Industry Related

The New Definition of Success: Evolving Vendor/Captive Finance for a Fintech Future

While fintech equipment finance is currently in stealth mode, The Alta Group expects efficient, well-designed fintechs to make their mark on the industry very soon. With the help of her colleagues, Patricia Voorhees explores what this will mean for vendor and captive finance companies.... read more

May/June 2018

ELFA/IMN Investors’ Conference: Equipment ABS Market ‘Strong at All Levels’

Presenters at the 17th Annual Investors’ Conference shared an optimistic outlook for the equipment finance industry, with ABS “strong at all levels,” M&A “very frothy” and 2018 business investment expected to be “very bullish.”... read more

May/June 2018

M&A Activity Continues Strong: Awaiting the Impact of New Developments

The Alta Group’s Bruce Kropschot and James Jackson examine the M&A market for independent equipment finance companies. Although another good year is expected, several factors could affect the market, including rising interest rates, stock market trends, tax reform legislation and accounting rule changes.... read more

March/April 2018

Blockbuster Deals: A Look at High Profile Independent Acquisitions

Over the last 12 months, several major independent equipment leasing companies have been acquired. Banks and private equity firms were some of the major acquirers, with People’s United Bank buying LEAF Commercial Capital and Solar Capital taking on Nations Equipment Finance. What has led to this spike in activity, and will it continue?... read more

September/October 2017

Seeing Clearly: 2017 Provides Improved Clarity for Equipment Finance Landscape

With more than half of 2017 in the books, Ralph Petta and Anthony Cracchiolo provide an update on the equipment finance industry from the ELFA’s perspective. They discuss struggling sectors and the 2016 election, improved performance in 2017 and what the association is working on and expecting in the next year.... read more

September/October 2017

Evolving with ‘Servitization’: The Days of Buying Equipment Are Numbered

Today’s customers want to enjoy the benefits of equipment use without the hassles of ownership. Equipment finance structures are evolving to keep up with this trend. Monitor examines three types of servitization and the way these new structures will affect the future of the industry.... read more

September/October 2017

Changing Dynamics: Industry Leaders Share Their Insights

Lisa Miller sits down with four executives, each representing a different corner of the equipment finance universe, to discuss the current state of the industry. They share their thoughts on 2017’s ability to live up to expectations, their outlook for the rest of the year and the myriad ways recent natural disasters will inevitably affect the industry.... read more

September/October 2017

Limited Benefit Method: An Alternative to the Multiple Investment Sinking Fund Yield

Ray James from Ivory Consulting provides an overview of the various methods used to measure lease tax benefits, including the alternate limited benefit method, which has become popular as focus has shifted to both leverage and lease accounting considerations.... read more

July/August 2017

Evolving With Customer Expectations: Banks Remain Predominant Players in Equipment Finance

Monitor catches up with three Bank 50 leaders to discuss how they achieved growth in 2016 and how this year is measuring up to expectations. They offer predictions of what is in store for the industry in the second half of 2017, asserting that banks will continue to dominate equipment finance.... read more

July/August 2017

The Next Big Trend: Equipment Finance is Ready for a Platform

In a Monitor Q&A, executives from five software companies — Michael Campbell from International Decision Systems, Simon Clark of Alfa, Farooq Ghauri of NetSol Technologies, Madhu Natarajan of Odessa Technologies and Jeff Van Slyke of LeaseTeam — discuss keeping up with the digital demands of today’s martketplace, including harnessing the power of Big Data and predictive analytics while utilizing the cloud. They outline how technology can help a company achieve intimacy with its customers and predict the next big technological trends for the industry.... read more

July/August 2017

Asset-Backed Securities: A Critical Tool in the Equipment Finance Market

Wells Fargo Securities’ Kevin Ryan provides an overview of the equipment-backed ABS market. Thanks to its performance history and value spread, equipment lenders will continue to have to access this market, which bodes well for the industry at large, especially independents, captives and large cap finance company subsidiaries.... read more

Monitor 100 2017

Sweet Relief for the Middle Market: Monroe Credit Advisors Navigate the Credit Markets

Although the economy has slowly recovered since the Great Recession, many traditional lenders are still wary of lending to the middle market. Monroe Credit Advisors’ Brent Krambeck and Linda Crothers discuss their team’s mission of pairing middle market companies with the lenders that will help them achieve their goals. While Monroe Credit initially focused on borrowers seeking debt capital solutions, the firm soon expanded the practice to include lease and capital equipment finance advisory and placement services.... read more

Monitor 100 2017

Caveat Emptor: Let the Buyer Beware

Despite the best underwriting efforts, the industry uncovers a new fraud among our ranks every few years. Dexter Van Dango ponders the NorVergence, Royal Links, Brican and MHT schemes and considers the ways competitiveness, ego or greed can influence the actions of decision makers in successful leasing companies.... read more

Monitor 100 2017

ELFA/IMN Investors’ Conference: ‘Things Are Good’ in Equipment Finance

The biggest takeaway from the 16th Annual Investors’ Conference was the feeling that the equipment finance market is poised for steady growth in 2017. With interest rate hikes on the horizon and conditions improving in the energy sector, new business volume is expected to rebound despite uncertainty surrounding public policy and trade.... read more

May/June 2017

Equipment Finance Evangelism: ELFA’s Efforts to Attract New Talent

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association developed several programs to attract new talent and strengthen ties with up-and-coming employees at member companies, all as part of an effort to combat what it calls a “graying of the industry.” ELFA President and CEO Ralph Petta, along with members Scott Thacker and Nathan Gibbons, discuss their experiences with the programs and what the results have been.... read more

January/February 2017