In the coming months, be on the lookout for an increase in seller-financed mergers and acquisitions activity. 

For the last several years, the small and midsized business segment was experiencing increasing purchase price multiples fueled by low interest rates and the available credit made possible by banks’ confidence in a robust economy. Owners of solid businesses – motivated by a desire to close deals before anticipated possible changes in the current tax code – staged auctions and entertained multiple competing all-cash offers. Buyers took advantage of easy credit and low rates to deploy a combination of debt and equity, with debt on the portion of a deal supported by commercial real estate often exceeding 70%. 

On International Women’s Day, SFNet president and former CEO of Gerber Finance and eCapital ABL, Jennifer Palmer, is announcing the formation of JPalmer Collective. The asset-based lending firm will provide customized financing solutions with white-glove, consultative services designed to help businesses grow sustainably and founders to retain their equity.

The company will specialize in high-growth businesses that do not fit traditional lenders' criteria, including women-led companies and consumer brands focused on conscious consumers, sustainability and inclusivity.

GA Telesis, LLC ("GAT") and Tokyo Century Corporation ("TC") announce the launch of its new joint venture lending platform, HALO AirFinance ("HALO"). HALO will serve as the exclusive debt origination channel for GAT and TC, with a focus on secured direct lending to airlines, lessors, and investors, covering the collateral spectrum from new to mid-life aircraft.

Mignon Winston Joins as Vice President

Great Rock Capital, an asset-focused commercial finance company specializing in middle market lending, today announced Mignon Winston has joined the firm as a Vice President of Underwriting. She will be based in Connecticut and serve as one of the company’s underwriting team leaders.

David A. Spehar, a 30-year appraisal and disposition veteran whose work has encompassed over 350 companies and thousands of retail stores across North America, has joined Tiger Group as associate director of Field Operations.

Spehar’s new role includes overseeing Tiger’s data-driven approach to marketing and selling furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) during liquidations and strategic store-closings, as well as conducting field evaluations of retail stores and distribution centers on behalf of Tiger’s valuation practice. He reports to Tiger Group Executive Managing Director Arnold L. Jacobs.

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. has announced the launch of private credit-focused Oaktree Lending Partners and its related vehicles (OLP). OLP is targeting $10 billion in equity commitments from institutional investors.

OLP will seek to originate senior secured loans of $500 million or more to private equity-owned U.S. companies, typically with over $100 million in EBITDA. 

Heelstone Renewable Energy, LLC (“Heelstone”) is pleased to announce that in the fourth quarter of 2022 it closed on a $175 million credit facility with BlackRock Alternatives (“BlackRock”), through a fund managed by its Infrastructure Debt business, to fund the initial construction and development of utility-scale solar and battery storage projects. 

MidCap Financial, a leading commercial finance company focused on middle market transactions, is pleased to announce that it has completed an acquisition of a significant portion of Sector Financial’s managed Healthcare Asset Based Lending portfolio, totaling over $500mm in commitments and over $300mm in funded assets.

Eclipse Business Capital LLC (“EBC”) announced that it has provided a $135 million senior secured revolving credit facility an e-commerce retailer.

The credit facility is secured by accounts receivable and inventory with the proceeds being used to refinance the existing line of credit. EBC’s demonstrated track record of executing quickly, coupled with its industry expertise, provided the borrower confidence that its business needs would be met.

Monroe Capital LLC (“Monroe”), a premier boutique asset management firm specializing in private credit markets across various strategies, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Horizon Technology Finance Management LLC, (“Horizon”) (the “Acquisition” or “Transaction”). Horizon is the investment advisor to Horizon Technology Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: HRZN).

Webster Bank today announced that Ann Meade has been promoted to Regional President, Boston and Managing Director, Commercial Lending, leading Middle Market Banking, in the Greater Boston market.

Meade has been a strong presence in the Boston marketplace for Webster and has been instrumental in driving the success of the Middle Market Group in Boston. In her new role, she will expand her focus to the entire Webster team in Boston and will coordinate Webster’s business and community affairs activities.

Cambridge Savings Bank (CSB), a full-service mutual bank with a customer-first approach and over $6 billion in assets, today announced that it is supporting Allen & Gerritsen (A&G) in its effort to reimagine its work environment with a $1 million equipment line of credit. Creative and entrepreneurial in nature, Allen & Gerritsen is an independent agency specializing in creative communications, customer experience (CX), public relations and media and analytics. The firm currently has locations in Boston and Philadelphia.

Wingspire Capital LLC (“Wingspire”) committed a $30 million term loan A and a $15 million revolver to travel technology and marketplace firm Mondee, Inc., participating and adding to an existing loan facility led by TCW Asset Management Company LLC.

The proceeds will be used to  fund general corporate business for the Austin, Texas-based company, including a disciplined and accretive M&A strategy.

TSL Express’ senior editor sat down with Tim Burniston, senior advisor, Regulatory Strategy for Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions to discuss the results of Wolters Kluwer’s Regulatory & Risk Management Indicator Survey. Burniston advises the Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk, and Compliance executive leadership team and clients on emerging issues, legislative and regulatory developments, and regulatory strategy.

Now in its tenth year, the Indicator “takes the pulse” of the U.S. banking industry and is based on 10 different factors: compliance, regulatory environmental and risk management factors.  The Regulatory & Risk Management Indicator Survey was conducted between July 27-September 9, 2022, and received 328 responses. Survey respondents are primarily from smaller banks, savings and loan institutions and credit unions. Keeping pace with the volume, scope and breadth of regulatory changes topped the list of key concerns facing U.S. banks, credit unions, and other lenders. To learn more about the survey, click here.

 

Signature Bank (Nasdaq: SBNY), a New York-based, full-service commercial Bank announced today Co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph J. DePaolo plans to transition into a senior advisor role during 2023. Chief Operating Officer Eric R. Howell will succeed DePaolo as President, effective March 1, 2023. DePaolo retains the Chief Executive Officer role and also will remain on the Bank’s Board of Directors. 

Ares Commercial Finance announced today that it has provided a $22.5 million senior secured credit facility to a leading offline processor and wholesale distributor of branded and private-label commodity, specialty and hard-cooked eggs predominantly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets.

Great Rock Capital, an asset-focused commercial finance company specializing in middle market lending, today announced the January 19, 2023, closing of a $90 million senior secured term loan facility with Astronics Corporation (“Astronics”), an aerospace electronics corporation that provides advanced technologies to the world’s aerospace, defense, and other mission critical industries.  Astronics (Nasdaq: ATRO) is a publicly traded company on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

Ed Chang, CEO of ELF, said, “We are proud to support Mountain Ridge Capital and its senior management team comprised of long-standing industry veterans, who have a demonstrated and impressive track record in asset-based lending. We look forward to working closely with Craig Winslow and his team as they continue to grow their business.”

Pemberton, a leading alternative credit specialist, has raised US$1bn for its Working Capital Finance (WCF) strategy.

The WCF strategy invests in receivables, payables, and inventory financings for large and mid-market companies in both the US and in Europe through an open-ended fund structure. The companies Pemberton invests in span a wide range of sectors, with a focus on IT and food businesses.

Brazos Midstream ("Brazos") (the "Company") today announced that its subsidiary, Brazos Delaware II LLC, has completed the issuance of a new $800 million senior secured Term Loan B due February 2030. The Company used the net proceeds from the Term Loan, along with excess balance sheet cash, to repay its existing $830 million Term Loan B due May 2025.

The transaction was underwritten and arranged by a Barclays-led bookrunner group including Jefferies Finance LLC, Bank of Oklahoma Securities and with Cadence Bank as structuring advisor.