Lazard Ltd (NYSE: LAZ) announced today that Ajay Dhankhar has joined the firm as a Managing Director in the Healthcare Group within Financial Advisory, effective immediately. Based in New York, Mr. Dhankhar will serve as Global Head of Medical Technology, Diagnostics and Tools. He will also advise clients in other healthcare segments, including biopharmaceuticals, and healthcare information and technology.

CIT, a division of First Citizens Bank, today announced it has hired Geoffrey Samuels as a business development officer in its Asset-Based Lending business. Samuels will be based in Charleston, South Carolina, with a focus on asset-based lending business development across the Southeast region.

NewAge, Inc. (Nasdaq: NBEV) (the “Company” or “NewAge”), today announced that Kevin Manion, Chief Financial Officer, departed the Company as of July 1, 2022. Lawrence Perkins, who along with his firm SierraConstellation Partners LLC have been engaged to provide Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO) and other services to the Company, will assume the role of the Company’s principal financial officer on an interim basis.

WSFS Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: WSFS) today announced it sold the business of BMT Insurance Advisors (BMTIA), an independent insurance brokerage and risk management consulting firm throughout the United States that builds custom insurance solutions for consumers and businesses, to Patriot Growth Insurance Services, LLC (Patriot). The deal includes an offer of continuing employment for all BMTIA Associates and is not expected to materially impact future earnings.

H.I.G. Capital, LLC ("H.I.G."), a leading global alternative investment firm with $50 billion of capital under management, is pleased to announce that Alejandra Arguello has joined the firm’s Capital Formation Group as a Managing Director, based in New York City.

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Rebekah Prince has joined the firm’s Corporate, M&A, and Securities practice group as a partner in the Los Angeles office. Rebekah’s diverse corporate practice includes representing public and private companies as well as clients in the sports, media and entertainment, and franchising industries. She joins the firm from Barnes & Thornburg LLP.

FP Newspapers Inc. ("FPI" or the "Company") (TSXV:FP) is pleased to announce that FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership ("FPLP") has entered into an amended and restated facility letter (the "Restated Facility Letter") whereby its existing facility letter dated January 21, 2020 with HSBC Bank Canada (the "Original Facility Letter") was amended. In connection with the Restated Facility Letter, HSBC Bank Canada has provided the Company with a credit facility of up to $15,585,000 (the "Credit Facility").

With traditional work routines reexamined and overhauled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, employers around the world need help from temporary staffing agencies to fill gaps in their workforce and delivery systems. Republic Business Credit was there to support a multinational staffing and consulting company meet the demand in the U.S.

Tradecycle Capital, an Indianapolis-based trade finance provider, announced it funded a new $2,000,000 revolving accounts payable funding facility for a family office owned processor of specialty metal alloy products.

Banc of California, Inc. (NYSE: BANC) today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Banc of California, N.A., California’s leading relationship-focused business bank, has hired Jagdeep Singh Sahota as Chief Payments Officer.

MidCap Business Credit LLC announced today that it has completed a $17 million asset-based credit facility to Virginia Explosives & Drilling Company. The Business was established in 1998 and is headquartered in Vansant, VA. The opportunity was sourced out of MidCap’s regional office in Baltimore, MD.

Pembrook Capital Management LLC ("Pembrook"), one of the nation's leading bridge lenders for market rate, workforce and affordable multifamily rental housing, has appointed John K. Malysa as a managing director of the firm. Mr. Malysa, a veteran commercial real estate credit risk professional with over 25 years of multi-faceted industry experience, will focus on and underwriting, oversee asset management, and serve as a member of Pembrook's Investment Committee.

EPSG, a leading integrator of merchant payment technology solutions, announced today that it has significantly expanded its existing revolving line of credit (“Credit Facility”) with People’s United, a division of M&T Bank Corporation (“M&T”) (NASDAQ: MTB).

Verdant Commercial Capital, LLC executed a multiyear program agreement with Synovus Bank to provide a new equipment finance offering — Synovus Equipment Leasing — for Synovus Bank commercial customers. Through the offering, leasing and equipment finance agreements for essential use equipment can range from $25,000 to $50 million. The program is for Synovus commercial customers only and is now available.

Concord Capital Partners has appointed Samuel Landman as chief investment officer (CIO). The commercial real estate veteran will work on the acquisition, financing, and disposition of real estate assets to help drive the firm’s growth. Landman has more than 17 years of experience sourcing, acquiring, developing and structuring multifamily, industrial and office projects nationally and globally.

Divergent Technologies Inc. ("Divergent"), the company that has developed the world's first end-to-end digital production system to revolutionize industrial-scale manufacturing, announced today that it has closed a new $60 million venture loan facility led by Horizon Technology Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: HRZN) ("Horizon"), and a new $20 million revolving line of credit provided by Bridge Bank, a division of Western Alliance Bank

Comvest Credit Partners (“Comvest”), a leading provider of flexible financing solutions to middle-market companies, has acted as Administrative Agent in providing a new $120 million senior secured credit facility (the “Financing”) to Purchasing Power. The transaction, with institutional alternative management firm Crestline Investors, marks a continuation of Comvest’s support of the Atlanta-based voluntary benefits provider of employee purchase programs.

Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking ("Natixis CIB") today announced the appointments of Brad Roberts and David Williams as Co-Heads of Credit Americas, where they will be responsible for overseeing the Global Structured Credit & Solutions Group, as well as credit sales and trading at Natixis CIB.

SFNet is pleased to announce the winners of the SFNet Cross-Border Finance Essay Contest, sponsored by Goldberg Kohn. The following essays will appear in upcoming issues of The Secured Lender and in TSL Express. Authors of the winning essays will be invited to participate in a panel at SFNet’s 78th Annual Convention in Austin, TX, Nov. 9-11.

Confidence in the asset-based lending market was positive in the first quarter but banks and other lenders are watchful of an economy that shows a mix of highs and lows, according to data released by the Secured Finance Network. SFNet surveyed bank and non-bank asset-based lenders (ABLs) on key indicators for its quarterly Asset-Based Lending Index and SFNet Confidence Index.