October 19, 2012

Real-Time Market Pricing Transparency Coming to Entire Mortgage and Asset-Backed Securities Market

Saber’s CEO Joseph Fichera to Lead Securitization Industry Conference Discussion on Regulator Proposals and Market Effects

(New York October 19, 2012) Real-time market pricing transparency is coming to the mortgage and asset-backed securities market. Regulators are moving forward with proposals to apply the corporate bond transparency system known as TRACE (Transaction Reporting And Compliance Engine) to the entire MBS and ABS markets. But the final timing of dissemination of the information to market participants is not clear. Will the transition be disruptive or smooth is an issue in a recovering market.

Joseph S. Fichera, Chief Executive Officer of Saber Partners LLC, who initiated the proposal in 2007, will speak again at the Euromoney IMN ABS East conference on October 23rd at 4:25 pm in Miami. Joining him on the panel will be Ola Persson, Director of TRACE and Fixed Income Strategy, Financial Industry Regulatory Association (FINRA) and Lou Violante, CFA, Structured Products Manager, MarketAxess. The panel will discuss the history and future of transparency in these markets.

Follow on to 2007 Conference on TRACE and MBS/ABS

In 2007, Mr. Fichera and Saber were invited to organize and lead a panel discussion at a Euromoney IMN ABS conference about applying TRACE to the MBS and ABS markets. Mr. Fichera brought together for the first time regulators, investors, academics, investors and representatives of the underwriting community to discuss the possibility of applying TRACE to these markets.

Following that discussion, FINRA began a study and initiated a rule making process for full transparency. The proposal to expand TRACE reporting and define all asset-and mortgage backed securities as TRACE eligible securities was filed with the SEC two years later in October 2009. The proposal called for collection of transaction information for regulatory purposes and to allow FINRA a chance to study the data prior to proposing dissemination policy. Proposal was approved by the SEC in March 2010.

Next Steps: To Be Determined

That process is now culminating in regulations that will provide real-time pricing transparency to market participants in the once dark market. However, when and how the information will be available to all market participants is still an open question.

“Transparency promotes more efficient markets yet whether one supports or opposes transparency efforts often depends on whether one is a buyer or a seller,” said Mr. Fichera. “Regulators need to move forward in a reasoned and responsible way, but they must move forward.”

Conference Details

To learn more about the conference, see http://www.imn.org/Conference/ABS-East-Conference/Home.html

Saber Partners, LLC, is a New York-based financial advisory firm. It provides independent analysis, strategic financing advice and expert witness dispute resolution services to private and public sector entities including state and federal regulators. The firm advises on tactical and often innovative financing solutions across a spectrum of financial products including corporate debt, equity, securitized debt and municipal finance. Clients have included ExxonMobil Corporation, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Governor of California, Municipal Water District of Southern California, Texas Instruments, Dow Corning and Public Service Commissions of Florida, West Virginia and Wisconsin on securitization among others.