Wilmington Trust Announces Major Initiative in Corporate Client Services Business



    Wilmington Trust announced today that it is expanding its capital
    markets business with the addition of collateral administration
    services for collateralized debt obligations (CDOs), one of the
    fastest-growing segments of the structured finance industry in the
    United States and Europe.

    Collateral administration services for CDOs complement the
    services that Wilmington Trust's Corporate Client Services (CCS)
    business already provides in many of the world's most favorable
    jurisdictions. The company's full suite of collateral administration,
    trustee, custodial, and bookkeeping services for CDOs includes
    compliance monitoring and testing, payment calculations and
    disbursements, record maintenance, trade settlement, and the
    safekeeping of assets, among other services.

    "CDO administration is a logical extension of the administrative
    services we perform for corporate clients," said Ted T. Cecala,
    chairman and CEO of Wilmington Trust. "This expansion further
    diversifies our CCS revenue stream, supports our ongoing business
    development efforts in the United States and Europe, and reflects our
    strategy to invest in businesses with excellent potential for
    long-term growth."

    A CDO is a structured finance product backed by a pool of bonds,
    loans, or other collateral. CDOs are attractive investments to many
    hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds, insurance companies, and
    other investors because they offer relatively attractive yields and
    provide highly customized risk and return characteristics. According
    to the Bond Market Association, global CDO issuances increased from
    $157 billion in 2004 to $249 billion in 2005. Issuances in the first
    half of 2006 topped $177 billion. Many experts believe this strong
    growth is in its early stages.

    As part of its expansion, Wilmington Trust has formed a new
    subsidiary, Wilmington Trust Conduit Services, LLC, through which it
    will conduct most of its CDO services business. This company has hired
    a team of recognized capital markets experts to lead the business,
    including Peter Vinella and Jeanette Jin, Ph.D. Prior to joining
    Wilmington Trust, the pair worked together at PVA International, a New
    York-based consultancy focused on capital markets and risk management,
    where Mr. Vinella was the founder and CEO and Dr. Jin was the
    president. Eight people from their former organization will also
    perform CDO operational and technology work for Wilmington Trust
    Conduit Services.

    To deliver its CDO services to the capital markets, Wilmington
    Trust has added Deborah McDonald to its CCS Client Development Team.
    Ms. McDonald is a 28-year veteran of financial services and has led
    CDO business development efforts at State Street Corporation, U.S.
    Bank, and Wachovia. She has also worked in corporate trust business
    development at other major banks. She will partner with Christophe
    Schroeder, head of Wilmington Trust's European CCS business, to offer
    the company's CDO services globally to capital markets participants.

    "The growth of the CDO industry has created a significant
    opportunity for us," said Bill Farrell, executive vice president and
    head of Wilmington Trust's CCS business. "This expansion leverages our
    core services and demonstrates our commitment to meeting the
    administrative needs of CDO investors and issuers now and in the years
    ahead."

    Wilmington Trust Corporation (NYSE:WL) is a financial services
    holding company that provides Regional Banking services throughout the
    Delaware Valley region, Wealth Advisory Services for high-net-worth
    clients in 22 countries, and Corporate Client Services for
    institutional clients in 81 countries. Its wholly owned bank
    subsidiary, Wilmington Trust Company, which was founded in 1903, is
    one of the largest personal trust providers in the United States and
    the leading retail and commercial bank in Delaware. Wilmington Trust
    Corporation and its affiliates have offices in California,
    Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey,
    New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, the Cayman Islands,
    the Channel Islands, London, Dublin, and Frankfurt. For more
    information, visit www.wilmingtontrust.com.