Title 15Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§686 Aggregate limitations on amount of assistance to any single enterprise

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 14B— - SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT PROGRAM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - INVESTMENT DIVISION PROGRAMS › Part Part A— - Small Business Investment Companies › § 686

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If a small business investment company still has financing outstanding from the Administrator, it cannot put more than 10 percent of its money into any one company unless the Administrator approves. That 10 percent is based on the total of two things: the company’s private capital and the total leverage the company planned to use in the business plan that the Administrator approved when the license was granted. Any loans, securities, or firm commitments made before the effective date of the Small Business Investment Act Amendments of 1967 stay governed by the old rules that were in place before that date.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §686

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)If any small business investment company has obtained financing from the Administrator and such financing remains outstanding, the aggregate amount of securities acquired and for which commitments may be issued by such company under the provisions of this subchapter for any single enterprise shall not, without the approval of the Administrator, exceed 10 percent of the sum of—
(1)the private capital of such company; and
(2)the total amount of leverage projected by the company in the company’s business plan that was approved by the Administrator at the time of the grant of the company’s license.
(b)
(c)With respect to obligations or securities acquired prior to the effective date of the Small Business Investment Act Amendments of 1967, and with respect to legally binding commitments issued prior to such date, the provisions of this section as in effect immediately prior to such effective date shall continue to apply.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

For

Effective Date

of the Small Business Investment Act

Amendments

of 1967, referred to in subsec. (c), see

Effective Date

of 1967 Amendment note set out under section 681 of this title.

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–5 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “If any small business investment company has obtained financing from the Administration and such financing remains outstanding, the aggregate amount of obligations and securities acquired and for which commitments may be issued by such company under the provisions of this subchapter for any single enterprise shall not exceed 20 per centum of the private capital of such company, without the approval of the Administration.” 1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–366 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “Without the approval of the Administration, the aggregate amount of obligations and securities acquired and for which commitments may be issued by any small business investment company under the provisions of this chapter for any single enterprise shall not exceed 20 percent of the combined private paid-in capital and paid-in surplus of such company.” 1972—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–595, § 2(f)(1), substituted “combined private paid-in capital” for “combined paid-in capital”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 92–595, § 2(f)(2), repealed subsec. (b) which enumerated the items making up the combined paid-in capital and paid-in surplus of companies licensed prior to January 1, 1968. 1967—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–104 substituted “paid-in capital and paid-in surplus of such company” for “capital and surplus of such small business investment company authorized by this chapter”. Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 90–104 added subsecs. (b) and (c). 1964—Pub. L. 88–273 struck out the $500,000 limitation on amount of assistance to any single enterprise. 1961—Pub. L. 87–341 inserted “or (2) $500,000, whichever is the lesser”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1967 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 90–104 effective Jan. 1, 1968, see section 211 of Pub. L. 90–104, set out as a note under section 681 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1961 Amendment Pub. L. 87–341, § 7(b), Oct. 3, 1961, 75 Stat. 753, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply only with respect to obligations and securities acquired by a small business investment company on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 3, 1961]; except that such amendment shall not apply with respect to any obligations or securities so acquired pursuant to a commitment issued before such date.” Effect of Small Business Equity Enhancement Act of 1992 on Securities LawsNothing in amendment by Pub. L. 102–366 to be construed to affect applicability of securities laws or to otherwise supersede or limit jurisdiction of Securities and Exchange Commission, see section 418 of Pub. L. 102–366, set out as a note under section 661 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 686

Title 15Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73