On March 27, the president signed into law Phase 3 of the federal stimulus program, called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act. Title I of the act, titled the Keeping American Workers Paid and Employed Act (KAWPEA), directs, among other amounts, $349 billion to small businesses as part of an expansion of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Section 7(a) loan program under a new paycheck protection loan program (PPP) as well as $10 billion through an expansion to the SBA’s Section 7(b) economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) program.

In In re Entringer Bakeries, Inc.,1 the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the viability of the “earmarking doctrine” as a judicially-created defense to a preference action under section 547(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

The SBA’s Rules Exclude Bankruptcy Debtors From Relief Under the Paycheck Protection Program

The SBA’s Rules Exclude Bankruptcy Debtors from Relief Under the Paycheck Protection Program

On May 31, 2021, ALH Properties No. Fourteen, LP, owner and operator of the Embassy Suites Houston Downtown hotel in Houston, TX, filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (Case No. 21-31797). The company estimated $50 million to $100 million in assets and $10 million to $50 million in liabilities.

“On May 31, 3031, Avadim Health, Inc. along with several affiliates, which operate an Asheville, North Carolina-based privately held skincare and wellness company, filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 21-10883). The company reports $10 million to $50 million in assets and $50 million to $100 million in liabilities.

On May 31, 2021, Kumtor Gold Company CSJC, a Kyrgyz Republic-based operator of the Kumtor mine located in the Kyrgyz Republic, along with Kumtor Operating Company CSJC, filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 21-11051). The company estimated $1 billion to $10 billion in assets and $100 million to $500 million in liabilities.

On May 19, 2021, Hospitality Investors Trust Operating Partnership, L.P., a New York-based hotel industry real estate investment trust, severely impacted by the Covid-19 related travel drop-offs, along with affiliate Hospitality Investors Trust, Inc., filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 21-10830).

On August 1, 2021, Alpha Latam Management, LLC, a Miami-based financial services company that historically provides consumer loans in Latin America, along with certain affiliates, filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case 21-11109).  The company reports $100 million to $500 million in estimated assets and $500 million to $1 billion in estimated liabilities.  As described further in the 

On May 14, 2021, Gateway Kensington LLC, filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 21-22274).