Mr. Rick Rockhold of Empire reports

EMPIRE ASSET FINANCE LAUNCHES WITH $100 MILLION BACKING FROM ARENA INVESTORS TO DELIVER CAPITAL-EFFICIENT, TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN EQUIPMENT FINANCING SOLUTIONS

The Westaim Corp. has noted Empire Asset Finance LLC, a new subsidiary of Arena Investors LP, a $4.6-billion global multistrategy investment firm, has launched a financing model built on the principle that lending is not a zero-sum game.

Arena has committed $100-million to expand Empire into a leading equipment finance platform. Empire provides non-investment-grade middle market companies with flexible equipment financing unavailable from traditional capital providers. The firm specializes in capital leases, operating leases and loans, with a focus on the mid- to large-ticket segment of the $1.3-trillion annual U.S. equipment finance market.

Empire is led by chief executive officer Rick Rockhold and chief operating officer/chief credit officer Mike Miroshnikov, seasoned equipment finance executives with a combined 60 years of industry experience.

Unlike traditional bank structures such as term loans or asset-based lending revolvers which often require blanket liens and provide limited advances against equipment, Empire's solutions deliver advance rates of up to 100 per cent for new equipment and competitive advance rates for used or sale-leaseback equipment. Targeting deals of $3-million to $50 million, Empire operates in a segment that finances critical, revenue-generating assets for U.S. and Canadian middle market companies.

By financing assets against productive value rather than underwriting solely on rigid formulaic covenants, Empire enables these businesses to expand while preserving liquidity from their traditional bank facilities. The firm also addresses an industry culture reliant on outdated workflows that slow decisions, frustrate customers and employees, and produce uncertain outcomes.

Empire will work directly with end-users through its sales team, ensuring a robust origination channel. To maximize reach, Empire will also source deals indirectly from peer group lenders and lessors through its capital market team.

"Since its founding, Arena has provided creative and flexible solutions for those seeking capital but who cannot be served by conventional institutions," said Vivek Nayar, managing director of Arena. "Empire carries that spirit forward, bringing Arena's resources to the equipment finance space and doing so with a philosophy that creates value for everyone involved."

"As Arena's newest investment platform, Empire brings the resources, agility and service to deliver equipment financing that fuels the capex needs of middle market companies," said Mr. Rockhold. "For too long, mid- to large-ticket clients have been stuck with a 50-year-old lending model. By pairing advanced technology with direct private credit, we're changing that dynamic, delivering faster, more efficient and more transparent solutions that actually match the pace of our clients' businesses."