As Reference Data Review went to press, Standard & Poor’s Cusip Service Bureau announced that it was teaming up with Mark-it Partners to develop a numbering system for its entity database, Project Red. The S&P Cusip Service Bureau has created two sets of alphanumeric codes, covering credit default swap reference entities and pairs of reference entities and reference obligations. The codes are aimed at providing an easy method of identifying entities and obligations in default swap trade confirmations. Meanwhile, S&P also announced plans for a bond reference data service, to be launched mid-2004. The new, real-time service is aimed at supporting the industry’s Real Time Trade Match (RTTM) initiative.