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?... read more

January/February 2011

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.... read more

January/February 2011

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.... read more

January/February 2011

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…... read more

January/February 2011

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.... read more

January/February 2011

When it comes to co-borrowers and co-lessees, attorney Ken Weinberg returns to remind us that even if you call a duck a monkey, it’s still a duck. As such, lenders and lessors should proceed with caution when using these structures to avoid the potential for sticky situations down the road. ... read more

November/December 2010

In the world of second lien lending and seller “carry back” financing, it is not uncommon for the lenders to enter into subordination agreements whereby the second lien subordinates its lien and its right to collect payments or money to the first lien. Onerous standstill provisions in subordination agreements are less common but also not unusual in subordination agreements. ... read more

November/December 2010

Discouraged by some of the negative connotations associated with being a leasing professional? Linda Kester ends the year with three simple steps on how to rekindle your love affair with leasing. After all, Kester contends, when you fall in love with what you’re selling, you can become much more than a sales rep — you become a force for good.... read more

November/December 2010

The equipment finance industry took notice when industry veterans Phil Carlson and Tom Fanelli announced the formation of Nations Equipment Finance only weeks ago. What compels the two to create a new venture once again? Maybe it’s something like the thrill of the launch and, of course, to seize some big opportunities.... read more

November/December 2010

To wrap up the year, the Monitor asked Fountain Partners’ founder Tom Carter to share both the genesis and the intricacies of the San Francisco-based funding source’s Instant Proposal Service. For Carter and his team, it’s all about giving brokers and lessees what they’ve always wanted…... read more

November/December 2010

What do an ancient Greek philosopher, a philosopher from the Italian Renaissance, a nineteenth century English novelist and a contemporary American business writer have in common? For Dexter Van Dango, they all make the same point: Change or die!... read more

November/December 2010

The year of 2009 turned out to be one of the toughest years the corporate aviation industry had ever experienced. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reported that only 870 new business jets were delivered that year, a drop of 33.7%. Expressed in dollar terms, total sales were $19 billion, down $3 billion (14%) from 2008’s record year. 
Are better times ahead?... read more

November/December 2010

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November/December 2010

Businesses are built upon integrity, reputation and the ability to provide value to their customers and other business partners. As such, business ethics are of paramount importance. Having strong ethics does not mean that individuals won’t make mistakes. However, strong business ethics can be measured best by how individuals react to difficult situations... read more

October 2010

With the upcoming midterm congressional elections only days away, AED’s Christian Klein examines how changes within government could affect legislation for the equipment industry. Here, he looks to three areas: roads and bridges, water infrastructure and tax incentives for equipment purchases to see if any changes could bring a ray of sunlight into our cloudy future.... read more

October 2010