§ 697e — Premier Certified Lenders Program

(a) The Administration may establish a Premier Certified Lenders Program for certified development companies that meet the requirements of subsection (b). (1) To be eligible to participate in the Premier Certified Lenders Program established under subsection (a), a certified development company shall prepare and submit to the Administration an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administration may require. (2) 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) 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) The Administrator may revoke the designation of a certified development company as a premier certified lender under this section at any time, if the Administrator determines that the certified development company does not meet any requirement described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (2). (1) A company designated as a premier certified lender shall establish a loss reserve for financing approved pursuant to this section. (2) The amount of each loss reserve established under paragraph (1) shall be 10 percent of the amount of the company’s exposure, as determined under subsection (b)(2)(C). (3) 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) 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) If a loss has been sustained by the Administration, any portion of the loss reserve, and other funds provided by the premier company as necessary, may be used to reimburse the Administration for the premier company’s share of the loss as provided in subsection (b)(2)(C). If the company utilizes the reserve, within 30 days it shall replace an equivalent amount of funds. (A) The Administration shall allow the certified development company to withdraw from the loss reserve amounts attributable to any debenture that has been repaid. (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), during the 2-year period beginning on the date that is 90 days after May 28, 2004, the Administration shall allow the certified development company to withdraw from the loss reserve such amounts as are in excess of 1 percent of the aggregate outstanding balances of debentures to which such loss reserve relates. The preceding sentence shall not apply with respect to any debenture before 100 percent of the contribution described in paragraph (4) with respect to such debenture has been made. (A) With respect to any eligible calendar quarter, any qualified high loss reserve PCL may elect to have the requirements of this paragraph apply in lieu of the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (4) for such quarter. (i) Except as provided under clause (ii) and paragraph (5), a qualified high loss reserve PCL that makes the election described in subparagraph (A) with respect to a calendar quarter shall not be required to make contributions to its loss reserve during such quarter. (ii) 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) Before the end of any calendar quarter for which an election is in effect under subparagraph (A), the head of the PCL shall submit to the Administrator a certification that the loss reserve of the PCL is sufficient to meet such PCL’s obligation to protect the Federal Government from risk of loss. Such certification shall be in such form and submitted in such manner as the Administrator may require and shall be signed by the head of such PCL and the auditor making the determination under clause (ii)(II). (i) Paragraph (6) shall not apply with respect to any qualified high loss reserve PCL for any calendar quarter for which an election is in effect under subparagraph (A). (ii) At the end of each calendar quarter for which an election is in effect under subparagraph (A), the Administration shall allow the qualified high loss reserve PCL to withdraw from its loss reserve the excess of— (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) If the requirements of this paragraph apply to a qualified high loss reserve PCL for any calendar quarter and cease to apply to such PCL for any subsequent calendar quarter, such PCL shall make a contribution to its loss reserve in such amount as the Administrator may determine provided that such amount does not exceed the amount which would result in the total amount in the loss reserve being equal to the amount which would have been in such loss reserve had this paragraph never applied to such PCL. The Administrator may require that such payment be made as a single payment or as a series of payments. (E) If a qualified high loss reserve PCL fails to meet the requirement of subparagraph (F)(iii) during any period for which an election is in effect under subparagraph (A) and such failure continues for 180 days, the requirements of paragraphs (2), (4), and (6) shall apply to such PCL as of the end of such 180-day period and such PCL shall make the contribution to its loss reserve described in subparagraph (D). The Administrator may waive the requirements of this subparagraph. (F) 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) 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) 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) For purposes of this paragraph, the term “PCLP loan” means any loan guaranteed under this section. (J) 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) 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) 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). (A) There is hereby established in the Small Business Administration a bureau to be known as the Bureau of PCLP Oversight. (B) The Bureau of PCLP Oversight shall carry out such functions of the Administration under this subsection as the Administrator may designate. (C) 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. (1) If, upon default in repayment, the Administration acquires a loan guaranteed under this section and identifies such loan for inclusion in a bulk asset sale of defaulted or repurchased loans or other financings, it shall give prior notice thereof to any certified development company which has a contingent liability under this section. The notice shall be given to the company as soon as possible after the financing is identified, but not less than 90 days before the date the Administration first makes any records on such financing available for examination by prospective purchasers prior to its offering in a package of loans for bulk sale. (2) 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). (1) Notwithstanding section 697(b)(6) of this title, and subject to such terms and conditions as the Administration may establish, the Administration may permit a company designated as a premier certified lender under this section to approve, authorize, close, service, foreclose, litigate (except that the Administration may monitor the conduct of any such litigation to which a premier certified lender is a party), and liquidate loans that are funded with the proceeds of a debenture issued by such company and may authorize the guarantee of such debenture. (2) The approval of a loan by a premier certified lender shall be subject to final approval as to eligibility of any guarantee by the Administration pursuant to section 697(a) of this title, but such final approval shall not include review of decisions by the lender involving creditworthiness, loan closing, or compliance with legal requirements imposed by law or regulation. (f) After the issuance and sale of debentures under this section, the Administration, at intervals not greater than 12 months, shall review the financings made by each premier certified lender. The review shall include the lender’s credit decisions and general compliance with the eligibility requirements for each financing approved under the program authorized under this section. The Administration shall consider the findings of the review in carrying out its responsibilities under subsection (g), but such review shall not affect any outstanding debenture guarantee. (g) 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) A suspension or revocation under subsection (g) shall not affect any outstanding debenture guarantee. (i) Each certified development company participating in the program under this section shall establish a goal of processing a minimum of not less than 50 percent of the loan applications for assistance under section 697a of this title pursuant to the program authorized under this section. (j) 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.