20 ILCS 3501/ Illinois Finance Authority Act.

(20 ILCS 3501/Art. 805 heading) ARTICLE 805 INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BOND INSURANCE FUND

(20 ILCS 3501/805-5)

Sec. 805-5. Findings and declaration of policy. It is hereby found and declared that a continuing need exists to maintain and develop the State's economy; that there are significant barriers in the capital markets inhibiting the issuance by the Authority of industrial revenue bonds, loans, and State Guarantees to assist in financing industrial projects, PACE Projects, farmers, and agribusiness in the State, particularly for smaller firms; and that the establishment of the Industrial Revenue Bond Insurance Fund and the exercise by the Authority of the powers granted in this Article will promote economic development by widening the market for the Authority's revenue bonds, loans, PACE Projects, and State Guarantees.

(Source: P.A. 100-919, eff. 8-17-18.)

(20 ILCS 3501/805-10)

Sec. 805-10. Definitions. The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this Article, shall have the following meanings ascribed to them, except where the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "Financial Institution" means a financial institution which is a trust company, a bank, a savings bank, a credit union, an investment bank, a broker, an investment trust, a pension fund, a building and loan association, a savings and loan association, an insurance company, or any other institution acceptable to the Authority, authorized to do business in the State and approved by the Authority to insure bonds or loans for industrial projects authorized by this Act.

(b) "Participating lender" means any trust company, bank, savings bank, credit union, investment bank, broker, investment trust, pension fund, building and loan association, savings and loan association, insurance company or other institution approved by the Authority which assumes a portion of the risk on a loan for an industrial project as provided in Section 805-30 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

(20 ILCS 3501/805-15)

Sec. 805-15. Industrial Project Insurance Fund. There is created the Industrial Project Insurance Fund, hereafter referred to in Sections 805-15 through 805-50 of this Act as the "Fund". The Treasurer shall have custody of the Fund, which shall be held outside of the State treasury, except that custody may be transferred to and held by any bank, trust company or other fiduciary with whom the Authority executes a trust agreement as authorized by paragraph (h) of Section 805-20 of this Act. Any portion of the Fund against which a charge has been made, shall be held for the benefit of the holders of the loans or bonds insured under Section 805-20 of this Act or the holders of State Guarantees under Article 830 of this Act. There shall be deposited in the Fund such amounts, including but not limited to:

(a) All receipts of bond and loan insurance premiums;

(b) All proceeds of assets of whatever nature received by the Authority as a result of default or delinquency with respect to insured loans or bonds or State Guarantees with respect to which payments from the Fund have been made, including proceeds from the sale, disposal, lease or rental of real or personal property which the Authority may receive under the provisions of this Article but excluding the proceeds of insurance hereunder;

(c) All receipts from any applicable contract or agreement entered into by the Authority under paragraph (b) of Section 805-20 of this Act;

(d) Any State appropriations, transfers of appropriations, or transfers of general obligation bond proceeds or other monies made available to the Fund. Amounts in the Fund shall be used in accordance with the provisions of this Article to satisfy any valid insurance claim payable therefrom and may be used for any other purpose determined by the Authority in accordance with insurance contract or contracts with financial institutions entered into pursuant to this Act, including without limitation protecting the interest of the Authority in industrial projects during periods of loan delinquency or upon loan default through the purchase of industrial projects in foreclosure proceedings or in lieu of foreclosure or through any other means. Such amounts may also be used to pay administrative costs and expenses reasonably allocable to the activities in connection with the Fund and to pay taxes, maintenance, insurance, security and any other costs and expenses of bidding for, acquiring, owning, carrying and disposing of industrial projects or PACE Projects, which were financed with the proceeds of loans or insured bonds, including loans or loan participations made under subsection (i) or (r) of Section 801-40. In the case of a default in payment with respect to any loan, mortgage or other agreement so insured or otherwise representing possible loss to the Authority, the amount of the default shall immediately, and at all times during the continuance of such default, and to the extent provided in any applicable agreement, constitute a charge on the Fund. Any amounts in the Fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the Fund may be invested as provided by law in obligations designated by the Authority, or used to make direct loans or purchase loan participations under subsection (i) or (r) of Section 801-40. All income from such investments shall become part of the Fund. All income from direct loans or loan participations made under subsection (i) or (r) of Section 801-40 shall become funds of the Authority. In making such investments, the Authority shall act with the care, skill, diligence and prudence under the circumstances of a prudent person acting in a like capacity in the conduct of an enterprise of like character and with like aims. It shall diversify such investments of the Authority so as to minimize the risk of large losses, unless under the circumstances it is clearly not prudent to do so. Amounts in the Fund may also be used to satisfy State Guarantees under Article 830 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-919, eff. 8-17-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(20 ILCS 3501/805-20)

Sec. 805-20. Powers and Duties; Industrial Project Insurance Program. The Authority has the power:

(a) to insure and make advance commitments to insure all or any part of the payments required on the bonds issued or a loan made to finance any environmental facility under the Illinois Environmental Facilities Financing Act or for any industrial project upon such terms and conditions as the Authority may prescribe in accordance with this Article. The insurance provided by the Authority shall be payable solely from the Fund created by Section 805-15 and shall not constitute a debt or pledge of the full faith and credit of the State, the Authority, or any political subdivision thereof;

(b) to enter into insurance contracts, letters of credit or any other agreements or contracts with financial institutions with respect to the Fund and any bonds or loans insured thereunder. Any such agreement or contract may contain terms and provisions necessary or desirable in connection with the program, subject to the requirements established by this Act, including without limitation terms and provisions relating to loan documentation, review and approval procedures, origination and servicing rights and responsibilities, default conditions, procedures and obligations with respect to insurance contracts made under this Act. The agreements or contracts may be executed on an individual, group or master contract basis with financial institutions;

(c) to charge reasonable fees to defray the cost of obtaining letters of credit or other similar documents, other than insurance contracts under paragraph (b). Any such fees shall be payable by such person, in such amounts and at such times as the Authority shall determine, and the amount of the fees need not be uniform among the various bonds or loans insured;

(d) to fix insurance premiums for the insurance of payments under the provisions of this Article. Such premiums shall be computed as determined by the Authority. Any premiums for the insurance of loan payments under the provisions of this Act shall be payable by such person, in such amounts and at such times as the Authority shall determine, and the amount of the premiums need not be uniform among the various bonds or loans insured;

(e) to establish application fees and prescribe application, notification, contract and insurance forms, rules and regulations it deems necessary or appropriate;

(f) to make loans and to issue bonds secured by insurance or other agreements authorized by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 805-20 and to issue bonds secured by loans that are guaranteed by the federal government or agencies thereof;

(g) to issue a single bond issue, or a series of bond issues, for a group of industrial projects, a group of corporations, or a group of business entities or any combination thereof insured by insurance or backed by any other agreement authorized by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section or secured by loans that are guaranteed by the federal government or agencies thereof;

(h) to enter into trust agreements for the management of the Fund created under Section 805-15 of this Act;

(i) to exercise such other powers as are necessary or incidental to the powers granted in this Section and to the issuance of State Guarantees under Article 830 of this Act; and

(j) at the discretion of the Authority, (i) to insure and make advance commitments to insure, and issue State Guarantees for, all or any part of the payments required on the bonds issued or loans made to finance any agricultural facility, project, farmer, producer, agribusiness, qualified veteran-owned small business, or program under Article 830 or Article 835 of this Act upon such terms and conditions as the Authority may prescribe in accordance with this Article or (ii) to make loans authorized by subsection (z) of Section 801-40 of this Act upon such terms and conditions as the Authority may prescribe, consistent with Sections 22B-120 and 22C-120 of the Illinois Pension Code and without regard to any other restrictions or limitations provided in this Article. The insurance and State Guarantees provided by the Authority may be payable from the Fund created by Section 805-15 and is in addition to and not in replacement of the Illinois Agricultural Loan Guarantee Fund and the Illinois Farmer and Agribusiness Loan Guarantee Fund created under Article 830 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 101-610, eff. 1-1-20.)

(20 ILCS 3501/805-25)

Sec. 805-25. Insurance Contracts; Claim Responsibility. Any contract of insurance made by the Authority with a lender or bondholder or for the benefit thereof under this Act shall provide that claims payable under such contract shall be paid from any amounts available in the Fund and from any amounts available under the terms of any applicable contract or agreement with other financial institutions, in such order of priority as the Authority shall deem appropriate. The obligation of the Authority to make payments under any such contract shall be limited solely to the amounts provided in such contract and shall not constitute a debt or liability of the State, the Authority or any subdivision thereof. Any insurance contract or other agreement with a lender or bondholder or for the benefit thereof and any rule or regulation of the Authority implementing the insurance program may contain such other terms, provisions or conditions as the Authority deems necessary or appropriate, including, without limitation, those relating to the payment of insurance premiums, the giving of notice, claim procedures, the sources of payment for claims, the priority of competing claims for payment, the release or termination of loan security and borrower liability, the timing of payment, the maintenance and disposition of industrial projects and the use of amounts received during periods of delinquency or upon default, and any other provisions concerning the rights of insured parties or conditions to the payment of insurance claims.

(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

(20 ILCS 3501/805-30)

Sec. 805-30. Applications for Insured Industrial Project Loans; Procedures. Applications received by the Authority shall be forwarded to a credit review committee consisting of 3 persons experienced in industrial financing selected by the Authority for a review and report concerning the advisability of approving the proposed insurance. The review and report shall include facts about the company's history, job opportunities, stability of employment, financial condition and structure, income statements, market prospects and management, and any other facts material to the insurance request. The report shall include a reasoned opinion as to whether providing the insurance would tend to fulfill the purposes of the Authority and the insurance program. The report shall be advisory in nature only. Payment shall be made to the members of the committee selected by the Authority on a reasonable consultant basis, as the Authority may determine. The credit review committee shall be of such composition, act for such time and have such powers as shall be specified in the agreement or agreements establishing its existence and, to the extent so specified, shall act for the Authority in matters concerning the insurance program authorized by Sections 805-5 through 805-45 of this Act. The Authority shall, on the basis of the application, the report of the credit review committee, the information provided by the local or regional industrial development agency, and any other appropriate information, prepare a report concerning the creditworthiness of the proposed borrower, the loan record of the participating lender, the financial commitment of the participating lender, the manner in which the proposed industrial project will advance the economy of the State and the soundness of the proposed loan. The Fund, or any portion thereof against which a charge has been made, shall be held for the benefit of the holders of the bonds or loans insured under Section 805-20 of this Act, as provided by agreement between the Authority and such holders. The Authority shall be satisfied that the Fund is protected by adequate security on all bonds or loans insured by the Authority.

(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

(20 ILCS 3501/805-35)

Sec. 805-35. Loan Approval Standards. Before approving any bond or loan insurance under this Act, the Authority shall find that any loan insured by or to be made from the proceeds of bonds insured by the Authority under this Act shall:

(a) Be made for an industrial project or any environmental facility under the Illinois Environmental Facilities Financing Act;

(b) Be made to a borrower approved by the Authority as responsible and creditworthy;

(c) Be reviewed for insurance by the credit review committee established by the Authority pursuant to this Act;

(d) In the case of real property, be secured by a first mortgage on the property, or by any other security satisfactory to the Authority to secure payment of the loans, and have a maturity date not later than 25 years after the date of the loan;

(e) In the case of machinery and equipment, be secured by a first security interest in the machinery and equipment, or by any other security satisfactory to the Authority to secure payment of the loan, and have a maturity date not later than 12 years from the date of the loan;

(f) Contain complete amortization provisions satisfactory to the Authority;

(g) Be in such principal amount and form, and contain such terms and provisions with respect to property insurance, repairs, alterations, payment of taxes and assessments, delinquency charges, default remedies, additional security and other matters as the Authority shall determine;

(h) Be made only after the Authority has made a determination that, in its sole opinion, the loan has the potential to provide or retain substantial employment in relation to the principal amount of the loan to be insured, which employment, so far as feasible, may be expected to be of residents of areas of critical labor surplus;

(i) Be made only after the Authority has made a determination that, in its sole opinion, adequate provision is being or will be made to meet any increased demand upon community public facilities that will likely result from the project; and

(j) Be made only after the Authority has made a determination that, in its sole opinion, the public interest is adequately protected by the terms of the loan and of the insurance contract or other agreements. Any contract of insurance executed by the Authority under this Act shall be conclusive evidence of eligibility for such insurance, and the validity of any contract of insurance so executed or of an advance commitment to insure shall be incontestable in the hands of a borrower or bondholder from the date of execution and delivery of the contract or commitment, except for fraud, or misrepresentation on the part of the borrower and, as to commitments to insure, noncompliance with the commitment or Authority rules or regulations in force at the time of issuance of the commitment. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as creating any rights of a competitor of an approved borrower or any applicant whose application is denied by the Authority to challenge any application which is accepted by the Authority and any loan, contract of insurance or other agreement executed in connection therewith.

(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

(20 ILCS 3501/805-40)

Sec. 805-40. Investments in Insured Debts of the Authority. The State and all counties, municipalities and other public corporations, political subdivisions and public bodies, and public officers of any thereof, all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks and institutions, building and loan associations, savings and loan associations, investment companies and other persons carrying on a banking business, all insurance companies, insurance associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business and all executors, administrators, guardians, trustees and other fiduciaries may legally invest any sinking funds, moneys or other funds belonging to them or within their control in any bonds, loans or extension of credit which are the subject of insurance pursuant to this Article, it being the purpose of this Section to authorize the investment of such bonds, loans or extension of credit of all sinking, insurance, retirement, compensation, pension and trust funds, whether owned or controlled by private or public persons or officers; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section may be construed as relieving any persons from any duty of exercising reasonable care in selecting securities for purchase or investment. The bonds and any loan or extension of credit which are the subject of insurance pursuant to this Article are also hereby made securities which may properly and legally be deposited with and received by all public officers and bodies of the State or any agency or political subdivisions thereof and all municipalities and public corporations for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds is now or may hereafter be authorized by law.

(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

(20 ILCS 3501/805-45)

Sec. 805-45. Cooperation with Local Industrial Development Agencies. When the Authority receives an application from a potential insured loan borrower, it shall promptly notify the local industrial development agency of that fact in writing if such an agency exists in the municipality or county where such industrial project is proposed to be financed; or the corporate authorities in such municipality where no such agency exists. The Authority shall provide the local industrial development agency with any available information that the agency needs to prepare a recommendation concerning the advisability of the industrial project and its impact, economic and otherwise, on the community and the State. Such application shall include a written authorization by the applicant that such notification and information be made available to such agency or municipality to the extent that such information is not deemed to be confidential under Section 805-50 of this Act. The Authority shall not consider any application that does not include such written authorization. The Authority shall encourage financial participation by local industrial development agencies by giving priority consideration to insured loan applicants from areas serviced by those agencies that have demonstrated a commitment to economic development.

(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

(20 ILCS 3501/805-50)

Sec. 805-50. Documentary material concerning trade secrets; Commercial or financial information; Confidentiality. Any documentary materials or data made or received by any member, agent, or employee of the Authority or the credit review committees, to the extent that such materials or data consist of trade secrets, commercial or financial information regarding the operation of any enterprise conducted by an applicant for, or recipient of, any form of assistance which the Authority is empowered to render under this Article, or regarding the competitive position of such enterprise in a particular field of endeavor, shall not be deemed public records.

(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)