Macquarie Margin Lending enhances product

06 April 2006

Macquarie Margin Lending has significantly enhanced its Approved Securities List with the addition of 28 new shares, and has also increased 114 Loan to Value Ratios (LVRs) for Australian shares on this list.

The increases follow a recent comprehensive review of Macquarie Margin Lending's risk management framework, which was conducted as a result of consultation and feedback from financial advisers.

Macquarie Margin Lending's Head of Sales and Marketing, Peter van der Westhuyzen, said Macquarie would now be able to provide a wider choice of investments for clients and improve its LVRs for future Initial Public Offerings.

He said that Macquarie's list of approved managed funds had also grown from 1,295 in February this year to more than 2,000 as of this month.

"The review was in response to feedback received at recent adviser feedback forums and ongoing client feedback," Mr van der Westhuyzen said.

"Adviser's are working at the coalface of our business. They know what their clients want and what improvements need to be made to provide investors with wider choices and better diversification.

"We regularly consult advisers and our clients on how we can improve our service and we have implemented a continuous review of our existing risk management framework, our systems and product offerings to ensure we continue to deliver competitive products and exceptional service to our clients and advisers.

"Our new LVR model, together with the additions to our approved list of securities and managed funds, ensure we are providing our clients with a margin lending model that will continue to be considered a market leader by both advisers and direct clients," he said.

Macquarie Margin Lending is a leading provider of protected lending and margin lending products in Australia. Macquarie has a national team of specialists in distribution, products, marketing, and client services dedicated to providing premium products and services to advisers, distributors, and customers.

For further information please contact:

Irene O'Brien
Head of PR & Communication
Macquarie Financial Services Group
Macquarie Funds Management Group
Tel: (612) 8232 3241
Mobile: (61) 417 260 309

Peter van der Westhuyzen
Head of Sales and Marketing
Macquarie Margin Lending
Tel: (61 2) 8232 6109