New Finance Firm for Smaller Borrowers

SAN DIEGO—Metis Commercial Finance, a specialized commercial finance company that provides loans to lower middle market companies, is now official formed. Metis offers smaller borrowers a unique palette of financing structures including asset-based revolving lines of credit, term loans based on cash flow and other assets, and unitranche debt with credit facilities ranging from $1 million to $20 million

Metis is led by CEO James Irwin, the founder of Meridian Healthcare Finance and MC Healthcare Finance, and EVP—chief credit officer Dan O'Rourke, a founder of several specialized asset-based lending firms including Salus Capital Partners and NewAlliance Commercial Finance. Metis's senior management team averages in excess of 20 years of experience and includes Bob Seidenberger, managing director of sales and marketing, Mike Pestrak, SVP of underwriting, and Sarah Larson, senior director of operations.

“Many lenders lack specialized industry knowledge and are facing an increasing regulatory burden, which forces many commercial borrowers in need of operating and expansion capital to rely upon commercial finance companies with limited product offerings,” says Irwin. “We have designed and built Metis from the ground up to provide a 'big ticket' product suite to borrowers who have thus far had very limited financing options. We bring industry expertise, including healthcare and retail lending, that generalist lenders lack.  In addition to the right product suite and the right team a successful lender must have the right investor, which we are fortunate to have with Garrison Investment Group.”

O'Rourke adds that “Our entrepreneurial roots allow us to understand the needs of small to medium size borrowers that are not receiving an adequate level of expertise and service from their existing lenders. For example, we have bi-coastal operations and can provide superior customer service from all time zones. We look forward to serving our customers in a variety of industries, with a full suite of lending products and flexible structures, combined with a national platform. This includes offering servicing expertise and investment capital to partner banks and financial institutions.”
John Bunting, managing director of Garrison Investment Group, says, “We believe that the next three to five years will provide a tremendous opportunity to build an agile, full service specialized finance company with a broad product suite staffed by a team of industry veterans. Importantly, our investment in Metis provides a valuable and complementary addition to our portfolio of lending platforms.”