BSE Group Achieves Major Milestone With Management of $150 Million Semiconductor Equipment Portfolio

BURLINGTON, MA--(Marketwire - Jan 25, 2012) - Boston Semi Equipment, LLC (BSE Group), announced that its Test Advantage Capital Group's portfolio of semiconductor manufacturing equipment under management has surpassed $150 million, a major milestone for the company. Test Advantage Capital, formed with its partner, Somerset Capital Group, develops structured financing plans for customers to acquire assets using alternative financing strategies that increase flexibility and financial efficiency. Boston Semi Equipment's growing leasing business has also received a $100 million annual commitment from its financial partner, Wafra Capital Partners ("Wafra").

With this funding commitment, BSE Group will continue to grow its portfolio of equipment targeting semiconductor customers in both the front end and back end of the semiconductor industry. The company will focus on equipment leasing as its primary vehicle for providing funding to its customers. The BSE Group provides short term, long term, systems, options, subsystems and spares level rentals/leases to its expanding customer base.

"The funding commitment from Wafra and our strong partnership with the Somerset Capital Group gives us the financial resources to confidently go into the market and provide flexible and truly unique structured financing alternatives to our customers," commented Doug Elder, CEO Boston Semi Equipment. "We offer financing alternatives that have not been readily available to semiconductor companies in the past. We are different from the traditional product offerings of financial institutions because we can combine financing solutions with equipment from our own inventory, thus minimizing equipment acquisition costs."

"The BSE Group has a great reputation, strong industry relationships and a reach to all semiconductor markets worldwide," said Michael Gontar, Chief Investment Officer for Wafra. "They continue to expand their portfolio of equipment and markets served as evidenced by the recent opening of their Japanese entity, Boston Semi K.K. We are glad to be working with the BSE Group and are excited about the prospects of the business going forward. Wafra is well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities in the semiconductor market through our association with Somerset and the BSE Group."

BSE Group
Boston Semi Equipment, LLC (BSE Group), provides affordable solutions to semiconductor front end manufacturing and back end assembly and test through leasing, rental, and (re)sale of equipment. BSE Group partners with customers to lower their cost of ownership while optimizing flexibility and operating leverage. BSE Group also partners with equipment suppliers to provide flexible solutions to their customers, lowering financial stumbling blocks to closing, thereby accelerating sales. For more information visit http://www.bsegroup.com.

Wafra Capital Partners
Wafra is part of a global investment firm which was founded in 1985. Wafra's U.S. affiliate, Wafra Capital Partners Inc., is a U.S. registered investment advisor. Wafra offers a variety of investment products designed to achieve advantageous financial treatment and enhanced investment yields on a risk/return basis, and as well specializing in structuring Islamically compatible investment products. Wafra currently manages and advises approximately 27 leasing and real estate funds, and has committed and under management, assets of approximately $2.8 billion.

Somerset Capital Group, Ltd.
Somerset was established in 1984 and offers a broad range of equipment leasing and asset management solutions. Somerset's depth of experience, flexibility and dedication to nurturing long-term relationships provides a value proposition to its clients and business partners well beyond competitively priced lease structures. Somerset's financial strength allows the company to execute on transactions ranging in size from $25,000 to $100 million covering a diverse array of asset types with each transaction tailored to the specific and evolving requirements of its clients. Somerset manages all of its servicing functions in-house. The company is headquartered in Connecticut and operates globally.