Briefs: New DIFA chair appointed, Liberty launches CMBS, BOQ launches ABS, AOFM completes fourth RMB
Suncorp's head of equipment, trade and debtor finance, Wayne Thomason, has been appointed chair of the Debtor and Invoice Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand. He replaces Scottish Pacific chief executive Peter Langham. DIFA represents more than a dozen finance companies that sell around A$65 billion of debtor finance a year. Liberty Financial has launched an issue of commercial mortgage-backed securities, seeking A$300 million of funding. Liberty Series 2015-1 SME is the company's first CMBS since 2013. Guidance from the joint lead managers, Westpac and Credit Suisse, indicates that Liberty will pay a margin of around 150 basis points on the A1 notes. Bank of Queensland has launched an issue of asset-backed securities, seeking A$500 million of funds. Series 2015-1 REDS EHP Trust is backed by a pool of loans and leases for cars, light commercial vehicles, trucks, excavators and "other wheels". The finance was originated by Bank of Queensland Equipment Finance Ltd. The Australian Office of Financial management has completed its fourth auction of residential mortgage-backed securities, accepting bids for A$77.9 million of securities - the lowest result to date. The AOFM has sold $458 million of its RMBS holdings after putting close to $2 billion worth of securities up for sale since June.