It’s not the size of the fist, but its placement and impact that matter. In competitive boxing, strong impact can be generated by anyone. Success depends less upon stature than speed and resilience—characteristics well-applied to the U.S. middle market.
This economic powerhouse defies the odds and punches well above its weight. A force of roughly 200,000 plus that, with a steady staccato of jabs and fortitude, provides nearly $6.2 trillion to our country’s economy (according to the inaugural Middle Market Power Index from American Express [NYSE: AXP] and Dun & Bradstreet [NYSE: DNB]).
While big business with its golden swagger often dominates the front pages of news publications and television interviews, middle-market companies, the blood and substance, the virtual everyman of the U.S. economy, is vastly underrepresented in economic discussions. Very often this means that many of their day-to-day challenges, such as the cost of doing business, maintaining of profit margins and establishing exit options, are not being addressed.
Very often these same challenges prevent midmarket companies from capitalizing on growth opportunities. Unable to secure support by way of capital funding from banks or lenders, innovative middle-market businesses are often at a deadlock, trapped on a treadmill of limited growth and finite potential. How can a business grow without having access to capital? One solution often overlooked is subordinated debt, also referred to as a mezzanine loan. Mezzanine funding is specially designed for companies without a lot of tangible equity.
Wedged between private equity and bank funding, mezzanine debt is generally easier and faster to secure than traditional bank loans and requires no personal guarantee. With new ways to access capital, hopefully we can sit back and watch the middle market spring back off the ropes and counterpunch to victory. To learn more about U.S. middle-market business challenges and funding solutions that help companies grow, please call 631-689-5713.