Lifetime Brands Agrees to Acquire Reed & Barton and Amends Credit Agreement

Phoenix Management Services Recognized by M&A Advisor for Distressed Deal of the Year

DS-Concept Provides $12 Million Factoring Facility to Poultry Exporter in Brazil

White & Case M&A Report Examines Factors That Will Sustain Dealmaking In 2015

Huntington Bancshares to Acquire Macquarie Equipment Finance, Inc.; Purchase to Add Nearly $1 Billion of Commercial Leases and Expands Huntington Investment in Michigan

GWG Holdings, Inc. Announces New Key Accounts Team; Mark V. Petersen Will Lead the Group as GWG's Head of Capital Markets and Betsy Ward Will Serve as Director of Business Development

Bitcoin Miner Aquifer Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Coral Capital Solutions, a leading provider of financing solutions to small and middle market businesses, announced they provided a $2,400,000 factoring facility for the acquisition of a direct mail and fulfillment business in the Northeast.

The buyers identified the potential for significant growth in this women-owned business and an opportunity to merge data services like ecommerce/web development, and Web-To-Print POD, and Digital Asset Fulfillment with its current business in order to create a significant player in the data/mailer market. The buyers required a quick turnaround of the financing transaction and accommodation regarding high customer concentration, high volume of postage transactions, and high volatility in the receivables financing.

"Coral Capital was able to expedite its underwriting and documentation process  to be ready with its financing when the buyers closed their acquisition, said  Ronnie Sussman, business development officer at Coral Capital, "We are happy to support our clients, keep business operations running, local community employees in place, and develop a strong relationship with key Fortune 500 customers."

Coral Capital Solutions provides financing solutions to small and middle market companies in a wide variety of industries throughout the U.S. and Canada. It is a leading source of factoring, asset based lending, purchase order and trade finance products. Coral Capital Solutions is well capitalized, using its own equity to fund clients and therefore has the ability to consummate transactions quickly from commitment to funding.

First Capital, a national commercial finance company, announced it has provided a $4.5 million asset-based credit facility to Simon Metals, LLC, a leader in scrap metal recycling for almost 100 years in the Pacific Northwest. The senior credit facility consists of a $4 million working capital revolver secured by accounts receivable and inventory and a $500,000 term loan collateralized by machinery and equipment.

First Capital was selected by the management of Graham Capital Group, LLC, the equity owner of Simon Metals, to provide the credit facility because of First Capital's ability to refinance the previous lender while creating a flexible facility that maximized the liquidity of the company's assets.  The proceeds will be used for completing a realignment of the company's operations and for working capital needs.

"First Capital provided much needed funding for our business as it faces significant short-term challenges in the face of the West Coast Port Slowdown," stated Paul Raidna, managing director of Graham Capital Group, LLC. "With the greater availability First Capital is offering, we will be able to continue on our growth plan and handle fluctuating commodity prices."

"We are delighted to partner with Simon Metals, a company with a rich and long tradition of providing excellent service and innovative methods in an environmentally conscious manner," said Chris McKernan, vice president at First Capital.

First Capital provides working capital financing ranging from $5 million to $25 million primarily to small and middle-market business owners with annual sales ranging from $10 million to $250 million.  Credit facilities are in the form of Asset-Based loans or Factoring arrangements. 

Gulf Coast Business Credit (GCBC) recently provided a $100,000 working capital facility to a North Dakota-based staffing company who was referred to GCBC while attending the 2014 National Independent Staffing Association (NISA) Conference.

The staffing company specializes in providing virtual office services, office support, management, and sales professionals for the industrial, medical, and legal industries.  As a preferred partner of NISA, the staffing company trusted that GCBC would offer the best solution to help improve cash flow, assist in managing growth and take advantage of new opportunities.

LBC Credit Partners (LBC), a leading provider of financing solutions to middle market companies, provided senior secured credit facilities to support the acquisition of Phase One
Consulting Group (Phase One or the Company) by RLJ Equity Partners.
LBC Credit Partners served as agent and sole lender for the senior secured credit facilities. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Alexandria, VA, Phase One is a premier provider of information
technology-based consulting services and solutions to various U.S. federal civilian agencies.
Phase One provides a range of strategic solutions addressing IT strategy, organizational transformation, strategic communications, process and business analysis, solution architecture and engineering, agile development, and cybersecurity.
RLJ Equity Partners is a middle-market private equity firm focused on generating long-term capital appreciation by investing in profitable and growing businesses led by strong management teams. Founded in 2006 by Robert L. Johnson in partnership with The Carlyle Group, RLJ originates structures and invests in traditional buy-outs, recapitalizations, and growth capital infusions. RLJ Equity Partners is a portfolio company of The RLJ Companies.

US Capital Partners Inc. has been engaged by Wham-O Marketing, Inc. (Wham-O), a global leader in the toy and lifestyle industries, to raise an investment facility to support strategic growth initiatives. Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, Wham-O manufactures and markets some of the most recognizable consumer brands in the world today, including Slip 'N Slide�, Hula Hoop�, Frisbee�, Hacky Sack�, ETC.

Headquartered in San Francisco, US Capital Partners is a full-service private investment bank that makes direct debt investments between $500,000 and $30 million, participates in debt facilities, and underwrites debt and equity private placements. The firm has a proven track record in securing well-structured financing for middle market companies across a wide range of industries, and a history of successful closings in the consumer discretionary sector.

"Wham-O is currently at an inflection point in its international expansion, having just launched a range of additional exciting new products and brands," said Kyle Aguilar, CEO at Wham-O. "We are delighted to be collaborating with US Capital Partners and its experienced team of investment bankers. Our continued success and entrepreneurial spirit depend upon building smart partnerships, and US Capital Partners represents just the committed financing partner we are looking for as we move into the next phase of strategic growth."

"We are pleased to be arranging financing for this leading American toy manufacturing and marketing firm," said Jeffrey Sweeney, CEO and managing partner, chairman and CEO at US Capital Partners. "Wham-O and US Capital Partners are both headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. As many US manufactures have been continuing to shift their operations overseas, we recognized an opportunity to partner with an established company that has a history and track record of worldwide success, but that is still striving to maintain its California footprint. We are extremely pleased to be supporting Wham-O's continued success."

North Mill Capital is pleased to announce that it has hired Gregg Simpson as a senior vice president in Charlotte, NC.

FSW Funding: Robyn Barrett, founder of Phoenix-based factoring firm, FSW Funding, will be recognized for her achievements in business at two separate award ceremonies at the end of March. Barrett was recently named one of 30 outstanding women in business by the Phoenix Business Journal. In addition, Barrett was named a member of the 2015 Sun Devil Select class for Arizona State University.  

Every spring the Center for Entrepreneurship at ASU W.P. Carey School of Business recognizes the achievements of businesses owned, and led by Sun Devil alumni around the globe.  On Friday, March 20, Barrett will be acknowledged as a 2015 Sun Devil Select award winner. Honorees are chosen for their demonstration of innovation, growth and entrepreneurial spirit.

The Phoenix Business Journal will recognize Barrett at the 14th Annual Outstanding Women in Business event, which will be held on Monday, March 30 during a luncheon held at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia. The Phoenix Business Journal selects female business owners and managers for their community leadership, professional accomplishments and personal achievements.

"I am honored and humbled," says Barrett. "As a small business owner that works with other entrepreneurs I have a unique perspective on what it takes to start and grow a business. I feel very fortunate to get to do what I do."

Barrett is a certified public accountant with 20 years of experience in corporate finance. She founded FSW Funding in 2001. FSW Funding specializes in factor financing for small and mid-size companies throughout the U.S. The company has offices in Phoenix and Los Angeles.

Since the company's inception, FSW Funding has provided approximately $500 million in factor financing to companies throughout the U.S.

High Road Capital Partners (www.highroadcap.com) has sold portfolio company All Current Electrical Sales, Inc., marking the fourth exit for the firm's debut fund, High Road Capital Partners Fund I, LP.  All Current is a leading specialty reseller of electrical components utilized across a broad range of commercial and industrial end markets.  The sale closed on February 17, 2015. Transaction terms were not disclosed.

All Current was acquired by EBSCO Industries, Inc., through its new platform investment division, EBSCO Capital, and management.  EBSCO is a privately owned, family business headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, that seeks to acquire quality middle-market companies and grow their profitability over the long term.

"During High's Road ownership, All Current's revenue grew by 58 percent and the company established a significant national presence," said Bob Fitzsimmons, High Road's managing partner. "All Current exemplifies our strategy of buying niche leaders and working with management to build bigger, more efficient, and qualitatively better businesses.  In partnership with All Current, we executed our value creation strategy by completing three add-on acquisitions, implementing IT systems upgrades, and enhancing sales and marketing capabilities."

Robert Nabrzeski, CEO and a co-founder of All Current, said, "With High Road's support, we achieved significant growth in our core business serving the 'need-it-now' market for industrial electrical components, and deepened our private-label offerings and custom controls solutions, while building out our management team to support further growth. These investments solidify All Current's position as a trusted partner to its customers."

Partners Jeff Goodrich, Bill Hobbs and Ben Schnakenberg led the High Road investment team. Piper Jaffray advised All Current in the transaction. Jones Day provided legal counsel to the company.  High Road Capital Partners has completed 34 transactions - 12 platform investments, 18 add-on acquisitions and four exits - since its founding in 2007.  The firm most recently exited Handi Quilter in December 2014.

SSG Capital Advisors, LLC (SSG), a leading independent special situations investment bank, announced that J. Scott Victor received The M&A Advisor 2015 Leadership Award. The award
recognizes outstanding contributions to and accomplishments in the restructuring industry and was presented during the
9th Annual Turnaround Awards Gala on February 23 in Palm Beach, FL.
Also recognized with Leadership Awards, were Peter S. Kaufman, president and head of Restructuring and Distressed
M&A at Gordian Group, and Randall S. Eisenberg, managing director and co-head of the Turnaround & Restructuring
Services practice at AlixPartners. "We are honored to present Peter S. Kaufman, Randall S. Eisenberg, and J. Scott
Victor with the M&A Advisor Leadership Award for their contributions to the restructuring industry," stated David
Fergusson, president and Co-CEO of The M&A Advisor. "These three individuals have and continue to set the bar for
restructuring professionals worldwide."
A nationally recognized leader in the restructuring industry for over 30 years, J. Scott Victor has completed over 150 sale,
refinancing and restructuring transactions in North America and Europe. Scott is a Fellow of the American College of
Bankruptcy, and the 2015 President of TMA Global. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Bankruptcy
Institute and the New York Institute of Credit. He received the 2013 TMA Global Outstanding Individual Contributor Award
and was named one of the Top 100 Restructuring Advisors by Global M&A Network in 2014.
"It is a tremendous honor to receive this award and to join the company of previous recipients, all of whom are widely
recognized as industry leaders," said Victor. "I would also like to congratulate Peter and Randy in recognition of their
outstanding accomplishments."
Separately, SSG Capital Advisors was named the Boutique Investment Banking Firm of the Year during the Turnaround
Awards Gala. The firm also received the Restructuring of the Year Award ($500 Million to $1 Billion) for its role in the
restructuring of FriendFinder Networks, and the Refinancing Deal of the Year Award for its role in the reorganization of an
exit financing facility for Cooper-Booth Wholesale Company, L.P.