ABN AMRO's Alexandra Cook and Steven Gregg highlight why financial market strategies should be built on industry sector dynamics and knowledge of global and local markets.

Is there a perfect financial markets strategy? How do different companies compare? Is there a one size fits all solution or should every company invent its own wheel? Of course, every company is unique because of its products, its business model, the markets in which it operates and, not least, because of its corporate culture. There are, however, a lot of things we can learn from each other. In ABN AMRO’s experience, these disparate elements are to a large extent driven by geography and industry. Hence our focus on sector expertise and supporting our clients globally.

Local knowledge

Why is geography so important? Clearly, countries have different rules and regulations, therefore, in-depth knowledge of a local financial market’s specific characteristics is essential. Good, timely advice from a bank that possesses this knowledge and marries it with a strong global network clearly adds tremendous value.

Many companies are currently centralising their treasury functions for efficiency reasons, however, such centralised operations also need to make full use of local knowledge to ensure optimal results. Making use of local opportunities and generating focused strategies to manage local risks creates a great deal of additional benefit.

At ABN AMRO, we focus on active dialogue at the heart of the business and drawing on our local, on-the-ground knowledge to support the optimal solution for our clients.

Sector specifics

What role do the needs of specific industries play in determining a company’s financial markets strategy? There are big differences between industries in the way working capital is managed, ratings are applied and access to capital markets is secured. For example, large cash balances can be necessary in highly cyclical yet capital intensive industries such as the semiconductor and manufacturing industry.

Managing this can be challenging in today’s environment. Equally, assessing the various levels of leverage in oil or gas projects, for example, throws up different challenges again.

At ABN AMRO our dedicated industry knowledge helps companies to find the right solutions for their business needs. And, on a daily basis, we come across situations where we can apply financial knowledge and experience built up in one sector, to another sector. At ABN AMRO, we pride ourselves in being able to support our clients from an industry and capital perspective.

Knowledge of international and local markets as well as in-depth knowledge of each industry are the cornerstones of international business.

Integrated products

To support this industry led strategy, ABN AMRO sector teams provide clients with a single point of access for a wide range of corporate and investment banking services. This enables us to deliver tailor made integrated solutions built on multi product team work across our key wholesale product areas: financial markets, equities, corporate finance and working capital.

ABN AMRO differentiates itself by its ability to offer clients industry sector expertise and multi product financial solutions, through a uniquely extensive global banking network – backed by the financial power of one of the world’s largest financial institutions.

Alexandra Cook is a member of the Executive Committee of ABN AMRO’s Wholesale Clients corporate and investment banking business. She is head of global specialised industries and has responsibility for Telecom, Media, Technology, Healthcare, Chemicals, Power & Utility, Oil and Gas and Metals & Mining client coverage.

Steven Gregg is also a member of the bank’s Wholesale Clients Executive Committee. He is head of global industrials, with responsibility for Automotive, Consumer, Manufacturing, Aerospace & Defence, Construction & Building Materials, Engineering & Machinery, Forestry Paper Pulp & Packaging, Support Services, and Transportation & Logistics client coverage.

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