Leasingnotes got a welcome mention in Leasing News the other day. For those of you who are not familiar with Leasing News, it is a very good site that provides, according to its masthead, “Independent unbiased and fair news about the Leasing Industry,” which is no brag, just fact. It also contains a wealth of other, eclectic information such as classified ads, association data, views on sports and wine, lessee complaints, meeting notices, various lists, and, my personal favorite, This Day in American History.
The List, another of its features, is why I am mentioning Leasing News today. The List tracks the top changes in the leasing industry and is regularly updated. When visiting Leasing News the other day, I was reminded of what a great picture of our changing industry it provides. If a company has changed structure or status it makes it to The List, so it is a great way to stay in touch with the composition of the industry. You can track acquisitions, combinations, spin-offs, and companies that are exiting the industry for whatever reason (some of whom do not do so of their own volition).
The Alta Group used The List extensively when we conducted The Perfect Storms study for the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation. The patterns and insights it provided were immensely helpful. We were able to identify the many companies that exited the leasing industry at such a high rate during the late 1990s. From there, we were able to analyze the reasons and contributing factors as to why these companies did exit the industry. As I got to thinking back on this project, I realized that The List is almost like a little microcosm of our industry that reflects many of its major characteristics.
Think about it. The leasing industry thrives on change, which is exactly what The List tracks. Companies are always being purchased or absorbed as lessors change to meet shifting market dynamics and internal needs, or seek growth. Leasing is a risky business, too, as many have found out when they ended up being listed as leaving the industry involuntarily. And, although not representative of the industry, The List also highlights the seamy side of the industry when the occasional scalawag who has scammed others and put his company out of business shows up. It’s all there from the best to the worst, and in one place. Check it out!
Comment Preview