The CLBILS will open on Monday 20 April 2020

Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme will open Monday 20 April 2020

Updated 17th April 2020

The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) will open on Monday 20 April 2020 to facilitate access to finance for medium-sized and larger businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

About the scheme

The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) provides financial support to mid-sized and larger UK businesses across the UK that are losing revenue, and seeing their cashflow disrupted, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Specifically, it facilitates access to finance for businesses with a turnover above £45 million, the upper limit for the existing smaller-business focused Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

How it works

CLBILS will be available through a range of British Business Bank accredited lenders and partners, which will be listed on the British Business Bank website.

A lender can provide:

  • up to £25 million to businesses with turnover from £45 million up to £250 million
  • up to £50 million to businesses for those with a turnover of over £250 million

Finance is available in the form of:

  • term loans
  • revolving credit facilities (including overdrafts)
  • invoice finance
  • asset finance

CLBILS gives the lender a government-backed partial guarantee (80%) against the outstanding balance of the facility.

The borrower remains fully liable for the debt.

Under the scheme, personal guarantees of any form will not be taken for facilities below £250,000.

For facilities above £250,000, personal guarantees may still be required, but claims cannot exceed 20% of losses after all other recoveries have been applied.

Who is eligible

Your business must:

  • Be UK-based in its business activity
  • Have an annual turnover of more than £45 million
  • Have a borrowing proposal which the lender would consider viable, were it not for the current pandemic, and for which the lender believes the provision of finance will enable the business to trade out of any short-term to medium-term difficulty
  • Self-certify that it has been adversely impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Not have received a facility under the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF).

Lenders will need further information to confirm eligibility. All lending decisions remain fully delegated to the accredited lenders.

If you have concerns or questions, please contact us on 01932 830664 or through your usual client partner contact. As further details are announced, we will keep you informed.

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About the author

Richard Hayward is a WardWilliams partner who advise clients of the latest rules and regulations.