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Risk Management

Capital MarketsRisk Management
February 18, 2021

Swap Rates and the C-Suite: Making the Case for Floating-Rate Debt

Low fixed interest rates may make it harder—but not impossible—to convince management to swap to floating.Interest rates may be ticking up, but their historically low level is one reason some treasury teams may face difficulty convincing senior management to swap more of their company’s debt stack to floating rates from fixed. “It’s a hard time to argue to do it given where long-term rates are,” one NeuGroup member said at a recent meeting.“When the fixed-rate environment is this attractive, it’s…
Justin Jones
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Capital MarketsRisk ManagementTax
February 9, 2021

Buzzer Beater: A Treasurer’s Last-Second Debt Deal Scores Big Savings

One member cut his company’s tax bill by beating the clock to complete a debt refinancing.  As one NeuGroup member’s fiscal year began to draw to a close, he saw an opportunity to save his company millions of dollars in taxes by completing a debt refinancing deal—but he had to race the clock get it done before the calendar changed. Because of the pandemic’s impact, the company needed to save money, so it was critical that the debt deal go…
Justin Jones
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Cyber riskRisk ManagementTechnology
February 4, 2021

Questions About Answers: Moody’s Cybersurvey Raises a Few Concerns

NeuGroup members want to know how the credit rating agency will use survey responses about cyber risk.High-profile corporate cyberattacks have many companies reevaluating how they mitigate cyber risk. And over the past few months, some NeuGroup members have received a lengthy survey from Moody’s asking questions about their companies’ approaches to cybersecurity. The survey, which Moody’s says has about 60 questions, has raised questions—and a few concerns—about what Moody’s will do with the answers.Below is some of what members said…
Justin Jones
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BankingFXRisk Management
February 2, 2021

Under the Hood: How Banks Price FX Swaps With Corporates

Wells Fargo explains credit and capital charges for corporate counterparties on derivative transactions.Corporates that are using or considering using long-dated hedges such as five-year FX forwards or swaps can benefit from understanding the way banks price derivatives using a combination of credit and capital charges. That idea surfaced during a recent meeting sponsored by Wells Fargo for NeuGroup members who manage foreign exchange risk. Credit and capital costs can impact unwinds and restructurings as well as new transactions, Wells Fargo…
Justin Jones
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ComplianceRisk Management
January 28, 2021

Documentation Overload: Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

A survey of financial executives includes complaints of excessive documentation required by external auditors.Finance executives at large US companies are finding it increasingly difficult to document internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) to the satisfaction of their internal and external auditors, according to a study recently published by the Financial Executives International’s research arm. Several of the most difficult controls to design, implement and operate are common in corporate treasury. Pain points. Controls around non-routine transactions—bond issuances, significant one-off payments…
Justin Jones
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Pension and BenefitsRisk Management
January 26, 2021

Pension Endgames: Insights for Managers Mulling Moves

A session sponsored by Insight Investment probes pros, cons and timing of transferring liabilities to insurers.A key consideration for corporates with traditional defined benefit plans is whether to transfer pension liabilities to insurance companies as funding deficits narrow or plans go into surplus. The primary benefits of risk transfer are eliminating PBGC fees, which have escalated substantially in the last few years, and removing all risk from the company’s balance sheet—both interest rate and longevity risk. Half of the members…
Justin Jones
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Accounting & DisclosureLibor SOFRRisk Management
January 26, 2021

Libor Transition Puzzle: FASB Provides Clarity, Relief to Corporates

Guidance from FASB clarifies accounting for all hedges impacted by the discounting transition.The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) started 2021 by clarifying accounting guidance aimed at facilitating the transition of corporate floating-rate transactions away from the Libor reference rate. The standard setter is also expected to resume progress this year on issues it had set aside to address the Libor transition. Background. On Jan. 7, FASB issued ASU 2021-01, an accounting standards update that clarifies issues stemming from Topic 848, titled…
Justin Jones
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Capital MarketsESGRisk Management
January 14, 2021

Green Hedges: What You Need to Know About ESG Derivatives

Standard Chartered explains the potential value of “use of proceeds” and performance-linked ESG derivatives.The flood of money pouring into ESG finance—everything from green bonds to sustainability-linked revolving credit facilities—has washed up on the shores of derivatives markets. At a recent NeuGroup meeting of European treasurers, sponsor Standard Chartered dove beneath the surface to reveal what value ESG derivatives may offer. The bank described two types: “Use of proceeds” ESG derivatives that hedge FX or interest rate risks arising from ESG…
Justin Jones
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ComplianceRisk Management
January 12, 2021

Why Internal Audit Needs to Blow Its Own Horn

Like other functions, internal audit needs to publicize its value to senior executives and the broader corporation.After the completion of a lengthy process audit at a multinational company, the chief audit executive (CAE) reported results to the owner of that process. After a cursory review, the process owner, also a senior executive, asked, “What else have you done?” The CAE was somewhat taken aback. The audit took several months and ate up lots of FTE hours. But since it only…
Justin Jones
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Risk ManagementTalking Shop
January 5, 2021

Talking Shop: Remittance Verification Options for Treasury Payments

Member question: “How do others handle remittance instruction verification for treasury payments? Callback? Third-party service? Any ML or technology? “We are reviewing our verification process for remittance instructions for payments processed through treasury. Today, we require it to be on the bene’s letterhead, or bank letter, or imbedded in the contract, but have not implemented a callback. Who does the verification in your organization? Are you looking at any third-party services or ML-type models for additional controls?” Peer answer 1:…
Justin Jones
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