2007 Convention Issue

CONVENTION ISSUE 2007
18th Annual Convention Issue
Will Market Correction ‘Shake Out’
UndisciplinedPlayers?

COVER STORY

Industry Leaders: Market Correction Could ‘Shake Out’ Irrational Competition
By Stephen J. McCabe, Susan Carol Associates
With a long-expected market correction underway, tighter credit and vanishing liquidity are pressuring consumers and borrowers throughout the economy. But are these challenges necessarily a bad thing for leasing companies? (Ref # TRE073)

FEATURES

The Good, the Bad and the Modest
By Darryl Seland, Monitor Correspondent
This month, PNC’s senior economist Robert Dye helps us navigate through the potential economic warning signs of recent months, and discusses what's in store for equipment lessors and lenders as they prepare to say goodbye to 2007 and head into a new year.
(Ref # GEN032)

Being Proactive: Lessons to Lead By
By Paul A. Larkins, Key Equipment Finance
In a financial world that is constantly changing, the successful equipment financing company must not only roll with the punches but also anticipate where the punches will come from. Paul Larkins shares his views on key topics of consideration when contemplating the future. (Ref # MGT016)

U.S. Bancorp Specialty Financing Growth
By Amanda Gutshall, Assistant Editor
In October 2006, U.S. Bancorp combined five of its units into a Specialty Finance Division. The Monitor spoke with Sal Maglietta, who runs the new division, and Tony Cracchiolo, the newly appointed president of its Equipment Finance unit. (Ref # PR0091)

Global Credit Crisis Leaves No Asset Class Unscathed
By Ricardo S. Chance, KPMG Corporate Finance LLC
If the National Hurricane Center were to name a hurricane after the global credit crisis that has ravaged the markets over the past several weeks, it would be called “Lester Leverage” — a storm so strong it wipes out billions of dollars of value and sends investors fleeing. (Ref # GEN0033)

Enhancing the Industry’s Brand Identity
By Stuart P. Papavassiliou, Senior Editor
The Monitor asked Ken Bentsen to speak about his first year as president of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association. Predictably, he had a great deal to tell us. To sum it up: it’s been a productive year for the association as it takes itself to the next level. (Ref # ASC020)

A Look at Common Issues in Pricing & Profitability
By Bill Bosco, Leasing 101
Are external and internal factors affecting your ability to meet your established targets? Lessors deal with these issues on a day-to-day basis, and no matter what precautions you take, there will always be new issues to solve. (Ref # PRI021)

China: Are We There Yet?
A Quick Q&A with Jonathan L. Fales, The Alta Group
As the world turns to a more global economy, it is important to keep your options open — especially in areas such as China and India, who are working toward establishing equipment leasing industries. Here, we take a closer look at the opportunities in China. (Ref # INC073)

NEW ON THE SCENE

Opportunities at MagnetBank Attract Industry Veteran
By Amanda Gutshall, Assistant Editor
With more than 28 years in the leasing business, industry veteran Bill Fite has switched gears. In June, he was hired by MagnetBank, a de novo Utah-chartered commercial bank focused exclusively on commercial lending to establish its equipment finance group. (Ref # PRO092)

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT

Political Fundraiser Implicated in Sale/Leaseback Scam
By Christopher Moraff, Associate Editor
In August, a federal grand jury filed numerous charges including money laundering, bankruptcy fraud and obstruction of justice against Alan B. Fabian, the founder of Strategic Partners International and a political fundraiser in one of the latest fraud scandals to hit the news. (Ref # FRD012)

COLUMNS

ALTERNATE PERSPECTIVES
An Unlikely Source: The Lessons Learned From Dakota
By Michael A. Toglia, Molloy Associates, Inc.
Although man’s best friend can be a loving and fulfilling companion and confidante, your favorite pooch can also teach you a thing or two about the business world and how it works. (Ref # JBS087)

TECH TALK
SOA Technology for Your Finance Business: Enterprise-Wide WIthout an ERP
By Joe Lane and Ron Dolan, International Decision Systems
As the cost of implementing ERP systems continues to increase, and new technologies decrease the cost of integration among systems, large finance companies are finding "best of breed" solutions harder to resist. (Ref # TEC0160)

LEGAL WATCH
Supreme Court Overrules Ninth Circuit’s Fobian Rule
By Lesley Anne Hawes, McKenna Long & Aldridge, LLP
The Supreme Court yet again reversed a decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and resolved a conflict among the circuit courts regarding the allowance of attorneys’ fees in bankruptcy litigation. (Ref # LGL1096)

DISPATCHES FROM THE TRENCHES
Perform the Proper Due Diligence When Documenting Your Claim
By Kenneth P. Weinberg, Marks & Weinberg, PC
Lessors of over-the-road trucks may find themselves becoming inventory lessors. This installment warns lessors to keep a close eye on certificates of title when another party is subleasing leased trucks. (Ref # LGL1097)