by Tanta on 11/07/2007 01:08:00 PM

Because the color of someone's tie says a lot about appraisal quality. Also, I didn't make this up, and you can click the link to verify that:

"Not a golf or tennis player? Then go on a date!" said the ABS East brochure at its asset-backed securities conference in Orlando, Florida, which runs Sunday through Wednesday.

While not your traditional singles speed-dating event, the conference sponsor hoped to create some key matchups between issuers and investors seeking to form some true, long-lasting business partnerships.

"It just takes some of the guesswork out of trying to connect and makes a very large event more intimate for those people who may be new to the market or don't already have established connections," said Jade Friedensohn, IMN senior vice president and event producer.

Investors were offered the chance to meet one-on-one with issuers of mortgage asset-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations and non-mortgage ABS on Tuesday. Six investors and issuers spent 10 minutes in pairs of two hoping to make a connection before moving on to their next potential match.

"Ten minutes should be enough to determine if one investor's risk profile is in line with that issuer's platform. When you're first meeting, the goal is to even understand if there's compatibility there," said Friedensohn. "If there is, at that point, you've had face time, you've exchanged business cards and the follow-up can be done on-site or down the line."

(Thanks, scav (I think))