TSL Feature Articles
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Crypto-Based Lending and the 2022 UCC Amendments
Feb 6, 2023In this article, the author revisits cryptocurrency-based lending and how the 2022 UCC amendments provide welcome clarity to lending transactions involving digital assets. -
Factors: Prepared for Uncertainty Ahead
Jan 30, 2023Factors discuss what surprised them in 2022, California’s disclosure laws, rising interest rates, the move from ABL to factoring and what they expect 2023 will bring.
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Three Keys to a Successful Workout
Given the relatively low levels of outstanding loan balances and the macro-economic environment over the past couple of years, the number of borrowers/loans that have ended up going into ‘workout’ have been few and far between. PKF Clear Thinking executives provide details on what is needed for a workout to succeed for both lender and borrower -
Interview with Bank of America’s Seth Benefield
In this installment of our series of executive interviews, Charlie Perer sits with Seth Benefield, head of Bank of America Business Capital and Asset-Based Financing, to hear his perspective on the state of the ABL market, challenges of running one of the biggest ABL groups, ABL as a product or business, leadership and competition, among other things. -
Trade Credit Insurance – More than Insurance
Dec 1, 2022The global trade credit market continues to grow with increased international business opportunities and carriers making trade credit more accessible to the market. You may be asking – what is trade credit insurance? Trade credit insurance (TCI) insures your accounts receivables against losses due to bankruptcy, unforeseen insolvency, or protracted default. But, trade credit insurance is more than just insurance. Once your A/R is insured, it is a secured asset, and can be used to leverage many ROIs.
Why do companies acquire a trade credit insurance policy? Trade credit can help build a healthy pipeline of new revenue, increase access to capital, prevent a catastrophic loss, and strengthen an organization’s balance sheet. Here are the top four motivating factors for trade credit Insurance.
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Workout Workshop: A Guide to Navigating Problem Loans
Nov 28, 2022
Many ABL professionals have little to no workout or bankruptcy experience thanks to the past ten years of relative calm. This article details the anatomy of an ABL workout and serves as a primer for many readers and a refresher course for more experienced lenders.
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The Single Group Facility: Simplifying Cross-Border Receivables Finance
Nov 21, 2022In November of 2021, SFNet announced its first Cross-Border Finance Essay Contest, sponsored by Goldberg Kohn Ltd. Members of SFNet’s International Finance and Development Committee judged the essay submissions on content, originality, clarity, structure and overall contribution to furthering and expanding understanding and discourse within the field of cross-border finance. This essay is the first-place essay.
The authors of the winning essays have been invited to participate on a panel at SFNet’s 78th Annual Convention in Austin, TX, Nov. 9-11. The third place essays were published in the September issue of TSL and the second place winner was published in the October issue. -
Nonbank Regional Asset-Based Lenders Provide an Overview of their Market
TSL’s editor-in-chief gathered the heads of several nonbank regional asset-based lenders to discuss the industry from their point of view, including the challenges and opportunities, effects of COVID and their predictions for the upcoming year.
The executives interviewed are Tom Cleveland, managing partner, Access Business Finance; Michael Fussell, president, Aegis Business Credit; J. Brad Leach, president & CEO, Lighthouse Financial Corp.; Rhett Rowe, CEO, Great Lakes Business Credit; and Patrick Trammell, founding member and president, Southeastern Commercial Finance. -
SFNet's 2022 Hall of Fame Profiles
Nov 10, 2022On the following pages, we honor the industry icons who have been inducted into the 2022 SFNet Hall of Fame. We all owe a debt of gratitude to these leaders. Although they represent the industry during various periods of time, they have all made critical contributions to secured finance and deserve our appreciation for making the industry and our association what it is today.
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Interview with Michael Scolaro, BMO Commercial Bank ABL
Nov 3, 2022As part of our series of executive interviews, Charlie Perer sits with Michael Scolaro, managing director and asset based group head for BMO Commercial Bank ABL, to hear his perspective on the state of the BL market, bank vs. non-bank competition, the future of ABL, executive development and competition, among other things. -
Talk of Wave of Borrower Defaults Overblown
Nov 1, 2022Will the long-predicted wave of defaults come to fruition? Key players in the industry provide their perspectives.
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Factoring 101
Factoring is an age-old form of financing providing companies with much-needed cash.
It takes money to make money, as any business owner knows. But many small businesses also know what it’s like to be turned down by a bank for a loan or line of credit, not get as much as they need, or simply not get the cash quickly enough to take advantage of an opportunity.
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Asset-Based Lending: A Primer
Oct 11, 2022Simply put, asset-based lending (ABL) is a way of lending money to companies. Such loans are made by commercial banks and by specialty finance companies, and loan sizes can range from several hundred thousand to many hundreds of millions of dollars. These loan proceeds are used to assist companies in high-growth, distressed, or sometimes even in start-up situations.
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Field Exam in Changing Times: Fundamentals and Best Practices
Oct 7, 2022Jan Tammen of PNC Business Credit discusses some of the lasting changes to the field exam industry brought on by the pandemic.
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Field Examinations in 2022 and Beyond
Oct 5, 2022TSL’s editor-in-chief interviewed several field exam professionals as well as lenders to get an overview of what lenders should look for, the current challenges and the effects of the pandemic. -
PNC Business Credit’s DEI Initiatives
Sep 28, 2022After gathering information from various PNC program managers, Eileen Kowalski discusses the DEI initiatives of PNC Bank N.A. and more specifically those of PNC Business Credit.
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The Impact of Civil Law on the Growth and Debt Capital Accessibility of Southern European Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Sep 26, 2022In November of 2021, SFNet announced its first Cross-Border Finance Essay Contest, sponsored by Goldberg Kohn Ltd. Members of SFNet’s International Finance and Development Committee judged the essay submissions on content, originality, clarity, structure and overall contribution to furthering and expanding understanding and discourse within the field of cross-border finance. This essay tied for third place.
The authors of the winning essays have been invited to participate on a panel at SFNet’s 78th Annual Convention in Austin, TX, Nov. 9-11. The second place and first place winners will be published in the October and November issues of The Secured Lender, respectively.
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Rob Meyers of Republic Business Credit Discusses the Company’s DEI Initiatives
Sep 15, 2022Republic Business Credit is a nationally recognized commercial finance company supporting the working capital requirements of companies nationwide, including private equity and entrepreneurial businesses. Republic provides asset-based lending, ledgered lines of credit, traditional factoring, direct-to-consumer loans, and Fast AR Funding. Republic partners with its clients to provide up to $15 million in senior credit facilities to rapidly growing businesses, start-ups and companies experiencing recoverable distress. Republic was one of two companies that were highly aligned with their employees in the replies to SFNet’s DEI Survey. -
Bed, Bath, and Back to the Supplier: A Supplier’s Right to Reclaim Ownership of Inventory in the Netherlands
Sep 12, 2022In November of 2021, SFNet announced its first Cross-Border Finance Essay Contest, sponsored by Goldberg Kohn Ltd. Members of SFNet’s International Finance and Development Committee judged the essay submissions on content, originality, clarity, structure and overall contribution to furthering and expanding understanding and discourse within the field of cross-border finance. This essay tied for third place. -
Results of SFNet’s Groundbreaking DEI Survey
SFNet’s DEI Committee, in conjunction with Rutgers University and underwritten by the Secured Finance Foundation and Wells Fargo, released the results of the first-ever DEI Survey, which provides a comprehensive perspective on the current state of diversity, equity and inclusiveness among SFNet member companies.
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The UK Government Moves Closer to Potentially Damaging Legislation Impacting the UK ABL Industry and Its Clients
The UK Government announced 11th July 2019, through the publication of the Draft Finance Bill, that it is going ahead with the reinstatement of Crown Preference in respect of VAT and PAYE.
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PNC Bank Provides Financing to Receipt & Labeling Solutions Provider
May 30, 2019
PNC Bank, National Association, announced the closing of a $90 million senior secured credit facility for Iconex LLC (Iconex), a portfolio company of Greenwich, CT-based Atlas Holdings. PNC’s facility was provided in conjunction with a $67.5 million term loan and a $30 million delayed draw term loan provided by Cerberus Business Finance.
Click on the link below to meet some of the “difference makers” in the secured finance community. This issue of The Secured Lender celebrates those who are having a profound impact on both their communities and their organizations.
Previous TSL Articles
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Review and Forecast with Capital One's Dave Kucera
Feb 1, 2023As a leading authority and 25-year veteran of the investment and commercial banking sectors, Dave Kucera, head of Capital One’s Financial Institutions Group, sat with TSL Express’ senior editor to discuss best practices for managing market cycles. Including the commercial banking trends to watch out for in 2023 and key steps financial institutions can take to better navigate the current economic landscape.
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SFNet’s Asset-Based Capital Conference: Attendees Gear Up for “The Great Reboot”
Jan 9, 2023Conference Aims to Set New Strategies for the New World
Now three years since the onset of the global pandemic, the asset-based capital market, like so many others, finds itself at a new beginning. While the economy and environment continue to shift, the asset-based capital community has taken uncertainty into account for its business plans as it marches into a new year. SFNet’s ABCC theme, “The Great Reboot,” is about setting new strategies for a new world.
“We’ve been able to bring together some of the best minds in the space to help us put these changes in context and offer practical implications for our business plans going forward,” Rich Gumbrecht, SFNet CEO, said. I don’t know if we’ve ever had a more august set of speakers. You’ll want to take good notes.” -
SFNet Reports Confidence in Asset-Based Lending Market
Dec 19, 2022
The third quarter saw continued confidence in the asset-based lending market, according to data released by the Secured Finance Network, and that was welcome news as the country wrestles with inflation, rising interest rates and a slowed economy.
SFNet surveyed bank and non-bank asset-based lenders (ABLs) on key indicators for its quarterly Asset-Based Lending Index and SFNet Confidence Index.
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SFNet Report on Confidence in Asset-Based Lending Market: Survey Shows Industry is Well Positioned to Weather a Recession
The third quarter saw continued confidence in the asset-based lending market, according to data released by the Secured Finance Network, and that was welcome news as the country wrestles with inflation, rising interest rates and a slowed economy.
SFNet surveyed bank and non-bank asset-based lenders (ABLs) on key indicators for its quarterly Asset-Based Lending Index and SFNet Confidence Index.
“Despite the challenges, the asset-based lending industry remains on solid footing,” said SFNet CEO Richard D. Gumbrecht. “Portfolio performance is strong by historical standards, commitments are up, and lenders anticipate strong demand. Overall, the industry is decently-positioned to weather worsening business conditions and a potential recession.”
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Convention Panel on Cannabis Points to Growing Market with Many Red Flags
Dec 14, 2022Cannabis remains a controlled substance at the federal level, but a number of states have legalized it under state law. As a result, marijuana-related business (MRB) lending is ripe for growth. However, banks and non-bank lenders are entering this sector with caution. The presenters at SFNet’s 78th Annual Convention in November provided Canadian and U.S. perspectives on this dynamic market. -
SFNet Annual Convention Highlights - Master Disruption and Charge Ahead in 2023 (With Some Caution)
SFNet’s Annual Convention was held in Austin from November 9-11. This article provides an overview of the key topics addressed.
Listening to Convention keynoter Peter Zeihan’s geopolitical perspectives is a reminder of the many global and economic disruptors possible and all that one can’t control. However, in keeping with the event’s theme of "Mastering Disruption, Putting Capital to Work in the New Global Environment,” the breakout sessions triggered healthy discussion about what a new global environment for lending could look like, how data could be more strategically used to protect cross-border interests or prevent fraud, and how new supply chain models are forming. The factoring and asset-based lending sessions presented ways to master their markets while facing recessionary headwinds.
Besides the many opportunities to network with peers and clients, attendees in Austin, TX, could absorb others’ views on economic conditions affecting the industry and dive into niche topics of strategic importance.
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Disbanding the Change-Prevention Committee
Nov 16, 2022The way an organization handles change is critical to its success, particularly during periods of uncertainty. In the year 500 B.C., the Greek philosopher Heraclitus observed that life was in flux, with everything constantly on the verge of becoming something else. He noted that resisting this natural flow was a hindrance to progress and growth in all aspects of life.
Resistance, however, has proven to be a very normal human response to change over the centuries and in organizations today, often manifests itself in the form of the formidable Change-Prevention Committee.
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Funding in the Food Circle – the Winds of Change
Nov 8, 2022Food. It’s at the heart of all our lives. We love it – we think about it – we plan it – we talk about it.
Never before has there been so much focus on food: where it comes from, how much it costs and how to keep getting it. Just about all of us who have recently bought groceries think: “Wow – that’s a lot more expensive than it was last year.” When I said that recently to a good friend, she responded that this must be due to inflation and Ukraine. I thought: that is too simple an answer.
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An Interview with Matthew Bjonerud, Founder and CEO, Cerebro Capital
In this installment of our series of executive interviews, Charlie Perer sits with Matthew Bjonerud of Cerebro Capital to hear his perspective on the state of the debt capital markets, building a new distribution channel, the future of lending and technology, among other things. -
This Is Not a Drill - SFNet's Cross-Border Lending Summit 2022 Returns September 15 and September 22
Sep 13, 2022SFNet's Cross-Border Lending Summit - “This Is Not a Drill” – is returning live online event on September 15 and September 22, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET each day. For the 9th year in a row, SFNet is bringing timely and provocative panels addressing issues that challenge asset-based lenders doing cross-border deals. So much has happened in just the last six months: Boris Johnson stepping down, Russia in Ukraine, potential food supply shortages, climate extremes. Companies now must reevaluate supply chains and vendors based in part of geopolitical risk. Not to mention an inflationary environment the likes of which we have not seen in years. In this time of rapid change, SFNet is gathering together industry experts to explore and illuminate the current landscape and what you should be thinking about in the months and years to come.
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The Secured Lender

SFNet's Capital Markets & Workouts Issue