Business Lending
Every Business That Got $150,000 or More in PPP Funds (The List)
July 7, 2020In the interest of transparency, the SBA dumped a list of more than 660,000 businesses that got $150,000 or more in PPP funding.
You can download the entire thing right here.
Canadian Small Business Lender Looks Doomed In Wake of COVID-19
June 29, 2020
As well-known (1, 2) small business lenders in the United States continue to negotiate COVID-19 era workouts with their creditors, another in Canada appears to be falling off the cliff.
On Thursday, Lendified’s President & Director Kevin Clark tendered his resignation effective July 3rd. He follows other board members Edward Kelterborn and Benjy Katchen whose resignations went into effect on June 25th. Company CFO Norman Tan previously resigned on June 9th and no replacement has been named.
COVID-19’s arrival came at a difficult time for Lendified. Before COVID, the company had never turned a profit or reported positive cashflow in its entire history.
“Lendified is in default in respect of credit facilities with its secured lenders. Forbearance and standstill agreements are being discussed with these senior lenders, with none indicating to date that any enforcement action is expected although each is in a position to do so,” the company said. “However, no formal agreements in this regard have been concluded as of the date hereof.”
The company expressed that it would not be able to continue operations if it was not able to finalize a forbearance on its defaults AND simultaneously obtain an immediate infusion of capital to fund its operations.
Lendified’s board of directors is presently considering selling its assets or its entire business in order to raise revenue.
A wholly owned subsidiary of Lendified, Judi.ai, an automated loan underwriting platform, is poised to cease operations as a result of a cashflow shortfall. “[Judi.ai] requires cash infusions in the amount of approximately $100,000 per month in order to maintain operations,” Lendified reported. “Its cash reserves at this time are approximately $80,000. At this time, the Company is not in a position to continue to fund the Business and there can be no assurances that it will be able to do so in the future.”
The company went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange on May 26th via a reverse merger and has since experienced a 95% drop in its share price. The company’s market cap on Monday hovered around $700,000 USD.
OnDeck Update 6/23
June 24, 2020On June 23rd, OnDeck filed the following statement with the SEC:
On June 23, 2020, we obtained a limited consent (“Consent”) for our corporate debt facility (“Corporate Facility”). Under the Consent, the lenders consented to delay the effectiveness of the increased monthly principal repayments until July 14, 2020 (or such later date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent), which were triggered by an Asset Performance Payout Event (Level 2) (“APPE”) that occurred on June 17, 2020. In consideration for the Consent, the Company agreed to make a $5 million principal repayment (“Repayment”) substantially concurrent with the execution of the Consent. Under the Consent, the lenders also agreed that, at the Company’s option, the Repayment will either (i) reduce the amount of the monthly principal repayment due on July 17, 2020 by the amount of the Repayment or (ii) if the parties enter into an amendment on or prior to July 17, 2020, be credited towards any principal repayment required under that amendment. The Company entered into the Consent in contemplation of entering into a broader amendment to the Corporate Facility to address impacts stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. If such an amendment is not entered into, the APPE triggers $21 million monthly principal repayments which, if not cured, would commence on July 17, 2020 and continue until the Corporate Facility is repaid in full. The Company made a payment of approximately $13 million on June 17, 2020 as a result of the previously disclosed Asset Performance Payout Event (Level 1), bringing the total balance outstanding as of that date to approximately $92 million. The Revolving Commitment Termination Date occurred as a result of such Level 1 event. Certain capitalized terms not defined in this section of the report are used with the meanings ascribed to them in the Corporate Facility as amended by prior amendments thereto and the Consent.
Shares of OnDeck closed at 86 cents yesterday. The company was previously warned that long-term pricing below $1/share would result in delisting from the New York Stock Exchange.
IOU Financial Affected By COVID-19
June 23, 2020IOU Financial approved the re-appointment of all of its current directors and auditors yesterday. The company, however, is currently experiencing challenges similar to other online lenders.
In late May, the company filed its Q1 financials and revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had put them in an “over-advance position with its financing credit facilities.” At the time, the issue remained “uncured” and “the company received default notices subsequent to quarter end.”
“The Company and the financing credit facilities are working together to remedy the situation,” IOU reported. “Nevertheless, there is no assurance that these initiatives will be successful.”
IOU had furloughed 40% of its full-time employees and implemented a temporary 20% reduction in salary for all remaining employees commencing on April 1, 2020.
The company’s market cap has plummeted to CAD$7 million, down from $18 million in February. The company had previously been on a fairly positive trajectory until Q1 when they cranked up their provision for loan losses in anticipation of the fallout caused by the pandemic.
Kabbage and Uber Partner for PPP
June 18, 2020
Two months after its first round, Kabbage and Uber have partnered to offer a streamlined PPP application process for the latter’s drivers. In a surprise move, the companies have come together to offer Uber drivers a fast-tracked and automated option to apply for the Payment Protection Program. According to a Kabbage press release, the specialized application will be sped up by prepopulating relevant information, outlining eligibility, and automated decision-making.
“They basically will go through a totally separate path that’s purpose-built for Uber drivers,” said Kabbage CEO Rob Frohwein in the statement. “With more than $100 billion left in the PPP, there is a meaningful opportunity for the self-employed to still apply and receive funding. With Uber, we aim to provide hundreds of thousands of more independent contractors access to federal funding.”
With Uber defining its drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, these drivers were initially ineligible for certain unemployment benefits. However the CARES Act expanded these benefits to include independent contractors from various industries.
This is not Uber’s first foray into providing some sort of assistance for its drivers. Following the signing of the CARES Act in March, the ride-hailing company released a detailed guide for its drivers explaining how to apply for these benefits. As well as this, in France the company has offered drivers emergency grants during the pandemic as well as a stipend to cover sterilizing and safety products.
For Kabbage, this marks a step away from the dark days of late March which saw the company close its offices in Bangalore, India; cut executives’ pay; and furlough an unspecified but “significant” amount of its previously 500-person United States staff, according to a company memo.
The PPP program, which ran out of money within two weeks of its first round, had more than $130 billion left to give to business owners by June 9, just three weeks before the SBA is scheduled to close the application process on June 30.
Good Internet Connection: A Recap of Broker Fair Virtual’s Debut
June 17, 2020
Last week’s Broker Fair Virtual was the first of its kind for the industry. The day-long event offered talks and networking, just like the in-person event, albeit without the catering service and open bar. Offering a digital space that included a virtual auditorium, networking lounge, expo hall, and individual company booths, the event attempted to recreate the experience of connecting and mingling with the rest of the industry, as much as was possible.
Kicking off with a Matrix-inspired introduction to the virtual space led by alternative finance’s version of Neo’s mentor, Mur-pheus (Murray as Morpheus), the show then went in numerous directions, with panels and talks covering a variety of topics and sectors.
Funding Metrics’ David Frascella took to the virtual stage to talk about how his company and the industry at large have been getting through the pandemic; what’s to come for America was up for discussion with Scott Rasmussen, the veteran pollster, who elaborated on how business could be effected by the upcoming presidential election; the future of combining people with data was debated by figures from Become, Elevate Funding, and Ocrolus; Canada’s lending situation and prospects were talked through in Covid and Canadian Credit;The new normal was discussed by NYC’s Fintech Women; and John Henry, an entrepreneur and star of VICELAND’s ‘Hustle,’ spoke of his experience running businesses and what made his story a success.
As well as this selection of talks, another standout was the cannabis panel. Led by a number of industry veterans, which broke down the difference in funding marijuana-based companies compared to other deals, and what could be down the road for the industry as more states consider legalization.
National Funding’s CRO, Justin Thompson, held an extended Q&A session, fielding queries about how National has been faring through these times and what its approaches are as the economy begins to open back up.
How long-term is long-term for the coronavirus’s impact? Are SBA deals the way to go? Does the industry need to go further with its adaption to this new normal? All these questions were asked and answered in The Great Debate, a panel made up of industry figures from various backgrounds.
And brokers’ futures were considered by Lendio’s Brock Blake, United Capital Source’s Jared Weitz, National Business Capital & Service’s James Webster, and The Watson Group’s Gerald Watson. Here, the idea of a recovery, how each struggled through March and April, and PPP were all debated by the panelists, with perspectives of what’s to come leaning both ways.
There’ll be an evolution of new industries and how we do business,” Gerald Watson noted in his closing words, “just look at this conference for example.”
There was no lobby to find brokers and funders hashing out deals in relative privacy away from the expo hall, instead this was replaced by private messages exchanged. Rather than line up for some chicken wings, people chowed down to whatever was in their home on that day. And instead of gathering around a bar and finishing the day after the final talk, attendees cracked something at their desk and chatted it up in the networking lounge, recalling previous events and what was once taken for granted: the ability to connect effortlessly.
The coronavirus continues to physically keep people apart, but for one day last week the industry was able to come together and network, make deals, and gain insight; albeit in a different way, internet connections providing.
Broker Fair Has Completed A Historic Milestone
June 12, 2020Broker Fair reached a milestone yesterday by successfully completing the industry’s first-ever virtual conference. The experimental concept was a response to this year’s restrictions and precautions on large gatherings.
We hope that the hundreds of attendees found the event fun, educational, and productive! The in-person show is still happening at Convene at Brookfield Place in Lower Manhattan on March 22, 2021.
Yesterday’s show included live sessions, a networking chat, and a virtual exhibit hall. Attendees will have formal access to the recorded sessions very soon (There were a lot of them).
The Funders Are Coming Back
June 10, 2020
Nearly three months on from the beginning of the United States’ lockdown, the alternative finance industry is starting to feel a recovery. As states look to ease lockdowns, businesses seek to start back up, and offices are reopening, an element of normalcy, if it can be called that, appears to be returning. deBanked reached out to a number of businesses in the industry to find out how they were plotting their recovery, as well as what they thought of the future for the space and the American economy.
One such company was Everest Business Funding. After experiencing a strong start to 2020 in January and February, covid-19 and the economic shutdown that accompanied it came as a shock to Everest, CEO Scott Crocket explained.
“It’s difficult to imagine an exogenous event outside of our control that could more squarely impact an industry like this,” Crockett stated. “I mean, after all, we provide capital to small and medium-sized businesses all across the United States, all 50 states, every type of small business you can imagine. And we’re cruising along, we had a record 2019, we’re off to a great start with January, February, even the beginning of March … and we really saw it come on in the third week of March, the week that started with Monday the 16th. It started as a kind of a trickle in, but by the end of the week it was more of a tidal wave in terms of the number of small businesses in our portfolio that were calling in looking for some type of relief as a result of what was happening.”
Crockett said that they paused all new funding the following week, out of concern for the company’s ability to generate business while there was a national economic shutdown in place. Since then however, Everest has been slowly getting back to what it was, with employees now returning to the office in waves and discussions being had over when exactly to start funding again, be it late June or early July.
Another firm that halted its funding operations was the New York-based PIRS Capital. Similarly, it was mid-March when the pressure was first felt, and PIRS didn’t return to funding until May 15th. PIRS COO Andrew Mallinger chalked this up to the company’s lack of reliance on automated underwriting processes, saying that although “the industry was leaning towards automatic funding and all these models and 20-second approvals, we weren’t fully invested in that yet. So it was good to see that the old-school approach is back and working again, interfacing with these brokers and really understanding their deals and what they’re bringing to the table.”
Mallinger is also confident going into the rest of 2020. Saying that while the company is maintaining a cautiously optimistic outlook, PIRS is working off the assumption that there will eventually be growth this year and that it is set to continue working from home for however long that may be, on the basis that New York may be one of the last states to return to offices.
Also looking forward is Velocity Group USA’s Trace Feinstein, who believes there will tough times ahead for many in the industry, but who also holds that there are opportunities for those who can make it through.
“Anyone who can weather this storm is going to come out 10 times better than they did going in.” The Chief Syndication Officer said in a call. “It’s an adjustment for our economy, it’s an adjustment for our country, and I think it’s an adjustment for our industry on top of that. So there’s a lot of different changes and things are going to be happening, but I think it’s going to be very good for the ones who make it out of it.”
Feinstein, who said that most of Velocity’s workers are back in its offices, noted that it approached underwriting during the pandemic with thoroughness. Daily underwriting meetings entailed going through each state, looking at what was happening there with infection rates, and discussing how various industries could be affected.
Reporting that applications following the lockdown were actually cleaner than before, with average credit scores going up to be between 650 and 750, Feinstein explained that he pushed underwriters to rely on common sense rather than overthinking their decisions and to treat these deals like they would any MCA application.
And while many funders have struggled through the lockdown period, another part of the industry, collection agencies, have been doing well after an initially tough stretch.
Shawn Smith of Minneapolis’ Dedicated Commercial Recovery has claimed to have grown the company’s portfolio by 100% in 60 days despite a particularly trying period in mid-April. Explaining that the company was two weeks away from having to bring in strict measures to keep things going, Dedicated began getting calls again just in time, with its clients mostly phoning in about MCA deals.
Looking ahead, Smith is anticipating a busy summer and fall as businesses, funders, and the courts come back, but he is worried about a second wave and the alternative finance industry not putting in the precautions needed to stave off the economic impacts this next time around.
“Anyone can lend out a lot of money or put out a lot of money on the street, but your ability to get it back is going to be very important, and you want the fire extinguisher in place before the house is on fire … what you’re seeing in the MCA industry is because it’s just not as aged as the equipment leasing and banking industries … the MCA companies just didn’t have 20-30 year veterans in collections and legal … we’re so concerned with how to write more deals and get more money out there, and not about how to get it back and not about having strong enough underwriting standards and things like that. So when it got stress tested, the pain came back real quick.”
Likewise, Kearns Brinen & Monaghan’s Mark LeFevre claimed that after having a rocky road during the earlier stages of the pandemic and switching to a “plan B” for the year, the collections company is optimistic about going forward. Having weathered what may be the worst stretch without having had to furlough or lay-off anyone, KBM now has brought most of its workers back after a reworking of the office space. A pre-return fumigation, sneeze guards, and temperature-taking upon re-entry to the office building have all been employed after KBM’s employees asked to return to the workplace.
“The industry is changing literally day to day,” explained the President and CEO. “Some of the laws that are passed by the House and by the Senate are changing quicker than I’ve ever seen. I’ve just never seen it before. But I think it’s for the better and we’re starting to see the comeback of the economy, the stock market, employment. The unemployment numbers are really good and, in my opinion, [the numbers will] continue to go down from what we’re seeing in our industry.”
