Audax Private Debt (“Audax”), a leading provider of financing solutions for middle market private equity sponsors, announced today that it successfully closed Audax Direct Lending Solutions Fund II, LP (“DLS Fund II”) with $3.0 billion of capital commitments. The new fund, which reached its hard cap, exceeded its fundraising target of $2.25 billion and, including targeted leverage, provides New York-based Audax Private Debt with $4.5 billion of total investable capital.

Greater Commercial Lending (GCL), which provides government-guaranteed loans to businesses and organizations in rural communities, has completed $80 million in financing for Lane Regional Medical Center in Zachary, Louisiana. The loan package, guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will go towards renovating and expanding the existing hospital facility.

Ares Capital Corporation (“Ares Capital”) (NASDAQ: ARCC) announced today that Jana Markowicz was appointed as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this newly created role, Ms. Markowicz will also serve as COO of Ares Management’s (“Ares”) U.S. Direct Lending strategy where she will collaborate with the U.S. Direct Lending Co-Heads and Investment Committee members in the management of the team and strategy.

Commercial Funding Inc., a national provider of accounts receivable financing, including invoice factoring, and asset based lending, has closed a $3 million factoring facility for a rapidly growing provider of security services.

Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: MAIN) ("Main Street") is pleased to announce the expansion of total commitments under its revolving credit facility (the "Credit Facility") from $920.0 million to $980.0 million. The $60.0 million net increase in total commitments was the result of the addition of a new lender relationship.

United Capital Funding Group LLC, a Florida-based factoring firm with offices in Chicago recently provided a $2.5 million Debtor-In-Possession (DIP) facility to a California-based sports equipment wholesaler. With this new flexible form of financing, the wholesaler could work through its post-petition plan of reorganization and maintain its long-standing relationship with its major retail customer.

Assembled Brands announced five new partnerships and roughly $12MM in new facilities during the winter months of last year, dispersed to emerging consumer brands from multiple industries. The funds support growth opportunities, improve inventory positions and relieve some of the capital constraints many businesses faced due to economic uncertainty in 2022.

First Citizens Bank today announced that its Maritime Finance group, part of the CIT division, served as sole lead arranger on $44.2 million in debt financing for Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (“Navios Partners”). Proceeds from the financing, which is secured by product tankers, will be used by Navios Partners to refinance existing debt.

First Business Bank announces that its accounts receivable financing team recently funded a $10 million accounts receivable ledgered Line facility to a client operating as a transportation brokerage.

Pegasus Airlines closed the first ever sustainability-linked aircraft-secured term loan (“SLL”), which was guaranteed by UK Export Finance for the financing of ten new Airbus A321neo aircraft. The transaction was led by Societe Generale, acting as global arranger, sustainability structurer, facility agent and security trustee.

Forum Mobility, a zero-emission trucking solutions provider, today announced the closure of a $15 million Series A funding round, and a new $400 million joint venture, both led by a fund sponsored by CBRE Investment Management, to provide comprehensive, zero-emission charging and vehicle solutions to drayage truck fleets and drivers. Homecoming Capital also participated in the Series A funding round and provided $100 million to the joint venture.

William Blair, the premier global boutique with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management, today announced the expansion of the equity research team with the addition of Scott Hansen as associate director of research. Based in New York, Hansen will work closely with and report to William Blair’s director of research, John Kreger.

Phoenix’s Q4 2022 “Lending Climate in America” survey asked lenders how the average consumer will approach their holiday spending. The majority of lenders, sixty percent, believe an increase in prices will result in less holiday spending, but will not result in a material decrease from prior years. The other forty percent of the lenders surveyed believe that consumers will reduce their Q4’22 spending, which will have the greatest effect on small business relying on holiday revenue.

RelPro, the fast-growing business development and relationship management solution for Financial & Professional Services, today announced the integration of two new datasets into its platform: one to expand its coverage of medical practices, and the other to add details of corporate employee benefits programs.

Great Rock Capital, an asset-focused commercial finance company specializing in middle market lending, today announced the closing of a $20 million senior secured credit facility with Jet East, a Gama Aviation Company. Jet East is a one of the nation’s leading aviation maintenance providers for scheduled maintenance, unscheduled on-demand mobile maintenance, and related services in the areas of structural and component repairs, composite work, non-destructive testing, and paint capabilities.

-Enviva Inc. (NYSE: EVA) (“Enviva,” “our,” “we,” or the “Company”) today announced the closing of a senior secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan”) in the amount of $105 million, maturing in June 2027. Borrowing rates under the Term Loan are variable and calculated as SOFR plus 400 basis points. Enviva intends to use the net proceeds from the Term Loan to reduce borrowings under its senior secured revolving credit facility.

Gridiron Capital, LLC (“Gridiron Capital”), an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, today announced a growth investment in Legacy Service Partners, LLC (“Legacy” or the “Company”), a leading provider of residential heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, and electrical services. Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

BMO Financial Group (TSX: BMO) (NYSE: BMO), and its subsidiaries BMO Financial Corp. and BMO Harris Bank N.A. (together, "BMO"), today announced it has received all regulatory approvals required to complete its acquisition of Bank of the West from BNP Paribas (XPAR: BNP). BMO anticipates the acquisition will close on February 1, 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. ​

SLR Digital Finance announces the completion of a three-year accounts receivable based credit facility for Alpha Precision Media, a leading advertising technology company providing managed service campaigns across the Amazon Ads ecosystem. Alpha drives results for its advertisers by planning, buying, and executing Connected TV and Digital Media campaigns on Amazon. They’re the only certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise with full-platform access across the Amazon ecosystem.

Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP announced today that Christopher Bevan, Samson A. Enzer, Sesi Garimella, Mark Loftus and John MacGregor have been elected to the partnership in Cahill’s New York office, and Tom Rocher has been elected to the partnership in the firm’s London office. Cahill is also pleased to announce that the firm has elected Margaret Barone, Danielle Brown, Samir Kurani, Jennifer Potts, Sara Ortiz and Marc Shepsman as Counsel to the firm.