a more INTELLIGENT approach to equipment finance

SCG traces its roots to 1980, when Somerset Investment Services (“SIS”) was founded to focus on leasing information technology equipment to Fortune 500 companies.

1981

SIS entered into its first lease with ITT Corporation. ITT remains SCG’s customer today.

1984

Mr. Wasmer established Somerset Investment Services, Ltd. (“SISL”) as a minority-owned business enterprise.  SISL was acquired by Neptune Computer Holding Ltd., a New York-based lessor of information technology equipment.

1985

Goldome Federal Savings Bank acquired Neptune.

1988

Mr. Wasmer and Mr. Sternstein left Goldome to form a new company, St. James Leasing, Ltd. (“St. James”); Mr. Wasmer served as CEO and Mr. Sternstein served as CFO.  St. James entered into its first lease with IBM Corporation. IBM remains a customer of SCG today.

1991

St. James generated $25 million of new lease originations.

1995

Mr. Sternstein was forced to resign as CFO and forfeit his ownership stake in St. James when it was discovered that he had embezzled funds from the company and financed fraudulent lease transactions with lenders to the company.  St. James entered into a plan to repay the amounts owed to its lenders, and such amounts were repaid in full, with interest, by November 1997.

1996

Evan Bokor (SCG’s current chief executive officer) joined St. James as chief financial officer.  Somerset Capital Group, Ltd. (SCG) was formed to become the new operating entity for St. James and SISL.

1997

SCG entered the material handling equipment market. By 2002, material handling equipment had become SCG’s largest business segment.

1999

St. James and SISL were merged into SCG. SCG entered into its first funding program, a $41 million pool used to fund equity in operating lease transactions, with Wafra Investment Advisory Group. SCG achieved solid growth, exceeding $100 million of new lease originations.  SCG also acquired the equipment lease portfolio of LEC Leasing, adding several significant clients (Bank of America, Tiffany & Co., others).  SCG established Somerset Technology Sales (“STS”) to buy, sell and remarket information technology assets.

2002

SCG’s new lease volume exceeded $200 million in original equipment cost.  SCG added Kellogg Company as a customer. Kellogg is now SCG’s largest customer.

2003

SCG acquired a $30 million equipment lease portfolio from an operator of an equipment leasing income fund.  SCG also purchased a lease portfolio from a German bank.

2006

SCG established Somerset Equipment Sales (“SES”) to focus on buying, selling and remarketing forklifts and other material handling equipment.

2007

The management team consummated a buyout of SCG, redeeming the shares held by founder Pedro Wasmer and non-management shareholders. Wafra provided funding to execute the buyout.  Mr. Wasmer retired, and Evan Bokor became SCG’s president and chief executive officer.  Adam Simon became executive vice president of sales.  SCG entered the Canadian market.

2008

SCG entered the Asian market, establishing operations in Singapore.  SCG also acquired a $15 million leasing portfolio from a bank.  SCG’s new lease originations reached $276 million in 2008, a record level of new business production for SCG.

2009

Mark Fiorentino joined SCG as chief operating officer responsible for operations, credit and collections.

2010

SCG acquired a $22 million equipment lease portfolio from Velocity Financial Group. Also in 2010, SCG entered the equipment leasing market in Taiwan.

2010

SCG formed Somerset Aviation Capital to expand its nine year presence in the aircraft ground support equipment asset segment.

2012

SCG formed Somerset Equipment Finance (UK) Ltd.  U.K. equipment leasing market.

2015

SCG acquired a long-tenured independent equipment leasing organization focused on servicing vendor partnerships. SCG establishes Somerset ATE Solutions, Ltd. to provide leasing, short-term rentals and equipment supply for semiconductor test equipment.

2016

SCG acquired a independent leasing organization focused on providing leasing services to a clientele of mid-sized banks in the US.

The Somerset Family of Companies and Capabilities

From select vertical market specialties and equipment sales operations to vendor financing and our leading indirect, third party origination team, the Somerset family of companies and capabilities position our customers with unique, flexible and competitive offerings. Click each name below to learn more.

Somerset Equipment Sales, Inc.

Somerset Power Systems

Somerset ATE Solutions Ltd.

Somerset T&M Solutions

Somerset Equipment Finance (UK) Ltd.

Somerset Equipment Finance Ltd. (CAN)

Somerset GSE Capital

BancLeasing

WANT TO GO BEYOND FINANCE?

Our team is ready to help you take a different, more intelligent approach to your equipment finance   

CONTACT US NOW