Investments in Innovation Act of 2025
This bill, the Investments in Innovation Act of 2025, would change how small business investment companies (SBICs) calculate their leverage when they invest in socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses. Specifically, it would allow SBICs to exclude, from their leverage calculations, the cost basis of equity investments they make in disadvantaged small firms, up to a limit equal to 50% of the SBIC’s private capital. This effectively increases the amount SBICs can borrow by SBA-backed leverage when they invest in these targeted firms. The bill also imposes caps on how much outstanding leverage can be available to SBICs making these investments and creates a new eligibility trigger for SBICs that want access to this expanded leverage. To qualify, a company must be licensed under a section that governs SBICs and must certify that at least 50% of its investments will go to socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses (per the 8(a) program definition). The leverages are capped at the lesser of 300% of the company’s private capital or $175 million for a single company, and at $250 million for two or more qualified companies under common control. The changes are aimed at boosting funding to disadvantaged communities through SBICs, while keeping explicit risk and concentration controls.
Key Points
- 1New leverage treatment for investments in disadvantaged firms: SBICs may exclude the cost basis of equity investments in socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses from leverage calculations, up to 50% of the SBIC’s private capital.
- 2Caps on leverage:
- 3- For a single qualified company, the maximum outstanding leverage is the lesser of 300% of private capital or $175 million.
- 4- For two or more such companies under common control, the maximum is $250 million in outstanding leverage.
- 5Eligibility trigger for qualified companies: A company described as eligible must be licensed under section 301(c) in the first fiscal year after enactment (or later) and must certify in writing that at least 50% of its investments will go to 8(a) socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses.
- 6Definition and scope: The “disadvantaged” investments are tied to the 8(a) program’s definition of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns (8(a)(4)).
- 7Interaction with private capital: The exemption applies only to the portion of investments up to 50% of the company’s private capital, limiting the benefit to a defined share of financing.