CMBS loan liquidation volume rose back above $1 billion after lower summertime totals in July and August. In total, $1.02 billion across 70 loans were liquidated with losses in September. The majority of the increase can be attributed to the jump in average loan size to $14.56 million, up from $11.48 and $9.44 million in August and July respectively. Seven loans totaling $55.67 million took 100%+ losses, three of which were relatively small B notes. 1604 Broadway, a $25.70 million retail...

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DS-Concept Factoring, a global commercial finance company specializing in international non-recourse factoring, has provided a $1 million export accounts receivable facility to a components manufacturer in Germany. The client, a manufacturer of machinery components for power plants and energy suppliers, anticipates an annual factored volume of $10MM-$12MM. With this new export factoring facility in place, the client will continue to focus on their growing exports within the European Union. The DS-Concept Group maintains a network of offices and affiliates all over the world, including...

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The IIE-AIFS Foundation Generation Study Abroad Enrichment Grants Program recognizes U.S. secondary-level teachers who have shown to be outstanding advocates for study abroad. The program is a professional development opportunity for teachers who have taken the Generation Study Abroad pledge to prepare their students for global citizenship and study abroad. Fifty enrichment grants of $1,000 each are available to teachers to conduct any learning activity in the United States or abroad that enhances their international outlook and global experience. About...

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Those of us who believe in freedom and free markets must defend Brussels from the Euroskeptic onslaught. If the number of tasteless analogies is any indication, few things make for targets of conservatives’ disdain like the European Union. In a speech to the European Parliament in 2009, Vaclav Klaus, then the climate-change-denying president of the Czech Republic, celebrated in free market circles for the radical economic reforms he put in place in the early 1990s, comparedthe EU to the Soviet empire....

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Granito is proud to announce the newest additions to the racing fleet of Dream Racing on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Porsche 911 GT Race Car now stands beside the rest of the fleet, some of which can be seen below. In addition, the actual 750 hp Caterham CT01 F1 car driven by Heikki Kovalainen in 2012 is on display in the simulator room. Granito compliments Dream Racing for the new car racing experiences now available on the track and its continuation of 3D-simulator...

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. State Department have announced significant changes to make it possible for eligible employer-sponsored foreign nationals to file applications for adjustment of status to permanent residence before an immigrant visa number becomes available. The new changes establish a separate priority date list for the filing of adjustment of status applications, as well as a separate list for when adjustment cases can be approved. In October 2015, for example, USCIS will accept adjustment of status applications from Indian...

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit created a federal appellate split today when it revived a Dodd-Frank Act retaliation claim by an ex-finance director, who was responsible for the company’s financial reporting and compliance with accounting standards. The court held that he was protected even though he only raised claims of accounting fraud internally with his employer, but did not report them to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or the Commission) before he was terminated.  The...

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After an off-season dominated by accusations, suspensions, name-calling, and courtroom drama, the NFL finally gave football fans what they wanted when the Patriots hosted the Steelers on opening night. The game was not without something for the conspiracy theorists: Steelers coach Mike Tomlin complained that the Pats' radio broadcast was coming through his headset throughout the first half. After an off-month low-lighted by a spike in volatility, sizable stock market losses, hand-wringing, and teeth-gnashing, the financial markets finally gave investors...

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On September 9, 2015, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services announced important changes impacting certain individuals in the permanent residence (“green card”) process. This change will allow some individuals to file the last step of the green card process, the application for adjustment of status, even if their priority date is not current. The DOS has been moving steadily towards reforming its process for calculating immigrant visa (“green card”) availability. In July 2015,...

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