(15 November 2024 – Global) East & Partners analyst meeting summary presents valuable insights from the intersection of the “voice of treasurer” and “voice of the bank” as captured by East’s analysts across Sydney, Singapore and London.
“C+1” Push Raises Priority to Overcome Emerging Markets Payments Challenges
As the impulse behind reshoring gathers pace with active “China Plus One” / C+1 strategies unfolding quickly, currency coverage is becoming a major factor for larger enterprises in particular
Ahead of the latest Global Business FX Markets analysis releases across the UK, France, United States, Canada, Australia, NZ, Hong Kong and Singapore, East & Partners interrogated importers and exporters on what their main challenge is when executing payments with exotic currencies in emerging markets. Additionally, what attributes are corporates primarily seeking from a prospective payments provider when seeking to expand in emerging markets?
Beyond the age old trade-off between pricing and service, what specific challenges are treasurers seeking to overcome such as a lack of transparency, complex pricing methods and operational issues. The outlay of these services has important implications for online self-service models as AI proliferates among customer engagement channels.
Contact East for exclusive access to the findings broken down by segment for UK importers and exporters available now.
What Makes Corporate Treasurers Tick?
Ahead of the next Global Insight Report release, East is inviting clients and Banking News readers to nominate the most appealing topics below. Which topics lack defined data based insights? What areas are your clients asking for greater benchmarking information?
- Beyond the RFP in Pitching Corporates
“What do treasurers see as “special” in the pitch?”
- Demystifying the Risk Management Enigma
“Detailing relevant threats to balance sheet stability”
- Cybersecurity, Fraud and Risk Management
“Addressing data protection, internal fraud, AI impersonation, and how banks can assist corporates in navigating these threats.”
- Liquidity Management
“Cash forecasting Deep Dive”
- Where to Focus the Marketing Budget
“What do treasurers value in bank marketing?”
- Onboarding Day 2
“Linking New Customer Acquisition with RM Excellence”
- Private Credit/Embedded finance
“Defining financial stability risks from the voice of the CT”
- COP29, Scope 3 Emissions and ESG
“Risks to FIs for Sustainability”
- Best Fit Solution Bundling for Corporates
“What products do treasurers want integrated /intuitively see linked?”
- Financing the Full Supply Chain
“What are treasurers asking their banks for?”
Powering the Growth Economy
Based on interviews conducted by East & Partners with 3,500 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and economic modelling, the new Australian Business Growth Fund (ABGF) report Powering the Growth Economy highlights the size and impact of Growth Economy businesses, rising demand for equity funding and potential economic gains if the funding gap is addressed.
The report reveals how institutional capital often bypasses Growth Economy businesses – those with A$2m to A$100m revenue – leaving them underfunded and reliant on debt or personal networks.
Representing only six percent of all businesses, Australia’s Growth Economy powers our nation’s prosperity, driving 42 percent of employment, 47 percent of R&D and contributing 26 percent of GDP. Yet, a A$38 billion equity funding gap holds back their growth.
“This report offers the most comprehensive view of Australia’s Growth Economy. These businesses are vital to our economy and sovereign capabilities. With the right level and type of equity funding, we can unlock a new wave of investment and long-term prosperity” commented ABGF CEO & Managing Director, Anthony Healy.
“Tax incentives have tended to turbocharge capital investment and I’d be encouraging the government to consider similar incentives for this space. Institutional capital doesn’t just bring capital, it brings expertise, connections and networks. The importance of bringing this market is critical, and government incentives are one way to do that” Mr Healy added.
Filling in PE Research Gaps
Within the famously guarded private equity and venture capital space, East & Partners is exploring newly generated analytics to illuminate ingrained information asymmetry across M&A demand, key pain points and willingness to access new funding streams such as pensions schemes and private capital funding.
With the level of “dry powder” reaching a record high as capital remains firmly entrenched on the sidelines, what is driving PE fund managers decision making for 2025 and beyond? Contact East for proprietary PE market demand insights.
Outlook 2024/25
Over the course of our 76,800+ interviews with CFOs, Corporate Treasurers and Business Owners over the last 12 months, we have identified a handful of key trends shaping and shifting global business banking:
- The realignment of global trade corridors with Mainland China corporates leading the way in diversifying their supply chains away from the Mainland
- The redistribution of American Express FXIP customers outside the USA and the increasing volatility in global FX markets
- The accelerating drive to digitisation of banking relationships and service delivery
- The US$1.7 trillion, and increasing, private credit sector and the impact this is having on risk/debt
- The role of the Relationship Manager and the delivery of real added value into bank-corporate relationships
- The proliferation and adoption of artificial intelligence tools and how these technologies are redefining corporate expectations
Critical to brand success for banks in these markets and times continues to be a genuine return to customer centricity; putting the right customer at the centre of everything. Banks that respond and deliver insight driven value into their corporate relationships will win.