Creating the Lender Finance Niche: Wells Fargo’s Andrea Petro Looks Back at a Career Filled with Accomplishments

In November, Andrea Petro stepped down as executive vice president and division head of Wells Fargo Capital Finance’s Lender Finance Group — a niche lending product she created and developed more than 20 years ago. As she prepares to move on to the next phase of her life, Petro spoke with ABF Journal editor Nadine Bonner, touching on the highlights of her career and recalling how she thrived on the challenge of being a woman in a man’s business world.

January 25, 2018 Andrea Petro | Wells Fargo Lender Finance ABF Journal

The Retail Crisis: Impact on Regional Shopping Malls

As brick-and-mortar retailers scramble to increase their online presence while fending off bankruptcy, regional shopping malls struggle to fill empty spaces and replace anchor stores. Stephen Selbst examines the issues lenders and investors are facing as this iconic part of U.S. life tries to reinvent itself.

November 7, 2017 Herrick Feinstein | Malls | Stephen B. Selbst ABF Journal

Lenders Beware: Potential Red Flags When Financing Franchises

Franchising is becoming a popular option for a wide range of businesses. Franchising provides brand recognition for health clubs, bakeries and, of course, restaurants and fast food outlets. As the business model expands, franchisors often require third-party financing. Leonard Vines and Beata Krakus point out the red flags lenders should watch for before agreeing to finance a franchise.

November 7, 2017 Beata Krakus | Greensfelder | Hemker & Gale | Leonard D. Vines ABF Journal

Preserving Brand Equity in a Turnaround: Six Steps to Preserving a Company’s Reputation

A company’s brand is a powerful if unappreciated asset. During the intense process of turning a company around financially, little thought is given to protecting its brand. Gordon Andrew explains why brand equity matters and provides steps to protect and enhance a brand during a turnaround.

November 7, 2017 Gordon Andrew | Highlander Consulting | Turnaround Management ABF Journal

Filling the Void: TradeCap Partners Offers Middle Market Borrowers a Complete Financial Solution

After working together for almost a decade at King Trade Capital, Bryan Ballowe and Clinton Stanton launched TradeCap Partners in July. The pair spoke to ABF Journal Editor Nadine Bonner and explained how they are working to partner with other lenders to provide lower middle market borrowers with complete financing solutions.

November 7, 2017 Bryan Ballowe | Clinton Stanton | TradeCap Partners ABF Journal

Why Is Asset-Based Lending So Expensive? Comparing Cost Structures for ABL and C&I Loans

There is a common belief, especially among business borrowers, private equity funds and M&A sponsors, that inefficiencies leading to predatory pricing exist in the small-cap and lower middle market business lending space. That assumption may be incorrect because the ABL cost structure is very different in comparison to inexpensive bank lending. By utilizing a new, more optimized funding structure, ABL firms may be able to greatly reduce their cost of capital.

November 7, 2017 Jeffrey Sweeney | US Capital Partners ABF Journal

The Changing Landscape of Non-Sponsor Finance

With too much capital chasing too few transactions, the middle market is ripe for change. Charlie Perer predicts an explosion of debt options for non-sponsor backed companies over the next 10 years. He notes that as non-banker lenders offer customers more service and flexibility, banks will respond by consolidating.

November 7, 2017 Charlie Perer | Non-Sponsor Finance | Super G Capital ABF Journal

Opportunities and Challenges: Asset-Based Lending in 2018

The digital world has transformed every aspect of our lives. Some of us still remember pasting photographs into albums and racing to answer the telephone mounted on the wall — picking up the receiver without knowing who was on the other end of the line. Technology has changed asset-based lending in ways no one could have predicted 20 years ago. ABF Journal contributor Hugh Larratt-Smith explores the evolving ABL landscape and evaluates the impact these changes will have in 2018.

November 7, 2017 Hugh C. Larratt-Smith | Jeffery Wacker | MB Business Capital | Michael Sharkey | Santander Bank | Scott Ryan | Stephen Bellah | Super G Funding | TD Bank | Trimingham | Vincent Belcastro | Wells Fargo Capital Finance | William Tecumseh Sherman ABF Journal

Robust Results: Upswing Leaves ABL Lenders Optimistic for 2018

Despite political turbulence and Mother Nature running amuck, ABL lenders saw an upswing in business in 2017 after two flat years. ABF Journal contributor Lisa Miller spoke with five ABL executives who described a robust year filled with new partnerships and business opportunities and an optimistic outlook for 2018.

November 7, 2017 ABL Outlook | Bank of America Business Capital | Barry Bobrow | Capital One | Dave Kucera | MB Business Capital | Michael Sharkey | Sam Philbrick | Seth Benefield | U.S. Bank Asset Based Finance | Wells Fargo Capital Finance ABF Journal

Signature Bank Q2 Earnings Suffer On Taxi Medallion Loan Losses

Ride hailing services like Uber and Lyft have put a dent in the taxi medallion business. Cartoonist Jerry Gonzalez illustrates Signature Bank’s uphill struggle to deal with those loan losses.

September 13, 2017 Scott A. Shay | Signature Bank ABF Journal