The Alta Group CEO John C. Deane will present at the ELFA-IMN Investors’ Conference on a panel providing an outlook on capital markets, current trends and market conditions, as well as a look back at significant M&A deals within the asset-finance industry in the past year.

The panel will address risks and opportunities in asset financing, business performance indicators, continuing competitive pressures, levels of mergers and acquisitions activity and transforming trends, including digital innovation, fintech and the rise of managed solutions transactions.

Stewart Hayes, senior vice president at Wells Fargo Capital Finance, is moderating the capital markets panel with Deane presenting along with Andrea Zana, co-president and chief risk officer of AmurEF; David D’Antonio, managing director at EverBank; Miles Herman, president of Leaf Commercial Capital; and Chuck Weilamann, managing director at DBRS.

“The M&A market in 2016 was very strong and valuations remained relatively high given the favorable interest rate climate, the lack of quality independent equipment financing companies available for sale and the opportunity for buyers to increase their market share,” Deane said. “We expect that these conditions will continue into 2017 given this positive business climate.”

Select deals to be noted include six corporate restructurings, four private equity investments in independent lessors and one acquisition of an independent expected to close in June.