All articles by Fred Crawley
Fred Crawley
Editor’s letter: Keeping calm and carrying on
Perhaps its just a change in attitude from the British media over the past week since David Cameron pulled the UK out of the eurozone repair effort
Lease UK managers found new venture
Three former directors of landmark broker Lease UK have completed their first nine months of business with a newly-founded firm, Clear Asset Finance. The directors, Steve Dexter, Mark Haywood and Steve Green, formed the new broker in collaboration with a fourth man, George Bevan, who also serves as managing director for franking machine provider FP Mailing. As well as sharing some operational resources with FP Mailing, Clear started life with a vendor agreement in place with the company, which has formed a core part of its business.
Editor’s letter: It’s come round to that time again
It is hard to believe, as I write this, two weeks have passed since the Leasing Life European Conference and Awards in Munich the most successful event Leasing Life has run, and for me at least the most enjoyable. The most encouraging impression I have taken from the occasion is that the European leasing industry has not only embraced the need to develop in the face of global challenges but is doing so calmly, openly and with a strong sense of community.
Editor’s letter: Re-inventing ourselves is key
Setting the agenda for this years Leasing Life conference and awards event has revealed the issues the industry really cares about at present. When I first sat down to structure the programme of the days conference, my initial thoughts were that much space should be set aside to discuss the two perennial big issues of lease accounting and Basel III.
The new traditionalists
As the continents largest leasing company, according to figures kept by industry representative body Leaseurope, the strategic position taken by BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions is of great significance to the rest of the asset finance industry. Earlier in this issue, we have seen how the group, worth some 12bn in new business last year, has taken a decisive stance to adapt itself to Basel III regulation before it has to.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Get industry leading news, data and analysis delivered to your inbox
Editor’s letter: It’s all about the results
As I write this on the 22nd of September, technically the last day before the start of autumn, the European leasing industry is taking on a new attitude for the years final quarter. September has seen the publication of 2011s half-year reports, for both companies and leasing associations alike, and you will see from the rest of this magazine that they have dominated discussion in the industry. Needless to say there are both success stories and areas of concern among all this reading, but the overall impression seems to be one of a year that ran out of steam somewhat towards the middle.
Editor’s letter: Winter’s coming
When I began writing for this title in the summer of 2008, the business environment of the asset finance industry was being turned on its head by the onset of the global financial crisis.
Roelofs hire reflects leasing growth for GT UK
Christian Roelofs has joined Grant Thornton UK LLPs leasing and consumer finance advisory team, in a move the firm says reflects a greater focus on acquisition, increased funding and growth across the asset finance industry Roelofs, 31, leaves Macquarie Bank, where he had spent the last five years dividing his time between Sydney and London.During that period, in which he filled an advisory role to Macquarie’s in-house leasing operations, he was involved in transactions and developing businesses across a full range of asset classes from large tickets such as marine, aviation and rail, to smaller ticket assets such as IT, motor and machinery finance
Will access to funds alter the captive model?
The comment was made in a discussion on the future of manufacturer finance programmes, in which Sullivan expressed his expectation that the majority of manufacturers would soon need to partner with banks in order to achieve access to capital at a sustainable price.
HCVS aims to build on record growth
Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions (HCVS) managing director John Lawes has said the business is focused on “building sustainable growth” after record growth in the last year. Although HCVS had to make staff redundant during the crisis of 2008, it has begun to re-hire, and last years commercial vehicle team of 60 has increased to 88