Egan-Jones Taps Structured Finance Veteran Raynes to Lead Practice
Event summary
- Egan-Jones Ratings Co. appointed Sylvain Raynes, Ph.D., to lead its structured finance practice on April 15, 2026.
- Raynes brings 30+ years of experience in structured finance, credit risk analysis, and transaction structuring.
- He co-developed Waterfall Editor and ABSTRAK, real-time valuation systems used in primary and secondary markets.
- Raynes previously held senior roles at Moody's, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Citibank, and PaineWebber (now UBS).
- Egan-Jones operates on an investor-pay model to reduce conflicts of interest.
The big picture
Egan-Jones' appointment of Sylvain Raynes underscores the growing importance of independent, investor-focused analysis in structured finance. As securitization markets evolve, the firm's investor-pay model positions it to challenge established rating agencies like Moody's. Raynes' background in complex securitizations and litigation expertise could further differentiate Egan-Jones in a segment dominated by larger, issuer-pay competitors.
What we're watching
- Market Expansion
- How Egan-Jones will leverage Raynes' expertise to grow its structured finance segment amid increasing market complexity.
- Analytical Discipline
- Whether Raynes' methodologies can enhance Egan-Jones' independent, transparent analysis in a competitive landscape.
- Regulatory Dynamics
- The pace at which regulatory bodies may adopt Raynes' structured finance analytics for oversight.