Press Releases

Release Date: 17 March 2008
Contact:
Claire Hunte, +44 20 7743 9339, chunte@sifma.org

Steve White New ESF Chairman

London, 17 March 2008 – The board of directors of the European Securitisation Forum (ESF), an affiliate of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, has elected Steve White as its chairman for 2008. White is co-head of European Securitisation for Morgan Stanley in London.

Rick Watson, managing director of the ESF, said, “We are very pleased that Steve will lead the association at such a crucial time in the structured credit market. The association’s work plan and focus is on restoring normal liquid market conditions. Steve’s demonstrated experience in the European capital markets as well as his extensive network of investor relationships will be key to spearheading the initiatives that the industry is currently undertaking to improve transparency and restore investor confidence.”

“As difficult market conditions persist, I look forward to working with the ESF as we pro-actively engage with the European authorities, national regulators and central banks and with market participants to try to bring normality back to the markets,” confirmed White.

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Notes to editors:

The European Securitisation Forum, an affiliate of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association is the voice of the securitisation and CDO market place in Europe, with the purpose of promoting efficient growth and continued development of securitisation throughout Europe. Its membership is comprised of over 160 institutions involved with all aspects of the securitisation and CDO business, including issuers, investors, arrangers, rating agencies, legal and accounting advisors, stock exchanges, trustees, IT service providers and others. The ESF has two sister organisations: the American Securitization Forum and the Asia Pacific Securitisation Association.

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association brings together the shared interests of more than 650 securities firms, banks and asset managers. SIFMA's mission is to promote policies and practices that work to expand and perfect markets, foster the development of new products and services and create efficiencies for member firms, while preserving and enhancing the public's trust and confidence in the markets and the industry. SIFMA works to represent its members’ interests locally and globally. It has offices in New York, Washington D.C., and London and its associated firm, the Asia Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, is based in Hong Kong.