CFA Annual Convention: Exceptional Networking & Educational Opportunities

The Commercial Finance Association’s (CFA) Annual Convention is the largest gathering of asset-based lending and factoring professionals and that offers networking and educational opportunities. The 66th Annual Convention will be held October 20-22, 2010 at the Sheraton Chicago, and is certain to attract professionals from many countries and disciplines to collaborate on issues in commercial lending.

September 1, 2010 CFA | wells fargo Rita Garwood

Casino Brawl … Intercreditor Agreements Get ‘Trumped’

The recent intercreditor dispute between The Donald and corporate raider Carl Icahn has all the glitz of Atlantic City itself, including two competing but confirmable plans with senior and junior creditors slugging it out for ownership of a gaming empire.

September 1, 2010 Bankruptcy Court | Donald Trump Rita Garwood

What’s in a Name? When Verifying Debtor Names, It Can Mean the Difference Between Collecting a Debt or Going Home Empty-Handed

The current economic situation, and the resulting increase in charge-offs and delinquency rates, now has many lenders scrambling to re-examine their policies and practices regarding protection of the collateral securing such loans. Ensuring the correct debtor name is sourced and filed on a UCC Financing Statement is the beginning part of that process.

July 29, 2010 security interest | security interests Rita Garwood

To Save the Company… Change Leaders to get Results

Here’s the predicament: Who can handle the crisis management role? This is a predicament. Clear thinking must prevail and a special set of skills must be applied. If there is a qualified leader within the company, then delegate the job of turnaround to that person — and provide proper support. If there is not a qualified leader in the company — and there usually isn’t — go outside to locate this type of professional.

July 29, 2010 troubled company | turnaround Rita Garwood

The Road to Huntington — Long, Winding and Worth It!

Huntington Bank’s James Cannella admits his personal journey to launching the Ohio-based bank’s new ABL operation has been filled with some sharp turns, short stops and a couple of repeat visits. But the ride that brought him to lead the new ABL group at Huntington Bank has been more than worth it.

July 29, 2010 Huntington | Huntington Bank | James Cannella Rita Garwood

The Pendulum Swings Again: The Assault on Secured Creditors (Part 2 of 2)

In Part I of this two-part article appearing in the previous issue of ABF Journal, a leading restructuring attorney teamed up with a well-known turnaround professional to describe how recent court decisions may have seriously eroded secured creditors’ rights. In Part II below, the authors suggest strategies and tactics to help lenders protect themselves.

July 29, 2010 plan confirmation | secured creditor Rita Garwood

Harborcove Financial — Where Wall Street and Main Street Meet

Last September, two veteran equities traders were introduced to two factors, and serendipity ensued in the form of Harborcove Financial. In short order the four entrepreneurs embarked on a mission to bring the best of Wall Street together with Main Street and provide much-needed capital to small businesses. We decided to check in with two of the company’s principals — Harvey Gross and Russell Hackmann — for an update on what’s happened since.

July 29, 2010 Wall Street Rita Garwood

Elegant & Effective…Letters of Credit in Commercial Loans and Bankruptcy (Part 1 of 3)

For many years, letters of credit have been used to facilitate sales of goods and to provide credit enhancement for all kinds of contractual obligations. Despite the widespread use of letters of credit over the years, many view letters of credit as complicated and esoteric instruments.

July 29, 2010 Letters of Credit Rita Garwood

Commercial Finance Software… Are You Still Driving a Hoopty*?

When in comes to your commercial finance software system, are you like the guy down the street who’s trying to squeeze five more years out of a clunker that’s held together with the technological equivalents of spit, glue and coat hangers? If so, the following article is a high-level overview of what it takes to pick out a sleeker model.

*Urban Dictionary defines a hoopty as any car that meets certain characteristics, including but not limited to requiring the driver to enter through the passenger side; requiring half a clothes hanger to hold up the exhaust pipe and the other half to serve as an antenna; and/or requiring the manual up and down movement of the turn signal to signify the driver’s intention to turn. (Variant spellings: hooptie, hoopdie, hoopdy. See also: clunker, jalopy)

July 29, 2010 current system | RFP Rita Garwood

FinalCut: Loan Market Buzzing Again, Article Says

ABF Journal illustrator, Jerry Gonzalez’ visual interpretation of a top-ranked abfjournal.com news story according to our visitors.

July 20, 2010 issuance | loan repayment | Loan Syndication and Trading Association Index | Vincent Ryan Shannon Browne