H.I.G. Bayside Capital, the distressed debt and special situation affiliate of H.I.G. Capital (“H.I.G.”), a leading global alternative asset management firm with over $43 billion of equity capital under management, is pleased to announce the final closing of H.I.G. Bayside Loan Opportunity Fund VI (the “Fund”). The Fund closed with aggregate capital commitments of $1.4 billion,* exceeding its target.

Alma Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Hugh Donlon as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer. Mr. Donlon will set the strategic direction of the Bank’s lending efforts, and oversee the management and development of all commercial real estate, commercial & industrial, residential, SBA and consumer lending.

Nexamp, Inc., a leading renewable energy generator and community solar provider, has closed a $440 million senior secured credit facility for a 380-megawatt portfolio of solar and energy storage assets, the largest debt financing of its kind. The diverse portfolio spans five state markets and consists of nearly 100 community solar projects, including energy storage capacity totaling 120MWh. MUFG Union Bank, N.A. served as the Coordinating Lead Arranger for the syndicated financing, which included participation from an expansive group of market-leading lenders.

Golub Capital acted as the Administrative Agent, Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner on a GOLD facility to finance Thompson Street Capital Partners’ (“TSCP”) acquisition of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (“Freddy’s”). GOLD financings are Golub Capital One-Loan Debt facilities. Freddy’s, a fast-casual restaurant concept, is known for its All-American menu of cooked-to-order steakburgers, hot dogs, shoestring fries and frozen custard. Freddy’s was founded in Wichita, KS and today has more than 360 franchised and company-owned restaurants across 32 states.

Gerber Finance, a leading finance partner for companies experiencing accelerated growth, today announced it has provided a $3 million line of credit to Karay Metals, a women-led supplier of steel tubing. The deal was made under Gerber Finance’s core division, which services companies seeking $500,000 to $10 million in financing.

Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: WOOF), a complete partner in pet health and wellness, today announced that, on March 4, 2021, it completed the successful refinancing of its existing term loan facility with borrowings under a new term loan facility and entered into a new asset based revolving credit facility replacing its existing asset based revolving credit facility.

J D Factors announced it has provided the following factoring facilities: $200,000 to a staffing company in Quebec; $150,000 to a transportation company in Texas; $75,000 to a staffing company in California; $100,000 to a transportation company in Alberta.

Vitamin Discount Center (“VDC,” or, the “Company”) has been acquired by reCommerce, a portfolio company of Topspin Consumer Partners (“Topspin”). FocalPoint Securities, LLC (“FocalPoint”) served as exclusive financial advisor to Vitamin Discount Center in connection with the transaction. Vitamin Discount Center is a leading software-enabled e-commerce seller and B2B services provider to industry leading brands in the vitamins, supplements, and health and beauty industries.

Dr. Shafrin, who will be based in Los Angeles, is a leading health economist with more than 15 years of experience in applied economics research serving as an advisor and expert to healthcare and life sciences companies, governments and non-governmental organizations on policy, regulation, innovation and value issues. His experience includes projects on value assessment, alternative payment model design, discrete choice experiment survey, real-world data analysis and digital medicine.

Viva Capital Funding is excited to announce four new hires in the fields of Account Management, Account Support, and Marketing. Viva Capital Funding has announced the following new hires and their positions: Celina Barron as Account Manager, Paco Irigoyen as Account Manager, Darlene Rosales as Account Specialist, and Sasha Landskov as Marketing Specialist.

WeCommerce has obtained commitments from a syndicate of lenders led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (collectively, the “Lenders”) to provide financing of up to an aggregate of US$77 million to partially finance the purchase price for the Acquisition. The Credit Facility is expected to consist of a revolving credit facility, a term loan facility and a delayed draw term loan facility.

Citizens Bank, N.A., as administrative agent under the credit facility, led the amendment with our syndicate banking partners including Santander Bank, N. A., Silicon Valley Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Bank of America, N.A., Bank of Hope, Barclays Bank PLC, M&T Bank, Citibank, N.A., and Fifth Third Bank, N.A.

City National Bank, America’s Premier Private and Business Bank®, announced today the creation of a new National Corporate Banking division. The new division will be led by Brent Williams, senior vice president, who also leads City National’s L.A. Metro Commercial Banking business unit.

Today, Assembled Brands is thrilled to celebrate the closing of a new revolving line of credit with Sand Cloud, an apparel & lifestyle brand devoted to a mission of saving marine life. Since launching their business in 2014, and appearing on Shark Tank, the team at Sand Cloud has been committed to saving marine life by donating 10% of their profits to charitable organizations. They have reinvented the beach towel by using the finest sustainable Turkish materials in addition to introducing premium bath towels and eco-friendly accessories like reef safe sunscreen.

Hilco donated $1.8 million of new winter coats to families in underserved communities in Philadelphia, Jersey City, Boston, and Chicago, concluding this week at Instituto del Progreso Latino in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Slaughter and May are serving as legal advisors to Valaris in connection with the restructuring. Lazard Ltd. is serving as Valaris' financial advisor and Alvarez & Marsal North America LLC as its restructuring advisor. Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP are serving as legal advisors to the consenting Noteholders, and Houlihan Lokey Inc. is serving as financial advisor. Shearman & Sterling LLP is serving as legal advisors to the RCF Administrative Agent, and Perella Weinberg Partners LP is serving as financial advisor.

Sidley is pleased to announce that Johnny Skumpija, a leading capital markets lawyer, has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in its Capital Markets practice. Mr. Skumpija advises corporate clients and financial institutions in a wide variety of capital markets matters. He has extensive experience with initial public offerings, direct listings and other equity financings, high-yield and investment-grade debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, direct listings, SPAC transactions, private equity matters, and liability management transactions.

B. Riley Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: RILY) (“B. Riley”), a leading provider of business advisory and financial services, today announced that Martin Bernstein has joined B. Riley Principal Investments as Head of Private Investments. In this newly created role, Bernstein is responsible for sourcing, underwriting, and managing investments with private companies in addition to leading distribution to the firm’s syndication partners.

Essex Bank, the banking subsidiary of Community Bankers Trust Corporation (NASDAQ: ESXB), announced today that the Bank has hired Stanley B. Jones, Jr. as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer. The Bank also announced that it has hired Mary B. Randolph as Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Administrator, a newly created position.

Private equity giant Apollo Global Management is acquiring arts and crafts retailer Michaels in a $5 billion deal. Apollo will buy all outstanding Michaels shares for $22 each — a 47% premium to Friday's closing stock price, and well above the stock's pandemic-era low of around $1. Michaels, which operates more than 1,250 stores in the United States and Canada, was hit hard last spring when the pandemic forced it to shutter locations temporarily. But as restrictions eased over the summer, the arts and crafts industry boomed.