The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Europe has been primarily focused on the primary and secondary fixed income markets.
However, SIFMA Europe is now taking its business model and replicating it in equities through the newly created European primary markets division (EPMD).
This new initiative is aimed at having SIFMAs regulatory expertise have more of an impact on Europes primary markets that cover new issues of equity and equity-linked securities. The global board of SIFMA will expand coverage of the equities markets with the integration of European Securities Forum (ESF) and the new EPMD.
The ESF will be the center for clearing, settlement and custody for SIFMA Europe. Werner Frey, formerly the ESFs CEO, will become the managing director of the new division that will be renamed European Securities Services Forum (ESSF). Lorraine Charlton will lead the EPMD, after serving as the executive director, regulatory policy and general counsel for SIFMA affiliate European High Yield Association.
