From the third quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” survey results reveal COVID-19 will continue to have a major effect on U.S. performance throughout 2020.

While lenders seem to believe COVID-19 will have a major effect on the U.S. performance until a vaccine is widely available, the outlook for the U.S. economy in the near and long-term is more favorable in Q3 2020 than in the previous quarter predictions. The near-term grade point average (GPA) increased 54 percentage points to 1.72 from the Q2 2020 GPA of 1.18. The projected outlook for the U.S. economy in the long-term increased slightly (by 36 percentage points) to 2.60 from the previous quarter’s results of 2.24.

While the PPP loans have provided necessary working capital for many businesses to survive the economic impacts of Covid-19, as those funds have been used and payment deferrals have expired, companies are looking to enter into M&A transactions. When a company has a PPP loan the M&A process is further complicated for the company and its lender.

On October 2, 2020 the SBA issued a Procedural Notice to provide guidance on the notification and consent requirements for changes in ownership of companies with PPP loans. The usual SBA 7(a) loan requirements are to obtain consent of the SBA prior to a lender approving a change in ownership. This October 2 guidance was meant to clarify what the SBA would expect specifically related to PPP loans and change of ownership.

Encina Business Credit, LLC announced today that it has provided a $75 million senior secured revolving credit facility to a leading global provider of risk management and operational support services to government and commercial clients.

The senior secured revolving line of credit, which is collateralized by accounts receivable, was used to refinance existing debt and provide ongoing working capital financing.

The Children’s Place, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCE), the largest pure-play children’s specialty apparel retailer in North America, today announced the completion of an $80 million secured term loan financing with Crystal Financial LLC. The net proceeds from the term loan will be used to repay borrowings under the Company’s secured revolving credit facility with certain banks.

A designer of high-end handbags and accessories lost coverage on some of their retail customer accounts due to COVID-related challenges. When their existing bank was unable to cover those customers and restricted their borrowing capacity, the client reached out to Rosenthal.

When one of the world’s largest manufacturers of premium textiles and bedding was looking to establish a U.S. entity to sell to retailers, the company sought out a factor to provide the necessary credit coverage it needed to move forward. Unfamiliar with factoring and given the current state of the retail environment, the company turned to Rosenthal because of the firm’s deep experience in the textile and retail space.

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that its Asset-Based Lending business served as agent and sole lender on a $75 million revolving credit facility for Skillsoft, a global leader in learning and talent management solutions

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Skillsoft enables organizations to unlock the potential in their employees by delivering a range of digital learning and talent management solutions. The financing will be used to support continuing business operations and growth objectives.

Citizens announced today that it is lead left arranger of a $125 million asset-based loan for Virginia Beach, VA-based Franchise Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: FRG).

Franchise Group is an operator of franchised and franchisable businesses that continually looks to grow its portfolio of brands while utilizing its operating and capital allocation philosophy to generate strong cash flow for its shareholders.  This transaction refinances an existing ABL for two of its businesses – American Freight and Buddy’s Home Furnishings.

TSL: Congrats on your 10-year anniversary! Scott, what would you say are the biggest changes Gibraltar Business Capital has undergone over these last 10 years?

Scott Winicour: Thanks! It’s been a wild ride these last ten years, but probably the biggest change is when I bought the company from my father ten years ago with the help of private equity. It was a very small, regional player in the factoring space that did average-sized deals of $50,000 to $250,000. One of the biggest changes today is we don’t really do any factoring anymore, and that’s because we’ve morphed into an asset-based lender as opposed to a more traditional factor.  Another big change is that we now have a nationwide presence.  So, we went from a small, localized factoring-only business to a national brand name that people know, with salespeople all across the country. That is, by far, the biggest change.

FrontWell Capital Partners (“FrontWell”), a private credit fund that provides transitionary senior debt financing to middle-market companies in the United States and Canada, has announced that it has added to its roster three professionals who bring extensive expertise in sourcing, underwriting and portfolio management across many industries and multiple market cycles. Aubrie De Sylva has joined the firm’s deal originations team as Vice President and Kevin Freer and Andrew Isaac have joined the underwriting team as Vice President and Assistant Vice President, respectively. They will be based in FrontWell’s Toronto headquarters.

(Editor's Note: A member of SFNet’s Advocacy Committee, Brett Garver of Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP, has provided this alert pertaining to CFPB Section 1071, which could prove to be unduly burdensome to the vast majority of small and mid-sized finance companies that provide credit to small businesses. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Michele Ocejo at mocejo@sfnet.com.)

U.S. Bank announced that John Freeman has been added to the Asset-Based Finance (ABF) team to head the group’s Corporate Client West and Southwest Originations.  Based in Los Angeles, Freeman brings more than 25 years of Asset-Based Lending experience with an extensive background in Credit, Restructuring, and Originations.  John will be responsible for providing asset-based solutions to companies, intermediaries and financial sponsors.

FrontWell Capital Partners (“FrontWell”) today announced its launch as a private credit fund focused on providing transitionary senior debt financing to middle-market companies in the United States and Canada. FrontWell will begin operations immediately with committed seed capital of more than USD $350 million from a group of international investors.

Headquartered in Toronto, FrontWell offers creative, value-added financing solutions, including asset-based (ABL) and cash flow loans, to maximize liquidity support for borrowers that are looking beyond traditional sources of capital. 

The annual number of bankruptcies peaked at 60,837 in 2009, but the financial and bankruptcy experts expect the level of bankruptcy filings to explode well over that peak during the next twelve to twenty-four months. During the first six months of 2020, there were 3,604 business bankruptcy filings, which is up 26% from the 2,855 filings during the first six months of 2019 (Epiq/Aacer). June year over year chapter 11 bankruptcy filings increased 43% from 2019 to 2020. The June increase is expected to be the start of a wave of business bankruptcy filings as the economic impact of the Covid-19 virus manifests itself in lost businesses.

This anticipated increase in bankruptcy filings means lenders will be challenged to manage an increasing number of borrower relationships during the bankruptcy process, including developing or evaluating various liquidation scenarios.

Lenders will be challenged to anticipate recovery values under different liquidation strategies – ranging from different bankruptcy proceedings, to receiverships, to ABCs, to out of court wind down processes.

Cadence Bank today announced the rebrand of AloStar Capital Finance, a division of the bank that provides asset-based lending (ABL) and specialty finance solutions, to Cadence Business Finance (CBF). Along with its new name, logo and website, the rebrand introduces new leadership and a realigned business focus to better serve the growth and operational needs of performing middle-market businesses.

Norbert “Norb” Schmidt has been appointed executive vice president and director of capital finance of Cadence Business Finance. 

XL Funding provides floorplan loans to auto dealers in more than a dozen markets, and will use the funding to refinance a previous bank loan and extend capital to more small and medium-sized dealers in populous states including California, Texas and Florida.

Wingspire was attracted to XL Funding’s position of strength as consumers pursue affordable pre-owned automobiles amid the uncertain economy and a desire for “private” transportation during the coronavirus pandemic.