Banking Reform and Public Sector Investment Challenges

A major conference at the offices of Bloomberg, London.

28 January 2014

The first and possibly most important treasury event of 2014 is focused upon the practical realities for the public sector of the parliamentary commission into banking reform. The perfect storm of a banking crisis and public sector austerity has dishevelled investment options for public sector treasurers.
It is almost five years since the Audit Commission published Risk and Return; we will consider the subsequent evolution of public sector treasury management practices. Across the UK treasury strategies are soon to be scrutinised and approved.
This timely event has been designed to provide you with expert analysis of credit risk management - are there options for investments and counterparty lists beyond the norm? Attendance guarantees access to thought leaders on subjects that could provide beneficial impact on your risk based treasury strategies. Hear from:
William Morello, Policy Advisor, Financial Services Group, HM Treasury - on the government's banking reform agenda
Wayne Caffell, Capital Finance & Reserves Team, Communities and Local Government - challengesthe DCLG Investment Regulations, are they fit for purpose?
Fiona Lui, Bloomberg's credit analyst shares her insights into analysing credit and counter party risk
Jonathan Tyce, Bloomberg Industries senior banks analyst, will review the UK banking system with an outlook for 2014.
The afternoon focuses upon broader macroeconomic factors that will have a major impact upon all public sector treasury strategies for the next few years. How robust are your interest rate and borrowing rate forecasts?
Why does change of head of the Federal Reserve matter in the UK? What's the forecast for Quantitative Easing? The impact upon bond prices and interest rate forecasts the cost of borrowing and the impact upon investment opportunities.
We also give consideration to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and impact upon the UK economy in the run up to the 2015 general election.
With so much high quality content delivered by acclaimed presenters this is an event that cannot be missed.
This event is aimed at all those responsible for the functions of banking and treasury management including Directors of Finance, Treasury Managers, Chief Accountants, Risk Managers, Internal Auditors and Elected Members.
09.30 – 10.00 / Coffee and Registration
10.00 – 10.15 /

Introductions and Objectives of the day: Roy Nolan,Chair of the Treasury Management Network Advisory Group

10.15 – 10.30 /

Banking Reform, William Morello, Policy Advisor, Financial Services Group, HM Treasury

In July 2013 the Government published its response to the Parliamentary commission into Banking Standards. What has been the effect upon the public sector, how much progress has been made and what can we expect in the coming months?
10.30 – 11.00 /

DCLG Investment Regulations, Help or Hindrance?

Wayne Caffell, Capital Finance & Reserves Team, Communities and Local Government

The DCLG’s guidance to Local Authorities on making investment decisions explicitly recommends that credit ratings – something many smaller banks do not have – should not be considered the only way to assess credit risk. Is therefore the framework already in place to ensure that Local Authorities can use institutions such as new banks that do not have a credit rating?
11.00 - 11.30 / Break and Networking
11.30– 12.20 / Challenger Banks panel discussion
Chaired by Roy Nolan, this session allows representatives from the Challenger banks to put their case for widening the investment counterparty lists across the public sector. Other panel members include Stuart Selleck from Tradition; Mark Pickering of Arlingclose; Craig Donaldson from MetroBank; and Paul Fuller of Tesco.
12.20 – 13.00 /

Counterparty Toolkit – Fiona Lui, Credit Specialist, Bloomberg

This session looks at how to construct a credit / counterparty matrix, we know its not all about ratings but what are the other factors that ought to be considered and how do we access them? And crucially what options does this present?
13.00–14.00 /

Lunch and Networking

14.00 -14.45 /

Macro/financial market outlook: back through the looking glass – Erik Britton, Fathom Consulting.

This session will assess the impact that a return to normal monetary policy will have on the global economy and its financial markets. As central bank liquidity is drained from global markets, the looking glass world where good news is bad for asset prices (and vice-versa) will gradually fade: which economies and which assets will be most exposed?
14.45-15.30 / Outlook for the UK banking sector– Jonathan Tyce, Bloomberg Industries
This session provides an overview of the changing landscape in banking and provides an outlook for 2014 and the effect of a new Federal Reserve chairman and evolving ECB policy.
15.30 – 15.45 /
Final discussions and close

The facilitators for this event will be Neil Sellstrom, Pensions and Treasury Management Advisor & Roy Nolan, Chair TMN Advisory Group