As an SFNet Chapter leader, some of the most enjoyable times are spent working with the next generation.  Joe Accardi, Head of New Business Development at Peoples United Business Capital, and I did that earlier this fall at Temple University, where I have been an adjunct professor for the last 11 years.  During the last two semesters, Joe has led discussions on asset-based lending (ABL) with graduating seniors.  Jeff Walsh and the team at SFNet prepared a slide presentation on the particulars of ABL and Joe also prepared a separate supplement.

Great Rock Capital, an asset-focused commercial finance company specializing in middle market lending, announced the close of a $100 million leverage facility with KeyBank National Association, one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

The new facility will provide Great Rock Capital with further flexibility to offer creative financial solutions that maximize liquidity to middle market borrowers and will position the firm for continued growth.

Two North Texas-based banks, Texas Capital Bancshares Inc. and Independent Bank Group Inc., are merging in an all-stock deal valued at $5.5 billion.

Under the agreement announced early Monday, the resulting holding company will retain the Independent Bank Group name and its bank will operate as Texas Capital. The merged company will be based in McKinney, where Independent recently moved into a new $52 million headquarters.

Newbridge Global Sourcing (“Newbridge”), a leading capital provider to small and medium-sized businesses with supply chain and purchase order financing needs, announced a $50 million partnership with a Canadian-based originator of receivables. The technology-enabled specialty lender provides receivables financing to companies with strong end-debtors. The partnership expands Newbridge’s scale and diversifies its customer base and sector exposure.

Jason Frank, CEO of Hilco Corporate Finance (HCF) announced today that Stephen Wrobel has joined the HCF team as a Managing Director.

In this role, Mr. Wrobel will be responsible for business development, as the business continues to expand its advisory services and adds new investment banking clients who are seeking strategic solutions such as recapitalization, debt restructuring, business expansion, liquidity creation, sale of a business, ownership succession, and management transition.

The time and cost of liquidating collateral can often be prohibitive and is always a nuisance. Of course, this problem is exacerbated when the asset value is less than the balance owed to the secured creditor(s), leaving no value for unsecured creditors. Lenders often step up and carve out an amount to be distributed to unsecured creditors to enable a Chapter 11 to proceed to effect a sale of the debtor’s assets free and clear of liens. Some consider this to be a price to be paid by secured creditors for the privilege of utilizing the bankruptcy court to sell their collateral. Thus, the cost of a bankruptcy can be very expensive not only to the debtor, but also to the secured lender. As a result, small and middle-market companies and their lenders have grown receptive to non-bankruptcy vehicles for the disposition of assets.

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that its Capital Equipment Finance business has named Rob Bolo as director for the Southeast region. Bolo will be is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and will cover North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and West Virginia. His focus will be on business development across a wide range of capital equipment loans and lease products touching on a variety of industries.

Crestmark is pleased to announce the launch of a new division offering medical accounts receivable financing to businesses in the healthcare industry. The newly created division will be led by Ray Zilke, first vice president, division manager. Zilke is based in Franklin, Tennessee, and will report to Steven Tomasello, Crestmark executive vice president. Zilke joined Crestmark in November 2005 as an account executive for the Midwest region at Crestmark’s Troy offices. 

SFNet's 75th Annual Convention featured a fantastic lineup of thought leaders whose insights helped attendees see around corners and make the best decisions for their  business. From leading private debt and equity players and supply chain experts to M&A advisors, ground-breaking economists and the best minds in the legal community, industry authorities shed light on the issues affecting attendees' business now and in the future. The latest data and forecasts including all new studies dimensioning the secured finance market and examining its inter-relationships was also presented. Whether an ABL lender, factor, advisor, intermediary or other, there was something for everyone in our Network.

Santander Bank announced that it closed the following deals:

•            A $142 million deal with WEX Inc., a ME-based financial technology service provider. The deal will support WEX Inc.'s acquisitions of Noventis, a provider of bill and invoice payment delivery, and Discover Benefits, a provider of employee benefits administration.

•            A $120 million deal with The Eastern Company, a CT-based industrial metals products manufacturer. The deal will support The Eastern Company's acquisition program and aid in its purchase of Big 3 Precision Products, Inc., a turnkey packaging solutions provider. 

Succession planning is not a contingency plan. It is a core human resources function that builds and sustains shareholder value.

IDB Bank®, a New York-based private and commercial bank, announced that Ran Fuchs was named senior vice president and head of Capital Markets by IDB Capital, the broker-dealer subsidiary of IDB Bank.  

Fuchs' role at IDB Capital follows years of financial and investment experience. With over a decade of experience teaming up with investors and their advisors, Fuchs has raised over $1 billion in equity capital for Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs, BDCs, REG-Ds, DST/1031s and other investments in that space where financial services and income-producing investments intersect.

TAB Bank is pleased to announce it has finalized the acquisition of BAMFi’s $46 million BAM Capital Division.  This is TAB Bank’s fourth successful completed acquisition of a working capital loan portfolio.  As part of the acquisition TAB will retain the operations and staff at BAM’s office in Dallas, TX. BAMFi, a leading provider of software for the secured lending industry, will continue to own FactorCloud™, its proprietary, all-in-one, cloud-based secured lending software solution.

MidFirst Business Credit, Inc., is pleased to announce the addition of William “Bill” Bogatay as senior vice president, business development officer. Based out of Dallas, Texas, Bill will assist with originating senior secured debt facilities for companies throughout the Southwest, including, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and Kansas.

Crystal Financial LLC announced the closing of a $60,000,000 Senior Credit Facility for True Religion Apparel, Inc. (“True Religion” or “the Company”).  Founded in 2002 and best known for its signature denim, the Company is a retailer and wholesaler of high-quality apparel and accessories for men, women and children.  True Religion’s products are available through www.truereligion.com, in its over 100 retail locations, and at select department stores and specialty retailers worldwide. 

Monroe Capital LLC announced that it has expanded its opportunistic private credit team with the addition of four experienced professionals: Jason Starr, Darrick Ginkel, Joseph Valickus in the New York office; and Chris Spanel in the Chicago office.