ICMA’s Regulatory Policy Team Enhanced - ICMA Expands Its Regulatory Team To Strengthen Its Members’ Voice On Regulatory Policy Issues

The International Capital Market Association (ICMA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Richards as Senior Advisor on Regulatory Policy, effective November 1, 2005. Mr. Richards, 54, joins ICMA from the Bank of England, where he has been a Special Adviser on Europe for the past 8 years, focusing on Economic and Monetary Union, as well as the regulation of EU financial services. Previously, he was an Adviser to the Single Market Directorate General in the European Commission, and a director of a merchant bank for 17 years.

Also joining the team is Mr. Ondrej Petr, 29, currently attorney-at-law at Havel & Holasek, Prague. Mr. Petr will commence his position on January 1, 2006. ICMA expects to announce further appointments to the regulatory policy team in the coming weeks.

Commenting on the recent appointments, John L. Langton, Chief Executive and Secretary General, said: ‘ICMA’s decision to significantly enhance its regulatory policy activities and team has been taken in response to the increased regulatory attention being paid to the capital markets by European and other authorities. ICMA’s primary objective is to ensure that markets are regulated in ways that are appropriate, pragmatic, cost-effective and contribute to the efficiency and fairness of the international capital market which have been a great European success story over the past 40 years.’

‘We are delighted to have Paul and Ondrej on board. They will bring a broad range of experience to ICMA, including robust financial and legal backgrounds.’