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The Pandemic’s Mental Health Toll on Employees

COVID-19 has placed an extreme emphasis on physical well-being, but the pandemic has also caused a mental health crisis. How can managers assist their team members during this unprecedented time?

CIT Northbridge Credit Serves as Sole Lender on $20 Million Credit Facility for Marquis Construction

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that CIT Northbridge Credit, through its investment advisor CIT Asset Management LLC, served as sole lead arranger on a $20 million senior secured credit facility for Marquis Construction Services LLC.

Headquartered in Clute, Texas, Marquis Construction Services is a multi-disciplined, soft-craft provider of industrial and construction services, including scaffolding, insulation, sandblasting and painting, environmental abatement, fireproofing and industrial siding.

Audax Private Debt Provides Financing to Support Backstage’s Acquisitions of StarNow and The Mandy Network

Audax Private Debt announced that, as Administrative Agent and Lead Arranger, it provided a senior secured credit facility to support add-on acquisitions for Backstage (the “Company”), a portfolio company of TA Associates and online career platform for creative talent. Backstage acquired The Mandy Network, a UK-based talent platform for cast, crew, production services and creative professionals, and StarNow, a New Zealand-based talent platform for actors, models, influencers, and musicians.

Fifth Third Business Capital Provides $9.4 Million for Amglo Kemlite

Fifth Third Business Capital, a division of Fifth Third Bank, announced it acted as sole lender and administrative agent on the funding of a new $9,417,500 senior credit facility to Bensenville, Illinois-based Amglo Kemlite Laboratories, Inc. Fifth Third’s credit facility was used to support the acquisition of Amglo Kemlite by NewCastle Partners, LLC, and to provide working capital to support future growth.

SFNet WISF Career Corner

This feature provides advice from WISF members to young professionals on a specific topic. We need your input. If you have a question you would like to see answered in this column, please submit to Michele Ocejo at mocejo@sfnet.com.

What Happened to the Back Room? A Discussion on Operations Management and Career Paths in Secured Finance Operations

What of back rooms?

One important thing that we have learned over the recent past, through our observations of societal upheaval and current events, is that words matter. Reflecting on the often-misleading references that are used in our lives, and industry, is an opportunity to open our minds, deepen our sensitivities, and expand our learning opportunities to what exists in our current collective reality.

I've often heard the term, back office, used by some ABL and/or other leaders within bank organizations. Users of this term surely do not intend to be offensive, however, it is an outdated reference that has no place in the more complex secured lending operations of today.

Architect Capital Launches With $100 Million to Provide Asset-based Financing to Technology Companies in the U.S. and Latin America

Architect Capital, an asset-based lender to early-stage technology businesses, announced that it has launched with over $100 million to provide non-dilutive or less-dilutive financing solutions to high-growth and technology-enabled businesses. With a focus on FinTech, E-Commerce, and SaaS companies in Latin America and the United States, Architect Capital's mission is to support innovative founders across the globe by structuring and delivering unique asset-based products complementary to traditional venture capital.

Gail K. Bernstein Reflects on Her Successful Career in ABL

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 Strengthens Senior Leadership in Commercial Banking

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.”

Secured Finance Executives Discuss the Impact of Coronavirus

Jennifer Palmer, CEO, Gerber Finance, Paul Schuldiner, executive vice president and purchase order finance division manager, Rosenthal & Rosenthal and Ken Wengrod, co-founder/president, FTC Commercial Corp. discuss the impact of Coronavirus.

Blue Owl Capital Announces Agreement to Acquire Wellfleet Credit Partners from Littlejohn & Co.

Blue Owl Capital Inc. ("Blue Owl") (NYSE: OWL) announced today it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Wellfleet Credit Partners LLC ("Wellfleet") from affiliates of Littlejohn & Co., LLC ("Littlejohn"). The transaction is expected to close in March 2022 and is subject to customary closing conditions. The purchase price consists of upfront and earnout payments, which will be primarily funded by cash. Upon closing, Wellfleet will become part of Blue Owl's Owl Rock division, reporting into Craig Packer, Co-Founder and a Senior Managing Director of Blue Owl.

CIT Serves as Co-Lead Arranger on $165 Million Financing for iEnergizer

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.

White Oak Healthcare Finance Provides $75MM Credit Facility to Advanced Recovery Systems

White Oak Healthcare Finance, LLC (“White Oak”) announced today that it acted as sole lender and administrative agent of a senior credit facility to support Advanced Recovery Systems, LLC (“ARS” or the "Company"), a Goldman Sachs Asset Management portfolio company. ARS provides inpatient and outpatient treatment services for patients with addiction, substance abuse and behavioral health disorders.

Eastern Bankshares, Inc. and Century Bancorp, Inc. Enter Into Definitive Agreement To Merge

Eastern Bankshares, Inc. (“Eastern”) (Nasdaq Global Select Market: EBC), the stock holding company for Eastern Bank, and Century Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNBKA) (“Century”), the stock holding company for Century Bank and Trust Company (“Century Bank”), today jointly announced they have entered into a definitive all-cash merger agreement with an aggregate transaction value of $642 million. This in-market transaction comes less than six months after Eastern’s initial public offering that raised approximately $1.7 billion in equity capital.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as financial advisor and Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP provided legal counsel to Eastern. Piper Sandler & Co. served as financial advisor and Goodwin Procter LLP provided legal counsel to Century.

A Viable Alternative to the Bankruptcy Process for Struggling Companies

It is an unfortunate reality that, as the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be felt, an increasing number of businesses will face financial and operational distress. For many of these businesses, bankruptcy may be an appropriate or necessary path to restructure their balance sheets. However, it is not the only option and lenders must keep that in mind as companies increasingly default under their credit agreements.

Bankruptcy can be an extremely useful tool for restructuring a company, but can also be expensive, lengthy and frustrating. That’s why more lenders are considering a Strict Foreclosure process executed under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. This strategy can offer many of the same benefits as a bankruptcy filing while requiring less time and fewer financial resources. In order to properly assess the benefits and risks of this approach, lenders must have a firm grasp on what it entails, when best to use it, as well as how to manage people throughout the process.

Citizens Expands Capabilities by Adding Insurance Industry Banking Expertise

Citizens Commercial Banking has hired two senior bankers as it increases its commitment to its financial institution and insurance industry clients. Peter Wesemeier, based in Atlanta, and Ben Los, based in Chicago, have joined Citizens as managing directors and will work with Boston-based David Bosselait as financial and strategic partners to Citizens’ existing and new financial institution and insurance industry clients.

Asset-Based Capital Conference Feb. 4-5 To Explore Lending Market Shifts, 2020 Economic Outlook

Current headwinds affecting asset-based lending (ABL) portfolios and emerging opportunities and challenges in various industry sectors are on the agenda at the Secured Finance Network (SFNet) Asset-Based Capital Conference 2020 Feb. 4-5 in Las Vegas.

CIT Northbridge Serves as Sole Lead Arranger on $20 Million Secured Credit Facility for Laurel Grocery

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 Names Business Development Officer in Commercial Services

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that it has hired Calvin Navatto as a business development officer in its Commercial Services business.

Navatto will be based in New York City and focus on business development across a wide range of business verticals supported by Commercial Services, including apparel, footwear, housewares, consumer electronics, health and beauty aids and more.

CIT Arranges $185 Million Financing for Community Solar Portfolio

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that its Power and Energy business served as lead arranger for approximately $185 million in financing for a 66-megawatt portfolio of community solar projects.

The financing was arranged on behalf of Clearway Energy Group, one of the largest developers and operators of clean energy generation facilities in the U.S.

The portfolio consists of 19 separate projects totaling 66 megawatts of solar generation capacity located in Massachusetts, Illinois and New York State.

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