CULEASE: a local financing solution.

Saskatchewan business owners in the market for equipment, technology and infrastructure financing can now look down their list of must-haves and check off innovative structures, competitive pricing, timely service and people who understand their business, thanks to the emergence of CULEASE Financial Services.

CULEASE Financial Services (CULEASE) was launched in Saskatchewan in 1998 and has spent the past six years expanding its products and services across Canada. With a Regina head office, five regional offices across the country and affiliations with over 140 Canadian credit unions from Victoria, BC to St. John's NL, CULEASE is Canada's only Saskatchewan-based national commercial leasing company.

As the commercial leasing company for the Canadian credit union system, CULEASE considers it an obligation to provide its customers with a product and service that reflects the credit union principles of integrity and their reputation for providing quality service with local decision making.

"CULEASE measures itself against the very high standards set by credit unions across the country," says CULEASE General Manager Michael Fix. "It is important to the entire CULEASE team that we operate with the same level of integrity and commitment to communities that people and businesses have come to value in credit unions everywhere."

Business owners in Saskatchewan and across Canada are well aware of the credit union reputation for providing quality service. According to a study conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), credit unions 'lead the way among financial institutions overall in meeting the needs of the small business sector.' 'Credit unions received top marks from small business owners' and a very high satisfaction rate among independently-owned and operated businesses. The study also noted that small innovative firms 'are the lifeblood of any economy--for the sake of future prosperity we need the banking industry to deliver the services they require.'

CULEASE Financial Services brings to the table valuable components in the financial services menu sought by these small and medium-sized businesses forming what the CFIB calls the 'core segment of Canada's economy.' Most are quite familiar with the many benefits of leasing, including lower payments, access to the latest equipment, possible tax advantages, deferring payment of provincial and federal tax and the ability to pay for the equipment while it generates revenue.

"For business owners, leasing may offer an opportunity to reduce the cost of ownership and conserve capital," Fix asserts. "By leasing through CULEASE, businesses are provided with another option to facilitate the growth and profitability of their business."

"CULEASE offers a lease product and service that fits almost any type of business and asset. We've provided leasing services to all the key business sectors in Saskatchewan, including manufacturing, processing, mining, oil & gas, forestry, agriculture and agri-business," Fix says. "We work with thousands of businesses that range in size from literally micro-businesses to large public companies and federal and provincial crown corporations. Our transaction size has ranged from five thousand dollars to five million dollars and up."

A further indication of the ties that CULEASE has to Saskatchewan is a recent partnership agreement with Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA). The agreement is designed to provide Saskatchewan municipalities with local solutions for local challenges such as accessing financing on equipment and water and wastewater infrastructure.

"The Canadian credit union system is built upon local and autonomous decision-making; a fact that I think SUMA recognized in choosing CULEASE as their preferred leasing company," Fix says. "It's important to our customers that decisions affecting their business and livelihood are made locally. We're not going to Toronto or Vancouver on a decision for a business in Saskatchewan--that decision is going to be made right here."

Saskatchewan communities are also able to retain the financial and other economic benefits that result from lease transactions due to the relationship that CULEASE has with over 60 Saskatchewan credit unions.

"We're proud to offer what we consider to be a high quality of personal service that meets the needs of small to medium-sized businesses in Saskatchewan," Fix says. "We're not hung up on where they do their banking. The fact is that about 70 percent of CULEASE clients did not have a previous relationship with a credit union. Instead, we focus on the attributes of the customer and how they manage their business."

With competitive pricing, innovative structures and superior service, supported by the integrity and reputation of the Canadian credit union system, CULEASE provides a commercial leasing product second to none.

Financial Services

Box 3030, 2055 Albert Street, Regina, SK S4P 3G8

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Web Site: www.culeasefs.com