Prior to 2017, the largest number of retail stores to close in any given year occurred during the financial crisis in 2008. That changed in 2017, the first year of the oft described “retail apocalypse”, and new records have been set in every subsequent year but for 2018, which fell just shy of 2008’s number. Indeed, so many stores closed in 2019 that many industry experts didn’t believe 2020 would be able to surpass that high-water mark. But, with the help of COVID-19, 2020 set another record with over 11,000 closures.

January 18, 2021 – The seasonally adjusted annualized rate of sales (SAAR) for lightduty vehicles topped 16 million vehicles in December for the third month since April, when the industry slumped to a 50-year low. For the full year, light-duty vehicle sales totalled 14.6 million, a decrease of 14% from 2019.

There was a time, not so long ago, when tangible assets comprised the vast majority of a company’s total value. A business’ equipment, real estate and other holdings were indeed its strongest suits in securing access to working capital and ensuring liquidity. While this remains the case today for most small- and medium-sized companies, we find that among large corporations, intangible assets including intellectual property (IP) now hold the lion’s share of value.

This past fall, Stanford University economists Robert B. Wilson and Paul R. Milgrom were awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize for Economics based upon their contributions for improvements to auction theory and inventions of new auction formats. According to the prize committee, “Their discoveries have benefitted sellers, buyers and taxpayers around the world.” Impressively, each began their efforts in fundamental theory, and were able to advance their work to a level of real world application.

In this article we look at the continued struggles of the seafood industry in foodservice and how some companies which have the capability, have pivoted quickly to meet unprecedented levels of retail demand. We also look at the complex landscape asset-based lenders must navigate to best support their seafood portfolio companies and limit their own downside risk during this crisis period.