TSL Feature Articles
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Interview with Gordon Brothers’ New CEO Norma Kuntz
Mar 20, 2023
In December, Gordon Brothers announced that Norma Kuntz would be appointed CEO of the company, effective February 13, 2023. Ken Frieze and Michael Frieze will continue to serve the company as chairman and chairman emeritus, respectively.
Kuntz joined Gordon Brothers as its president and chief operating officer in June 2022 and quickly demonstrated her readiness to lead the firm. Prior to Gordon Brothers, she served as the chief operating officer and chief financial officer of global private equity at The Carlyle Group. Her nearly 25 years of financial services industry experience includes global roles within private equity, asset management, alternative investments and valuations, positioning her well to lead a multi-disciplinary global firm poised for growth.
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Crypto-Based Lending and the 2022 UCC Amendments
Feb 6, 2023In this article, the author revisits cryptocurrency-based lending and how the 2022 UCC amendments provide welcome clarity to lending transactions involving digital assets.
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Factors: Prepared for Uncertainty Ahead
Jan 30, 2023
Factors discuss what surprised them in 2022, California’s disclosure laws, rising interest rates, the move from ABL to factoring and what they expect 2023 will bring.
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Three Keys to a Successful Workout
Given the relatively low levels of outstanding loan balances and the macro-economic environment over the past couple of years, the number of borrowers/loans that have ended up going into ‘workout’ have been few and far between. PKF Clear Thinking executives provide details on what is needed for a workout to succeed for both lender and borrower
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Interview with Bank of America’s Seth Benefield
In this installment of our series of executive interviews, Charlie Perer sits with Seth Benefield, head of Bank of America Business Capital and Asset-Based Financing, to hear his perspective on the state of the ABL market, challenges of running one of the biggest ABL groups, ABL as a product or business, leadership and competition, among other things.
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Trade Credit Insurance – More than Insurance
Dec 1, 2022
The global trade credit market continues to grow with increased international business opportunities and carriers making trade credit more accessible to the market. You may be asking – what is trade credit insurance? Trade credit insurance (TCI) insures your accounts receivables against losses due to bankruptcy, unforeseen insolvency, or protracted default. But, trade credit insurance is more than just insurance. Once your A/R is insured, it is a secured asset, and can be used to leverage many ROIs.
Why do companies acquire a trade credit insurance policy? Trade credit can help build a healthy pipeline of new revenue, increase access to capital, prevent a catastrophic loss, and strengthen an organization’s balance sheet. Here are the top four motivating factors for trade credit Insurance.
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Workout Workshop: A Guide to Navigating Problem Loans
Nov 28, 2022
Many ABL professionals have little to no workout or bankruptcy experience thanks to the past ten years of relative calm. This article details the anatomy of an ABL workout and serves as a primer for many readers and a refresher course for more experienced lenders.
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The Single Group Facility: Simplifying Cross-Border Receivables Finance
Nov 21, 2022In November of 2021, SFNet announced its first Cross-Border Finance Essay Contest, sponsored by Goldberg Kohn Ltd. Members of SFNet’s International Finance and Development Committee judged the essay submissions on content, originality, clarity, structure and overall contribution to furthering and expanding understanding and discourse within the field of cross-border finance. This essay is the first-place essay.
The authors of the winning essays have been invited to participate on a panel at SFNet’s 78th Annual Convention in Austin, TX, Nov. 9-11. The third place essays were published in the September issue of TSL and the second place winner was published in the October issue. -
Nonbank Regional Asset-Based Lenders Provide an Overview of their Market
TSL’s editor-in-chief gathered the heads of several nonbank regional asset-based lenders to discuss the industry from their point of view, including the challenges and opportunities, effects of COVID and their predictions for the upcoming year.
The executives interviewed are Tom Cleveland, managing partner, Access Business Finance; Michael Fussell, president, Aegis Business Credit; J. Brad Leach, president & CEO, Lighthouse Financial Corp.; Rhett Rowe, CEO, Great Lakes Business Credit; and Patrick Trammell, founding member and president, Southeastern Commercial Finance. -
SFNet's 2022 Hall of Fame Profiles
Nov 10, 2022On the following pages, we honor the industry icons who have been inducted into the 2022 SFNet Hall of Fame. We all owe a debt of gratitude to these leaders. Although they represent the industry during various periods of time, they have all made critical contributions to secured finance and deserve our appreciation for making the industry and our association what it is today.
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Interview with Michael Scolaro, BMO Commercial Bank ABL
Nov 3, 2022As part of our series of executive interviews, Charlie Perer sits with Michael Scolaro, managing director and asset based group head for BMO Commercial Bank ABL, to hear his perspective on the state of the BL market, bank vs. non-bank competition, the future of ABL, executive development and competition, among other things.
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Talk of Wave of Borrower Defaults Overblown
Nov 1, 2022Will the long-predicted wave of defaults come to fruition? Key players in the industry provide their perspectives.
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Factoring 101
Factoring is an age-old form of financing providing companies with much-needed cash.
It takes money to make money, as any business owner knows. But many small businesses also know what it’s like to be turned down by a bank for a loan or line of credit, not get as much as they need, or simply not get the cash quickly enough to take advantage of an opportunity.
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Asset-Based Lending: A Primer
Oct 11, 2022Simply put, asset-based lending (ABL) is a way of lending money to companies. Such loans are made by commercial banks and by specialty finance companies, and loan sizes can range from several hundred thousand to many hundreds of millions of dollars. These loan proceeds are used to assist companies in high-growth, distressed, or sometimes even in start-up situations.
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Field Exam in Changing Times: Fundamentals and Best Practices
Oct 7, 2022
Jan Tammen of PNC Business Credit discusses some of the lasting changes to the field exam industry brought on by the pandemic.
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Field Examinations in 2022 and Beyond
Oct 5, 2022TSL’s editor-in-chief interviewed several field exam professionals as well as lenders to get an overview of what lenders should look for, the current challenges and the effects of the pandemic.
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PNC Business Credit’s DEI Initiatives
Sep 28, 2022After gathering information from various PNC program managers, Eileen Kowalski discusses the DEI initiatives of PNC Bank N.A. and more specifically those of PNC Business Credit.
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The Impact of Civil Law on the Growth and Debt Capital Accessibility of Southern European Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Sep 26, 2022
In November of 2021, SFNet announced its first Cross-Border Finance Essay Contest, sponsored by Goldberg Kohn Ltd. Members of SFNet’s International Finance and Development Committee judged the essay submissions on content, originality, clarity, structure and overall contribution to furthering and expanding understanding and discourse within the field of cross-border finance. This essay tied for third place.
The authors of the winning essays have been invited to participate on a panel at SFNet’s 78th Annual Convention in Austin, TX, Nov. 9-11. The second place and first place winners will be published in the October and November issues of The Secured Lender, respectively.
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Rob Meyers of Republic Business Credit Discusses the Company’s DEI Initiatives
Sep 15, 2022Republic Business Credit is a nationally recognized commercial finance company supporting the working capital requirements of companies nationwide, including private equity and entrepreneurial businesses. Republic provides asset-based lending, ledgered lines of credit, traditional factoring, direct-to-consumer loans, and Fast AR Funding. Republic partners with its clients to provide up to $15 million in senior credit facilities to rapidly growing businesses, start-ups and companies experiencing recoverable distress. Republic was one of two companies that were highly aligned with their employees in the replies to SFNet’s DEI Survey.
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Bed, Bath, and Back to the Supplier: A Supplier’s Right to Reclaim Ownership of Inventory in the Netherlands
Sep 12, 2022In November of 2021, SFNet announced its first Cross-Border Finance Essay Contest, sponsored by Goldberg Kohn Ltd. Members of SFNet’s International Finance and Development Committee judged the essay submissions on content, originality, clarity, structure and overall contribution to furthering and expanding understanding and discourse within the field of cross-border finance. This essay tied for third place.
Click on the link below to meet some of the “difference makers” in the secured finance community. This issue of The Secured Lender celebrates those who are having a profound impact on both their communities and their organizations.
Previous TSL Articles
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What’s Ahead in 2024 for Secured Financing & Working Capital
Mar 27, 2024The landscape of corporate lending in the United States is dynamic, characterized by a diverse array of borrowers spanning various industries and a multitude of loan products and lenders vying for business. In recent years, economic fluctuations and shifting market dynamics have significantly influenced lending trends, impacting both borrowers and lenders alike. As we look ahead to 2024, it is essential to analyze current trends and anticipate future developments in the corporate lending landscape.
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SFNet's Emerging Leaders Summit Heads to the West Coast
Mar 25, 2024SFNet's Emerging Leaders Summit, a dynamic conference designed to unite professionals with 6-15 years of experience in secured lending, is heading to the West Coast for the first time since its inception in 2018. The event will provide an opportunity to glean insights from seasoned titans who have navigated the intricacies of the field. Attendees can expect to engage in thought-provoking panels where industry luminaries will offer a unique perspective on both the industry and effective leadership.
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Getting R.E.A.L. in Later Stage, Venture-Backed Companies
In this article, we discuss how leading, managing, and operating a business with a focus on growth and development but with profits and cash flow is far different than driving interesting research and development (R&D) and engineering activities; and how a company should deal with these challenges as they evolve.
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Breaking the Glass Ceiling Together: Stories of Cross-Gender Mentorship
Mar 18, 2024TSL’s editor-in-chief explores the transformative power of cross-gender mentorship, especially in a male-dominated industry where there might be a shortage of female mentors. Read on for stories of female leaders who had male mentors and how they played pivotal roles in advancing their careers, dismantling biases, and cultivating inclusive workplaces.
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An Interview with Bobby Bans, Managing Director of Western Region Originations at Wells Fargo Capital Finance (WFCF)
Mar 12, 2024In this installment of our series of executive interviews, Charlie Perer sits with Bobby Bans to hear his views about his new role at Wells Fargo Capital Finance, the future of ABL, executive development and competition, among other things.
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Interview with Jim Hudak, President - Commercial Finance, First Citizens Bank
Mar 5, 2024
In June 2023, First Citizens Bank named noted commercial banking executive Jim Hudak as president of its Commercial Finance group, which it acquired in its merger with CIT Group in early 2022.
With more than 20 years as a commercial finance executive, Hudak is known throughout the industry for his leadership capabilities and strong commitment to client support and satisfaction.
Hudak oversaw CIT's commercial finance businesses from 2008 to 2019, during which time many grew to become leading lenders in their industry verticals.
Today, settled back into an expanded version of the role he once occupied, he discusses the state of the business, the impact of the First Citizens merger and his strategy for 2024 and beyond.
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SFNet’s Asset-Based Capital Conference: Industry Uncertainty Presents Threats and Opportunities
Feb 22, 2024SFNet’s Asset-Based Capital Conference (ABCC), now in its 16th year, was held February 6-7 in Las Vegas. Attendees experienced thought-provoking discussions on the economy, geopolitics, talent retention, credit quality and industry dynamics.
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Wolters Kluwer’s Regulatory & Risk Management Indicator Survey – Key Takeaways
Feb 13, 2024TSL Express’ senior editor sat down with Tim Burniston, senior advisor, Regulatory Strategy, for Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions to discuss the results of Wolters Kluwer’s Regulatory & Risk Management Indicator survey. Burniston advises Wolters Kluwer’s Financial & Corporate Compliance divisional leadership team and clients on emerging issues, legislative and regulatory developments, and regulatory strategy.
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SFNet’s Mentoring Program: Continuing to Guide Growth
Jan 30, 2024SFNet’s second iteration of the program nearly doubled its participants and is proving to be an invaluable resource for members.
The application period for our Spring 2024 Mentoring Program is January 10 through February 23, 2024. The program will run March 19 through June 4, 2024. -
How Today's Economic Pressures Will Affect Tomorrow's Consumer
Jan 16, 2024The consumer product industry is facing rapid, unprecedented change, and today’s economic challenges are creating ripple effects that will shape American shoppers for years to come. With data mining, there’s a path forward.
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The Secured Lender
SFNet's 80th Annual Convention Issue