Lisa Rafter

1 month ago | abfjournal.com | Lisa Rafter

As economic turbulence intensifies in Q1/2025, asset-based lending (ABL) faces growing scrutiny over asset quality across sponsored and non-sponsored deals. Bank ABL providers, independent ABL firms, and private credit strategies deploying ABL facilities are grappling with deteriorating collateral values, rising borrower stress, and shifting risk profiles.

1 month ago | abfjournal.com | Lisa Rafter

In a surprising throwback to 2021, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell dusted off the word “transitory” during Wednesday’s post-meeting press conference, describing current inflationary pressures as potentially short-lived despite persistent headwinds. With the Fed holding its benchmark interest rate steady at 4.25% to 4.50%—a level not seen since 2007—the remark sparked immediate debate among economists and dealmakers alike.

1 month ago | abfjournal.com | Lisa Rafter

March 18, 2025 – The ABF Journal has launched Digital Pulse 2025, a new digital-only publication designed to connect the full spectrum of the middle market financing ecosystem. This isn’t just about debt or equity—it’s a panoramic view of dealmaking, uniting specialty finance companies, private credit funds, private equity sponsors, investment bankers, legal advisors, and turnaround professionals.

Jun 20, 2023 | monitordaily.com | Lisa Rafter |Rita Garwood |Ian Koplin