Latest news with #Esqueda
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1st Commercial Credit Launches $20 Million Ledger Lines Program, Partners with Banks to Expand Working Capital Access
New revolving receivable-based facility fills critical lending gap for mid-market companies facing limited ABL and bank loan options AUSTIN, Texas, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --1st Commercial Credit, LLC, a national leader in accounts receivable financing, trade payable finance, and invoice factoring, announces the launch of its new Ledger Lines program—providing revolving credit facilities of up to $20 million, backed by receivables and tailored for high-growth businesses. With Ledger Lines, businesses generating at least $3 million in monthly invoices can access up to 90% of receivable value as working capital. The structure avoids traditional debt by documenting the facility as a continuing receivable purchase, providing fast and flexible funding without complex loan covenants. "Ledger Lines are designed for companies that are too big for traditional factoring but not well-served by bank lending or rigid ABL structures," said Raul Esqueda, President of 1st Commercial Credit. "By working in partnership with banks and advisors, we're helping companies replace high-cost debt and unlock working capital without disrupting their existing financial relationships." Key Benefits of the Ledger Lines Program: Credit lines from $3 million to $20 million Up to 90% advance on eligible receivables Funding in as little as 3 weeks No traditional debt added to the balance sheet Banks may subordinate receivables while maintaining existing term loans Optional credit insurance to reduce risk Available to industries such as manufacturing, staffing, transportation, security, and importers The company reports growing demand from investment bankers, restructuring advisors, and bank workout departments who are turning to 1st Commercial Credit to support clients with cash flow constraints, MCA obligations, or seasonal volatility. Ledger Lines enables a seamless transition from high-cost loans and unscalable ABL products to receivables-based funding that grows with the business. To qualify, companies must maintain up-to-date financials, demonstrate profitability, and have a Chief Financial Officer overseeing internal operations. A Deposit Account Control Agreement (DACA) is also required to control receivable proceeds. Solving the $3M–$10M ABL Gap With many traditional asset-based lenders pulling back due to rising defaults and low margins, businesses in the $3M–$10M range are often left with few viable financing options. According to Esqueda, the complexity and cost of underwriting ABL deals at this size often exceed the returns. "Ledger Lines provide a scalable alternative to ABL," said Esqueda. "We remove the bottlenecks of traditional credit underwriting and give clients a funding solution that adjusts with their receivable base—not their collateral mix." Backed by Technology and Trade Credit Protection Ledger Lines builds on 1st Commercial Credit's $6 billion funding milestone achieved in 2024, and its $200 million in receivables insurance coverage. The program is powered by the company's proprietary MyBizPad® platform, which automates funding requests, and real-time receivables tracking—ensuring operational efficiency and transparency for clients. Contact Information: 1st Commercial Credit, LLC6500 River Place Blvd, Building 7, Suite 250, Austin, TX 78730(800) About 1st Commercial Credit Founded in Austin, Texas, 1st Commercial Credit, LLC is a privately-owned factoring company, a leader in receivable-based financing, purchase order financing and trade payable finance. Serving businesses across the U.S. and select international markets, the firm specializes in non-debt capital solutions for manufacturing, staffing, transportation, and importing companies—empowering businesses to scale without traditional borrowing. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE 1st Commercial Credit, LLC Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
19-03-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Venomous 1-foot-long creature found lurking on road in Venezuela. It's a new species
Alongside a mountain road in northern Venezuela, a venomous creature tucked up its 1-foot-long body and hid under a rock to wait for nightfall. The lurking animal caught the attention of passing scientists — and for good reason. It turned out to be a new species. Researchers hiked into the Andes mountains of northwestern Venezuela several times in 2021 to search for reptiles, according to a study published March 14 in the peer-reviewed journal Academia Biology. During their surveys, the team found several unfamiliar-looking snakes. Intrigued, they took a closer look at the animals, tested their DNA and soon realized they'd discovered a new species: Tantilla palamala, or the open-winged centipede snake. Open-winged centipede snakes can reach over 13 inches in length, the study said. They have 'golden brown' eyes, yellow bellies and a 'well-defined black neckband.' Photos show the 'ashy brown' coloring of the new species. Like other centipede snakes, the new species is venomous but 'so far there are no reports of accidents, probably because it is a cryptic snake with a docile nature,' study co-author Luis Esqueda told McClatchy News via email. The new species is largely nocturnal, hides under rocks or logs, and has a specialized diet of centipedes, Esqueda said. The snakes were found in mountain forests along roads, near farms and other human-modified areas. Researchers said they named the new species 'palamala' after the Latin words for 'openly' and 'wing' because the scales on its snout meet at a wide angle and look 'similar to gull wings.' So far, open-winged centipede snakes have only been found at a few locations in the neighboring states of Trujillo and Mérida, the study said. These sites are in northwestern Venezuela and a roughly 350-mile drive southwest from Caracas, the capital city. The new species was identified by its scale pattern, coloring, genitalia and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 13% genetic divergence from other related snake species. The research team included Esqueda, Fernando Rojas-Runjaic, Claudio Correa, Juan Carlos Ortiz, Pablo Guerrero, Juan David Jiménez-Bolaños, Santos Bazó, Pablo Athenogoras Moreno-Pérez, Melanio Aguilar and Félix Urra.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Accused Texas cop killer returns to court after Dem judge freed him on bond in ‘slap in the face' move: expert
A Texas man accused of murdering a police officer in July 2024 is set to appear in court Tuesday for the first time since he was released on $1 million bond last week. Judge Hilary Unger of the 248th District Criminal Court in Texas, a Democrat, set the bond for Dremone Francis in November 2024 in direct opposition to prosecutors' request for a no-bond hold. Francis posted the bond amount and was released as of Feb. 26. "When I first found out about this, I was stunned, I was mortified, and then I got really, really angry because in my over 40 years of being involved in law enforcement and criminal justice, I have never, ever seen a defendant charged with capital murder of a police officer ever released on bond," Houston Crime Stoppers Director of Victim Services and Advocacy Andy Kahan told "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday morning. "This is a slap in the face to all law enforcement officers and to the public in general." Francis is charged with capital murder and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with the fatal shooting of Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Fernando Esqueda. He is one of two suspects, including Ronald "Ronnie" Palmer Jr., in Esqueda's killing. Palmer, whose bond has been set at $3 million, has not been released. Houston Police Union Slams 'Rogue' Judge For Letting Man Accused Of Killing Deputy Out On Bond: 'Disgraceful' Esqueda was shot and killed while conducting surveillance in an unmarked police car in July 2024. Read On The Fox News App Francis and Palmer are accused of shooting at the deputy's car so many times that it was riddled with bullet holes, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said at the time. Esqueda was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Texas Man Captured After Deputy's Ambush Shooting Death Following Little Caesars Attack: Sheriff "From our perspective, you do not release an individual who represents a public safety risk," Kahan said, adding later that Francis was on probation at the time of his arrest and had already violated those terms. Francis is the first capital murder suspect to post bond in two decades, as FOX 26 Houston first reported. Capital murder is the only crime in Texas in which a judge can deny bond for a defendant if they so choose. Houston Police Union Warns City Is 'Not Safe' As Murder Suspects Are Left 'Walking The Streets' "There are a lot of million-dollar bonds on capital murder cases, people just don't make them," Sam Cammack, Francis' attorney, told Fox 26. "And Mr. Francis' family made the bond for Mr. Francis. I think what a lot of people don't understand is that he's under 24-hour surveillance with GPS. He's under house arrest, he can't step out on his front porch." Kahan called the idea that defendants can't remove or tamper with ankle monitors "delusional." "If you're going to release somebody who's charged with capital murder of a police officer, that is a threat to public safety, and it shouldn't depend on how much money you have," Kahan said. "And even if the judge felt that she had to set a cash bond, she could have set an example by saying, 'You know, Mr. Francis, you are charged with capital murder. That means you're looking at one or two outcomes if you are convicted: life without parole or even the death penalty. Therefore, I'm going to set an astronomically high bond based on those factors." Democratic Mayor John Whitmire on Monday condemned Judge Unger's decision. "HPD and our officers risk their lives for our safety, yet violent offenders, including those charged with capital murder, are getting low bonds," the mayor said during a press conference. Fox News' Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this article source: Accused Texas cop killer returns to court after Dem judge freed him on bond in 'slap in the face' move: expert
Fox News
04-03-2025
- Fox News
Accused Texas cop killer returns to court after Dem judge freed him on bond in ‘slap in the face' move: expert
A Texas man accused of murdering a police officer in July 2024 is set to appear in court Tuesday for the first time since he was released on $1 million bond last week. Judge Hilary Unger of the 248th District Criminal Court in Texas, a Democrat, set the bond for Dremone Francis in November 2024 in direct opposition to prosecutors' request for a no-bond hold. Francis posted the bond amount and was released as of Feb. 26. "When I first found out about this, I was stunned, I was mortified, and then I got really, really angry because in my over 40 years of being involved in law enforcement and criminal justice, I have never, ever seen a defendant charged with capital murder of a police officer ever released on bond," Houston Crime Stoppers Director of Victim Services and Advocacy Andy Kahan told "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday morning. "This is a slap in the face to all law enforcement officers and to the public in general." Francis is charged with capital murder and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with the fatal shooting of Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Fernando Esqueda. He is one of two suspects, including Ronald "Ronnie" Palmer Jr., in Esqueda's killing. Palmer, whose bond has been set at $3 million, has not been released. Esqueda was shot and killed while conducting surveillance in an unmarked police car in July 2024. Francis and Palmer are accused of shooting at the deputy's car so many times that it was riddled with bullet holes, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said at the time. Esqueda was pronounced dead at a local hospital. "From our perspective, you do not release an individual who represents a public safety risk," Kahan said, adding later that Francis was on probation at the time of his arrest and had already violated those terms. "This just sends a terrible message to everyone, and especially for law enforcement officers." Francis is the first capital murder suspect to post bond in two decades, as FOX 26 Houston first reported. Capital murder is the only crime in Texas in which a judge can deny bond for a defendant if they so choose. "There are a lot of million-dollar bonds on capital murder cases, people just don't make them," Sam Cammack, Francis' attorney, told FOX 26. "And Mr. Francis' family made the bond for Mr. Francis. I think what a lot of people don't understand is that he's under 24-hour surveillance with GPS. He's under house arrest, he can't step out on his front porch." Kahan called the idea that defendants can't remove or tamper with ankle monitors "delusional." "If you're going to release somebody who's charged with capital murder of a police officer, that is a threat to public safety, and it shouldn't depend on how much money you have," Kahan said. "And even if the judge felt that she had to set a cash bond, she could have set an example by saying, 'You know, Mr. Francis, you are charged with capital murder. That means you're looking at one or two outcomes if you are convicted: life without parole or even the death penalty. Therefore, I'm going to set an astronomically high bond based on those factors." Democratic Mayor John Whitmire on Monday condemned Judge Unger's decision. "HPD and our officers risk their lives for our safety, yet violent offenders, including those charged with capital murder, are getting low bonds," the mayor said during a press conference.
