The Globe and Mail reported that Element Financial Corp., the equipment leasing company headed by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steve Hudson, is set to announce it is creating a new business unit focused on large financing and leasing deals in areas such as corporate aircraft, rail and road transport and mining and large-scale construction. The new unit, Element Capital will be headed up by Tony Bergeron, based in Montreal.

Mr. Bergeron’s experience in corporate aircraft financing will be a huge asset, given the company’s goal of making financing for business jets and helicopters an important part of the portfolio, Mr. Hudson said.

According to the report, Mr. Hudson said his strategy is to fill the void left when some foreign-owned leasing firms got out of the market and smaller independent outfits lost their financing in the 2008 credit crisis. “The sector is underserved after the credit crisis and the market dislocation,” Mr. Hudson said in an interview.

Hudson wants large-equipment leasing to represent about half of Element’s business within two to three years in his quest to make Element one of the dominant independent equipment-lease players in North America, according to the report.

Mr. Hudson is also seeking other acquisition targets after last year’s Alter Moneta deal.