Small businesses facing mounting debt obligation from an SBA loan may seek a small business reorganization under the new bankruptcy law.
Book a Consultation CallThe rapid deterioration of the American job market (and the world job market) will make it tough on San Diego businesses in the coming months. The new Chapter 11 Subchapter V bankruptcy may provide an easier solution for small businesses. A small business reorganization may save your business.
Employment
No matter how you slice it, the employment picture does not bode well for small businesses. With people out of work, less money will be spent in the economy and at your business. Unfortunately, this will further negatively affect employment. Even with the Payment Protection Program and various deferments, the situation does not look good for small businesses. For many small businesses, an SBA 7a or 504 loan consists of the main debt obligation. Without a small business reorganization, the lender and / or the SBA can attempt to collect.
Like many businesses, your business may be facing a downturn. The options may seem few. Lending programs, like the SBA's Disaster Loan program, may help but serve to add debt to an existing debt problem. The regular Chapter 11 bankruptcy provides protection from creditors while a business reorganizes its debts, but it remains a costly and time-consuming option. If the situation exists as too dire, your business could just shut its doors. But, as a small business owner, you may still owe on your business debts as a personal guarantor. For instance, you will remain personally liable on an SBA loan even if your business closes its doors.
The new Chapter 11 bankruptcy went into effect in February of 2020. As such, a small business whose main debt consists of an SBA loan may use the new bankruptcy to reorganize the debt. Therefore, a bankruptcy reorganization may enable your small business to quickly and efficiently restructure its SBA debt. By reorganizing the debt, your small business may reduce its monthly debt obligation to coincide with its cash flow. A reorganization bankruptcy would allow your small business to continue operating.
If your San Diego County small business needs reorganization of its SBA loan debt, talk to one of our experienced attorneys today.
Millions of Dollars in SBA Debts Resolved via Offer in Compromise and Negotiated Repayment Agreements without our Clients filing for Bankruptcy or Facing Home Foreclosure
Millions of Dollars in Treasury Debts Defended Against via AWG Hearings, Treasury Offset Program Resolution, Cross-servicing Disputes, Private Collection Agency Representation, Compromise Offers and Negotiated Repayment Agreements
Our Attorneys are Authorized by the Agency Practice Act to Represent Federal Debtors Nationwide before the SBA, The SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals, the Treasury Department, and the Bureau of Fiscal Service.
Clients executed several trust deeds pledging seven (7) real estate properties and unconditional personal guarantees for an SBA 7(a) loan from the participating lender. The clients' small business failed and eventually defaulted on repayment of the loan exposing all collateral pledged by the clients. The SBA subsequently acquired the loan balance from the lender, including the right to liquidate and collect all pledged collateral pursuant to the trust deed instruments.
The Firm was hired to negotiate separate release of lien proposals for all 7 real estate properties. In preparation for the work assignment, the Firm Attorneys initiated discovery to secure records from the SBA and Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service. After reviewing the records and understanding the interplay between the lender and the SBA, the attorneys then prepared, submitted and negotiated the release of lien (ROL) for each of the 7 real estate properties for consideration.
After submitting the proposals, the assigned SBA Loan Specialists approved each ROL package - significantly reducing the total SBA debt claimed.
The client personally guaranteed an SBA 7(a) loan for $150,000. His business revenue decreased significantly causing default and an accelerated balance of $143,000. The client received the SBA's Official 60-day notice with the debt scheduled for referral to the Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service for aggressive collection in less than 26 days. We were hired to represent him, respond to the SBA's Official 60-day notice, and prevent enforced collection by the Treasury and the Department of Justice. We successfully negotiated a structured workout with an extended maturity date that included a reduction of the 14% interest rate and removal of substantial collection fees (30% of the loan balance), effectively saving the client over $242,000.
Client’s small business obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for $750,000. She and her husband signed personal guarantees exposing all of their non-exempt income and assets. With just 18 months left on the maturity date and payment on the remaining balance, the Great Recession of 2008 hit, which ultimately caused the business to fail and default on the loan terms. The 7(a) lender accelerated and sent a demand for full payment of the remaining loan balance. The SBA lender’s note allowed for a default interest rate of about 7% per year. In response to the lender's aggressive collection action, Client's husband filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in an attempt to protect against their personal assets. However, his bankruptcy discharge did not relieve the Client's personal guarantee liability for the SBA debt. The SBA lender opted to pursue the SBA 7(a) Guaranty and subsequently assigned the loan and the right to enforce collection against the Client to the SBA. The Client then received the SBA Official 60-Day Notice. After conducting a Case Evaluation with her, she then hired the Firm to respond and negotiate on her behalf with just 34 days left before the impending referral to Treasury. The Client wanted to dispute the SBA’s alleged debt balance as stated in the 60-Day Notice by claiming the 7(a) lender failed to liquidate business collateral in a commercially reasonable manner - which if done properly - proceeds would have paid back the entire debt balance. However, due to time constraints, waivers contained in the SBA loan instruments, including the fact the Client was not able to inspect the SBA's records for investigation purposes before the remaining deadline, Client agreed to submit a Structured Workout for the alleged balance in response to the Official 60-Day Notice as she was not eligible for an Offer in Compromise (OIC) because of equity in non-exempt income and assets. After back and forth negotiations, the SBA Loan Specialist approved the Workout proposal, reducing the Client's purported liability by nearly $142,142.27 in accrued interest, and statutory collection fees. Without the Firm's intervention and subsequent approval of the Workout proposal, the Client's debt amount (with accrued interest, Treasury's statutory collection fee and Treasury's interest based on the Current Value of Funds Rate (CVFR) would have been nearly $291,030.
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