Article List

CIT Group Hires Rob Bolo to Lead Southeast Business Development

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that its Capital Equipment Finance business has named Rob Bolo as director for the Southeast region. Bolo will be is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and will cover North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and West Virginia. His focus will be on business development across a wide range of capital equipment loans and lease products touching on a variety of industries.

Churchill Raises Over $12 Billion for its Senior Lending Program

Churchill Asset Management LLC (“Churchill” or the “Firm”), an investment-specialist of Nuveen, announced today that it has raised over $12 billion in third-party committed capital for the Firm’s most recent senior lending program.

This milestone includes the closings of the Firm’s flagship levered and unlevered senior loan funds, publicly-registered vehicles and separately managed accounts (collectively, the “Funds”). The Funds attracted equity commitments from a diverse group of approximately 150 institutional and high net worth investors globally, including leading public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, foundations and family offices based in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Huntington Business Credit Provides Credit Facility for Bayloff Stamped Products Detroit, Inc.

Huntington Business Credit announced it closed a new $15,000,000 credit facility with Bayloff Stamped Products Detroit, Inc. on August 12, 2021. Proceeds of the facility were used to refinance existing indebtedness and to provide ongoing working capital growth financing.

Tailored Brands Executes Restructuring Agreement to Strengthen Financial Position

Restructuring Support Agreement Supported by More Than 75% of Senior Lenders; Files Voluntary Chapter 11 Petitions to Implement Financial Restructuring Plan

Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Moores Clothing for Men and K&G Fashion Superstore Continuing to Serve Customers;

Company Continuing to Execute Against Previously Announced Plans to Reduce Headcount and Realign Store Footprint

Restructuring Supported by $500 Million in DIP ABL Financing from Existing Lenders; Expected to Convert to $400 Million in Exit ABL Financing to Support Emergence from Chapter 11

Pioneer Energy Services Announces Agreement with Key Stakeholders to Create Strong Capital Structure

Pioneer has received a commitment for $75 million in debtor-in-possession ("DIP") financing from PNC Bank. Upon Court approval, the new financing and cash generated from the Company's ongoing operations will be used to support the business during the reorganization process. PNC has also committed to "roll" the DIP financing into an asset-based revolving credit facility at exit.

FrontWell Capital Partners Expands Deal Originations Team With Experienced Professionals

FrontWell Capital Partners (“FrontWell”), a private credit fund that provides transitionary senior debt financing to middle-market companies in the United States and Canada, today announced that it has added to its team two experienced professionals with expertise in sourcing, structuring and executing creative financing solutions for middle-market companies. Lilies Lanway, an industry veteran with nearly 30 years of U.S. deal sourcing experience, will join FrontWell’s deal originations team as Senior Vice President, Head of U.S. Deal Originations, and Brandon Lalonde will join the team as an Associate, both effective on October 11, 2021.

Confronting the Banking Dilemma for State-Licensed Marijuana Businesses in the United States

This article analyzes the conflict between federal and state marijuana laws, and its impact on the inability of state-legal marijuana businesses to obtain traditional and fundamental types of banking services from federally insured banks. This article is divided into three parts: (i) an explanation of the conflict of state and federal marijuana laws; (ii) the effect of the conflicting laws on the decision of banking institutions to provide services to state-licensed marijuana businesses; and (iii) congressional and judicial attempts to resolve the conflict between state and federal marijuana laws.

This is the first article in a three-part installment about the banking dilemma for state-licensed marijuana businesses in the United States.

White Oak Commercial Finance’s Healthy Housewares Client Continues to Cook

White Oak Commercial Finance, LLC (“White Oak”), an affiliate of White Oak Global Advisors, LLC is pleased to acknowledge the success of its valued client, StoreBound, a developer and distributor of housewares designed for healthy living. The fast-growing company has been with White Oak since 2015 and recently signed an investment agreement with multinational domestic equipment conglomerate, Groupe SEB, which aims to reinforce its presence in the US housewares market.

Headquartered in New York, StoreBound was recognized on INC’s List of Fastest Growing Businesses for four consecutive years and made Entrepreneur’s 360 List in 2019.

Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act: PPP Loans Round 2

The Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act was signed into law. While the implementing regulations are not required to be issued by the SBA until January 6, 2021, the Act does provide insight into the new and revised programs.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the Act to allow borrowers and lenders to take advantage of potential liquidity enhancements.

Lending to Manufacturers and Sellers Operating as Licensees (not Owners) of Famous Marks

SFNet President John DePledge, Head of ABL at Leumi Business Credit, and Riemer & Braunstein finance partner, Lon Singer, address the special business and legal considerations involved in lending to a company that operates as a licensee of a famous brand.

Oxford Finance Provides Credit Facility to Veteran-Centric Healthcare Provider Valor Healthcare

Oxford Finance LLC ("Oxford"), a specialty finance firm that provides senior debt to healthcare services and life sciences companies worldwide, today announced the closing of a senior credit facility to Valor Healthcare, Inc. ("Valor or "the Company"), an outsourced provider of high-quality primary care and mental health services to veterans in the United States.

Left Behind: Minority Debt Holders and Superpriority Exchanges

A trend towards superpriority debt exchanges that has begun appearing in out-of-court restructurings will continue to cause worry amongst minority debt holders and will likely result in continued litigation regarding the propriety of such exchanges. Examples of such troublesome exchanges began with an exchange conducted by Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC (“Serta”) and has continued with structurally similar transactions conducted by other companies, including Boardriders, Inc. (“Boardriders”) and TMK Hawk Parent, Corp. (“TriMark”).

Tyler Layne and Lee Sands, attorneys at Waller Law cover three recent out-of-court debt transactions that have introduced a novel way for majority lenders and borrowers to improve their position at the detriment of the non-participating/minority lenders.

Fortegra Financial Corporation Announces $200 Million Senior Secured Credit Facility with Fifth Third Bank, N.A.

Fortegra Financial Corporation (“Fortegra”), a leading specialty insurer and subsidiary of Tiptree Inc. (“Tiptree”), announced today that it closed on a $200 million Senior Secured Credit Facility from a syndicate of banks led by Fifth Third Bank, N.A. The entire amount is immediately available for letters of credit, with any remaining portion of the facility available for working capital.

Interview with Jennifer Palmer

In January, Gerber Finance announced the completion of its CEO succession strategy, naming longtime president Jennifer Palmer as CEO with Founder Gerald Joseph transitioning to his new role as strategic advisor and chairman of the board.

Heritage Bank of Commerce Builds Out National Specialty Finance Group

Heritage Bank of Commerce (the “Bank”), a subsidiary of Heritage Commerce Corp (Nasdaq: HTBK), today announced that the Bank continues to expand its Specialty Finance Group. The Specialty Finance Group consists of Bay View Funding’s national factoring business and the Bank’s national Asset-Based Lending (“ABL”)/Corporate Finance team and regional Small Business Administration (“SBA”) lending team in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Ares Commercial Finance Provides an $11 Million Credit Facility to NHI Mechanical Motion, LLC

Ares Commercial Finance announced that it has provided an $11.2 million senior secured credit facility to NHI Mechanical Motion, LLC comprised of a revolving line of credit, a real estate term loan and a term loan secured by machinery and equipment. Proceeds from the financing were used to support the acquisition of the business and for ongoing working capital support.

Interview with Heather Sonnenberg, Partner, Blank Rome

WISF Committee member Heather Sonnenberg concentrates her practice in commercial finance, with a particular focus on asset-based and cash-flow financing for various industry sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, and other service industries. She serves a wide range of clients, including banks, commercial finance companies, mezzanine lenders, and other institutional lenders, along with private equity firms, hedge funds, and publicly and privately held corporations.

eCapital Corp. Names Charles Sheppard as Chief Operating Officer

eCapital Corp. (“eCapital”), a leading alternative finance provider in North America, today announced that Charles Sheppard, formerly president of the eCapital Freight Factoring Division, has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) of eCapital Corp. In this new role, Charles will oversee both the eCapital Freight Factoring and eCapital Commercial Finance divisions, ensuring the company has unified leadership and is well-equipped to continue to scale and further establish itself as a leader in alternative finance.

Rimini Street Announces $90 Million Commercial Bank Financing to Fully Redeem Remaining Series A Preferred Stock

Capital One, National Association acted as sole lead arranger and bookrunner and Cowen served as exclusive financial advisor. Baker McKenzie LLP acted as legal counsel to Rimini Street, and Paul Hastings LLP acted as legal counsel to Capital One, National Association.

Interview with Melissa Mok, Director of Asset-Based Lending Originations, Truist Securities

The Women in Secured Finance e-newsletter's feature interview for this issue is with Melissa Mok, director of asset-based lending for Truist Securities. Mok joined Truist Securities in 2014. Located in Texas, she is responsible for ABL originations of mid- and large-cap companies and is currently focused on the Financial Services, Energy and Industrial Services. TMT and TME industry verticals.

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