Five years ago, if you said, “I am on LinkedIn,” people would not have understood what you meant.

BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) and SunTrust Banks, Inc., (NYSE: STI) today announced Truist as the name for the combined company to be created through their merger of equals. 

Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK) today announced that certain of its subsidiaries intend to complete a refinancing of the company’s existing senior credit facility, which is comprised of a term loan and revolving credit facility, with a new securitized financing facility.

The Secured Finance Foundation has created a Scholarship and Diversity Committee, which held its organizational meeting during SFNet's Asset-Based Capital Conference in Las Vegas.  By Michele Ocejo

Members of SFNet's 2017 and 2018 40 Under 40 Classes check in to give an update on what they’ve been up to and what has changed since receiving their Award.  By Eileen Wubbe

The Boston Corporate Finance Community (BCFC) was founded by Cheryl Carner, Crystal Financial LLC; Ken Frieze, Gordon Brothers; Keith Vercauteren, Wells Fargo; Ward Mooney, Crystal Financial LLC; and Kevin Murtagh, Riemer & Braunstein LLP.  By Ward Mooney and Kevin Murtagh

A leading researcher, author and advisor in the fields of leadership and inclusion offers practical tips for harnessing the power of diverse teams.  By Arin N. Reeves

Thomas A. Greco, chief executive officer of Hilco Valuation & Industrial and Gary Epstein, Hilco Global EVP and chief marketing officer, discuss the National Jewish Health Humanitarian Award and the many other ways in which Hilco Global is making a difference through Hilco Helps (www.hilcohelps.com), a program that Epstein branded for all of the firms’ cause-marketing initiatives. 

Jennifer Palmer, president of Gerber Finance, discusses how philanthropy is front and center in the company’s day-to-day business.  By Michele Ocejo

Several commercial finance executives band together to give former inmates a second chance.  By David Rains

White Oak Global Advisors, LLC (White Oak) is pleased to announce that Thomas (Tom) M. Affolter has joined White Oak as a Managing Director based in Chicago. 

PNC Bank, National Association, announced the closing of a $90 million senior secured credit facility for Iconex LLC (Iconex), a portfolio company of Greenwich, CT-based Atlas Holdings. PNC’s facility was provided in conjunction with a $67.5 million term loan and a $30 million delayed draw term loan provided by Cerberus Business Finance.

Allen Frederic is a co-founder of Republic Business Credit with over 45 years of commercial banking, asset-based lending, and factoring experience. He previously founded another New Orleans-based factoring company after serving as president of a New Orleans bank. By Michele Ocejo

Disruption seems to be affecting every sector and the furniture industry is no exception. Mark Bannon of Tiger Group explains why lenders should consider furniture retailing borrowers.  By Mark Bannon

Moshe Cohen, president and founder of The Negotiating Table, Inc., provides negotiations strategy advice that can be used in all aspects of life.  By Moshe Cohen

Marc Heller is president of CIT Commercial Services, one of the nation’s leading providers of factoring and lending services to the apparel, textiles, furniture, home furnishings, housewares, consumer electronics and consumer products industries.  By Michele Ocejo

A storm of uncertainty can arise around the distinction between transportation brokers, carriers and third-party logistics providers and the potential for constructive trust claims by unpaid carriage contractors. Navigating the risk these claims present has become a pressing issue for lenders in the trucking industry, particularly when financing traditional carriers that also have brokered operations. By Wade M. Kennedy

Paul Schuldiner of Rosenthal & Rosenthal discusses the future of factoring, including how traditional factoring has adapted to address new challenges in the current retail environment.  By Paul Schuldiner

For factors, 2018 was a very solid year for business, with many in the industry experiencing growth across all regions and specialties, whether organically or through acquisition. Despite the good news, industry leaders do note that competition remained fierce, and they predict more of the same for the year ahead. Banks continue to be highly liquid, and independent factors are likely to see additional pressure from regional and community banks.  By Myra Thomas