On the Institutional Sales and Trading side of our business, we are often approached by banking institutions wishing to reduce exposure in certain illiquid positions. Many times these banking institutions are original lenders and wish to be discrete in their sales efforts. This process generally starts with us entering into a confidentiality agreement whereby the banking institution provides us with the underlying confidential information (e.g. credit agreement, financials, budgets, inter-creditor agreement, etc.).

We then assign one of our highly experienced desk analysts to gain an understanding of the specific credit and determine an estimated relative market value together with the seller. Simultaneously, our highly experienced settlements professionals review the underlying credit governing documentation to determine the specifics of the settlements process as well as specifics regarding minimum assignment denominations and criteria for eligible assignees.

Once these processes are complete, we meet with our Institutional Sales and Trading professionals to discuss the sales process and identify the most logical buyers of the respective loan. Our highly experienced Institutional Sales and Trading professionals have significant relationships with many traditional, non-traditional, and strategic purchasers, covering approximately 1,000 institutional investors. Our marketing efforts generally include entering into a parallel confidentiality agreement with our prospective purchasers, under which we are able to provide the purchaser with our analysis as well as the underlying credit information. We provide our traditional banking clients with liquidity on a very discrete basis.

Through our Investment Banking Group, banking clients are shown a wide range of financing opportunities, including senior secured asset-based financings, cash flow and enterprise value based structures and acquisition financings. Through an extensive network of corporate, private equity and institutional investor relationships, Imperial Capital is engaged to raise senior and subordinated financing for numerous clients in a wide range of industries. In addition, our investment banking group can assist our banking clients looking to refinance or exit positions or advise them in a restructuring situation.