CSFB ABS, CMBS Desks Raise Over 200K To Fight Cancer

Credit Suisse First Boston's asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities trading desks raised a total of $210,000 for lymphoma research last Monday night, $120,000 of which was pledged that night. The benefit was held in honor of CMBS syndicate head Barry Polen who has recently been diagnosed with the disease. The traders auctioned off the rights to shave their heads. Thirty-four Street pros were shaved, including several from other firms, including Mark Brown of Nomura Securities International, John Beaman ofLehman Brothers and John Bonfiglio of Fitch Ratings. Ben Aitkenhead, head of securitized product sales, was the night's most generous benefactor, pledging a total of $27,000 (see chart below). Aitkenhead did not respond to a phone call seeking comment by press time last Thursday.

In addition to the shaved scalps, Greg Richter, the head of CSFB's ABS desk, had his chest shaved for $10,000. Mike Marriott, the head of CMBS trading at CSFB, showed BW a picture of Richter's chest being shaved, but declined to provide the picture for publication, saying "I don't think we should give people the impression that Richter does this sort of thing regularly." He did, however, acknowledge that the picture shows Richter enjoying himself immensely. Richter did not respond to a phone call seeking comment on his new, sleeker look.