LEAF Commercial Capital, Inc. the commercial finance subsidiary of Resource America, Inc. announced the closing of a new securitization transaction: LEAF 2011-2, which was completed on October 28, 2011. With the completion of LEAF 2011-2, LEAF has securitized approximately $105 million of leases, term funded by the issuance of Contract Backed Notes.

The transaction is the first securitization of small ticket equipment loans and leases sponsored by LEAF Commercial Capital, Inc. The loans and leases were originated by LEAF and are backed by various equipment including office equipment such as copiers, as well as, technology, telecommunications and industrial equipment.
 
Guggenheim Securities, LLC, was the arranger of the notes and LEAF will continue to be the servicer of the assets. LEAF issued eight fixed rate classes of notes that were rated by Moody's and DBRS with the Class A notes having the benefit of a financial guaranty insurance policy issued by Assured Guaranty.

Miles Herman, President and COO of LEAF, stated, "We are very pleased to have completed our first securitization within 10 months of launching LEAF Commercial Capital, Inc. Our success in securing programs with top quality vendors, arranging for warehouse financing and underwriting and closing leases efficiently and prudently have been validated by the confidence that both investors and the rating agencies have shown. An active securitization market is a vital part of a well-rounded funding strategy for an independent lessor and this demonstrates that we can participate in that market, even in difficult economic times. The proceeds of the transaction will be used to pay down our warehouse facility and increase our capacity to meet the financing needs of our valued equipment vendor partners. We look forward to continuing to access the securitization market in the future and becoming a regular programatic issuer."

LEAF's core competency is the ability to assist vendors and manufacturers in maximizing financing as a revenue generating strategy. LEAF is a joint venture among Resource America, Inc., Resource Capital Corp, and Guggenheim Securities, LLC.