15 USC 697e - Premier Certified Lenders Program

U.S Code last checked for updates: Feb 23, 2025

§ 697e.

Premier Certified Lenders Program

(a)

Establishment

(b)

Requirements

(1)

Application

(2)

Designation

The Administration may designate a certified development company as a premier certified lender—

(A)

if the company is an active certified development company in good standing and has been an active participant in the accredited lenders program during the entire 12-month period preceding the date on which the company submits an application under paragraph (1), except that the Administration may waive this requirement if the company is qualified to participate in the accredited lenders program;

(B)

if the company has a history of—

(i)

submitting to the Administration adequately analyzed debenture guarantee application packages; and

(ii)

of properly closing section 504 [15 U.S.C. 697a] loans and servicing its loan portfolio;

(C)

if the company agrees to assume and to reimburse the Administration for 10 percent of any loss sustained by the Administration as a result of default by the company in the payment of principal or interest on a debenture issued by such company and guaranteed by the Administration under this section (15 percent in the case of any such loss attributable to a debenture issued by the company during any period for which an election is in effect under subsection (c)(7) for such company); and

(D)

the 1

 So in original. Probably should be preceded by “if”.

Administrator determines, with respect to the company, that the loss reserve established in accordance with subsection (c) is sufficient for the company to meet its obligations to protect the Federal Government from risk of loss.

(3)

Applicability of criteria after designation

(c)

Loss reserve

(1)

Establishment

(2)

Amount

(3)

Assets

Each loss reserve established under paragraph (1) shall be comprised of—

(A)

segregated funds on deposit in an account or accounts with a federally insured depository institution or institutions selected by the company, subject to a collateral assignment in favor of, and in a format acceptable to, the Administration;

(B)

irrevocable letter or letters of credit, with a collateral assignment in favor of, and a commercially reasonable format acceptable to, the Administration; or

(C)

any combination of the assets described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).

(4)

Contributions

The company shall make contributions to the loss reserve, either cash or letters of credit as provided above, in the following amounts and at the following intervals:

(A)

50 percent when a debenture is closed.

(B)

25 percent additional not later than 1 year after a debenture is closed.

(C)

25 percent additional not later than 2 years after a debenture is closed.

(5)

Replenishment

(6)

Disbursements

(A)

In general

(B)

Temporary reduction based on outstanding balance

(7)

Alternative loss reserve

(A)

Election

(B)

Contributions

(i)

Ordinary rules inapplicable

(ii)

Based on loss

A qualified high loss reserve PCL that makes the election described in subparagraph (A) with respect to any calendar quarter shall, before the last day of such quarter, make such contributions to its loss reserve as are necessary to ensure that the amount of the loss reserve of the PCL is—

(I)

not less than $100,000; and

(II)

sufficient, as determined by a qualified independent auditor, for the PCL to meet its obligations to protect the Federal Government from risk of loss.

(iii)

Certification

(C)

Disbursements

(i)

Ordinary rule inapplicable

(ii)

Excess funds

(I)

the amount of the loss reserve, over

(II)

the greater of $100,000 or the amount which is determined under subparagraph (B)(ii) to be sufficient to meet the PCL’s obligation to protect the Federal Government from risk of loss.

(D)

Recontribution

(E)

Risk management

(F)

Qualified high loss reserve PCL

The term “qualified high loss reserve PCL” means, with respect to any calendar year, any premier certified lender designated by the Administrator as a qualified high loss reserve PCL for such year. The Administrator shall not designate a company under the preceding sentence unless the Administrator determines that—

(i)

the amount of the loss reserve of the company is not less than $100,000;

(ii)

the company has established and is utilizing an appropriate and effective process for analyzing the risk of loss associated with its portfolio of PCLP loans and for grading each PCLP loan made by the company on the basis of the risk of loss associated with such loan; and

(iii)

the company meets or exceeds 4 or more of the specified risk management benchmarks as of the most recent assessment by the Administration or the Administration has issued a waiver with respect to the requirement of this clause.

(G)

Specified risk management benchmarks

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “specified risk management benchmarks” means the following rates, as determined by the Administrator:

(i)

Currency rate.

(ii)

Delinquency rate.

(iii)

Default rate.

(iv)

Liquidation rate.

(v)

Loss rate.

(H)

Qualified independent auditor

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “qualified independent auditor” means any auditor who—

(i)

is compensated by the qualified high loss reserve PCL;

(ii)

is independent of such PCL; and

(iii)

has been approved by the Administrator during the preceding year.

(I)

PCLP loan

(J)

Eligible calendar quarter

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “eligible calendar quarter” means—

(i)

the first calendar quarter that begins after the end of the 90-day period beginning with May 28, 2004; and

(ii)

the 7 succeeding calendar quarters.

(K)

Calendar quarter

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “calendar quarter” means—

(i)

the period which begins on January 1 and ends on March 31 of each year;

(ii)

the period which begins on April 1 and ends on June 30 of each year;

(iii)

the period which begins on July 1 and ends on September 30 of each year; and

(iv)

the period which begins on October 1 and ends on December 31 of each year.

(L)

Regulations

Not later than 45 days after May 28, 2004, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register and transmit to the Congress regulations to carry out this paragraph. Such regulations shall include provisions relating to—

(i)

the approval of auditors under subparagraph (H); and

(ii)

the designation of qualified high loss reserve PCLs under subparagraph (F), including the determination of whether a process for analyzing risk of loss is appropriate and effective for purposes of subparagraph (F)(ii).

(8)

Bureau of PCLP Oversight

(A)

Establishment

(B)

Purpose

(C)

Deadline

Not later than 90 days after May 28, 2004—

(i)

the Administrator shall ensure that the Bureau of PCLP Oversight is prepared to carry out any functions designated under subparagraph (B), and

(ii)

the Office of the Inspector General of the Administration shall report to the Congress on the preparedness of the Bureau of PCLP Oversight to carry out such functions.

(d)

Sale of certain defaulted loans

(1)

Notice

(2)

Limitations

The Administration shall not offer any loan described in paragraph (1) as part of a bulk sale unless it—

(A)

provides prospective purchasers with the opportunity to examine the Administration’s records with respect to such loan; and

(B)

provides the notice required by paragraph (1).

(e)

Loan approval authority

(1)

In general

(2)

Scope of review

(f)

Review

(g)

Suspension or revocation

The designation of a certified development company as a premier certified lender may be suspended or revoked if the Administration determines that the company—

(1)

has not continued to meet the criteria for eligibility under subsection (b);

(2)

has not established or maintained the loss reserve required under subsection (c);

(3)

is failing to adhere to the Administration’s rules and regulations; or

(4)

is violating any other applicable provision of law.

(h)

Effect of suspension or revocation

(i)

Program goals

(j)

Report

Not later than 1 year after October 22, 1994, and annually thereafter, the Administration shall report to the Committees on Small Business of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the implementation of this section. Each report shall include—

(1)

the number of certified development companies designated as premier certified lenders;

(2)

the debenture guarantee volume of such companies;

(3)

a comparison of the loss rate for premier certified lenders to the loss rate for accredited and other lenders, specifically comparing default rates and recovery rates on liquidations; and

(4)

such other information as the Administration deems appropriate.

(Pub. L. 85–699, title V, § 508, as added and amended Pub. L. 103–403, title II, § 217, Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat. 4185; Pub. L. 105–135, title II, § 223(a), Dec. 2, 1997, 111 Stat. 2604; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(9) [title III, §§ 305, 306], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–685; Pub. L. 108–232, §§ 2–3(c), May 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 649–652.)

cite as: 15 USC 697e