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Leasing Industry Closes 2003 with Positive Signs
After three consecutive quarters of failing to show any portfolio growth, the equipment leasing industry came through at year's end to close 2003 with only a slight net loss in portfolio size. According to the Equipment Leasing Association's Quarterly Performance Indicators Report (PIR), total net portfolio growth decreased by a total of only 0.4% in 2003. While 2003 marked the second consecutive year in which the leasing industry failed to recognize any net portfolio growth for a calendar year, based on how 2003 was shaping up after the third quarter, the modest overall drop-off was not such bad news. In fact, 2003 was not as bad a year for the leasing industry as one might have expected given the many challenges that have been presented over the past few years. New business volume and credit approvals were up, and charge-offs and actual delinquencies were down. Employment remains a concern, but overall, it appears that the leasing industry is weathering the storm.
Total net portfolio at the end of the fourth quarter of 2002 was $64 billion, which then dropped to $63.4 billion in the first quarter of 2003. Portfolio growth then fell to $62.7 billion at mid-year before falling to the 12-month low of $62.4 billion in the third quarter of 2003. Fortunately, portfolio growth recovered in the fourth quarter of 2003 to close out the year at $63.7 billion, a 0.4% decrease from 2002. It is of some concern that this is the second overall decrease in portfolio growth in consecutive years, and that similar to 2002, the industry experienced no portfolio growth over a period of three quarters in 2003. Typically, there is a decrease in portfolio growth in the first quarter of a new year following a sharp increase in year-end activity; but in both 2003 and 2002 there were no quick rebounds from the first quarter drop-off. In both of the last 2 years, the rebound did not occur until year-end and at that, the recovery was incomplete, leaving the industry with negative annual growth.
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later
The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.
Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations
This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.
How AI Has Affected PR
When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.
The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs
The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.