The SBA has provided the following answers to frequently asked questions about the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The full guidance is available at https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Paycheck-Protection-Program-Frequenty-Asked-Questions.pdf and should be consulted.
According to the SBA, borrowers and lenders may rely on the guidance as SBA’s interpretation of the CARES Act and of the Paycheck Protection Program Interim Final Rule (“PPP Interim Final Rule”) (link). The U.S. government will not challenge lender PPP actions that conform to this guidance, and to the PPP Interim Final Rule and any subsequent rulemaking in effect at the time.
Question: Paragraph 3.b.iii of the PPP Interim Final Rule states that lenders must “[c]onfirm the dollar amount of average monthly payroll costs for the preceding calendar year by reviewing the payroll documentation submitted with the borrower’s application.” Does that require the lender to replicate every borrower’s calculations?
Answer: No. Providing an accurate calculation of payroll costs is the responsibility of the borrower, and the borrower attests to the accuracy of those calculations on the Borrower Application Form. Lenders are expected to perform a good faith review, in a reasonable time, of the borrower’s calculations and supporting documents concerning average monthly payroll cost. For example, minimal review of calculations based on a payroll report by a recognized third-party payroll processor would be reasonable. In addition, as the PPP Interim Final Rule indicates, lenders may rely on borrower representations, including with respect to amounts required to be excluded from payroll costs.
If the lender identifies errors in the borrower’s calculation or material lack of substantiation in the borrower’s supporting documents, the lender should work with the borrower to remedy the issue.
Question: Are small business concerns (as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632) required to have 500 or fewer employees to be eligible borrowers in the PPP?
Answer: No. Small business concerns can be eligible borrowers even if they have more than 500 employees, as long as they satisfy the existing statutory and regulatory definition of a “small business concern” under section 3 of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632. A business can qualify if it meets the SBA employee-based or revenue-based size standard corresponding to its primary industry. Go to www.sba.gov/size for the industry size standards.
1 This document does not carry the force and effect of law independent of the statute and regulations on which it is based.
Additionally, a business can qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program as a small business concern if it met both tests in SBA’s “alternative size standard” as of March 27, 2020: (1) maximum tangible net worth of the business is not more than $15 million; and (2) the average net income after Federal income taxes (excluding any carry-over losses) of the business for the two full fiscal years before the date of the application is not more than $5 million.
A business that qualifies as a small business concern under section 3 of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632, may truthfully attest to its eligibility for PPP loans on the Borrower Application Form, unless otherwise ineligible.
Question: Does my business have to qualify as a small business concern (as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632) in order to participate in the PPP?
Answer: No. In addition to small business concerns, a business is eligible for a PPP loan if the business has 500 or fewer employees whose principal place of residence is in the United States, or the business meets the SBA employee-based size standards for the industry in which it operates (if applicable). Similarly, PPP loans are also available for qualifying tax-exempt nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), tax-exempt veterans organization described in section 501(c)(19) of the IRC, and Tribal business concerns described in section 31(b)(2)(C) of the Small Business Act that have 500 or fewer employees whose principal place of residence is in the United States, or meet the SBA employee-based size standards for the industry in which they operate.
Question: Are lenders required to make an independent determination regarding applicability of affiliation rules under 13 C.F.R. 121.301(f) to borrowers?
Answer: No. It is the responsibility of the borrower to determine which entities (if any) are its affiliates and determine the employee headcount of the borrower and its affiliates. Lenders are permitted to rely on borrowers’ certifications.
Question: Are borrowers required to apply SBA’s affiliation rules under 13 C.F.R. 121.301(f)?
Answer: Yes. Borrowers must apply the affiliation rules set forth in SBA’s Interim Final Rule on Affil…
Read More
Businesses that have obtained financing through Merchant Cash Advances, and that have been shuttered by the Covid-19 pandemic, may be hit with a double-whammy — reduced cash flow to pay critical expenses (e.g., payroll) and aggressive collection efforts from cash hungry merchant cash lenders. This phenomenon is discussed in a recent article from NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/ftc-official-legal-loan-sharks-may-be-exploiting-coronavirus-squeeze-n1173346?cid=eml_nbn_20200403
Businesses struggling with Merchant Cash Advances may be able to benefit from the expedited Chapter 11 processes available under the recently enacted Small Business Restructuring Act (a “Subchapter 5” filing). FactorLaw has previously reported how a Subchapter 5 filing can be used by small businesses dealing with financial distress.
FactorLaw attorneys are available to discuss how the SBRA can help businesses deal with Merchant Cash Advance issues.
Read More
Categories: Covid-19 Issues, For Creditors, For Creditors|Illinois Bankruptcy, For Debtors, For Debtors, Illinois Bankruptcy, Interesting Articles, Interesting Links, Merchant Cash Advance Defense, News, Practice Areas, Uncategorized
On April 2, 2020, the Small Business Administration issued guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program contained in the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (a/k/a the CARES Act). The Paycheck Protection Program will provide up to $349 billion in loans to eligible small businesses (generally a business with fewer than 500 employees), independent contractors, and self-employed individuals to cover payroll and other costs. Key highlights of the Paycheck Protection Program include:
-100% of the loan’s principal may be forgiven if borrowers satisfy certain conditions.
– The loans will have a two-year term with payments deferred for six months.
– The loans will carry an interest rate of 1%.
– The loans will be in the amount of the lesser of $10 million or an amount calculated on a specified payroll-based formula.
More information, including eligibility criteria, can be found in the guidance issued by the Small Business Administration. [INSERT LINK https://content.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/PPP–IFRN%20FINAL.pdf]
The application process for the Paycheck Protection Program opened officially on April 3, 2020 but several banks are still in the process of developing procedures to accept applications. The funds are available on a first come first serve basis.
The attorneys at FactorLaw will continue to monitor legal and regulatory developments to assist clients during the current crisis.
Read More
On Monday, March 30, 2020, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced a series of actions to ensure the protection of Illinoisans in many areas of small business and consumer borrowing, servicing, and collections. The link to the guidance put forth by the IDFPR can be found at https://www.idfpr.com/News/2020/2020%2003%2030%20IDFPR%20financial%20guidance.pdf
Read More
For your information, FactorLaw has prepared the following discussion
of how and when chapter 11 can be a viable option for small businesses (or
their owners) that are dealing with financial distress caused by the Covid-19
Crisis (the “CVC”). Although the Courts in Cook County and the
collar counties right now are largely closed for civil matters, the Bankruptcy
Courts in Chicago are open and new cases can be filed and administered during
these unprecedented times. We hope you
find the following discussion useful and we welcome any questions you might
have.
The Highly Vulnerable Business
The first tranche of businesses likely to face immediate and
severe financial distress due to the CVC likely will be those where demand for
goods or services is immediately and drastically reduced (or eliminated) and that
have high costs that cannot be easily ratcheted down without impairing the
business or incurring unsustainable liabilities. Businesses whose cash flow or business model
have otherwise suffered critical disruption due to the CVC also are likely to suffer
extreme financial distress, as are businesses that were teetering before the
CVC. The likely candidates in this
category include restaurants, small hotels/motels, small retailers, and
businesses that support these establishments.
Highly vulnerable businesses are less likely to have sizeable
long-term debt and usually do not fund operations through a revolving line of
credit, although some may, particularly if the business owns real estate. In many cases, credit relationships exist at
the vendor level and major stakeholders are suppliers and landlords. Such businesses also may have used shareholder
loans, merchant cash financing or other high-interest products to sustain
operations.
Depending upon cash reserves and the ability to reduce operating
expenses swiftly, the optimal strategy for the highly vulnerable business is to
(1) reduce operating expenses as much as possible during the CVC, with the hope
of reengaging in the future and (2) exacting concessions from creditors. Highly vulnerable businesses also might try
to take advantage of the myriad programs at the Federal and State levels to
assist troubled businesses, although the response time for these programs
currently is not known and some of these programs may not be available if a
business reduces its work force.
Pursuing these options may require contacting landlords and
other creditors, including high interest rate lenders and labor unions, and
requesting some type of forbearance or waiver, which should be reduced to
writing if possible, particularly in light of the requirement for modifications
to be in writing under the Illinois Credit Agreements Act. Such businesses also need a unified response
from management/ownership and if the key decision makers are not aligned, the
most effective responses may be unachievable.
Although the wisdom of a chapter 11 filing for a highly
vulnerable business should be carefully explored, particularly because chapter
11 relief can be a drastic remedy, it can help preclude a recalcitrant lender or
creditor from exercising non-judicial remedies, including setting off bank
deposits, sweeping cash to apply to the loan or refusing to perform under a
bilateral agreement. A chapter 11 bankruptcy
also can help to preserve asset value to the extent the CVC or other issues threaten
that value, particularly if an operational shutdown threatens important
contracts because of termination clauses. On the other hand, the automatic stay may be
less relevant to stopping judicial remedies right now because most civil court
proceedings and enforcement actions in Cook County and the collar counties have
been shut down as part of the shelter in place orders issued in Illinois.
Thus, highly vulnerable businesses might consider a
bankruptcy filing to (1) liquidate the business in an orderly fashion,
including by selling assets, to avoid the loss of all value, (2) impede a pesky
lender or other creditor that threatens to exercise nonjudicial remedies or
rights that, if implemented, will make re-engaging impossible or very costly
once the CVC has passed, (3) stabilize an imploding business so that it can obtain
a breathing spell to pursue other options, including the lending programs
recently implemented, (4) limit the forfeiture of rights and property, or (5) facilitate
prompt access to additional capital.
With respect to the first item – liquidating or selling
assets in a coordinated fashion – section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code authorizes
the sale of assets free and clear of liens.
It also gives the purchaser protection from trailing claims, including
successorship liability claims. If a
highly vulnerable business wishes to engage in a substantial sale transaction
and has identified a purchaser, bankruptcy may be a good option fo…
Read More
Categories: Covid-19 Issues, For Creditors, For Creditors|Illinois Bankruptcy, For Debtors, For Debtors, Illinois Bankruptcy, Interesting Articles, Interesting Links, News, Practice Areas, Uncategorized
In today’s challenging economic environment a lifeline for small businesses may be harder to access — high interest rate small business loans. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal from March 28, 2020, “banks and financial-technology firms are starting to toughen their approval standards for new loans to consumers and small businesses. That means many people could find it hard to get credit just when they most need it, as the novel coronavirus pandemic puts thousands out of work.” https://www.wsj.com/articles/people-need-loans-as-coronavirus-spreads-lenders-are-making-them-tougher-to-get-11585357440?shareToken=stc8b569a61bc24802a8132278b06cf715
Read More
The massive economic stimulus plan circulating in Congress right now will permit more businesses or individuals to take advantage of Subchapter 5 of the Bankruptcy Code (which FactorLaw has analyzed in prior posts) by increasing the debt cap from $2,700,000 to $7,500,000. The 880 page Senate Bill (the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act’’ or the ‘‘CARES Act’’) was unanimously approved by the Senate last night and will now go to the House. Reports are that the legislation will be approved by the House and signed by the President today or soon thereafter. If enacted without further change, the legislation will expand SBRA’s expedited processes to more businesses and individuals engaged in business by substantially increasing the debt cap. For cases filed within the next year, the SBRA will be available to debtors that have less than $7,500,000 of aggregate noncontingent liquidated, secured and unsecured debts.
Read More
1.
THE SUBCHAPTER 5 ELECTION. Chapter 11 now contains a “Subchapter 5”
which applies only to “small business debtors” that make a so-called
“Subchapter 5” election. See 11
U.S.C. §§ 1181-1195. Absent such an
election, the small business case will be administered under the existing small
business provisions of Chapter 11. Although
the 2005 BAPCPA amendments to the Bankruptcy Code streamlined the Chapter 11
process for small business debtors
(i.e., a plan has to be confirmed within 300 days), the process was still viewed as too onerous and expensive
for those that qualified. Subchapter 5 provides small business debtors the
option of using a new law designed to make the chapter 11 process faster and
cheaper, including the process for selling a distressed business under a
plan. It brings to Small Business Cases
under Chapter 11 features previously available only in Chapter 12 or 13
cases. SBRA also reshuffles the leverage
between debtors and creditors and tries to promote consensual outcomes.
2.
THE INTERIM BANKRUPTCY RULES. Interim amendments to the Federal Rules
of Bankruptcy Procedure also have been promulgated to guide cases where the
debtor has made the Subchapter 5 election.
The interim bankruptcy rules, including Interim Bankruptcy Rule 1020,
implement the SBRA. New forms also may
be forthcoming.
3.
MAKING THE ELECTION. The Subchapter 5 election must be made on
the petition for relief for voluntary cases or within 14 days after the order
for relief in involuntary cases.
Although the Subchapter 5 election is made when the bankruptcy petition
is filed, Rule 1020(b) suggests the petition can be amended to make the
Subchapter 5 designation after the filing.
Doing so may not be advisable, however, because a delayed election may
cause key deadlines to be missed. Another potential issue involves the
retroactive application of the SBRA to cases pending before its effective date.
4.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. Subchapter 5 cases are available to any
entity or individual engaged in commercial or business activity with aggregate
and liquidated debts of not more than $2,725,625, of which more than 50% is
commercial or business debt. The new
law helps clarify eligibility. More than 50% of the debt has to be commercial
or business. In view of SBRA’s changes to the absolute priority rule, inter
alia, individual chapter 11 debtors with primarily business debts should
consider whether they can make the Subchapter 5 election. The eligibility requirements to be a small
business debtor have been modified insofar as more than 50% of the debt now
must be from the commercial or business activities of the debtor and the
exclusion for single asset real estate debtors has been clarified.
5.
CRAMDOWN
VS. CONSENSUAL PLANS: SBRA differentiates between confirmation under
§1191(a) and 1191(b). Section 1191(a)
deals with a plan that is accepted by all classes of claims – i.e., a
consensual plan. Section 1191(b)
addresses a “cramdown plan.” As
discussed herein, certain SBRA provisions apply, or do not apply, depending
upon whether the plan is consensual or not.
Existing law differentiates between a consensual plan and a cramdown.
However, the requirements to confirm a cramdown plan are essentially the same
as the requirements for a consensual plan, other than the absolute priority
rule. The SBRA eases the burdens for confirming
a cramdown plan and thus provides debtors with more leverage to negotiate
concessions from creditors. Conversely,
debtors fare better under SBRA if they are able to negotiate a consensual plan. As discussed herein, the SBRA tries to foster
consensual plans.
6.
NO
ABSOLUTE PRIORITY RULE. Like in
Chapter 13, the absolute priority rule does not apply with respect to classes
of unsecured creditors when the debtor makes the Subchapter 5 election. Thus, the owners of the business can retain
their ownership interest even if unsecured claims are not paid in full. Similarly, an individual debtor can retain
property even if they do not pay unsecured creditors in full. Secured creditors, on the other hand, still
must be paid in accordance with §1129, but like before, their claim can be
bifurcated into a secured and unsecured portion. Also, secured creditors can still make the
§1111(b) election. Prior to SBRA, the
owners of a…
Read More
As discussed in a previous post, on Friday, the Small Business Reorganization Act was signed into law and will take effect in 180 days. The new law, which FactorLaw will further summarize in future blog posts, adds a new subchapter to the Bankruptcy Code that is designed to make the process less expensive and more feasible for small businesses (defined as persons engaged in a commercial or business activity with aggregate and noncontingent debts of less than $2,725,625). The American Bankruptcy Institute indicates that some have estimated that about half the chapter 11 cases filed today could qualify for treatment under this new law.
Stay tuned as we continue to monitor these changes.
If you would like to speak to one of our experienced attorneys regarding your business, please call (312) 878-6976 or fill out a contact form here.
Read More
An excerpt:
“We are very much a family business, like many of the clients we are representing,” Factor says. “Providing top-notch service to our clients is the glue that holds us together. They’re getting the same service they would get at a major firm, but at a more affordable price, including flexible fee structures and more personalized attention.”
To access the complete article, click the link below.
Download
Read More
