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CFG Merchant Solutions Closes Credit Facility of up to $145 Million to Support Small Business Growth
May 29, 2024NEW YORK, NY. May 29, 2024 – CFG Merchant Solutions, LLC (“CFGMS” or the “Company”), a technology-enabled specialty finance and alternative funding provider, announced the successful completion of a $100.0 million senior credit facility. The credit facility is expandable up to an additional $45.0 million, representing a total capital raise of up to $145.0 million. Proceeds from the funding, secured from a prominent, U.S.-based institutional investor focused on private structured credit, will serve to further fuel the Company’s mission to empower and support the growth of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Since its founding in 2015, CFGMS has a proven track record of asset performance and profitability, and has funded more than $1.4 billion to over 33,000 SMBs across diverse industries throughout the U.S. With the infusion of additional capital, CFGMS will continue to focus on delivering flexible and accessible financing solutions that empower small businesses to seize growth opportunities, create jobs, and contribute to the overall economic prosperity of the communities they serve.
“We are thrilled to have secured this substantial capital raise, as it reaffirms our commitment to empowering small businesses,” said Andrew Coon, Chief Executive Officer of CFGMS. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our investors for their continued trust and support. With this new credit facility, we will be able to reach a wider range of small businesses and provide them with the financial resources they need to thrive.”
Bill Gallagher, President of CFGMS, expressed enthusiasm for the future impact of the capital raise, stating, “This new facility will strengthen our position to ensure our small business clients have access to fast and efficient financing solutions tailored to their unique needs. We are excited to leverage this capital to expand our operations and deepen our commitment to empower U.S. small businesses to succeed.”
Brean Capital, LLC served as the Company’s exclusive financial advisor and sole placement agent in connection with the transaction.
About CFG Merchant Solutions
CFG Merchant Solutions (“CFGMS”) is an independent, technology-enabled alternative funding platform focused on providing capital access to small and mid-sized businesses that have historically been undeserved by traditional financial institutions and may have experienced challenges obtaining timely financing. The Company uses its historical transactional data, proprietary underwriting, predictive analytics, and electronic payment technologies and platforms to assess risk, and provide access to flexible and timely capital.
For additional information about the Company, visit: https://cfgmerchantsolutions.com/.
Contact:
Name: Richard Polgar
Title: Chief Financial Officer
rpolgar@cfgms.com
CFG Merchant Solutions Upsizes Corporate Note to $30.0 Million
March 6, 2024NEW YORK, NY. March 6, 2024 – CFG Merchant Solutions, LLC (“CFGMS” or the “Company”), a technology-enabled specialty finance and alternative funding provider, announced the upsize to $30.0 million of its investment-grade corporate note. The transaction was assigned a BBB rating by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization.
Since its founding in 2015, CFGMS has a proven track record of asset performance and profitability, and has funded more than $1.3 billion to over 31,000 small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across diverse industries throughout the U.S. The Company plans to use the proceeds from the issuance to support continued growth of the business.
Our business has experienced considerable growth as banks and other funders have pulled back on credit over the past year,” said Andrew Coon, Chief Executive Officer of CFGMS. “This additional capital will help us continue our momentum in serving SMBs across the U.S.”
Bill Gallagher, President of CFGMS, added, “At CFGMS, we believe our unique platform is differentiated from other funders across the space. We are pleased that institutional investors share this view and continue to support us. This flexible capital will be very valuable as we seek to gain further market share.”
Brean Capital, LLC served as the Company’s exclusive financial advisor and sole placement agent in connection with the transaction.
About CFG Merchant Solutions
CFG Merchant Solutions (“CFGMS”) is an independent, technology-enabled alternative funding platform focused on providing capital access to small and mid-sized businesses that have historically been underserved by traditional financial institutions and may have experienced challenges obtaining timely financing. The Company utilizes its historical transactional data, proprietary underwriting, predictive analytics, and electronic payment technologies and platforms to assess risk, and provide access to flexible and timely capital.
For additional information about the Company, visit: https://cfgmerchantsolutions.com/.
Contact:
Name: Richard Polgar
Title: Chief Financial Officer
rpolgar@cfgms.com
Levo Funding Makes Debut
January 8, 2024January 8, 2024 — We are excited to present Levo Funding, a new addition to the financial industry. A dynamic and innovative fintech company, Levo Funding has launched with a team of industry veterans at the helm. With a wealth of experience and a reputation for excellence, this new venture is committed to reshaping the industry.
“We are thrilled to introduce Levo Funding,” said Christopher Ives, the company’s Co-Founder and CEO. “Our team comprises industry veterans who have successfully navigated the complexities of the finance sector for years. This includes learning from our successes and our failures. We’ve come together to create a fintech company that focuses on the simplicities of what we do; help businesses access capital, and ensure that entrepreneurs and companies have the resources they need to thrive. We are committed to doing business the right way, and are looking forward to working with those that share the same values.”
Levo Funding aims to fill an emerging gap in the market by providing flexible funding options, streamlined application processes, and personalized support, while not being anchored by covenants and the increasing costs of capital. Their approach is rooted in a deep understanding of the challenges faced by businesses of all sizes, and they are committed to delivering financing solutions that empower growth and success.
As a testament to their expertise and accelerated growth, Levo Funding has already secured significant investment backing from reputable partners and investors who share their vision for the future of finance. This substantial funding ensures that the company is well-prepared to meet the capital needs of businesses across various industries.
Christopher added, “Our team’s collective experience spans various sectors, including banking, venture capital, private equity, credit and underwriting. We understand that one size does not fit all when it comes to financing. We are dedicated to tailoring our solutions to the unique goals and challenges of each client. Our team was carefully selected to build a culture of trust and encourage open communication. When people are comfortable sharing ideas, everyone wins.”
For more information about Levo Funding, please visit levofunding.com. Stay updated on their latest developments and news by following them on Linkedin.
Contact
(619) 908-1372
info@levofunding.com
CFG Merchant Solutions Surpassed $1 Billion in MCA Originations in Q1 2023
June 15, 2023
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Mental Health in The Funding Game
April 6, 2023
Technology, finance, healthcare, sales, and marketing have all been reported to have the highest levels of employee stress and mental health issues. Eager, driven executives of this industry work around the clock to close deals, finance equipment, and conjur fresh new ideas. While alternative finance can be deemed the industry that never sleeps, the people pushing it forward should remember not to push themselves too hard. Prioritizing one’s mental health can often be found at the bottom of one’s checklist but should be the first thing assessed before starting the day.
“It is critical that we start really focusing in on understanding that mental health is part of every everything we do, every part of who we are, how we see ourselves, how we interact with others, how willing we are to take risks, how willing we are to be ambitious, and how forgiving we are of ourselves when we make mistakes,” said Nancy Robles, President at Eastern Funding LLC.
Success is an adrenaline rush and can be addicting if not managed properly. Jessica Garcia, CEO at Simplified Funding Solutions, at one point struggled to find a balance between her work and home life, leaving her feeling burnt out more days than some. She believed the more hours put in working on a deal the faster results she’d attain in return. Finding ways to regroup and reassess, she created her own methods within the workplace to cater to her mental health.
“I started doing like a lot of self-care within the workplace,” said Garcia. “So what I mean by that, as opposed to sitting at my desk and being glued to a hard phone on a conference call for an hour, I would just put it on my cell phone through my air pods, walk around, grab a stress ball, sightseeing, have meditation music in the background at a very low volume to help stimulate. I would turn on some candles to help with the aromatherapy and I noticed once I started doing those things, I was able to pace myself more and I was also happier…”
Meanwhile, For Nancy Robles, she’s not just the president of a company but also a full-time mother of five. The pressure of performing as a woman of color in this industry while juggling motherhood are constantly clashing and finding themselves at odds with one another. But as of late, Robles has learned to emphasize mental health into her daily routine.
“Over the past several years, I’ve prioritized my mental health and as I have prioritized my mental health that comes with a lot of self-care, a lot of healing,” said Robles. “I’m a big advocate for therapy, everybody should go to therapy. I’ve been going to therapy for seven years.”
Unlike Robles and Garcia, finding a work/home life balance has its own unique twist for Sonia Alvelo whose fiancée is also her partner at work. And after 15 long years together they’ve managed to find stability between the two.
“Communication is big for us in everything that we do, in order to be better,” said Alvelo, CEO at Latin Financial. Administering daily mental health exercises in one’s routine can make all the difference but having the support of one’s employer can make an even bigger one.
Incorporating necessary steps and open communication in the workforce can help a team or staff to not feel as if they are being hammered by their 9 to 5. On this, Jessica Garcia has noticed companies moving in the right direction, implementing more group activities and break spaces for women especially as they are growing in number in the finance sector.
“We’re getting that softer, feminine touch, in regard to ‘it’s okay to take a day off if you’re over it, it’s okay to go home early if you’re just burnt out,’” said Garcia. “’It’s okay to ask for help if you’re overwhelmed and need assistance from the team to complete a task. It’s okay to be vulnerable, it’s okay to be human,’ we’re not robots, we’re not machines. And I think in the past two years, especially after the pandemic, we’re starting to see that synergy of being there for each other.”
Alvelo recognizes the significance mental health has within a company as a CEO. Weekly discussions with her team throughout the years has helped for a happy community life in her office.
“I have a responsibility as a CEO and I have a big one on top of that because I’m a Latina CEO. I have to bring things to the table that other companies may not talk about it or may not talk about enough.”
Success starts within oneself to achieve it anywhere else. In order to put your best foot forward in this industry take time, check in, and evaluate your mental health.
“One of the critical pillars of having any success in any type of career,” said Robles, “if you own your own company, if you want any successes, you want to have your relationships in your family, your relationship with yourself, which is the most important one, you really have to address mental health first.”
National Funding Announces the Upsize of Their Bank Credit Facility and the Issuance of Corporate Notes
October 12, 2021
SAN DIEGO, Calif. October 12, 2021 – National Funding, Inc., one of the largest U.S. specialty finance companies serving small- and medium-sized businesses, announced the recent renewal and upsize of a $60.0 million senior secured warehouse line of credit. The facility, which includes an accordion to expand to $75.0 million, was provided by a prominent U.S.-based commercial bank. The facility will continue to be used by the Company to fund new originations and support additional growth of the platform.
Concurrent with the transaction, National Funding also secured a $55.0 million investment-grade rated corporate note financing provided by a consortium of institutional investors. The transaction was assigned a BBB+ rating by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization. Having closed this additional financing, National Funding is well positioned to support its partners and enhances the Company’s ability to take advantage of significant market opportunities.
To date, National Funding has provided more than $4.3 billion in working capital and equipment leasing for more than 75,000 small- to medium-sized businesses nationwide.
“As the economy recovers from the pandemic, this challenging environment is creating opportunities for National Funding to accelerate our growth plans and at the same time provide flexible capital solutions to our client base seeking to expand their businesses,” stated Dave Gilbert, CEO of the Company. “Our ability to close these transactions with multiple institutional partners has substantially expanded our financial capacity and flexibility and is a validation of the strength of the robust platform that National Funding has built.”
Joe Gaudio, President of National Funding, stated, “These new facilities represent the continued evolution of the Company’s funding sources, providing National Funding with a unique opportunity to reduce our cost of funding and access more diversified sources of capital. Both investments are a strong endorsement of the stability and success of our Company and of our mission to transform the way small businesses access the capital they need to grow.”
Brean Capital, LLC served as the Company’s Exclusive Financial Advisor and Placement Agent in connection with the note transaction.
About National Funding
Founded in 1999, National Funding is a leading U.S. specialty finance company serving small- and medium-sized businesses. The Company’s foundation serves American small business owners by providing funding solutions to meet their needs to reinvest in their day-to-day operations and help them grow. National Funding’s digital funding process has elevated its digital capabilities by delivering a fast and simple online application. For more information about National Funding, visit https://www.nationalfunding.com.
Contact:
Susan Almon-Pesch
Publicist for National Funding
sue@speschialpr.com
CFG Merchant Solutions Enhances Partnership with Arena Investors and its Affiliates to Serve SMEs
May 29, 2020NEW YORK, New York., May 29, 2020 — CFG Merchant Solutions (“CFGMS”), a leading financier of small and medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”), announced today that the company is building upon its partnership with Arena Investors, LP (“Arena”), in conjunction with Ceteris Portfolio Services (“Ceteris), an Arena servicing affiliate, in servicing and providing liquidity to Platinum Rapid Funding’s (“PRF”) merchant portfolio. CFGMS has been a leading capital provider to SMEs and an originator of advances to growing merchants, providing in excess of $400 million merchant cash advances since 2015. Arena has been CFGMS’s primary capital partner since 2016.
CFGMS and Arena are determined to prioritize the needs of PRF’s existing customers in the wake of the COVID-19 crises and its resulting impact on small businesses across the country.
“Arena is pleased to continue its partnership with CFGMS and its senior management team consisting of CEO, Andrew Coon, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, Robert Martini, and President, William Gallagher. Together, we remain deeply committed to serving the needs of PRF’s existing customers, particularly for ongoing financing and liquidity needs in an environment when even much larger businesses struggle to attract capital,” said Victor Dupont, who leads Arena’s investments in the financing of the SME sector. “We welcome further involvement with PRF’s customers and their affiliated ISOs and are committed to working collaboratively with all throughout the COVID-19 crises and beyond”.
“Arena and its affiliates have built a reputation as a group that combines uniquely flexible capital with broad-based expertise in servicing, resolutions, and SME finance,” said Coon. “So, while we excel at sourcing, originations, and underwriting, we felt that they brought a critical level of IP and know-how that is uniquely suited to benefit all parties in today’s environment. Combining forces to offer a broader set of servicing solutions to the MCA market segment made complete sense.”
Jonathan Pike, CEO of Ceteris, added: “Ceteris is excited to work with CFGMS and Arena by offering best-in-class servicing strategies and assisting merchants in a difficult economic environment.”
The Small Business Association (“SBA”) estimates that traditional banks still reject approximately 90 percent of SME loan applications. Since 2015, CFGMS has emerged as a proven platform that leverages sales partner relationships, analytics, and proprietary underwriting to provide SMEs with a straightforward and streamlined access to critical funding. The company addresses the fundamental capital needs of SME owners across a broad credit spectrum and through every stage of a business’s life cycle.
SMEs across a wide variety of industries that include restaurants, retail stores, salons, spas, dry cleaners, auto body shops, and professional offices. All of these businesses, and more, rely on CFGMS to secure the necessary capital they need to grow.
For questions or funding solutions, please contact:
– William Gallagher
– (646) 880-3817
– WGallagher@CFGMS.com
– Ryan Banda
– (856) 545-8322
– rbanda@ceterisassetsolutions.com
About CFGMS
Headquartered in New York, NY, CFGMS specializes in providing financing to support the growth and development of underserved small-to-medium sized businesses that lack access to traditional bank funding. Founded in 2010, CFGMS’s affiliated company, CapFlow Funding Group, provides factoring, purchase order finance, and asset-based lending solutions. CFGMS and CapFlow have together provided over $1 billion in liquidity solutions to their SME clients. For more information please visit www.cfgmerchantsolutions.com
About Arena Investors, LP
Arena Investors is a privately held, SEC-registered, global alternative investment firm which combines mandate flexibility, proprietary sourcing and systems-plus-servicing to enable solutions for those seeking capital. The firm was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in NewYork with additional offices in Jacksonville, London, and San Francisco. For more information, please visit www.arenaco.com.
About Ceteris Portfolio Services
Ceteris is a nationally licensed servicing company providing debt recovery solutions and other related services for consumers and commercial businesses across a broad range of financial assets. Ceteris provides first- and third-party revenue cycle management, business process outsourcing and portfolio backup servicing to heavily regulated, high volume industries including banking, automotive finance, credit card, equipment leasing, medical, telecommunications, utilities, retail and other industries. For more information please visit www.ceterisholdco.com.
US Business Funding Will Retain Name & Special Sauce in Wake of Fora Deal
June 8, 2018Fora Financial’s announcement yesterday that it acquired a sizable stake in US Business Funding (USBF) will create one of the “largest, broadest reaching direct sales organizations in the small business alternative lending space,” the company said in a statement.
USBF is a direct sales and marketing company of about 40 to 50 people. Fora Financial founder and CEO told deBanked that his company started working with USBF to obtain leads two years ago and that this acquisition has been in the works for between 12 to 18 months.
Jared Feldman, CEO, Fora Financial“We were looking for a team that does direct sales and marketing that complements what we do,” Feldman said. “And they’re one of the best at [direct marketing] in the business.”
USBF is based in Santa Ana, CA, and has connected customers to financing since 2008, with an emphasis originally on equipment financing. In 2012, they started facilitating working capital deals and that now makes up 85 percent of the company’s business, according to its CEO Peter Ribeiro.
They provide financing solutions ranging from $10,000 to $10 million. Fora Financial, also established in 2008, is a New York-based funding company that funds MCA deals and provides small business loans up to $500,000.
Consistent with yesterday’s announcement, Feldman said that with Fora Financial and USBF combined, they will likely originate $400 million year. Feldman told deBanked today that, of this amount, about $300 million should come from direct sales.
“We’re more heavily weighted towards direct sales,” Feldman said.
Formerly a company of 100, the new entity will now include about 150 employees and will share resources like capital, technology and access to help with compliance, Feldman said. USBF will retain its name, location and all of its employees.
“We wouldn’t have done this deal unless Peter [USBF founder and CEO] and his team agreed to stay on,” Feldman said. “They have a fantastic brand and we want to avoid getting in their way. We just want to help them to continue doing what they do.”
Feldman said that while USBF will retain its name, “we’re now a combined entity with an east and west coast operation.”
Fora Financial acquired USBF because it did something unique, and Feldman said that Fora is looking for opportunities to acquire other companies that do uniques things in the financing space.
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