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    1. Technology & Automation

    October Leasing Activity Steady

    Nov. 27, 2013
    Executives say they’re seeing new business and solid credit quality among clients.

    Overall new business volume in October for 25 companies representing a cross section of the $827 billion equipment finance sector amounted to $7.6 billion. This figure, from the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25) was unchanged from new business volume in October 2012. Month-over-month, new business volume was down 1 percent from September. Year to date, cumulative new business volume increased 5 percent compared to 2012.

    Receivables over 30 days were at 1.5 percent in October, unchanged from September. Delinquencies declined from 1.7 percent in the same period in 2012.  Charge-offs were unchanged from the previous two months at 0.4 percent, and only slightly higher than the all-time low of 0.3 percent.

    Credit approvals totaled 77.6 percent in October, up slightly from 77.3 percent the previous month.  Eighty-two percent of participating organizations reported submitting more transactions for approval during October, a spike from 56 percent in September.

    Finally, total headcount for equipment finance companies was up 1 percent year over year.

    “As we enter the final quarter of the year, the equipment finance industry continues to perform well, illustrated by healthy new business generation and solid credit quality metrics,” said ELFA President and CEO William G. Sutton, CAE. “We remain cautiously optimistic that business demand for capital equipment will continue unabated into the 4th Quarter, which is a typically strong period for the industry. We hope that the ongoing and unresolved debate over fiscal policy will not act as a drag on the overall economy and the industry as we end 2013 and enter a new year.”

    David Mirsky, CEO of Pacific Rim Capital, Inc., said, “The MLFI-25 clearly demonstrates the current slow growth or no growth economy that we are experiencing at the moment. However, the industry remains optimistic based upon the year-to-date growth of 5 percent and the increase in submissions for credit approval.  Pacific Rim Capital has experienced slightly stronger growth in its sector and is planning for conservative expansion until the uncertainties in the economy are clarified.”