Preferred Capital, LLC

When the bank says no "When banks tighten up, our business gets better," said Rocco Perate, chief executive officer of small-business-lender Preferred Capital L.L.C., which lent $25 million last year to firms that could not get cheaper bank loans.  Investors in Preferred, of Wilmington, and its predecessors "about doubled their money" when they cashed out last year, four years after investing $1.5 million, said Michael Foreman of FB Capital, one of the investors.  Perate said investors also included lawyers Steve Cozen, Patrick O'Connor and Michael Heller of the Cozen & O'Connor law firm, and Ira Lubert of Independence Capital. "It was a great investment for all involved," said Heller, "and it was also great for Rocco Perate, who now has a bigger company."