Directory

The Alta Group in North America

The Alta Group, LLC, is a global consultancy serving equipment leasing and finance companies, investment professionals, manufacturers, banks, and government organizations. Founded in 1991, The Alta Group supports clients in North America; Latin America; Western, Central and Eastern Europe; Australia; and China. For more information, please visit http://www.thealtagroup.com

Location

Address

Contact Information

  • Main Phone: 855-222-ALTA (2582)
  • Main Fax:
Contact 1
Contact 2
Contact 3
Contact 4
  • Name: Bruce Kropschot
  • Title: Senior Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Phone: 352-750-3588 (Florida)
  • Fax:
  • Email: bkropschot@thealtagroup.com

Business Profile

Business Profile
  • In Business Since: 1991
  • Association Membership: ELFA | Other |
  • Other Membership: NEFA

Products / Services Offered

Products / Services Offered
  • Management consulting Legal support services Mergers and acquisitions Professional development Vendor & captive program

Company Executives

Company Executive 1
  • Name: Paul Bent
  • Title: Senior Managing Director, Legal Support Services
  • Paul Bent is a seasoned equipment leasing executive who currently serves as senior managing director of The Alta Group and manager of its Legal Support Services practice. With several decades of experience as an investment banker, equipment leasing CEO, and transaction attorney, Paul has participated in all facets of leasing and corporate financing. As a leader in the consultancy, he provides Alta clients with insight and advice in assessing both strategic and tactical business plans and alternatives, developing and implementing leasing transactions and structures, reviewing business and documentation practices, and analyzing asset-based financing alternatives. He serves as an industry and testifying expert in legal matters involving leasing, complex corporate financings, transaction structuring, and contract interpretation; and he provides services as a neutral arbitrator and facilitator in difficult disputes over leasing and corporate finance, with emphasis on maintaining relationships and avoiding litigation. Based in Long Beach, California, Paul has direct and hands-on experience in developing, arranging, facilitating, managing, negotiating and closing leases, structured corporate financings, and related business transactions. As an investment banker and a transaction attorney, he has analyzed, negotiated and participated in hundreds of transactions for clients throughout the world. In addition to serving with The Alta Group, he is the founder, president and general counsel of GoodSmith & Co., Incorporated, a corporate financial services firm specializing in large-ticket leasing, leveraged leasing, and asset-based corporate financing. “The details of equipment leasing and financing transactions provide the key to successful deal making. As in most aspects of business, a commanding knowledge of the technical issues determines the ultimate outcome of every crucial decision and plan.” Whether in developing or analyzing new financing transactions, serving as a neutral party in resolving transactions gone awry, or providing business advice and expert opinions in transactions already in litigation, Paul Bent offers Alta clients the benefit of decades of real world experience in corporate finance. Telephone: 562-426-1000 (California) Email: pbent@thealtagroup.com
Company Executive 2
  • Name: Rafael Castillo-Triana
  • Title: CEO, The Alta Group Latin American Region, LLC
  • Rafael Castillo-Triana, CEO of The Alta Group Latin American Region, LLC, based in Fort Lauderdale, is an international attorney with more than 27 years in the leasing industry. A former executive for a leasing company in South America, he later founded two leasing companies in Colombia. In 1990, he left his leasing management career behind and focused on serving as a legal counselor and consultant for lessors. An expert in international leasing law, Rafael has been a keynote speaker at the World Leasing Convention three times. He represented the Colombian government in the drafting of the national convention for international financial leasing developed through the UNIDROIT convention. He has published two books on leasing, written numerous papers, prepared speeches and lectured at universities and law schools in the U.S. Rafael’s in-depth knowledge of international leasing law and his experience in founding, developing and managing lease finance companies is invaluable to Alta clients seeking to establish and expand operations in Latin America. Beyond the legal and business issues involved in international finance, he is skilled in cross-cultural translation and balancing a lessor’s goals in a country or region with what the market can offer. The Latin American Group has local presence in all Latin American countries. Rafael has built a database that includes more than names of strategic partners in the region, but also information about the executives, their concerns, key negotiating points and their place in the LAR market. Typical projects for Alta clients include market research, competitive analysis and strategic analysis, with a focus on vendor leasing. Telephone: 954-389-7942 (California) Email: rcastillotriana@thealtagroup.com
Company Executive 3
  • Name: Hugh Swandel
  • Title: Senior Managing Director - Canada
  • Hugh Swandel is managing director of The Alta Group in Canada. With extensive North American contacts in the equipment finance and leasing industry, Hugh has a strong reputation as an effective negotiator of win/win agreements involving mergers and acquisitions, business development, market entry, operations and analysis, securitization and other matters of importance to lessors. Hugh is on the boards of directors of the Canadian Finance and Leasing Association (CFLA) and National Equipment Financing Association (NEFA). He also is a member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association of America (ELFA). In 2006, Hugh received the Canadian leasing industry’s highest honor when he was named “CFLA Member of the Year.” Prior to founding his firm, Swandel and Associates, in 2001, Hugh served as president and chief operation officer of Electronic Financial Group (EFG). EFG was a Canadian company that launched a multi lending web based credit system. Earlier, Hugh spent 10 years with National Leasing Group in a variety of senior positions. National Leasing Group is a privately held Canadian lessor that has won numerous awards for excellence in management and innovation. Telephone: 204-477-0703 (Canada) Email: hswandel@thealtagroup.com
Company Executive 4
  • Name: Malcolm Ogle
  • Title: Chairman, Alta-EMEA
  • Malcolm has more than three decades of leasing and asset finance experience spanning a wide range of markets, businesses, assets and sales channels He shares his considerable knowledge with diverse clients across Europe and the Middle East, helping them structure their operations and maximise their market potential. Expertise and Experience • Strategically analyses business operations and processes, supporting short- and long-term planning to meet objectives. • Identifies M&A targets and purchase and disposal opportunities, negotiates deals and undertakes due diligence. • Provides market analysis and intelligence for companies interested in expanding their reach (geographic and sector) in Europe, Middle East and Africa. • Advises on the establishment of captive finance businesses and appropriate organisational and operational structures. • Undertakes studies comparing products, operations and perceptions of similar businesses operating globally. A former Joint Managing Director of Lombard Corporate Finance, Malcolm has also held a number of senior management positions with leading asset finance companies, including Rolls-Royce & Partners and PSA Finance PLC. He has established and managed businesses across Europe, working with a variety of global business partners. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. Telephone/Fax: +44 1825 713356 Email: malcolmogle@thealtagroup.eu.com