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Entourage Effect and Shield Compliance Join the ICLC

Blog Post

Having just celebrated its one year anniversary, and hard on the heels of recent announcements that First Citizens Bank and Safe Harbor Financial had joined the ICLC (see here and here), the ICLC is pleased to announce three additional new participants. One of these is a commercial bank. In accordance with our commitment to our bank participants, they are not identified outside the Community unless they specifically authorize it, as was the case with our First Citizens blog. 

The other 2 new participants, Entourage Effect Capital (EEC) and Shield Compliance, are each well-known and respected within the cannabis industry. Their participation will enhance the ICLC’s potential value to its participants, enriching the breadth and depth of relevant and accretive cannabis industry experience, skillsets, contacts and perspectives available to them. 

As contrasted with the proactive outreach involved in recruiting the ICLC’s early participants, contact with the ICLC was initiated by these and most of our other recently reported new participants, a development we find an encouraging reflection of the market’s recognition of the ICLC’s relevance. 

Established in 2014, and having made more than 70 investments, EEC is one of the longest standing and most experienced cannabis investment firms. Its team has developed a broad and deep network over the past ten years, and EEC has indicated that it looks forward to sharing contacts and related opportunities with ICLC participants. Multiple senior EEC team members come from decades-long careers in leveraged finance and their expertise has proven critical to EEC and its partners in navigating past debt financings. 

Since 2014, Shield Compliance has been seeking to transform how financial institutions serve the legal cannabis market, setting the standard for compliance excellence in cannabis banking. Its purpose-built BSA/AML compliance management software solution sits behind the financial institution to simplify compliance, automate processes across multiple data sources, create efficiencies, unlock new revenue, and scale operations and includes time monitoring and comprehensive reporting capabilities. By enhancing the ability of its nearly 70 financial institution clients to achieve these objectives, Shield contributes to increasing the availability to the cannabis industry of normalized banking relationships, including lending.

For information about ICLC participation, please contact Steve Lenn (salenn@bmdllc.com) or Brandon Pauley (btpauley@bmdllc.com).


The Secret to a Strong(er) Capital Stack

BMD attended the annual New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Conference held by Novogradac & Company LLP in New Orleans. The event spotlighted the NMTC program, which encourages private investment in low-income communities through a 39% tax credit over seven years. The complex NMTC structure requires collaboration among qualified businesses (QALICBs), community development entities (CDEs), and investors. With the Fund’s recent double allocation announcement, now is an ideal time for eligible businesses to explore NMTCs to enhance their capital stacks.

The Shadows Are on the Run: Global Icon Aon Adds Its Heft and Stature to the Legitimization of the Cannabis Industry

Aon, a global firm with 50,000 employees across 120 countries, has made a strategic move into the U.S. cannabis industry, joining a growing list of institutional players such as First Citizens Bank. This entry aligns with the efforts of the Institutional Cannabis Lending Community (ICLC), which has been driving deal flow and fostering best practices among financial institutions since its founding less than 18 months ago. Aon will co-host an exclusive event for the ICLC at the Benzinga Capital Conference in Chicago, where it will unveil a custom product suite designed for cannabis businesses and tap into the collective expertise of the ICLC's nearly 30 Participants, which include banks, lenders, and compliance experts.

Tips for Creditors Who Are Owed Money from Someone Who Has Filed for Bankruptcy

You have received a notice in the mail stating that a business or person who owes you money has filed for bankruptcy. Now what do you do? It is important to act quickly to determine your rights in the bankruptcy process and to protect them. You should review the particulars of the debt owed to you with your attorney, as well as the debtor’s bankruptcy filings. Here are some of the preliminary issues to consider in order to protect your rights as a creditor.

Get to Know BMD: Michael Sneeringer

In this installment of our "Get to Know BMD" series, Cleveland Member Michael Sneeringer shares his journey into law, driven by influential mentors and an interest in estate planning. Discover his passion for client interactions, his surprising domestic skills, and his dedication to attending his daughter's volleyball games.

BMD Vice President Amanda Waesch Shares the Secrets to Her Success

BMD Vice President and Healthcare Law Member, Amanda Waesch, recently shared the secrets to her success on the Driving Change Podcast. From managing a high-powered career to balancing family life and mentoring the next generation of lawyers, Amanda’s insights are a must-hear. Watch the full interview here!