What are the options for dealing with all the unsustainable company debt as a result of COVID-19?

How much money are we talking about?

March to July 2020 paid out £46 Billion loaned under CBILs, The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan and Bounce Back Loan Schemes.

Plus

£30 Billion in Vat Deferred (so far).

Plus more between now and March

=

Total unsustainable debt by March 2021 expected to be £100 Billion.

A third of which would stem from government loan schemes

Who’s prepared this report?

TheCityUK who represent a number of UK financial and professional businesses – 50 firms, 200 individuals, some really big players.

How many jobs would be lost if action isn’t taken?

3 million, estimated

How many businesses will go to the wall if action isn’t taken?

About one third of the 2.3m businesses who have taken a CBILS or BBLS loan.  To put that into context, there are about 4 million companies live at Companies House at any one time.

Where are these businesses?

Three quarters are outside of London

What’s the purpose of the report?

To find a restructuring solution that gives more businesses a chance of surviving, and reduce the call on the government’s guarantees to the banks

Where do I find this report?

Here’s a link to a 148 page report by TheCityUK.

Wow, just wow!  This early exploration makes for frightening reading…