On January 6, 2020, the SBA published its 26th Interim Final Rule (the First Draw PPP IFR) and 27th Interim Final Rule (the Second Draw PPP IFR)[1] with respect to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as reauthorized and modified under Title III (cited as the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (the Economic Aid Act)) of Division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.  The PPP was originally enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the enactment of the Economic Aid Act, including by the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, applicable federal regulations and interpretive guidance issued by the SBA and Treasury, the CARES Act).
Continue Reading Paycheck Protection Program: SBA Issues Guidance on First Draw and Second Draw PPP Loans and Releases PPP Applications Pursuant to the Economic Aid Act

Among the various bills that were amalgamated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the omnibus appropriations and stimulus funding bill that was signed into law on December 27, 2020) was a modified version of the Save Our Stages Act (the “SOS Act”), a bill first introduced into the Senate by Sen. John Cornyn (TX) on July 22, 2020. The SOS Act can be found in Section 324 of the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Business, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, which act comprises Title III of Division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.  The SOS Act establishes a new grant program (the “SOS Program”, also known as the “grant program for shuttered venue operators”) to be administered by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) to aid certain financially distressed venue operators, event promoters or producers, and talent representatives.
Continue Reading The Save Our Stages Act – Time for Eligible Businesses to Get Ready for Their Audition (Part 1 of 2)

[Update: This article has been updated since its initial publication on December 31, 2020.]

On December 27, 2020, President Donald Trump signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act), an omnibus statute that is comprised of, among other laws, twelve fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills for the federal government and an economic aid package to assist business concerns that continue to face hardships due to the COIVD-19 pandemic.  Title III of the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which is cited as the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (the Act), among other matters, reauthorizes and modifies the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL), as enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the enactment of the Act, including the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, applicable federal regulations and interpretive guidance issued by the SBA and Treasury (the CARES Act)).
Continue Reading UPDATED: The Reauthorization and Revival of the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program under the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act

On October 2, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released a Procedural Notice providing guidance addressed to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) lenders and SBA employees as to the circumstances under which prior SBA approval is required before a borrower of a PPP loan undergoes a change of ownership.[1]  In particular, the October 2, 2020 Procedural Notice includes instructions to PPP lenders on how they may address equity or asset M&A transactions, ownership restructurings, or transfers of ownership interests involving their PPP borrowers.  Importantly, the October 2, 2020 Procedural Notice does not clearly address the circumstance of a change of ownership of a PPP borrower resulting from the issuance of additional ownership interests in the PPP borrower.[2]
Continue Reading The October 2, 2020 SBA Procedural Notice: Change of Ownership Transactions Involving PPP Borrowers

On July 4, 2020, President Trump signed into law a bill passed by the U.S. Congress that extends the application deadline for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)[1] from June 30, 2020 to August 8, 2020.  The extension of the PPP application deadline comes on the heels of the latest PPP report issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) stating that, as of June 30, 2020, approximately $131 billion of the allocated $670 billion remains unspent.  In their report the SBA and Treasury added that, as of June 30, 2020, the average PPP loan size was $107,000, and that the PPP has supported approximately 51 million jobs, or roughly 84% of all employees working at small businesses.
Continue Reading PPP Updates: Extension of the Application Deadline, Disclosure of PPP Borrowers Receiving Greater than $150,000 in PPP Loans, and the “Owner-Employee” Dilemma

On May 15, 2020, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued the Loan Forgiveness Application for borrowers to complete in order to apply for loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including, without limitation, by the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, applicable federal regulations and interpretive guidance issued by the SBA and Treasury, the CARES Act).  The Loan Forgiveness Application includes a loan forgiveness calculation form and related Schedule A worksheet as well as an optional PPP borrower demographic information form.

Highlights of what we believe to be material new guidance or clarification of existing guidance regarding PPP loan forgiveness are as follows:
Continue Reading Paycheck Protection Program: Key Features of the Loan Forgiveness Application

On May 13, 2020, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an updated Frequently Asked Questions fact sheet (FAQ)[1], which provides interpretative guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).[2]
Continue Reading Paycheck Protection Program: SBA Issues Further Guidance on its Review of the Economic Uncertainty Certification made by PPP Borrowers

On April 28, 2020, U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) administrator Jovita Carranza issued a Joint Statement stating that a “review” will be conducted for businesses seeking loan forgiveness for loans in excess of $2 million under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).  Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and SBA administrator Carranza added that “regulatory guidance implementing this procedure will be forthcoming.”
Continue Reading The SBA and U.S. Treasury Announce Full “Review” of Businesses Receiving PPP Loans Greater than $2 Million

On April 14, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued its Third Interim Finale Rule[1]   with respect to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Third Interim Final Rule is supplemental to the (i) First Interim Final Rule issued by the SBA on April 2, 2020, (ii) Second Interim Final Rule issued by the SBA on April 4, 2020 and (iii) Applicable Affiliation Rules fact sheet that was issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) on April 4, 2020 and (iv) the Frequently Asked Questions fact sheet (FAQ)[2] issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury), which was last updated on April 15, 2020 at the time of this publication.
Continue Reading Further Expansion Of Eligibility And Additional Guidance On The Paycheck Protection Program: The SBA’s April 14, 2020 Interim Final Rule

On April 3, 2020, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released further guidance on the affiliation rules applicable to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, via the Treasury’s Applicable Affiliation Rules fact sheet and the SBA’s Second Interim Final Rule[1] (collectively, the Updated Affiliation Guidance). The Updated Affiliation Guidance is supplemental to the SBA’s First Interim Final Rule that was issued on April 2, 2020.
Continue Reading Updates on the Affiliation Rules Applicable to the Paycheck Protection Program (Title I of the CARES Act)