PPP Loan Frequently Asked Questions

Please note: This blog is current to the date of its publication, Tuesday, April 28. For additional updates or assistance navigating these uncertain times, please contact us or visit our SST COVID-19 resource page.

 

The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), after initial funding was exhausted on April 16. While definitely a step in the right direction, the program still has many nuances and complexities that businesses should fully understand.

To help, the SBA published an updated response to the most commonly asked questions about the PPP, available to view in full here. Below are several key points that we’ve identified for our clients.

Expanded Guidance Regarding Affiliation and Eligibility Requirements

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 Affiliation. A borrower must certify on the Borrower Application Form that the borrower is eligible to receive a PPP loan, and that certification means that the borrower is a small business concern as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632), meets the applicable SBA employee-based or revenue-based size standard, or meets the tests in SBA’s alternative size standard, after applying the affiliation rules, if applicable. SBA’s existing affiliation exclusions apply to the PPP, including, for example the exclusions under 13 CFR 121.103(b)(2)

Question: The affiliation rule based on ownership (13 C.F.R. 121.301(f)(1)) states that SBA will deem a minority shareholder in a business to control the business if the shareholder has the right to prevent a quorum or otherwise block action by the board of directors or shareholders. If a minority shareholder irrevocably gives up those rights, is it still considered to be an affiliate of the business?

Answer: No. If a minority shareholder in a business irrevocably waives or relinquishes any existing rights specified in 13 C.F.R. 121.301(f)(1), the minority shareholder would no longer be an affiliate of the business (assuming no other relationship that triggers the affiliation rules).

Safe Harbor Through May 7, 2020 for Borrowers Reassessing Their Economic Need

Question: Do businesses owned by large companies with adequate sources of liquidity to support the business’s ongoing operations qualify for a PPP loan?

Answer: In addition to reviewing applicable affiliation rules to determine eligibility, all borrowers must assess their economic need for a PPP loan under the standard established by the CARES Act and the PPP regulations at the time of the loan application. Although the CARES Act suspends the ordinary requirement that borrowers must be unable to obtain credit elsewhere (as defined in section 3(h) of the Small Business Act), borrowers still must certify in good faith that their PPP loan request is necessary. Specifically, before submitting a PPP application, all borrowers should review carefully the required certification that “[c]urrent economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the Applicant.” Borrowers must make this certification in good faith, taking into account their current business activity and their ability to access other sources of liquidity sufficient to support their ongoing operations in a manner that is not significantly detrimental to the business. For example, it is unlikely that a public company with substantial market value and access to capital markets will be able to make the required certification in good faith, and such a company should be prepared to demonstrate to SBA, upon request, the basis for its certification.

Ministerial Housing Allowances

Question: Does the cost of a housing stipend or allowance provided to an employee as part of compensation count toward payroll costs?

Answer: Yes. Payroll costs includes all cash compensation paid to employees, subject to the $100,000 annual compensation per employee limitation

COVID-19 assistance programs like the PPP are comprehensive and can be complex to navigate, but SST is here to help. We’re closely monitoring any updates and encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns.

For an in-depth look at these questions and more, contact your SST account manager today.

Thanks to SST Partner Emily Cook for providing the content for this blog post. Click here to learn more about Emily.