The U.S. restaurant industry is beginning to sizzle, according to the 23rd edition of the Chain Restaurant Industry Review, which was released Tuesday at the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona by GE Capital, Franchise Finance (GEFF). According to the company’s findings, merger and acquisition activity increased to $3.9 billion from $3.7 billion, and the total volume of syndicated leveraged loans in the restaurant space increased almost 21 percent last year.

GE Capital, a Norwalk, Conn.-based finance group that provides asset-based, cash flow and structured loans and leases to mid-size and large U.S. businesses, served as the administrative agent on a $200 million credit facility secured by Waupaca Foundry, a Waupaca, Wi.-based iron foundry company. The monies are being used to support a dividend recapitalization.

Jeffrey Kolke has joined Monroe Capital as an MD in the firm’s Chicago office. Most recently, Kolke was a SVP at GE Capital.

Sterling Investment Partners has closed the acquisition of Service Logic through the acquisition of MSHC. Service Logic is a US provider of preventive and predictive maintenance services and related energy sustainability services for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Credit Suisse’s Customized Fund Investment Group co-invested with Sterling, GE Capital led the senior credit facility and Babson Capital and PNC Erieview Capital provided subordinated debt for the transaction.

GE Capital today announced it is serving as administrative agent on a $150 million senior secured credit facility to support the combination of retailing operations of golf good stores Golf Town and Golfsmith which now become Golfsmith International and will operate a combined 151 retail locations across the U.S. and Canada, along with an e-commerce [...]

Amalgamated Capital has tapped Mary D’Souza to be its business development officer. She will report to Robert Love, who directs the AmalCap division. D’Souza was an MD with GE Capital in New York. PRESS RELEASE Amalgamated Capital (AmalCap), the New York-based leveraged finance and asset-based lending division of Amalgamated Bank, has appointed Mary D’Souza as [...]

GE Antares, a unit of GE Capital, said Monday it is providing a $400 million credit facility that is part of Wind Point Partners recap of Hearthside Food Solutions. Proceeds of the $400 million loan will be used to refinance debt and pay a dividend, according to Thomson Reuters Loan Pricing Corp. Wing Point acquired [...]

GE Antares, a unit of GE Capital, said it served as administration agent on a $555 million loan for TricorBraun. The loan will serve to to refinance TricorBraun’s outstanding debt and make a distribution to shareholders of affiliates via dividends and stock repurchases, the statement said. GE Capital Markets served as joint lead arranger and [...]

The Talbots Inc., the listed retail store, has entered into a $75 million secured term loan with Wells Fargo Bank and amended its $200 million secured revolver with GE Capital. The new loan will mature in February 2017. PRESS RELEASE: Talbots Announces New $75 Million Secured Term Loan and Amendment of $200 Million Secured Revolving [...]

GE Antares, a unit of GE Capital, announced Thursday that it had served as administrative agent on a $142 million senior credit facility to support the acquisition of ThermaSys by Wellspring Capital Management. GE Capital Markets served as sole lead arranger and bookrunner on the deal. PRESS RELEASE GE Antares, a unit of GE Capital, [...]