Whispers.

Financial Security Assurance has named Richard Holzinger managing director of U.S. corporate finance, which encompasses the business of sureties for consumer finance, CDOs, residential mortgages and structured finance transactions. He succeeds Daniel Farrell, who has left the company. For the last six years, Holzinger has been managing director of FSA's Asian operations. That post will be filled by Michael Horn, formerly assistant general counsel in Singapore. Prior to joining FSA, Holzinger was a managing director of Bankers Trust Company in Hong Kong. That was preceded by stints at Shearson Lehman Hutton and Paine Webber Incorporated.

Emerging Issues Task Force item 03-15 was not discussed as planned at …