The Resilience of RESIDCO: Mastering the Long Game in Asset Management

For RESIDCO, entering the Top 30 Private Independents ranking is a milestone built on decades of disciplined specialization since being founded by Vince Kolber, chairman, in 1982.

While many firms chase volume, RESIDCO, currently led by Michael Yovkovich, president and Glenn Davis, CEO, has maintained a steadfast focus on complex, large-ticket transportation assets. This “boutique” approach allows the firm to navigate market cycles that often sideline less experienced players.

“We’re an asset management company that happens to do a lot of leasing. Our focus isn’t just on the transaction today, but on where that asset will be in 10 or 15 years. If you don’t understand the metal and the secondary markets, you aren’t really in the equipment finance business.”

The firm’s longevity is rooted in its dual identity as a lessor and an asset management powerhouse. Unlike competitors that rely on third-party valuations, RESIDCO’s team performs its own deep-dive technical analysis on every piece of equipment. The team includes technical experts who monitor maintenance programs, engine types and global demand for these assets in real time. This expertise is critical in RESIDCO’s core sectors — rail and aviation — where the equipment’s useful life can span decades and its value is heavily influenced by regulatory changes and technological advancements.

In a shifting economic landscape, RESIDCO’s independent status provides a level of agility that bank-owned competitors struggle to match. Free from the rigid credit committees and “cross-sell” pressures of large financial institutions, RESIDCO can structure creative, tailor-made solutions for its clients. This independence is reflected in its origination strategy, which balances direct relationships with a robust capital markets presence to ensure a steady flow even in volatile climates. 

Crucial to this stability is the remarkable tenure of the RESIDCO team; Yovkovich notes that the company experiences incredibly low turnover, with many senior leaders and staff members having been with the firm for 10 to 20 years.

Yovkovich adds that being privately held allows the firm to take a longer-term view: “We don’t have to worry about hitting quarterly targets for shareholders. We can wait for the right deals and the right time to enter or exit a specific opportunity.” 

This “battle-scarred” wisdom, shared by a team that has worked together through multiple economic cycles, ensures that the firm remains consistent in its underwriting and relationship management.

Looking forward, RESIDCO is positioning itself for the next generation of asset challenges, including the transition to newer technologies. Yovkovich remains confident in the firm’s core principles. “Our mission is simple: honest and equitable dealing while moving the world’s most essential equipment,” he says. “We’re battle tested, and as long as there is a need for specialized asset knowledge, RESIDCO will be there to lead the way”.