What’s on International Treasurer’s radar screen this week.
A variety of topics for exploration emerged from this week’s International Treasurer editorial meeting, many of them issues to be discussed as the winter and spring NeuGroup peer group meeting season begins.
Next week is the meeting of the Latin American Treasury Managers’ Peer Group (LATMPG). Venezuela will be a dominant topic of the meeting – one question is whether there will be more changes to SITME going forward and how companies will be affected by the consolidation of exchange rates to one. Currency issues are also a topic with other countries in the region, as a mix of new FX controls and interventions play off one another to maintain their economic balance and trade competitiveness as QE2-fueled hot money flows toward them. Brazil and Argentina are also potential hot spots for businesses and their treasurers to navigate. In Brazil, it’s a new government; in Argentina, lots of political activity ahead of elections set for October.
Also on the agenda will be a discussion of best practices in local and cross-border cash management.
M&A x 3
As most observers note, mergers and acquisitions are expected to increase in the coming year. This is certainly evident in pre-meeting research for several upcoming NeuGroup peer group meetings, including the above-mentioned LATMPG meeting next week. It is also on the agenda of the Engineering & Construction Treasurers’ Peer Group (E&CTPG), which meets a few weeks from now, as well as a recurring topic of interest for members of the Global Cash and Banking Group (GCBG). Specifically, members want to discuss integration of an acquired company’s treasury department and processes and systems that go into it. What are the best ways to make that transition smooth?
ID Protection
Also on the docket for the E&CTPG meeting is a discussion of protecting the identity of bank account signers. Many companies face this problem when their account signers are abroad, particularly in developing countries, and banks often want very personal identification. How are treasurers protecting their company employees and themselves?