Specialist funder Bibby Financial Services has appointed Steve Bentley as head of sales for the South West to consolidate its support for the region’s small and medium-sized businesses. Steve, pictured, has more than 35 years’ experience in the financial services industry, with more than half spent specialising in invoice finance.

Crestmark, the Commercial Finance Division of MetaBank®, N.A., secured a total of $8,530,600 in ABL/factoring financial solutions for 12 new clients; Crestmark Equipment Finance provided $4,526,317 in three new transactions; Crestmark Vendor Finance provided $3,698,699 in 35 new transactions; and the Government Guaranteed Lending group provided $33,050,094 in financing for ten new clients in the first half of September.

Truist Securities today announced that Lorenzo Paoletti has joined the firm as managing director to lead the Biotech investment banking team. Working together with Michael Allwin, who joined Truist Securities in August as managing director, these experienced professionals bolster and strengthen the firm’s Biotech investment banking capabilities and will focus on clients including public and private biotechs and venture firms that seed new companies with promising break-through science.

PlainsCapital Bank recently announced that Michael Ellzey has joined its commercial lending team as senior vice president. He will office out of The Woodlands branch at 1699 Research Forest Dr., Suite 100. Ellzey has more than 20 years of commercial lending and banking experience in the greater Houston region.

Gordon Brothers, the global advisory, restructuring and investment firm, has named Karl Werner President, International Commercial & Industrial. Werner, a former Ritchie Bros. executive, will join the senior leadership team to further develop and execute investment and disposition strategies across the firm’s International Commercial & Industrial practice.

SLR Credit Solutions provided a $25,000,000 senior secured term loan and a $10,000,000 committed delayed draw term loan for bebe Stores, inc. and provided an $80,000,000 commitment as a co-lender in a $200,000,000 facility for Maurices.

Today the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) again recognized Meridian Finance Group, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, as EXIM’s 2021 Broker of the Year. Meridian also received EXIM’s Broker award in 2000, 2003, and 2013—making this broker the second four-time award winner. The award was presented today during EXIM’s 2021 Annual Conference being held virtually September 21-23.

Kaspien Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: KSPN) ("Kaspien" or the "Company"), a leading e-commerce marketplace growth platform, announced that it has entered into an amended loan agreement with Eclipse Business Capital LLC ("Eclipse," f/k/a Encina Business Credit, LLC or "Encina"). On February 20, 2020, the Company previously entered into a loan agreement with Encina for up to $25 million in loans under a three-year, secured revolving credit facility.

Access Capital recently closed a transaction with its existing client, Walker SCM, LLC (“Walker”). Walker, an Access Capital client for over 15 years is a certified MBE transportation and logistics company headquartered in New York. Walker is one of the few certified MBE companies in its industry operating in over 25 countries worldwide.

CapFlow Funding Group closed two facilities for staffing companies: a $750,000 factoring facility for a New Jersey-based staffing company and a $500,000 factoring facility for a Missouri-based staffing company.

Armstrong Teasdale announces that Financial and Real Estate Services Partner Erin Edelman has been selected to lead the firm’s Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy practice. Edelman succeeds Partner Richard Engel, who was named Armstrong Teasdale General Counsel earlier this year.

BofA Securities, Inc. and RBC Capital Markets served as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners. Bank of America, N.A. served as Administrative Agent and the Royal Bank of Canada as Syndication Agent.

Winston & Strawn LLP is pleased to announce the addition of corporate counsel Jeffrey R. ("Jeff") Shuman as a partner in the firm's Chicago office and as a member of its Capital Markets Practice. In nearly two decades of corporate work, Jeff has focused his practice on meeting the corporate and transactional needs of public and private companies across a broad range of M&A and capital markets transactions, in addition to providing general corporate counsel.

HSBC Global Commercial Banking today announced that Martin Richards has been appointed Global Head of Sustainable Finance – Client Infrastructure for Commercial Banking. In this role, he will focus on delivering market-leading sustainable finance solutions that support the full ecosystem surrounding our clients’ transition ambitions.

Hilco Performance Solutions (an operating unit of Hilco Global – www.hilcoglobal.com) announced today that Jesse Glossinger has joined the organization as Director on its advisory team. Mr. Glossinger, a 15-year veteran of The Ford Motor Company will be based in Madison Heights, MI working out of the rapidly expanding Hilco Global offices in Metropolitan Detroit.

Gerber Finance, an eCapital company and the leading finance partner for companies experiencing accelerated growth, today announced the closing of a $7.5MM line of credit to Pact, maker of sustainable, certified organic cotton clothing. Gerber Finance closed the deal under its Naturally Gerber division, which works with companies within the fast-growing natural products space, from clean label, organic and non-GMO products, to sustainable design and packaging.

Winston & Strawn represented Empire Portfolio Group ("Empire"), a leading Area Developer and Franchisee of Orangetheory® Fitness, the heart-rate based interval training fitness franchise, in its acquisition of eleven studios and the area development rights in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The M&A Advisor has announced the winners of its 15th Annual Turnaround Awards, continuing a two-decades-old tradition of recognizing those who have reached the pinnacle of the distressed investing, bankruptcy, and restructuring industry during the past year. Evaluation of the nominees and selection of the winners was completed by prominent members and experts in the M&A, finance, and turnaround community.

CohnReznick LLP, one of the leading advisory, assurance, and tax firms in the United States, today announced that Cynthia Romano, Principal and Global Director in the firm’s Restructuring and Dispute Resolution practice, has been recognized by Crain's New York Business as one of its 2021 Notable Women in Accounting and Consulting.

SFNet’s Advocacy Committee has been working with DFS on this issue since early 2021 and has provided detailed rationale for our issues with the law. SFNet is disappointed with this initial pass and expects to meet with DFS shortly in order to reinforce our critical positions.