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<chapter num="17" heading="Challenge Investment Program" title_num="24" subtitle_num="05">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Applicability.">
    <text>Regulations .01—.05 and .07—.11 under COMAR 24.05.16 apply.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Equity Investment Terms.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The proceeds of the equity investment may be used for the purposes approved by the Director, which include, but are not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Working capital;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Salaries;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Marketing materials;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Acquisition of inventory, equipment, or real property;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>Construction;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>Renovation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(7)">
        <text>Leasehold improvements; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(8)">
        <text>Research and development.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The amount of an equity investment shall be in a range of $20,000 to $100,000 per enterprise, unless a greater amount is authorized by the Secretary.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The Department may not acquire an ownership interest exceeding 25 percent of any enterprise.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>The terms of an equity investment approved by the Director shall be set forth in a funding agreement.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>At the Director's discretion, a funding agreement may consist of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>An investment agreement;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>A limited partnership agreement;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>A preferred stock purchase agreement; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Other documents the Program may require.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>The Department shall divest itself of any enterprise in which an equity investment is made within 15 years after the Department's investment.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Economic Development Article, §2-108, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: August 29, 1994 (21:17 Md. R. 1440)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>