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When first submitted for publication in February, this article predicted a recession of unknown origin. COVID-19 answered the question in March.  While we don’t know how long the current health and economic crises will last, we know they are here, and that a meaningful number of lawyers and businesspeople have not encountered a widespread economic downturn. 

New to working from home? Check out a few quick tips from ENGS Commercial Finance to help transition from working in-office to working at home.

Winston & Strawn LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Rachel Gray as a partner in the firm's New York office and a member of the Leveraged Finance team where she will play a key role in the expansion of the firm's lender designation practice in both the mid and large cap markets.

Rachel is an experienced attorney with insight into both the borrower and lender sides of complex leveraged finance transactions. Rachel represents top-tier private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in connection with a wide range of transactions, including leveraged buyouts, take-private deals, dividend recapitalizations, out-of-court restructurings and refinancings. 

Jeffery Wacker, head of U.S. Asset Based Lending Originations, TD Bank, with contributed insights from Elizabeth Rust, Senior Economist, Keybridge in Washington D.C. and David Chmiel, Managing Director, Global Torchlight Limited from London, U.K.

good natured Products Inc. (the "Company" or "good natured®") (TSXV: GDNP) (OTCQX: GDNPF), a North American leader in plant-based products, today announced it has completed a senior secured revolving credit facility (the "Senior Credit Facility") with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ("Wells Fargo"), through its wholly owned subsidiary Wells Fargo Capital Finance Corporation Canada, consisting of a USD $30 million asset-based revolving credit facility with a 4-year term and an uncommitted USD $25 million revolving facility, available at the discretion of Wells Fargo. In addition, the Company has closed a CAD $6.6 million financing (the "Mortgage Refinancing") with Business Development Bank of Canada ("BDC").

The rate of default and workouts for loans with IP assets as collateral has reached a crescendo. We examine the near-term implications for workouts and liquidations where IP assets are expected to provide a meaningful source of lender recovery, and the longer- term implications for commercial lending to retail and consumer brand companies.

Retail has taken a huge hit from COVID-19. What sectors are expected to survive, even thrive? What areas are likely to be hardest hit as the pandemic continues?

Much has been written about the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the retail sector, as policymakers encourage consumers to wear masks and remain vigilant when leaving home, e-commerce sales have soared, and supply chain concerns persist. Retailers have been challenged to maintain operations and attract current “homebody” consumers, more than 68 percent of whom planned to continue their at home habits after restrictions were lifted, according to a study by management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.¹

Gordon Brothers, the global advisory, restructuring and investment firm, has named Tobias Nanda as President of Brands.

Based in Boston, Nanda is responsible for developing and executing Gordon Brothers’ brand investment strategies through acquisition and lending in all global markets. He has nearly 20 years of experience leading deals, serving on boards of directors and actively working with management teams in private equity to develop and implement their corporate growth strategies.

Heritage Global Inc. (OTCQB: HGBL, CSE: HGP) (“Heritage Global,” “HGI” or “the Company”), a diversified financial services company providing asset-based acquisition, disposition, valuation, and lending services, today announced the launch of Heritage Global Capital, a new platform to provide specialty financing solutions to small- and medium-sized investors in charged-off and nonperforming asset portfolios and other asset-based classes.

MUFG Union Bank today announced that Rob Swanson has joined as Managing Director, Northern California Market President. Based in the Bay Area, Swanson reports to Bita Ardalan, Head of Commercial Banking for Union Bank.

In his role, Swanson will lead the strategy and management of the bank's middle market activities in Northern California and the Central Valley. He will oversee a high-caliber team of professionals providing advisory services and solutions specifically tailored to the unique business objectives of corporate clients across industries, as well as spearhead the Technology and Venture Banking industry verticals within the Commercial Bank.

Wingspire Capital Holdings (“Wingspire”) today announced that it has provided a $36.5 million senior secured loan to R.W. Sidley (“RWS”). Loan proceeds were used to refinance its existing bank facility, while providing a more patient and flexible capital structure to help management achieve its strategic growth initiatives.

FOCUS

If you seek tranquility, do less. Or (more accurately) do what’s essential. Do less, better. Because most of what we do or say is not essential

  -- Marcus Aurelius

Lenders (and most others) struggle with a particular problem almost every day: how to prioritize deals they can get done versus those they can’t. Prioritization affects all of us, but how practically can we focus on what is essential? We are living beings and our most important asset is time, so let’s use it wisely. But how do we know if we are using it sensibly?  Seneca similarly stated,

It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it

Granted, he was referencing our lives and not lending, but the lesson still applies. What is essential in lending?  To be successful in lending one only to needs consider duration – safety – return and contingencies (perhaps a subset of safety).

As we make it to week seven of the coronavirus pandemic, it is hard not to reflect on this incredible period in history. The pandemic and the associated COVID-19 virus are an enigma that is bringing the world economy seemingly to its knees. First the virus was dismissed by the Western world as a mere flu-like illness originating in Asia, then an epidemic that might disrupt the Chinese economy, then an Italian problem, a cruise ship issue, a Washington state complication, and a New York dilemma. Now, it has finally been recognized for the major world concern that it is. The coronavirus has erupted into a global pandemic with over three million cases that will likely have a global and possibly U.S. pandemic-related death toll second only to the Spanish flu of 1918. We already know that this pandemic will have the greatest impact on the global economy since perhaps the bubonic plague of 1342, also known as the Black Death.

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.”

China has locked down entire cities and restricted travel to limit the spread of the epidemic, with serious implications for Chinese companies and global supply chains. US technology giant Apple warned that it would not meet its revenue guidance for the March quarter because of slower iPhone production and weaker demand in China.

The uncertain fallout from the coronavirus outbreak in China has paralysed syndications across Asia, as lenders struggle to assess the damage to Chinese businesses and borrowers that rely heavily on Chinese demand.