Eversheds and SHIP to host an Industry Debate

SHIP and Eversheds international law firm are delighted to announce that they are holding a debate to discuss the future of the equity release market on 28 April 2009 in central London. This event – which will be hosted by repected financial journalist, Paul Lewis – will bring together supporters and critics of these schemes in a format which encourages frank debate and robust discussion.

The debate will focus on ‘The future of the equity release market’ as well as ‘Savings and Retirement: how can equity release help’ and ‘Is Equity Release really the solution to the pensions crisis?’.

The event will take start at 09:45 on 28 April and finish at 14:00. Places are strictly limited so those interested in attending should contact [email protected] to reserve a place.

Andrea Rozario, Director General of SHIP, comments:

“2009 is a very exciting year for equity release with planned launch of our White Paper in the summer which will set the agenda for this industry in the coming years. Therefore, now is the ideal time to hold this type of debate as it gathers together the important stakeholders and encourages them to air their thoughts about this industry going forward. I look forward to taking part in what is sure to be an interesting discussion.”

Kathryn Roberts, partner and equity release specialist at Eversheds, continues:

“As a firm we have been active in the equity release market for many years and now is very much the time for the industry to step up and take its rightful place amongst other retirement funding options. The subject has long polarised options so we’re looking forward to what promises to be a lively and highly informative debate.”

The line up of speakers includes:

• Andrea Rozario, Director General of SHIP, the UK’s leading professional body for equity release product providers.
• Derek Handley, Chief Executive of Seniors Money International – a specialist international financial services group.
• Kathryn Roberts, lead of the market-leading equity release team at Eversheds.
• Paul Lewis, well-known financial journalist and presenter  of Money Box on Radio 4.
• Teresa Fritz, Principal researcher at Which? – an organisation which has been skeptical about the value of these schemes in the past.