Articles

Global Merchant Fund Corp. (GMF), a leading North American provider of financial solutions for middle-market companies, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Bibby Financial Services (Holdings) Inc. (Bibby NAM). Bibby NAM is the North American operation of Bibby Financial Services (BFS), a U.K.-based independent SME funder with operations in 14 countries.

The $10 billion unsecured revolving credit facility consists of a five-year, $8 billion revolving credit facility, and a one-year, $2 billion facility. Each facility includes two one-year extension options at the discretion of each lender. Bank of America and Barclays Bank acted as joint coordinators for the facility.

SFNet will host a webinar this Friday, May 14, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., titled "The Data You Need to Plan Ahead." This webinar is open to employees of SFNet member organizations and SFNet Chapter members only and will provide analysis behind the numbers for the Secured Finance Foundation (SFFound) Market Pulse Report, the Foundation’s Annual ABL and Factoring Surveys as well as Refinitiv’s Capital Markets League Table for Q1.

Panelists will include Barry Bobrow, managing director, Wells Fargo Securities; Miin Chen, COO, Siena Lending Group; Lawrence Chua, managing director, Ares Management LLC; Maria Dikeos, global head of Loans Contributions, Refinitiv; Terry Keating, president of Accord Financial’s US Asset Based Finance unit and Robert Wescott, president, Keybridge Research.

LBC Credit Partners ("LBC") provided senior secured credit facilities to support the refinancing of Sciens Building Solutions and the add-on acquisition of SmartWatch Security & Sound ("SmartWatch"). Sciens Building Solutions, a portfolio company of Huron Capital, was formed in 2016 to pursue a buy-and-build investment strategy in the fire detection and integrated solutions sector.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the global economy and led to paralyzed supply chains, export restrictions and closed borders. This shock brought about several significant changes to a number of industries and accelerated existing trends such as automation, digitalization, supplier base diversification and supply chain operational efficiencies. Cross-border trade is at the center of everyone’s attention.

In August, Bank of America announced that Seth Benefield had been named head of Bank of America Business Capital (BABC) and Asset-Based Financing.

He is responsible for managing an international team of asset-based lenders that deliver secured credit facilities and other complementary banking products and services to mid-size and large corporate companies. With nine primary offices serving the United States, Canada and Europe, BABC provides corporate borrowers with senior secured loans of $5 million or more, cash management, interest rate and foreign exchange risk management, and a broad array of capital markets products.

Based in Atlanta, Benefield has been with the bank for 20 years, previously serving as National Marketing Manager, where he managed a team of business development officers who provide asset-based solutions and banking products to large and middle market companies, intermediates and financial sponsors across the U.S. and Europe. Prior to joining the bank, he served as a special agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Benefield earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from University of Georgia. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds Series 7, 24, 63 and 79 FINRA registrations.

White Oak executives detail a complex deal that unlocked substantial liquidity for an asset-heavy borrower in a non-traditional ABL industry.

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. 

Community banks play a vital role in enabling local businesses and communities to thrive. By either offering asset-based lending as part of their product off erings or partnering with a nonbank asset-based lender, community banks can off er the best of both worlds to small and mid-sized businesses. The Secured Finance Network interviewed several of its members who shared their experiences and perspectives.

The secured finance industry, just like so many others, has demanded that remote work become the “norm.” Will this change better enable the industry to attract and retain top talent?

Rosenthal & Rosenthal, Inc., the leading independent factoring, asset based lending and purchase order financing firm in the United States, today announced the completion of several non-recourse factoring deals with multiple furniture companies in Texas and North Carolina.

After a former Rosenthal client sold its furniture business to a well-known furniture brand in 2019, they reached out to Rosenthal to discuss funding for a new company. The client was seeking financing for several of its furniture businesses, both start-ups and established brands, all of which were experiencing cash flow issues as well as credit coverage concerns. Rosenthal was able to offer a non-recourse factoring solution to cover both. 

SG Credit Partners provides situational capital ranging from $1-$10 million for the lower middle market with a focus on non-sponsored businesses. Headquartered in Southern California with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Portland, the SG Credit Partners team has provided in excess of $250 million to 150-plus borrowers across a variety of industries and continues to expand its national footprint. Here, Marc discusses SG Credit’s efforts in going from a niche lender to a broader platform in order to better work with asset-based lenders and banks and why they are broadening their scope.