Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of Guarantee Availability (NOGA) Inviting Qualified Issuer Applications and Guarantee Applications for the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Bond Guarantee Program, 27371-27383 [2014-10950]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 92 / Tuesday, May 13, 2014 / Notices
Issued in Washington, DC on May 7, 2014.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety
and Chief Safety Officer, Federal Railroad
Administration.
Magdy El-Sibaie,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous
Materials Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014–10914 Filed 5–12–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Community Development Financial
Institutions Fund
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Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of
Guarantee Availability (NOGA) Inviting
Qualified Issuer Applications and
Guarantee Applications for the
Community Development Financial
Institutions (CDFI) Bond Guarantee
Program
Announcement Type: Announcement
of opportunity to submit Qualified
Issuer Applications and Guarantee
Applications.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: 21.011.
DATES: Qualified Issuer Applications
and Guarantee Applications may be
submitted to the CDFI Fund starting on
the date of publication of this NOGA.
Applications will be reviewed by the
CDFI Fund on an ongoing basis, in the
order in which they are received or by
such other criteria that the CDFI Fund
may establish and publish, in its sole
discretion. In order to be considered for
the issuance of a Guarantee under FY
2014 program authority, Qualified
Issuer Applications must be submitted
by June 23, 2014 and Guarantee
Applications must be submitted by June
30, 2014. Qualified Issuer Applications
and Guarantee Applications received in
FY 2013 and that were neither
withdrawn nor declined in FY 2013 will
be considered under FY 2014 authority.
Executive Summary: This NOGA is
published in connection with the CDFI
Bond Guarantee Program, administered
by the Community Development
Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI
Fund), the U.S. Department of the
Treasury (Treasury). The purpose of this
NOGA is to notify the public that: (i)
Parties interested in being approved as
Qualified Issuers may submit Qualified
Issuer Applications and (ii) Qualified
Issuers may submit Guarantee
Applications to be approved for a
Guarantee under the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program. This NOGA also
explains application submission and
evaluation requirements and processes,
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agency contacts, and information on
CDFI Bond Guarantee Program outreach.
I. Guarantee Opportunity Description
A. Authority; Program summary;
Additional reference documents;
Definitions
1. Authority. The CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program is authorized by the
Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Pub.
L. 111–240; 12 U.S.C. 4713a) (the Act).
Section 1134 of the Act amended the
Riegle Community Development and
Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 (12
U.S.C. 4701, et seq.) to provide authority
to the Secretary of the Treasury to
establish and administer the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program.
2. Program summary. The purpose of
the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program is to
support CDFI lending by providing
Guarantees for Bonds issued for Eligible
Community or Economic Development
Purposes, as authorized by section 1134
and 1703 of the Act. The Secretary, as
the Guarantor of the Bonds, will provide
a 100 percent Guarantee for the
repayment of the Verifiable Principal,
Interest, and Call Premium of Bonds
issued by Qualified Issuers. As the CDFI
Bond Guarantee Program has been
structured, a Qualified Issuer, approved
by the CDFI Fund, will issue Bonds that
will be purchased by the Federal
Financing Bank. The Qualified Issuer
will use Bond Proceeds to provide Bond
Loans to Eligible CDFIs. The Eligible
CDFIs will use Bond Loan proceeds for
Eligible Community and Economic
Development Purposes, including
providing Secondary Loans to
Secondary Borrowers.
In FY 2014, the Secretary may
guarantee Bond Issues having a
minimum Guarantee of $100 million
each up to an aggregate total of $750
million. The maximum maturity of the
Bonds will be 30 years; the Bonds will
be taxable. The Bonds will support CDFI
lending in Investment Areas by
providing a source of low-cost, longterm capital to CDFIs.
3. Guarantee availability. Pursuant to
this NOGA, the Guarantor may provide
Guarantees requested by Qualified
Issuers in FY 2014, including
applications that were submitted, but
not withdrawn or declined, in FY 2013.
Guarantees will be provided in the order
in which Guarantee Applications are
approved. The review and evaluation of
Guarantee Applications will be initiated
in chronological order by date of
receipt; however, Guarantee
Applications that are incomplete or
require the CDFI Fund to request
additional or clarifying information may
delay the ability of the CDFI Fund to
move the Guarantee Application to the
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27371
next phase of review. Submitting an
incomplete Guarantee Application
earlier than other applicants does not
ensure first approval.
4. Additional reference documents. In
addition to this NOGA, the CDFI Fund
encourages interested parties and
applicants to review the following
documents, which will be posted on the
CDFI Bond Guarantee Program page of
the CDFI Fund’s Web site at https://
www.cdfifund.gov.
(a) CDFI Bond Guarantee Program
Regulations. The interim rule that
governs the CDFI Bond Guarantee
Program was published on February 5,
2013 (78 FR 8296; 12 CFR part 1808)
(the Regulations) and provides the
regulatory requirements and parameters
for CDFI Bond Guarantee Program
implementation and administration
including general provisions, eligibility,
eligible activities, applications for
Guarantee and Qualified Issuer,
evaluation and selection, terms and
conditions of the Guarantee, Bonds,
Bond Loans, and Secondary Loans. In
addition to the Regulations, the CDFI
Fund has provided a document that
summarizes certain program terms and
conditions, which may be found on the
CDFI Fund’s Web site.
(b) Application materials. Details
regarding Qualified Issuer Application
and Guarantee Application content
requirements are found in this NOGA
and the respective applications
materials.
(c) Program documentation.
Interested parties should review certain
CDFI Bond Guarantee Program template
documents, which will be used in
connection with each Guarantee and
will be posted on the CDFI Fund’s Web
site for review. Such documents
include, among others:
(i) The Agreement to Guarantee,
which describes the roles and
responsibilities of the Qualified Issuer,
will be signed by the Qualified Issuer
and the Guarantor and will include term
sheets as appendices that will be signed
by each individual Eligible CDFI;
(ii) The Bond Trust Indenture, which
describes responsibilities of the Master
Servicer/Trustee in overseeing the
servicing of the Bonds and will be
entered into by the Qualified Issuer and
the Master Servicer/Trustee (selected by
the CDFI Fund);
(iii) The Bond Loan Agreement,
which describes the terms and
conditions of Bond Loans and will be
entered into by the Qualified Issuer and
each Eligible CDFI that receives a Bond
Loan;
(iv) The Bond Purchase Agreement,
which describes the terms and
conditions under which the Bond
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Purchaser will purchase the Bonds
issued by the Qualified Issuer and will
be signed by the Bond Purchaser, the
Qualified Issuer, the Guarantor and the
CDFI Fund. This document also
includes the provisions for prepayment
privileges and the calculation for the
prepayment discount or premium; and
(v) The Future Advance Promissory
Bond, which will be signed by the
Qualified Issuer as its promise to repay
the Bond Purchaser. This document also
defines prepayment privileges and
includes the instructions for
prepayment of the Bond.
The form documents may be updated
periodically, as needed, and will be
tailored, as appropriate, to the particular
terms and conditions of a Guarantee.
Accordingly, the template documents
should not be relied on, but instead are
provided for illustrative purposes.
(d) Frequently Asked Questions. The
CDFI Fund will periodically post on its
Web site responses to questions that are
asked by parties interested in the CDFI
Bond Guarantee Program.
5. Definitions. Capitalized terms used
herein and not defined elsewhere are
defined in section 1808.102 of the
Regulations.
B. Coordination with broader
community development strategies.
Consistent with Federal efforts to
promote community revitalization, it is
important for communities to develop a
comprehensive neighborhood
revitalization strategy that addresses
neighborhood assets essential to
transforming distressed neighborhoods
into healthy and vibrant communities.
Neighborhood transformation can best
occur when comprehensive
neighborhood revitalization plans
embrace the coordinated use of
programs and resources that address the
interrelated needs within a community.
Although not a requirement for
participating in the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program, the Federal
Government believes that a CDFI will be
most successful when it is a part of, and
contributes to, an area’s broader
neighborhood revitalization strategy.
C. Designated Bonding Authority. The
CDFI Fund has determined that, for
purposes of this NOGA, it will not
solicit applications from entities seeking
to serve as a Qualified Issuer in the role
of the Designated Bonding Authority,
pursuant to 12 CFR 1808.201, in FY
2014.
D. Noncompetitive process. The CDFI
Bond Guarantee Program is a noncompetitive program through which
Qualified Issuer Applications and
Guarantee Applications will undergo a
merit-based evaluation (i.e.,
applications will not be scored against
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each other in a competitive manner in
which higher ranked applicants are
favored over lower ranked applicants).
Applications will be reviewed by the
CDFI Fund on an ongoing basis, and
Guarantees will be provided in the order
in which Guarantee Applications are
approved or by such other criteria that
the CDFI Fund may establish and
publish, in its sole discretion. However,
pursuant to the Regulations at 12 CFR
1808.504(c), the Guarantor may limit the
number of Guarantees made per year or
the number of Guarantee Applications
accepted to ensure that a sufficient
examination of Guarantee Applications
is conducted.
E. Relationship to other CDFI Fund
programs.
1. Award funds received under any
other CDFI Fund Program cannot be
used by any participant, including
Qualified Issuers, Eligible CDFIs, and
Secondary Borrowers, to pay principal,
interest, fees, administrative costs, or
issuance costs (including Bond Issuance
Fees) related to the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program, or to fund the RiskShare Pool for a Bond Issue.
2. Bond Proceeds may only be
combined with New Markets Tax
Credits (NMTC) derived equity (i.e.,
leveraged loan) to make a Qualified
Equity Investment (QEI) in a
Community Development Entity or to
refinance a Qualified Low-Income
Community Investment (QLICI) at the
beginning of the seven (7) year NMTC
compliance period under the following
circumstances. If an Eligible CDFI uses
Bond Loan proceeds to finance a
leveraged loan in a NMTC transaction,
the Eligible CDFI must provide either/
both: (1) Additional collateral in the
form of Other Pledged Loans or Cash
Collateral; (2) a payment guarantee or
similar credit enhancement; and/or (3)
other assurances that are approved by
Treasury. The additional collateral,
credit enhancement, and/or assurances
must remain in force during the entire
seven-year NMTC compliance period
and comply with the Secondary Loan
Requirements. These requirements shall
be part of the draft term sheet and shall
be included in the final Bond Loan
covenants.
3. Bond Proceeds may not be used to
refinance a leveraged loan during the
seven-year NMTC compliance period.
Bond Proceeds may be used to refinance
a QLICI after the seven-year NMTC
compliance period has ended so long as
all other programmatic requirements are
met.
F. Relationship and interplay with
other Federal programs and Federal
funding.
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1. Eligible CDFIs may not use Bond
Loans to refinance existing Federal debt
or to service debt from other Federal
credit programs.
2. The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program
underwriting process will include a
comprehensive review of the Eligible
CDFI’s concentration of sources of funds
available for debt service, including the
concentration of sources from other
Federal programs and level of reliance
on said sources, to determine the
Eligible CDFI’s ability to service the
additional debt.
G. Contemporaneous application
submission. Qualified Issuer
Applications may be submitted
contemporaneously with Guarantee
Applications; however, the CDFI Fund
will review an entity’s Qualified Issuer
Application and make its Qualified
Issuer determination prior to approving
a Guarantee Application.
H. Other restrictions on use of funds.
Bond Proceeds may not be used to
finance or refinance any trade or
business consisting of the operation of
any private or commercial golf course,
country club, massage parlor, hot tub
facility, suntan facility, racetrack or
other facility used for gambling, or any
store the principal business of which is
the sale of alcoholic beverages for
consumption off-premises. Bond
Proceeds may not be used to finance or
refinance tax-exempt obligations or
finance or refinance projects that are
also financed by tax-exempt obligations
if: (a) Such financing or refinancing
results in the direct or indirect
subordination of the Bond Loan or Bond
Issue to the tax-exempt obligations or (b)
such financing or refinancing results in
a corresponding guarantee of the taxexempt obligation. Qualified Issuers and
Eligible CDFIs must ensure that any
financing made in conjunction with taxexempt obligations comply with CDFI
Bond Guarantee Program Regulations.
II. General Application Information
The following requirements apply to
all Qualified Issuer Applications and
Guarantee Applications submitted
under this NOGA, as well as any
Qualified Issuer Applications and
Guarantee Applications submitted
under the FY 2013 NOGA that were
neither withdrawn nor declined in FY
2013.
A. CDFI Certification Requirements
1. By statute, the Qualified Issuer
applicant must be a Certified CDFI or an
entity designated by a Certified CDFI to
issue Bonds on its behalf. However, for
the purposes of reviewing Qualified
Issuer and Guarantee Applications, a
Qualified Issuer must receive a
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designation by a separate Certified CDFI
to issue Bonds on its behalf. Eligible
CDFI applicants must be Certified CDFIs
as of the date of submission of the
Guarantee Application. If approved for
a Guarantee, each Eligible CDFI must be
a Certified CDFI as of the Bond Issue
Date and must maintain its respective
CDFI certification throughout the term
of the corresponding Bond.
2. A Certified CDFI is an entity that
has been certified by the CDFI Fund as
meeting the CDFI certification
requirements set forth in 12 CFR
1805.201. For purposes of this NOGA, a
Certified CDFI is an entity that has
received official notification from the
CDFI Fund that it meets all CDFI
certification requirements as of the date
of submission of the associated
Qualified Issuer Application and/or
Guarantee Application, which
certification has not expired, and has
not been notified by the CDFI Fund that
its certification has been terminated.
3. The CDFI Fund reserves the right
to re-examine the CDFI certification
status of a Qualified Issuer applicant or
an entity that wishes to be an Eligible
CDFI, and to require that such applicant
or entity submit a new CDFI
certification application in advance of
its certification expiration date, if
applicable.
B. Application Submission
1. Electronic submission. All
Qualified Issuer Applications and
Guarantee Applications must be
submitted electronically through
myCDFIFund, the CDFI Fund’s internetbased interface. Applications sent by
mail, fax, or other form will not be
permitted, except in circumstances that
the CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion,
deems acceptable. Please note that
Applications will not be accepted
through Grants.gov.
2. Applicant identifier numbers.
Please note that, pursuant to OMB
guidance (68 FR 38402), each Qualified
Issuer applicant and Guarantee
applicant must provide, as part of its
Application, its Dun and Bradstreet Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number, as well as DUNS numbers for
its proposed Program Administrator, its
proposed Servicer, and each Certified
CDFI that is included in the Qualified
Issuer Application and Guarantee
Application. In addition, each
Application must include a valid and
current Employer Identification Number
(EIN), with a letter or other
documentation from the IRS confirming
the Qualified Issuer applicant’s EIN, as
well as EINs for its proposed Program
Administrator, its proposed Servicer,
and each Certified CDFIs that is
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included in any Application. An
Application that does not include such
DUNS numbers, EINs and
documentation is incomplete and will
be rejected by the CDFI Fund.
Applicants should allow sufficient time
for the IRS and/or Dun and Bradstreet
to respond to inquiries and/or requests
for the required identification numbers.
3. System for Award Management
(SAM). On July 30, 2012, the Central
Contractor Registration (CCR)
transitioned to SAM. All data in the
registrant database has been migrated
from CCR into SAM. Any entity that
needs to create a new account or update
its current registration must register for
a user account in SAM. Registering with
SAM is required for each Qualified
Issuer applicant, its proposed Program
Administrator, its proposed Servicer,
and each Certified CDFI that is included
in any Application. The CDFI Fund will
not consider any Applications that do
not meet the requirement that each
entity must be properly registered before
the date of Application submission. The
CDFI Fund does not manage the SAM
registration process, so entities must
contact SAM directly for issues related
to registration. The CDFI Fund strongly
encourages all applicants to ensure that
their SAM registration (and the SAM
registration for their Program
Administrators, Servicers and each
Certified CDFI that is included in the
Qualified Issuer Application and
Guarantee Application) is updated and
that their accounts have not expired. For
information regarding SAM registration,
please visit https://www.sam.gov/sam.
4. myCDFIFund accounts. Each
Qualified Issuer applicant, its proposed
Program Administrator, its proposed
Servicer, and each Certified CDFI that is
included in the Qualified Issuer
Application or Guarantee Application
must register User and Organization
accounts in myCDFIFund, the CDFI
Fund’s Internet-based interface. Each
such entity must be registered as an
Organization and register at least one (1)
User Account in myCDFIFund in order
for any Application to be considered
complete. As myCDFIFund is the CDFI
Fund’s primary means of
communication with applicants with
regard to its programs, each such entity
must make sure that it updates the
contact information in its myCDFIFund
account before any Application is
submitted. For more information on
myCDFIFund, please see the
‘‘Frequently Asked Questions’’ link
posted at https://www.cdfifund.gov/
myCDFI/Help/Help.asp.
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C. Form of Application
1. As of the date of this NOGA, the
Qualified Issuer Application, the
Guarantee Application and related
application guidance may be found on
the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program’s
page on the CDFI Fund’s Web site at
https://www.cdfifund.gov.
2. Paperwork Reduction Act. Under
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), an agency may not conduct
or sponsor a collection of information,
and an individual is not required to
respond to a collection of information,
unless it displays a valid OMB control
number. Pursuant to the Paperwork
Reduction Act, the Qualified Issuer
Application, the Guarantee Application,
and the Secondary Loan Requirements
have been assigned the following
control number: 1559–0044.
3. Application deadlines. In order to
be considered for the issuance of a
Guarantee under FY 2014 program
authority, Qualified Issuer Applications
must be submitted by June 23, 2014 and
Guarantee Applications must be
submitted by June 30, 2014. Qualified
Issuer Applications and Guarantee
Applications received in FY 2013 and
that were neither withdrawn nor
declined will be considered under FY
2014 authority.
4. Format. Detailed Qualified Issuer
Application and Guarantee Application
content requirements are found in the
Applications and application guidance.
The CDFI Fund will read only
information requested in the
Application and reserves the right not to
read attachments or supplemental
materials that have not been specifically
requested in this NOGA, the Qualified
Issuer or the Guarantee Application.
Supplemental materials or attachments
such as letters of public support or other
statements that are meant to bias or
unduly influence the Application
review process will not be read.
5. Application revisions. After
submitting a Qualified Issuer
Application or a Guarantee Application,
the applicant will not be permitted to
revise or modify the Application in any
way unless authorized or requested by
the CDFI Fund.
6. Material changes.
(a) In the event that there are material
changes after the submission of a
Qualified Issuer Application prior to the
designation as a Qualified Issuer, the
applicant must notify the CDFI Fund of
such material changes information in a
timely and complete manner. The CDFI
Fund will evaluate such material
changes, along with the Qualified Issuer
Application, to approve or deny the
designation of the Qualified Issuer.
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(b) In the event that there are material
changes after the submission of a
Guarantee Application (including, but
not limited to, a revision of the Capital
Distribution Plan or a change in the
Eligible CDFIs that are included in the
application) prior to or after the
designation as a Qualified Issuer or
approval of a Guarantee Application or
Guarantee, the applicant must notify the
CDFI Fund of such material changes
information in a timely and complete
manner. The Guarantor will evaluate
such material changes, along with the
Guarantee Application, to approve or
deny the Guarantee Application and/or
determine whether to modify the terms
and conditions of the Agreement to
Guarantee. This evaluation may result
in a delay of the approval or denial of
a Guarantee Application.
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D. Eligibility and Completeness Review
The CDFI Fund will review each
Qualified Issuer and Guarantee
Application to determine whether it is
complete and the applicant meets
eligibility requirements described in the
Regulations at 12 CFR 1808.200 and
1808.401, this NOGA, and the
Applications. An incomplete Qualified
Issuer Application or Guarantee
Application, or one that does not meet
eligibility requirements, will be rejected.
If the CDFI Fund determines that
additional information is needed to
assess the Qualified Issuer’s and/or the
Certified CDFIs’ ability to participate in
and comply with the requirements of
the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program, the
CDFI Fund may require that the
Qualified Issuer furnish additional,
clarifying, confirming or supplemental
information. If the CDFI Fund requests
such additional, clarifying, confirming
or supplemental information, the
Qualified Issuer must provide it within
the timeframes requested by the CDFI
Fund. Until such information is
provided to the CDFI Fund, the
Qualified Issuer Application or
Guarantee Application will not be
moved forward for the Substantive
Review process. The Guarantor shall
approve or deny a Guarantee
Application no later than 90 days after
the date the Guarantee Application has
been advanced for Substantive Review.
E. Regulated Entities
In the case of Qualified Issuer
applicants, proposed Program
Administrators, proposed Servicers and
Certified CDFIs that are included in the
Qualified Issuer Application or
Guarantee Application that are Insured
Depository Institutions and Insured
Credit Unions, the CDFI Fund will
consider information provided by, and
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views of, the Appropriate Federal
Banking Agencies. If any such entity is
a CDFI bank holding company, the CDFI
Fund will consider information
provided by the Appropriate Federal
Banking Agencies of the CDFI bank
holding company and its CDFI bank(s).
Throughout the Application review
process, the CDFI Fund will consult
with the Appropriate Federal Banking
Agency about the applicant’s financial
safety and soundness. If the Appropriate
Federal Banking Agency identifies
safety and soundness concerns, the
CDFI Fund will assess whether the
concerns cause or will cause the
applicant to be incapable of undertaking
activities related to the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program. The CDFI Fund also
reserves the right to require a regulated
applicant to improve safety and
soundness conditions prior to being
approved as a Qualified Issuer or
Eligible CDFI. In addition, the CDFI
Fund will take into consideration
Community Reinvestment Act
assessments of Insured Depository
Institutions and/or their Affiliates.
F. Prior CDFI Fund Awardees
All applicants must be aware that
success under any of the CDFI Fund’s
programs is not indicative of success
under this NOGA. Prior CDFI Fund
awardees should note the following:
1. Pending resolution of
noncompliance. If a Qualified Issuer
applicant, its proposed Program
Administrator, its proposed Servicer, or
any of the Certified CDFIs included in
the Qualified Issuer Application or
Guarantee Application, is a prior
awardee or allocatee under any CDFI
Fund program and (i) it has submitted
reports to the CDFI Fund that
demonstrate noncompliance with a
previously executed agreement with the
CDFI Fund, and (ii) the CDFI Fund has
yet to make a final determination as to
whether the entity is in default of its
previously executed agreement, the
CDFI Fund will consider the Qualified
Issuer Application or Guarantee
Application pending full resolution, in
the sole determination of the CDFI
Fund, of the noncompliance.
2. Default status. The CDFI Fund will
not consider a Qualified Issuer
Application or Guarantee Application if
the applicant, its proposed Program
Administrator, its proposed Servicer, or
any of the Certified CDFIs included in
the Qualified Issuer Application or
Guarantee Application, is a prior
awardee or allocatee under any CDFI
Fund program if, as of the date of
Qualified Issuer Application or
Guarantee Application submission, (i)
the CDFI Fund has made a
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determination that such entity is in
default of a previously executed
agreement and (ii) the CDFI Fund has
provided written notification of such
determination to the Qualified Issuer
applicant indicating the length of time
the default status is effective. Such
entities will be ineligible to submit a
Qualified Issuer Application, or be
included in such submission, as the
case may be, so long as the applicant’s,
its proposed Program Administrator’s,
its proposed Servicer’s, or such Certified
CDFI’s prior award or allocation
remains in default status or such other
time period as specified by the CDFI
Fund in writing.
3. Undisbursed award funds. The
CDFI Fund will not consider a Qualified
Issuer Application or Guarantee
Application, if the applicant, its
proposed Program Administrator, its
proposed Servicer, or any Certified CDFI
that is included in the Qualified Issuer
Application or Guarantee Application,
is an awardee under any CDFI Fund
program and has undisbursed award
funds (as defined below) as of the
Qualified Issuer Application or
Guarantee Application submission date.
The CDFI Fund will include the
combined undisbursed prior awards, as
of the date of the Qualified Issuer
Application submission, of the
applicant, the proposed Program
Administrator, the proposed Servicer,
and any Certified CDFIs included in the
application.
For purposes of the calculation of
undisbursed award funds for the Bank
Enterprise Award (BEA) Program, only
awards made to the Qualified Issuer
applicant, its proposed Program
Administrator, its proposed Servicer,
and any Certified CDFI included in the
Qualified Issuer Application, three to
five calendar years prior to the end of
the calendar year of the Qualified Issuer
Application submission date are
included. For purposes of the
calculation of undisbursed award funds
for the CDFI Program, the Native
American CDFI Assistance (NACA)
Program, and the Capital Magnet Fund
(CMF), only awards made to the
Qualified Issuer applicant, its proposed
Program Administrator, its proposed
Servicer, and any Certified CDFI
included in the Qualified Issuer
Application, two to five calendar years
prior to the end of the calendar year of
the Qualified Issuer Application
submission date are included.
Undisbursed awards cannot exceed
five percent of the total includable
awards for the Applicant’s BEA/CDFI/
NACA/CMF awards as of the date of
submission of the Qualified Issuer
Application. The calculation of
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undisbursed award funds does not
include: (i) Tax credit allocation
authority made available through the
New Markets Tax Credit Program; (ii)
any award funds for which the CDFI
Fund received a full and complete
disbursement request from the awardee
by the date of submission of the
Qualified Issuer Application; (iii) any
award funds for an award that has been
terminated in writing by the CDFI Fund
or de-obligated by the CDFI Fund; or (iv)
any award funds for an award that does
not have a fully executed assistance or
award agreement. The CDFI Fund
strongly encourages Qualified Issuer
applicants, proposed Program
Administrators, proposed Servicers, and
any Certified CDFIs included in a
Qualified Issuer Application that wish
to request disbursements of undisbursed
funds from prior awards to provide the
CDFI Fund with a complete
disbursement request at least 10
business days prior to the date of
submission of a Qualified Issuer
Application.
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G. Contact the CDFI Fund
A Qualified Issuer applicant, its
proposed Program Administrator, its
proposed Servicer, or any Certified
CDFIs included in the Qualified Issuer
Application or Guarantee Application
that are prior CDFI Fund awardees are
advised to: (i) Comply with
requirements specified in CDFI Fund
assistance, allocation, and/or award
agreement(s), and (ii) contact the CDFI
Fund to ensure that all necessary
actions are underway for the
disbursement or deobligation of any
outstanding balance of said prior
award(s). Any such parties that are
unsure about the disbursement status of
any prior award should contact the
CDFI Fund’s Senior Resource Manager
via email at CDFI.disburseinquiries@
cdfi.treas.gov. All outstanding reports
and compliance questions should be
directed to Certification, Compliance
Monitoring, and Evaluation support by
email at ccme@cdfi.treas.gov or by
telephone at (202) 653–0423. The CDFI
Fund will respond to applicants’
reporting, compliance, or disbursement
questions between the hours of 9:00
a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, starting on the
date of the publication of this NOGA.
H. Evaluating Prior Award Performance
In the case of a Qualified Issuer, a
proposed Program Administrator, a
proposed Servicer, or Certified CDFI
that has received awards from other
Federal programs, the CDFI Fund
reserves the right to contact officials
from the appropriate Federal agency or
agencies to determine whether the
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entity is in compliance with current or
prior award agreements, and to take
such information into consideration
before issuing a Guarantee. In the case
of such an entity that has previously
received funding through any CDFI
Fund program, the CDFI Fund will
review those entities that have a history
of providing late reports and consider
such history in the context of
organizational capacity and the ability
to meet future reporting requirements.
The CDFI Fund may also bar from
consideration any such entity that has,
in any proceeding instituted against it
in, by, or before any court,
governmental, or administrative body or
agency, received a final determination
within the last two (2) years indicating
that the entity has discriminated on the
basis of race, color, national origin,
disability, age, marital status, receipt of
income from public assistance, religion,
or sex, including but not limited to
discrimination under (i) Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Pub. L. 88–
352) which prohibits discrimination on
the basis of race, color or national
origin; (ii) Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972, as amended (20
U.S.C. 1681–1683, 1685–1686), which
prohibits discrimination on the basis of
sex; (iii) Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
(29 U.S.C. 794), which prohibits
discrimination on the basis of
handicaps; (iv) the Age Discrimination
Act of 1975, as amended (42 U.S.C.
6101–6107), which prohibits
discrimination on the basis of age; (v)
the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment
Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92–255), as
amended, relating to nondiscrimination
on the basis of drug abuse; (vi) the
Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment and
Rehabilitation Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91–
616), as amended, relating to
nondiscrimination on the basis of
alcohol abuse or alcoholism; (vii)
Sections 523 and 527 of the Public
Health Service Act of 1912 (42 U.S.C.
290dd–3 and 290ee–3), as amended,
relating to confidentiality of alcohol and
drug abuse patient records; (viii) Title
VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42
U.S.C. 3601 et seq.), as amended,
relating to nondiscrimination in the
sale, rental or financing of housing; (ix)
any other nondiscrimination provisions
in the specific statute(s) under which
Federal assistance is being made; and
(x) the requirements of any other
nondiscrimination statutes which may
apply to the CDFI Bond Guarantee
Program.
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27375
I. Changes to Review Procedures
The CDFI Fund reserves the right to
change its completeness, eligibility and
evaluation criteria and procedures if the
CDFI Fund deems it appropriate. If such
changes materially affect the CDFI
Fund’s decision to approve or deny a
Qualified Issuer Application, the CDFI
Fund will provide information
regarding the changes through the CDFI
Fund’s Web site.
J. Decisions Are Final
The CDFI Fund’s Qualified Issuer
Application decisions are final. The
Guarantor’s Guarantee Application
decisions are final. There is no right to
appeal the decisions. Any applicant that
is not approved by the CDFI Fund or the
Guarantor may submit a new
Application and will be considered
based on the newly submitted
Application. Such newly submitted
Applications will be reviewed along
with all other pending Applications in
the order in which they are received, or
by such other criteria that the CDFI
Fund may establish and publish, in its
sole discretion.
III. Qualified Issuer Application
A. General. This NOGA invites
interested parties to submit a Qualified
Issuer Application to be approved as a
Qualified Issuer under the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program.
1. Qualified Issuer. The Qualified
Issuer is a Certified CDFI, or any entity
designated by a Certified CDFI to issue
Bonds on its behalf, that meets the
requirements of the Regulations and this
NOGA, and that has been approved by
the CDFI Fund pursuant to review and
evaluation of its Qualified Issuer
Application. The Qualified Issuer will,
among other duties: (i) Organize the
Eligible CDFIs that have designated it to
serve as their Qualified Issuer; (ii)
prepare and submit a complete and
timely Qualified Issuer and Guarantee
Application to the CDFI Fund; (iii) if the
Qualified Issuer Application is
approved by the CDFI Fund and the
Guarantee Application is approved by
the Guarantor, prepare the Bond Issue;
(iv) manage all Bond Issue servicing,
administration, and reporting functions;
(v) make Bond Loans; (vi) oversee the
financing or refinancing of Secondary
Loans; (vii) ensure compliance
throughout the duration of the Bond
with all provisions of the Regulations,
and Bond Documents and Bond Loan
Documents entered into between the
Guarantor, the Qualified Issuer, and the
Eligible CDFI; and (viii) ensure that the
Master Servicer/Trustee complies with
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the Bond Trust Indenture and all other
applicable regulations.
2. Qualified Issuer Application. The
Qualified Issuer Application is the
document that an entity seeking to serve
as a Qualified Issuer submits to the
CDFI Fund to apply to be approved as
a Qualified Issuer prior to consideration
of a Guarantee Application.
3. Qualified Issuer Application
evaluation, general. Each Qualified
Issuer Application will be evaluated by
the CDFI Fund and, if acceptable, the
applicant will be approved as a
Qualified Issuer, in the sole discretion
of the CDFI Fund. The CDFI Fund’s
Qualified Issuer Application review and
evaluation process is based on
established procedures, which may
include interviews of applicants and/or
site visits to applicants conducted by
the CDFI Fund. Through the
Application review process, the CDFI
Fund will evaluate Qualified Issuer
applicants on a merit basis and in a fair
and consistent manner. Each Qualified
Issuer applicant will be reviewed on its
ability to successfully carry out the
responsibilities of a Qualified Issuer
throughout the life of the Bond. The
Applicant must currently meet the
criteria established in the Regulations to
be deemed a Qualified Issuer. Qualified
Issuer Applications that are forwardlooking or speculate as to the eventual
acquisition of the required capabilities
and criteria are unlikely to be approved.
Qualified Issuer Application processing
will be initiated in chronological order
by date of receipt; however, Qualified
Applications that are incomplete or
require the CDFI Fund to request
additional or clarifying information may
delay the ability of the CDFI Fund to
deem the Qualified Application
complete and move it to the next phase
of review. Submitting a substantially
incomplete application earlier than
other applicants does not ensure first
approval.
B. Qualified Issuer Application:
Eligibility.
1. CDFI certification requirements.
The Qualified Issuer applicant must be
a Certified CDFI or an entity designated
by a Certified CDFI to issue Bonds on
its behalf.
2. Designation and attestation by
Certified CDFIs. An entity seeking to be
approved by the CDFI Fund as a
Qualified Issuer must be designated as
a Qualified Issuer by at least one
Certified CDFI. A Qualified Issuer may
not designate itself. The Qualified Issuer
applicant will prepare and submit a
complete and timely Qualified Issuer
Application to the CDFI Fund in
accordance with the requirements of the
Regulations, this NOGA and the
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Application. A Certified CDFI must
attest in the Qualified Issuer
Application that it has designated the
Qualified Issuer to act on its behalf and
that the information in the Qualified
Issuer Application regarding it is true,
accurate and complete.
C. Substantive review and approval
process.
1. Substantive Review.
(a) If the CDFI Fund determines that
the Qualified Issuer Application is
complete and eligible, the CDFI Fund
will undertake a substantive review in
accordance with the criteria and
procedures described in the
Regulations, this NOGA, the Qualified
Issuer Application, and CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program policies.
(b) As part of the substantive
evaluation process, the CDFI Fund
reserves the right to contact the
Qualified Issuer applicant (as well as its
proposed Program Administrator, its
proposed Servicer, and each designating
Certified CDFI in the Qualified Issuer
Application) by telephone, email, mail,
or through on-site visits for the purpose
of obtaining additional, clarifying,
confirming, or supplemental application
information. The CDFI Fund reserves
the right to collect such additional,
clarifying, confirming, or supplemental
information from said entities as it
deems appropriate. If contacted for
additional, clarifying, confirming, or
supplemental information, said entities
must respond within the time
parameters set by the CDFI Fund or the
Qualified Issuer Application will be
rejected.
2. Qualified Issuer criteria. In total,
there are more than 60 individual
criteria or sub-criteria used to evaluate
a Qualified Issuer applicant and all
materials provided in the Qualified
Issuer Application will be used to
evaluate the applicant. Qualified Issuer
determinations will be made based on
Qualified Issuer applicants’ experience
and expertise, in accordance with the
following criteria:
(a) Organizational capability.
(i) The Qualified Issuer applicant
must demonstrate that it has the
appropriate expertise, capacity,
experience, and qualifications to issue
Bonds for Eligible Purposes, as well as
manage the Bond Issue on the terms and
conditions set forth in the Regulations,
this NOGA, and the Bond Documents,
satisfactory to the CDFI Fund.
(ii) The Qualified Issuer applicant
must demonstrate that it has the
appropriate expertise, capacity, and
experience to originate, underwrite,
service and monitor Bond Loans for
Eligible Purposes, targeted to Low-
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Income Areas and Underserved Rural
Areas.
(iii) The Qualified Issuer applicant
must demonstrate that it has the
appropriate expertise, capacity, and
experience to manage the disbursement
process set forth in the Regulations at 12
CFR 1808.302 and 1808.307.
(b) Servicer. The Qualified Issuer
applicant must demonstrate that it has
(either directly or contractually through
another designated entity) the
appropriate expertise, capacity, and
experience, or is otherwise qualified to
serve as Servicer. The Qualified Issuer
Application must provide information
that demonstrates that the Qualified
Issuer’s Servicer has the expertise and
experience necessary to perform certain
required administrative duties
(including, but not limited to, Bond
Loan servicing functions).
(c) Program Administrator. The
Qualified Issuer applicant must
demonstrate that it has (either directly
or contractually through another
designated entity) the appropriate
expertise, capacity, and experience, or is
otherwise qualified to serve as Program
Administrator. The Qualified Issuer
Application must provide information
that demonstrates that the Qualified
Issuer’s Program Administrator has the
expertise and experience necessary to
perform certain required administrative
duties (including, but not limited to,
compliance monitoring and reporting
functions).
(d) Strategic alignment. The Qualified
Issuer applicant will be evaluated on its
strategic alignment with the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program on factors that
include, but are not limited to: (i) Its
mission’s strategic alignment with
community and economic development
objectives set forth in the Riegle Act at
12 U.S.C. 4701; (ii) its strategy for
deploying the entirety of funds that may
become available to the Qualified Issuer
through the proposed Bond Issue; (iii)
its experience providing up to 30-year
capital to CDFIs or other borrowers in
Low-Income Areas or Underserved
Rural Areas as such terms are defined in
the Regulations at 12 CFR 1808.102; (iv)
its track record of activities relevant to
its stated strategy; and (v) other factors
relevant to the Qualified Issuer’s
strategic alignment with the program.
(e) Experience. The Qualified Issuer
applicant will be evaluated on factors
that demonstrate that it has previous
experience: (i) Performing the duties of
a Qualified Issuer including making
bond issuances, loan servicing, program
administration, underwriting, financial
reporting, and loan administration; (ii)
lending in Low-Income Areas and
Underserved Rural Areas; and (iii)
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indicating that the Qualified Issuer’s
current principals and team members
have successfully performed the
required duties, and that previous
experience is applicable to the current
principals and team members.
(f) Management and staffing. The
Qualified Issuer applicant must
demonstrate that it has sufficiently
strong management and staffing
capacity to undertake the duties of
Qualified Issuer. The applicant must
also demonstrate that its proposed
Program Administrator and its proposed
Servicer have sufficiently strong
management and staffing capacity to
undertake their respective requirements
under the CDFI Bond Guarantee
Program. Strong management and
staffing capacity is evidenced by factors
that include, but are not limited to: (i)
A sound track record of delivering on
past performance; (ii) a documented
succession plan; (iii) organizational
stability including staff retention; and
(iv) a clearly articulated, reasonable and
well-documented staffing plan.
(g) Financial strength. The Qualified
Issuer applicant must demonstrate the
strength of its financial capacity and
activities including, among other items,
financially sound business practices
relative to the industry norm for bond
issuers, as evidenced by reports of
Appropriate Federal Banking Agencies,
Appropriate State Agencies, or auditors.
Such financially sound business
practices will demonstrate: (i) The
financial wherewithal to perform
activities related to the Bond Issue such
as administration and servicing; (ii) the
ability to originate, underwrite, close,
and disburse loans in a prudent manner;
(iii) whether the applicant is depending
on external funding sources and the
reliability of long-term access to such
funding; (iv) whether there are
foreseeable counterparty issues or credit
concerns that are likely to affect the
applicant’s financial stability; and (v) a
budget that reflects reasonable
assumptions about upfront costs as well
as ongoing expenses and revenues.
(h) Systems and information
technology. The Qualified Issuer
applicant must demonstrate that it (as
well as its proposed Program
Administrator and its proposed
Servicer) has, among other things: (i) A
strong information technology capacity
and the ability to manage loan servicing,
administration, management and
document retention; (ii) appropriate
office infrastructure and related
technology to carry out the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program activities; and (iii)
sufficient backup and disaster recovery
systems to maintain uninterrupted
business operations.
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(i) Pricing structure. The Qualified
Issuer applicant must provide its
proposed pricing structure for
performing the duties of Qualified
Issuer, including the pricing for the
roles of Program Administrator and
Servicer. Although the pricing structure
and fees shall be decided by negotiation
between market participants without
interference or approval by the CDFI
Fund, the CDFI Fund will evaluate
whether the Qualified Issuer applicant’s
proposed pricing structure is feasible to
carry out the responsibilities of a
Qualified Issuer over the life of the
Bond and sound implementation of the
program.
(j) Other criteria. The Qualified Issuer
applicant must meet such other criteria
as may be required by the CDFI Fund,
as set forth in the Qualified Issuer
Application or required by the CDFI
Fund in its sole discretion, for the
purposes of evaluating the merits of a
Qualified Issuer Application. The CDFI
Fund may request an on-site review of
Qualified Issuer applicant to confirm
materials provided in the written
application, as well as to gather
additional due diligence information.
The on-site reviews are a critical
component of the application review
process and will generally be conducted
for all applicants not regulated by an
Appropriate Federal Banking Agency or
Appropriate State Agency. The CDFI
Fund reserves the right to conduct a site
visit of regulated entities, in its sole
discretion.
(k) Third-party data sources. The
CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may
consider information from third-party
sources including, but not limited to,
periodicals or publications, publicly
available data sources, or subscriptions
services for additional information
about the Qualified Issuer applicant, the
proposed Program Administrator, the
proposed Servicer and each Certified
CDFI that is included in the Qualified
Issuer Application. Any additional
information received from such thirdparty sources will be reviewed and
evaluated through a systematic and
formalized process.
D. Notification of Qualified Issuer
determination. Each Qualified Issuer
applicant will be informed of the CDFI
Fund’s decision in writing, by email
using the addresses maintained in the
entity’s myCDFIFund account. The
CDFI Fund will not notify the proposed
Program Administrator, the proposed
Servicer, or the Certified CDFIs
included in the Qualified Issuer
Application of its decision regarding the
Qualified Issuer Application; such
contacts are the responsibility of the
Qualified Issuer applicant.
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27377
E. Qualified Issuer Application
rejection. In addition to substantive
reasons based on the merits of its
review, the CDFI Fund reserves the right
to reject a Qualified Issuer Application
if information (including administrative
errors) comes to the attention of the
CDFI Fund that adversely affects an
applicant’s eligibility, adversely affects
the CDFI Fund’s evaluation of a
Qualified Issuer Application, or
indicates fraud or mismanagement on
the part of a Qualified Issuer applicant
or its proposed Program Administrator,
its proposed Servicer, and any Certified
CDFI included in the Qualified Issuer
Application. If the CDFI Fund
determines that any portion of the
Qualified Issuer Application is incorrect
in any material respect, the CDFI Fund
reserves the right, in its sole discretion,
to reject the Application.
IV. Guarantee Applications
A. General. This NOGA invites
Qualified Issuers to submit a Guarantee
Application to be approved for a
Guarantee under the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program.
1. Guarantee Application.
(a) The Guarantee Application is the
application document that a Qualified
Issuer (in collaboration with the Eligible
CDFIs that seek to be included in the
proposed Bond Issue) must submit to
the CDFI Fund in order to apply for a
Guarantee. The Qualified Issuer shall
provide all required information in its
Guarantee Application to establish that
it meets all criteria set forth in the
Regulations at 12 CFR 1808.501 and this
NOGA and can carry out all CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program requirements
including, but not limited to,
information that demonstrates that the
Qualified Issuer has the appropriate
expertise, capacity, and experience and
is qualified to make, administer and
service Bond Loans for Eligible
Purposes.
(b) The Guarantee Application
comprises a Capital Distribution Plan
and at least one Secondary Capital
Distribution Plan, as well as all other
requirements set forth in this NOGA or
as may be required by the Guarantor and
the CDFI Fund in their sole discretion,
for the evaluation and selection of
Guarantee applicants.
2. Guarantee Application evaluation,
general. The Guarantee Application
review and evaluation process will be
based on established standard
procedures, which may include
interviews of applicants and/or site
visits to applicants conducted by the
CDFI Fund. Through the Application
review process, the CDFI Fund will
evaluate Guarantee applicants on a
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merit basis and in a fair and consistent
manner. Each Guarantee applicant will
be reviewed on its ability to successfully
implement and carry out the activities
proposed in its Guarantee Application
throughout the life of the Bond. Eligible
CDFIs must currently meet the criteria
established in the Regulations to
participate in the CDFI Bond Guarantee
Program. Guarantee Applications that
are forward-looking or speculate as to
the eventual acquisition of the required
capabilities and criteria by the Eligible
CDFI(s) are unlikely to be approved.
Guarantee Application processing will
be initiated in chronological order by
date of receipt; however, Guarantee
Applications that are incomplete or
require the CDFI Fund to request
additional or clarifying information may
delay the ability of the CDFI Fund to
deem the Guarantee Application
complete and move it to the next phase
of review. Submitting a substantially
incomplete application earlier than
other applicants does not ensure first
approval.
B. Guarantee Application: eligibility.
1. Eligibility; CDFI certification
requirements. Each Eligible CDFI must
be a Certified CDFI as of the date of
submission of a Guarantee Application.
If approved for a Guarantee, each
Eligible CDFI must be a Certified CDFI
as of the Bond Issue Date and must
maintain its respective CDFI
certification throughout the term of the
corresponding Bond. For more
information on CDFI Certification see
part II of this NOGA.
2. Qualified Issuer as Eligible CDFI. A
Qualified Issuer may not participate as
an Eligible CDFI within its own Bond
Issue, but may participate as an Eligible
CDFI in a Bond Issue managed by
another Qualified Issuer.
3. Attestation by proposed Eligible
CDFIs. Each proposed Eligible CDFI
must attest in the Guarantee Application
that it has designated the Qualified
Issuer to act on its behalf and that the
information pertaining to the Eligible
CDFI in the Guarantee Application is
true, accurate and complete. Each
proposed Eligible CDFI must also attest
in the Guarantee Application that it will
use Bond Loan proceeds for Eligible
Purposes and that Secondary Loans will
be financed or refinanced only within
the applicable Secondary Loan
Requirements.
C. Guarantee Application:
preparation. When preparing the
Guarantee Application, the Eligible
CDFIs and Qualified Issuer must
collaborate to determine the
composition and characteristics of the
Bond Issue, ensuring compliance with
the Act, the Regulations, and this
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NOGA. The Qualified Issuer is
responsible for the collection,
preparation, verification and submission
of the Eligible CDFI information that is
presented in the Guarantee Application.
The Qualified Issuer will submit the
Guarantee Application for the proposed
Bond Issue, including any information
provided by the proposed Eligible
CDFIs. In addition, the Qualified Issuer
will serve as the primary point of
contact with the CDFI Fund during the
Guarantee Application review and
evaluation process.
D. Review and approval process.
1. Substantive review.
(a) If the CDFI Fund determines that
the Guarantee Application is complete
and eligible, the CDFI Fund will
undertake a Substantive Review in
accordance with the criteria and
procedures described in the Regulations
at 12 CFR 1808.501, this NOGA, and the
Guarantee Application. The Substantive
Review of the Guarantee Application
will include due diligence,
underwriting, credit risk review and
Federal credit subsidy calculation in
order to determine the feasibility and
risk of the proposed Bond Issue, as well
as the strength and capacity of the
Qualified Issuer and each proposed
Eligible CDFI. Each proposed Eligible
CDFI will be evaluated independently of
the other proposed Eligible CDFIs
within the proposed Bond Issue.
(b) As part of the Substantive Review
process, the CDFI Fund may contact the
Qualified Issuer (as well as the proposed
Eligible CDFIs included in the
Guarantee Application) by telephone,
email, mail, or through an on-site visit
for the sole purpose of obtaining
additional, clarifying, confirming, or
supplemental application information.
The CDFI Fund reserves the right to
collect such additional, clarifying,
confirming or supplemental information
as it deems appropriate. If contacted for
additional, clarifying, confirming, or
supplemental information, said entities
must respond within the time
parameters set by the CDFI Fund or the
Guarantee Application will be rejected.
2. Guarantee Application criteria.
(a) In general, a Guarantee
Application will be evaluated based on
the strength and feasibility of the
proposed Bond Issue, as well as the
creditworthiness and performance of the
Qualified Issuer and the proposed
Eligible CDFIs. Guarantee Applications
must demonstrate that each proposed
Eligible CDFI has the capacity for its
respective Bond Loan to be a general
recourse obligation of the proposed
Eligible CDFI and to deploy the Bond
Loan proceeds within the required
disbursement timeframe as described in
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the Regulations. Unless receiving
significant third-party support or Credit
Enhancements, Eligible CDFIs should
not request Bond Loans greater than
their current total asset size or which
would otherwise significantly impair
their net asset or net equity position.
Further, unless receiving significant
third-party support or Credit
Enhancements, entities with a limited
operating history or a history of
operating losses are unlikely to meet the
strength and feasibility requirements of
the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program.
(b) The Capital Distribution Plan must
demonstrate the Qualified Issuer’s
comprehensive plan for lending,
disbursing, servicing and monitoring
each Bond Loan in the Bond Issue. It
includes, among other information, the
following components:
(i) Statement of Proposed Sources and
Uses of Funds: Pursuant to the
requirements set forth in the
Regulations at 12 C.R1808.102(bb) and
1808.301, the Qualified Issuer must
provide: (A) A description of the overall
plan for the Bond Issue; (B) a
description of the proposed uses of
Bond Proceeds and proposed sources of
funds to repay principal and interest on
the proposed Bond and Bond Loans; (C)
a certification that 100 percent of the
principal amounts of the proposed Bond
will be used to make Bond Loans for
Eligible Purposes on the Bond Issue
Date; and (D) description of the extent
to which the proposed Bond Loans will
serve Low-Income Areas or Underserved
Rural Areas;
(ii) Bond Issue Qualified Issuer cash
flow model: The Qualified Issuer must
provide a cash flow model displaying
the orderly repayment of the Bond and
the Bond Loans according to their
respective terms. The cash flow model
shall include disbursement and
repayment of Bonds, Bond Loans, and
Secondary Loans. The cash flow model
shall match the aggregated cash flows
from the Secondary Capital Distribution
Plans of each of the underlying Eligible
CDFIs in the Bond Issue pool;
(iii) Organizational capacity: If not
submitted concurrently, the Qualified
Issuer must attest that no material
changes have occurred since the time
that it submitted the Qualified Issuer
Application;
(iv) Credit Enhancement (if
applicable): The Qualified Issuer must
provide information about the adequacy
of proposed risk mitigation provisions
designed to protect the financial
interests of the Federal Government,
either directly or indirectly through
supporting the financial strength of the
Bond Issue. This includes, but is not
limited to, the amount and quality of
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any Credit Enhancements, terms and
specific conditions such as renewal
options, and any limiting conditions or
revocability by the provider of the
Credit Enhancement;
(v) Proposed Term Sheets: For each
Eligible CDFI that is part of the
proposed Bond Issue, the Qualified
Issuer must submit a proposed Term
Sheet using the template provided on
the CDFI Fund’s Web site. The proposed
Term Sheet must clearly state all
relevant and critical terms of the
proposed Bond Loan including, but not
limited to: any requested prepayment
provisions; unique conditions
precedent; proposed covenants and
exact calculations for determining
compliance, and terms and exact
language describing any Credit
Enhancements.
(vi) Secondary Capital Distribution
Plan(s): Each proposed Eligible CDFI
must provide a comprehensive plan for
financing, disbursing, servicing and
monitoring Secondary Loans, how each
proposed Secondary Loan will meet
Eligible Purposes, and such other
requirements that may be required by
the Guarantor and the CDFI Fund,
including:
(A) Narrative and Statement of
Proposed Sources and Uses of Funds:
Each Eligible CDFI will: (1) Provide a
description of proposed uses of funds,
including the extent to which Bond
Loans will serve Low-Income Areas or
Underserved Rural Areas, and the extent
to which Bond Loan proceeds will be
used (i) to make the first monthly
installment of a Bond Loan payment, (ii)
pay Issuance Fees up to one percent of
the Bond Loan, and (iii) finance Loan
Loss Reserves related to Secondary
Loans; (2) attest that 100 percent of
Bond Loan proceeds designated for
Secondary Loans will be used to finance
or refinance Secondary Loans that meet
Secondary Loan Requirements; (3)
describe a plan for financing,
disbursing, servicing, and monitoring
Secondary Loans; (4) indicate the
expected asset classes to which it will
lend under the Secondary Loan
Requirements; (5) indicate examples of
previous lending and years of
experience lending to a specific asset
class; (6) provide a table detailing
specific uses and timing of
disbursements, including terms and
relending plans if applicable; and (7) a
community impact analysis, including
how the proposed Secondary Loans will
address financing needs that the private
market is not adequately serving and
specific community benefit metrics;
(B) Eligible CDFI cash flow model:
Each Eligible CDFI must provide a cash
flow model of the proposed Bond Loan
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which: (1) Matches each Eligible CDFI’s
portion of the Qualified Issuer’s cash
flow model; and (2) tracks the flow of
funds through the term of the Bond
Issue and demonstrates disbursement
and repayment of the Bond Loan,
Secondary Loans, and any utilization of
the Relending Fund, if applicable;
(C) Organizational capacity: Each
Eligible CDFI must provide
documentation indicating the ability of
the Eligible CDFI to manage its Bond
Loan including, but not limited to: (1)
Organizational ownership and chart of
affiliates; (2) organizational documents;
(3) management or operating agreement,
if applicable; (4) an analysis by
management of its ability to manage the
funding, monitoring, and collection of
loans being contemplated with the
proceeds of the Bond Loan; (5)
information about its board of directors;
(6) a governance narrative; (7)
description of senior management and
employee base; (8) independent reports,
if available; (9) strategic plan or related
progress reports; and (10) a discussion
of the management and information
systems used by the Eligible CDFI;
(D) Policies and procedures: Each
Eligible CDFI must provide policies and
procedures for the matching of assets
and liabilities, as well as loan policies
and procedures: a copy of the assetliability matching policy, if applicable;
and loan policies which address topics
including, but not limited to: (1)
Origination, underwriting, credit
approval, interest rates, closing,
documentation, and portfolio
monitoring and (2) risk-rating
definitions, charge-offs, and loan loss
reserve methodology;
(E) Financial statements: Each
Eligible CDFI must provide information
about the Eligible CDFI’s current and
future financial position, including but
not limited to: (1) Most recent three
years of audited financial statements; (2)
current year-to-date or interim financial
statement; (3) a copy of the current
year’s approved budget; and (4) a three
year operating projection;
(F) Loan portfolio information: Each
Eligible CDFI must provide information
such as: (1) Loan portfolio quality
report; (2) pipeline report; (3) portfolio
listing; (4) a description of other loan
assets under management; (5) loan
products; (6) independent loan review
report; (7) impact report case studies;
and (8) a loan portfolio by risk rating
and loan loss reserves; and
(G) Funding sources and financial
activity information: Each Eligible CDFI
must provide information including, but
not limited to: (1) Current grant
information; (2) funding projections; (3)
credit enhancements; (4) historical
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27379
investor renewal rates; (5) covenant
compliance; (6) off-balance sheet
contingencies; (7) earned revenues; and
(8) debt capital statistics.
(vii) Assurances and certifications
that not less than 100 percent of the
principal amount of Bonds will be used
to make Bond Loans for Eligible
Purposes beginning on the Bond Issue
Date, and that Secondary Loans shall be
made as set forth in subsection
1808.307(b); and
(viii) Such other information that the
Guarantor, the CDFI Fund and/or the
Bond Purchaser may deem necessary
and appropriate.
(c) The CDFI Fund will use the
information described in the Capital
Distribution Plan and Secondary Capital
Distribution Plan(s) to evaluate the
feasibility of the proposed Bond Issue,
with specific attention paid to each
Eligible CDFI’s financial strength and
organizational capacity. All materials
provided in the Guarantee Application
will be used to evaluate the proposed
Bond Issue. In total, there are more than
100 individual criteria or sub-criteria
used to evaluate each Eligible CDFI.
Specific criteria used to evaluate each
Eligible CDFI shall include, but not be
limited to:
(i) Historical financial ratios: Ratios
which together have been shown to be
predictive of possible future default will
be used an initial screening tool,
including total asset size, net asset or
Tier 1 Core Capital ratio, self-sufficiency
ratio, non-performing asset ratio,
liquidity ratio, reserve over
nonperforming assets, and yield cost
spread;
(ii) Quantitative and qualitative
attributes under the ‘‘CAMEL’’
framework: After initial screening, the
CDFI Fund will utilize a more detailed
analysis under the ‘‘CAMEL’’ framework
including but not limited to:
(A) Capital Adequacy: Attributes such
as the debt-to-equity ratio, status and
significance of off-balance sheet
liabilities or contingencies, magnitude
and consistency of cash flow
performance, exposure to affiliates for
financial and operating support, trends
in changes to capitalization, and other
relevant attributes;
(B) Asset Quality: Attributes such as
the charge-off ratio, adequacy of loan
loss reserves, sector concentration,
borrower concentration, asset
composition, security and
collateralization of the loan portfolio,
trends in changes to asset quality, and
other relevant attributes;
(C) Management: Attributes such as
documented best practices in
governance, strategic planning and
board involvement, robust policies and
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procedures, tenured and experienced
management team, organizational
stability, infrastructure and information
technology systems, and other relevant
attributes;
(D) Earnings and Performance:
Attributes such as net operating
margins, deployment of funds, selfsufficiency, trends in earnings, and
other relevant attributes;
(E) Liquidity: Attributes such as
unrestricted cash and cash equivalents,
ability to access credit facilities, access
to grant funding, covenant compliance,
affiliate relationships, concentration of
funding sources, trends in liquidity, and
other relevant attributes;
(iii) Forecast performance and other
relevant criteria: The CDFI Fund will
stress test each Eligible CDFI’s
forecasted performance under scenarios
that are specific to the unique
circumstance and attributes of the
organization. Additionally, the CDFI
Fund will consider other relevant
criteria that have not been adequately
captured in the preceding steps as part
of the due diligence process. Such
criteria may include, but not be limited
to, the size and quality of any thirdparty Credit Enhancements or other
forms of support.
(A) Overcollateralization: The
commitment by an Eligible CDFI to
over-collateralize a proposed Bond Loan
with excess Secondary Loans is a
criterion that may affect the viability of
a Guarantee Application by decreasing
the estimated net present value of the
long-term cost of the Guarantee to the
Federal Government, by decreasing the
probability of default, and/or increasing
the recovery rate in the event of default.
An Eligible CDFI committing to
overcollateralization may not be
required to deposit funds in the
Relending Account, subject to the
maintenance of certain unique
requirements that are detailed in the
template Agreement to Guarantee and
Bond Loan Agreement;
(B) Credit Enhancements: The
provision of third-party Credit
Enhancements is a criterion that may
affect the viability of a Guarantee
Application by decreasing the estimated
net present value of the long-term cost
of the Guarantee to the Federal
Government. Credit Enhancements are
considered in the context of the
structure and circumstances of each
Guarantee Application;
(C) On-Site Review: The CDFI Fund
may request an on-site review of an
Eligible CDFI to confirm materials
provided in the written application, as
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well as to gather additional due
diligence information. The on-site
reviews are a critical component of the
application review process and will
generally be conducted for all
applicants not regulated by an
Appropriate Federal Banking Agency or
Appropriate State Agency. The CDFI
Fund reserves the right to conduct a site
visit of regulated entities, in its sole
discretion.
(D) Secondary Loan Asset Classes:
Eligible CDFIs that propose to use funds
for new products or lines of business
must demonstrate that they have the
organizational capacity to manage such
activities in a prudent manner. Failure
to demonstrate such organizational
capacity may be factored into the
consideration of Asset Quality or
Management criteria as listed above in
this section.
3. Credit subsidy cost. The credit
subsidy cost is the net present value of
the estimated long-term cost of the
Guarantee to the Federal Government as
determined under the applicable
provisions of the Federal Credit Reform
Act of 1990, as amended (FCRA).
Treasury has not received appropriated
amounts from Congress to cover the
credit subsidy costs associated with the
Guarantees issued pursuant to this
NOGA. In accordance with FCRA,
Treasury must consult with, and obtain
the approval of, OMB for Treasury’s
calculation of the credit subsidy cost of
each Guarantee prior to entering into
any Agreement to Guarantee.
E. Guarantee approval.
1. The Guarantor, in the Guarantor’s
sole discretion, may approve a
Guarantee, in consideration of the
recommendation from the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program’s Credit Review
Board and/or based on the merits of the
Guarantee Application. The Guarantor
shall approve or deny a Guarantee
Application no later than 90 days after
the date the Guarantee Application has
been advanced for Substantive Review.
2. The Guarantor reserves the right to
approve Guarantees, in whole or in part,
in response to any, all, or none of the
Guarantee Applications submitted in
response to this NOGA. The Guarantor
also reserves the right to approve
Guarantees in amounts that are less than
requested in a Guarantee Application.
Pursuant to the Regulations at 12 CFR
1808.504(c), the Guarantor may limit the
number of Guarantees made per year to
ensure that a sufficient examination of
Guarantee Applications is conducted.
3. The CDFI Fund will notify the
Qualified Issuer in writing of the
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Guarantor’s approval or disapproval of a
Guarantee Application. If approved for
a Guarantee, the Qualified Issuer will
enter into an Agreement to Guarantee,
which will include terms and
conditions that will be signed by each
Eligible CDFI. Following the execution
of the Agreement to Guarantee, the
parties will proceed to the Bond Issue
Date, when the parties will sign the
remaining Bond Documents.
4. The Guarantee shall not be effective
until the Guarantor signs and delivers
the Guarantee.
F. Guarantee denial. The Guarantor,
in the Guarantor’s sole discretion, may
deny a Guarantee, in consideration of
the recommendation from the Credit
Review Board and/or based on the
merits of the Guarantee Application. In
addition, the Guarantor reserves the
right to deny a Guarantee Application if
information (including administrative
errors) comes to the Guarantor’s
attention that adversely affects the
Qualified Issuer’s eligibility, adversely
affects the evaluation or scoring of an
Application, or indicates fraud or
mismanagement on the part of the
Qualified Issuer, Program
Administrator, Servicer, and/or Eligible
CDFIs. Further, if the Guarantor
determines that any portion of the
Guarantee Application is incorrect in
any material respect, the Guarantor
reserves the right, in the Guarantor’s
sole discretion, to deny the Application.
V. Guarantee Administration
A. Pricing information. Bond Loans
will be priced based upon the
underlying Bond issued by the
Qualified Issuer and purchased by the
Federal Financing Bank (FFB or Bond
Purchaser). The FFB will set the
liquidity premium at the time of the
Bond Issue Date, based on the duration
and maturity of the Bonds according to
the FFB’s lending policies
(www.treasury.gov/ffb). Liquidity
premiums will be charged in increments
of 1/8th of a percent (i.e., 12.5 basis
points).
B. Fees and other payments. The
following table includes some of the
fees that may be applicable to Qualified
Issuers and Eligible CDFIs after approval
of a Guarantee of a Bond Issue, as well
as Risk-Share Pool funding, prepayment
penalties or discounts, and Credit
Enhancements. The table is not
exhaustive; additional fees payable to
the CDFI Fund or other parties may
apply.
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Fee
Description
Agency Administrative Fee .............
Payable annually to the CDFI Fund by the Qualified Issuer. Equal to 10 basis points on the amount of the
unpaid principal of the Bond Issue.
Amounts paid by an Eligible CDFI for reasonable and appropriate expenses, administrative costs, and fees
for services in connection with the issuance of the Bond (but not including the Agency Administrative
Fee) and the making of the Bond Loan. Bond Issuance Fees negotiated between the Qualified Issuer
and the Eligible CDFI. Up of 1% of Bond Loan Proceeds may be used to finance the Bond Issuance
Fee.
The fees paid by the Eligible CDFI to the Qualified Issuer’s Servicer. Servicer fees negotiated between the
Qualified Issuer and the Eligible CDFI.
The fees paid by the Eligible CDFI to the Qualified Issuer’s Program Administrator. Program Administrator
fees negotiated between the Qualified Issuer and the Eligible CDFI.
The fees paid by the Qualified Issuer and the Eligible CDFI to the Master Servicer/Trustee to carry out the
responsibilities of the Bond Trust Indenture. In general, the Master Servicer/Trustee fee is the greater of
16 basis points per annum or $10,000 per month once the Bond Loans are fully disbursed. Any special
servicing costs and resolution or liquidation fees due to a Bond Loan default are the responsibility of the
Eligible CDFI. Please see the template legal documents at www.cdfifund.gov/bond for more specific information.
The funds paid by the Eligible CDFIs to cover Risk-Share Pool requirements; capitalized by pro rata payments equal to 3% of the amount disbursed on the Bond from all Eligible CDFIs within the Bond Issue.
Prepayment penalties or discounts may be determined by the FFB at the time of prepayment.
Pledges made to enhance the quality of a Bond and/or Bond Loan. Credit Enhancements include, but are
not limited to, the Principal Loss Collateral Provision and letters of credit.
Bond Issuance Fees .......................
Servicer fee .....................................
Program Administrator fee ..............
Master Servicer/Trustee fee ...........
Risk-Share Pool funding .................
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Prepayment penalties or discounts
Credit Enhancements .....................
C. Annual assessment. In accordance
with 12 CFR 1808.302(f), each year,
beginning on the one year anniversary
of the Bond Issue Date (and every year
thereafter for the term of the Bond
Issue), each Qualified Issuer must
demonstrate that not less than 100
percent of the principal amount of the
Guaranteed Bonds currently disbursed
and outstanding has been used to make
loans to Eligible CDFIs for Eligible
Purposes. If a Qualified Issuer fails to
demonstrate this requirement within the
90 days after the anniversary of the
Bond Issue Date, the Qualified Issuer
must repay on that portion of Bonds
necessary to bring the Bonds that
remain outstanding after such
repayment into compliance with the 100
percent requirement above.
D. Secondary Loan Requirements. In
accordance with the Regulations,
Eligible CDFIs must finance or refinance
Secondary Loans for Eligible Purposes
(not including loan loss reserves) that
align with Secondary Loan
Requirements. The Secondary Loan
Requirements are found on the CDFI
Fund’s Web site at www.cdfifund.gov.
Applicants should become familiar with
the published Secondary Loan
Requirements. Secondary Loan
Requirements are classified by asset
class and are subject to a Secondary
Loan commitment process managed by
the Qualified Issuer.
Eligible CDFIs must execute
Secondary Loans documents (in the
form of loan agreements and promissory
notes) with Secondary Borrowers as
follows: (i) Not later than twelve (12)
months after the Bond Issue Date,
Secondary Loan documents
representing at least fifty percent (50%)
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of the Bond Loan proceeds allocated for
Secondary Loans, and (ii) not later than
twenty-four (24) months after the Bond
Issue Date, Secondary Loan documents
representing one hundred percent
(100%) of the Bond Loan proceeds
allocated for Secondary Loans. In the
event that the Eligible CDFI does not
comply with the foregoing requirements
of clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph,
the available Bond Loan proceeds at the
end of the applicable period shall be
reduced by an amount equal to the
difference between the amount required
by clauses (i) and (ii) minus the amount
previously committed to the Secondary
Loans in the applicable period.
Secondary Loans shall carry loan
maturities suitable to the loan purpose
and consistent with loan-to-value
requirements set forth in the Secondary
Loan Requirements. Secondary Loan
maturities shall not exceed the
corresponding Bond or Bond Loan
maturity date. It is the expectation of the
CDFI Fund that such interest rates will
be reasonable based on the borrower
and loan characteristics.
E. Secondary Loan collateral
requirements.
1. The Regulations state that
Secondary Loans must be secured by a
first lien of the Eligible CDFI on pledged
collateral, in accordance with the
Regulations (at 12 CFR 1808.307(f)) and
within certain parameters. Examples of
acceptable forms of collateral may
include, but are not limited to: Real
property (including land and
structures); machinery, equipment and
movables; cash and cash equivalents;
accounts receivable; letters of credit;
inventory; fixtures; contracted revenue
streams from non-Federal
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counterparties, provided the Secondary
Borrower pledges all assets, rights and
interests necessary to generate such
revenue stream; and a Principal Loss
Collateral Provision. Intangible assets,
such as customer relationships,
intellectual property rights, and to-beconstructed real estate improvements,
are not acceptable forms of collateral.
2. The Regulations require that Bond
Loans must be secured by a first lien on
a collateral assignment of Secondary
Loans, and further that the Secondary
Loans must be secured by a first lien or
parity lien on acceptable collateral.
3. Valuation of the collateral pledged
by the Secondary Borrower must be
based on the Eligible CDFI’s credit
policy guidelines and must conform to
the standards set forth in the Uniform
Standards of Professional Appraisal
Practice (USPAP).
4. Independent third-party appraisals
are required for the following collateral:
Real estate; fixtures, machinery and
equipment, and movables stock valued
in excess of $250,000; contracted
revenue stream from non-Federal
creditworthy counterparties. Secondary
Loan collateral shall be valued using the
cost approach, net of depreciation and
shall be required for the following:
Accounts receivable; machinery,
equipment and movables; and fixtures.
F. Qualified Issuer approval of
Eligible CDFIs. The Qualified Issuer
shall not approve any Bond Loans to an
Eligible CDFI where the Qualified Issuer
has actual knowledge, based upon
reasonable inquiry, that within the past
five (5) years the Eligible CDFI: (i) Has
been delinquent on any payment
obligation (except upon a demonstration
by the Qualified Issuer satisfactory to
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the CDFI Fund that the delinquency
does not affect the Eligible CDFI’s
creditworthiness), or has defaulted and
failed to cure any other obligation, on a
loan or loan agreement previously made
under the Act; (ii) has been found by the
Qualified Issuer to be in default of any
repayment obligation under any Federal
program; (iii) is financially insolvent in
either the legal or equitable sense; or (iv)
is not able to demonstrate that it has the
capacity to comply fully with the
payment schedule established by the
Qualified Issuer.
G. Credit Enhancements; Principal
Loss Collateral Provision.
1. In order to achieve the statutory
zero-credit subsidy constraint of the
CDFI Bond Guarantee Program and to
avoid a call on the Guarantee, Eligible
CDFIs are encouraged to include Credit
Enhancements and Principal Loss
Collateral Provisions structured to
protect the financial interests of the
Federal Government.
2. Credit Enhancements may include,
but are not limited to, payment
guarantees from third parties or
Affiliates, lines or letters of credit, or
other pledges of financial resources that
enhance the Eligible CDFI’s ability to
make timely interest and principal
payments under the Bond Loan.
3. As distinct from Credit
Enhancements, Principal Loss Collateral
Provisions may be provided in lieu of
pledged collateral and in addition to
pledged collateral. A Principal Loss
Collateral Provision shall be in the form
of cash or cash equivalent guarantees in
amounts necessary to secure the Eligible
CDFI’s obligations under the Bond Loan
after exercising other remedies for
default. For example, a Principal Loss
Collateral Provision may include a
deficiency guarantee whereby another
entity assumes liability after other
default remedies have been exercised,
and covers the deficiency incurred by
the creditor. The Principal Loss
Collateral Provision shall, at a
minimum, provide for the provision of
cash or cash equivalents in an amount
that is not less than the difference
between the value of the collateral and
the amount of the accelerated Bond
Loan outstanding.
4. In all cases, acceptable Credit
Enhancements or Principal Loss
Collateral Provisions shall be proffered
by creditworthy providers and shall
provide information about the adequacy
of the facility in protecting the financial
interests of the Federal Government,
either directly or indirectly through
supporting the financial strength of the
Bond Issue. This includes, but is not
limited to, the amount and quality of
any Credit Enhancements, the financial
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strength of the provider of the Credit
Enhancement, the terms, specific
conditions such as renewal options, and
any limiting conditions or revocability
by the provider of the Credit
Enhancement.
5. For Secondary Loans benefitting
from a Principal Loss Collateral
Provision (e.g., a deficiency guarantee),
the entity providing the Principal Loss
Collateral Provision must be
underwritten based on the same criteria
as if the Secondary Loan were being
made directly to that entity with the
exception that the guarantee need not be
collateralized.
6. If the Principal Loss Collateral
Provision is provided by a financial
institution that is regulated by an
Appropriate Federal Banking Agency or
an Appropriate State Agency, the
guaranteeing institution must
demonstrate performance of financially
sound business practices relative to the
industry norm for providers of collateral
enhancements as evidenced by reports
of Appropriate Federal Banking
Agencies, Appropriate State Agencies,
and auditors, as appropriate.
H. Reporting requirements.
1. General. Qualified Issuers and
Eligible CDFIs that participate in the
Bond Guarantee Program will be
required to execute and deliver at
closing legal agreements including the
Agreement to Guarantee, the Bond Trust
Indenture, and the Bond Loan
Agreement, among others. The forms of
these documents, containing terms and
conditions and covenants over use of
proceeds, loan commitments, advances,
disbursements, principal and interest
payments, program fees and accounts,
Secondary Loans, financial condition
and information reporting and other
matters of the Qualified Issuer, Master
Servicer/Trustee, and Eligible CDFIs,
will be published and accessible on the
CDFI Fund’s Web site or sent to the
Qualified Issuer by other means.
2. Reports.
(a) In general, as required pursuant to
the Regulations at 12 CFR 1808.619, the
CDFI Fund will collect information from
each Qualified Issuer which may
include, but will not be limited to: (i)
Quarterly and annual financial reports
and data (including an OMB A–133
audit, as applicable) for the purpose of
monitoring the financial health, ratios
and covenants of Eligible CDFIs that
include asset quality (non-performing
assets, loan loss reserves, and net
charge-off ratios), liquidity (current
ratio, working capital, and operating
liquidity ratio), solvency (capital ratio,
self-sufficiency, fixed charge, leverage,
and debt service coverage ratios); (ii)
annual reports as to the compliance of
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the Qualified Issuer and Eligible CDFIs
with the Regulations and specific
requirements of the Bond Documents;
(iii) monthly reports on uses of Bond
Loan proceeds and Secondary Loan
proceeds; (iv) Master Service/Trustee
summary of program accounts and
transactions for each Bond Issue; (v)
Secondary Loan certifications
describing Eligible CDFI lending,
collateral valuation, and eligibility; (vi)
financial data on Secondary Loans to
monitor underlying collateral, gauge
overall risk exposure across asset
classes, and assess loan performance,
quality, and payment history; (vii)
annual certifications of compliance with
program requirements; (viii) material
event disclosures including any reports
of Eligible CDFI management and/or
organizational changes; (ix) annual
updates to the Capital Distribution Plan
(as described below); (x) supplements
and/or clarifications to correct reporting
errors (as applicable); (xi) project level
reports to understand overall program
impact and the manner in which Bond
proceeds are deployed for Eligible
Community or Economic Development
Purposes; and (xii) such other
information that the CDFI Fund and/or
the Bond Purchaser may require,
including but not limited to racial and
ethnic data showing the extent to which
members of minority groups are
beneficiaries of the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program, to extent
permissible by law.
(b) Qualified Issuers receiving a
Guarantee shall submit annual updates
to the approved Capital Distribution
Plan, including an updated Proposed
Sources and Uses of Funds for each
Eligible CDFI, noting any deviation from
the original baseline with regards to
both timing and allocation of funding
among Secondary Loan asset classes.
The Qualified Issuer shall also submit a
narrative, no more than five (5) pages in
length for each Eligible CDFI, describing
the Eligible CDFI’s capacity to manage
its Bond Loan. The narrative shall
address any Notification of Material
Events and relevant information
concerning the Eligible CDFI’s
management information systems,
personnel, executive leadership or
board members, as well as financial
capacity. The narrative shall also
describe how such changes affect the
Eligible CDFI’s ability to generate
impacts in Low-Income or Underserved
Rural Areas. Any Eligible CDFI seeking
to expand the allowable Secondary Loan
asset classes beyond what was approved
by the Bond Guarantee Program’s Credit
Review Board or make other deviations
that could potentially result in a
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modification, as that term is defined in
OMB Circulars A–11 and A–129, must
receive approval from the CDFI Fund
before the Eligible CDFI can begin to
enact the proposed changes. The CDFI
Fund will consider whether the Eligible
CDFI possesses or has acquired the
appropriate systems, personnel,
leadership, and financial capacity to
implement the revised Capital
Distribution Plan. The CDFI Fund will
also consider whether these changes
assist the Eligible CDFI in generating
impacts in Low-Income or Underserved
Rural Areas. Such changes will be
reviewed by the CDFI Bond Guarantee
Program and presented to the Credit
Review Board for approval, and
appropriate consultation will be made
with OMB to ensure compliance with
OMB Circulars A–11 and A–129, prior
to notifying the Eligible CDFI if such
changes are acceptable under the terms
of the Bond Loan Agreement. An
Eligible CDFI may request such an
update to their Capital Distribution Plan
prior to Bond Issue Closing, and
thereafter may only request such an
update once per the CDFI’s fiscal year.
(c) Detailed information on specific
reporting requirements and the format,
frequency, and methods by which this
information will be transmitted to the
CDFI Fund will be provided to
Qualified Issuers, Program
Administrators, Servicers, and Eligible
CDFIs through the Bond Loan
Agreement and a combination of
webinar trainings and/or scheduled
outreach sessions. Reporting
requirements will be enforced through
the Agreement to Guarantee and the
Bond Loan Agreement, and will be
assigned a valid OMB control number
pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction
Act.
(d) Each Qualified Issuer will be
responsible for the timely and complete
submission of the annual reporting
documents, including such information
that must be provided by other entities
such as Eligible CDFIs or Secondary
Borrowers. If such other entities are
required to provide annual report
information or documentation, or other
documentation that the CDFI Fund may
require, the Qualified Issuer will be
responsible for ensuring that the
information is submitted timely and
complete. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the CDFI Fund reserves the
right to contact such entities and require
that additional information and
documentation be provided directly to
the CDFI Fund.
(e) The CDFI Fund will use the
aforementioned information to monitor
compliance with the requirements set
forth in the Agreement to Guarantee and
to assess the impact of the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program.
(f) The CDFI Fund reserves the right,
in its sole discretion, to modify its
reporting requirements if it determines
it to be appropriate and necessary;
however, such reporting requirements
will be modified only after notice to
Qualified Issuers. Additional
information about reporting
requirements pursuant to this NOGA
and the Bond Documents will be subject
to the Paperwork Reduction Act.
3. Accounting.
(a) In general, the CDFI Fund will
require each Qualified Issuer and
Eligible CDFI to account for and track
the use of Bond Proceeds and Bond
Loan proceeds. This means that for
every dollar of Bond Proceeds and
received from the Bond Purchaser, the
Qualified Issuer is required to inform
the CDFI Fund of its uses, including
Bond Loan proceeds. This will require
Qualified Issuers and Eligible CDFIs to
establish separate administrative and
accounting controls, subject to the
applicable OMB Circulars.
(b) The CDFI Fund will provide
guidance to Qualified Issuers outlining
the format and content of the
information that is to be provided on an
annual basis, outlining and describing
how the Bond Proceeds and Bond Loan
proceeds were used.
VI. Agency Contacts
A. The CDFI Fund will respond to
questions and provide support
concerning this NOGA, the Qualified
Issuer Application and the Guarantee
Application between the hours of 9:00
a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, starting with the
date of the publication of this NOGA.
The final date to submit questions is
June 18, 2014. Applications and other
information regarding the CDFI Fund
and its programs may be obtained from
the CDFI Fund’s Web site at https://
www.cdfifund.gov. The CDFI Fund will
post on its Web site responses to
questions of general applicability
regarding the CDFI Bond Guarantee
Program.
B. The CDFI Fund’s contact
information is as follows:
TABLE 2—CONTACT INFORMATION
Type of question
Telephone number (not toll free)
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
CDFI Bond Guarantee Program .................................................................
CDFI Certification ........................................................................................
Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation ......................................................
Information Technology Support .................................................................
C. Communication with the CDFI
Fund. The CDFI Fund will use the
myCDFIFund Internet interface to
communicate with applicants, Qualified
Issuers, Program Administrators,
Servicers, Certified CDFIs and Eligible
CDFIs, using the contact information
maintained in their respective
myCDFIFund accounts. Therefore, each
such entity must maintain accurate
contact information (including contact
person and authorized representative,
email addresses, fax numbers, phone
numbers, and office addresses) in its
respective myCDFIFund account. For
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:27 May 12, 2014
Jkt 232001
(202)
(202)
(202)
(202)
653–0421
653–0423
653–0423
653–0422
Option 5 .................
................................
................................
................................
more information about myCDFIFund
(which includes information about the
CDFI Fund’s Community Investment
Impact System), please see the Help
documents posted at https://www.cdfi
fund.gov/ciis/accessingciis.pdf.
VII. Information Sessions and Outreach
The CDFI Fund may conduct
webcasts, webinars, or information
sessions for organizations that are
considering applying to, or are
interested in learning about, the CDFI
Bond Guarantee Program. For further
information, please visit the CDFI
PO 00000
Frm 00107
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
Email addresses
bgp@cdfi.treas.gov.
ccme@cdfi.treas.gov.
ccme@cdfi.treas.gov.
ithelpdesk@cdfi.treas.gov.
Fund’s Web site at https://www.cdfi
fund.gov.
Authority: Pub. L. 111–240; 12 U.S.C.
4701, et seq.; 12 CFR part 1808.
Dated: May 8, 2014.
Dennis Nolan,
Deputy Director, Community Development
Financial Institutions Fund.
[FR Doc. 2014–10950 Filed 5–12–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810–70–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 13, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27371-27383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10950]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of Guarantee Availability
(NOGA) Inviting Qualified Issuer Applications and Guarantee
Applications for the Community Development Financial Institutions
(CDFI) Bond Guarantee Program
Announcement Type: Announcement of opportunity to submit Qualified
Issuer Applications and Guarantee Applications.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 21.011.
DATES: Qualified Issuer Applications and Guarantee Applications may be
submitted to the CDFI Fund starting on the date of publication of this
NOGA. Applications will be reviewed by the CDFI Fund on an ongoing
basis, in the order in which they are received or by such other
criteria that the CDFI Fund may establish and publish, in its sole
discretion. In order to be considered for the issuance of a Guarantee
under FY 2014 program authority, Qualified Issuer Applications must be
submitted by June 23, 2014 and Guarantee Applications must be submitted
by June 30, 2014. Qualified Issuer Applications and Guarantee
Applications received in FY 2013 and that were neither withdrawn nor
declined in FY 2013 will be considered under FY 2014 authority.
Executive Summary: This NOGA is published in connection with the
CDFI Bond Guarantee Program, administered by the Community Development
Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund), the U.S. Department of the
Treasury (Treasury). The purpose of this NOGA is to notify the public
that: (i) Parties interested in being approved as Qualified Issuers may
submit Qualified Issuer Applications and (ii) Qualified Issuers may
submit Guarantee Applications to be approved for a Guarantee under the
CDFI Bond Guarantee Program. This NOGA also explains application
submission and evaluation requirements and processes, agency contacts,
and information on CDFI Bond Guarantee Program outreach.
I. Guarantee Opportunity Description
A. Authority; Program summary; Additional reference documents;
Definitions
1. Authority. The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program is authorized by the
Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-240; 12 U.S.C. 4713a) (the
Act). Section 1134 of the Act amended the Riegle Community Development
and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4701, et seq.) to
provide authority to the Secretary of the Treasury to establish and
administer the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program.
2. Program summary. The purpose of the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program
is to support CDFI lending by providing Guarantees for Bonds issued for
Eligible Community or Economic Development Purposes, as authorized by
section 1134 and 1703 of the Act. The Secretary, as the Guarantor of
the Bonds, will provide a 100 percent Guarantee for the repayment of
the Verifiable Principal, Interest, and Call Premium of Bonds issued by
Qualified Issuers. As the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program has been
structured, a Qualified Issuer, approved by the CDFI Fund, will issue
Bonds that will be purchased by the Federal Financing Bank. The
Qualified Issuer will use Bond Proceeds to provide Bond Loans to
Eligible CDFIs. The Eligible CDFIs will use Bond Loan proceeds for
Eligible Community and Economic Development Purposes, including
providing Secondary Loans to Secondary Borrowers.
In FY 2014, the Secretary may guarantee Bond Issues having a
minimum Guarantee of $100 million each up to an aggregate total of $750
million. The maximum maturity of the Bonds will be 30 years; the Bonds
will be taxable. The Bonds will support CDFI lending in Investment
Areas by providing a source of low-cost, long-term capital to CDFIs.
3. Guarantee availability. Pursuant to this NOGA, the Guarantor may
provide Guarantees requested by Qualified Issuers in FY 2014, including
applications that were submitted, but not withdrawn or declined, in FY
2013. Guarantees will be provided in the order in which Guarantee
Applications are approved. The review and evaluation of Guarantee
Applications will be initiated in chronological order by date of
receipt; however, Guarantee Applications that are incomplete or require
the CDFI Fund to request additional or clarifying information may delay
the ability of the CDFI Fund to move the Guarantee Application to the
next phase of review. Submitting an incomplete Guarantee Application
earlier than other applicants does not ensure first approval.
4. Additional reference documents. In addition to this NOGA, the
CDFI Fund encourages interested parties and applicants to review the
following documents, which will be posted on the CDFI Bond Guarantee
Program page of the CDFI Fund's Web site at https://www.cdfifund.gov.
(a) CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Regulations. The interim rule that
governs the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program was published on February 5,
2013 (78 FR 8296; 12 CFR part 1808) (the Regulations) and provides the
regulatory requirements and parameters for CDFI Bond Guarantee Program
implementation and administration including general provisions,
eligibility, eligible activities, applications for Guarantee and
Qualified Issuer, evaluation and selection, terms and conditions of the
Guarantee, Bonds, Bond Loans, and Secondary Loans. In addition to the
Regulations, the CDFI Fund has provided a document that summarizes
certain program terms and conditions, which may be found on the CDFI
Fund's Web site.
(b) Application materials. Details regarding Qualified Issuer
Application and Guarantee Application content requirements are found in
this NOGA and the respective applications materials.
(c) Program documentation. Interested parties should review certain
CDFI Bond Guarantee Program template documents, which will be used in
connection with each Guarantee and will be posted on the CDFI Fund's
Web site for review. Such documents include, among others:
(i) The Agreement to Guarantee, which describes the roles and
responsibilities of the Qualified Issuer, will be signed by the
Qualified Issuer and the Guarantor and will include term sheets as
appendices that will be signed by each individual Eligible CDFI;
(ii) The Bond Trust Indenture, which describes responsibilities of
the Master Servicer/Trustee in overseeing the servicing of the Bonds
and will be entered into by the Qualified Issuer and the Master
Servicer/Trustee (selected by the CDFI Fund);
(iii) The Bond Loan Agreement, which describes the terms and
conditions of Bond Loans and will be entered into by the Qualified
Issuer and each Eligible CDFI that receives a Bond Loan;
(iv) The Bond Purchase Agreement, which describes the terms and
conditions under which the Bond
[[Page 27372]]
Purchaser will purchase the Bonds issued by the Qualified Issuer and
will be signed by the Bond Purchaser, the Qualified Issuer, the
Guarantor and the CDFI Fund. This document also includes the provisions
for prepayment privileges and the calculation for the prepayment
discount or premium; and
(v) The Future Advance Promissory Bond, which will be signed by the
Qualified Issuer as its promise to repay the Bond Purchaser. This
document also defines prepayment privileges and includes the
instructions for prepayment of the Bond.
The form documents may be updated periodically, as needed, and will
be tailored, as appropriate, to the particular terms and conditions of
a Guarantee. Accordingly, the template documents should not be relied
on, but instead are provided for illustrative purposes.
(d) Frequently Asked Questions. The CDFI Fund will periodically
post on its Web site responses to questions that are asked by parties
interested in the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program.
5. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined
elsewhere are defined in section 1808.102 of the Regulations.
B. Coordination with broader community development strategies.
Consistent with Federal efforts to promote community revitalization, it
is important for communities to develop a comprehensive neighborhood
revitalization strategy that addresses neighborhood assets essential to
transforming distressed neighborhoods into healthy and vibrant
communities. Neighborhood transformation can best occur when
comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans embrace the coordinated
use of programs and resources that address the interrelated needs
within a community. Although not a requirement for participating in the
CDFI Bond Guarantee Program, the Federal Government believes that a
CDFI will be most successful when it is a part of, and contributes to,
an area's broader neighborhood revitalization strategy.
C. Designated Bonding Authority. The CDFI Fund has determined that,
for purposes of this NOGA, it will not solicit applications from
entities seeking to serve as a Qualified Issuer in the role of the
Designated Bonding Authority, pursuant to 12 CFR 1808.201, in FY 2014.
D. Noncompetitive process. The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program is a
non-competitive program through which Qualified Issuer Applications and
Guarantee Applications will undergo a merit-based evaluation (i.e.,
applications will not be scored against each other in a competitive
manner in which higher ranked applicants are favored over lower ranked
applicants). Applications will be reviewed by the CDFI Fund on an
ongoing basis, and Guarantees will be provided in the order in which
Guarantee Applications are approved or by such other criteria that the
CDFI Fund may establish and publish, in its sole discretion. However,
pursuant to the Regulations at 12 CFR 1808.504(c), the Guarantor may
limit the number of Guarantees made per year or the number of Guarantee
Applications accepted to ensure that a sufficient examination of
Guarantee Applications is conducted.
E. Relationship to other CDFI Fund programs.
1. Award funds received under any other CDFI Fund Program cannot be
used by any participant, including Qualified Issuers, Eligible CDFIs,
and Secondary Borrowers, to pay principal, interest, fees,
administrative costs, or issuance costs (including Bond Issuance Fees)
related to the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program, or to fund the Risk-Share
Pool for a Bond Issue.
2. Bond Proceeds may only be combined with New Markets Tax Credits
(NMTC) derived equity (i.e., leveraged loan) to make a Qualified Equity
Investment (QEI) in a Community Development Entity or to refinance a
Qualified Low-Income Community Investment (QLICI) at the beginning of
the seven (7) year NMTC compliance period under the following
circumstances. If an Eligible CDFI uses Bond Loan proceeds to finance a
leveraged loan in a NMTC transaction, the Eligible CDFI must provide
either/both: (1) Additional collateral in the form of Other Pledged
Loans or Cash Collateral; (2) a payment guarantee or similar credit
enhancement; and/or (3) other assurances that are approved by Treasury.
The additional collateral, credit enhancement, and/or assurances must
remain in force during the entire seven-year NMTC compliance period and
comply with the Secondary Loan Requirements. These requirements shall
be part of the draft term sheet and shall be included in the final Bond
Loan covenants.
3. Bond Proceeds may not be used to refinance a leveraged loan
during the seven-year NMTC compliance period. Bond Proceeds may be used
to refinance a QLICI after the seven-year NMTC compliance period has
ended so long as all other programmatic requirements are met.
F. Relationship and interplay with other Federal programs and
Federal funding.
1. Eligible CDFIs may not use Bond Loans to refinance existing
Federal debt or to service debt from other Federal credit programs.
2. The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program underwriting process will
include a comprehensive review of the Eligible CDFI's concentration of
sources of funds available for debt service, including the
concentration of sources from other Federal programs and level of
reliance on said sources, to determine the Eligible CDFI's ability to
service the additional debt.
G. Contemporaneous application submission. Qualified Issuer
Applications may be submitted contemporaneously with Guarantee
Applications; however, the CDFI Fund will review an entity's Qualified
Issuer Application and make its Qualified Issuer determination prior to
approving a Guarantee Application.
H. Other restrictions on use of funds. Bond Proceeds may not be
used to finance or refinance any trade or business consisting of the
operation of any private or commercial golf course, country club,
massage parlor, hot tub facility, suntan facility, racetrack or other
facility used for gambling, or any store the principal business of
which is the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption off-premises.
Bond Proceeds may not be used to finance or refinance tax-exempt
obligations or finance or refinance projects that are also financed by
tax-exempt obligations if: (a) Such financing or refinancing results in
the direct or indirect subordination of the Bond Loan or Bond Issue to
the tax-exempt obligations or (b) such financing or refinancing results
in a corresponding guarantee of the tax-exempt obligation. Qualified
Issuers and Eligible CDFIs must ensure that any financing made in
conjunction with tax-exempt obligations comply with CDFI Bond Guarantee
Program Regulations.
II. General Application Information
The following requirements apply to all Qualified Issuer
Applications and Guarantee Applications submitted under this NOGA, as
well as any Qualified Issuer Applications and Guarantee Applications
submitted under the FY 2013 NOGA that were neither withdrawn nor
declined in FY 2013.
A. CDFI Certification Requirements
1. By statute, the Qualified Issuer applicant must be a Certified
CDFI or an entity designated by a Certified CDFI to issue Bonds on its
behalf. However, for the purposes of reviewing Qualified Issuer and
Guarantee Applications, a Qualified Issuer must receive a
[[Page 27373]]
designation by a separate Certified CDFI to issue Bonds on its behalf.
Eligible CDFI applicants must be Certified CDFIs as of the date of
submission of the Guarantee Application. If approved for a Guarantee,
each Eligible CDFI must be a Certified CDFI as of the Bond Issue Date
and must maintain its respective CDFI certification throughout the term
of the corresponding Bond.
2. A Certified CDFI is an entity that has been certified by the
CDFI Fund as meeting the CDFI certification requirements set forth in
12 CFR 1805.201. For purposes of this NOGA, a Certified CDFI is an
entity that has received official notification from the CDFI Fund that
it meets all CDFI certification requirements as of the date of
submission of the associated Qualified Issuer Application and/or
Guarantee Application, which certification has not expired, and has not
been notified by the CDFI Fund that its certification has been
terminated.
3. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to re-examine the CDFI
certification status of a Qualified Issuer applicant or an entity that
wishes to be an Eligible CDFI, and to require that such applicant or
entity submit a new CDFI certification application in advance of its
certification expiration date, if applicable.
B. Application Submission
1. Electronic submission. All Qualified Issuer Applications and
Guarantee Applications must be submitted electronically through
myCDFIFund, the CDFI Fund's internet-based interface. Applications sent
by mail, fax, or other form will not be permitted, except in
circumstances that the CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, deems
acceptable. Please note that Applications will not be accepted through
Grants.gov.
2. Applicant identifier numbers. Please note that, pursuant to OMB
guidance (68 FR 38402), each Qualified Issuer applicant and Guarantee
applicant must provide, as part of its Application, its Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, as well as
DUNS numbers for its proposed Program Administrator, its proposed
Servicer, and each Certified CDFI that is included in the Qualified
Issuer Application and Guarantee Application. In addition, each
Application must include a valid and current Employer Identification
Number (EIN), with a letter or other documentation from the IRS
confirming the Qualified Issuer applicant's EIN, as well as EINs for
its proposed Program Administrator, its proposed Servicer, and each
Certified CDFIs that is included in any Application. An Application
that does not include such DUNS numbers, EINs and documentation is
incomplete and will be rejected by the CDFI Fund. Applicants should
allow sufficient time for the IRS and/or Dun and Bradstreet to respond
to inquiries and/or requests for the required identification numbers.
3. System for Award Management (SAM). On July 30, 2012, the Central
Contractor Registration (CCR) transitioned to SAM. All data in the
registrant database has been migrated from CCR into SAM. Any entity
that needs to create a new account or update its current registration
must register for a user account in SAM. Registering with SAM is
required for each Qualified Issuer applicant, its proposed Program
Administrator, its proposed Servicer, and each Certified CDFI that is
included in any Application. The CDFI Fund will not consider any
Applications that do not meet the requirement that each entity must be
properly registered before the date of Application submission. The CDFI
Fund does not manage the SAM registration process, so entities must
contact SAM directly for issues related to registration. The CDFI Fund
strongly encourages all applicants to ensure that their SAM
registration (and the SAM registration for their Program
Administrators, Servicers and each Certified CDFI that is included in
the Qualified Issuer Application and Guarantee Application) is updated
and that their accounts have not expired. For information regarding SAM
registration, please visit https://www.sam.gov/sam.
4. myCDFIFund accounts. Each Qualified Issuer applicant, its
proposed Program Administrator, its proposed Servicer, and each
Certified CDFI that is included in the Qualified Issuer Application or
Guarantee Application must register User and Organization accounts in
myCDFIFund, the CDFI Fund's Internet-based interface. Each such entity
must be registered as an Organization and register at least one (1)
User Account in myCDFIFund in order for any Application to be
considered complete. As myCDFIFund is the CDFI Fund's primary means of
communication with applicants with regard to its programs, each such
entity must make sure that it updates the contact information in its
myCDFIFund account before any Application is submitted. For more
information on myCDFIFund, please see the ``Frequently Asked
Questions'' link posted at https://www.cdfifund.gov/myCDFI/Help/Help.asp.
C. Form of Application
1. As of the date of this NOGA, the Qualified Issuer Application,
the Guarantee Application and related application guidance may be found
on the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program's page on the CDFI Fund's Web site
at https://www.cdfifund.gov.
2. Paperwork Reduction Act. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. chapter 35), an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection
of information, and an individual is not required to respond to a
collection of information, unless it displays a valid OMB control
number. Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Qualified Issuer
Application, the Guarantee Application, and the Secondary Loan
Requirements have been assigned the following control number: 1559-
0044.
3. Application deadlines. In order to be considered for the
issuance of a Guarantee under FY 2014 program authority, Qualified
Issuer Applications must be submitted by June 23, 2014 and Guarantee
Applications must be submitted by June 30, 2014. Qualified Issuer
Applications and Guarantee Applications received in FY 2013 and that
were neither withdrawn nor declined will be considered under FY 2014
authority.
4. Format. Detailed Qualified Issuer Application and Guarantee
Application content requirements are found in the Applications and
application guidance. The CDFI Fund will read only information
requested in the Application and reserves the right not to read
attachments or supplemental materials that have not been specifically
requested in this NOGA, the Qualified Issuer or the Guarantee
Application. Supplemental materials or attachments such as letters of
public support or other statements that are meant to bias or unduly
influence the Application review process will not be read.
5. Application revisions. After submitting a Qualified Issuer
Application or a Guarantee Application, the applicant will not be
permitted to revise or modify the Application in any way unless
authorized or requested by the CDFI Fund.
6. Material changes.
(a) In the event that there are material changes after the
submission of a Qualified Issuer Application prior to the designation
as a Qualified Issuer, the applicant must notify the CDFI Fund of such
material changes information in a timely and complete manner. The CDFI
Fund will evaluate such material changes, along with the Qualified
Issuer Application, to approve or deny the designation of the Qualified
Issuer.
[[Page 27374]]
(b) In the event that there are material changes after the
submission of a Guarantee Application (including, but not limited to, a
revision of the Capital Distribution Plan or a change in the Eligible
CDFIs that are included in the application) prior to or after the
designation as a Qualified Issuer or approval of a Guarantee
Application or Guarantee, the applicant must notify the CDFI Fund of
such material changes information in a timely and complete manner. The
Guarantor will evaluate such material changes, along with the Guarantee
Application, to approve or deny the Guarantee Application and/or
determine whether to modify the terms and conditions of the Agreement
to Guarantee. This evaluation may result in a delay of the approval or
denial of a Guarantee Application.
D. Eligibility and Completeness Review
The CDFI Fund will review each Qualified Issuer and Guarantee
Application to determine whether it is complete and the applicant meets
eligibility requirements described in the Regulations at 12 CFR
1808.200 and 1808.401, this NOGA, and the Applications. An incomplete
Qualified Issuer Application or Guarantee Application, or one that does
not meet eligibility requirements, will be rejected. If the CDFI Fund
determines that additional information is needed to assess the
Qualified Issuer's and/or the Certified CDFIs' ability to participate
in and comply with the requirements of the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program,
the CDFI Fund may require that the Qualified Issuer furnish additional,
clarifying, confirming or supplemental information. If the CDFI Fund
requests such additional, clarifying, confirming or supplemental
information, the Qualified Issuer must provide it within the timeframes
requested by the CDFI Fund. Until such information is provided to the
CDFI Fund, the Qualified Issuer Application or Guarantee Application
will not be moved forward for the Substantive Review process. The
Guarantor shall approve or deny a Guarantee Application no later than
90 days after the date the Guarantee Application has been advanced for
Substantive Review.
E. Regulated Entities
In the case of Qualified Issuer applicants, proposed Program
Administrators, proposed Servicers and Certified CDFIs that are
included in the Qualified Issuer Application or Guarantee Application
that are Insured Depository Institutions and Insured Credit Unions, the
CDFI Fund will consider information provided by, and views of, the
Appropriate Federal Banking Agencies. If any such entity is a CDFI bank
holding company, the CDFI Fund will consider information provided by
the Appropriate Federal Banking Agencies of the CDFI bank holding
company and its CDFI bank(s). Throughout the Application review
process, the CDFI Fund will consult with the Appropriate Federal
Banking Agency about the applicant's financial safety and soundness. If
the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency identifies safety and soundness
concerns, the CDFI Fund will assess whether the concerns cause or will
cause the applicant to be incapable of undertaking activities related
to the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program. The CDFI Fund also reserves the
right to require a regulated applicant to improve safety and soundness
conditions prior to being approved as a Qualified Issuer or Eligible
CDFI. In addition, the CDFI Fund will take into consideration Community
Reinvestment Act assessments of Insured Depository Institutions and/or
their Affiliates.
F. Prior CDFI Fund Awardees
All applicants must be aware that success under any of the CDFI
Fund's programs is not indicative of success under this NOGA. Prior
CDFI Fund awardees should note the following:
1. Pending resolution of noncompliance. If a Qualified Issuer
applicant, its proposed Program Administrator, its proposed Servicer,
or any of the Certified CDFIs included in the Qualified Issuer
Application or Guarantee Application, is a prior awardee or allocatee
under any CDFI Fund program and (i) it has submitted reports to the
CDFI Fund that demonstrate noncompliance with a previously executed
agreement with the CDFI Fund, and (ii) the CDFI Fund has yet to make a
final determination as to whether the entity is in default of its
previously executed agreement, the CDFI Fund will consider the
Qualified Issuer Application or Guarantee Application pending full
resolution, in the sole determination of the CDFI Fund, of the
noncompliance.
2. Default status. The CDFI Fund will not consider a Qualified
Issuer Application or Guarantee Application if the applicant, its
proposed Program Administrator, its proposed Servicer, or any of the
Certified CDFIs included in the Qualified Issuer Application or
Guarantee Application, is a prior awardee or allocatee under any CDFI
Fund program if, as of the date of Qualified Issuer Application or
Guarantee Application submission, (i) the CDFI Fund has made a
determination that such entity is in default of a previously executed
agreement and (ii) the CDFI Fund has provided written notification of
such determination to the Qualified Issuer applicant indicating the
length of time the default status is effective. Such entities will be
ineligible to submit a Qualified Issuer Application, or be included in
such submission, as the case may be, so long as the applicant's, its
proposed Program Administrator's, its proposed Servicer's, or such
Certified CDFI's prior award or allocation remains in default status or
such other time period as specified by the CDFI Fund in writing.
3. Undisbursed award funds. The CDFI Fund will not consider a
Qualified Issuer Application or Guarantee Application, if the
applicant, its proposed Program Administrator, its proposed Servicer,
or any Certified CDFI that is included in the Qualified Issuer
Application or Guarantee Application, is an awardee under any CDFI Fund
program and has undisbursed award funds (as defined below) as of the
Qualified Issuer Application or Guarantee Application submission date.
The CDFI Fund will include the combined undisbursed prior awards, as of
the date of the Qualified Issuer Application submission, of the
applicant, the proposed Program Administrator, the proposed Servicer,
and any Certified CDFIs included in the application.
For purposes of the calculation of undisbursed award funds for the
Bank Enterprise Award (BEA) Program, only awards made to the Qualified
Issuer applicant, its proposed Program Administrator, its proposed
Servicer, and any Certified CDFI included in the Qualified Issuer
Application, three to five calendar years prior to the end of the
calendar year of the Qualified Issuer Application submission date are
included. For purposes of the calculation of undisbursed award funds
for the CDFI Program, the Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA)
Program, and the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF), only awards made to the
Qualified Issuer applicant, its proposed Program Administrator, its
proposed Servicer, and any Certified CDFI included in the Qualified
Issuer Application, two to five calendar years prior to the end of the
calendar year of the Qualified Issuer Application submission date are
included.
Undisbursed awards cannot exceed five percent of the total
includable awards for the Applicant's BEA/CDFI/NACA/CMF awards as of
the date of submission of the Qualified Issuer Application. The
calculation of
[[Page 27375]]
undisbursed award funds does not include: (i) Tax credit allocation
authority made available through the New Markets Tax Credit Program;
(ii) any award funds for which the CDFI Fund received a full and
complete disbursement request from the awardee by the date of
submission of the Qualified Issuer Application; (iii) any award funds
for an award that has been terminated in writing by the CDFI Fund or
de-obligated by the CDFI Fund; or (iv) any award funds for an award
that does not have a fully executed assistance or award agreement. The
CDFI Fund strongly encourages Qualified Issuer applicants, proposed
Program Administrators, proposed Servicers, and any Certified CDFIs
included in a Qualified Issuer Application that wish to request
disbursements of undisbursed funds from prior awards to provide the
CDFI Fund with a complete disbursement request at least 10 business
days prior to the date of submission of a Qualified Issuer Application.
G. Contact the CDFI Fund
A Qualified Issuer applicant, its proposed Program Administrator,
its proposed Servicer, or any Certified CDFIs included in the Qualified
Issuer Application or Guarantee Application that are prior CDFI Fund
awardees are advised to: (i) Comply with requirements specified in CDFI
Fund assistance, allocation, and/or award agreement(s), and (ii)
contact the CDFI Fund to ensure that all necessary actions are underway
for the disbursement or deobligation of any outstanding balance of said
prior award(s). Any such parties that are unsure about the disbursement
status of any prior award should contact the CDFI Fund's Senior
Resource Manager via email at CDFI.disburseinquiries@cdfi.treas.gov.
All outstanding reports and compliance questions should be directed to
Certification, Compliance Monitoring, and Evaluation support by email
at ccme@cdfi.treas.gov or by telephone at (202) 653-0423. The CDFI Fund
will respond to applicants' reporting, compliance, or disbursement
questions between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, starting on
the date of the publication of this NOGA.
H. Evaluating Prior Award Performance
In the case of a Qualified Issuer, a proposed Program
Administrator, a proposed Servicer, or Certified CDFI that has received
awards from other Federal programs, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to
contact officials from the appropriate Federal agency or agencies to
determine whether the entity is in compliance with current or prior
award agreements, and to take such information into consideration
before issuing a Guarantee. In the case of such an entity that has
previously received funding through any CDFI Fund program, the CDFI
Fund will review those entities that have a history of providing late
reports and consider such history in the context of organizational
capacity and the ability to meet future reporting requirements.
The CDFI Fund may also bar from consideration any such entity that
has, in any proceeding instituted against it in, by, or before any
court, governmental, or administrative body or agency, received a final
determination within the last two (2) years indicating that the entity
has discriminated on the basis of race, color, national origin,
disability, age, marital status, receipt of income from public
assistance, religion, or sex, including but not limited to
discrimination under (i) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Pub.
L. 88-352) which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color
or national origin; (ii) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,
as amended (20 U.S.C. 1681-1683, 1685-1686), which prohibits
discrimination on the basis of sex; (iii) Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794), which prohibits
discrimination on the basis of handicaps; (iv) the Age Discrimination
Act of 1975, as amended (42 U.S.C. 6101-6107), which prohibits
discrimination on the basis of age; (v) the Drug Abuse Office and
Treatment Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-255), as amended, relating to
nondiscrimination on the basis of drug abuse; (vi) the Comprehensive
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation
Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91-616), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination
on the basis of alcohol abuse or alcoholism; (vii) Sections 523 and 527
of the Public Health Service Act of 1912 (42 U.S.C. 290dd-3 and 290ee-
3), as amended, relating to confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse
patient records; (viii) Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42
U.S.C. 3601 et seq.), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination in the
sale, rental or financing of housing; (ix) any other nondiscrimination
provisions in the specific statute(s) under which Federal assistance is
being made; and (x) the requirements of any other nondiscrimination
statutes which may apply to the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program.
I. Changes to Review Procedures
The CDFI Fund reserves the right to change its completeness,
eligibility and evaluation criteria and procedures if the CDFI Fund
deems it appropriate. If such changes materially affect the CDFI Fund's
decision to approve or deny a Qualified Issuer Application, the CDFI
Fund will provide information regarding the changes through the CDFI
Fund's Web site.
J. Decisions Are Final
The CDFI Fund's Qualified Issuer Application decisions are final.
The Guarantor's Guarantee Application decisions are final. There is no
right to appeal the decisions. Any applicant that is not approved by
the CDFI Fund or the Guarantor may submit a new Application and will be
considered based on the newly submitted Application. Such newly
submitted Applications will be reviewed along with all other pending
Applications in the order in which they are received, or by such other
criteria that the CDFI Fund may establish and publish, in its sole
discretion.
III. Qualified Issuer Application
A. General. This NOGA invites interested parties to submit a
Qualified Issuer Application to be approved as a Qualified Issuer under
the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program.
1. Qualified Issuer. The Qualified Issuer is a Certified CDFI, or
any entity designated by a Certified CDFI to issue Bonds on its behalf,
that meets the requirements of the Regulations and this NOGA, and that
has been approved by the CDFI Fund pursuant to review and evaluation of
its Qualified Issuer Application. The Qualified Issuer will, among
other duties: (i) Organize the Eligible CDFIs that have designated it
to serve as their Qualified Issuer; (ii) prepare and submit a complete
and timely Qualified Issuer and Guarantee Application to the CDFI Fund;
(iii) if the Qualified Issuer Application is approved by the CDFI Fund
and the Guarantee Application is approved by the Guarantor, prepare the
Bond Issue; (iv) manage all Bond Issue servicing, administration, and
reporting functions; (v) make Bond Loans; (vi) oversee the financing or
refinancing of Secondary Loans; (vii) ensure compliance throughout the
duration of the Bond with all provisions of the Regulations, and Bond
Documents and Bond Loan Documents entered into between the Guarantor,
the Qualified Issuer, and the Eligible CDFI; and (viii) ensure that the
Master Servicer/Trustee complies with
[[Page 27376]]
the Bond Trust Indenture and all other applicable regulations.
2. Qualified Issuer Application. The Qualified Issuer Application
is the document that an entity seeking to serve as a Qualified Issuer
submits to the CDFI Fund to apply to be approved as a Qualified Issuer
prior to consideration of a Guarantee Application.
3. Qualified Issuer Application evaluation, general. Each Qualified
Issuer Application will be evaluated by the CDFI Fund and, if
acceptable, the applicant will be approved as a Qualified Issuer, in
the sole discretion of the CDFI Fund. The CDFI Fund's Qualified Issuer
Application review and evaluation process is based on established
procedures, which may include interviews of applicants and/or site
visits to applicants conducted by the CDFI Fund. Through the
Application review process, the CDFI Fund will evaluate Qualified
Issuer applicants on a merit basis and in a fair and consistent manner.
Each Qualified Issuer applicant will be reviewed on its ability to
successfully carry out the responsibilities of a Qualified Issuer
throughout the life of the Bond. The Applicant must currently meet the
criteria established in the Regulations to be deemed a Qualified
Issuer. Qualified Issuer Applications that are forward-looking or
speculate as to the eventual acquisition of the required capabilities
and criteria are unlikely to be approved. Qualified Issuer Application
processing will be initiated in chronological order by date of receipt;
however, Qualified Applications that are incomplete or require the CDFI
Fund to request additional or clarifying information may delay the
ability of the CDFI Fund to deem the Qualified Application complete and
move it to the next phase of review. Submitting a substantially
incomplete application earlier than other applicants does not ensure
first approval.
B. Qualified Issuer Application: Eligibility.
1. CDFI certification requirements. The Qualified Issuer applicant
must be a Certified CDFI or an entity designated by a Certified CDFI to
issue Bonds on its behalf.
2. Designation and attestation by Certified CDFIs. An entity
seeking to be approved by the CDFI Fund as a Qualified Issuer must be
designated as a Qualified Issuer by at least one Certified CDFI. A
Qualified Issuer may not designate itself. The Qualified Issuer
applicant will prepare and submit a complete and timely Qualified
Issuer Application to the CDFI Fund in accordance with the requirements
of the Regulations, this NOGA and the Application. A Certified CDFI
must attest in the Qualified Issuer Application that it has designated
the Qualified Issuer to act on its behalf and that the information in
the Qualified Issuer Application regarding it is true, accurate and
complete.
C. Substantive review and approval process.
1. Substantive Review.
(a) If the CDFI Fund determines that the Qualified Issuer
Application is complete and eligible, the CDFI Fund will undertake a
substantive review in accordance with the criteria and procedures
described in the Regulations, this NOGA, the Qualified Issuer
Application, and CDFI Bond Guarantee Program policies.
(b) As part of the substantive evaluation process, the CDFI Fund
reserves the right to contact the Qualified Issuer applicant (as well
as its proposed Program Administrator, its proposed Servicer, and each
designating Certified CDFI in the Qualified Issuer Application) by
telephone, email, mail, or through on-site visits for the purpose of
obtaining additional, clarifying, confirming, or supplemental
application information. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to collect
such additional, clarifying, confirming, or supplemental information
from said entities as it deems appropriate. If contacted for
additional, clarifying, confirming, or supplemental information, said
entities must respond within the time parameters set by the CDFI Fund
or the Qualified Issuer Application will be rejected.
2. Qualified Issuer criteria. In total, there are more than 60
individual criteria or sub-criteria used to evaluate a Qualified Issuer
applicant and all materials provided in the Qualified Issuer
Application will be used to evaluate the applicant. Qualified Issuer
determinations will be made based on Qualified Issuer applicants'
experience and expertise, in accordance with the following criteria:
(a) Organizational capability.
(i) The Qualified Issuer applicant must demonstrate that it has the
appropriate expertise, capacity, experience, and qualifications to
issue Bonds for Eligible Purposes, as well as manage the Bond Issue on
the terms and conditions set forth in the Regulations, this NOGA, and
the Bond Documents, satisfactory to the CDFI Fund.
(ii) The Qualified Issuer applicant must demonstrate that it has
the appropriate expertise, capacity, and experience to originate,
underwrite, service and monitor Bond Loans for Eligible Purposes,
targeted to Low-Income Areas and Underserved Rural Areas.
(iii) The Qualified Issuer applicant must demonstrate that it has
the appropriate expertise, capacity, and experience to manage the
disbursement process set forth in the Regulations at 12 CFR 1808.302
and 1808.307.
(b) Servicer. The Qualified Issuer applicant must demonstrate that
it has (either directly or contractually through another designated
entity) the appropriate expertise, capacity, and experience, or is
otherwise qualified to serve as Servicer. The Qualified Issuer
Application must provide information that demonstrates that the
Qualified Issuer's Servicer has the expertise and experience necessary
to perform certain required administrative duties (including, but not
limited to, Bond Loan servicing functions).
(c) Program Administrator. The Qualified Issuer applicant must
demonstrate that it has (either directly or contractually through
another designated entity) the appropriate expertise, capacity, and
experience, or is otherwise qualified to serve as Program
Administrator. The Qualified Issuer Application must provide
information that demonstrates that the Qualified Issuer's Program
Administrator has the expertise and experience necessary to perform
certain required administrative duties (including, but not limited to,
compliance monitoring and reporting functions).
(d) Strategic alignment. The Qualified Issuer applicant will be
evaluated on its strategic alignment with the CDFI Bond Guarantee
Program on factors that include, but are not limited to: (i) Its
mission's strategic alignment with community and economic development
objectives set forth in the Riegle Act at 12 U.S.C. 4701; (ii) its
strategy for deploying the entirety of funds that may become available
to the Qualified Issuer through the proposed Bond Issue; (iii) its
experience providing up to 30-year capital to CDFIs or other borrowers
in Low-Income Areas or Underserved Rural Areas as such terms are
defined in the Regulations at 12 CFR 1808.102; (iv) its track record of
activities relevant to its stated strategy; and (v) other factors
relevant to the Qualified Issuer's strategic alignment with the
program.
(e) Experience. The Qualified Issuer applicant will be evaluated on
factors that demonstrate that it has previous experience: (i)
Performing the duties of a Qualified Issuer including making bond
issuances, loan servicing, program administration, underwriting,
financial reporting, and loan administration; (ii) lending in Low-
Income Areas and Underserved Rural Areas; and (iii)
[[Page 27377]]
indicating that the Qualified Issuer's current principals and team
members have successfully performed the required duties, and that
previous experience is applicable to the current principals and team
members.
(f) Management and staffing. The Qualified Issuer applicant must
demonstrate that it has sufficiently strong management and staffing
capacity to undertake the duties of Qualified Issuer. The applicant
must also demonstrate that its proposed Program Administrator and its
proposed Servicer have sufficiently strong management and staffing
capacity to undertake their respective requirements under the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program. Strong management and staffing capacity is evidenced
by factors that include, but are not limited to: (i) A sound track
record of delivering on past performance; (ii) a documented succession
plan; (iii) organizational stability including staff retention; and
(iv) a clearly articulated, reasonable and well-documented staffing
plan.
(g) Financial strength. The Qualified Issuer applicant must
demonstrate the strength of its financial capacity and activities
including, among other items, financially sound business practices
relative to the industry norm for bond issuers, as evidenced by reports
of Appropriate Federal Banking Agencies, Appropriate State Agencies, or
auditors. Such financially sound business practices will demonstrate:
(i) The financial wherewithal to perform activities related to the Bond
Issue such as administration and servicing; (ii) the ability to
originate, underwrite, close, and disburse loans in a prudent manner;
(iii) whether the applicant is depending on external funding sources
and the reliability of long-term access to such funding; (iv) whether
there are foreseeable counterparty issues or credit concerns that are
likely to affect the applicant's financial stability; and (v) a budget
that reflects reasonable assumptions about upfront costs as well as
ongoing expenses and revenues.
(h) Systems and information technology. The Qualified Issuer
applicant must demonstrate that it (as well as its proposed Program
Administrator and its proposed Servicer) has, among other things: (i) A
strong information technology capacity and the ability to manage loan
servicing, administration, management and document retention; (ii)
appropriate office infrastructure and related technology to carry out
the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program activities; and (iii) sufficient backup
and disaster recovery systems to maintain uninterrupted business
operations.
(i) Pricing structure. The Qualified Issuer applicant must provide
its proposed pricing structure for performing the duties of Qualified
Issuer, including the pricing for the roles of Program Administrator
and Servicer. Although the pricing structure and fees shall be decided
by negotiation between market participants without interference or
approval by the CDFI Fund, the CDFI Fund will evaluate whether the
Qualified Issuer applicant's proposed pricing structure is feasible to
carry out the responsibilities of a Qualified Issuer over the life of
the Bond and sound implementation of the program.
(j) Other criteria. The Qualified Issuer applicant must meet such
other criteria as may be required by the CDFI Fund, as set forth in the
Qualified Issuer Application or required by the CDFI Fund in its sole
discretion, for the purposes of evaluating the merits of a Qualified
Issuer Application. The CDFI Fund may request an on-site review of
Qualified Issuer applicant to confirm materials provided in the written
application, as well as to gather additional due diligence information.
The on-site reviews are a critical component of the application review
process and will generally be conducted for all applicants not
regulated by an Appropriate Federal Banking Agency or Appropriate State
Agency. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to conduct a site visit of
regulated entities, in its sole discretion.
(k) Third-party data sources. The CDFI Fund, in its sole
discretion, may consider information from third-party sources
including, but not limited to, periodicals or publications, publicly
available data sources, or subscriptions services for additional
information about the Qualified Issuer applicant, the proposed Program
Administrator, the proposed Servicer and each Certified CDFI that is
included in the Qualified Issuer Application. Any additional
information received from such third-party sources will be reviewed and
evaluated through a systematic and formalized process.
D. Notification of Qualified Issuer determination. Each Qualified
Issuer applicant will be informed of the CDFI Fund's decision in
writing, by email using the addresses maintained in the entity's
myCDFIFund account. The CDFI Fund will not notify the proposed Program
Administrator, the proposed Servicer, or the Certified CDFIs included
in the Qualified Issuer Application of its decision regarding the
Qualified Issuer Application; such contacts are the responsibility of
the Qualified Issuer applicant.
E. Qualified Issuer Application rejection. In addition to
substantive reasons based on the merits of its review, the CDFI Fund
reserves the right to reject a Qualified Issuer Application if
information (including administrative errors) comes to the attention of
the CDFI Fund that adversely affects an applicant's eligibility,
adversely affects the CDFI Fund's evaluation of a Qualified Issuer
Application, or indicates fraud or mismanagement on the part of a
Qualified Issuer applicant or its proposed Program Administrator, its
proposed Servicer, and any Certified CDFI included in the Qualified
Issuer Application. If the CDFI Fund determines that any portion of the
Qualified Issuer Application is incorrect in any material respect, the
CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject the
Application.
IV. Guarantee Applications
A. General. This NOGA invites Qualified Issuers to submit a
Guarantee Application to be approved for a Guarantee under the CDFI
Bond Guarantee Program.
1. Guarantee Application.
(a) The Guarantee Application is the application document that a
Qualified Issuer (in collaboration with the Eligible CDFIs that seek to
be included in the proposed Bond Issue) must submit to the CDFI Fund in
order to apply for a Guarantee. The Qualified Issuer shall provide all
required information in its Guarantee Application to establish that it
meets all criteria set forth in the Regulations at 12 CFR 1808.501 and
this NOGA and can carry out all CDFI Bond Guarantee Program
requirements including, but not limited to, information that
demonstrates that the Qualified Issuer has the appropriate expertise,
capacity, and experience and is qualified to make, administer and
service Bond Loans for Eligible Purposes.
(b) The Guarantee Application comprises a Capital Distribution Plan
and at least one Secondary Capital Distribution Plan, as well as all
other requirements set forth in this NOGA or as may be required by the
Guarantor and the CDFI Fund in their sole discretion, for the
evaluation and selection of Guarantee applicants.
2. Guarantee Application evaluation, general. The Guarantee
Application review and evaluation process will be based on established
standard procedures, which may include interviews of applicants and/or
site visits to applicants conducted by the CDFI Fund. Through the
Application review process, the CDFI Fund will evaluate Guarantee
applicants on a
[[Page 27378]]
merit basis and in a fair and consistent manner. Each Guarantee
applicant will be reviewed on its ability to successfully implement and
carry out the activities proposed in its Guarantee Application
throughout the life of the Bond. Eligible CDFIs must currently meet the
criteria established in the Regulations to participate in the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program. Guarantee Applications that are forward-looking or
speculate as to the eventual acquisition of the required capabilities
and criteria by the Eligible CDFI(s) are unlikely to be approved.
Guarantee Application processing will be initiated in chronological
order by date of receipt; however, Guarantee Applications that are
incomplete or require the CDFI Fund to request additional or clarifying
information may delay the ability of the CDFI Fund to deem the
Guarantee Application complete and move it to the next phase of review.
Submitting a substantially incomplete application earlier than other
applicants does not ensure first approval.
B. Guarantee Application: eligibility.
1. Eligibility; CDFI certification requirements. Each Eligible CDFI
must be a Certified CDFI as of the date of submission of a Guarantee
Application. If approved for a Guarantee, each Eligible CDFI must be a
Certified CDFI as of the Bond Issue Date and must maintain its
respective CDFI certification throughout the term of the corresponding
Bond. For more information on CDFI Certification see part II of this
NOGA.
2. Qualified Issuer as Eligible CDFI. A Qualified Issuer may not
participate as an Eligible CDFI within its own Bond Issue, but may
participate as an Eligible CDFI in a Bond Issue managed by another
Qualified Issuer.
3. Attestation by proposed Eligible CDFIs. Each proposed Eligible
CDFI must attest in the Guarantee Application that it has designated
the Qualified Issuer to act on its behalf and that the information
pertaining to the Eligible CDFI in the Guarantee Application is true,
accurate and complete. Each proposed Eligible CDFI must also attest in
the Guarantee Application that it will use Bond Loan proceeds for
Eligible Purposes and that Secondary Loans will be financed or
refinanced only within the applicable Secondary Loan Requirements.
C. Guarantee Application: preparation. When preparing the Guarantee
Application, the Eligible CDFIs and Qualified Issuer must collaborate
to determine the composition and characteristics of the Bond Issue,
ensuring compliance with the Act, the Regulations, and this NOGA. The
Qualified Issuer is responsible for the collection, preparation,
verification and submission of the Eligible CDFI information that is
presented in the Guarantee Application. The Qualified Issuer will
submit the Guarantee Application for the proposed Bond Issue, including
any information provided by the proposed Eligible CDFIs. In addition,
the Qualified Issuer will serve as the primary point of contact with
the CDFI Fund during the Guarantee Application review and evaluation
process.
D. Review and approval process.
1. Substantive review.
(a) If the CDFI Fund determines that the Guarantee Application is
complete and eligible, the CDFI Fund will undertake a Substantive
Review in accordance with the criteria and procedures described in the
Regulations at 12 CFR 1808.501, this NOGA, and the Guarantee
Application. The Substantive Review of the Guarantee Application will
include due diligence, underwriting, credit risk review and Federal
credit subsidy calculation in order to determine the feasibility and
risk of the proposed Bond Issue, as well as the strength and capacity
of the Qualified Issuer and each proposed Eligible CDFI. Each proposed
Eligible CDFI will be evaluated independently of the other proposed
Eligible CDFIs within the proposed Bond Issue.
(b) As part of the Substantive Review process, the CDFI Fund may
contact the Qualified Issuer (as well as the proposed Eligible CDFIs
included in the Guarantee Application) by telephone, email, mail, or
through an on-site visit for the sole purpose of obtaining additional,
clarifying, confirming, or supplemental application information. The
CDFI Fund reserves the right to collect such additional, clarifying,
confirming or supplemental information as it deems appropriate. If
contacted for additional, clarifying, confirming, or supplemental
information, said entities must respond within the time parameters set
by the CDFI Fund or the Guarantee Application will be rejected.
2. Guarantee Application criteria.
(a) In general, a Guarantee Application will be evaluated based on
the strength and feasibility of the proposed Bond Issue, as well as the
creditworthiness and performance of the Qualified Issuer and the
proposed Eligible CDFIs. Guarantee Applications must demonstrate that
each proposed Eligible CDFI has the capacity for its respective Bond
Loan to be a general recourse obligation of the proposed Eligible CDFI
and to deploy the Bond Loan proceeds within the required disbursement
timeframe as described in the Regulations. Unless receiving significant
third-party support or Credit Enhancements, Eligible CDFIs should not
request Bond Loans greater than their current total asset size or which
would otherwise significantly impair their net asset or net equity
position. Further, unless receiving significant third-party support or
Credit Enhancements, entities with a limited operating history or a
history of operating losses are unlikely to meet the strength and
feasibility requirements of the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program.
(b) The Capital Distribution Plan must demonstrate the Qualified
Issuer's comprehensive plan for lending, disbursing, servicing and
monitoring each Bond Loan in the Bond Issue. It includes, among other
information, the following components:
(i) Statement of Proposed Sources and Uses of Funds: Pursuant to
the requirements set forth in the Regulations at 12 C.R1808.102(bb) and
1808.301, the Qualified Issuer must provide: (A) A description of the
overall plan for the Bond Issue; (B) a description of the proposed uses
of Bond Proceeds and proposed sources of funds to repay principal and
interest on the proposed Bond and Bond Loans; (C) a certification that
100 percent of the principal amounts of the proposed Bond will be used
to make Bond Loans for Eligible Purposes on the Bond Issue Date; and
(D) description of the extent to which the proposed Bond Loans will
serve Low-Income Areas or Underserved Rural Areas;
(ii) Bond Issue Qualified Issuer cash flow model: The Qualified
Issuer must provide a cash flow model displaying the orderly repayment
of the Bond and the Bond Loans according to their respective terms. The
cash flow model shall include disbursement and repayment of Bonds, Bond
Loans, and Secondary Loans. The cash flow model shall match the
aggregated cash flows from the Secondary Capital Distribution Plans of
each of the underlying Eligible CDFIs in the Bond Issue pool;
(iii) Organizational capacity: If not submitted concurrently, the
Qualified Issuer must attest that no material changes have occurred
since the time that it submitted the Qualified Issuer Application;
(iv) Credit Enhancement (if applicable): The Qualified Issuer must
provide information about the adequacy of proposed risk mitigation
provisions designed to protect the financial interests of the Federal
Government, either directly or indirectly through supporting the
financial strength of the Bond Issue. This includes, but is not limited
to, the amount and quality of
[[Page 27379]]
any Credit Enhancements, terms and specific conditions such as renewal
options, and any limiting conditions or revocability by the provider of
the Credit Enhancement;
(v) Proposed Term Sheets: For each Eligible CDFI that is part of
the proposed Bond Issue, the Qualified Issuer must submit a proposed
Term Sheet using the template provided on the CDFI Fund's Web site. The
proposed Term Sheet must clearly state all relevant and critical terms
of the proposed Bond Loan including, but not limited to: any requested
prepayment provisions; unique conditions precedent; proposed covenants
and exact calculations for determining compliance, and terms and exact
language describing any Credit Enhancements.
(vi) Secondary Capital Distribution Plan(s): Each proposed Eligible
CDFI must provide a comprehensive plan for financing, disbursing,
servicing and monitoring Secondary Loans, how each proposed Secondary
Loan will meet Eligible Purposes, and such other requirements that may
be required by the Guarantor and the CDFI Fund, including:
(A) Narrative and Statement of Proposed Sources and Uses of Funds:
Each Eligible CDFI will: (1) Provide a description of proposed uses of
funds, including the extent to which Bond Loans will serve Low-Income
Areas or Underserved Rural Areas, and the extent to which Bond Loan
proceeds will be used (i) to make the first monthly installment of a
Bond Loan payment, (ii) pay Issuance Fees up to one percent of the Bond
Loan, and (iii) finance Loan Loss Reserves related to Secondary Loans;
(2) attest that 100 percent of Bond Loan proceeds designated for
Secondary Loans will be used to finance or refinance Secondary Loans
that meet Secondary Loan Requirements; (3) describe a plan for
financing, disbursing, servicing, and monitoring Secondary Loans; (4)
indicate the expected asset classes to which it will lend under the
Secondary Loan Requirements; (5) indicate examples of previous lending
and years of experience lending to a specific asset class; (6) provide
a table detailing specific uses and timing of disbursements, including
terms and relending plans if applicable; and (7) a community impact
analysis, including how the proposed Secondary Loans will address
financing needs that the private market is not adequately serving and
specific community benefit metrics;
(B) Eligible CDFI cash flow model: Each Eligible CDFI must provide
a cash flow model of the proposed Bond Loan which: (1) Matches each
Eligible CDFI's portion of the Qualified Issuer's cash flow model; and
(2) tracks the flow of funds through the term of the Bond Issue and
demonstrates disbursement and repayment of the Bond Loan, Secondary
Loans, and any utilization of the Relending Fund, if applicable;
(C) Organizational capacity: Each Eligible CDFI must provide
documentation indicating the ability of the Eligible CDFI to manage its
Bond Loan including, but not limited to: (1) Organizational ownership
and chart of affiliates; (2) organizational documents; (3) management
or operating agreement, if applicable; (4) an analysis by management of
its ability to manage the funding, monitoring, and collection of loans
being contemplated with the proceeds of the Bond Loan; (5) information
about its board of directors; (6) a governance narrative; (7)
description of senior management and employee base; (8) independent
reports, if available; (9) strategic plan or related progress reports;
and (10) a discussion of the management and information systems used by
the Eligible CDFI;
(D) Policies and procedures: Each Eligible CDFI must provide
policies and procedures for the matching of assets and liabilities, as
well as loan policies and procedures: a copy of the asset-liability
matching policy, if applicable; and loan policies which address topics
including, but not limited to: (1) Origination, underwriting, credit
approval, interest rates, closing, documentation, and portfolio
monitoring and (2) risk-rating definitions, charge-offs, and loan loss
reserve methodology;
(E) Financial statements: Each Eligible CDFI must provide
information about the Eligible CDFI's current and future financial
position, including but not limited to: (1) Most recent three years of
audited financial statements; (2) current year-to-date or interim
financial statement; (3) a copy of the current year's approved budget;
and (4) a three year operating projection;
(F) Loan portfolio information: Each Eligible CDFI must provide
information such as: (1) Loan portfolio quality report; (2) pipeline
report; (3) portfolio listing; (4) a description of other loan assets
under management; (5) loan products; (6) independent loan review
report; (7) impact report case studies; and (8) a loan portfolio by
risk rating and loan loss reserves; and
(G) Funding sources and financial activity information: Each
Eligible CDFI must provide information including, but not limited to:
(1) Current grant information; (2) funding projections; (3) credit
enhancements; (4) historical investor renewal rates; (5) covenant
compliance; (6) off-balance sheet contingencies; (7) earned revenues;
and (8) debt capital statistics.
(vii) Assurances and certifications that not less than 100 percent
of the principal amount of Bonds will be used to make Bond Loans for
Eligible Purposes beginning on the Bond Issue Date, and that Secondary
Loans shall be made as set forth in subsection 1808.307(b); and
(viii) Such other information that the Guarantor, the CDFI Fund
and/or the Bond Purchaser may deem necessary and appropriate.
(c) The CDFI Fund will use the information described in the Capital
Distribution Plan and Secondary Capital Distribution Plan(s) to
evaluate the feasibility of the proposed Bond Issue, with specific
attention paid to each Eligible CDFI's financial strength and
organizational capacity. All materials provided in the Guarantee
Application will be used to evaluate the proposed Bond Issue. In total,
there are more than 100 individual criteria or sub-criteria used to
evaluate each Eligible CDFI. Specific criteria used to evaluate each
Eligible CDFI shall include, but not be limited to:
(i) Historical financial ratios: Ratios which together have been
shown to be predictive of possible future default will be used an
initial screening tool, including total asset size, net asset or Tier 1
Core Capital ratio, self-sufficiency ratio, non-performing asset ratio,
liquidity ratio, reserve over nonperforming assets, and yield cost
spread;
(ii) Quantitative and qualitative attributes under the ``CAMEL''
framework: After initial screening, the CDFI Fund will utilize a more
detailed analysis under the ``CAMEL'' framework including but not
limited to:
(A) Capital Adequacy: Attributes such as the debt-to-equity ratio,
status and significance of off-balance sheet liabilities or
contingencies, magnitude and consistency of cash flow performance,
exposure to affiliates for financial and operating support, trends in
changes to capitalization, and other relevant attributes;
(B) Asset Quality: Attributes such as the charge-off ratio,
adequacy of loan loss reserves, sector concentration, borrower
concentration, asset composition, security and collateralization of the
loan portfolio, trends in changes to asset quality, and other relevant
attributes;
(C) Management: Attributes such as documented best practices in
governance, strategic planning and board involvement, robust policies
and
[[Page 27380]]
procedures, tenured and experienced management team, organizational
stability, infrastructure and information technology systems, and other
relevant attributes;
(D) Earnings and Performance: Attributes such as net operating
margins, deployment of funds, self-sufficiency, trends in earnings, and
other relevant attributes;
(E) Liquidity: Attributes such as unrestricted cash and cash
equivalents, ability to access credit facilities, access to grant
funding, covenant compliance, affiliate relationships, concentration of
funding sources, trends in liquidity, and other relevant attributes;
(iii) Forecast performance and other relevant criteria: The CDFI
Fund will stress test each Eligible CDFI's forecasted performance under
scenarios that are specific to the unique circumstance and attributes
of the organization. Additionally, the CDFI Fund will consider other
relevant criteria that have not been adequately captured in the
preceding steps as part of the due diligence process. Such criteria may
include, but not be limited to, the size and quality of any third-party
Credit Enhancements or other forms of support.
(A) Overcollateralization: The commitment by an Eligible CDFI to
over-collateralize a proposed Bond Loan with excess Secondary Loans is
a criterion that may affect the viability of a Guarantee Application by
decreasing the estimated net present value of the long-term cost of the
Guarantee to the Federal Government, by decreasing the probability of
default, and/or increasing the recovery rate in the event of default.
An Eligible CDFI committing to overcollateralization may not be
required to deposit funds in the Relending Account, subject to the
maintenance of certain unique requirements that are detailed in the
template Agreement to Guarantee and Bond Loan Agreement;
(B) Credit Enhancements: The provision of third-party Credit
Enhancements is a criterion that may affect the viability of a
Guarantee Application by decreasing the estimated net present value of
the long-term cost of the Guarantee to the Federal Government. Credit
Enhancements are considered in the context of the structure and
circumstances of each Guarantee Application;
(C) On-Site Review: The CDFI Fund may request an on-site review of
an Eligible CDFI to confirm materials provided in the written
application, as well as to gather additional due diligence information.
The on-site reviews are a critical component of the application review
process and will generally be conducted for all applicants not
regulated by an Appropriate Federal Banking Agency or Appropriate State
Agency. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to conduct a site visit of
regulated entities, in its sole discretion.
(D) Secondary Loan Asset Classes: Eligible CDFIs that propose to
use funds for new products or lines of business must demonstrate that
they have the organizational capacity to manage such activities in a
prudent manner. Failure to demonstrate such organizational capacity may
be factored into the consideration of Asset Quality or Management
criteria as listed above in this section.
3. Credit subsidy cost. The credit subsidy cost is the net present
value of the estimated long-term cost of the Guarantee to the Federal
Government as determined under the applicable provisions of the Federal
Credit Reform Act of 1990, as amended (FCRA). Treasury has not received
appropriated amounts from Congress to cover the credit subsidy costs
associated with the Guarantees issued pursuant to this NOGA. In
accordance with FCRA, Treasury must consult with, and obtain the
approval of, OMB for Treasury's calculation of the credit subsidy cost
of each Guarantee prior to entering into any Agreement to Guarantee.
E. Guarantee approval.
1. The Guarantor, in the Guarantor's sole discretion, may approve a
Guarantee, in consideration of the recommendation from the CDFI Bond
Guarantee Program's Credit Review Board and/or based on the merits of
the Guarantee Application. The Guarantor shall approve or deny a
Guarantee Application no later than 90 days after the date the
Guarantee Application has been advanced for Substantive Review.
2. The Guarantor reserves the right to approve Guarantees, in whole
or in part, in response to any, all, or none of the Guarantee
Applications submitted in response to this NOGA. The Guarantor also
reserves the right to approve Guarantees in amounts that are less than
requested in a Guarantee Application. Pursuant to the Regulations at 12
CFR 1808.504(c), the Guarantor may limit the number of Guarantees made
per year to ensure that a sufficient examination of Guarantee
Applications is conducted.
3. The CDFI Fund will notify the Qualified Issuer in writing of the
Guarantor's approval or disapproval of a Guarantee Application. If
approved for a Guarantee, the Qualified Issuer will enter into an
Agreement to Guarantee, which will include terms and conditions that
will be signed by each Eligible CDFI. Following the execution of the
Agreement to Guarantee, the parties will proceed to the Bond Issue
Date, when the parties will sign the remaining Bond Documents.
4. The Guarantee shall not be effective until the Guarantor signs
and delivers the Guarantee.
F. Guarantee denial. The Guarantor, in the Guarantor's sole
discretion, may deny a Guarantee, in consideration of the
recommendation from the Credit Review Board and/or based on the merits
of the Guarantee Application. In addition, the Guarantor reserves the
right to deny a Guarantee Application if information (including
administrative errors) comes to the Guarantor's attention that
adversely affects the Qualified Issuer's eligibility, adversely affects
the evaluation or scoring of an Application, or indicates fraud or
mismanagement on the part of the Qualified Issuer, Program
Administrator, Servicer, and/or Eligible CDFIs. Further, if the
Guarantor determines that any portion of the Guarantee Application is
incorrect in any material respect, the Guarantor reserves the right, in
the Guarantor's sole discretion, to deny the Application.
V. Guarantee Administration
A. Pricing information. Bond Loans will be priced based upon the
underlying Bond issued by the Qualified Issuer and purchased by the
Federal Financing Bank (FFB or Bond Purchaser). The FFB will set the
liquidity premium at the time of the Bond Issue Date, based on the
duration and maturity of the Bonds according to the FFB's lending
policies (www.treasury.gov/ffb). Liquidity premiums will be charged in
increments of 1/8th of a percent (i.e., 12.5 basis points).
B. Fees and other payments. The following table includes some of
the fees that may be applicable to Qualified Issuers and Eligible CDFIs
after approval of a Guarantee of a Bond Issue, as well as Risk-Share
Pool funding, prepayment penalties or discounts, and Credit
Enhancements. The table is not exhaustive; additional fees payable to
the CDFI Fund or other parties may apply.
[[Page 27381]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agency Administrative Fee......... Payable annually to the CDFI Fund by
the Qualified Issuer. Equal to 10
basis points on the amount of the
unpaid principal of the Bond Issue.
Bond Issuance Fees................ Amounts paid by an Eligible CDFI for
reasonable and appropriate
expenses, administrative costs, and
fees for services in connection
with the issuance of the Bond (but
not including the Agency
Administrative Fee) and the making
of the Bond Loan. Bond Issuance
Fees negotiated between the
Qualified Issuer and the Eligible
CDFI. Up of 1% of Bond Loan
Proceeds may be used to finance the
Bond Issuance Fee.
Servicer fee...................... The fees paid by the Eligible CDFI
to the Qualified Issuer's Servicer.
Servicer fees negotiated between
the Qualified Issuer and the
Eligible CDFI.
Program Administrator fee......... The fees paid by the Eligible CDFI
to the Qualified Issuer's Program
Administrator. Program
Administrator fees negotiated
between the Qualified Issuer and
the Eligible CDFI.
Master Servicer/Trustee fee....... The fees paid by the Qualified
Issuer and the Eligible CDFI to the
Master Servicer/Trustee to carry
out the responsibilities of the
Bond Trust Indenture. In general,
the Master Servicer/Trustee fee is
the greater of 16 basis points per
annum or $10,000 per month once the
Bond Loans are fully disbursed. Any
special servicing costs and
resolution or liquidation fees due
to a Bond Loan default are the
responsibility of the Eligible
CDFI. Please see the template legal
documents at www.cdfifund.gov/bond
for more specific information.
Risk-Share Pool funding........... The funds paid by the Eligible CDFIs
to cover Risk-Share Pool
requirements; capitalized by pro
rata payments equal to 3% of the
amount disbursed on the Bond from
all Eligible CDFIs within the Bond
Issue.
Prepayment penalties or discounts. Prepayment penalties or discounts
may be determined by the FFB at the
time of prepayment.
Credit Enhancements............... Pledges made to enhance the quality
of a Bond and/or Bond Loan. Credit
Enhancements include, but are not
limited to, the Principal Loss
Collateral Provision and letters of
credit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Annual assessment. In accordance with 12 CFR 1808.302(f), each
year, beginning on the one year anniversary of the Bond Issue Date (and
every year thereafter for the term of the Bond Issue), each Qualified
Issuer must demonstrate that not less than 100 percent of the principal
amount of the Guaranteed Bonds currently disbursed and outstanding has
been used to make loans to Eligible CDFIs for Eligible Purposes. If a
Qualified Issuer fails to demonstrate this requirement within the 90
days after the anniversary of the Bond Issue Date, the Qualified Issuer
must repay on that portion of Bonds necessary to bring the Bonds that
remain outstanding after such repayment into compliance with the 100
percent requirement above.
D. Secondary Loan Requirements. In accordance with the Regulations,
Eligible CDFIs must finance or refinance Secondary Loans for Eligible
Purposes (not including loan loss reserves) that align with Secondary
Loan Requirements. The Secondary Loan Requirements are found on the
CDFI Fund's Web site at www.cdfifund.gov. Applicants should become
familiar with the published Secondary Loan Requirements. Secondary Loan
Requirements are classified by asset class and are subject to a
Secondary Loan commitment process managed by the Qualified Issuer.
Eligible CDFIs must execute Secondary Loans documents (in the form
of loan agreements and promissory notes) with Secondary Borrowers as
follows: (i) Not later than twelve (12) months after the Bond Issue
Date, Secondary Loan documents representing at least fifty percent
(50%) of the Bond Loan proceeds allocated for Secondary Loans, and (ii)
not later than twenty-four (24) months after the Bond Issue Date,
Secondary Loan documents representing one hundred percent (100%) of the
Bond Loan proceeds allocated for Secondary Loans. In the event that the
Eligible CDFI does not comply with the foregoing requirements of
clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, the available Bond Loan
proceeds at the end of the applicable period shall be reduced by an
amount equal to the difference between the amount required by clauses
(i) and (ii) minus the amount previously committed to the Secondary
Loans in the applicable period. Secondary Loans shall carry loan
maturities suitable to the loan purpose and consistent with loan-to-
value requirements set forth in the Secondary Loan Requirements.
Secondary Loan maturities shall not exceed the corresponding Bond or
Bond Loan maturity date. It is the expectation of the CDFI Fund that
such interest rates will be reasonable based on the borrower and loan
characteristics.
E. Secondary Loan collateral requirements.
1. The Regulations state that Secondary Loans must be secured by a
first lien of the Eligible CDFI on pledged collateral, in accordance
with the Regulations (at 12 CFR 1808.307(f)) and within certain
parameters. Examples of acceptable forms of collateral may include, but
are not limited to: Real property (including land and structures);
machinery, equipment and movables; cash and cash equivalents; accounts
receivable; letters of credit; inventory; fixtures; contracted revenue
streams from non-Federal counterparties, provided the Secondary
Borrower pledges all assets, rights and interests necessary to generate
such revenue stream; and a Principal Loss Collateral Provision.
Intangible assets, such as customer relationships, intellectual
property rights, and to-be-constructed real estate improvements, are
not acceptable forms of collateral.
2. The Regulations require that Bond Loans must be secured by a
first lien on a collateral assignment of Secondary Loans, and further
that the Secondary Loans must be secured by a first lien or parity lien
on acceptable collateral.
3. Valuation of the collateral pledged by the Secondary Borrower
must be based on the Eligible CDFI's credit policy guidelines and must
conform to the standards set forth in the Uniform Standards of
Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
4. Independent third-party appraisals are required for the
following collateral: Real estate; fixtures, machinery and equipment,
and movables stock valued in excess of $250,000; contracted revenue
stream from non-Federal creditworthy counterparties. Secondary Loan
collateral shall be valued using the cost approach, net of depreciation
and shall be required for the following: Accounts receivable;
machinery, equipment and movables; and fixtures.
F. Qualified Issuer approval of Eligible CDFIs. The Qualified
Issuer shall not approve any Bond Loans to an Eligible CDFI where the
Qualified Issuer has actual knowledge, based upon reasonable inquiry,
that within the past five (5) years the Eligible CDFI: (i) Has been
delinquent on any payment obligation (except upon a demonstration by
the Qualified Issuer satisfactory to
[[Page 27382]]
the CDFI Fund that the delinquency does not affect the Eligible CDFI's
creditworthiness), or has defaulted and failed to cure any other
obligation, on a loan or loan agreement previously made under the Act;
(ii) has been found by the Qualified Issuer to be in default of any
repayment obligation under any Federal program; (iii) is financially
insolvent in either the legal or equitable sense; or (iv) is not able
to demonstrate that it has the capacity to comply fully with the
payment schedule established by the Qualified Issuer.
G. Credit Enhancements; Principal Loss Collateral Provision.
1. In order to achieve the statutory zero-credit subsidy constraint
of the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program and to avoid a call on the
Guarantee, Eligible CDFIs are encouraged to include Credit Enhancements
and Principal Loss Collateral Provisions structured to protect the
financial interests of the Federal Government.
2. Credit Enhancements may include, but are not limited to, payment
guarantees from third parties or Affiliates, lines or letters of
credit, or other pledges of financial resources that enhance the
Eligible CDFI's ability to make timely interest and principal payments
under the Bond Loan.
3. As distinct from Credit Enhancements, Principal Loss Collateral
Provisions may be provided in lieu of pledged collateral and in
addition to pledged collateral. A Principal Loss Collateral Provision
shall be in the form of cash or cash equivalent guarantees in amounts
necessary to secure the Eligible CDFI's obligations under the Bond Loan
after exercising other remedies for default. For example, a Principal
Loss Collateral Provision may include a deficiency guarantee whereby
another entity assumes liability after other default remedies have been
exercised, and covers the deficiency incurred by the creditor. The
Principal Loss Collateral Provision shall, at a minimum, provide for
the provision of cash or cash equivalents in an amount that is not less
than the difference between the value of the collateral and the amount
of the accelerated Bond Loan outstanding.
4. In all cases, acceptable Credit Enhancements or Principal Loss
Collateral Provisions shall be proffered by creditworthy providers and
shall provide information about the adequacy of the facility in
protecting the financial interests of the Federal Government, either
directly or indirectly through supporting the financial strength of the
Bond Issue. This includes, but is not limited to, the amount and
quality of any Credit Enhancements, the financial strength of the
provider of the Credit Enhancement, the terms, specific conditions such
as renewal options, and any limiting conditions or revocability by the
provider of the Credit Enhancement.
5. For Secondary Loans benefitting from a Principal Loss Collateral
Provision (e.g., a deficiency guarantee), the entity providing the
Principal Loss Collateral Provision must be underwritten based on the
same criteria as if the Secondary Loan were being made directly to that
entity with the exception that the guarantee need not be
collateralized.
6. If the Principal Loss Collateral Provision is provided by a
financial institution that is regulated by an Appropriate Federal
Banking Agency or an Appropriate State Agency, the guaranteeing
institution must demonstrate performance of financially sound business
practices relative to the industry norm for providers of collateral
enhancements as evidenced by reports of Appropriate Federal Banking
Agencies, Appropriate State Agencies, and auditors, as appropriate.
H. Reporting requirements.
1. General. Qualified Issuers and Eligible CDFIs that participate
in the Bond Guarantee Program will be required to execute and deliver
at closing legal agreements including the Agreement to Guarantee, the
Bond Trust Indenture, and the Bond Loan Agreement, among others. The
forms of these documents, containing terms and conditions and covenants
over use of proceeds, loan commitments, advances, disbursements,
principal and interest payments, program fees and accounts, Secondary
Loans, financial condition and information reporting and other matters
of the Qualified Issuer, Master Servicer/Trustee, and Eligible CDFIs,
will be published and accessible on the CDFI Fund's Web site or sent to
the Qualified Issuer by other means.
2. Reports.
(a) In general, as required pursuant to the Regulations at 12 CFR
1808.619, the CDFI Fund will collect information from each Qualified
Issuer which may include, but will not be limited to: (i) Quarterly and
annual financial reports and data (including an OMB A-133 audit, as
applicable) for the purpose of monitoring the financial health, ratios
and covenants of Eligible CDFIs that include asset quality (non-
performing assets, loan loss reserves, and net charge-off ratios),
liquidity (current ratio, working capital, and operating liquidity
ratio), solvency (capital ratio, self-sufficiency, fixed charge,
leverage, and debt service coverage ratios); (ii) annual reports as to
the compliance of the Qualified Issuer and Eligible CDFIs with the
Regulations and specific requirements of the Bond Documents; (iii)
monthly reports on uses of Bond Loan proceeds and Secondary Loan
proceeds; (iv) Master Service/Trustee summary of program accounts and
transactions for each Bond Issue; (v) Secondary Loan certifications
describing Eligible CDFI lending, collateral valuation, and
eligibility; (vi) financial data on Secondary Loans to monitor
underlying collateral, gauge overall risk exposure across asset
classes, and assess loan performance, quality, and payment history;
(vii) annual certifications of compliance with program requirements;
(viii) material event disclosures including any reports of Eligible
CDFI management and/or organizational changes; (ix) annual updates to
the Capital Distribution Plan (as described below); (x) supplements
and/or clarifications to correct reporting errors (as applicable); (xi)
project level reports to understand overall program impact and the
manner in which Bond proceeds are deployed for Eligible Community or
Economic Development Purposes; and (xii) such other information that
the CDFI Fund and/or the Bond Purchaser may require, including but not
limited to racial and ethnic data showing the extent to which members
of minority groups are beneficiaries of the CDFI Bond Guarantee
Program, to extent permissible by law.
(b) Qualified Issuers receiving a Guarantee shall submit annual
updates to the approved Capital Distribution Plan, including an updated
Proposed Sources and Uses of Funds for each Eligible CDFI, noting any
deviation from the original baseline with regards to both timing and
allocation of funding among Secondary Loan asset classes. The Qualified
Issuer shall also submit a narrative, no more than five (5) pages in
length for each Eligible CDFI, describing the Eligible CDFI's capacity
to manage its Bond Loan. The narrative shall address any Notification
of Material Events and relevant information concerning the Eligible
CDFI's management information systems, personnel, executive leadership
or board members, as well as financial capacity. The narrative shall
also describe how such changes affect the Eligible CDFI's ability to
generate impacts in Low-Income or Underserved Rural Areas. Any Eligible
CDFI seeking to expand the allowable Secondary Loan asset classes
beyond what was approved by the Bond Guarantee Program's Credit Review
Board or make other deviations that could potentially result in a
[[Page 27383]]
modification, as that term is defined in OMB Circulars A-11 and A-129,
must receive approval from the CDFI Fund before the Eligible CDFI can
begin to enact the proposed changes. The CDFI Fund will consider
whether the Eligible CDFI possesses or has acquired the appropriate
systems, personnel, leadership, and financial capacity to implement the
revised Capital Distribution Plan. The CDFI Fund will also consider
whether these changes assist the Eligible CDFI in generating impacts in
Low-Income or Underserved Rural Areas. Such changes will be reviewed by
the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program and presented to the Credit Review
Board for approval, and appropriate consultation will be made with OMB
to ensure compliance with OMB Circulars A-11 and A-129, prior to
notifying the Eligible CDFI if such changes are acceptable under the
terms of the Bond Loan Agreement. An Eligible CDFI may request such an
update to their Capital Distribution Plan prior to Bond Issue Closing,
and thereafter may only request such an update once per the CDFI's
fiscal year.
(c) Detailed information on specific reporting requirements and the
format, frequency, and methods by which this information will be
transmitted to the CDFI Fund will be provided to Qualified Issuers,
Program Administrators, Servicers, and Eligible CDFIs through the Bond
Loan Agreement and a combination of webinar trainings and/or scheduled
outreach sessions. Reporting requirements will be enforced through the
Agreement to Guarantee and the Bond Loan Agreement, and will be
assigned a valid OMB control number pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction
Act.
(d) Each Qualified Issuer will be responsible for the timely and
complete submission of the annual reporting documents, including such
information that must be provided by other entities such as Eligible
CDFIs or Secondary Borrowers. If such other entities are required to
provide annual report information or documentation, or other
documentation that the CDFI Fund may require, the Qualified Issuer will
be responsible for ensuring that the information is submitted timely
and complete. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the CDFI Fund reserves the
right to contact such entities and require that additional information
and documentation be provided directly to the CDFI Fund.
(e) The CDFI Fund will use the aforementioned information to
monitor compliance with the requirements set forth in the Agreement to
Guarantee and to assess the impact of the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program.
(f) The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to
modify its reporting requirements if it determines it to be appropriate
and necessary; however, such reporting requirements will be modified
only after notice to Qualified Issuers. Additional information about
reporting requirements pursuant to this NOGA and the Bond Documents
will be subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act.
3. Accounting.
(a) In general, the CDFI Fund will require each Qualified Issuer
and Eligible CDFI to account for and track the use of Bond Proceeds and
Bond Loan proceeds. This means that for every dollar of Bond Proceeds
and received from the Bond Purchaser, the Qualified Issuer is required
to inform the CDFI Fund of its uses, including Bond Loan proceeds. This
will require Qualified Issuers and Eligible CDFIs to establish separate
administrative and accounting controls, subject to the applicable OMB
Circulars.
(b) The CDFI Fund will provide guidance to Qualified Issuers
outlining the format and content of the information that is to be
provided on an annual basis, outlining and describing how the Bond
Proceeds and Bond Loan proceeds were used.
VI. Agency Contacts
A. The CDFI Fund will respond to questions and provide support
concerning this NOGA, the Qualified Issuer Application and the
Guarantee Application between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET,
starting with the date of the publication of this NOGA. The final date
to submit questions is June 18, 2014. Applications and other
information regarding the CDFI Fund and its programs may be obtained
from the CDFI Fund's Web site at https://www.cdfifund.gov. The CDFI Fund
will post on its Web site responses to questions of general
applicability regarding the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program.
B. The CDFI Fund's contact information is as follows:
Table 2--Contact Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone number (not
Type of question toll free) Email addresses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CDFI Bond Guarantee Program........... (202) 653-0421 Option 5.. bgp@cdfi.treas.gov.
CDFI Certification.................... (202) 653-0423........... ccme@cdfi.treas.gov.
Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation.. (202) 653-0423........... ccme@cdfi.treas.gov.
Information Technology Support........ (202) 653-0422........... ithelpdesk@cdfi.treas.gov.
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C. Communication with the CDFI Fund. The CDFI Fund will use the
myCDFIFund Internet interface to communicate with applicants, Qualified
Issuers, Program Administrators, Servicers, Certified CDFIs and
Eligible CDFIs, using the contact information maintained in their
respective myCDFIFund accounts. Therefore, each such entity must
maintain accurate contact information (including contact person and
authorized representative, email addresses, fax numbers, phone numbers,
and office addresses) in its respective myCDFIFund account. For more
information about myCDFIFund (which includes information about the CDFI
Fund's Community Investment Impact System), please see the Help
documents posted at https://www.cdfifund.gov/ciis/accessingciis.pdf.
VII. Information Sessions and Outreach
The CDFI Fund may conduct webcasts, webinars, or information
sessions for organizations that are considering applying to, or are
interested in learning about, the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program. For
further information, please visit the CDFI Fund's Web site at https://www.cdfifund.gov.
Authority: Pub. L. 111-240; 12 U.S.C. 4701, et seq.; 12 CFR part
1808.
Dated: May 8, 2014.
Dennis Nolan,
Deputy Director, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
[FR Doc. 2014-10950 Filed 5-12-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-70-P