Apply For The Coronavirus Future Fund

In this difficult time of Coronavirus outbreak, there are many schemes introduced by UK government to provide financial support to small and medium sized businesses. One of them is Coronavirus future fund scheme. Coronavirus future fund scheme is the scheme introduced by UK government to provide adequate funds to the businesses facing financial difficulties in operating their businesses in coronavirus pandemic.

• What is Coronavirus future fund scheme?
• Who can apply for Coronavirus future fund scheme?
• How much minimum and maximum amount of Loan sanctioned by the government?
• How much is the Term and rate of interest in Coronavirus future fund scheme?
• What is the concept of bridge funding under Coronavirus future fund scheme?
• Decision making rights of the government
• Warranties provided by the Company

Coronavirus Future Fund Scheme

Coronavirus future fund scheme is the scheme announced by UK government to issue convertible loans between £125000 to £5 million to innovative companies who are not having adequate funds and facing financial difficulties in continuing business operations due to coronavirus outbreak.

These convertible loans issued by the UK government may considered as a suitable option for those businesses that rely on equity investment and unable to take the advantage from the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme. The government have assigned initially a total amount of £250,000,000 for this scheme. It has been started in May 2020 and open for applications until 30 November 2020.

The scheme is issued in partnership with the British business bank.

Eligibility of the Coronavirus Future Fund

In order to get eligible for this scheme, you need to meet certain conditions. You are eligible only -

• If your business is UK based
• If your company is a UK unlisted registered company
• If your business was incorporated on or before 31 December 2019
• If you have raised at least £250,000 in aggregate in the last 5 years from funding rounds from third party investors in UK
• If your company is a member of a corporate group
• If you are capable of attracting equivalent amount of funding from matched investors (Rest of the 50% from bridge funding issued by the government)
• No share trading on a regulated market, multilateral trading facility or other listing venue
• If any of the following statements are true –
  1. Half or more employees in your business are UK based
  2. Half or more revenues earned are from UK sales.
• If you have done the following checks before applying or accessing the loan –
  1. Customer Fraud
  2. Money Laundering
  3. KYC

Minimum & Maximum amount of Loan Sanctioning

The minimum loan amount sanctioned by the government to any UK company under coronavirus future funding scheme shall be £125,000 whereas the maximum loan amount sanctioned shall be £5,000,000.

Term & Rate Of Interest for The Coronavirus Future Fund

The loan will be offered to the eligible UK companies for maximum period of 36 months. The government shall receive minimum of 8% interest annually to be paid by the loan holder on the date of loan maturity. Higher the agreed rate between the company and the matched investors, higher will be the rate of interest.

Bridge Funding Issued Under Coronavirus Future Fund Scheme

Meaning & Use Of Bridge Funding

The bridge funding is the funding of 50% of the loan sanctioned amount by the UK government to the eligible UK businesses under coronavirus future fund scheme. The bridge funding issued by the government must be used exclusively for working capital purposes.

Non-Usage of Bridge Funding

Bridge funding issued under coronavirus future fund scheme shall not be used by the businesses for the following purposes –

1. To repay any borrowings
2. To pay bonuses or dividends to staff members, management, consultants or shareholders.
3. To pay placement fees
4. To pay bonuses to external advisors
5. Payment in respect of government loan
6. Payment to any advisory

Decision Making

Government holds limited corporate governing rights during the tenure of the loan and even after loan conversion as a shareholder.

Warranties

Limited warranties shall be provided by the company in respect of the following –

1. Title & ownership
2. Loan eligibility as per government eligibility criteria & law compliances
3. Borrowing facilities of the company
4. Loan closing of lenders in litigation and insolvency matters.

In case you have questions or need assistance in applying for the "Coronavirus Future Fund”, kindly call us on 03330886686 or you can e-mail us on enquiry@dnsaccountants.co.uk

Also Read :

1. Budget 2020 Summary
2. How to get Coronavirus grant from the government for small businesses?
3. Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)
4. SEIS and EIS Investment Scheme for UK Startups
5. Government Support for Small Businesses to Fight Coronavirus Crisis

About the author

Sumit Agarwal
Sumit Agarwal (ACMA ACA India), the Managing partner of dns accountants is a highly respected accountant with expertise in helping owner-managed businesses.