Paladin Management, the fast-growing middle market advisory firm driving value-creation through financial and operational consulting services, is continuing to see sustained expansion in 2020 with the addition of industry expert, Anthony Horvat, a respected specialist in turning around and leading distressed and underperforming businesses.

Siena Lending Group LLC (“Siena”) announces the completion of a $21.5 million asset-based revolving line of credit for Arandell Corporation (“Arandell”). The facility was provided in conjunction with Saothair Capital Partners (“Saothair”) to fund the acquisition pursuant to a 363 sale of assets under Chapter 11, and for working capital needs to support future growth.

Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) has signed an agreement to acquire eOriginal, a leading provider of cloud-based digital lending software, for approximately €231 million in cash. The acquisition extends GRC Compliance Solutions’ leading position in U.S. mortgage and loan document generation and analytics into the fast-growing digital loan closing and storage adjacency.

Capital Southwest Corporation (“Capital Southwest”) (Nasdaq: CSWC), an internally managed business development company focused on providing flexible financing solutions to support the acquisition and growth of middle market businesses, announced today that it supported Mountaingate Capital’s (“Mountaingate”) investment in Acceleration Partners LLC (“Acceleration Partners” or the “Company”) with a senior secured first lien term loan and delayed draw facility, as well as a minority equity investment. Capital Southwest led the financing. East West Bank provided a revolver and was a minority co-lender in the term loan and delayed draw facility.

From the fourth quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” survey results reveal a slow and choppy recovery after COVID-19. While the majority of lenders surveyed seem to believe economic recovery after COVID-19 to be slow and choppy, the outlook for the U.S. economy in the near-term steadily improves. The near-term grade point average (GPA) increased 33 percentage points to 2.05 from the Q3 2020 GPA of 1.72. The projected outlook for the U.S. economy in the long-term decreased slightly (by 17 percentage points) to 2.43 from the previous quarter’s results of 2.60.

Thoma Bravo, a leading private equity investment firm focused on the software and technology-enabled services sector, today announced the completion of its acquisition of AxiomSL, a leading provider of cloud-enabled risk management and regulatory solutions for banking, investment management, broker dealers and commodity trading institutions. Evercore acted as financial advisor and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal advisor to AxiomSL. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Thoma Bravo. Financing for the transaction was provided by Owl Rock Capital, Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division, PSP Investments Credit USA LLC and Harvest Partners, LP.

TAB Bank is pleased to announce it has provided a $1 million asset-based credit facility for a transportation company located in Michigan. The facility is based on a multi-year agreement and will provide for the company’s ongoing working capital needs. In addition to the revolving credit facility, TAB Bank also provided the company with $1.1 million in equipment financing.

Wingspire Capital has provided a $30 million senior secured credit facility to a leading manufacturer and distributor of specialty concrete production and handling equipment that are integral in the construction of large buildings, stadiums, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

White Oak Healthcare Finance, LLC (“White Oak”) today announced it acted as administrative agent and sole lender on the funding of a $110 million senior credit facility secured by 9 skilled nursing facilities in Virginia. The total portfolio comprised over 1,000 beds.

In its last online auction of the year, Tiger Group is selling digital cameras, lenses and accessories surplus to the continuing operations of Keslow Camera, a leading motion picture film and digital cinema camera rental company

Westlake Securities, a leading middle market investment bank, announced that it secured the previously announced $160 million in committed capital for Wake Forest, N.C.-based portable storage and moving company, Zippy Shell. Recently ranked again in the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies, Zippy Shell is on the move itself—moving up and growing quickly as the industry's second largest company of its kind.

PaperTech, a leading manufacturer of paperboard packaging products to the frozen food industry and foodservice markets, today announced it has been acquired by May River Capital, a Midwest-based private equity firm focused on helping high-caliber industrial businesses grow and prosper. Paul Hastings LLP served as legal counsel to May River Capital, while Seyburn Kahn, P.C. served as legal counsel to PaperTech and its shareholders. Twin Brook Capital Partners provided the debt financing in support of the acquisition. Amherst Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor to the company and its shareholders.

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that its Power and Energy business served as coordinating lead arranger on a $256 million financing for the 250-megawatt (MW) Taygete I Energy Project owned by 7X Energy, Inc (7X) and located in Pecos County, Texas. 7X Energy is a leading utility-scale solar developer, owner, and asset manager that has originated 1,350 (MWac) of solar projects that are operational or under construction in Texas alone and has a pipeline of over 4,000 MW across the United States.

Gerber Finance, a leading finance partner for companies experiencing accelerated growth, today announced funding of abc carpet & home, a mission-driven home and lifestyle brand that is a favorite with designers, decorators and consumers. The home goods market and retailers have been experiencing record growth in 2020, as people spend more time at home.

Regions Financial Corp. on Tuesday announced Chief Operating Officer John Owen will retire effective March 15, 2021, following a nearly 38-year career in business and banking, the last 13 of which have been at Regions. Owen’s experience and insights have benefited several of Regions’ business groups and, in turn, the people and businesses who turn to Regions for comprehensive and innovative financial services. Owen joined the company in 2007 as head of Operations and Technology. In 2009, he was named head of Regions’ Consumer Services group. He later served two years as head of Business Lines, which included the Business Services, Consumer Services, Consumer Lending and Wealth Management groups.

With COVID-19 cases surging and a new wave of restrictions looming, challenges persist for small business owners as they continue to weather the pandemic according to data from the Q4 Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index. While the index score rose 12 points for the second straight quarter, overall optimism levels remain just over half of what they were in late 2019.

The Company’s asset purchase agreement (“APA”) with Simon, Brookfield and the Company’s DIP and First Lien Lenders (“First Lien Lenders”), supported by the Unsecured Creditors Committee, had previously been approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the “Court”) on November 9, 2020. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal adviser, Lazard is serving as financial adviser, and AlixPartners LLP is serving as restructuring adviser to the Company. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal counsel and BRG Capital Advisors, LLC is serving as financial adviser to Simon and Brookfield.

Great Rock Capital, an asset-focused commercial finance company specializing in middle market lending, today announced the close of a $20 million senior secured term loan for an industry-leading full-service equipment rental supplier. The new capital will provide the company with additional liquidity to execute on growth endeavors as it continues to expand into new markets.

O’Keefe is pleased to announce that Marco Eadie has joined the firm as Managing Director to lead the new Corporate Finance practice. Eadie focuses on transaction advisory services including mergers, acquisitions, buy and sell side advisory, debt recapitalizations, corporate development, restructurings, divestitures, and event-driven financing for both private and publicly held companies.

Moody's credit analysts have published the attached outlook for the residential mortgage-backed securities market for 2021. This outlook covers all sub-sectors of RMBS rated by Moody's including prime jumbo, non-prime, GSE credit risk transfer and single-family rental transactions.