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Agenda

You are viewing the 2024 agenda. The agenda for the upcoming event will be announced at the start of 2025.

Examine the factors shaping the US economy and how to respond to risk and uncertainty whether by streamlining operations, new cash management strategies or utilising technology from AI to APIs.

Learn how other treasurers are raising capital and managing their cash flows in the current economic environment.

Gain practical guidance on how to manage operational challenges in the region. Topics include FX, cross border payments, near-shoring business operations and supplier and trade financing.

Moderated by:
  • Daniel Blumen

    Partner,

    Treasury Alliance Group

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8:00am -8:55am

Registration and breakfast

9:00am -9:10am

Welcome address

  • Emma West

    Managing director,

    EuroFinance and CPI

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9:10am -9:50am

Economic factors shaping the US economy in 2024

The U.S. economy has been on a positive recovery path since the waning of the pandemic, with inflation more than halving from a high of 9 percent in 2022 to 3 percent today. Yet the economy is still vulnerable to a downturn and recession, as further Federal Reserve rate rises to combat underlying inflationary pressures might further dampen economic activity as borrowing costs rise, with growth projected at 1.9 percent for 2024. Slowing global growth might drag on US exports leading to a potential slowing of domestic growth, and the ongoing trade war with China could also weigh negatively on the economy. On the positive side, low unemployment rates, wage rises and strong consumer spending, all point to steady growth in the year ahead. As the economy stabilises into 2024, increased business confidence and investment, will mean that treasury is likely to support new business growth as companies move through the new economic cycle. The outcome of the presidential election later in 2024 might impact economic policy, although unlikely to feed negatively into short term financial forecasts. In this session, we discuss the macroeconomic factors that might impact the economy, business forecasts in the year ahead and strategies to manage risk in both upside and downside scenarios.

  • David Andolfatto

    Professor and chair, department of Economics, MHBS,

    University of Miami

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Moderated by:
  • Robert Novaria

    Senior EuroFinance tutor and partner,

    Treasury Alliance Group

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9:50am -10:30am

Risk, uncertainty and predictions for 2024/2025

The famous statistical adage that the only certainty is uncertainty holds true in corporate finance and treasury risk today. From the uncertainties of geopolitics and global trade and supply disruptions to domestic uncertainties in interest rates, inflation and a potential recession, uncertainties in the financial system and foreign exchange, rapid evolution of finance technologies, cyber-attacks, fraud and AI, and how climate change will alter markets. In the face of all these uncertainties and risks come great opportunities for corporate finance and treasurers to differentiate themselves by focusing on what matters most – cash flows, forecasts, liquidity planning and working capital provisions. So how do leading finance executives develop risk mitigation strategies and monitor in real time? What technologies can be deployed to create risk warning systems and how is data collected and analyzed to proactively identify and develop mitigating actions? In this session finance executives from leading global companies discuss their risk outlook and how they work with bank partners to make the uncertain a little more certain.

  • Mack Makode

    VP, treasurer,

    Under Armour

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  • Todd Yoder

    EVP and chief financial officer,

    S&B USA

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  • Mandana Sadigh

    SVP and treasurer,

    Mattel Inc.

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Moderated by:
  • Robert Novaria

    Senior EuroFinance tutor and partner,

    Treasury Alliance Group

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10:30am -11:20am

Networking break

11:20am -12:00pm

Cash management and forecasting strategies: pooling and intercompany netting in the region

The extent to which treasurers can successfully manage and execute intercompany transactions between different entities within the same corporate group, can make a positive difference in supporting business growth. A core strategy in central cash management across treasury operations, treasurer’s are focussed on the efficient execution of cash pooling and intercompany netting, to reduce cash flow volatility by offsetting payments between different entities. Netting, including payments, loans, and transfers of cash, can also reduce transactions and costs, improve cash visibility and enhance liquidity by providing cash where it is needed, improving overall cash flow management and forecasting. Yet across the group, working in multiple jurisdictions in the region, legal and regulatory compliance issues can be complex and potentially introduce new risks. In this session, treasurers discuss their intercompany pooling and netting strategies in the region, especially in managing ‘trapped’ pools of liquidity, and the tools that improve efficiency in their execution. Treasurers will also reflect on how their cash management strategies impact cash visibility and the tools that help produce strategic cash forecasting.

  • Connie Miner

    SVP, global head of treasury,

    News Corp

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  • Tamara Saront-Eisner

    Treasurer and vice president, mergers and acquisitions, Americas Hub,

    Air Liquide

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  • Vincent Joseph

    Assistant treasurer – capital and liquidity,
    TechnipFMC

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Moderated by:
  • Daniel Blumen

    Partner,

    Treasury Alliance Group

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12:00pm -1:00pm

Roundtables

Interactive, moderated roundtable discussions, providing the opportunity to share experiences and learn from speakers and peers that share your priorities.

  • CASH: Cash management and forecasting practice and trends in treasury in the region
  • FX: FX, hedging and risk in US, Lat Am and international markets
  • PAYMENTS: Improving payments and receivables processes and practice in domestic and cross border transactions
  • OPS: Operational challenges for treasury, including managing centralised and regionalised functions and teams across the region
  • TECH: Technology for treasury – the promise and challenges of AI, APIs and automation and their current applications
  • LIQUIDITY: Financing and liquidity challenges including working capital, RCF, bonds, loans, sustainable finance and money markets
  • MARKETS: Economic outlook and risk in regional markets, including macro and fiscal environments, inflation, rates and growth trends 
  • COMPLIANCE: Treasury compliance, tax and KYC and ESG requirements in US and regional markets for companies and subsidiaries
  • Tai Carr-Fraser

    Senior director, assistant treasurer,
    Capri Holdings Limited

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  • Albert Pla Arasa

    Global head of eFX sales,

    BBVA

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  • Arijit Dasgupta

    Assistant treasurer

    Viatris 

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  • Daniel Fleming

    VP assistant treasurer,

    Circana

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  • Bruce Edlund

    Group director, assistant treasurer,

    Cloud Software Group

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  • Mike Sheehan

    Director, international cash management sales,

    BNP Paribas

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1:00pm -2:00pm

Lunch

2:00pm -2:40pm

Latin America: growth in 2024

Whilst the region will underperform a resilient US economy in 2024, variable factors shaping the economies of Latin America, especially Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina, will play out in the year ahead. Both positive and negative economic forces at play in Latin America will determine growth in 2024, forecast at 2% by the IMF. The Fund forecasts the major economies of Mexico and Brazil will grow by 2.4% and 2.2%, with Argentina declining by 2.8%. As global growth slows in 2024, Latin America will likely see a decline in exports and commodity prices, whilst ongoing political instability might lead to some economic uncertainty and discourage investment in specific countries. On the positive side, resilient domestic demand as incomes rise. Mexico will benefit from US nearshoring, and the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is likely to boost trade and investment in the country. Any decline in demand for energy or commodities will impact Mexico and Brazil, whilst Argentina is grappling with still high inflation. For treasurers, whilst the overall growth outlook is positive, risks in foreign exchange and commodity markets will persist. In this session, we evaluate the growth scenarios in the region and look at regional strategies to mitigate risk. With the US Fed now back to keeping rates “higher for longer” what are the implications for interest rates and currencies in Latin America?

  • Robert Wood

    Principal economist, financial risk manager Latin America and the Caribbean,

    Economist Intelligence Unit

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2:00pm -2:40pm

Evolving the next generation in-house bank for treasury

The In-house bank has evolved over time as corporate treasurers have developed more efficient ways to manage cash and liquidity operations. As a centralised hub for treasury operations, the in-house bank has gained support as a means of optimising treasury flows. Yet the technology build and development of in-house banking operations and infrastructure involves resources and know-how that includes partnerships with IT, tech, legal, tax and financial insitutions. Here our panel of treasurers will describe how they built the business case for their in-house bank operations, the services and functions they decided to include, the technology build required, how banking partners helped and the measurable ROI.

  • Mari Jõgila

    Director treasury operations,

    Circle K Europe

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  • Tim Kolenda

    Regional treasurer, North America,

    AbbVie

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  • Amy Goldstein

    Managing director, international cash management sales,

    BNP Paribas

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2:00pm -5:20pm

Event breaks into 2 tracks: Core and LatAm

2:40pm -3:20pm

Hedging foreign exchange risk in Latin America

Latin American major currencies, including the Mexican peso, Chilean peso and Brazilian real have strengthened against the dollar in recent months, as inflation has fallen in the US from last year’s highs, enabling an uplift in trade, export and investment in the region. Yet other currencies, such as the Argentinian peso and Colombian peso have weakened against the dollar, creating some volatility in these countries. With high levels of debt, ongoing political instability and price volatility in commodity markets, risks in Latin American currencies remain in foreign exchange trading for corporate treasurers. Yet forward contracts, or currency swaps, to exchange currency at a specified price in the future, can be expensive and complex. Hedging strategies need to be evaluated against the size of the foreign exchange exposure, the volatility of the currencies exchanged, the risk tolerance of the business and the capital available to commit to the hedging program. Automated dynamic hedging is also an option for companies dealing with large flows, or do not have the manual capacity to execute trades daily. FX automation might improve efficiencies, and even reduce risks, but requires treasury monitoring and interventions and might not be suitable for all trading. In this session regional treasurers discuss strategies around intra regional FX trading in Latin American local currencies as well as dollar trading, risk tolerances and approach to hedging, and where and when automation helps.

  • Pamela Potrie

    Latam finance senior director,

    PedidosYa / Delivery Hero

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  • Ciaran Fegan

    Senior director, FX risk management and strategic projects,

    Viatris

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2:40pm -3:20pm

Cash investments: money markets, yields and reform - the short and medium outlook

With elevated rates, cash investments in money market funds and short term bonds and notes are yielding higher returns than the historic average. Money market funds, which experienced high outflows in March 2020, requiring government intervention and support to stabilise markets, are now enjoying strong performance, averaging 4.5 percent. Whilst the Security and Exchange Commission’s introduction of liquidity fees at 5% redemptions of net assets are designed to stem large fund outflows in future crises. In short term treasury markets, an uplift in yield to near 5%, with long date bonds closer to 4%, points to an inverted yield curve and a potential recession red flag. For corporate treasurers in the investment arena, the short term outlook is positive, yet the process of making effective, risk-based decisions when investing cash surpluses and developing strategies to maximise returns in the longer term remain uncertain. In this session, treasurers share their outlook and risk strategies in cash investments.

  • Samuel Vallotton

    VP, treasury

    Salesforce

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  • Dan LaRocco

    Head of US liquidity,

    Northern Trust Asset Management

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  • Doug Tropp

    SVP and treasurer,

    Booking Holdings Inc.

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Moderated by:
  • Robert Novaria

    Senior EuroFinance tutor and partner,

    Treasury Alliance Group

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3:20pm -4:00pm

Networking break

3:20pm -4:00pm

Networking break

4:00pm -4:40pm

Liquidity management in the current rate environment

The good news is that inflation is falling in domestic US markets, yet the Federal Reserve interest rates hikes to combat inflation has led to a tougher liquidity environment for corporate treasurers. Higher interest rates, lower liquidity, and increased volatility has made it challenging for treasurers to raise capital and manage their cash flows. Managing liquidity in the current rate environment, involves increasing cash reserves by leveraging assets such as receivables, extending debt maturities, and hedging against interest rate risks. Cash reserves to meet liquidity shortfalls, might not always be possible and so treasurers may also need to consider alternative liquidity providers. In this session treasurers discus their liquidity management strategies to maintain healthy working capital positions for the businesses they support and how they will mitigate against liquidity risks as rates stabilise into 2024.

  • James Krikorian

    VP, treasurer,

    Krispy Kreme

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  • Mike Giakoumatos

    VP, treasurer,

    Perry Ellis International

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Moderated by:
  • Robert Novaria

    Senior EuroFinance tutor and partner,

    Treasury Alliance Group

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4:00pm -4:40pm

Challenges in cross border payments in US and Latin America

Moving money around countries in the region can be extraordinarily difficult and time consuming, and expensive, comment treasurers. Yet cross border payments between US and Latin America, and indeed globally, have been a big focus for innovation in the payments industry.  Interbank networks, including SWIFT have rolled out new messaging systems and technologies, in attempts to modernise outmoded correspondent banking models. Even so, cross-border payments can still be challenging, intransparent, costly and slow. Often with several intermediaries involved in the transaction, inefficiencies in the local payments processes, technical and interoperability challenges in multi-rail payments systems and bank regulations that include security and fraud checks all can delay payments.  The lack of transparency in cross-border payments can make it difficult for treasurers to track payments, and transaction fees, especially in foreign exchange can be high. Digitisation of payment technologies, especially real time payments, as well as payment APIs, have made cross border payments easier to track, and new technologies, such as blockchain, where they can be applied, make cross-border payments faster and secure, whilst reducing transaction costs. Yet the challenges of cross-border payments remain a pain point for treasurers. In this session we discuss the technologies that are designed to fix the problems, why they don’t always work, and the workarounds treasurers use to ensure payments, receivables and cash flow around borders.

  • Maria Claudia Mejia Mesa

    Finance control director,

    Grupo Levapan

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  • Jennifer Schumacher

    Director, treasury,

    Prologis

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4:40pm -5:20pm

Working capital against inflationary pressures

Working capital is the lifeblood of business operations, and treasury is the heart. In this analogy, inflation is the disease. Whilst inflation is currency, at 4 percent, down from 8 percent last year, it still remains elevated, increasing pressure on costs, wages and prices, and on the working capital treasurers need to make available pump blood into business operations. Assets including cash, accounts receivable and payable as well as inventory, can all be mobilised to support liquidity where needed, improving cash flow, and strengthening short term capital requirements. In rising markets, treasurers can reach for a set of tools, including increasing cash flow through prices and extending debt terms. In this session treasurers share their strategies for maintaining essential working capital ratios and steps they take to mitigate liquidity risks.

  • Daniel Fleming

    VP assistant treasurer,

    Circana

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  • Arijit Dasgupta

    Assistant treasurer

    Viatris 

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Moderated by:
  • Robert Novaria

    Senior EuroFinance tutor and partner,

    Treasury Alliance Group

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4:40pm -5:20pm

Managing multinational treasury compliance for local subsidiaries

For multinationals with operations in the US and Latin America and globally, or indeed managing subsidiaries from a treasury compliance perspective is complex. As businesses grow and enter new markets, the need for centralised compliance structures becomes greater. To manage treasury activities to comply with applicable laws and regulations is  an important task for corporate treasurers,  to protect the company from financial penalties and legal liability. Developing treasury compliance policies, in terms of the obligations of subsidiaries can be challenging and requires resources to actively manage entities, ongoing monitoring and audits and possible penalties for noncompliance. Here we discuss how central treasury teams have implemented treasury compliance policies for subsidiaries and how technology, such as cloud applications, has helped in the monitoring and reporting of subsidiary activities to deliver effective and efficient operations. 

  • Fabiano Faustino

    Former CFO – Chief financial office

    Unimed Uberlândia

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  • Leandro Wendt

    CFO

    Agrícola Alvorada

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  • Cesar Falla Olivo

    Corporate treasurer and finance manager,

    Grupo Gloria

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5:20pm -5:30pm

Summary

5:30pm -7:00pm

Networking reception

Examine the factors shaping the US economy and how to respond to risk and uncertainty whether by streamlining operations, new cash management strategies or utilising technology from AI to APIs.

Learn how other treasurers are raising capital and managing their cash flows in the current economic environment.

Moderated by:
  • Daniel Blumen

    Partner,

    Treasury Alliance Group

    bar1 bar2

Gain practical guidance on how to manage operational challenges in the region. Topics include FX, cross border payments, near-shoring business operations and supplier and trade financing.

Moderated by:
  • Robert Novaria

    Senior EuroFinance tutor and partner,

    Treasury Alliance Group

    bar1 bar2
8:00am -8:55am

Breakfast

9:00am -9:10am

Welcome

9:10am -9:50am

ERP, TMS and APIs: transforming the treasury technology trinity

Three cornerstones of treasury technology are being laid by treasurers in multinational companies today. Application programming interfaces (APIs) can be used to connect treasury management systems (TMS), and enterprise resource planning systems (ERP) with the treasury and financial software applications, and external bank portals to improve data integration and collaboration, from payments and bank account management to cash forecasting. The latest ERP systems, that embed treasury modules, also have API connectivity to expand and integrate external applications into the system. The creation of the treasury technology trinity, is the ongoing transformation project in many multinational corporations, as it promises, and delivers, great efficiencies and benefits in cash management and liquidity planning. In this session, we take a snapshot from treasurers at various stages of implementation, to discuss the process of transformation, the skills and resources required, and the roadmaps to successful integration.

  • Raul Sanchez

    Director treasury,

    Mitel 

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  • Samuel Vallotton

    VP, treasury

    Salesforce

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  • Guy Simons

    Former VP corporate treasury

    ZF Group

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Moderated by:
  • Robert Novaria

    Senior EuroFinance tutor and partner,

    Treasury Alliance Group

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9:50am -10:30am

Treasury strategies for when rates are cut

Even with stickier than expected U.S. inflation this year, rates have arguably reached a plateau, with markets now pricing in Fed rate cuts for late 2024. In Lat Am too, rates are forecast to trend downwards next year from double digit highs in Brazil and Mexico. Treasurers who adjusted cash, liquidity and working capital management strategies as rates moved up, are now reviewing their strategies as rate cuts loom. Where treasurers sought to extract liquidity from assets such as receivables and inventory, for working capital purposes, the imperative to leverage balance sheets is perhaps less urgent. For treasurers that have benefitted from historically high yields in cash investments, rate cuts might for some prompt a rethink on risk, as uplifts in short term assets will gradually taper, creating questions over optimal investment  strategies. In this session our bank panel discusses the impact of rate cuts on borrowing, liquidity, working capital as well as cash investments, yield and risk, as treasurers adjust to a new rate environment.

  • Julian Oldale

    Head of corporate treasury and liquidity, transaction banking Americas,

    BNP Paribas

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  • Tory Hinton

    Global head of liquidity product strategy,

    Northern Trust Asset Management 

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  • Juan Carlos Sanchez

    Head of GTB USA

    BBVA

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Moderated by:
  • Daniel Blumen

    Partner,

    Treasury Alliance Group

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10:30am -11:10am

Networking break

11:10am -11:50am

Reevaluating liquidity provision and treasury services: the evolution of bank client relationships in the region

Recent bank failures in the US have highlighted the need for corporate treasury to reevaluate liquidity provision and banking relationships, both internationally and at local level.  Latin America’s banks have proved resilient, greatly strengthened since the 2008 global financial crisis and economic and debt crises of the 1980s, with capital adequacy ratios above regulatory minimums. Latin American bank lending is funded by deposits, rather than external wholesale funding, and non performing loan ratios are low. As rates rise and the credit cycle tightens, the region’s banks are likely to develop a cautious approach to lending, in markets where corporate debt is elevated, with rates likely to remain elevated too. In this session we look at the strengths of regional and local banks in their economies, the development of  bank products and services for corporate treasury clients in the region, and assess how bank-client relationships are evolving through the current inflationary and raised rate environment. We also examine how corporate treasurers are working with banks to strengthen and diversify both liquidity provision and treasury services.

11:10am

Event breaks into 2 tracks: Core and LatAm

11:10am -11:50am

Capital markets: bonds and loans markets for US corporates

US investment grade bond yields are at their highest level for a decade at par 4.7%, whilst for weaker credits, access to bond and loan markets remain challenging. Syndicated and leveraged loan markets in the US fell sharply in 2022/3, with lenders in risk off mode in a rising rate environment, and corporate borrowers increasingly avoiding reentering debt markets. Refinancing in 2024 is likely to remain challenging, as covenants are extended and corporates seek to leverage balance sheet assets for working capital. Rating agencies have also raised default ratio scenarios in high yield markets, as tighter lending conditions and capital access as well as inflation uncertainty challenges corporate resilience in refinancing and liquidity management. Against this tough issuance outlook in both public bonds and loan markets, high yield companies corporates might increasingly look to private debt placements, or asset sales, In this session, treasurers discuss their liquidity strategies in the context of tighter credit conditions and share their outlook on the medium term bonds and loans markets in the US.

  • Victor Pausin

    Treasurer – Americas,

    Nissan Motors Limited

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  • Patrick Baumann

    VP treasurer,

    Signature Aviation

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  • Daniel Verwholt

    Senior vice president and treasurer,

    Air Lease Corporation

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11:50am -12:30pm

Nearshoring business operations: challenges for treasury

The supply crises that stemmed from the pandemic and ongoing trade war with  China, have highlighted the limitations of globalisation, creating price instability, triggering inflation, soaring rates, trapping cash and destabilising currencies and markets. The response from some US companies has been to move business operations, including manufacturing and supply either onshore in the US or nearshore in Latin America. For US treasurers, onshoring business operations and supply can mean a reduction or elimination in FX trading, hedging, cross border supplier payments and cash repatriation. Strategic decisions to nearshore and open factories and develop supply chains in Latin America, in a move away from China and the far East is also accelerating. According to estimates by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), nearshoring could add USD 78 billion per year in annual exports in Latin America. Nearshoring business operations and supply  has strategic impact on the treasury functions, including the impact on cash flow and working capital management, foreign exchange risk, tax planning and treasury reporting and compliance. In this session we discuss the challenges for treasurers in nearshoring business operations, from managing local suppliers and banks, to setting up with local treasury operations.  

 

  • Lizette Gracida

    Senior director of institutional affairs and foreign trade,

    Toyota de México

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  • Rafael Galaviz

    Executive director, head of advisory GTB Mexico,

    BBVA

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11:50am -12:30pm

Mergers and acquisitions: operational challenges in supporting new business and aligning treasuries

As the economic cycle turns positive, mergers and acquisition activity might pick up into the recovery, as companies restructure and enter new markets, in Lat Am and globally.  As companies acquire competitors in M&A scenarios, or suppliers in strategic acquisitions, the treasury assimilates new people and technologies that come with the deal. Integrating new business lines, as well as plugging into additional treasury arms for reporting, requires some reengineering of systems and processes. As companies assimilate, efficiencies will be found in operations as processes migrate to central treasury systems. In this session we discuss the realignment of operations and the process of fusing treasury functions after mergers and acquisitions, and the reengineering required in processes and technologies to ensure successful integration.

  • Amy Lainge

    Head of global treasury operations,

    Warner Bros. Discovery

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  • Bruce Edlund

    Group director, assistant treasurer,

    Cloud Software Group

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  • Lisa Killer

    Director treasury operations

    Orlando Health

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12:30pm -1:40pm

Lunch

1:40pm -2:20pm

Supplier and trade financing: the treasury win-win

Companies that operate in Latin America and beyond are increasingly focussed on working capital across the business as well as maintaining capital support in their supply chains. Supply shortages have prioritised supplier relationships, and treasurers play a role in supporting business operations by supporting liquidity through supplier financing. Extending DPOs is not always optimal in maintaining healthy cash conversion cycles, cash visibility and controls, and can destabilise suppliers in local markets. Given the priority to maintain cash reserves in the current rate environment, supplier chain financing or reverse factoring, has been steadily gaining ground in Latin America. As multinationals can provide financing through their ratings, and at lower rates than local bank markets, suppliers can benefit  cheaper financing, as well as short DSO payments. Together with trade financing in larger and more complex financings in manufacturing, commodity and project markets, banks and their multinational treasury clients play a pivotal role in the health of supply chains in the region. In this session, treasurers, banking partners and liquidity providers share their real world examples of how they have helped support the business and develop trade through supplier financing.

1:40pm -2:20pm

Sustainability and ESG in treasury: leveraging liquidity in green bonds and loan markets

The exponential growth of ESG markets and sustainable finance has impacted corporate treasury, as a source of capital and liquidity, an investment and asset class and as a rating and measure of performance. The green bond and sustainable loan markets are now ten times larger in the US than in 2019. US green bond issuance stands at $500bn, with $64bn issued in 2022. Sustainability-linked loan issuance (SLL), where rates are variable on ESG KPI performance, stood at US$200bn in US loan markets, whilst green loan markets, where proceeds are used to fund environmental projects, was up 46% at US$25bn, in contrast to the overall US loan issuance, which was down 25% at US$1trn in 2022. The Inflation Reduction Act will likely be a driver for green bond and loan activity, unlocking hundreds of billions in energy and climate-related investment in the next 10 years. The US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) proposals to enhance and standardise climate-related disclosures made by all SEC registrants will also likely propel SLL and green bond markets. Yet the market is not without its detractors, who claim that yield should be prioritised over ESG criteria. In this session, we discuss the role and activities of treasurers in ESG and sustainable investing and issuance in the US and the Americas and the value of green liquidity in the money mix.

  • Leticia Zuardi

    Impact investing responsible,

    Vale

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  • Andrea Vigo

    Global director of capital markets and sustainable financing,

    Dow Chemical

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2:20pm -3:00pm

Country Roundtables (BRA, ARG, MEX)

Delegate group discussions on sharing experiences and challenges of treasury operations in specific regions

  • Haydee Quevedo

    Treasury business partner,

    Holcim

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  • Leandro Wendt

    CFO

    Agrícola Alvorada

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2:20pm -3:00pm

BMS's strategic response to a shifting macro-economic landscape

Successfully navigating the volatile economic landscape amidst integration efforts post one of the largest corporate acquisitions, was the task of the BMS treasury team, who in this session talk through the key challenges and achievements in a unique scenario.  Faced with increasing market volatility and currency risks due to global events, rising interest rates and a strengthening dollar, the BMS treasury team skillfully morphed these challenges into opportunity resulting in reduced risk and positive P&L & cashflows. Aggregating FX exposures across multiple ERP systems for daily balance sheet FX exposures, whilst automating end to end FX trading processes, the team achieved a technical transformation to rationalize and manage currency volatility risks. Further, accelerating the cash flows hedging program, together with restructuring and expanding the net investment hedging strategy, the team generated interest expense savings and successfully mitigated risks while increasing flexibility. In addition, the $6bn debt restructuring in 2022, strategically unlocked free cash flows to support the company’s growth strategy and created net interest savings. Overall, BMS has demonstrated the positive power of treasury to not only mitigate risks but also unlock valuable opportunities.

  • Ravi Patel

    Director of financial risk management,
    Bristol Myers Squibb

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  • Abhishek Jhunjhunwala

    Director of capital markets,
    Bristol Myers Squibb 

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3:00pm -3:40pm

Networking

3:40pm -4:20pm

Treasury teams and operations: finding optimal alignment

Finding the optimal alignment of treasury teams and operations preoccupies the minds of many treasurers now, Treasury teams that were traditionally office based have evolved into hybrid remote and offsite working patterns and practices since the pandemic. Enabled by cloud computing and web based treasury systems, treasurers and their teams can operate treasury from anywhere and at any time. Treasury operations are increasingly geographically dispersed, yet centralised by systems design. Whilst for some multinationals in the US, there is a gradual reversion to onsite, hybrid working has opened up a wider talent pool, unconstrained by office proximity and city commuting, helped diversify teams, and has become important in attracting and retaining treasury talent. Local recruitment of treasury and finance professionals to support business operations in Latin America and elsewhere, also demands connected systems, workflow processes and controls and hybrid flexibility. The optimal configuration of treasury operations and teams across the US and in countries where the business operates has become a key focus of treasurers today. In this session, treasurers discuss their operational models and share their thoughts on how treasury systems and teams are best aligned going forward. 

  • ShinYoung Park

    Assistant treasurer,

    Henry Schein, Inc

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  • Doug Tropp

    SVP and treasurer,

    Booking Holdings Inc.

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  • AnaCarla Costa

    Director, global capital markets and Americas treasurer,

    Amcor Plc

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Moderated by:
  • Robert Novaria

    Senior EuroFinance tutor and partner,

    Treasury Alliance Group

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4:20pm -5:00pm

Fintech focus and AI in treasury

Fintech applications for treasury in the US and Lat Am have exploded in recent years, with the pandemic accelerating the drive to increased innovation and automation in treasury.  More recently,  AI is springing out of the labs of big tech to desktop chat and search applications in business and treasury. Whilst machine learning is now an embedded feature of forecasting and AP modules, AI promises a whole new level of analytics and data analysis,in treasury. Pioneering fintech innovators are now harnessing AI in the next generation of treasury applications, from forecasting to payments and cash management. In this panel we discuss the possibilities and projects that are developing AI to deliver productive outcomes for in treasury functions.

Moderated by:
  • Daniel Blumen

    Partner,

    Treasury Alliance Group

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5:00pm

Day 2 ends

Examine the factors shaping the US economy and how to respond to risk and uncertainty whether by streamlining operations, new cash management strategies or utilising technology from AI to APIs.

9:00am -10:00am

Networking breakfast

After 2 days of learning and networking, we will kickstart the final day with a luxury hot breakfast.

10:00am -10:45am

AI crash course for treasury - part 1

AI has massive cost-savings and revenue potential for your organization — but it’s hard to know where to start. In this interactive workshop, Section CEO Greg Shove will teach you how to think about AI as a treasurer and finance leader, adopt practical use cases for saving money and time in your organization, and build an AI business strategy that generates revenue while protecting your data. Come with questions for a rapid-fire Q&A at the end.

Part 1

Why Silicon Valley wants us addicted to AI (and why it’s here to stay)

How AI works and how to think about AI as a treasurer and finance leader

How you can get most value from AI as a CFO/treasurer:

– AI’s three personas (assistant, creator, thought partner)

– Finding your AI use case

– 3 practical use cases for CFOS & Treasurers

  • Greg Shove

    Founder of Machine + Partners and CEO,
    Section

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10:45am -11:30am

Networking

11:30am -12:15pm

AI crash course for treasury - part 2

Building an AI business strategy

– A framework for evaluating how your treasury can use AI (optimize, accelerate, or transform)
– AI business models – and what you should be asking of your treasury’s team pilots
– Strategies for data security in AI applications

Practical advice for you as a treasurer and finance leader and Q&A

  • Greg Shove

    Founder of Machine + Partners and CEO,
    Section

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12:15pm -2:00pm

Networking lunch

2:00pm

Conference ends