Gridiron Capital (“Gridiron” or the “Firm”), a private equity firm specializing in business services, consumer products & services, and industrial growth, announced its 2026 promotions, which included the elevation of Scott Harrison to Managing Partner & Chief Operating Officer, Jessica Kurys to Managing Director & Chief Financial Officer, Andrew Kahn to Managing Director, Julen Uriguen to Principal, Pranav (Nav) Maganti to Senior Associate, and Spencer Oakes to Assistant Controller, Funds.

Barnes & Thornburg is adding 35 lawyers, including 25 partners, to its Government Services and Finance Department. The move catapults Barnes & Thornburg to the national forefront in advising private and public sector clients on complex public finance deals and advancing infrastructure projects.

A&G Real Estate Partners is marketing stores and warehouses across the United States on behalf of the successful stalking-horse bidder for home furnishings retailer American Signature, Inc. (ASI), parent of Value City Furniture and American Signature Furniture.

B. Riley Securities, Inc., a leading full-service investment bank, announced it served as a placement agent in connection with the successful closing of Immunic, Inc.'s (“Immunic”) (Nasdaq: IMUX) private placement of up to $400 million.

First Business Bank's Accounts Receivable Financing group announces the funding of a $2.0 million factoring facility for a client in Virginia that performs IT consulting services for large customers.

CIBC Innovation Banking announced today the provision of a $50 million growth capital facility to AlayaCare Inc., a leading provider of innovative home and community care software solutions. The financing will support AlayaCare’s continued growth as well as strategic mergers and acquisitions, furthering its mission to transform the delivery of care across Canada, the U.S., and globally.

Star Mountain Capital, LLC ("Star Mountain"), a rapidly growing, employee-owned investment firm with approximately $4.5 billion in assets under management (“AUM”), is pleased to announce that Paul Efron has joined the firm as a Senior Advisor.

B. Riley Securities, Inc., a leading full-service investment bank, today announced it served as bookrunner for Gladstone Investment Corporation’s (NASDAQ: GAIN) $100,000,000 public offering of senior unsecured notes.

In the high desert of Taos, New Mexico, Humble Brands has achieved a rare feat: scaling a mission-driven personal care business while maintaining total control over manufacturing and ingredient integrity. As the brand enters its most ambitious growth phase to date, Assembled Brands is proud to provide a flexible, non-dilutive capital credit line necessary to turn Humble’s vision into a nationwide standard.

Court approval of GDA Luma’s financing represents a defining milestone in the recapitalization of Pat McGrath Labs and marks the beginning of a new phase of strong stewardship and long-term growth.

Middle market businesses are entering 2026 with surging confidence, with 77% expressing positive outlooks for company performance over the next 12 months—approaching historic highs—even as only half view the broader U.S. economy positively, according to KeyBank's Q4 2025 Middle Market Sentiment Survey of 750 financial decision-makers at companies with $10M-$1B in revenue.

Republic Business Credit provided a $3 million factoring facility to a growing West Coast-based textile manufacturer. The facility provides the Company with additional capital to expand operations and enter into more market segments.

First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company ("First Citizens Bank"), the wholly owned banking subsidiary of First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCNCA), announced today that Chairman and CEO Frank Holding has been appointed to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors' Federal Advisory Council (FAC) for 2026. Holding will represent the Fifth District on behalf of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Rising operating costs and a 250% increase in taxes in 2 years made traditional financing challenging for a long-established, owner-operated retail and event center in South Texas. The business owners generated steady revenue through retail leases and ticketed events supported by a diverse vendor base for over 3 decades, but a flexible capital solution was needed to preserve long-term real estate equity.

MONTICELLOAM, LLC (“MONTICELLOAM”), a specialized seniors housing and multifamily bridge lending platform, along with firm affiliates, provided $80,000,000 in combined bridge and working capital financing to four skilled nursing facilities in Pennsylvania.

Hilco Global announced today that Lauren Leach has joined the firm as Senior Director, Receivership Advisory, specializing in fiduciary services. Ms. Leach will support the continued growth and expansion of the Hilco Global Receivership practice.

The Hedaya Capital Group recently provided an $8 million factoring facility to a New York City-based female-founded private label footwear development company supporting the next phase of its rapid growth across major retail and e-commerce channels.

Darryl E. Mazow has joined FBT Gibbons as a partner in its Corporate Law practice group in Houston, further expanding the firm’s transactional and private equity capabilities serving mid-market businesses and investors nationwide.

Lighthouse Financial Corp. is pleased to announce the completion of an $8,500,000 Credit Facility to a Georgia-based manufacturer and distributor of Appalachian hardwood products, including a $7,000,000 Revolving Line of Credit and $1,500,000 Term Loan. Founded in 1952, the company has grown into a vertically integrated hardwood group consisting of drying yards, moulding facilities, distribution operations, and an in-house logistics division serving customers throughout the Southeast.

Global law firm Clifford Chance has hired partner Christopher Phillips-Hart to its Funds & Investment Management practice in the US, continuing to grow its global private capital offering.