Banking & Finance

SME Loan Financing Obligations Amidst Covid-19

The Monetary Authority of Singapore has announced a set of relief measures meant to ease the financial strain on small and medium enterprises ("SMEs") in Singapore. Such relief measures include support for SMEs to defer the payment of principal on their secured loans and the provision of loans to SMEs at potentially lower interest rates. Furthermore, on 7 April 2020, the Parliament passed the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020, which provides for support and protection for SMEs which are unable to perform their obligations under scheduled contracts due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. 

Such measures include a six-month moratorium period starting from 20 April 2020 during which SMEs are provided broad protection against legal action and enforcement of security in respect of certain scheduled contracts and temporary modifications to the insolvency regime to limit certain insolvency proceedings. 

This Update discusses the relief measures relating to SME loan financing obligations amid COVID-19.