Limitations on grants (September 2020 – February 2021)

After calculating the grant, check whether the grant must be reduced in accordance with one of the limitation rules.

Grants and compensation for lost stock cannot exceed the decrease in turnover in NOK; see Section 3-8 

See cf. § 3-8

Calculated grants and compensation for lost stock cannot exceed the decrease in turnover measured in NOK.

The reduction in sales turnover equals to the difference between the revenue in the grant period compared with the revenue in the comparative period.

Enterprises will not be awarded a larger grant than is permitted under this rule.

Example reduction of a grant under the first limitation rule (September/October)

Calculated grant according to the normal calculation formula
aFixed costs150 000
b
c
Scale factor
Decrease in turnover
0,7
90%
Calculated grant
(a * b * c)
94 500
Maximum grant under the first limitation rule
aEstimated normal turnover for September/October 2020100 000
bActual turnover for September/October 202010 000
Maximum grant (a-b)90 000

Reduction in grants for enterprises which recorded a deficit during the previous financial year

See cf. § 3-1 fourth paragraph

This limitation rule may result in a reduction in the grant paid to an enterprise which recorded a deficit in the last financial year ending before 1 March 2020. In most cases this will be the accounting year of 2019.

The limitation rule means that enterprises cannot be awarded a grant based on a greater share of fixed costs than the enterprise itself would be able to cover during a normal period without recording a deficit.

However, this limitation rule will not apply if information confirmed by an auditor or authorised accountant can be presented to verify that the enterprise generated a positive ordinary result before tax in January and February 2020. In this case, only the first limitation rule will apply.

If the enterprise still recorded a deficit in January and February 2020, but the average deficit was less than the average monthly deficit in 2019, the lower of the two deficits (i.e. the higher result) of the two may be used to determine the maximum grant.

Maximum limit under the previous rule

Enterprises may not receive a larger grant than a maximum limit calculated using the following formula:

Max. grant = Decrease in turnover as a percentage* (fixed, unavoidable costs+ordinary result before tax)

The decrease in turnover expressed as a percentage and fixed, unavoidable costs will be the same figures that form the basis for calculating the grant according to the normal formula.

The ordinary result before tax for 2019 multiplied by 2 (number of months in the grant period) divided by 12 months. For enterprises with a different financial year ending during the period January – February 2020, the ordinary result before tax for this financial year must be used as a basis. In the case of enterprises with a non-standard financial year ending on 30 April or 30 June, for example, the financial year ending on 30 April or 30 June 2019 respectively must be used as a basis, as this is the most recent financial year ending before 1 March 2020.

If the enterprise was established in 2019, with the consequence that the financial year does not cover a full 12 months, the result must be divided by the number of months that the financial year includes.

Example reduction of a grant under the second limitation rule (September/October)

Calculated grant according to the normal calculation formula
aFixed costs200 000
b
c
Adjustment factor*
Decrease in turnover
0,7
70%
Calculated grant (a * b * c)98 000

* Adjustment factor is 0,7 for September/October, 0,85 for November/December and 0,85 for January/February 2021.

Maximum grant under the second limitation rule
Fixed costs
– Result deficit
200 000
-100 000
aTotal100 000
bDecrease in turnover70%
Maximum grant (a*b)70 000

If the result for January/February 2020 has improved

Alternatively, if the company recorded a deficit in 2019, you can use the ordinary result before tax for January and February 2020, if this result is higher (i.e. a smaller deficit or a positive result).

Amount thresholds

Calculated grants and compensation for lost stock amounting to less than NOK 5,000 per grant period will not be awarded. If this amounts to NOK 5 000 or more per grant period, the entire calculated grant will be awarded.

In the event that the calculated grant exceeds MNOK 60 in each grant period, amounts exceeding MNOK 60 is reduced by a factor of 0.5. The maximum grant for each grant period is MNOK 160 for a company or group. Compensation for lost stock is not included in the maximum grant limit per grant period.