ST. LOUIS (February 14, 2011) - CSI Leasing, Inc. (CSI) announced today that Dennis Stephans and the employees of Chicago-based Academic Capital Group, Inc., the 15 year old firm specializing in lease financing for municipalities, government and educational institutions, have joined CSI. Stephans and his team will operate as a new division of CSI, CSI Government and Education Finance (CGEF), and will continue to be based in Chicago. “This is a continuation of our expansion and diversification plan announced in 2010,” said Steve Hamilton, President and COO of St. Louis-based CSI, the 39 year old private leasing firm. “Having Dennis and his team on board immediately creates a full-range platform for providing commercial, tax-exempt and proprietary vendor program financing,” commented Hamilton. “Academic’s proven capabilities make for a great synergy going forward.”

Dennis Stephans, founder and President of Academic added, “This is exactly the situation we have been interested in for several years. Our firm continues to grow and so do our capital and infrastructure requirements, particularly in the vendor program arena. We are well-positioned now to expand our current programs and commit to new opportunities as well.”

The CGEF division will report to Cliff Svoboda, Senior Vice President of CSI. “I have worked with Dennis for over 20 years and with Academic since its formation,” said Svoboda. “This will be a very high-energy venture with all of our clients benefitting by combining the best of two experienced and successful teams.”

A privately-held company, CSI Leasing has operations throughout North, Central and South America, Europe and Asia.

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