Siena Lending Group LLC (“Siena”) is honored to be featured in ABF Journal’s Most Innovative Companies issue, which recognizes forward-thinking companies across the specialty finance space.

The magazine highlights Siena’s innovation and agility during the pandemic, as the firm pivoted quickly last year to provide much-needed relief to clients and guide them through the PPP application process. That momentum has continued to build in 2021, as Siena set firm records for total deals and aggregate facilities closed in Q2.

“Siena is proud to be recognized for our ability to craft creative financing solutions and help our clients adapt to changing marketplace conditions,” said David Grende, President and CEO of Siena Lending Group. “These strengths have always set Siena apart, and have never been more critical to our clients than the past 18+ months.”

To read the article, turn to page 50 in ABF Journal’s Q3 interactive digital edition.

Siena Lending Group is proud to be an honoree in the 15th Annual Turnaround Awards, which recognize achievements in the distressed investing and reorganization industry. The awards, sponsored by The M&A Advisor, were presented at a gala dinner in late September. 

Siena received the “Refinancing of the Year” award in the under-$100 million category for closing a $21.5 million credit facility that supported the refinancing of Arandell Corporation and its acquisition by Saothair Capital Partners. The Arandell acquisition was Saothair’s first as a private equity firm focusing on the lower middle market—a transaction that helped preserve over 500 jobs during a global pandemic. 

“It is truly an honor to be recognized by The M&A Advisor for our team’s hard work and dedication during an historically challenging time,” said David Grende, President and CEO of Siena. “Siena has been proud to help our clients—including many with private equity sponsors—successfully execute on their business plans over the past 18 months, despite the significant hurdles facing most industries.”

Siena congratulates Harney Partners on sharing in the award as financial advisor to Arandell.

Siena Lending Group LLC (“Siena”) is pleased to announce the closing of a $17.5 Million asset-based credit facility with a California-based tire Company (the “Company”).  The two-year revolving credit facility was used to refinance existing debt and provide additional working capital to support business growth.  

The Company includes various business units which distribute tires and complementary auto parts, as well as operate a chain of retail tire installation and automotive service centers throughout California.  Privately owned and operated for over two decades, the Company was looking to refinance its existing bank loan with a lender that could provide more flexibility to run its business and additional liquidity to support new operating initiatives.  Siena delved into the Company’s complex organization structure to understand the operations and delivered a preferred financing solution. 

Siena Lending Group LLC (“Siena”) announces the completion of a $21.5 million asset-based revolving line of credit for Arandell Corporation (“Arandell”). The facility was provided in conjunction with Saothair Capital Partners (“Saothair”) to fund the acquisition pursuant to a 363 sale of assets under Chapter 11, and for working capital needs to support future growth.

Founded in 1922 and based in Menomonee Falls, WI, Arandell is one of the nation’s leading providers of high-quality catalog and brochure printing, mailing and logistics, with a strategic focus on upscale retailers and well-recognized brands throughout the United States. With approximately 530 employees, Arandell’s operations include a state-of-the-art prepress department, one of the industry’s most efficient heat-set web pressrooms, and a bindery that includes saddle stitching, perfect binding and co-mailing capabilities.

Dave Grende, President and CEO of Siena said, “We are pleased to be a partner to Saothair for their first investment as a PE firm focused on the lower middle market. We are even more pleased to be a part of a transaction that will help in maintaining over 500 jobs in Wisconsin during a challenging economic period.  Arandell has quite a storied history, along with a quality product. The acquisition as well as bankruptcy exit financing that was provided is the final step to ensure their viability and long-term success.”

Kevin Madden, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Saothair said, “Arandell is exactly the sort of business Saothair was created to invest in – a fundamentally strong company that is highly valued by its customers and a leader in its industry, but one that has been held back by an over-leveraged balance sheet and beset by the historic, unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are extraordinarily grateful to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and this committed and talented workforce for their confidence in us to be stewards in the next chapter of Arandell’s long history of success. We are also appreciative of the team at Siena in working with us on a financing arrangement that fit the unique needs of this acquisition and this business.”

Siena Lending Group LLC (“Siena”) announces the completion of a $25 million asset-based revolving line of credit for Vault Pressure Control LLC (“Vault Pressure Control”). The facility was provided in conjunction with Pelican Energy Partners to fund the acquisition as well as for working capital needs to support future growth.

Vault Pressure Control, based in Houston, Texas, was formerly the Surface Pressure Control Flow business unit of the Oilfield Equipment segment of Baker Hughes.  The newly independent company is wholly focused on providing outstanding customer service and world-class products to pressure control customers in the US, Canada, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Trinidad & Tobago markets.

Dave Grende, President and CEO of Siena, said, “I am extremely proud of our team here and our continued ability to deliver on our commitment.  Even in the current environment and the sector headwinds, our team was able to execute on our original proposal, keeping the proposed structure of the deal as well as getting it to completion in a very tight timeframe of less than 45 days.  We will continue to be a trusted partner to our clients and our intermediaries in keeping with our long standing reputation.”

Mike Scott, Founder and Managing Partner of Pelican Energy Partners said, “Siena has proven to be a great partner for Pelican and for Vault.  Siena consistently did what they said they were going to do and delivered on a tight schedule and in a challenging market environment.  Siena has earned our respect as a partner and we look forward to a long and productive relationship.”

Siena Lending Group and its affiliates announced the completion of a revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo Capital Finance. Siena will use this credit facility to expand its balance sheet and continue funding small and medium sized businesses throughout the United States.

“We are very pleased to extend this credit facility to Siena,” said Andrea Petro, Division Manager of the Lender Finance Division of Wells Fargo Capital Finance, adding “We have known and have been impressed with David Grende and his team’s long track record of success and look forward to supporting Siena’s plans for continued growth.”

Siena’s business model, team and sponsorship by Solaia Capital were important factors in securing the financing with Wells Fargo. “Our longstanding relationship with Wells Fargo coupled with its market dominance in the lender finance sector make Wells Fargo the perfect financing partner for Siena,” said Michael Carrazza, CEO of Solaia Capital and Siena’s Chairman. “Securing this attractive credit financing speaks of the strength of Siena’s platform and growth opportunities.”

Siena is run by the former executive team of Burdale Capital Finance, Inc., the U.S. Asset Based Lending Division of Bank of Ireland. Bank of Ireland’s $1.2 billion U.S. ABL portfolio was sold to Wells Fargo in 2012, and the core team was re-launched as Siena.

Siena’s hybrid business model targets a widening gap between community banks and commercial business lending. In addition to providing direct financing to businesses, Siena offers turn-key origination and servicing capabilities for participating community banks that are seeking exposure in the asset-based lending market. Siena provides community bank partners the ability to acquire high quality, variable rate, low risk, economically attractive loans without direct cost or increased SG&A. The intensive loan monitoring required for asset-based loans is managed by Siena’s team at institutional standards, which small banks cannot readily replicate.

“Wells Fargo will further enhance our strong foundation and enable us to continue providing dependable funding to our customers,” said David Grende, Siena’s President and CEO. He added, “Our business model targets companies that may have unique financing needs that may not fit into the credit profile of traditional bank lending. Our funding from Wells Fargo is a key component that will help us expand and meet our business objectives.”

Siena Lending Group is an independent commercial finance company offering asset based loans between $1 and $20 million to small and middle market businesses across the United States. Siena also offers a turn-key servicing platform, which provides an attractive asset based product for community and regional banks that desire improved operating metrics and asset diversification.

Siena Lending Group announced the hiring of Steve Fuscaldo as director of new business originations. With close to 30 years of asset based lending experience, Fuscaldo adds to the senior credit talent at Siena, while broadening its origination capabilities. He was most recently with TD Bank, a move made subsequent to the sale of Burdale Capital Finance to Wells Fargo in early 2012. Siena is a relaunch of the core team of Burdale, and Steve is pleased to be reunited with his fellow colleagues.

Prior to Burdale, Fuscaldo was at GE Capital for twelve years holding various positions including originator, regional manager and senior underwriter. Fuscaldo began his career in asset-based lending at CIT Credit Finance and predecessor companies, Fidelcor Business Credit and Lazere Financial. Since Fuscaldo has worked in all facets of the industry, from field examiner to regional manager, he is able to construct innovative solutions for all types of business needs. He is a member of several professional organizations including the CFA, TMA and ACG and served as president of the CFA’s New York Chapter in 2010 and 2011.

Siena Lending Group is an independent commercial finance company offering asset based loans between $1 million and $20 million to small and middle market businesses across the United States. Siena also offers a turn-key servicing platform, which provides an attractive asset-based product for community and regional banks that desire improved operating metrics and asset diversification.

Siena’s hybrid business model targets a widening gap between community banks and commercial business lending. In addition to providing direct financing to businesses, Siena offers turn-key origination and servicing capabilities for participating community banks that are seeking exposure in the asset-based lending market. Siena provides community bank partners the ability to acquire high quality, variable rate, low risk, economically attractive loans without direct cost or increased SG&A. The intensive loan monitoring required for asset-based loans is managed by Siena’s team at institutional standards, which small banks cannot readily replicate.

“Wells Fargo will further enhance our strong foundation and enable us to continue providing dependable funding to our customers,” said David Grende, Siena’s President and CEO. He added, “Our business model targets companies that may have unique financing needs that may not fit into the credit profile of traditional bank lending. Our funding from Wells Fargo is a key component that will help us expand and meet our business objectives.”

Siena Lending Group is an independent commercial finance company offering asset based loans between $1 and $20 million to small and middle market businesses across the United States. Siena also offers a turn-key servicing platform, which provides an attractive asset based product for community and regional banks that desire improved operating metrics and asset diversification.

Siena Lending Group LLC announced its formal launch and the completion of its developmental phase. Siena’s creation, engineered by operating financier Michael Carrazza, is the latest portfolio company sponsored by Solaia Capital, a private investment firm engaged in the acquisition and development of middle market companies. Siena is actively providing small and middle market businesses with secured, asset based lending (“ABL”) loans between $1 and $20 million across the United States.

Siena’s unique strategy positions it to target what, until now, has been a void in lower middle market lending and will take on the role of assisting community banking executives in combating deteriorating net interest margins, interest rate risk and asset diversification issues.

“Our hybrid business model was designed to address a widening gap between community banks and commercial business lending,” said Michael Carrazza, who has been named Chairman of Siena. “Siena provides financing solutions for businesses with leverageable assets, while offering origination and servicing capabilities for participating banks. This provides community bank partners the ability to acquire high quality, variable rate, economically attractive loans without direct cost or increased SG&A. Moreover, the intensive loan monitoring required for ABL loans is managed by Siena’s team at institutional standards, which small banks cannot readily replicate.”

Siena has significant capacity to underwrite and service ABL loans held on balance sheet and will additionally service ABL loans held on the balance sheets of participating community banks. Loans that reside on a bank’s balance sheet may be originated by Siena or by the bank itself, directly or through Siena’s private label product. Siena has secured agreements with two regulated institutions prior to its launch and has witnessed overwhelming demand given the attractiveness of the business model and team’s historical performance.

Siena is managed by the former executive team of Burdale Capital Finance, Inc., the U.S. asset-based lending division of Bank of Ireland. BCF was led by David Grende, its president and CEO, who built a first rate team that underwrote over $2.5 billion in ABL loans with an outstanding performance record. As a result of the mandatory deleveraging of Irish banks by the International Monetary Fund, Bank of Ireland was required to divest of certain assets, which included BCF. BCF’s $1.2 billion U.S. portfolio was sold to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. in 2012; in connection with the transaction, Solaia Capital transitioned the core BCF team to Siena. Grende retains the position of President and CEO.

“I am thrilled to be leading Siena and believe there is tremendous opportunity to provide a solution for companies to maximize their potential for growth, profitability and success,” said Grende. “Our business model and capabilities are at the intersection of market need, while providing banks with an attractive option that never previously existed.” Grende is a veteran ABL executive and actively involved in the Commercial Finance Association as a member of its Executive Committee and Chairman of its Finance Committee.

Advisors to Solaia Capital on the transaction included Blank Rome LLP, KPMG LLP, and Robinson & Cole LLP.

Siena Lending Group is an independent commercial finance company offering asset based loans between $1 and $20 million to small and middle market businesses across the United States. Siena also offers a turn-key servicing platform, which provides an attractive asset based product for community and regional banks that desire improved operating metrics and asset diversification.

Solaia Capital Advisors is an investment management firm specializing in the investment, acquisition and recapitalization of middle-market businesses.