New Role for Fidelity National

IRVINE — Fidelity National Financial Inc. said one of its units, FNF Ventures Inc., has received a license from the Small Business Administration to operate as a small business investment company.

FNF plans to provide financing ranging from $500,000 to $3 million for small businesses and "middle market" companies in Southern California. The unit will focus on such industries as manufacturing, distribution, service, transportation and software, said Fidelity, a title insurance underwriter.

The small-business investment program, a partnership between the private sector and the government, was created to help meet the long-term, capital needs of small U.S. businesses who haven't receive financing from banks or other private capital sources.