TSL Feature Articles
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Chronic Problems in Cannabis Lending Navigating the Patchwork of Laws, Rulings and Regulations
The only constant in the cannabis industry is change. This article provides an overview of the latest developments and points out that lenders need a deep understanding of the inconsistent patchwork of laws and regulations and the continuing conflict of law between the states and the federal government before entering this space. -
Lenders Beware: Lender Liability
The past few years have seen strong liquidity in the marketplace coupled with unprecedented government support of certain borrowers; increased competition for secured transactions among banks and non-banks; and surprisingly fewer distressed transactions during the pandemic than would have been anticipated. As a result, lenders have not had to focus as much on managing distressed credits and the potential pitfalls and risks that are associated with them. As a few recent cases discussed below show, assertions of lender liability may arise in various contexts to an unsuspecting lender.
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Coming Into Focus - TSL Inaugural Data Issue
Jul 7, 2022Welcome to The Secured Lender’s first ever Industry Data Issue. Over the past several years, SFNet has invested heavily in data resources designed to improve planning, provide competitive benchmarking, and attract capital to our industry. Through resources like our groundbreaking Market Sizing and Impact Study, which dimensioned the secured finance ecosystem and will be refreshed this year, to our quarterly and annual data surveys, which continue to grow in participation, to our forward looking Market Pulse Reports, we have made great strides in capturing, analyzing, and predicting industry trends by the numbers.
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Are the Necessary Corporate Differentiators
A Moritt Hock & Hamroff partner discusses the potential legal implications for companies that are not committed to diversity and inclusion as increasing shareholder pressures and legal complaints mount.
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Stop Managing Your Time and Start Managing Your Energy
Dr. Arin N. Reeves, researcher, author, and leading advisor to many top executives, offers her advice on the energy deficit so many of us are experiencing. -
Where Are They Now? Catching up with prior SFNet 40 Under 40 Award winners
Jun 15, 2022From promotions to new jobs to starting their own advisory firms, award winners share their career advice and what they have learned.
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Can the Global Supply Chain Survive Global Political Disorder?
Jun 6, 2022The managing director of Global Torchlight, a geopolitical risk advisory firm, discusses the various reasons for the supply chain disruption and what we may expect in the future. -
When the Grass Isn’t Greener: How to Stay Where You Are and Ask for What You Want
We’ve all heard the phrase “The Great Resignation” over the past few months. Angela Fiorentino of AmeriFactors Financial Group and a member of SFNet’s Women in Secured Finance Committee gathered several top female executives to discuss the best way to communicate your professional goals and hold some of those “tough conversations” in this current climate. -
Shifting Gears: An Interview with Hilco Global’s Betsy Ratto
Apr 5, 2022Betsy Ratto is senior vice president of Hilco Capital Solutions: ReStore Capital and Hilco Corporate Finance, with responsibility to drive business for ReStore Capital and Hilco Corporate Finance. She is responsible for originating and executing corporate finance and capital markets transactions, with a focus on the retail industry and other financing transactions. She joined Hilco in fall 2021 and is based in Hilco’s Boston office.
Here, she discusses her goals at Hilco, challenges and opportunities in the retail sector, differentiating yourself at a non-bank platform, and lessons learned in leadership and career development. -
Leading the Way Forward: A Conversation with the Women of SFNet’s Management and Executive Committees
Apr 4, 2022In 2010, only 19 women served on the SFNet Board of Directors, today there are 46. We’ve doubled the representation of women on the Executive Committee from three to six. Here, we speak with the six women who currently sit on SFNet’s Executive and Management Committees.
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Factoring Trends for 2022
Mar 14, 2022What’s in fashion for factoring this coming spring? Quite a bit. This year’s trends show what we’ve all been keeping under wraps for the last two years, and we’ll be seeing some definite changes.
First up, a cascade of activity with more traditional bank lenders that retained customers during the pandemic based on regulatory allowances and readily available government funding may start pushing out underperforming loans. -
Interview with Bob Grbic, President & CEO of White Oak Commercial Finance and the Chair of SFNet’s Factoring Committee
Mar 10, 2022Robert Grbic has more than 30 years of commercial lending experience. He has been with the company and its predecessor since 2005, previously serving as senior executive vice president and chief credit officer where he was involved in creating a hands-on, best-practices credit culture, as well as helping the Company expand its client portfolio.
Before that, Grbic was managing director at MorrisAnderson & Associates ltd., a turnaround-consulting firm. He also co-founded MetSource Capital, LLC, a restructuring and corporate finance firm, working primarily with small- and medium-sized companies. In addition, Grbic has also served at GMAC Commercial Credit, LLC, BNY Financial Corp and Bankers Trust. He has served as an instructor for the Finance, Tax and Law Department at the NYU School of Continuing Education. Grbic holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration from Pace University.
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Members of SFNet’s Factoring Committee Discuss Sources of Business, Supply Chain Issues and More
Mar 8, 2022
TSL’s editor-in-chief sat down with several members of the SFNet Factoring Committee to review the current landscape in early 2022. Participants include Carol Apicella, senior vice president, BankFinancial Government Finance; Tina Capobianco, senior vice president, J D Factors Corporation; Dan Karas, executive vice president, Allied Affiliated Funding; Kevin Laborde, president, Cash Flow Resources; and Paul Schuldiner, executive vice president & chief lending officer, Rosenthal & Rosenthal, Inc.
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Financial Forecasting in the Post-Pandemic World
Feb 28, 2022Executives from PKF Clear Thinking provide key points that both lenders and their borrowers need to be mindful of when preparing and reviewing 2022 and beyond business plans.
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An Interview with Tim Knight, Senior Managing Partner, ThinkingAhead
In this installment of our series of executive interviews, Charlie Perer sits with Tim Knight (pictured) to hear his perspective on executive development, advice for lenders, the growth in the non-bank market, what every executive should be thinking about, the importance of diversity and lessons learned, among other things.
Knight is the vice president and senior managing partner with ThinkingAhead where he is responsible for operations, training and recruiting for the firm. He also leads the partner group that heads up the firm’s Commercial Banking and Commercial Finance, Legal, Life Sciences and Security/Physical infrastructure search practices.
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Interview with SFNet President Peter B. York
Dec 7, 2021Peter York is managing director and head of the Asset Based Lending (ABL) practice for the Corporate & Investment Bank of J.P. Morgan. He has been with J.P. Morgan for over 17 years and has more than 27 years of secured ABL experience. York’s strengths include large multibank syndicated financing, cross-border structuring, leveraged buyout finance, and bankruptcy and debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing.
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Is a Corporate Default Wave Ahead In 2022?
Nov 11, 2021Some turnaround and M&A leaders are predicting the second quarter of 2022 could be when the “default boom” hits. Asset-based lenders, factors, and other secured lenders will need to be at the ready to handle turnaround deals.
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SFNet 2021 Advocacy Highlights
Nov 9, 2021The COVID pandemic pushed SFNet’s already active advocacy program into overdrive in 2020 and the past year has kept our advocacy volunteers just as busy. As we work to find the balance between economic health and personal well being, the SFNet team has had to quickly mobilize at times to respond to a diverse array of issues, from concerns around damaging flaws in the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program to the ongoing saga of state financial disclosure bills. -
How Diverse Teams Make Successful Companies
Nneoma Maduike of Otterbourg P.C. discusses the impact a diverse team can have on a company’s performance.
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Ready, Set, Disclose? ESG Lending and The Middle Market
The European Union’s recent passage of its Sustainability Financial Disclosure Regulation marks yet another milestone in the progression of environmental, social and governance matters. This article will review this regulation and related ESG disclosure requirements, together with other notable ESG developments, and discuss their impact on middle-market lenders.
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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Who’s on First? The Rise of the First-Out ABL Product
May 13, 2024"Who's on First?" is a comedy routine made famous by American comedy duo Abbott and Costello. The premise of the sketch is Abbot comically trying to identify to Costello the names of players on a baseball team that simultaneously leads to misunderstanding and frustration between the two. Today, there are now enough ABL products to fill an infield with the latest one, First-Out ABL, being on first. The First-Out product is simply an asset-based loan within a term loan originated by a traditional cash flow lender. -
SFNet Partners with NYU Stern to Offer "Impactful Leadership for High Potentials" Course for a Second Year
May 9, 2024The Secured Finance Foundation has again joined forces with NYU Stern Executive Education to bring a multi-faceted learning experience taught by NYU Professor, Nathan Pettit coupled with real-world secured finance applications. This two-day course, held in person at NYU Stern, June 11-12, will introduce attendees to a variety of analytical frameworks while simultaneously modelling tactical approaches – all with the focus on developing leadership skills.
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FTC Ban on Noncompete Agreements: What Do Employers Need to Know?
May 7, 2024On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) voted 3-2 to finalize and issue a rule banning virtually all noncompete clauses in employment contracts with extremely limited exceptions. The rule is set to go into effect 120 days after its publication in the Federal Register, which is pending. However, as explained below, it is uncertain whether this rule will go into effect due to the ongoing legal challenges surrounding the rule.
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SFNet's International Lending Conference Returns to London
May 6, 2024SFNet's International Lending Conference, now in its 18th year, will be held May 13-15, 2024, and will offer thought-provoking discussions led by experts who will explore the nuances of international transactions, and gain strategic intelligence on global economic trends. Issues surrounding private equity, private debt, syndications, restructurings, and technology in ABL will also be addressed. -
A Unique Journey to Secured Finance: Interview with Jacob Shoihet and Peter Spradling of Marco Capital
Apr 18, 2024Marco's co-founders discuss their backgrounds, Marco's success to date and future goals. -
SFNet Launches IMPACT Awards to Celebrate Excellence in the Secured Finance Industry
Apr 15, 2024
SFNet is proud to unveil our new program to celebrate excellence in the secured finance industry: the SFNet IMPACT Awards. Created to honor innovation and leadership, these awards will demonstrate the crucial role that our SFNet community of members play in putting capital to work.
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The Pursuit of Happiness: How Robyn Barrett created a woman-owned empire in the factoring space while staying true to who she is
Apr 8, 2024Robyn Barrett is the SVP, managing director of Oxford Commercial Finance (“OCF”). OCF offers factoring and asset-based lending lines of credit to small to mid-sized to access the capital needed to grow. -
What’s Ahead in 2024 for Secured Financing & Working Capital
Mar 27, 2024The landscape of corporate lending in the United States is dynamic, characterized by a diverse array of borrowers spanning various industries and a multitude of loan products and lenders vying for business. In recent years, economic fluctuations and shifting market dynamics have significantly influenced lending trends, impacting both borrowers and lenders alike. As we look ahead to 2024, it is essential to analyze current trends and anticipate future developments in the corporate lending landscape. -
SFNet's Emerging Leaders Summit Heads to the West Coast
Mar 25, 2024SFNet's Emerging Leaders Summit, a dynamic conference designed to unite professionals with 6-15 years of experience in secured lending, is heading to the West Coast for the first time since its inception in 2018. The event will provide an opportunity to glean insights from seasoned titans who have navigated the intricacies of the field. Attendees can expect to engage in thought-provoking panels where industry luminaries will offer a unique perspective on both the industry and effective leadership. -
Getting R.E.A.L. in Later Stage, Venture-Backed Companies
In this article, we discuss how leading, managing, and operating a business with a focus on growth and development but with profits and cash flow is far different than driving interesting research and development (R&D) and engineering activities; and how a company should deal with these challenges as they evolve.
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