In Brief: Countrywide's Europe Venture Now Formed

Countrywide Credit Industries Inc. has formed a previously announced joint venture with Woolwich PLC, to provide mortgage services in Europe.

The newly formed entity initially will provide services only through Woolwich, a United Kingdom mortgage lender and servicer.

Countrywide, which announced its alliance with Woolwich on Feb. 17, said the partnership then will be marketed to other lenders throughout Europe and will serve as a platform to support Countrywide's European operations.

The two companies will each own about 50% of the joint venture and will share in the initial capitalization of the newly formed company, which is expected to begin operations in the second half of this year.

Countrywide will provide systems and expertise through a new company established to license mortgage technology to the partnership company and to other companies worldwide.

Woolwich will use the new company to provide services to its $40 billion loan portfolio and to its mortgage origination business, which loaned about $10 billion last year.

Stanford L. Kurland, Countrywide's chief operating officer, said this venture represents Countrywide's first step in implementing its global expansion strategy.

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