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I trust you are safe and well as we begin to enter a new phase of this crisis, that of slowly reopening our economy. While the devastation we have experienced has been profound on both a personal and professional level, our community has played a crucial role in weathering this storm and will continue to do so as we emerge stronger and more resilient than before. I am moved by examples of how our members are keeping essential supply chains intact, funding providers of critical services and responding to the surge of funding requests from businesses that have pivoted away from their usual products to manufacture PPE to ease the shortage, not to mention those who are donating and raising funds for groups being adversely affected during this unprecedented time.

David Rains, Founder and CEO of Commercial Finance Consultants, passed away Wednesday following a courageous battle with COVID-19.  David was a longtime executive recruiter specializing in the factoring and asset-based lending industries.  In addition to his work in the industry, David’s work in prison entrepreneurship was a passion and helped many who had no one else championing their cause. David wrote an inspiring article about the program in the June 2019 issue of The Secured Lender.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the Prison Entrepreneurship Program at the following address:

 PO Box 83661
Richardson, TX 75083-6617

“David was highly respected, admired, and loved by all who knew him, and leaves a large legacy in our industry. David was a friend to all and was personally responsible for helping fill many, many positions in our industry. On behalf of the SFNet, we extend our sympathies to David’s wife, Billie, his sister, Debra Wilson - Zukonik, and the entire family.” Stewart Hayes, Managing Director, Wells Fargo Commercial Capital.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group ("MUFG"), a leading global financial group, today announced that Kevin P. Cronin has been appointed Regional Executive for the Americas for MUFG and MUFG Bank, Ltd., its primary banking subsidiary, and President and CEO of MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., effective March 31, 2021. Mr. Cronin will succeed Stephen E. Cummings as the senior-most executive in the Americas for MUFG. Mr. Cummings previously announced in September 2020 that he will retire from his current position at the end of March. Mr. Cronin will become a member of the Board of Directors of MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation and MUFG Union Bank, and he will be based in New York.

The onset of the pandemic has certainly changed the fundraising and investing landscape for private equity and other types of alternative financing. While most acknowledge that the lack of face-to-face meetings has made the fundraising process and due diligence on deals more difficult, the PE industry and related players remain a resilient lot. Even with the country’s shutdown and the resulting economic problems, private equity firms are prioritizing their existing portfolios, working to figure out ways to shore up these companies.

In a previous issue of TSL Express, we noted that, on January 2, 2019, the United States Senate gave its advice and consent to the United Nations Convention to the United Nations Assignment of Receivables in International Trade.  At the time, we noted that all that remained to complete the ratification process was for the White House to authorize the deposit of the Convention with the United Nations Treaty Office.  We are pleased to report that this step has finally occurred, 16 years after the Convention was signed by the United States. The SFNet is proud to have played a role in the drafting of the Convention and its adoption

Hercules Capital, Inc. announced it has replaced its existing $200.0 million credit facility with MUFG Union Bank N.A. with a new credit facility under which Royal Bank of Canada /City National Bank, a National Banking Association, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Umpqua Bank, TIAA, FSB, Zions Bancorporation, N.A., dba California Bank & Trust, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Hitachi Capital America Corporation and CIT Bank, N.A., together with MUFG, have committed a total of $400.0 million in credit capacity subject to borrowing base, leverage and other restrictions. 

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that its Healthcare Finance business served as sole lead arranger on a $15.9 million financing for two medical office buildings in Littleton, Colorado.

The buildings, known as Arapahoe Medical Plaza I and II, are located on the campus of Littleton Adventist Hospital and comprise more than 98,700 square feet of space. The borrower is a venture led by an affiliate of Seavest Healthcare Properties.

Editor's Note: SFNet’s Advocacy Committee is prioritizing initiatives to support our bank, non-bank and service provider constituents.  A key component of this is analyzing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was enacted on March 27, for specific opportunities to address the needs of our members and borrowers across asset classes and industries, as the focus now turns to implementation.

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that its Asset-Based Lending team served as administrative agent for a new $185 million senior secured, asset-based credit facility for Orscheln Farm and Home LLC, a leading retailer of farm supplies, home improvement essentials and general merchandise.

Borrowers face an uphill battle when conducting an internet search for capital. Lee Haskin of Crossroads Financial discusses the misinformation out there and offers clarifications concerning certain types of finance products.

It brings together complementary strengths with First Citizens’ low-cost retail deposit franchise and full suite of banking products and CIT’s national commercial lending franchise and strong market positions.

China has locked down entire cities and restricted travel to limit the spread of the epidemic, with serious implications for Chinese companies and global supply chains. US technology giant Apple warned that it would not meet its revenue guidance for the March quarter because of slower iPhone production and weaker demand in China.

The uncertain fallout from the coronavirus outbreak in China has paralysed syndications across Asia, as lenders struggle to assess the damage to Chinese businesses and borrowers that rely heavily on Chinese demand.

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that its Power and Energy business served as coordinating lead arranger on a $151 million financing for the 250-megawatt Galloway I solar farm planned for Concho County, Texas.

The financing was arranged on behalf of Skyline Renewables and 8minute Solar Energy (8minute), which will continue to jointly oversee development and construction of the project. Galloway I was acquired by Skyline Renewables, an experienced renewables company backed by the infrastructure team at Ardian, a world-leading private investment house.