Credit Enhancement: Former CommerzBank VPs Form New Fortis Group

Two former members of CommerzBank 's credit enhancement group have left the bank to form a new group at Fortis Bank. Thomas Carney is a senior vice president and manager and Edward Neu is a senior vice president at the Belgium-based bank as of last week. Both are located in the New York office.

Carney worked at CommerzBank for 10 years, most recently as a senior vice president, while Neu was there for six years, most recently as vice president.

Carney said he decided to move to Fortis because of the difficulties the group at CommerzBank encountered after Moody's Investors Service downgraded the bank to A2 from A1 in December 2002.

CommerzBank has short-term rating of P1. Moody's rates Fortis Aa3/P1. Standard & Poor's rates Fortis AA-minus/A1-plus and CommerzBank A-minus/A2.

Carney said the venture at Fortis will allow money market funds greater diversity in their portfolios, since such funds can face capacity issues if their investments are backed by only a few credit enhancers. Money market funds purchase short-term notes that are backed by letters of credit.

Fortis will provide letters of credit and liquidity facilities to states, cities, counties, authorities, and airports.

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