SFNet's Asset-Based Capital Conference (ABCC) is returning to Las Vegas, February
8 - 9, 2022 at the Encore at the Wynn in Las Vegas, NV, and will offer outstanding networking opportunities and insightful panels geared specifically for asset-based lenders in the capital markets. This conference brings together the decision makers who get deals done. A virtual attendance option supported by our online platform, SFNet Connect, will also be offered. ABCC will coincide with TMA's Distressed Investing Conference, allowing the ever-popular Joint SFNet/TMA Reception to be held again this year.

“These are certainly challenging times for business planning, but that makes it even more important to stay informed of market developments,” said ABCC Conference Chair, Barry Bobrow, managing director, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC. “We think that the agenda for this year’s ABCC gives participants – both who attend virtually and in person – the information they need to succeed. After two years since our last in-person ABCC conference, it will be great to have the opportunity to connect with colleagues and friends from across the industry.”

“We recognize the importance of fulfilling our purpose of bringing together the resources that put capital to work – especially in this environment,” said Richard Gumbrecht, CEO, SFNet. “We are encouraged by the positive response to holding the meeting in the safest way we can, including live streaming and outdoor networking under heat lamps. We are seeing a significant and growing number of in person registrants who are committed to a productive experience, including over 600 participants expected for the joint reception with TMA alone.”

The Conference will kick off on February 8 with a Private Equity Session and Lunch, featuring a conversation with a leading private equity partner, Randy Schwimmer, head of origination and Capital Markets at Churchill Asset Management and editor of The Lead Left, a leading weekly publication focused on private capital.

Following this, attendees will have ample time to network from 2:00-3:30 p.m. at Networking Central, sponsored by Gordon Brothers. This indoor/outdoor extended break offers attendees ample time to connect and network with fellow attendees and will be offered both days during the conference.

The focus will then shift to the Supply Chain Moves Front and Center Panel. Few topics have received more media attention throughout the pandemic than issues related to supply chains. Disruptions to shipping, rail and trucking have significantly affected all economic sectors. Challenges finding workers have led to slowdowns in manufacturing capacity and retail services, even as geopolitical concerns have driven companies to look for new ways to optimize their supply chain networks for the current and anticipated environment. These issues demand both short- and long-term solutions, and our experts will address both and provide their expectations for 2022 and beyond. Larry Flick, partner, Blank Rome LLP, will serve as moderator. Panelists include Ulos Anderson, Sr. managing director, Gordon Brothers; James Aubuchon, president, Premier Trailer Leasing; Jimmy Dixon, management consultant, Oliver Wright Americas, Inc.; and Steve Moore, principal, Tortola Advisors.

The evening will conclude with an Opening Reception, sponsored by McGuireWoods LLP, taking place in a combination indoor/outdoor space, using heat lamps for the outdoor portion for optimal attendee comfort.

Following breakfast on Wednesday, February 9, will be the Retail Has a Breakout Year panel with Ian Fredericks, president, Hilco Global Retail Group, serving as Moderator. The 2021 retail environment looks vastly different from the recent past. Consumer spending, supported by high optimism and pent-up demand, and buoyed by record levels of government support, has reached unexpected highs. Mall-based retailers, particularly department stores, are reporting strong earnings as various factors have led to improved margins. At the same time, many pre-pandemic darlings of retail have not been as fortunate. The rapid pace of change has led both online and store-based retailers to change their strategies for 2022 and beyond. This panel of experts will guide us through the changing landscape of retail and the broader economic environment and provide their views on the future.

The Private Debt Spotlight will follow. Even as the public debt markets reached record levels in 2021, private debt has also grown significantly in capacity and overall activity levels. With increased fund raising by asset managers and greater appreciation for the speed and flexibility of private debt solutions, private equity investors have shown a greater willingness to consider private debt solutions. Lincoln International, a global investment banking advisory firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions, capital advisory and valuations and opinions services, will provide proprietary private market data from its Valuations & Opinions Group and moderate this panel of private debt professionals, exploring current market trends and expectations for the future direction of the market. Robert Horak, managing director, Lincoln International LLC, will serve as moderator. Panelists include Matt Liepert, managing director, Antares Capital; Dan Lee, managing director, Comvest Credit Partners; and Smitha Balasubramanian, managing director, Valuations & Opinions Group, Lincoln International LLC.

“The consensus seems clear that the combination of massive dry powder and pent-up demand from sellers will drive strong M&A activity through 2022 and into 2023. The bigger looming question is how and when the party could come to a halt,” said Dan Lee, partner, Comvest Credit Partners New York, NY. “Lenders are chomping at the bit coming into 2022 with upward revised deployment targets coming off a record year.”

The Sustainability and the Capital Markets Panel will discuss a wide range of recent developments in sustainable finance and what the future might hold. Corporate response to environmental issues has existed for decades, but it has been given a great sense of urgency due to shifts in investor behavior, changes in fundamental economic drivers, and a growing focus on climate change and social justice in our society overall. In recent years, this confluence of factors has led to changes in regulatory regimes, corporate governance, business strategies, risk management approaches and the capital markets themselves. Sustainability features have become a staple of the loan and bond markets in recent years and have recently begun to be seen in asset-based loans.

Dorothy Killeen, managing director and head of origination, Wells Fargo Commercial Capital, will serve as moderator with panelists: Geneviève Piché, head of ESG Solutions, Wells Fargo; Elizabeth Ballotte, principal, PFK O'Connor Davies; and Georgia Quenby, partner, Morgan Lewis.

“Momentum has been building behind the ESG topic for years, and we witnessed a significant acceleration in 2021, including in asset-based loans as sustainability features have become more prominent,” said panelist Geneviève Piché. “Attendees can expect a robust conversation on sustainable finance and what it means for the evolution of the asset-based loan market in 2022 and beyond.”

“Some focal points and key takeaways from my presentation will be: As stakeholders’ expectations for companies to achieve and demonstrate their social and environmental impact has increased considerably over the past several years, their responses have been reactive and one-off response for stakeholder demands,” explained Elizabeth Gousse Ballotte, principal, PKF O'Connor Davies, LLP.  “For companies to be successful in their ESG initiative they need a dedicated leader tasked with effectively and efficiently leading the company-wide impact program.  I will outline best practices, methodologies and tools that will assist companies to establish and successfully manage their ESG initiatives.”

The ABCC Capital Markets Update 2022 Panel will take place after a two-hour networking break, sponsored by Gordon Brothers.

“The panel will be a look back at the credit markets in 2021 and a look ahead to what can be expected in 2022,” said panelist Colin Adams, senior managing director, M3 Partners. The confluence of corporate optimism, government-provided liquidity, low interest rates and credit spreads and borrower friendly capital markets led to record levels of issuance for both public and private debt in 2021. These forces also led to significant M&A activity during the year and, despite current inflation and interest rate concerns, markets appear poised for continued strong performance in 2022.  Barry Bobrow will serve as moderator and panelists will include Lisa Hanson, executive director, Global Capital Markets, Morgan Stanley; Andrew Ray, managing director Asset-Based Lending, JPMorgan; Steve Szymanski, director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch; and Colin Adams, senior managing director, M3 Partners.

Lastly, the Conference will conclude with the Joint Reception with TMA's Distressed Investing Conference, sponsored by White Oak Commercial Finance, Gerber Finance Inc., and Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP, from 5:45-8:00 p.m. The reception will take place in a combination indoor/outdoor space.

To register for the event, please click here. Use the conference hashtag, #SFNetABCC22, to share that you are attending.