COVID-19RegionalTechnology
December 10, 2020

Asia Tech Companies Optimistic for Post-Covid Growth

Key takeaways from the AsiaTech20 Treasurers’ Peer Group pilot meeting sponsored by MUFG.By Joseph NeuBe prepared for global optimism. The global economic outlook is overwhelmingly positive with Covid-19 vaccines nearing distribution. Plus, a new administration in the US brings an expectation for economic growth to take on a more global scope, with Asia expected to outperform. For this reason, tech treasurers in Asia have also pivoted from enduring the crisis through stockpiling capital and liquidity to preparing to go on…
ESGRegionalTreasury Management
December 3, 2020

Europe in Flux: Business Decentralization, ESG and Brexit

Key takeaways from the European Treasury Peer Group 2020 H2 meeting sponsored by Standard Chartered. By Joseph NeuAgile businesses with centralized support functions. Covid-19 and the need for business pivots have, at some companies, sparked calls for the pendulum to swing back toward decentralized business authority to promote agility and swift decision-making. Treasury in turn is asking how best to support decentralized business accountability with the efficiencies and controls of a centralized corporate support function. It’s a perennial challenge. But now…
COVID-19RegionalTechnology
December 1, 2020

China’s Digitalization, Quick Covid Recovery and Tension with the US

Key takeaways from the 2020 H2 Asia CFOs’ Peer Group meeting sponsored by Standard Chartered.By Joseph Neu2019 as the 2021 baseline. China has been the economy to bounce back soonest from Covid-19 and is up substantially in H2. Standard Chartered is forecasting 2020 GDP growth of +2.1% for China. Meanwhile, many of our member CFOs for greater China are hopeful that they will get back to flat for the year since some have had stellar Q3s and good Q4 outlooks,…
ESGRegionalTreasury Management
November 10, 2020

The Benefits for Tech of Having More Than One Headquarters

Key takeaways from the Tech20 Treasurers’ Peer Group 20th Annual Meeting, sponsored by MUFG. By Joseph NeuTreasury at multiple headquarters. Technology companies, whether megacaps or midsized, are experimenting with multiple headquarters which will resume as work from home phases out. Treasury will be represented across them, even within the US. Cost and competition for talent are drivers, but also diversity; it can be more challenging to get people of color to move to expensive and majority-white communities where US tech firms…
BankingRegionalRisk Management
November 3, 2020

Preparing for More China-US Tension, New Current Account Rules in India

Key takeaways from the Asia Treasurers’ Peer Group fall meetings sponsored by Standard Chartered.By Joseph NeuIndia ties current accounts closer to credit relationships. Members wanted clarity on a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) circular released over the summer that seeks to restrict current accounts to banks with which companies have a local credit relationship—subject to thresholds. Standard Chartered’s presentation explained that going forward, banks cannot open a current account for a customer who has “availed” a cash credit or overdraft…
Cash & Working CapitalRegional
July 14, 2020

Obstacle Course: Cash Forecasting Challenges in Latin America 

Treasurers in Latin America are coping with the pandemic, M&A activity and working capital needs. Many of the cash management challenges currently facing treasurers in Latin America are being complicated by a variety of factors, including the omnipresent COVID-19 crisis. But also in the mix is recent M&A activity in the region (think integration and its opposite, divestiture), along with difficult financing conditions affecting working capital management. COVID chaos. Latin America is no exception in regions contending with the difficulties brought on…
FXRegional
June 18, 2020

Pandemic Hits Argentina Hard – With Tighter FX Controls in Its Wake

The pandemic has inflicted serious pain on world economies and it could be extra painful for Argentina.   Argentina has faced recurring fiscal crises, and now the global pandemic-induced economic recession has once again pushed the country to the brink of defaulting on its dollar-denominated sovereign debt. For corporates doing business there, including members of NeuGroup’s Latin America Treasury Peer Group (LatAmTPG), the most visible manifestation of the crisis is in the defensive measures the government is taking to preserve FX reserves, i.e.,…
NeuGroup and Latin America
Cash & Working CapitalRegional
June 11, 2020

Latin America Treasury Peer Group Members Discuss Challenges of Managing Cash Amid Crisis

By Joseph Neu Latin America is being hard hit by the COVID-19 virus and the economic aftershocks, both of which formed the backdrop for NeuGroup’s Latin America Treasury Peer Group 2020 H1 virtual meeting. Members discussed the challenges of intercompany lending, the lack of treasury center capabilities and looming Argentina chaos. Here are few key takeaways I wanted to share. Rethinking intercompany funding. One member noted that in most Latin American countries where her company is located, entities are funded…
Cash & Working CapitalRegionalRisk ManagementTreasury Management
June 2, 2020

Founder’s KTAs from NeuGroup for European Treasury Peer Group 2020 H1 Meeting

By Joseph Neu The European Treasury Peer Group 2020 H1 meeting took place last week, sponsored by HSBC. Here are some takeaways that I wanted to share: COVID-19 validates regional treasury centers. HSBC said the case for regional treasury centers has been further validated by the pandemic. In comments on how clients have shown resilience and are preparing for markets to reopen, the bank noted the importance of real-time global exposure information, including a centralized liquidity and risk management framework; but also critical…
RegionalSenior ExecutiveTreasury Management
January 16, 2020

A High Bar: Lowering Corporate Expectations and Under-delivering Successfully

Slower economic growth and tighter consumer credit put pressure on finance chiefs in Asia. The subdued mood among participants at a recent NeuGroup meeting of CFOs in Asia reflected the difficulty many members say they are facing as China’s economic growth slows and business conditions worsen, while expectations for revenue growth at corporate headquarters remain unrealistically high. Managing expectations. The key challenge, then, for some members is managing the expectations of those in the C-Suite who still want 10% revenue…