Citizens announced today that continued economic recovery from the shock of COVID-19 kept the past quarter’s national Citizens Business Conditions Index™ (CBCI) in upbeat territory, with another healthy reading of 53.3. This compares with the fourth quarter reading of 56.0. A reading above 50 is considered expansionary.

Burford Capital Limited, the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law, today announced the appointment of Kenneth A. Brause as Chief Financial Officer, effective May 3, 2021. Mr. Brause will be based in Burford's New York office. Jim Kilman, Burford's current CFO, was appointed in August 2019 to serve for up to two years, after having previously served as Senior Advisor since 2017. Working with a leading executive search firm, Burford undertook a broad and thorough search for Mr. Kilman's successor late last year.

The Hedaya Capital Group is pleased to announce that Irwin Dayan has joined as vice president of business development and marketing. Irwin, known to many as "ID," has worked for over 30 years in the advisory and turn around sector within various industries including wholesale, retail, real estate, services and e-commerce. Irwin also founded and ran a crisis management company, advising and restructuring medium to large companies by coordinating with law firms, accounting firms, financial institutions, and consulting firms.

CannTrust Holdings Inc. ("CannTrust" or the "Company") (unlisted) announced today that it has obtained approval from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) (the "CCAA") for the Company's previously announced "debtor-in-possession" ("DIP") and CCAA Exit Credit Facility ("Credit Facility") arranged and agented by Cortland Credit Lending Corporation.

SLR Business Credit is pleased to announce a $500,000 accounts receivable credit facility to East Coast Components in South Carolina. When current ownership acquired East Coast Components this past fall, the purpose was to have a truss supplier for their own growing Ag building company. That started to change as orders started flowing in due to the high growth of the residential, multifamily, and commercial building in the Southeast.

Ocean Bank announced today Daniel Krasna has joined the bank as vice president, factoring business development officer. Krasna, who has 10 years’ experience in factoring, previously served as vice president at Sallyport Commercial Finance.

Raymond James is expanding its Recapitalization & Restructuring Investment Banking practice with the hiring of Jacob Czarnick as managing director. Czarnick will focus on restructuring and will use his deep knowledge of both company and creditor engagements to assist clients in navigating complex distressed transactions.

Arent Fox has expanded its Corporate & Securities practice with the addition of business law partner Stephen P Hanson in the firm’s New York office. For 25 years, Hanson has represented clients in the areas of private equity, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and emerging companies, and general corporate matters.

AFC Gamma, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFCG) (“AFC”) today announced it has provided a credit facility of $13 million to a Missouri medical cannabis operator (the “Borrower”). The credit facility is designed to provide capital to allow the Borrower to build out its cultivation and dispensary operations in the state of Missouri.

Oxford Finance LLC (“Oxford”), a leading specialty finance firm that provides senior debt to life sciences and healthcare services companies worldwide, is pleased to announce David Hickman’s new position as managing director of business development in Oxford’s life sciences division. David has been appointed to Debbie Baker’s position; she will be retiring on June 30th.

Celtic Capital Corporation today announced its most recent new client relationship – an Arizona-based developer of software that automates the arrangement of property management and renovation services for REITs and property managers.

RDM Capital Funding, LLC, a technology enabled specialty finance company has entered an agreement with Arena Investors, LP ("Arena"), a global asset manager, under which they will be providing a new $25 million credit facility, with an accordion up to $50 million. The agreement with Arena marks the second institutional credit facility for RDM Capital Funding, and a significant increase from their first facility of $7.5 million in 2018, which was upsized to $10 million in 2019.

Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. ("Bladex" or the "Bank") today announced the successful closing of a US$300 million 7-year senior secured term loan (the "Facility" or the "Loan") for Investment Energy Resources Limited, the holding company of CMI Energía ("CMI Energía" or the "Company") as part of a US$1.0 billion liability management exercise, thus optimizing the Company's financial structure.

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ: JKHY) is a leading provider of technology solutions and payment processing services primarily for the financial services industry. Today, Jack Henry Lending announced that $1.1 billion-asset Stride Bank has successfully leveraged its accounts receivable (A/R) financing program, BusinessManager®, to help a major third-party pipeline inspection company fund its re-growth and expansion into new markets. Through its partnership with Jack Henry, the bank was able to fund a $15 million credit facility for the business.

PowerBand Solutions (TSXV:PBX) (OTCQB:PWWBF) (Frankfurt:1ZVA) ("PowerBand" "PBX" or the "Company"), a comprehensive e-commerce solution transforming the online experience to sell, trade, lease, and finance vehicles, is announcing its intent to accept loan originations on its Drivrz Financial platform, the Intellacar platform as well as the DrivrzXchange, a revolutionary C2C retail platform.

Commercial Finance Partners is pleased to announce that Jeff Cosgrove has joined the company as a Senior Vice President of Business Development. Jeff brings a wealth of knowledge in the asset-based world to the team; in addition to a diverse financing background including private equity and structured financing.

Monroe Capital LLC (“Monroe”) today announced its Opportunistic Private Credit group closed on a $50.75 million mortgage loan to Tricera Capital for the construction and redevelopment of a mixed-use project, The Press, in West Palm Beach. Located on more than 11 acres at 2751 S. Dixie Hwy. at the Palm Beach Post campus, The Press is an adaptive re-use project in which nearly all existing structures are being preserved.

BMO Financial Group (TSX: BMO) (NYSE: BMO), acting as a sustainability structuring lead, has announced a financing deal with Gibson Energy Inc., a leading North American energy company. An amendment to an existing credit facility, the deal introduces a margin adjustment incentive mechanism tied to Gibson's commitment to reduce carbon emissions and increase women as well as racial and ethnic representation in its workforce and on its Board.

California small business owners went to great lengths to stay afloat through the pandemic, investing an average of $28,000 to operate within government guidelines and remain open during COVID-19, according to new research from Union Bank, a leading West Coast bank.

Jefferies Credit Partners ("JCP"), a leading private credit manager and the asset management arm of Jefferies Finance LLC, today announced the expansion of its capital formation capabilities and its investor relations team with the addition of two senior hires. Jefferies Finance is a joint venture of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) and MassMutual.