Asset Management 2011
January/February
For Asset Managers, 2011 Brings Both Challenges and Excitement
Clearing the Chasm
By Susan L. Hodges
With the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s Annual Equipment Management Conference happening in the not-so-distant future, the Monitor assembled a panel of five of the industry’s leading asset managers to gain their insight about topics ranging from sound industry practices to rebounding sectors. Here’s what they had to say…
2011 Outlook of What CFOs Expect
2011 Survey of What Finance Chiefs Expect
By Bank of America Business Capital's Team
How do top financial decision makers view the world economy and what is their outlook for revenue, financing, M&A activity and involvement in foreign markets, three years after the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression? To find out, Bank of America Business Capital turned to an independent research firm, surveying more than 800 CFOs representing U.S. manufacturing and services and commodities companies.
Equipment Finance Inc. Fraud
The Makings of Great Theatre
By Gerald F. Parrotto
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? When Equipment Finance was acquired by Sterling Financial in March 2002, the specialty lender was hailed as a “well managed company with exceptional profitability and sound credit quality.” What eventually developed was a drama fraught with deception and collusion that would lead to the collapse and subsequent sale of a $3.3 billion community bank six years later.
Assessing Credit & Risk
Business as Usual or a Brave New World?
By Lisa A. Miller
As the equipment financing industry emerges from the hard times of the past few years, credit managers see a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Assessing credit and weighing risk is more challenging than ever, but liquidity is returning to the marketplace, and new business originations are making a comeback. So, what happens now? Do we go back to business as usual, or is it a brave new world?
Attorneys Discuss Equipment Leasing, Financing and Litigation in 2011
Although There are Growth Opportunities for Equipment Leasing, Finding an Availability of Funds Will Remain a Challenge in 2011
By Monitor Staff
As 2011 brings a hopefully brighter outlook for the equipment leasing and financing sector, we asked a group of attorneys how they see the new year in terms of the state of the economy and its affect on litigation and bankruptcy as well as their predictions for the equipment leasing and financing industry as well as the banking industry. While there are signs for optimism after a number of hard years, our participants note that conservatism in lending, especially, will still reign.
Proposed UCC Article Amendments That Will Impact Equipment Financing
By Dan Lias
With Article 9 provisions changing and inconsistencies among the codes of various jurisdictions, maintaining a secure position can be a complex responsibility. Bottom line, secure positions are the lifeblood to an equipment lessor and an understanding of changing regulation is critical to success.
Proposed Lease Accounting Rules Will Change Our Business
Focus on IT/Office Equipment
By Bill Bosco
This is the first of a six-part series on how the proposed lease accounting rules will impact six major market segments in the leasing industry. This segment will focus on computers, IT, copiers and other office equipment. Future segments will cover vehicles, construction/materials handling, large-ticket transportation, medical and municipal leases. The special series will address both lessee and lessor impacts.
SunTrust Equipment Finance & Leasing
With Cautious Optimism Prevailing in the Industry, SunTrust Sees Client Service, Diversification as Ways to Continue Expansion
By Amanda L. Gutshall
Six months after taking over the reigns at SunTrust Equipment Finance & Leasing as president, Ken Turner is geared to expand the bank subsidiary by diversifying its balance sheet, optimizing the company’s business mix and growing its market share.
Risk Management for Salespeople
By Linda P. Kester
Since risk is a part of virtually every aspect of living, Linda Kester shares some advice from her friend Ted … rather than running from risk, learn to embrace it. From Kester’s perspective, the end result is frequently less important than what it takes to build up the courage to take unfamiliar actions.
Bankruptcy Plan Confirmation
Lessons Learned for Lenders From Philadelphia Newspapers
By Lesley Anne Hawes
The Third Circuit’s decision in the case In re Philadelphia Newspapers concurs with a similar holding in the case In re Pacific Lumber Co. in which the Fifth Circuit upheld an order confirming a plan proposing to transfer collateral securing claims of the secured lenders free and clear of liens, paying the secured lenders in cash the value of their undersecured claims, and precluding the lenders from credit bidding.
Defining a Security Interest?
Looking Outside the Comfortable Confines of Article 9
By Kenneth P. Weinberg
In Ken Weinberg’s estimation, Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code is an extremely thoughtful and thorough statute. But, he warns, it’s not the end all, be all of security interests, and it is therefore prudent to visit what is and what isn’t covered by Article 9’s broad scope.
