Enforcement of loan covenants

(a)

Loans received under COVID–19 relief programs

Any loan that a borrower receives under a COVID–19 relief program may not be taken into account—(1)in determining whether—(A)the borrower is in violation of any loan covenant of a covered loan; or(B)a lender may accelerate the due date of any covered loan agreement; or(2)in calculating the debts or liabilities of the borrower for purposes of determining whether such borrower is in conformity with any covered loan agreement.(b)

Loan covenants not enforceable during COVID–19 national emergency

(1)

In general

A lender may not enforce any loan covenant during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the day that is 1 year after the termination of the national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020, under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) relating to the COVID–19 pandemic. (2)

Rulemaking

Not later than the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue such regulations and guidance as may be necessary to ensure that any lender who complies with the requirements described in paragraph (1) is not deemed to be in violation of any law or regulation relating to the enforcement of loan covenants. (c)

Trustee or person with fiduciary duty not liable

(1)

In general

No trustee or other person with a fiduciary duty to the holders of any debt security shall be liable for any decision made not to enforce a loan covenant related to such debt security.(2)

Applicability

Paragraph (1) shall only apply during the period beginning on March 12, 2020, and ending on March 13, 2022.(d)

Definitions

In this Act, the following definitions apply:(1)

Covered loan

The term covered loan means a loan entered into on or before the date of the enactment of this Act. (2)

COVID–19 relief program

The term COVID–19 relief program means any program created by—(A)the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116–123);(B)the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116–127);(C)the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136); or(D)the Federal Government or any State, local, Tribal, or territorial government for the purpose of reducing the financial losses of businesses caused by the spread of COVID–19.(3)

Loan covenant

The term loan covenant means any provision in a covered loan agreement that allows or requires the acceleration of repayments due under any loan agreement or that reduces the availability of funds under a line of credit—(A)due to any act or omission of a borrower or any entity related to the borrower; or(B)because the total liabilities or current liabilities of a borrower exceed—(i)any benchmark; or(ii)any percentage of the assets of the borrower, revenues, equity, or any other benchmark.