COVID-19ESGInsurance
November 24, 2020

The ESG Halo Effect, Insurance Pain and Financing Lessons Learned

Key takeaways from the 2020 H2 Life Sciences Treasurers’ Peer Group meeting sponsored by Societe Generale. By Joseph NeuA halo effect from the business we are in. In an exchange on ESG-related financing and ESG scores, our life sciences treasurers noted that sustaining life is core to their business; hence, sustainability is part of their companies’ DNA. Why then should they need to issue a green bond or execute some other sort of sustainability-linked financing to earn a so-called ESG halo effect? …
COVID-19Insurance
July 23, 2020

Pandemic Stokes Fire of Rising D&O Insurance Premiums

Corporates see no relief as insurers take a hard line on renewals amid rising fears of COVID litigation. Premiums for directors and officers (D&O) insurance are surging, a pain point discussed at several NeuGroup meetings this spring, including the Tech20 Treasurers’ Peer Group and the Life Sciences Treasurers’ Peer Group. Premiums were already on the rise at the beginning of the year and now, amid the pandemic, they continue to rise. That’s in part because COVID-19-related D&O claims are already being…
Capital MarketsCyber riskInsurance
June 9, 2020

Life Sciences Treasurers Speak to Capital Market Strategies, Insurance and Payment Fraud Mitigation

By Joseph Neu The NeuGroup Life Sciences Treasurers’ Peer Group completed its H1 meeting series last week, sponsored by Societe Generale. Here are a few takeaways I wanted to share: Three types of companies with three capital markets crisis strategies. Life sciences businesses, like those in most sectors, fall into three general capital market strategy buckets: Those needing rescue capital in order to survive through this crisis.Those looking to fortify their balance sheets.Those looking to be opportunistic to monetize high…
Working Capital Cycle
BankingCash & Working CapitalInsurance
June 1, 2020

C2FO Showcases Scope Expansion to AT Leaders

By Joseph Neu C2FO sponsored our recent Assistant Treasurers’ Leadership Group Meeting on Zoom. Their scope expansion, which is indicative of ways working capital platforms can support business ecosystems in this crisis, is my first of three takeaways from that meeting. Working capital platforms expand their scope. Platforms such as C2FO’s focusing on intermediating between buyers with access to capital and a wide range of suppliers with working capital needs have a vital role to play in this pandemic. C2FO…
Insurance
February 18, 2020

For Property & Casualty: Look Past the First Tier

If you’re not getting the premium reductions your’e looking for, shop around and check out low-cost brokers. When thinking about top-tier insurance brokers for corporates the usual suspects come to mind: Hub International, Marsh & McLennan Cos., Willis Towers Watson, Aon PLC and the like. But after a quick look beyond that upper slot, one comes across unfamiliar names. Take for instance a broker called Oswald Companies. Not a well-recognized insurance broker among treasurers attending a recent NeuGroup meeting, the…
InsuranceTreasury ManagementUncategorized
January 9, 2020

Rising Insurance Premiums Inflict Pain, Require Pushback

D&O prices spike as insurers respond to a surge in claims following a Supreme Court decision. Rising insurance premiums had treasurers and assistant treasurers at a recent NeuGroup meeting using plenty of colorful language to describe the current market for coverage and the pain some carriers have caused with their initial pricing proposals. Among the tamer comments, one member said the directors and officers (D&O) market is the “ugliest in years” and that “a lot of frustration” erupted in her…