Christopher & Banks, on January 13, 2021, filed for Chapter 11 reorganization and authorized store closing sales to be conducted by Hilco Merchant Resources. The store closing process has begun at more than 400 stores nationally. Since 1956, Christopher & Banks has been providing customers with style, value and service that help her look fabulous and feel amazing, every day and for life’s special moments and still focuses on putting “her” first.

LQD Business Finance, a Chicago-based commercial lender, announced the promotion of Jack Zeng to Chief Technology Officer. In his new capacity, Zeng will be leading all efforts behind the company’s automation and technology solutions to continue expanding the capacity of its proprietary lending systems. As LQD Business Finance continues to compete in the private debt market, Zeng’s leadership will be instrumental in broadening the company’s portfolio, with a focus on further streamlining and innovating methods of business development and operations.

Harney Partners, a national, corporate turnaround and restructuring advisory firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Erik White to Managing Director. In this expanded leadership role, White will continue to focus on providing financial and operational advisory services to companies in transition and distressed situations, while driving firm growth strategies and client delivery enhancement.

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that its Power and Energy business led a $69 million financing for a portfolio of solar facilities owned and operated by Strata Solar LLC, a leading integrated solar and storage energy service provider based in North Carolina. The 23 operating solar assets in the portfolio, a majority of which are located in North Carolina, have a combined capacity of more than 130 megawatts. Output from the solar assets is covered by purchase agreements that ensure a steady demand for the renewable power they generate.

Siena Healthcare Finance is pleased to announce the addition of Nicholas “Niko” Tsitsos to our team. In the capacity of Director of Business Development, Niko will be covering the Western Region of the U.S. and is located in San Francisco, California. Prior to joining the team, Niko served as Vice President Healthcare Finance Loan Originations at Wells Fargo. Niko has also held positions at Wellington Management Company and John Hancock Financial Services prior to Wells Fargo.

Briar Capital Real Estate Fund ("BCREF") (www.BriarCapital.com) is pleased to announce a new $6MM real estate loan to a metal fabrication and machine shop in Texas. The loan facility consists of a $5MM Term Loan and a $1MM Revolving Line of Credit, both secured by the company's real estate. Using only the real estate as collateral, the BCREF facility freed up the company's remaining assets, allowing them to be leveraged by another lender.

First Business Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: FBIZ), parent company of First Business Bank, today announces that all First Business entities align as First Business Bank. This alignment is accompanied by a refreshed logo and a new .BANK website and email addresses. Only verified members of the global banking community can register .BANK website and email domain names, which enhances security for clients.

As the pandemic passed the sixth-month mark in the United States, middle market companies were adapting to continued economic disruption by leveraging technology in new ways for both employees and customers and implementing or considering permanent remote work in some cases, proprietary research from RSM US LLP found.

Sterling National Bank's Commercial Services Group provided senior secured credit facilities totaling $2,000,000 to Super Retro, LLC. The credit facilities will be used to provide working capital for the company’s anticipated future growth. Established in 2019 in the State of Delaware, Super Retro is an importer of men’s casual apparel and loungewear.

TAB Bank is pleased to announce it has provided a $15 million revolving credit facility for a distribution company headquartered in New York. The new facility is extended through a multi-year agreement and will provide for the company’s ongoing working capital needs. The company is an importer and wholesale distributor of kitchen products. Their product lines include kitchen gadgets, tools, dinnerware, flatware, bakeware, and other related items.

The financing package from Monticello included $368 million in first-lien debt and $99 million in mezzanine debt. Combined with other financing, the total loan amount for the acquisition was $507 million.

Shipley Do-Nuts received a senior credit facility backing an acquisition of the company by an affiliate of Peak Rock Capital. NXT Capital is sole lead arranger and administrative agent, market sources said today.

Monroe Capital LLC (“Monroe”) today announced it acted as administrative agent and joint lead arranger on the funding of a senior credit facility to support the acquisition of Specialized Packaging Group (“SPG”) by private equity sponsor Altamont Capital Partners.

FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the appointment of Dave Katz as a Senior Managing Director in the firm’s Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment, further enhancing the firm’s Senior Lender Advisory practice. Mr. Katz, who will be based in Houston, brings over 20 years of experience having negotiated, structured and managed numerous ground-breaking, complex restructurings, transactions and amendments. His appointment comes as lenders realign their focus on energy and renewables and companies reassess how to best position themselves in ever more challenging markets.

Fifth Third Business Capital announced it arranged a $10 million working capital line of credit for Polder Products, LLC, a leading designer and distributor of a variety of houseware products based in Oxford, CT.

Curaleaf Holdings, Inc., a leading U.S. provider of consumer products in cannabis, today announced the Company has successfully completed a new $50 million, three-year secured revolving credit facility. Seaport Global Securities LLC acted as the sole placement agent for the credit facility.

Loves Furniture & Mattresses, owned by Dallas-based private equity firm U.S. Assets Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week amid struggles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bankruptcy filing estimates the company’s number of creditors to be between 100 and 199, and its assets and liabilities to each be between $10 million and $50 million. Butzel Long PC is representing the company as counsel in connection with all duties under the Bankruptcy Code and B. Riley Advisory Services is acting as financial advisor in connection with the company’s Chapter 11 case.

Citizens M&A Advisory announced today that it served as exclusive financial advisor to Lacerta Group on its recapitalization by SK Capital. Privately held since it was founded in 1993, Lacerta is a leading provider of innovative packaging solutions primarily serving the food end market. The company offers a comprehensive range of custom PET packaging products including a leading line of tamper-evident products sold under the “Fresh N’ Sealed” brand. The vast majority of Lacerta’s products are 100% recyclable, and the packaging solutions produced by the company can be made with up to 100% recycled content.

SG Credit Partners provided a $2.2 million SaaS loan for a digital signage SaaS platform enabling SMB & enterprise customers to easily create and manage content in real time on any number of displays, anywhere in the world.

Runway Growth Capital LLC ("Runway"), a leading provider of growth loans to both venture and non-venture backed companies seeking an alternative to raising equity, today announced the close of a senior secured term loan of $50 million to VERO Biotech LLC, an Atlanta, Georgia-based biotechnology company focused on saving lives, alleviating suffering, and improving the health economics of care.