Concord Financial Advisors announced it served as an exclusive financial advisor on a $5 million senior secured credit facility consisting of a cash-flow term loan for a pizza franchisor in Indiana. The facility refinances existing debt and provides working capital.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in October for the second consecutive month following three months of slight contraction, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business.

The National Association of Credit Management said its economic report for October 2012 fell almost a full point largely on poor performances from sales and collections numbers. More payments are beyond terms as well, indicating companies are struggling to meet obligations.

Reuters reported that lending to small U.S. businesses plunged in September to the lowest level in 14 months, according to the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index.

The Fed’s October 2012 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices indicated that larger fractions of domestic banks have eased C&I loan terms and that the easing was somewhat more widespread than reported in the July survey.

Bloomberg reported that JPMorgan Chase sued the executive responsible for supervising Bruno Iksil, the trader nicknamed the London Whale, for market-moving wagers at the division responsible for a $6.2 billion trading loss.

Monroe Capital announced the closing of its initial public offering of 5 million shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $15.00 per share, raising approximately $75 million in gross proceeds.

Corporate Finance Associates said it was honored by Global M&A Network

CMF Associates released survey results based on M&A East conference attendance in Philadelphia in October 2011 and October 2012 and compared the two for year-over-year trends.

A new TAB Bank white paper provides an overview of the different financing options businesses are using today to manage cash flow and company growth. The paper provides a deeper look at more traditional financing options.