to remove the phrase 
``other obligations of the business'' from the definition to clarify 
that Eligible Business Expense may include credit card debt and 
business lines of credit in the name of the small business that were 
incurred exclusively for business related purposes, but no other debt 
of the business may be included.
    Section 120.882(g)(10). As discussed above, the 2016 Act eliminated 
the alternate job retention goal and, accordingly, SBA removed the 
alternate job retention goal provision from the regulations in the 
Interim Final Rule.
    Instead, the Interim Final Rule revised Sec.  120.882(g)(10) to 
reflect the 2016 Act's requirement that a CDC limit its financings 
under the Debt Refinancing Program so that, during any fiscal year 
(October 1 to September 30), new financings under the Debt Refinancing 
Program do not exceed 50% of the dollars loaned by the CDC under the 
504 Loan Program during the previous fiscal year. Because the 2016 Act 
provides that the 50% limitation applies to the dollars loaned under 
the 504 Loan Program during the previous fiscal year, all financings 
made by the CDC during the previous fiscal year will be included in 
determining this number, including those financings made under the Debt 
Refinancing Program.
    The Interim Final Rule provided that, as authorized by the 2016 
Act, the 50% limitation may be waived upon application by a CDC and a 
determination by SBA that the refinance loan is needed for good cause. 
As discussed above, SBA received comments on this provision and SBA has 
issued waiver guidance in the recently issued Standard Operating 
Procedure 50 10 5(J). SBA will monitor the implementation of this 
guidance and update it as needed in its policy guidance. For clarity, 
SBA is changing the term ``refinance loan'' to ``504 loan'' in the last 
sentence of section 120.882(g)((10). No further changes are being made 
to the regulation.
    Section 120.882(g)(12). As discussed above, this paragraph is being 
revised to change the period by which a loan must be disbursed from six 
months to nine months. The Director, Office of Financial Assistance (D/
FA), or his or her designee, will have the authority to approve any 
request for extension of the disbursement period for not more than an 
additional six months for good cause.
    Section 120.882(g)(13). This section prohibits the Third Party Loan 
from being sold on the secondary market as a part of a pool guaranteed 
under subpart J of part 120 when the debt being refinanced is same 
institution debt. Subpart J of part 120, the Secondary Market Guarantee 
Program for First Lien Position 504 Loan Pools, expired on September 
23, 2012; however, should this program be reauthorized, SBA wants to 
ensure that this prohibition remains in effect. Accordingly, in the 
Interim Final Rule, SBA revised this provision to make it clear that 
the prohibition would apply to any successor to the program described 
in subpart J of part 120. No comments were received on this provision 
and no further changes are being made.
    Section 120.882(g)(15) (Definition of ``Qualified debt''). As 
discussed above, SBA is revising the criterion in paragraph (i) to 
allow certain loans that are refinanced within the two years prior to 
the date of application to be eligible as the same ``indebtedness'' if 
the effect of the refinancing was to extend the maturity date without 
advancing any additional proceeds, and the collateral for the most 
recent loan includes, at a minimum, the same Eligible Fixed Asset(s) 
that served as collateral for the former loan that was refinanced. 
Other terms of the most recent loan, such as interest rate and the 
addition of other collateral, may be different. To be considered for 
eligibility by SBA, the loan documents and lien instruments for the 
most recent loan, as well as the loan documents and lien instruments 
for the loan that was replaced by the most recent loan, must be 
submitted to SBA as part of the application.
    SBA is also revising the definition of ``current on all payments 
due'' in paragraph (vii) to allow the payment terms of a loan to be 
modified less than one year prior to the date of application (whether 
through a modification to an existing Note or a refinancing that 
results in a new Note) if the purpose of the modification or 
refinancing is to extend the maturity date of the loan, including 
balloon payments, no additional proceeds were advanced to the Borrower, 
and the Borrower was current on all payments due for the one year 
period prior to the date of application (i.e., in the months prior to 
and after the effective date of the modification or refinancing), 
including that there were no deferments of any payment.
    SBA emphasizes that it reserves the right to determine, at its 
discretion on a loan-by-loan basis, whether the terms of any 
modification or refinancing are consistent with prudent lending 
standards.
    Section 120.882(g)(15) (Definition of ``Refinancing Project''). SBA 
is revising this definition to provide that, if the Refinancing Project 
includes the financing of Eligible Business Expenses, SBA will not 
accept as collateral any fixed assets other than the Eligible Fixed 
Asset(s) securing the Qualified debt.

[[Page 19920]]

Compliance With Executive Orders 12866, 12988, 13132, and 13563, 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 
does not constitute a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866. This rule is also not a major rule under the Congressional 
Review Act.
Executive Order 12988
    This action meets applicable standards set forth in sections 3(a) 
and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize 
litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden. The action does not 
have preemptive effect or retroactive effect.
Executive Order 13132
    This rule does not have federalism implications as defined in 
Executive Order 13132. It will not have substantial direct effects on 
the States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government, as specified in the Executive Order. As 
such it does not warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
Executive Order 13563
    The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, reauthorized the Debt 
Refinancing Program, which was first authorized by the Jobs Act. The 
Agency received significant public comments on the Jobs Act interim 
final rule that was issued to implement the temporary Debt Refinancing 
Program (see 76 FR 9213, February 17, 2011). To assist in developing 
that interim final rule, the Agency held a public forum on November 17, 
2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. As discussed above, SBA received a 
significant number of public comments on the interim final rule that 
was published to implement the reauthorized Debt Refinancing Program, 
and the revisions made by this final rule are the result of the public 
participation in the rulemaking process.
Executive Order 13771
    This rule is not an Executive Order 13771 regulatory action because 
it is not significant under E.O. 12866.
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C., Ch. 35
    SBA has determined that this final rule does not impose any 
additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act.
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612
    The RFA requires administrative agencies to consider the effect of 
their actions on small entities, including small non-profit businesses, 
and small local governments. Pursuant to the RFA, when an agency issues 
a rule, the agency must prepare an analysis that describes whether the 
impact of the rule will have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of these small entities. However, the RFA requires 
such analysis only where notice and comment rulemaking is required. 
This rule finalizes the interim final rule that was published in 2016 
to implement the reauthorized Debt Refinancing Program. In issuing that 
rule, SBA provided just cause why it could be published without notice 
and comment, and therefore, exempted from the RFA requirement to 
prepare an initial regulatory flexibility analysis. Since this final 
rule merely finalizes that exempted interim rule, SBA believes a final 
regulatory analysis is also not required.

List of Subjects in 13 CFR Part 120

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

    Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 13 CFR part 120 which 
was published at 81 FR 33123 on May 25, 2016, is adopted as a final 
rule with the following changes:

PART 120--BUSINESS LOANS

0
1. The authority citation for 13 CFR part 120 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 634(b) (6), (b) (7), (b) (14), (h), and 
note, 636(a), (h) and (m), 650, 687(f), 696(3) and (7), and 697(a) 
and (e); Pub. L. 111-5, 123 Stat. 115, Pub. L. 111-240, 124 Stat. 
2504.


0
 2. Amend Sec.  120.882 by:
0
a. Adding three sentences after the first sentence of paragraph (g)(5), 
and removing ``10%'' in the last sentence;
0
b. Revising paragraph (g)(6)(i);
0
c. Removing the third and fourth sentences of paragraph (g)(6)(ii) and 
adding in their place five sentences;
0
d. Removing the words ``refinance loan'' in the last sentence of 
paragraph (g)(10) and adding the words ``504 loan'' in their place;
0
e. Revising paragraph (g)(12);
0
 f. Removing the semicolon at the end of paragraph (i) in the 
definition of ``Qualified debt'' in paragraph (g)(15), adding a period 
in its place, and adding two sentences to the end of the paragraph;
0
g. Removing the second sentence of paragraph (vii) in the definition of 
``Qualified debt'' in paragraph (g)(15) and adding in its place two 
sentences; and
0
h. Revising the definition of ``Refinancing Project'' in paragraph 
(g)(15).
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  120.882  Eligible Project costs for 504 loans.

* * * * *
     * * *
    (g) * * *
    (5) * * * If the Refinancing Project involves a limited or single 
purpose building or structure, the Borrower must contribute not less 
than 15% (excluding administrative costs), unless SBA determines, in 
its discretion, and publishes a notice in the Federal Register, that 
due to an economic recession, as determined by the National Bureau of 
Economic Research or its equivalent, Borrowers may contribute not less 
than 10% for Refinancing Projects involving a limited or single purpose 
property during the recession. The lower required contribution by the 
Borrower will be in effect until the first day of the calendar quarter 
following the end of the economic recession as determined by the 
National Bureau of Economic Research or its equivalent. SBA will 
publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the date on which 
the requirement of the lower Borrower contribution ended. * * *
    (6)(i) The portion of the Refinancing Project provided by the 504 
loan and the Third Party Loan may be no more than 90% of the fair 
market value of the fixed assets that will serve as collateral, except 
that if the Borrower's application includes a request to finance the 
Eligible Business Expenses described in paragraph (g)(6)(ii) of this 
section, the portion of the Refinancing Project provided by the 504 
loan and the Third Party Loan may be no more than 85% of the fair 
market value of the fixed assets that will serve as collateral and the 
Borrower may receive no more than 20% of the fair market value of the 
Eligible Fixed Asset(s) securing the Qualified Debt for Eligible 
Business Expenses;
    (ii) * * * For the purposes of this paragraph (g), ``Eligible 
Business Expenses'' are limited to the operating expenses of the 
business that were incurred but not paid prior to the date of 
application or that will become due for payment within 18 months after 
the date of application. These expenses may include salaries, rent, 
utilities, inventory, and other expenses of the business that are not 
capital expenditures. Debt is not included as an

[[Page 19921]]

Eligible Business Expense, except debt that was incurred with a credit 
card or a business line of credit may be included if the credit card or 
business line of credit is issued in the name of the small business and 
the Applicant certifies that the debt being refinanced was incurred 
exclusively for business related purposes. Loan proceeds must not be 
used to refinance any personal expenses. Both the CDC and the Borrower 
must certify in the application that the funds will be used to cover 
Eligible Business Expenses. * * *
* * * * *
    (12) The 504 loans approved under this paragraph (g) must be 
disbursed within 9 months after loan approval. The Director, Office of 
Financial Assistance, or his or her designee, may approve a request for 
extension of the disbursement period for an additional 6 months for 
good cause.
* * * * *
    (15) * * *
    Qualified debt is a commercial loan:
    * * *
    (i) * * * A commercial loan that was refinanced within the two 
years prior to the date of application (the most recent loan) may be 
deemed incurred not less than 2 years before the date of the 
application provided that the effect of the most recent loan was to 
extend the maturity date without advancing any additional proceeds 
(except to cover closing costs) and the collateral for the most recent 
loan includes, at a minimum, the same Eligible Fixed Asset(s) that 
served as collateral for the former loan that was refinanced. The loan 
documents and lien instruments for the most recent loan, as well as the 
loan documents and lien instruments for the loan that was replaced by 
the most recent loan, must be submitted to SBA as part of the 
application.
* * * * *
    (vii) * * * For the purposes of this paragraph (vii), ``current on 
all payments due'' means that no payment was more than 30 days past due 
from either the original payment terms or modified payment terms 
(whether through a modification to an existing Note or through a 
refinancing that results in a new Note). The modification (or 
refinancing) must have been agreed to in writing by the Borrower and 
the lender of the existing debt no less than one year preceding the 
date of application, except that a modified (or refinanced) loan may be 
allowed if the purpose of the modification (or refinancing) was to 
extend the maturity date of the loan, including any balloon payment, 
and if, during the one year period prior to the date of application 
(i.e., in the months prior to and after the modification or 
refinancing), the Borrower was current on all payments due, there have 
been no deferments of any payments, and no additional proceeds were 
advanced through the modification or refinancing (except to cover 
closing costs). * * *
* * * * *
    Refinancing Project means the fair market value of the Eligible 
Fixed Asset(s) securing the qualified debt and any other fixed assets 
acceptable to SBA, except that if the Refinancing Project includes the 
financing of Eligible Business Expenses, SBA will not accept as 
collateral any fixed assets other than the Eligible Fixed Asset(s) 
securing the Qualified Debt.
* * * * *

    Dated: April 26, 2018.
Linda E. McMahon,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-09638 Filed 5-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8025-01-P



                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 88 / Monday, May 7, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                           19915

                                             Schedule Obligation to the FFB; Form                    I. Background Information                             Loan Program during the previous fiscal
                                             614, Confirmation Schedule—Long-term                       The 504 Loan Program is an SBA                     year. The 2016 Act provides that this
                                             Obligation to RUS; or, Confirmation                     financing program authorized under                    limitation may be waived by SBA upon
                                             Schedule for RTB Debt);                                 Title V of the Small Business                         application by a CDC and after
                                               (b) Confirmed other long-term debt                    Investment Act of 1958 (the ‘‘SBIAct’’),              determining that the refinance loan is
                                             directly with the lender;                               15 U.S.C. 695 et seq. The core mission                needed for good cause; and
                                               (c) Examined notes executed or                                                                                 (3) The alternate job retention goal
                                                                                                     of the 504 Loan Program is to provide
                                             cancelled during the audit period; and                                                                        authorized by the Jobs Act for the Debt
                                                                                                     long-term financing to small businesses
                                               (d) Tested accrued interest                                                                                 Refinancing Program is eliminated.
                                                                                                     for the purchase or improvement of                       On May 25, 2016, SBA published an
                                             computations.
                                                                                                     land, buildings, and major equipment,                 interim final rule to implement the 2016
                                             § 1773.45   Regulatory liabilities.                     in an effort to facilitate the creation or            Act (81 FR 33123) and, with the ‘‘zero
                                                The auditor’s audit documentation                    retention of jobs and local economic                  cost’’ requirement satisfied for fiscal
                                             shall support that all regulatory                       development. Under the 504 Loan                       year 2016, SBA began accepting
                                             liabilities comply with the requirements                Program, loans are made to small                      applications for assistance under the
                                             of ASC 980. For electric auditees only,                 business applicants by Certified                      Debt Refinancing Program on June 25,
                                             the auditor’s audit documentation shall                 Development Companies (‘‘CDCs’’),                     2016, the effective date of the interim
                                             document whether all regulatory                         which are certified and regulated by                  final rule. With the ‘‘zero cost’’
                                             liabilities have received RUS approval.                 SBA to promote economic development                   requirement satisfied for fiscal years
                                                                                                     within their community. In general, a                 2017 and 2018, the Debt Refinancing
                                             §§ 1773.46–1773.48      [Reserved]                      project in the 504 Loan Program (a ‘‘504              Program has continued to be in effect
                                                                                                     Project’’) includes: A loan obtained from             without interruption. The regulations
                                             § 1773.49   OMB Control Number.
                                                                                                     a private sector lender with a senior lien            governing this program are found at 13
                                               The information collection                            covering at least 50 percent of the
                                             requirements in this part are approved                                                                        CFR 120.882(g).
                                                                                                     project cost; a loan obtained from a CDC
                                             by the Office of Management and                         (a ‘‘504 Loan’’) with a junior lien                   II. Summary of Comments Received
                                             Budget (OMB) and assigned the OMB                       covering up to 40 percent of the total                   SBA received 49 comments during the
                                             Control Number 0572–0095.                               cost (backed by a 100 percent SBA-                    comment period for the interim final
                                               Date: April 30, 2018.                                 guaranteed debenture); and a                          rule, which closed on July 25, 2016. Of
                                             Kenneth L. Johnson,                                     contribution from the Borrower of at                  the comments received, 44, or 90%,
                                             Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.                 least 10 percent equity.                              were from Certified Development
                                             [FR Doc. 2018–09501 Filed 5–4–18; 8:45 am]                 The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010                Companies, one was from a trade
                                             BILLING CODE P
                                                                                                     (the ‘‘Jobs Act’’), Public Law 111–240,               association, one was from a law firm,
                                                                                                     124 Stat. 2504, enacted on September                  one was from a commercial real estate
                                                                                                     27, 2010, temporarily expanded the                    broker, one was from a financial
                                                                                                     ability of a small business to use the 504            institution, and one was from a private
                                             SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
                                                                                                     Loan Program to refinance certain                     citizen. Below is a summary of the
                                             13 CFR Part 120                                         qualifying debt. Prior to the Jobs Act, a             comments received.
                                                                                                     504 Project could include a refinancing
                                             RIN 3245–AG79                                           component only if the project involved                A. Definition of Qualified Debt—Section
                                                                                                     an expansion of the small business and                120.882(g)(15)
                                             Debt Refinancing in 504 Loan Program                                                                             The Jobs Act authorizes the
                                                                                                     the existing indebtedness did not
                                             AGENCY:  U.S. Small Business                            exceed 50% of the project cost of the                 refinancing of ‘‘Qualified Debt’’ which
                                             Administration.                                         expansion. See 13 CFR 120.882(e). The                 is defined to mean, among other factors,
                                             ACTION: Final rule.                                     temporary Jobs Act program authorized                 ‘‘indebtedness’’ that ‘‘was incurred not
                                                                                                     the use of the 504 Loan Program for the               less than 2 years before the date of the
                                             SUMMARY:    This rule finalizes the interim             refinancing of debt where there is no                 application for assistance’’, that ‘‘is a
                                             final rule (IFR) that was published on                  expansion of the small business concern               commercial loan’’, and the proceeds of
                                             May 25, 2016, to implement the debt                     (the ‘‘Debt Refinancing Program’’). That              which were used to acquire an Eligible
                                             refinancing program reauthorized by                     program expired on September 27, 2012.                Fixed Asset. See section
                                             Section 521 of Division E of the                           Section 521 of Division E of the                   502(7)(C)(III)(aa)(AA), (BB), and (DD) of
                                             Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016.                  Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016                 the SBIAct. In imposing the two-year
                                             In response to comments received on                     (the ‘‘2016 Act’’), Public Law 114–113,               requirement, Congress clearly did not
                                             the IFR, this final rule makes some                     enacted on December 22, 2015,                         want the Debt Refinancing Program to
                                             additional revisions to the program’s                   reauthorized the Debt Refinancing                     apply to new loans (i.e., loans less than
                                             regulations with respect to the                         Program with three modifications:                     two years old). In implementing this
                                             definition of Qualified debt, the                          (1) The Debt Refinancing Program                   statutory requirement, the current
                                             requirements related to Eligible                        shall be in effect only in those fiscal               regulations define ‘‘Qualified debt’’, in
                                             Business Expenses, the refinancing of                   years during which the cost to the                    part, as a ‘‘commercial loan . . . [t]hat
                                             Projects involving single or limited use                Federal Government of making                          was incurred not less than 2 years
                                             properties, and the disbursement                        guarantees under the Debt Refinancing                 before the date of the application for the
                                             period.                                                 Program and under the 504 Loan                        refinancing available under [the 504
                                                                                                                                                           Debt Refinancing Program]’’. See 13 CFR
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                                             DATES:   This rule is effective June 6,                 Program is zero;
                                                                                                        (2) A CDC is required to limit its                 120.882(g)(15) (definition of ‘‘Qualified
                                             2018.
                                                                                                     financings under the 504 Loan Program                 debt’’). Debt that was refinanced
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        so that, during any fiscal year, new                  through the execution of a new Note
                                             Linda Reilly, 504 Program Chief at                      financings under the Debt Refinancing                 within the two year period would not be
                                             linda.reilly@sba.gov or 202–205–9949.                   Program do not exceed 50% of the                      considered Qualified debt under the
                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              dollars the CDC loaned under the 504                  current regulations.


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                                             19916                Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 88 / Monday, May 7, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                                Twenty-nine commenters requested                     recent loan was to extend the prior                   Thus, SBA will allow a refinanced loan
                                             that the definition of Qualified debt be                loan’s maturity date without advancing                to satisfy the ‘‘current on all payments
                                             revised to include debt that has been                   any additional funds to the Borrower                  due’’ requirement provided that it
                                             refinanced within the 2 years prior to                  (other than to pay the closing costs of               satisfies the same requirements as a
                                             the date of the 504 Debt Refinancing                    the refinancing).                                     modified loan, including that, during
                                             application. The commenters argue that,                    In addition, SBA received comments                 the one year period prior to the date of
                                             as long as the debt being refinanced was                relating to the statutory requirement that            application (i.e., in the months prior to
                                             originally incurred more than 2 years                   the applicant be current on all payments              and after the refinancing), the applicant
                                             before application, it falls under the                  due for not less than one year preceding              was current on all payments due, there
                                             statutory definition. Some of the                       the date of application. See section                  were no deferments of any payments,
                                             commenters also contend that the term                   502(7)(C)(III)(bb) of the SBIAct. The                 and no additional proceeds were
                                             ‘‘indebtedness’’ is broader than the term               current regulations define ‘‘current on               advanced through the refinancing (other
                                             ‘‘commercial loan’’, and that SBA                       all payments due’’ to mean that ‘‘no                  than to pay the closing costs of the
                                             should look to the date of the ‘‘original’’             payment was more than 30 days past                    refinancing). (To be consistent with the
                                             indebtedness and not the date that the                  due from either the original payment                  change to the ‘‘Qualified debt’’
                                             loan was refinanced. One commenter                      terms or modified payment terms                       definition regarding when the
                                             suggested that a refinancing within two                 (including deferments) if such                        indebtedness is incurred, the modified
                                             years of the application date that                      modification was agreed to in writing by              or refinanced loan may also change the
                                             extends the date of the balloon payment                 the Borrower and the lender of the                    interest rate and other terms.)
                                             should be allowed if the borrower did                   existing debt no less than one year                     SBA emphasizes that it expressly
                                             not receive any additional funds with                   preceding the date of application.’’ See              reserves the right to determine, at its
                                             the new loan.                                           13 CFR 120.882(g)(15) (definition of                  discretion on a loan-by-loan basis,
                                                                                                     ‘‘Qualified debt’’, ¶ (vii)). In the Interim          whether the modified or refinanced
                                                SBA has reconsidered this issue and
                                                                                                     Final Rule published on May 25, 2016,                 repayment terms fail to satisfy prudent
                                             agrees that it is appropriate to consider
                                                                                                     SBA explained that it established the
                                             the substance of the refinancing, rather                                                                      lending standards.
                                                                                                     requirement that the modification be
                                             than the form (i.e., whether the most                                                                         B. Refinancing Projects Involving
                                                                                                     executed no less than one year
                                             recent debt is evidenced by a new Note),                                                                      Limited or Single Purpose Properties—
                                                                                                     preceding the 504 application because a
                                             to determine whether it is the same                     debt should not be considered ‘‘current               13 CFR 120.882(g)(5)
                                             ‘‘indebtedness’’ as the prior loan. SBA                 on all payments due for not less than
                                             has concluded that certain loans that are               one year preceding the date of                          Concerns were expressed by 24
                                             refinanced within two years of the date                 application’’ if the payment terms were               commenters about requiring Borrowers
                                             of application (the resulting loan herein               modified during the one year period.                  to contribute 15%, instead of 10%, for
                                             referred to as the ‘‘most recent loan’’)                This requirement was imposed, in part,                the refinancing of projects involving
                                             may qualify as the same indebtedness,                   to ensure that the Debt Refinancing                   limited/single purpose properties. The
                                             but only if the most recent loan is, in                 Program would not be used to refinance                commenters noted that, under the
                                             effect, a replacement for the prior loan.               loans that had been modified for the                  temporary Debt Refinancing Program,
                                             Specifically, in order to be considered                 sole purpose of avoiding a delinquency                SBA required such Borrowers to make
                                             the same indebtedness, the most recent                  or default within the prior year.                     only a 10% contribution but, when SBA
                                             loan cannot have advanced any                              Some commenters requested that SBA                 began to process applications under the
                                             additional funds to the Borrower (other                 allow a modification (including through               reauthorized Debt Refinancing Program,
                                             than to pay the closing costs of the                    a renewal or extension) within the one                SBA required Borrowers to contribute
                                             refinancing). SBA is revising the                       year period when the purpose of the                   15%. SBA notes that the temporary Debt
                                             definition of ‘‘Qualified debt’’ to reflect             modification is to extend a balloon                   Refinancing Program was implemented
                                             that SBA will consider the most recent                  payment. SBA has reconsidered this                    during very different economic
                                             loan to be the same indebtedness as the                 issue and agrees that modifications that              conditions, when the projects to be
                                             prior loan if the effect of the most recent             extend the maturity date of the loan may              refinanced under this program were
                                             loan was to extend the prior loan’s                     be allowed, provided that, during the                 sometimes significantly under-
                                             maturity date without advancing any                     one year period prior to the date of                  collateralized. By requiring Borrowers to
                                             additional proceeds to the Borrower.                    application (i.e., in the months prior to             contribute only 10% and not 15% for
                                             The collateral for the most recent loan                 and after the modification), the                      refinancing projects involving limited or
                                             must also include, at a minimum, the                    applicant is current on all payments                  single purpose properties, SBA made
                                             same Eligible Fixed Asset(s) that served                due, there have been no deferments of                 the program more available to
                                             as collateral for the prior loan that was               any payments, and no additional                       Borrowers at a time when it was
                                             refinanced. (Other terms of the most                    proceeds were advanced through the                    difficult for small businesses to access
                                             recent loan, however, such as interest                  modification. To conform the current                  capital. Because the project was for the
                                             rate or amortization schedule, may be                   regulation to this revision, SBA is                   refinancing of an existing debt, and was
                                             different and may also include the                      removing the reference to deferments                  not for the acquisition, construction,
                                             addition of other eligible collateral.) In              from the regulatory text.                             conversion, or expansion of a limited or
                                             order to ensure that the Debt                              In addition, as SBA is now allowing                single purpose property, SBA concluded
                                             Refinancing Program complies with the                   certain refinanced loans to satisfy the               that the 15% contribution was not
                                             statutory prohibition against refinancing               2-year indebtedness requirement                       required under statutory or regulatory
                                             new indebtedness, CDCs must submit to                   described in ¶ II.A. above, these                     requirements. See section 502(3)(C)(ii)
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES




                                             SBA as part of the application copies of                refinanced loans should not be excluded               and 13 CFR 120.910(a)(2). Due to the
                                             the most recent loan and lien                           from the definition of ‘‘current on all               critical need to provide small businesses
                                             instruments, as well as copies of the                   payments due for not less than one year               with access to capital during that time,
                                             loan and lien instruments for the loan                  preceding the date of application’’                   SBA was willing to absorb the
                                             that was replaced by the most recent                    merely because the refinance occurred                 additional risk posed by debt
                                             loan, to show that the effect of the most               within the year prior to application.                 refinancing projects where the


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 88 / Monday, May 7, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                            19917

                                             underlying collateral was limited or                    apply to the refinancing of existing debt                When SBA first implemented the
                                             single purpose properties.                              involving single/limited purpose                      reauthorized Debt Refinancing Program
                                                However, when SBA implemented the                    property, SBA has considered whether                  in 2016, SBA applied a maximum 75%
                                             2016 Act, SBA reconsidered this policy                  Third Party Lenders should nevertheless               loan-to-value (LTV) for any project that
                                             in light of the fact that, with the                     be required to contribute 50% in the                  financed business expenses and limited
                                             economic recovery, project properties                   case of refinancing a debt involving                  such financing of business expenses to
                                             are now typically over-collateralized                   such properties. As Borrowers are now                 no more than 25% of the value of the
                                             and can readily provide the additional                  often able in the current market to                   Eligible Fixed Asset(s) securing the
                                             5% equity and often more, thereby                       contribute 20% or more equity to the                  Qualified Debt. See Policy Notice 5000–
                                             mitigating the risk presented to SBA by                 Refinancing Project’s costs, the 504 loan             1382, effective May 26, 2016. Thirty-six
                                             projects involving single or limited                    would amount to 30% or less of the                    commenters expressed concerns that the
                                             purpose properties in the event of                      project cost if the Third Party Lender                75% LTV was severely restrictive and
                                             liquidation. The 2016 Act states that the               were required to contribute 50%, which                would impair utilization of the program,
                                             Debt Refinancing Program may provide                    does not maximize the economic benefit                and many urged SBA to allow for a 90%
                                             ‘‘not more than 90% of the value of the                 of the 504 Loan Program to the small                  LTV for all Refinancing Projects. SBA
                                             collateral’’ for the refinancing of the                 business. Thus, SBA has determined                    considered these comments and decided
                                             Qualified Debt, and SBA has                             that Third Party Lenders will not be                  to revise 13 CFR 120.882(g)(6)(i) to
                                             determined that, where the underlying                   required to contribute 50% but, as                    allow a maximum LTV of 85% for any
                                             collateral is limited or single purpose                 required for all projects financed under              project that includes the financing of
                                             properties, the financing provided                      the Debt Refinancing Program, their                   Eligible Business Expenses. SBA
                                             through the Debt Refinancing Program                    participation must be at least equal to               concludes that this higher LTV will
                                             will be limited to 85% of the collateral                the SBA 504 loan.                                     provide increased access to credit
                                             value, with 15% being contributed by                                                                          without adding undue risk to SBA.
                                             the Borrower.                                           C. Extension of Disbursement                             In addition, most of the commenters
                                                In the event that general market                     Deadline—13 CFR 120.882(g)(12)                        expressed support for the 25%
                                             conditions result again in 504 Projects                   The current rule requires that the 504              limitation on the amount that may be
                                             that are significantly under-                           loan proceeds be disbursed within 6                   financed for business expenses, though
                                             collateralized, however, SBA wants the                  months after loan approval, and                       SBA did receive at least one comment
                                             Debt Refinancing Program to have the                    authorizes the Director, Office of                    suggesting that the small business
                                             flexibility to allow Borrowers to                       Financial Assistance, or his or her                   should determine the percentage of
                                             contribute only 10% toward the cost of                  designee, to approve any request for                  these expenses that may be financed.
                                             a project involving single or limited use               extension of the disbursement period for              SBA notes that the financing of business
                                             properties. Accordingly, the rule will                  good cause. 13 CFR 120.882(g)(12). A                  expenses during Fiscal Year 2017
                                             provide that, if the Refinancing Project                commenter stated that, now that the                   averaged less than 15% of the value of
                                             involves a limited or single purpose                    program is permanent, the rule should                 the Eligible Fixed Asset(s) securing the
                                             building or structure, the Borrower must                be revised to allow up to one year for                Qualified Debt. In addition, with the
                                             contribute not less than 15%; provided,                 disbursement. The commenter observed                  statutory requirement that SBA
                                             however, that SBA may determine, in its                 that six months may not be sufficient                 maintain the Debt Refinancing Program
                                             discretion, that in the event of an                     time to, for example, satisfy certain                 at zero subsidy in order for the program
                                             economic recession, as determined by                    environmental requirements. SBA has                   to be in effect during any fiscal year,
                                             the National Bureau of Economic                         considered this comment and agrees to                 SBA must be diligent in placing prudent
                                             Research or its equivalent, the required                change the disbursement period to nine                controls on the program to mitigate
                                             Borrower contribution may be not less                   months, and to provide the Director,                  SBA’s risk and exposure. Accordingly,
                                             than 10% for such projects. In such                     Office of Financial Assistance (D/FA), or             SBA has decided to limit the portion of
                                             circumstance, SBA will publish a notice                 his or her designee, with the authority               the financing that may be for business
                                             in the Federal Register of its                          to approve any request for extension of               expenses to 20% of the value of the
                                             determination and setting forth the                     the disbursement period for not more                  Eligible Fixed Asset(s). In addition, if
                                             justification for the lower required                                                                          the Refinancing Project includes the
                                                                                                     than an additional six months for good
                                             Borrower contribution. This lower                                                                             financing of Eligible Business Expenses,
                                                                                                     cause. SBA finds that this increase,
                                             Borrower contribution requirement                                                                             SBA will not accept as collateral any
                                                                                                     along with the limited authority to
                                             would be in effect until the first day of                                                                     fixed assets other than the Eligible Fixed
                                                                                                     approve any request for extension for
                                             the calendar quarter after the economic                                                                       Asset(s) securing the Qualified Debt.
                                                                                                     good cause, is sufficient to address the
                                             recession has ended as determined by                                                                          Accordingly, SBA is revising 13 CFR
                                                                                                     commenter’s concerns. SBA is revising
                                             the National Bureau of Economic                                                                               120.882(g)(6)(i) and (ii) and the
                                                                                                     13 CFR 120.882(g)(12) accordingly.
                                             Research or its equivalent. SBA will                                                                          definition of ‘‘Refinancing Project’’ in 13
                                             publish a notice in the Federal Register                D. Financing of Eligible Business                     CFR 120.882(g)(15).
                                             to announce that the lower required                     Expenses—13 CFR 120.882(g)(6)(i)
                                             Borrower contribution ceased being in                                                                         2. Eligible Business Expenses May
                                                                                                     and (ii)
                                             effect as of that date.                                                                                       Include Non-Capital Expenditures
                                                With respect to the loan provided by                 1. Loan-to-Value Limitations With                        Twenty-eight commenters requested
                                             the Third Party Lender, the statute                     Financing of Eligible Business Expenses               that SBA allow Borrowers to finance
                                             requires the Third Party Lender to                         Under the Debt Refinancing Program,                minor renovations or ‘‘non-substantial
                                             contribute 50% to the project cost when                 Borrowers may finance Eligible                        modifications or improvements to the
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                                             the project is financing the construction               Business Expenses as part of the                      Eligible Fixed Assets’’ as an Eligible
                                             (or acquisition, conversion or                          Refinancing Project if the amount of                  Business Expense under the Debt
                                             expansion) of a single or limited                       cash funds that will be provided for the              Refinancing Program. Enacted by
                                             purpose property. See section                           Refinancing Project exceeds the amount                Congress in 2010, the Jobs Act created
                                             502(3)(B)(ii) of the SBIAct. While this                 to be paid to the lender of the Qualified             the temporary Debt Refinancing
                                             statutory requirement does not strictly                 debt. See 13 CFR 120.882(g)(6)(ii).                   Program for projects that do not involve


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                                             19918                Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 88 / Monday, May 7, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                             the expansion of a small business. See                  Expense if the credit card is issued in               the 50% requirement: (1) Whether the
                                             section 502(7)(C)(ii) of the SBIAct. SBA                the name of the Applicant small                       Borrower has access to other sources of
                                             has concluded that the regulations                      business and the Applicant certifies that             financing, including other CDCs that
                                             would benefit from greater clarity                      the credit card debt being refinanced                 have not exceeded their 50% cap; and
                                             regarding the type of minor renovations                 was incurred exclusively for business                 (2) whether the CDC has an existing 504
                                             or ‘‘non-substantial modifications or                   related purposes. See SOP 50 10 5(J),                 loan with the Borrower that is in current
                                             improvements’’ that SBA regards as not                  Subpart C, Chapter 2, ¶ IV.E.3.g). SBA                status. No change to the regulation is
                                             involving the expansion of the small                    has also determined that business lines               necessary.
                                             business.                                               of credit may be included as an Eligible
                                                SBA believes that a reasonable                                                                             F. Statutory Requirements
                                                                                                     Business Expense if the business line of
                                             approach to this issue is to permit the                 credit satisfies the same requirements as                Several commenters requested
                                             financing of business expenses in the                   credit card debt. For debt that was                   changes to other program requirements
                                             program as long as the expenses may be                  incurred with a credit card or a business             in the Debt Refinancing Program,
                                             deducted as ordinary and necessary                      line of credit, the proceeds of the debt              including that SBA: (i) Allow 504 or 7(a)
                                             expenses on the small business’s federal                being refinanced, like all other business             loans to be refinanced in the Debt
                                             tax returns during the taxable year in                  expenses financed under the Debt                      Refinancing Program, (ii) allow CDCs
                                             which they were paid or incurred. See                   Refinancing Program, must have been                   participating in the Premier Certified
                                             Internal Revenue Code, section 162.                     used for expenses of the business that                Lenders Program (PCLP) to use their
                                             Examples of such expenses may include                   are not capital expenditures.                         delegated authority to approve loans
                                             repairs, maintenance and minor                                                                                made in the Debt Refinancing Program,
                                             improvements or renovations. Capital                    E. Waiver of the 50% Limitation—13                    and (iii) reinstate the alternative job
                                             expenditures, on the other hand, would                  CFR 120.882(g)(10)                                    retention goal provided in the Jobs Act
                                             not be eligible for financing in the                       The 2016 Act requires that a CDC                   for Borrowers that do not meet the job
                                             program because they have a useful life                 limit its financings under the 504 Loan               creation and retention goals under
                                             substantially beyond the taxable year.                  Program so that, during any fiscal year,              sections 501(d) and (e) of the Small
                                             See Internal Revenue Code, section                      new financings under the Debt                         Business Investment SBIAct.
                                             263(a). Examples of such capital                        Refinancing Program do not exceed 50%                    However, each of these program
                                             expenses may include the acquisition of                 of the dollars the CDC loaned under the               requirements is mandated by statute: the
                                             land or improvements or betterments                     504 Loan Program during the previous                  prohibition against refinancing a loan
                                             made to increase the value of any                       fiscal year. The 2016 Act also provides               subject to a guarantee by a Federal
                                             property. SBA believes that using this                  that this limitation may be waived upon               agency is mandated by section
                                             distinction between operating and                       application by a CDC and upon SBA’s                   502(7)(C)(i)(III)(aa)(CC) of the SBIAct;
                                             capital expenditures is consistent with                 determination that the refinance loan is              the prohibition against PCLP CDCs
                                             the statutory requirement that the Debt                 needed for good cause. In the interim                 using their delegated authority to
                                             Refinancing Program be used for                         final rule, SBA stated that it would                  approve loans made in the Debt
                                             Refinancing Projects that do not involve                provide guidance regarding the good                   Refinancing Program is mandated by
                                             the expansion of a small business.                      cause determination in its Standard                   section 502(7)(C)(v) of the SBIAct; and
                                                Accordingly, SBA is revising the                     Operating Procedures or other guidance                the elimination of the alternative job
                                             definition of Eligible Business Expenses                documents. SBA received many                          retention goal was made by section
                                             to allow the financing of ‘‘any other                   comments suggesting various factors for               521(a)(1) of the 2016 Act. SBA notes
                                             expenses of the business that are not                   SBA to consider in making the good                    that, with the elimination of the
                                             capital expenditures.’’ With the addition               cause determination, including projects               alternate job retention goal, all
                                             of this category, SBA is clarifying that                that (i) assist manufacturing firms, (ii)             applicants for a loan under the Debt
                                             the Borrower may finance any operating                  will employ 1 full time equivalent job                Refinancing Program are required to
                                             expense that it records and deducts as                  for every $100,000 in requested                       meet the job creation and retention goals
                                             an expense in the taxable year in which                 assistance, (iii) include the participation           under section 501(d) and (e) of the
                                             it was paid or incurred, but may not                    of another economic development                       SBIAct. Based on these goals, a 504
                                             finance any capital expense that is used                entity, (iv) involve a borrower who has               Project, including a project financed
                                             to acquire or improve assets and which                  a pre-existing relationship with the                  under the Debt Refinancing Program,
                                             the Borrower may not claim as a                         CDC, or (v) involve a CDC with less than              must achieve one of the economic
                                             deduction in the taxable year in which                  $5 million in 504 loans during the prior              development objectives set forth in 13
                                             the expense was paid or incurred. SBA                   fiscal year. Some commenters also                     CFR 120.861 or 120.862.
                                             will rely upon the CDC and the small                    expressed concerns that the 50%                          Accordingly, SBA cannot adopt the
                                             business to represent the nature of the                 limitation is disadvantageous to smaller              requested changes.
                                             expense and that the expense may be                     or rural CDCs that may not have the
                                             deducted as an ordinary and necessary                   same capacity as larger CDCs to finance               III. Section-by-Section Analysis
                                             expense during the taxable year in                      these projects.                                          Except as set forth below, 13 CFR
                                             which it was paid or incurred. CDCs                        SBA considered these comments and                  120.882(g) remains unchanged.
                                             must document their determination                       concludes that the focus of the good                     Section 120.882(g) Introductory Text.
                                             regarding the nature of the expense in                  cause determination should be only on                 In the Interim Final Rule, SBA revised
                                             the credit memorandum.                                  the Borrower’s financing needs, and not               the introductory text in this section to
                                                SBA is also removing the phrase ‘‘or                 on the circumstances of the CDCs or                   remove the following phrase that is no
                                             other obligations of the business’’ from                other factors. Accordingly, as reflected              longer applicable: ‘‘For applications
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                                             the definition to clarify that, except as               in the recently issued SOP 50 10 5(J),                received on or after February 17, 2011
                                             described below, other debt of the                      Subpart C, Chapter 2, § IV.E.2, SBA will              and approved by SBA no later than
                                             business is not included as an Eligible                 consider the following factors in                     September 27, 2012’’. Also, with the
                                             Business Expense. As SBA recently                       determining whether there is good cause               permanent reauthorization of the Debt
                                             clarified, credit card debt may be                      for the Borrower to obtain the                        Refinancing Program by the 2016 Act, a
                                             included as an Eligible Business                        refinancing through a CDC that exceeds                specific application period is


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 88 / Monday, May 7, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                            19919

                                             unnecessary. No comments were                           job retention goal provision from the                 provision and no further changes are
                                             received on this provision and no                       regulations in the Interim Final Rule.                being made.
                                             further changes are being made.                            Instead, the Interim Final Rule revised               Section 120.882(g)(15) (Definition of
                                                Section 120.882(g)(3). In the Interim                § 120.882(g)(10) to reflect the 2016 Act’s            ‘‘Qualified debt’’). As discussed above,
                                             Final Rule, SBA revised this section by                 requirement that a CDC limit its                      SBA is revising the criterion in
                                             removing the maturity date requirement.                 financings under the Debt Refinancing                 paragraph (i) to allow certain loans that
                                             In its place, SBA inserted the 2016 Act’s               Program so that, during any fiscal year
                                                                                                                                                           are refinanced within the two years
                                             requirement that, for the Debt                          (October 1 to September 30), new
                                                                                                                                                           prior to the date of application to be
                                             Refinancing Program to be in effect                     financings under the Debt Refinancing
                                                                                                                                                           eligible as the same ‘‘indebtedness’’ if
                                             during any fiscal year, the cost to the                 Program do not exceed 50% of the
                                             Federal government of making                            dollars loaned by the CDC under the 504               the effect of the refinancing was to
                                             guarantees under the Debt Refinancing                   Loan Program during the previous fiscal               extend the maturity date without
                                             Program and under the 504 Loan                          year. Because the 2016 Act provides that              advancing any additional proceeds, and
                                             Program must be zero. No comments                       the 50% limitation applies to the dollars             the collateral for the most recent loan
                                             were received on this provision and no                  loaned under the 504 Loan Program                     includes, at a minimum, the same
                                             further changes are being made.                         during the previous fiscal year, all                  Eligible Fixed Asset(s) that served as
                                                Section 120.882(g)(5). This paragraph                financings made by the CDC during the                 collateral for the former loan that was
                                             is being revised to provide that, if the                previous fiscal year will be included in              refinanced. Other terms of the most
                                             Refinancing Project involves a limited                  determining this number, including                    recent loan, such as interest rate and the
                                             or single purpose building or structure,                those financings made under the Debt                  addition of other collateral, may be
                                             the Borrower must contribute not less                   Refinancing Program.                                  different. To be considered for eligibility
                                             than 15%. However, SBA may                                 The Interim Final Rule provided that,              by SBA, the loan documents and lien
                                             determine, in its discretion, that in the               as authorized by the 2016 Act, the 50%                instruments for the most recent loan, as
                                             event of an economic recession as                       limitation may be waived upon                         well as the loan documents and lien
                                             determined by the National Bureau of                    application by a CDC and a                            instruments for the loan that was
                                             Economic Research or its equivalent, the                determination by SBA that the refinance               replaced by the most recent loan, must
                                             required Borrower contribution may be                   loan is needed for good cause. As                     be submitted to SBA as part of the
                                             not less than 10% for such projects.                    discussed above, SBA received                         application.
                                             This lower Borrower contribution                        comments on this provision and SBA
                                                                                                                                                              SBA is also revising the definition of
                                             requirement may be in effect until the                  has issued waiver guidance in the
                                             recession ends as determined by the                     recently issued Standard Operating                    ‘‘current on all payments due’’ in
                                             National Bureau of Economic Research                    Procedure 50 10 5(J). SBA will monitor                paragraph (vii) to allow the payment
                                             or its equivalent. As explained above,                  the implementation of this guidance and               terms of a loan to be modified less than
                                             SBA will publish a notice in the Federal                update it as needed in its policy                     one year prior to the date of application
                                             Register to announce the lower                          guidance. For clarity, SBA is changing                (whether through a modification to an
                                             Borrower contribution requirement and                   the term ‘‘refinance loan’’ to ‘‘504 loan’’           existing Note or a refinancing that
                                             explaining its justification, and a notice              in the last sentence of section                       results in a new Note) if the purpose of
                                             to announce that, due to the end of the                 120.882(g)((10). No further changes are               the modification or refinancing is to
                                             recession, the lower Borrower                           being made to the regulation.                         extend the maturity date of the loan,
                                             contribution requirement is no longer in                   Section 120.882(g)(12). As discussed               including balloon payments, no
                                             effect.                                                 above, this paragraph is being revised to             additional proceeds were advanced to
                                                Section 120.882(g)(6). As discussed                  change the period by which a loan must                the Borrower, and the Borrower was
                                             above, SBA is revising § 120.882(g)(6)(i)               be disbursed from six months to nine                  current on all payments due for the one
                                             to allow a maximum LTV of 85% for                       months. The Director, Office of                       year period prior to the date of
                                             any project that includes the financing                 Financial Assistance (D/FA), or his or                application (i.e., in the months prior to
                                             of Eligible Business Expenses, and to                   her designee, will have the authority to              and after the effective date of the
                                             limit the portion of the financing that                 approve any request for extension of the              modification or refinancing), including
                                             may be used for Eligible Business                       disbursement period for not more than                 that there were no deferments of any
                                             Expenses to 20% of the value of the                     an additional six months for good cause.              payment.
                                             Eligible Fixed Asset(s). SBA is also                       Section 120.882(g)(13). This section
                                             revising § 120.882(g)(6)(ii) to amend the                                                                        SBA emphasizes that it reserves the
                                                                                                     prohibits the Third Party Loan from
                                             definition of Eligible Business Expenses                being sold on the secondary market as                 right to determine, at its discretion on
                                             to include ‘‘any other expenses of the                  a part of a pool guaranteed under                     a loan-by-loan basis, whether the terms
                                             business that are not capital                           subpart J of part 120 when the debt                   of any modification or refinancing are
                                             expenditures’’, and to remove the                       being refinanced is same institution                  consistent with prudent lending
                                             phrase ‘‘other obligations of the                       debt. Subpart J of part 120, the                      standards.
                                             business’’ from the definition to clarify               Secondary Market Guarantee Program                       Section 120.882(g)(15) (Definition of
                                             that Eligible Business Expense may                      for First Lien Position 504 Loan Pools,               ‘‘Refinancing Project’’). SBA is revising
                                             include credit card debt and business                   expired on September 23, 2012;                        this definition to provide that, if the
                                             lines of credit in the name of the small                however, should this program be                       Refinancing Project includes the
                                             business that were incurred exclusively                 reauthorized, SBA wants to ensure that                financing of Eligible Business Expenses,
                                             for business related purposes, but no                   this prohibition remains in effect.
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                                                                                                                                                           SBA will not accept as collateral any
                                             other debt of the business may be                       Accordingly, in the Interim Final Rule,               fixed assets other than the Eligible Fixed
                                             included.                                               SBA revised this provision to make it                 Asset(s) securing the Qualified debt.
                                                Section 120.882(g)(10). As discussed                 clear that the prohibition would apply
                                             above, the 2016 Act eliminated the                      to any successor to the program
                                             alternate job retention goal and,                       described in subpart J of part 120. No
                                             accordingly, SBA removed the alternate                  comments were received on this


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                                             19920                Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 88 / Monday, May 7, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                             Compliance With Executive Orders                        Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601–             ‘‘Qualified debt’’ in paragraph (g)(15)
                                             12866, 12988, 13132, and 13563, 13771,                  612                                                   and adding in its place two sentences;
                                             the Paperwork Reduction Act (44                            The RFA requires administrative                    and
                                             U.S.C., Ch. 35), and the Regulatory                                                                           ■ h. Revising the definition of
                                                                                                     agencies to consider the effect of their
                                             Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601–612)                      actions on small entities, including                  ‘‘Refinancing Project’’ in paragraph
                                             Executive Order 12866                                   small non-profit businesses, and small                (g)(15).
                                                                                                                                                              The additions and revisions read as
                                               The Office of Management and Budget                   local governments. Pursuant to the RFA,
                                                                                                                                                           follows:
                                             has determined that this rule does not                  when an agency issues a rule, the
                                             constitute a ‘‘significant regulatory                   agency must prepare an analysis that                  § 120.882   Eligible Project costs for 504
                                             action’’ under Executive Order 12866.                   describes whether the impact of the rule              loans.
                                             This rule is also not a major rule under                will have a significant economic impact               *      *    *     *     *
                                             the Congressional Review Act.                           on a substantial number of these small                  * * *
                                                                                                     entities. However, the RFA requires                     (g) * * *
                                             Executive Order 12988                                   such analysis only where notice and                     (5) * * * If the Refinancing Project
                                                This action meets applicable                         comment rulemaking is required. This                  involves a limited or single purpose
                                             standards set forth in sections 3(a) and                rule finalizes the interim final rule that            building or structure, the Borrower must
                                             3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil                 was published in 2016 to implement the                contribute not less than 15% (excluding
                                             Justice Reform, to minimize litigation,                 reauthorized Debt Refinancing Program.                administrative costs), unless SBA
                                             eliminate ambiguity, and reduce                         In issuing that rule, SBA provided just               determines, in its discretion, and
                                             burden. The action does not have                        cause why it could be published                       publishes a notice in the Federal
                                             preemptive effect or retroactive effect.                without notice and comment, and                       Register, that due to an economic
                                                                                                     therefore, exempted from the RFA                      recession, as determined by the National
                                             Executive Order 13132
                                                                                                     requirement to prepare an initial                     Bureau of Economic Research or its
                                               This rule does not have federalism                    regulatory flexibility analysis. Since this           equivalent, Borrowers may contribute
                                             implications as defined in Executive                    final rule merely finalizes that exempted             not less than 10% for Refinancing
                                             Order 13132. It will not have substantial               interim rule, SBA believes a final                    Projects involving a limited or single
                                             direct effects on the States, on the                    regulatory analysis is also not required.             purpose property during the recession.
                                             relationship between the national                                                                             The lower required contribution by the
                                             government and the States, or on the                    List of Subjects in 13 CFR Part 120
                                                                                                                                                           Borrower will be in effect until the first
                                             distribution of power and                                 Loan programs—business, Small                       day of the calendar quarter following
                                             responsibilities among the various                      businesses, Reporting and                             the end of the economic recession as
                                             levels of government, as specified in the               recordkeeping requirements.                           determined by the National Bureau of
                                             Executive Order. As such it does not                      Accordingly, the interim final rule                 Economic Research or its equivalent.
                                             warrant the preparation of a Federalism                 amending 13 CFR part 120 which was                    SBA will publish a notice in the Federal
                                             Assessment.                                             published at 81 FR 33123 on May 25,                   Register announcing the date on which
                                             Executive Order 13563                                   2016, is adopted as a final rule with the             the requirement of the lower Borrower
                                                                                                     following changes:                                    contribution ended. * * *
                                                The Consolidated Appropriations Act,                                                                         (6)(i) The portion of the Refinancing
                                             2016, reauthorized the Debt Refinancing                 PART 120—BUSINESS LOANS                               Project provided by the 504 loan and the
                                             Program, which was first authorized by                                                                        Third Party Loan may be no more than
                                             the Jobs Act. The Agency received                       ■ 1. The authority citation for 13 CFR                90% of the fair market value of the fixed
                                             significant public comments on the Jobs                 part 120 is revised to read as follows:               assets that will serve as collateral,
                                             Act interim final rule that was issued to
                                                                                                       Authority: 15 U.S.C. 634(b) (6), (b) (7), (b)       except that if the Borrower’s application
                                             implement the temporary Debt                            (14), (h), and note, 636(a), (h) and (m), 650,        includes a request to finance the Eligible
                                             Refinancing Program (see 76 FR 9213,                    687(f), 696(3) and (7), and 697(a) and (e);           Business Expenses described in
                                             February 17, 2011). To assist in                        Pub. L. 111–5, 123 Stat. 115, Pub. L. 111–240,        paragraph (g)(6)(ii) of this section, the
                                             developing that interim final rule, the                 124 Stat. 2504.
                                                                                                                                                           portion of the Refinancing Project
                                             Agency held a public forum on
                                                                                                     ■  2. Amend § 120.882 by:                             provided by the 504 loan and the Third
                                             November 17, 2010 in Boston,
                                                                                                     ■  a. Adding three sentences after the                Party Loan may be no more than 85%
                                             Massachusetts. As discussed above,
                                             SBA received a significant number of                    first sentence of paragraph (g)(5), and               of the fair market value of the fixed
                                             public comments on the interim final                    removing ‘‘10%’’ in the last sentence;                assets that will serve as collateral and
                                             rule that was published to implement                    ■ b. Revising paragraph (g)(6)(i);                    the Borrower may receive no more than
                                             the reauthorized Debt Refinancing                       ■ c. Removing the third and fourth                    20% of the fair market value of the
                                             Program, and the revisions made by this                 sentences of paragraph (g)(6)(ii) and                 Eligible Fixed Asset(s) securing the
                                             final rule are the result of the public                 adding in their place five sentences;                 Qualified Debt for Eligible Business
                                             participation in the rulemaking process.                ■ d. Removing the words ‘‘refinance                   Expenses;
                                                                                                     loan’’ in the last sentence of paragraph                (ii) * * * For the purposes of this
                                             Executive Order 13771                                   (g)(10) and adding the words ‘‘504 loan’’             paragraph (g), ‘‘Eligible Business
                                               This rule is not an Executive Order                   in their place;                                       Expenses’’ are limited to the operating
                                             13771 regulatory action because it is not               ■ e. Revising paragraph (g)(12);                      expenses of the business that were
                                             significant under E.O. 12866.                           ■ f. Removing the semicolon at the end                incurred but not paid prior to the date
                                                                                                                                                           of application or that will become due
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                                                                                                     of paragraph (i) in the definition of
                                             Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C.,                     ‘‘Qualified debt’’ in paragraph (g)(15),              for payment within 18 months after the
                                             Ch. 35                                                  adding a period in its place, and adding              date of application. These expenses may
                                               SBA has determined that this final                    two sentences to the end of the                       include salaries, rent, utilities,
                                             rule does not impose any additional                     paragraph;                                            inventory, and other expenses of the
                                             reporting or recordkeeping requirements                 ■ g. Removing the second sentence of                  business that are not capital
                                             under the Paperwork Reduction Act.                      paragraph (vii) in the definition of                  expenditures. Debt is not included as an


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 88 / Monday, May 7, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                          19921

                                             Eligible Business Expense, except debt                  (i.e., in the months prior to and after the           Financial Assistance, U.S. Small
                                             that was incurred with a credit card or                 modification or refinancing), the                     Business Administration, 409 Third
                                             a business line of credit may be                        Borrower was current on all payments                  Street SW, Washington, DC 20416;
                                             included if the credit card or business                 due, there have been no deferments of                 Telephone (202) 205–3645; email
                                             line of credit is issued in the name of                 any payments, and no additional                       address: dianna.seaborn@sba.gov.
                                             the small business and the Applicant                    proceeds were advanced through the                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
                                             certifies that the debt being refinanced                modification or refinancing (except to                October 16, 2017, SBA published a
                                             was incurred exclusively for business                   cover closing costs). * * *                           document announcing the Express
                                             related purposes. Loan proceeds must                    *       *     *   *     *                             Bridge Pilot. (82 FR 47958) The Express
                                             not be used to refinance any personal                      Refinancing Project means the fair                 Bridge Pilot is designed to supplement
                                             expenses. Both the CDC and the                          market value of the Eligible Fixed                    the Agency’s disaster response
                                             Borrower must certify in the application                Asset(s) securing the qualified debt and              capabilities and authorizes the Agency’s
                                             that the funds will be used to cover                    any other fixed assets acceptable to                  7(a) Lenders with SBA Express lending
                                             Eligible Business Expenses. * * *                       SBA, except that if the Refinancing                   authority to deliver expedited SBA-
                                             *      *    *      *    *                               Project includes the financing of Eligible            guaranteed financing on an emergency
                                                (12) The 504 loans approved under                    Business Expenses, SBA will not accept                basis for disaster-related purposes to
                                             this paragraph (g) must be disbursed                    as collateral any fixed assets other than             small businesses located in
                                             within 9 months after loan approval.                    the Eligible Fixed Asset(s) securing the              communities impacted by a
                                             The Director, Office of Financial                       Qualified Debt.                                       Presidentially-declared disaster, while
                                             Assistance, or his or her designee, may                 *       *     *   *     *                             the businesses apply for and await long-
                                             approve a request for extension of the                                                                        term financing (including through
                                                                                                       Dated: April 26, 2018.
                                             disbursement period for an additional 6                                                                       SBA’s direct disaster loan program, if
                                             months for good cause.                                  Linda E. McMahon,
                                                                                                                                                           eligible).
                                                                                                     Administrator.                                           The Express Bridge Pilot applies the
                                             *      *    *      *    *
                                                (15) * * *                                           [FR Doc. 2018–09638 Filed 5–4–18; 8:45 am]            policies and procedures in place for the
                                                Qualified debt is a commercial loan:                 BILLING CODE 8025–01–P                                Agency’s SBA Express program, except
                                                * * *                                                                                                      as outlined in the Federal Register
                                                (i) * * * A commercial loan that was                                                                       document published on October 16,
                                             refinanced within the two years prior to                SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION                         2017. Pursuant to the authority
                                             the date of application (the most recent                                                                      provided to SBA under 13 CFR 120.3 to
                                             loan) may be deemed incurred not less                   13 CFR Part 120
                                                                                                                                                           suspend, modify or waive certain
                                             than 2 years before the date of the                     Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program;                    regulations in establishing and testing
                                             application provided that the effect of                 Modification of Fee Policy                            pilot loan initiatives, SBA modified the
                                             the most recent loan was to extend the                                                                        regulation at 13 CFR 120.150 (‘‘What are
                                             maturity date without advancing any                     AGENCY: U.S. Small Business                           SBA’s lending criteria?’’), which applies
                                             additional proceeds (except to cover                    Administration.                                       to loans made in the 7(a) Business Loan
                                             closing costs) and the collateral for the               ACTION: Notification of change to                     Program. SBA modified the regulation
                                             most recent loan includes, at a                         Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program and                 in order to minimize the burdens on the
                                             minimum, the same Eligible Fixed                        impact on regulatory provision.                       businesses applying for loans through
                                             Asset(s) that served as collateral for the                                                                    the Express Bridge Pilot and to expand
                                             former loan that was refinanced. The                    SUMMARY:   On October 16, 2017, the U.S.              the opportunities for SBA Express
                                             loan documents and lien instruments                     Small Business Administration (SBA)                   lenders to participate in the pilot.
                                             for the most recent loan, as well as the                published a document announcing the                      SBA continues to refine and improve
                                             loan documents and lien instruments                     Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program                     the design of the Express Bridge Pilot
                                             for the loan that was replaced by the                   (Express Bridge Pilot). In that document,             and, therefore, is issuing this document
                                             most recent loan, must be submitted to                  SBA provided an overview of the                       to clarify the fees that Lenders or third
                                             SBA as part of the application.                         Express Bridge Pilot and modified an                  parties are able to collect from
                                             *      *    *      *    *                               Agency regulation relating to loan                    Applicants or Borrowers in connection
                                                (vii) * * * For the purposes of this                 underwriting for loans made under the                 with loans made under the pilot. All
                                             paragraph (vii), ‘‘current on all                       Express Bridge Pilot. SBA continues to                Express Bridge Pilot loans are subject to
                                             payments due’’ means that no payment                    refine and improve the design of the                  the same upfront guaranty fees required
                                             was more than 30 days past due from                     Express Bridge Pilot and is issuing this              for 7(a) loans of similar size and
                                             either the original payment terms or                    document to revise the program                        maturity as set forth in 13 CFR 120.220.
                                             modified payment terms (whether                         requirements, including the                           In addition, all Express Bridge Pilot
                                             through a modification to an existing                   modification of an Agency regulation                  loans are subject to the same Lender’s
                                             Note or through a refinancing that                      relating to fees that can be collected                annual service fee required for all 7(a)
                                             results in a new Note). The modification                from the Applicant or Borrower in                     loans as set forth in 13 CFR 120.220(f).
                                             (or refinancing) must have been agreed                  connection with a loan made under the                    In order to ensure that Applicants and
                                             to in writing by the Borrower and the                   Express Bridge Pilot.                                 Borrowers are charged only those
                                             lender of the existing debt no less than                DATES: The revised program                            additional fees reasonably necessary in
                                             one year preceding the date of                          requirements described in this                        connection with an Express Bridge Pilot
                                             application, except that a modified (or                 document apply to all Express Bridge                  loan, SBA is modifying the regulation at
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                                             refinanced) loan may be allowed if the                  Pilot loans approved on or after May 7,               13 CFR 120.221 (‘‘Fees and expenses
                                             purpose of the modification (or                         2018, and the Express Bridge Pilot will               which the Lender may collect from a
                                             refinancing) was to extend the maturity                 remain available through September 30,                loan applicant or Borrower’’), using the
                                             date of the loan, including any balloon                 2020.                                                 term modify as contemplated under 13
                                             payment, and if, during the one year                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      CFR 120.3, to permit Lenders to collect
                                             period prior to the date of application                 Dianna Seaborn, Director, Office of                   only the following:


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Document Created: 2018-05-05 02:48:31
Document Modified: 2018-05-05 02:48:31
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.
DatesThis rule is effective June 6, 2018.
ContactLinda Reilly, 504 Program Chief at [email protected] or 202-205-9949.
FR Citation83 FR 19915 
RIN Number3245-AG79
CFR AssociatedLoan Programs-Business; Small Businesses and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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