00-5026. EDF Ventures, L.P.; Notice Seeking Exemption Under Section 312 of the Small Business Investment Act, Conflicts of Interest

Notice is hereby given that EDF Ventures, L.P. (“EDF”), 425 North Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, an applicant for a Federal License under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended (“the Act”), in connection with the completed financing of a small concern is seeking an exemption under section 312 of the Act and section 107.730, Financings which Constitute Conflicts of Interest of the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) rules and regulations (13 CFR 107.730 (1998)). SBA may not grant an exemption until Notices of this transaction have been published. EDF Ventures, LP plans to provide equity financing to Centromine, Inc., 3756 Plaza Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. The financing will be used for marketing and working capital purposes.

The financing is brought within the purview of section Sec. 107.730(a)(1) of the Regulations because Enterprise Development Fund II, L.P., an associate of EDF Ventures, LP owns greater than 10 percent of Xtera Communications, Inc., and therefore Xtera Communications is considered an Associate of EDF Ventures, LP as defined in Sec. 107.50 of the regulations.

Notice is hereby given that any interested person may, not later than fifteen (15) days from the date of publication of this Notice, submit written comments on the transaction to the Associate Administrator for Investment, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street, SW, Washington, DC 20416.

A copy of this notice shall be published, in accordance with Sec. 107.730(g), in the Federal Register by SBA.

Dated: February 24, 2000.

Don A. Christensen,

Associate Administrator for Investment.