TYGRIS COMMERCIAL FINANCE GROUP, INC. LAUNCHED WITH OVER
$1.75 BILLION IN EQUITY COMMITMENTS
Newly Formed Commercial Finance Company Created to Support the
Financing Needs of Middle Market Companies
Largest Initial Capital Raise Ever in the U.S. Commercial Finance Sector
Tygris to Acquire US Express Leasing, Inc. and MarCap LLC
New York, May 20, 2008 – Tygris Commercial Finance Group, Inc. (“Tygris”), a commercial finance
company, today announced its formation and funding with over $1.75 billion in equity commitments – the
largest initial capital raise ever in the U.S. commercial finance sector. Tygris has assembled a team of
commercial finance industry executives with significant experience leading large commercial finance
businesses. Frederick E. “Rick” Wolfert, formerly Vice Chairman of Commercial Finance of the CIT
Group and President of Heller Financial Inc., is the Company’s CEO. Tygris will initially have offices in
Chicago, Stamford, CT and Parsippany, NJ.
Tygris was founded by Aquiline Capital Partners LLC (“Aquiline”), a New York based private equity
firm specializing in financial services, with New Mountain Capital, L.L.C. and TPG Capital joining as
lead investors. Tygris’ key investors also include Diamond Castle Holdings, LLC and Hamilton Lane.
Tygris has established significant relationships with financial institutions including Deutsche Bank,
Credit Suisse, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Barclays, Wachovia and Wells Fargo Foothill.
Tygris was created to provide liquidity and growth capital to middle market companies throughout North
America in response to the current credit market dislocation that has constrained the availability of such
capital. The Company initially will concentrate on developing leading franchise positions in three
commercial finance businesses: middle market corporate finance, middle market equipment leasing and
asset finance, and small ticket leasing.
Tygris has entered into an agreement to acquire US Express Leasing, Inc., an equipme