2008 Jan/Feb Issue

JANUARY/FEBRUARY ISSUE 2008
Risk Management for Champions:
It's all in the Preparation

FEATURES

2008 Outlook: What Manufacturing CFOs Expect
Joyce White, Bank of America Business Capital
Joyce White summarizes the results of Bank of America’s 10th annual survey of mid- and large-sized U.S. manufacturing company CFOs. Not surprisingly, CFOs are most concerned about the impact the deteriorating housing market and oil prices will have on the economy in 2008. (Ref # GEN034)

Study Marks Equipment Finance’s Contributor on the U.S. Economy
Released on December 18, 2007, the U.S. Equipment Finance Market Study — commissioned by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation and conducted by Global Insight, Inc. underscores the equipment finance sector’s role in the U.S. economy. (Ref # ASC022)

Measuring & Pricing Credit Risk in Leasing Portfolios
Robert F. Cunningham, Inmatrix
Bank capital regulation and the consequent market reaction to the new regulatory measures are creating an environment in increasing motivation to apply sophisticated risk management tools. Bob Cunningham at Inmatrix fills in the blanks… (Ref # CRD078)

Asset Managers Keep an Even Keel
By Christopher Moraff, Associate Editor
For all the upheaval in the wider economy, leasing analysts say not much has changed in the equipment finance sector. For asset managers, that means another year of intense competition, margin compression and increased residual assumptions as they do whatever it takes to keep an even keel. (Ref # EQM146)

Veteran Weighs In on Tackling Bad Loans
By George Anders, The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal’s George Anders spoke with John S. Reed, the former chief executive of Citicorp, who minces no words when it comes to ill-fated loans and real estate lending defaults.

Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Lease Disposals?
Larry Fee, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Larry Fee discusses trade-in credits available in the states of Illinois and Texas. These states have a lot of leasing activities within their borders, as well as unusually generous provisions for trade-ins. (Ref # TAX058)

Collections Professionals See Rise in Delinquencies, But Stop Short of Crying Recession
By Amanda L. Gutshall, Assistant Editor
With the current uncertainty about the economy and where it’s going in the near future, we look to collection companies to see if there is an obvious rise in defaults and repossessions. And although in some cases there are, participants in the Monitor’s Collections Roundtable are still playing a game of "wait and see." (Ref # COLL012)

PROFILE OF SUCCESS

Adam Warner … A Natural Selection
Stuart P. Papavassiliou, Senior Editor
How does an executive take the reins at a well functioning and highly structured global equipment finance company and bring it to the next level? Recently, the Monitor sat down with Adam Warner, president at Key Equipment Finance, who had a great deal to say on this and a host of other topics. (Ref # PRO093)

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT

Anatomy of a Sting: Agents to Close Books on Months-Long Investigation
By Christopher Moraff, Associate Editor
Capping a drama of white-collar crime, the Feds recently closed a months-long undercover operation, pulling the lid off what prosecutors say was a nationwide lease-fraud racket. (Ref #FRD014)

COLUMNS

GREASING THE WHEEL
Risks and Rewards of Healthcare Leasing
By Martin E. Zimmerman, LFC Capital
If you’re thinking of entering the healthcare leasing market, you might want to talk to a doctor first. This market is not for the faint of heart. All kidding aside, any doctor will tell you that the financial rewards are not what they once were … and you won’t find easy money in the field. (Ref #FNF115)

ALTERNATE PERSPECTIVES
Is Switching Job Focus Absolutely Necessary to Survive in Commercial Finance?
By Michael A. Toglia, Molloy Associates
When following your eventual career path, should you "change lanes" every five years either within or outside your company? Molloy Associates' Mike Toglia discusses the pros and cons of being an "A" player while not losing your own career goals in the process. (Ref #PER020)

TECH TALK
Not Just Another Set of Pretty Reports
By Joseph N. Lane, International Decision Systems
With the advent of a new generation of regulation and pressure by ever-intensifying global competition, finance company executives are making greater demands of the information they receive from their line operations. (Ref # TEC0163)

LEGAL WATCH
The Second Circuit Joins the Non-Dischargeability Fray
By Lesley Anne Hawes, McKenna Long & Aldridge
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has become the latest to add its voice to the interpretation of a key provision upon which creditors can seek a determination that a debt is non-dischargeable in bankruptcy. (Ref # LGL1100)

DISPATCHES FROM THE TRENCHES
More on Inventory Financing
By Kenneth P. Weinberg, Marks & Weinberg, PC
The last installment discussed the possibility of a lessor of vehicles being unable to rely on a lien notation on the Certificate of Title for purposes of perfection. This article continues this theme by discussing other issues related to inventory financing. (Ref # LGL1101)