The transformation of retail is creating new and significant challenges for traditional retailers. Antony Karabus, CEO of HRC Advisory, explores those obstacles and offers solutions to help retailers survive – and even thrive — during these tumultuous times.

The Secured Finance Network has hired Morten Kucey as Chief Value Officer, a newly created position. Prior to joining the SFNet team, Morten served as Senior Managing Director, Head of Corporate Development for SB360 Capital Partners, LLC.

Wingspire Capital Holdings (“Wingspire” or the “Company”) today announced its official launch as an independent diversified direct lender focused on providing asset-based loans (ABL) and related senior secured loans to U.S.-based middle market borrowers. Based in Atlanta, Wingspire focuses on the upper tier of the senior secured ABL market by providing senior secured revolving credit lines and term loans ranging in size from $20 to $200 million. 

Doug Motl joins UMB Capital Finance as Senior Vice President, Director of Originations to manage its rapidly expanding business development department initiatives. Doug will be responsible for leading the Asset Based Lending’s originations team as UMB continues to broaden its marketing efforts nationally across the Company’s platform.

FSW Funding, a Phoenix-based company specializing in financing solutions for small to mid-size businesses, recently hired Griffin Augustniak as a Portfolio Analyst and Cynthia Klein as a Business Development Officer. Both help support FSW’s continued growth and expansion in the Midwest and East. Augustniak is based in Chicago, Illinois and Klein is based in Jacksonville, Florida.

In September, experts from across the industry gathered at the Secured Finance Network’s Annual Cross-Border Lending Summit to discuss Cross-Border ABL.  As we know, common-law jurisdictions such as the UK, Canada, and Australia are a well-trodden path for ABL lenders.  However, other jurisdictions in Europe and wider can be more problematic, and clients of asset-based lenders are looking for liquidity outside of traditional ABL markets.  Some ABL lenders are able to get comfortable with this, but, even then, advance rates are less than optimal and structuring is difficult.  An alternative solution exists:  Trade Receivables Securitization.

What’s it like to be a woman executive in a historically male-dominated industry?  What do you wish you knew when you were 30?  Young professionals had the chance to listen to top women executives in the ABL industry offer advice on career moves, leadership, diversity, and more at the SFNet’s YoPro Leadership Summit held in Chicago, IL on August 28^th.

Citizens Bank announced today that it has provided a $290 million Revolving Line of Credit to Boca Raton, Fla.-based International Materials, Inc.

Founded in 1987, International Materials, Inc. (IMI) operates as a global broker/trader of bulk commodity materials, most notably cement/clinker, gypsum, bauxite, iron fines and coal/pet coke and will use the $290 million RLOC for working capital.

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.

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

Geopolitical Strategist Peter Zeihan is a global energy, demographic and security expert. Zeihan’s worldview marries the realities of geography and populations to a deep understanding of how global politics impact markets and economic trends, helping industry leaders navigate today’s complex mix of geopolitical risks and opportunities.  Zeihan will be the keynote speaker at SFNet’s Annual Convention in New York City, November 13-15.

LBC Credit Partners ("LBC") provided senior secured credit facilities to support the refinancing of Sciens Building Solutions and the add-on acquisition of SmartWatch Security & Sound ("SmartWatch"). Sciens Building Solutions, a portfolio company of Huron Capital, was formed in 2016 to pursue a buy-and-build investment strategy in the fire detection and integrated solutions sector.

Wells Fargo Strategic Capital, a division of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC), announced Dr. Rodney Altman as the newest managing director in its Healthcare Group, effective immediately. Altman, also a part-time physician at Stanford University Medical Center, is based in San Francisco and will work alongside the other members of the Healthcare Group, including John Ryan, Christine Guo, and Robert Rein.