Accordion Partners announced that the firm has launched a new practice focused on CFO Leadership Services. The new practice will be led by John S. Brittain Jr.

Capital Business Credit announced it has created a financing platform specifically for staffing firms.

Bloomberg reported that ECM Asset Management, a London-based money manager owned by Wells Fargo, started its first fund that will buy both senior secured loans and high-yield bonds.

Gibraltar Business Capital, a commercial finance company located in Chicago, announced it has formed Gibraltar Capital Advance, which provides capital solutions to the underserved retailer market throughout the country.

ATEL Securities said the SEC declared ATEL Growth Capital Fund 8 effective on August 20, 2012. This first of its kind public fund was formed to provide debt financing to emerging growth and pre-IPO companies.

Bridge Capital announced the creation of its Capital Finance Division, previously known as the Bridge Capital Finance Group (BCFG), to serve the bank’s expanding national client base.

Babson Capital said it has formed a new Chicago-based Middle-Market Lending Group. Ian M. Fowler, Brian C. Baldwin and Mark J. Flessner will lead the group, bringing 50 years of combined experience, most notably as principal investors for Freeport Financial and GE Capital’s Global Sponsor Finance Group.

Babson Capital Management has created a new Energy Finance Group and hired four seasoned industry veterans. The group, led by managing director Brian J. Daly, will focus on mezzanine debt and equity investments in energy and infrastructure projects operated by middle-market and smaller privately owned companies.

Sandler O’Neill + Partners announced that Christopher W. Donohoe has joined the firm as a managing director and establishes a new investment banking practice at the company focused on specialty finance companies.

Hilco announced the launch of Hilco Valuation Advisory (HVA), which provides independent third-party valuations and reasonableness opinions on existing valuations of less-liquid and non-publicly traded securities.