Dean Sposito, head of cash management for financial institutions at Deutsche Bank, talks to The Banker, about the difficulties facing the cash management industry as banks cope with ever more regulation, critical technological investment, voracious competition and shrinking margins.
In an attempt to appease regulators, banks are issuing Tier 1 debt capital that converts into equity if a certain trigger point is reached. However, only the biggest names - and those least likely to need to convert debt to equity - will be able to attract investor support for such issuance. Writer Charlie Corbett
With investors in a state of near permanent paranoia, pricing an initial public offering to perfection is critical in today's market. The list of failed or delayed IPOs in the first half of 2010 is testament to this. Only the strongest will survive - even those at a healthy discount. Writer Charlie Corbett
Recent positive noises from the Basel Committee have eased concerns among banks about what instruments will count as Tier 1 capital in the future. But huge uncertainties remain over what form future regulation will take, in particular regarding hybrid debt. Many banks could find that they are forced to revisit a now saturated market for bank equity issuance; either that or come up with more innovative ways of boosting capital ratios. Writer Charlie Corbett
The European Parliament's new law capping bankers' bonuses has met with a resigned acceptance in the banking community. But most bankers privately agree that national efforts are adequate already and that the EU's interference will only sow confusion and could lead to an exodus of talent. Writer Charlie Corbett
The parlous state of infrastructure in Africa is one of the main reasons the continent has never achieved its immense potential. The Banker's roundtable attempts to find out how this situation can be rectified and where the money will come from to fund it. Writer Charlie Corbett