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Bladex Leads US$86 Million Syndicated Loan to Support Grupo Monge’s Business

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PANAMA CITY, Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. – Bladex (NYSE: BLX) announced the successful closing of an institution-led US$86 million syndicated loan to strengthen Grupo Monge’s business and extend its maturity profile. The transaction is the third syndicated loan managed by Bladex for Grupo Monge, which was oversubscribed 70% above the original amount, consolidating a long-term strategic relationship of trust and confidence between the two organizations and the participating financial institutions.

Grupo Monge, with more than 50 years of experience in Central America, is one of the leading retailers of durable goods and consumer finance, operating 664 stores in five countries: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. The company is known for its focus on financial inclusion, facilitating access to durable goods, particularly for the unbanked and low-income sectors.

The syndicated loan, structured and led by Bladex, included participation from prominent banks in the region, reinforcing the Bank’s ability to bring together strategic allies to finance its customers’ growth. The transaction underscores Bladex’s commitment to economic development in Latin America by facilitating access to credit for companies seeking to expand in emerging markets.

These resources will allow the Group to deepen its strategy of financing micro-loans to individuals and small businesses, support the financial inclusion of customers in the informal sector of the economy, and diversify its sources of funding by bringing new counterparties and/or banking relationships to the Group.

“We are proud to have led this transaction for Grupo Monge, providing it with the necessary resources to expand in the Central American region. This syndicated loan not only supports the growth of an emblematic company in the region, but also underscores our purpose to be a bridge to promote the economic development of Latin America,” said Warren Bonilla, Senior Vice President for Central America and the Caribbean. “This transaction is a testament to Bladex’s commitment to accompany our customers at every stage of their growth.”

For Franco Naranjo, CFO of Grupo Monge, “with this credit facility, we are expanding our ability to promote the development of more individuals and families from the unbanked and low-income sectors, both in urban and rural areas, by providing financing opportunities for the purchase of durable goods such as motorcycles, electronics, white goods and other essential items.

It is important to note that part of the funds will be allocated to Financiera Monge in Costa Rica to continue its consolidation and expansion process.

We are grateful for the trust and support of Bladex and the participating institutions, as this funding is essential to reach more people and improve their lives.”

By leading this operation, Bladex reinforces its role as a facilitator of growth and development in Latin America, promoting projects that contribute to the economic well-being of the region. The Bank’s ability to structure syndicated loans demonstrates its commitment to creating opportunities and promoting inclusive and sustainable growth.

Bladex is a multinational bank, originally created by the Central Banks of Latin America and the Caribbean, which began operations in 1979 with the aim of promoting foreign trade and economic integration in the region. Headquartered in Panama, the Bank has offices in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and the United States of America, in addition to its representative license in Peru, to promote regional development and expand its customer base, which includes financial institutions and corporations.

Bladex has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: BLX) since 1992 and its shareholders include Central Banks, banks and government entities from 23 Latin American countries, as well as financial institutions, institutional investors and individuals.

CONTACT:
Warren Bonilla B. – Head of Central America and the Caribbean
E-mail address:  wbonilla@bladex.com
Tel: +507 210-8500
Head Office Address:  Torre V, Business Park, Ave. La Rotonda, Urb. Costa del Este, Panama, Republic of Panama
www.bladex.com 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bladex-leads-us86-million-syndicated-loan-to-support-grupo-monges-business-302299191.html

SOURCE Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (Bladex)

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XLCS Partners advises Concurrent Utility Services on sale to UniTek Global Services

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19 minutes ago

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July 23, 2026

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NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce that it served as exclusive M&A advisor to Concurrent Utility Services LLC on its acquisition by UniTek Global Services, Inc., a portfolio company of New Mountain Finance Corporation (Nasdaq: NMFC) and its affiliates, and BTG Pactual Strategic Capital.

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Concurrent is a licensed general and electrical contractor providing infrastructure development and maintenance services to electric utilities, telecom providers, and land developers throughout the Southeast United States. The company’s capabilities span overhead and underground utility construction, professional telecom services, emergency service restoration, in-building networks, environmental services, and data center development. Backed by a safety-first culture and an experienced workforce, Concurrent has built a strong regional platform and a reputation for quality across the markets it serves.

UniTek is a leading digital infrastructure services provider supporting the expansion of fiber and data center connectivity across the U.S. and Canada. With over 600 employees and 60 locations, UniTek delivers a full suite of infrastructure services. The acquisition of Concurrent accelerates UniTek’s Power Services Division, which launched in July 2025 to broaden the company’s maintenance, repair, upgrade, and new infrastructure development services for the power sector. Concurrent’s established Southeast footprint and power capabilities directly complement UniTek’s existing broadband and data center infrastructure platform, positioning the combined company to capitalize on growing demand for resilient, modernized power infrastructure. Concurrent will continue to operate under its established brand, maintaining uninterrupted service for its customers.

“Selling Concurrent was one of the biggest decisions of my career, and Anthony, Jay, and the XLCS team guided us through every step with professionalism and genuine care for our people,” said Steve Sarno, CEO of Concurrent. “They stayed fully engaged throughout, gave us honest and thoughtful advice, kept our best interests front and center, and delivered an outcome that exceeded our expectations. I would recommend them without hesitation to any owner considering a transaction.”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to Concurrent, and the transaction was led by Anthony Contaldo, Partner, and Jay Cremer, Vice President. The transaction was completed on July 1, 2026.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.

XLCS Partners is a leading global investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services. Visit www.xlcspartners.com for more information.

Media Contact: 
Kendra Span 
kspan@xlcspartners.com
615-379-7783

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xlcs-partners-advises-concurrent-utility-services-on-sale-to-unitek-global-services-302833542.html

SOURCE XLCS Partners, Inc.

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XLCS Partners advises Concurrent Utility Services on sale to UniTek Global Services

Published

19 minutes ago

on

July 23, 2026

By

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce that it served as exclusive M&A advisor to Concurrent Utility Services LLC on its acquisition by UniTek Global Services, Inc., a portfolio company of New Mountain Finance Corporation (Nasdaq: NMFC) and its affiliates, and BTG Pactual Strategic Capital.

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Concurrent is a licensed general and electrical contractor providing infrastructure development and maintenance services to electric utilities, telecom providers, and land developers throughout the Southeast United States. The company’s capabilities span overhead and underground utility construction, professional telecom services, emergency service restoration, in-building networks, environmental services, and data center development. Backed by a safety-first culture and an experienced workforce, Concurrent has built a strong regional platform and a reputation for quality across the markets it serves.

UniTek is a leading digital infrastructure services provider supporting the expansion of fiber and data center connectivity across the U.S. and Canada. With over 600 employees and 60 locations, UniTek delivers a full suite of infrastructure services. The acquisition of Concurrent accelerates UniTek’s Power Services Division, which launched in July 2025 to broaden the company’s maintenance, repair, upgrade, and new infrastructure development services for the power sector. Concurrent’s established Southeast footprint and power capabilities directly complement UniTek’s existing broadband and data center infrastructure platform, positioning the combined company to capitalize on growing demand for resilient, modernized power infrastructure. Concurrent will continue to operate under its established brand, maintaining uninterrupted service for its customers.

“Selling Concurrent was one of the biggest decisions of my career, and Anthony, Jay, and the XLCS team guided us through every step with professionalism and genuine care for our people,” said Steve Sarno, CEO of Concurrent. “They stayed fully engaged throughout, gave us honest and thoughtful advice, kept our best interests front and center, and delivered an outcome that exceeded our expectations. I would recommend them without hesitation to any owner considering a transaction.”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to Concurrent, and the transaction was led by Anthony Contaldo, Partner, and Jay Cremer, Vice President. The transaction was completed on July 1, 2026.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.

XLCS Partners is a leading global investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services. Visit www.xlcspartners.com for more information.

Media Contact: 
Kendra Span 
kspan@xlcspartners.com
615-379-7783

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xlcs-partners-advises-concurrent-utility-services-on-sale-to-unitek-global-services-302833542.html

SOURCE XLCS Partners, Inc.

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Fathom Applauds Introduction of the FRONTIER Act, the First Federal Blueprint for Independent AI Verification

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19 minutes ago

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July 23, 2026

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Reps. Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) introduce a bill to build a competitive marketplace of independent verifiers for frontier AI models.

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fathom welcomes the introduction of the FRONTIER Act, the most complete federal framework yet for independent, third-party verification of frontier AI. The legislation is built to earn public trust as AI technology continues to accelerate. As frontier systems begin to take autonomous action in the world, the gap between what these models can do and our ability to keep them in check is widening. FRONTIER is the starting point to close that gap.

“AI governance keeps running into the same wall. The technology is hard to measure and it moves faster than any law can keep up with,” said Andrew Freedman, Co-Founder and CEO of Fathom. “Trying to write the perfect rules and freezing them in place won’t work. What will work is a competitive market of independent verifiers who are accountable for real-world outcomes and who the government can actually count on. The FRONTIER Act shows we can move fast and still get this right.”

The bill gets the fundamentals correct. It sets one public standard – the adequate mitigation of catastrophic risk – and holds both the AI companies and their independent verifiers accountable to it. FRONTIER does not freeze a single testing method into statute. Instead, it licenses competing verification organizations, allows them to sharpen their methods, and gives the government the power to revoke a license when a verifier’s work does not hold up in the field. That is how you build a system that keeps pace with the science instead of falling behind it.

Fathom thanks Reps. Trahan and Obernolte for their leadership, and for their courage in releasing a discussion draft, inviting scrutiny, and incorporating substantive improvements from across the field. One priority improvement as the bill advances: giving the government a fuller range of tools to act upstream – for pushing companies to close identified gaps in risk mitigation early, rather than only once a catastrophe is imminent. We are committed to working with these sponsors, committees of jurisdiction, and Congressional leadership to continue refining the bill in the weeks and months ahead.

About Fathom
Fathom is an independent nonprofit whose mission is to build a governance architecture that helps society navigate the transition to a world with AI by fostering trust, safety, and innovation. Fathom has developed and championed the independent verification model for AI and works with policymakers across the country to put it into practice. Learn more at http://fathom.org.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fathom-applauds-introduction-of-the-frontier-act-the-first-federal-blueprint-for-independent-ai-verification-302833546.html

SOURCE Fathom AI Inc.

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