Title 15Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§681 Organization

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 14B— - SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT PROGRAM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - INVESTMENT DIVISION PROGRAMS › Part Part A— - Small Business Investment Companies › § 681

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A small business investment company must be formed under State law as a corporation, a limited liability company, or a limited partnership and must exist only to do the work allowed by this part of the law. If it is a corporation it must have at least 30 years of succession unless shareholders end it sooner; if it is a limited partnership it must have at least 10 years of succession. The company must have the powers it needs to do its work. Where it will operate and any branch offices must be approved by the Administration. The company’s articles must say, in general terms, why it was formed, its name, where it will operate, where its main office will be, and how much and what kinds of capital stock it has; the Administration must approve those articles and any changes. To get a license, an applicant must send a form and required papers to the Administrator. Within 90 days of first getting the application, the Administrator must send a written report on the application’s status and what is still needed. After a complete application is filed, the Administrator will approve and license the applicant or disapprove in writing. The Administrator will check that the applicant meets the requirements in section 682(a) and (c) and that its management is qualified, and will consider local small‑business financing needs, owners’ and managers’ reputations, and the chance the company will succeed; projected shortages of leverage must not be considered. The Administrator may approve an applicant that has at least $3,000,000 in private capital and a viable plan to reach required capital, but such an applicant cannot get leverage until it meets section 682(a) unless it is in a State with no licensee or is underlicensed and agrees to a single tier of leverage until it qualifies. The Administration may set application fees, and those fees go into its salaries and expenses account and may only be used to pay for licensing exams.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §681

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A small business investment company shall be an incorporated body, a limited liability company, or a limited partnership organized and chartered or otherwise existing under State law solely for the purpose of performing the functions and conducting the activities contemplated under this subchapter, which, if incorporated, has succession for a period of not less than thirty years unless sooner dissolved by its shareholders, and if a limited partnership, has succession for a period of not less than ten years, and possesses the powers reasonably necessary to perform such functions and conduct such activities. The area in which the company is to conduct its operations, and the establishment of branch offices or agencies (if authorized by the articles), shall be subject to the approval of the Administration.
(b)The articles of any small business investment company shall specify in general terms the objects for which the company is formed, the name assumed by such company, the area or areas in which its operations are to be carried on, the place where its principal office is to be located, and the amount and classes of its shares of capital stock. Such articles may contain any other provisions not inconsistent with this chapter that the company may see fit to adopt for the regulation of its business and the conduct of its affairs. Such articles and any amendments thereto adopted from time to time shall be subject to the approval of the Administration.
(c)(1)Each applicant for a license to operate as a small business investment company under this chapter shall submit to the Administrator an application, in a form and including such documentation as may be prescribed by the Administrator.
(2)(A)Not later than 90 days after the initial receipt by the Administrator of an application under this subsection, the Administrator shall provide the applicant with a written report detailing the status of the application and any requirements remaining for completion of the application.
(B)Within a reasonable time after receiving a completed application submitted in accordance with this subsection and in accordance with such requirements as the Administrator may prescribe by regulation, the Administrator shall—
(i)approve the application and issue a license for such operation to the applicant if the requirements of this section are satisfied; or
(ii)disapprove the application and notify the applicant in writing of the disapproval.
(3)In reviewing and processing any application under this subsection, the Administrator—
(A)shall determine whether—
(i)the applicant meets the requirements of subsections (a) and (c) of section 682 of this title; and
(ii)the management of the applicant is qualified and has the knowledge, experience, and capability necessary to comply with this chapter;
(B)shall take into consideration—
(i)the need for and availability of financing for small business concerns in the geographic area in which the applicant is to commence business;
(ii)the general business reputation of the owners and management of the applicant; and
(iii)the probability of successful operations of the applicant, including adequate profitability and financial soundness;
(C)shall not take into consideration any projected shortage or unavailability of leverage; and
(D)shall give first priority to an applicant that is located in an underlicensed State with below median financing, as determined by the Administrator.
(4)(A)Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Administrator may, in the discretion of the Administrator and based on a showing of special circumstances and good cause, approve an application and issue a license under this subsection with respect to any applicant that—
(i)has private capital of not less than $3,000,000;
(ii)would otherwise be issued a license under this subsection, except that the applicant does not satisfy the requirements of section 682(a) of this title; and
(iii)has a viable business plan reasonably projecting profitable operations and a reasonable timetable for achieving a level of private capital that satisfies the requirements of section 682(a) of this title.
(B)An applicant licensed pursuant to the exception provided in this paragraph shall not be eligible to receive leverage as a licensee until the applicant satisfies the requirements of section 682(a) of this title, unless the applicant—
(i)is located in a State that—
(I)is not served by a licensee; or
(II)is an underlicensed State; and
(ii)agrees to be limited to 1 tier of leverage available under section 682(b) of this title, until the applicant meets the requirements of section 682(a) of this title.
(d)
(e)(1)The Administration may prescribe fees to be paid by each applicant for a license to operate as a small business investment company under this chapter.
(2)Fees collected under this subsection—
(A)shall be deposited in the account for salaries and expenses of the Administration; and
(B)are authorized to be appropriated solely to cover the costs of licensing examinations.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

For definition of “this chapter”, referred to in subsecs. (b), (c), and (e), see

References in Text

note set out under section 661 of this title.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (c)(3)(D). Pub. L. 115–333, § 2(2)(A), added subpar. (D). Subsec. (c)(4)(B)(i). Pub. L. 115–333, § 2(2)(B)(ii), (iii), redesignated cl. (ii) as (i) and amended it generally. Prior to amendment, cl. read as follows: “is located in a State that is not served by a licensee; and”. Pub. L. 115–333, § 2(2)(B)(i), struck out cl. (i) which read as follows: “files an application for a license not later than 180 days after December 2, 1997;”. Subsec. (c)(4)(B)(ii), (iii). Pub. L. 115–333, § 2(2)(B)(ii), redesignated cls. (ii) and (iii) as (i) and (ii), respectively. 1997—Subsec. (c)(4)(B). Pub. L. 105–135, § 212, amended heading and text of subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “An applicant licensed pursuant to the exception provided in this paragraph shall not be eligible to receive leverage as a licensee until the applicant satisfies the requirements of section 682(a) of this title.” Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–135, § 214, added subsec. (e). 1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–208, § 208(b)(1), substituted “body, a limited liability company, or” for “body or” in first sentence. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–208, § 208(b)(2), inserted heading and amended text of subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) read as follows: “The articles and

Amendments

thereto shall be forwarded to the Administration for consideration and approval or disapproval. In determining whether to approve such a company’s articles and permit it to operate under the provisions of this chapter, the Administration shall give due regard, among other things, to the need and availability for the financing of small business concerns in the geographic area in which the proposed company is to commence business, the general business reputation and character of the proposed owners and management of the company, and the probability of successful operations of such company including adequate profitability and financial soundness. After consideration of all relevant factors, if it approves the company’s articles, the Administration may in its discretion approve the company to operate under the provisions of this chapter and issue the company a license for such operation.” Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–208, § 208(b)(3)(A), struck out subsec. (d) which read as follows: “Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a small business investment company, the investment policy of which is that its investments will be made solely in small business concerns which will contribute to a well-balanced national economy by facilitating ownership in such concerns by persons whose participation in the free enterprise system is hampered because of social or economic disadvantages may be organized and chartered under State business or nonprofit corporation statutes, or formed as a limited partnership, and may be licensed by the Administration to operate under the provisions of this chapter.” 1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–590 substituted “, if incorporated, has succession for a period of not less than thirty years unless sooner dissolved by its shareholders, and if a limited partnership, has succession for a period of not less than ten years,” for “has succession for a period of not less than thirty years unless sooner dissolved by its shareholders or partners”. 1978—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–507 authorized small business investment companies to form as limited partnerships. 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–305, § 106(b), inserted reference to limited partnership and reference to partners, struck out “of incorporation” after “by the articles”, and inserted “or otherwise existing” after “chartered”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–305, § 106(c), struck out “of incorporation” after “The articles”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–305, § 106(d), struck out “of incorporation” after “articles” wherever appearing. 1972—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 92–595 added subsec. (d). 1967—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 90–104 provided for consideration of availability of financing, the geographic area, the business reputation, ownership factor, and probability of successful operations of company including adequate profitability and financial soundness and eliminated from consideration the number of such companies previously organized in the United States and the volume of their operations. 1961—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 87–341, § 11(a), provided that small business investment companies shall be incorporated, organized and chartered under State law, with a minimum succession period of thirty years unless sooner dissolved by its activities and functions, its area of operation shall be subject to the Administration’s approval, and deleted provisions setting the minimum number of incorporators at 10, no company shall be chartered by the Administration unless it determined that none could be chartered under the laws of the State and operate in accordance with this chapter, and that no such company shall be chartered by the Administration under this section after June 30, 1961. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 87–341, § 11(b)(1), (2), substituted “such a company’s articles of incorporation and permit it to operate under the provisions of this chapter” for “the establishment of such a company and its proposed articles of incorporation”, and provided that if the Administration approves the company to operate under the provisions of this chapter, it may issue the company a license for such operation. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 87–341, § 11(b)(3), repealed subsec. (d) which specified the general powers of a company formed under this section. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 87–341, § 11(b)(3), repealed subsec. (e) which provided for a board of directors for a company formed under this section. 1960—Subsec. (d)(9) to (11). Pub. L. 86–502 repealed par. (9) which empowered companies to act as depositories or fiscal agents of the United States, and redesignated pars. (10) and (11) as (9) and (10), respectively.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1997 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 105–135 effective Oct. 1, 1997, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–135, set out as a note under section 631 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1967 Amendment Pub. L. 90–104, title II, § 211, Oct. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 272, provided that: “The

Effective Date

of this title [amending this section and sections 682 to 684, 686, 687, 687b, and 692 of this title] shall be ninety days after enactment [Oct. 11, 1967], except that, with respect to section 207 [amending section 686 of this title], it shall be January 1, 1968.”

Savings Provision

Pub. L. 104–208, div. D, title II, § 208(b)(3)(B), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–742, provided that: “The repeal under subparagraph (A) [repealing subsec. (d) of this section] shall not be construed to require the Administrator to cancel, revoke, withdraw, or modify any license issued under section 301(d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 [subsec. (d) of this section] before the date of enactment of this Act [Sept. 30, 1996].” Regulatory Review Pub. L. 102–366, title IV, § 408(d), Sept. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 1017, directed Small Business Administration, not later than 90 days after Sept. 4, 1992, to complete a review of

Regulations

intended to provide for safety and soundness of small business investment companies which obtain financing from the Administration under provisions of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, 15 U.S.C. 661 et seq., and to exempt from such

Regulations

, or to separately regulate, companies which do not obtain financing from the Administration. Reports to Congress Pub. L. 102–366, title IV, § 408(e), Sept. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 1017, directed Administration, within 180 days after Sept. 4, 1992, to report on actions taken pursuant to section 408(d) of Pub. L. 102–366, formerly set out above, to the Committees on Small Business of the Senate and the House of Representatives, including the rationale for its actions. Pub. L. 102–366, title IV, § 417(b), Sept. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 1019, provided that not later than 4 years after Sept. 4, 1992, the Comptroller General was to transmit to Congress a report that reviewed the Small Business Investment Company program established under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 661 et seq.) for the 3-year period following Sept. 4, 1992, with respect to each item listed in section 687(g)(3) of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 681

Title 15Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73