It is now less than 50 days until the 18th Annual ISLA/RMA Conference on International Securities Lending gets started. This is the key industry event in Europe and the value of attending is reinforced each year. More importantly, this event comes at a critical time for the industry. Helpfully, the conference has been moved to June to avoid conflicts with the heavy workloads associated with the month of May when it has historically been held.
The conference captures the big issues in the industry every year and looking at the agenda, it has done so again for this event. An excellent programme has been arranged, chaired by David Hopton of Santander and including panels on central counterparty, regulation, the repo market, beneficial owners and the Spanish market. We have panel participants from FSA and CNMV; Michel Stubbe from the European Central Bank will provide an update on its operations; Jim Reid, Credit Strategist at Deutsche, will give a macro look at risk assets and the economy; and Juan Andres Yanes, the Chief Risk Officer of Banco Santander, will give the keynote speech on risk management lessons from the crisis. The conference will conclude with an industry leaders' panel, moderated by Mark Faulkner of Spitalfields Advisers and including senior executives from BNP Paribas, Citi, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan. You can see more details by clicking here.
In my view, Barcelona is an ideal location and ISLA/RMA are returning with good cause. We can’t ignore the current market environment, and to their credit, ISLA/RMA have arranged for a further discount to the Hotel Arts room rates which are now down to €299. In addition to the conference sessions, networking is an essential part of the event. Barcelona is easily accessible and this always ensures a good turnout, with this year being no exception. Despite tight budgets, it is undoubtedly cost effective and sensible to make this one trip to connect with all of your relationships rather than not meet or make individual trips.
I hope to see you there.
