The thing I love most about stoicism is the ability to combine its philosophy at work and home.  Most people, myself included, do not truly look at themselves dispassionately in either setting.  We are great, we are smart, we are everything someone should be and capable of everything; until we are not.  I experience this recently when I had to look deep inside myself and acknowledge that like all people, I am flawed and have weaknesses.  Most people overestimate their skills while failing to give themselves credit for what they are really great at.  When you truly understand who you are, you will be better at every aspect of your job.  What does this have to do with lending, you might ask; patience is another stoic virtue.

Encina Business Credit, LLC announced today that is has provided a $10 million senior secured revolving credit facility to a designer, marketer, and distributor of mid-priced and premium bicycles.

The revolving line of credit, which is collateralized by accounts receivable and inventory, will provide financing of the company’s working capital and capex requirements.

Wingspire Capital LLC (“Wingspire”) is pleased to provide a $46 million senior secured credit facility to Worldwise, Inc., a leading designer and supplier of pet products.

The transaction includes a $30 million revolving line of credit and a $16 million term loan to replace the previous credit facilities and enable Worldwise to meet the growing demand for cat and dog toys, beds, carriers and other pet products as the pet category continues to grow both in the U.S. and worldwide.

LSQ, a leading provider of technology-driven working capital solutions, announced that the company originated a $7.5 million AR facility, including a $3.1 million payoff to the first position lender, for a resurging marketing services firm.

Demand for the firm’s services is normalizing following a COVID-related revenue slump in 2020. It will now have sufficient capital to fulfill a growing number of orders and 2021 business development goals via this new, larger facility with LSQ.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, American air-rifle shooter Matt Emmons, the reigning world champion in the 50-meter three-position event, held a seemingly insurmountable lead.  Going into his final shot, Emmons was in first place and needed only a mediocre score to win gold.  Emmons aimed, fired, and hit his target – the wrong target, one lane over.  He received no score for that shot and finished in eighth place.  

Emmons’ mistake illustrates the importance of aiming at the right target.  In April of 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department announced the Main Street Loan Program (the “MSLP”), which was designed to provide emergency liquidity to small and mid-sized businesses.  Although well-intentioned, the MSLP, like Emmons, was aimed at the wrong target, and ultimately missed the mark.

Gordon Brothers, the global advisory, restructuring and investment firm, has named Joe Massaroni as Director, Business Development as Conrad Lauten retires.

Based in Atlanta, Massaroni will lead efforts to develop and maintain strong client relationships across the Southeast. Massaroni joins Gordon Brothers with decades of experience in secured finance. He’s worked at several lending institutions throughout his career and previously served as director and team leader responsible for managing key relationships and more than $4 billion of account commitments.

Mac Fowle is the global head of Asset-Based Lending (ABL) for J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking. He is responsible for the end-to-end strategic leadership of the ABL group in supporting the financing needs for clients across Commercial Banking and the Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB).

Monroe Capital LLC today announced it acted as sole lead arranger and administrative agent on the funding of a $120 million senior credit facility to support the recapitalization of an infusion therapy business by a private equity sponsor.

The company is a provider of home and alternate-site infusion therapy and complex specialty pharmacy solutions to patients. 

Kudu Investment Management, LLC, (Kudu) a provider of permanent capital solutions to asset and wealth managers globally, today announced the closing of a $300 million credit facility with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), a leading U.S. mutual life insurance company, to finance Kudu's growth initiatives.

Bantry Bay Capital Limited (“Bantry Bay” or the “Company”), the specialist lender, has established a joint venture partnership with funds advised by Elliott Advisors (UK) Limited and its affiliates (together “Elliott”). Elliott Advisors (UK) Limited is an affiliate of Elliott investment Management, L.P., the global fund manager with approximately $41.8 billion in assets under management.

Santander Bank, N.A. (“Santander Bank” or “Santander”) today announced the appointment of Scott Baldinelli as Head of New England Middle Market Banking. Baldinelli will report to Joe Abruzzo, Head of Commercial Banking for Santander Bank.

Baldinelli will lead business development, market growth and relationship management for Commercial Banking’s middle market segment in New England, encompassing the company’s Boston-based location. The industry veteran will assume the role from Robert Cerminaro, who was recently promoted to Head of Mid-Corporate Banking in Santander’s Commercial Banking division.

MidCap Business Credit announced today they have closed on an $8,000,000 asset-based credit facility for a manufacturer of precision components and assemblies in the aerospace and defense industry. The opportunity was sourced out of MidCap’s office located in West Hartford, CT. 

The introduction of the novel coronavirus pandemic into the global economy starting in late 2019 created a level of disruption not seen perhaps since the world’s last major conflicts.  As we move through what we hope to be the later stages of the pandemic, we thought it might be helpful to explore its impact on the trade credit insurance marketplace and highlight what we can anticipate in the months and year ahead.

Throughout the world, surges in cases of the virus caused a significant portion of the global economy to shut down in a manner that was/is unprecedented in recent history.  This significant curtailment of economic activity brought most of the service sector (travel and leisure, entertainment/restaurant industry) and a big segment of the manufacturing sector to either grinding halts or intermittent disruptions.  Consumer demand dropped and unemployment spiked.  As economies reopened, rebounds were relatively sharp, but left many countries still well below prior levels of economic activity and currently, a second round of lockdowns continues to beleaguer a good number of countries.

Armstrong Teasdale partners provide lenders with up-to-date information on the complexities of lending to the legalized marijuana industry.

Perhaps the most frequently asked question by growth-oriented lenders is “How and when can we lend into the rapidly growing and already major industry of legalized marijuana?”

The answer is: “It is not so simple.”

SFNet values its members’ input and feedback as it helps shape priorities and drills down to focus on what matters most. Results from SFNet’s Annual Membership Survey, completed earlier this year, were very positive, with 90% of SFNet members reporting they’d recommend SFNet to friends and colleagues and two thirds reporting SFNet’s response to the pandemic has been better than any other association to which they belong.

In fact, our association has seen our Net Promoter Score (a key measure of loyalty) steadily increase over the past three years, up 37 points since 2018 and well above trade association averages. Results also gave us ideas for areas of improvement, and SFNet is taking on several new initiatives in response to this. This article will break down the membership survey results and what the Association has planned for the remainder of 2021.