SBA Proposes Changes to SBIC Early Stage Program

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has proposed changes to its SBIC Early Stage Program, a feature of the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program.  SBA has proposed a number of regulatory changes that seek to broaden access to the Early Stage Program and strengthen the impact of SBIC's on early stage small businesses.

SBA has introduced regulatory changes based on extensive consultation with SBIC Program stakeholders and experts in the early stage investment industry as part of SBA's advance notice of proposed rulemaking concerning its SBIC Early Stage Program published in the Federal Register in March 2015.  The major changes include:

1. Allow Early Stage SBIC applicants to apply to the program on a rolling basis. 
2. Allow existing Early Stage SBIC applicants to apply for a subsequent fund.
3. Allow Early Stage SBICs to utilize a line of credit subject to certain terms without SBA's prior approval. 
4. Increase maximum leverage from $50 million to $75 million.

These proposed changes are open to public comment for 30 days. To submit comments on the proposed changes to SBA's Early Stage Program, please visit https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=SBA-2015-0002-0009.  For additional information, visit SBA's website at www.sba.gov/inv/earlystage.

About the Small Business Investment Company Program

The Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program is a multi-billion dollar, government-sponsored investment fund created in 1958 to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs' need for capital and traditional sources of financing. SBA invests long-term capital in privately-owned and managed investment firms licensed as Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs). Once capitalized, SBICs make debt and equity investments in some of America's most promising small businesses, helping them grow. Since the program was created in 1958, over $80 billion has been invested, helping finance 170,000 American small businesses, including companies like COSTCO, Amgen, Apple, FedEx, Staples, Intel, and Tesla. 

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

SBA was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012, has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small businesses, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.  SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses.  Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. www.sba.gov

Release Number: 16-69

Contact: Tiffani S. Clements, (202) 401-0035
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news  
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SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

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http://www.sba.gov