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.
