Articles

Rising Together. This concept serves as both the theme for this month’s issue and SFNet’s upcoming online conference Women in Secured Finance: Where Women Rise. 

During this challenging time, it’s more important than ever to highlight and celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of women in our industry. Statistics show that the pandemic has had serious effects on women in the workplace, as we struggle with added pressures on the job, increased unemployment and increasingly challenging caregiving responsibilities. 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the country. Millions of small businesses are struggling, with many having closed and others on the verge of shuttering.

A recent Harvard Business School survey of 5,800 businesses reveals the median business with $10,000 or more in monthly expenses usually lacks sufficient ready cash to cover two weeks of spending.

Not surprisingly, small business defaults are up considerably. From roughly two percent of small business debt last year, they now consist of 2.7 percent of small business debt. The future does not look bright. By 2021, default rates may rise to as high as five to six percent, according to models.  

Vivint also announced that, concurrently with the Notes offering, the Issuer refinanced its existing credit facilities with (i) a new $1,350.0 million first lien senior secured term loan facility maturing in 2028 (the “New Senior Secured Term Loan Facility”) and (ii) a new $370.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility maturing in 2026 (the “New Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the New Senior Secured Term Loan facility, the “New Senior Secured Credit Facilities”), with lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A. as a lender, administrative agent and collateral agent.

New York State Senator James Sanders, Jr. (D-Queens, New York) has introduced a bill (S 6688) in the New York State Senate, which is presently pending before the Senate Committee on Rules.  The bill would require the licensing by the Superintendent of Banking of the New York State Banking Department (“Superintendent”) of persons or entities engaged in the business of making or soliciting commercial financing products to businesses located in New York State.

Republic Business Credit works with the Azadian Group and Change Capital to provide flexible growth capital during the coronavirus pandemic. 

With over $370 trillion of global financial contracts referencing LIBOR (London Inter-bank Offered Rate), many oil and gas companies are curious about how the phase-out of LIBOR by 2021 could impact their organization. Many companies are beginning to ask how this transition will impact their organization and what steps can be taken now. The following is a discussion of:

• why LIBOR is being phased out;
• the transition plan for the phase-out;
• items companies should consider; and the steps that can be taken now.  

The new Company Stabilisation and Restructuring Act (StaRUG for short) entered into force on January 1, 2021. It is based on a European directive on the introduction of a pre-insolvency restructuring procedure, which was adopted in June 2019.

The intention is to facilitate early restructuring of companies and in any case before insolvency occurs. The idea is to avoid the disadvantages of insolvency - a possible loss of reputation and high costs for the affected company, disruption to trade and to safeguard employment.

Greater focus placed on domestic deals, albeit majority of U.S. M&A leaders acknowledge that capturing full deal value is a growing sore spot.

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that CIT Northbridge Credit, as advised by CIT Asset Management LLC, served as sole lead arranger on a $20 million senior secured credit facility for Laurel Grocery Company LLC.

Headquartered in London, Kentucky, Laurel Grocery is a wholesale distributor of grocery products to more than 160 independent grocers in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia. The company, founded in 1922, also provides a range of business services, including accounting, insurance, merchandising, advertising and third-party warehousing and logistics.

Proceeds will be used to repay debt, finance growth initiatives and support ongoing operations.

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that its Technology, Media and Telecommunications business served as co-lead arranger and joint bookrunner for a $165 million financing on behalf of iEnergizer, a leading technology services and media solutions company.

The financing, which includes a $150 million term loan and a $15 million revolving credit facility, will be used to refinance existing debt and fund a dividend to shareholders.

Founded in 2000, iEnergizer provides technology-enabled services to clients across a wide range of industries, including gaming, healthcare, publishing, travel, and financial services.

Gail K. Bernstein was executive vice president, national investment manager for PNC Business Credit, located in Los Angeles, CA. Prior to September 2013, she was the marketing manager of PNC Business Credit-Western Region, a de novo office that she opened in 1998. Besides her extensive experience in ABL, her career encompasses a specialization in international lending and investment management. She has traveled extensively in Latin America and is bilingual in English and Spanish.

After 20 years with PNC, Bernstein retired on August 30, 2019. 

Santander Bank, N.A. today announced the appointments of Taryn Phelan as Commercial Banking Chief Experience Officer and Michael McDonough as Head of Trade & Working Capital Solutions. Phelan will report to Joe Abruzzo, Head of Commercial Banking, and McDonough will report to Ken Deveaux, Head of Transaction Banking.

“Taryn and Michael are great examples of our investment in top talent to drive, develop and execute our Commercial Banking growth strategy,” said Abruzzo. “They bring a wealth of leadership, experience and energy with them to Santander, and I’m excited to have them on our dynamic team.”