14th Annual Global Commodities Finance Conference

8:20AM Registration & Coffee

9:05AM Chairperson’s opening remarks

9:15AM Commodities amidst turmoil

To open the conference, a macro presentation, followed by three presentations from industry leaders detailing the challenges and opportunities across commodities in 2017. This will be followed by an open Q&A.

• Capitalising on growing EM softs consumption: How can growing volumes open new trade flows?
• After a trebling in pricing, is coal ready for a comeback?
• Sustaining booming metal and energy flows and opening politically challenging routes

10:30AM Morning refreshments and networking break

11:15AM The Annual Global Heads panel: Rebuilding risk appetite to optimise and create new trade flows amid higher capital costs

• Competition for capital among banks: The ramifications for marketplace diversity
• Exploring demand for emerging market risk: Which frontiers are resisting the dip in risk appetite?
• Addressing the need for sustainability: Fixing distresses to calm mid/long term structural concerns

12:15PM A review of global demand, KYC and AML regulation, and geopolitical drivers of trade finance

• Global trade and regional trade agreements: Fears or real protectionism?
• Marrying the cost and benefit of transparency: Is de-risking adversely impacting relationships?
• Geopolitical movements, tectonic changes affecting the economics of trade: Where are we?

12:45PM Lunch

2:00PM Capitalising on the growth in alternative financing solutions: Are funds and banks ready to collaborate to reduce costs and optimise the supply chain?

• Who is using funds and what are the benefits for borrowers?
• What are the specific benefits for structured commodity finance?
• Could regulation drive collaboration? What new legal structures are required?
• Do certain regions and commodity flows suit alternative financing better than others?

2:45PM Presentation: Mapping out the emergence of digitalisation and the future of the commodity finance market structure

• Digitalisation of trade: Delivering platform solutions for all client needs
• How will technology become fully integrated across the trade finance ecosystem?
• Ways to marry client needs in the face of regulatory requirements

3:30PM Afternoon refreshments and networking break

4:00PM Roundtable discussions

Led by an expert moderator, the roundtables will create an informal environment to discuss and debate issues over a glass of champagne. Delegates will be able to move around the tables, maximising networking and learning opportunities.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the table moderator will summarise their findings to the audience, concluding the day’s conference.  

• Asia
  • Judith Ganes-Chase, President & CEO, J. Ganes Consulting
• Africa
  • Stephen Paris, CFO, Oryx Energies
• Trade Finance
  • Juan Martin, Head of Structured Commodity Trade Finance & Trade Finance Loan Syndication and Trading, Americas, Deutsche Bank
• Insurance
  • Andrew van den Born, Managing Director, Willis Towers Watson
• Oil markets: New contenders
  • Jean-Francois Lambert, Managing Partner, Lambert Commodities
• Alternative Finance
  • Mehmet Saydam, Head of Investments – Natural Resources, Reuben Brothers
• FinTech
  • Angelique Slach, Chief Innovation Officer, Trade and Commodity Finance, Rabobank

5:15PM Chairpersons’ closing remarks followed by offsite cocktail reception at the Hotel Parc des Eaux Vives sponsored by Reed Smith

8:45AM Morning refreshments

9:00AM Chairperson’s opening remarks

9:05AM Traders’ panel: Self-origination, investment funds, and greater security: Will traders continue to take the lead in structured deals?

• Contrasting trader-originated and bank-originated transactions: What are the key differences and what can trading houses offer to the end producer?
• Understanding evolving transformation risks for traders in emerging market supply routes
• How much security can trading houses give borrowers compared with banks?
• Is more transparency required as trading houses dominate deals more?

9:50AM Understanding the 2015 Insurance Act and evaluating the growing insurance market

• This session will begin with a presentation devoted to the 2015 Insurance Act, followed by a panel discussion from industry leaders detailing the key trends and concerns in the sector. 

• Has the 2015 Insurance Act led to a tangible improvement in market liquidity?
• What are the benefits to under-financed producers?
• How are current price movements impacting claim and default rates?
• How do traders and banks differ in their usage of insurance products for structured deals?

10:40AM Morning refreshments and networking break

11:10AM De-risking through securitisation: Building on investor demand to enhance liquidity

• What are the challenges of expanding securitised structures from PXFs to other transactions?
• Could this be a way back into trade finance for banks who have retrenched?
• Will securitisation continue to flourish even as pricing strengthens and risk appetite returns?

12:00PM Plugging the funding gap for producers: What financing solutions are available for both small and large end-producers?

• What are producers demanding from their deals compared with what banks are able to provide?
• Does structured finance for producers need to adapt to prevent future funding gaps?
• How can producers mitigate against concerns over counterparty risk?

12:45PM Chairperson's closing remarks