Transitioning to a low carbon economy is without a doubt the most pressing challenge and biggest opportunity of our time.

Going green is no longer optional but for the asset finance industry, which historically has been a largely non-green industry, it still represents the road less travelled for most. New legislation, standards and guidelines worldwide has made this as much of a compliance issue as it is an ethical one. As the asset finance industry works to find a way to net-zero it is also clear that the road less travelled brings with it new opportunities. Those with the vision, agility and business acumen required will be able to demonstrate that sustainability and profitability can in fact co-exist.

Join us for a unique debate with Marije Rhebergen, Head of Sustainability at DLL and recently selected in the Frits Top 50 “Top 50 Most Influential Female Leaders” and Nick Leader, CEO at Acquis with over 20 years in the industry, as we explore the pitfalls, lessons learnt and future opportunities that this new green future will bring.

Divided into 4 key themes; the discussion will focus on:

• Partnership – How to ensure that the products that your vendor manufacturer partners produce are green?
• Supporting the Circular Economy – Opportunities to recover, refurbish and finance assets at end of lease so that the asset can be used a second or third time with a new lessee?
• Developing Green Finance Products – How to develop finance products that deliver green solutions such as subscription models and pay per use.
• Buying Carbon Credits – What’s the real impact of green washing?
  
  

Key Outcomes and Takeaways:

• Key considerations in the development and execution of your company’s transition plan.
• Assessing compliance, value and return on your green initiatives.
• Generating meaningful data for meaningful decision making.
• How to embed risk in the ESG planning process.

Few sectors have demonstrated the same level of agility and resilience as the asset finance services industry. As if a global health crisis wasn’t enough, the pressing global concerns on climate change has become a very real and urgent priority for everyone and it is clear that the asset finance industry is taking their seat at the table in the race towards net-zero.

In order to future proof businesses from further disruption, accelerate sustainable innovation and securing repeatable and scalable results; access to reliable data and a comprehensive view of operations will be the essential differentiator to success.

However, in a volatile market, any industry is only as strong as the system it runs on. Digitalisation will change your market, business, skills requirements and customer engagement regardless of whether you, your team and your business are ready for those changes or not.

We are delighted to be joined by Jochen Jehmlich, CEO at Société Generale Equipment Finance, to explore how the asset finance community can come up on top, see their businesses through the next decade and play a pivotal role in driving a circular economy.

With over 20 years at Société Generale Equipment Finance and having secured the #1 position of Asset Finance International’s “Asset Finance Europe 50” ranking as well as this year’s winner of the “Best Bank for Sustainable Finance” category by Global Finance Magazine; Jochen is a leader with a clear vision and commitment in being a sustainable solution provider and reliable partner to clients during this crisis.

Throughout the pandemic, the Société Generale Equipment Finance’s #StrongerTogether programme has offered flexible financing to covert frozen pipelines into funded deals and thus ensuring that many of their clients could stay afloat during times of unparalleled uncertainty.

With the increased appetite in green assets, Jochen is committed to growing their portfolio in sustainable, green and social business segments over the next 5 years.

IAFN’s founder Edward Peck will talk to Jochen:

• How to take proactive steps in anticipating the coming market changes, whether political, financial or consumer driven, and ensuring businesses are agile enough to survive and thrive in the new landscape.
• How the asset finance industry can respond to the global climate crisis.
• How to optimise advances in exponential technologies to derive key insights from data which are vital to the future of the business.
• How to safeguard investments and businesses against future disruptions and staying ahead of the competition

Do brokers need to disclose commission from lenders to their customers?

The recent Court of Appeal judgment (Wood v Commercial First Business. March 2021) appears to make it much more likely that a loan will be rescinded in cases where a broker was paid a commission by a lender, which was not disclosed to the borrower.

In a one hour webcast David Betteley will be interviewing an expert panel to discuss the implications for brokers and their funders as they consider whether or not to change long established business practice.

• Understand the real implications of the case.
• Fifteen minute briefing from Jo Davis, co-founder, Auxillias on Wood v Commercial First Business.
• Assess the experts views in a 45 minute moderated discussion lead by David Betteley.

All delegate questions will be answered by our panel – either during or after this event.

Topics to be discussed will include:

• The likely future implication for lenders and brokers as they seek to reduce risk, treat their customers fairly and stay competitive
• How lenders and brokers perspectives vary, and the experts' views on the best way forward
• Advice from equipment finance associations including the NACFB and FLA

• Original research by IAFN on the potential for using real time data in auto finance to improve key processes like assessing credit risk and managing defaults
• Insights from Alfa iQ director, Blaise Thomson, former chief architect for Siri Understanding on emerging technologies which determine the next best action
• Methodology insights from ctrl-shift  to determine and discuss the best use cases for real time data. How to manage innovation in a risk environment

Post pandemic, will you be ready to succeed in a customer-focused, environmentally sensitive, data-driven world?

From online services to environmentally aware finance models, COVID-19 has added rocket fuel to many pre-pandemic trends. Now, learn how two leading asset finance providers have harnessed the power of transformation to drive their own business forward.

In a webcast, Miles Rothbury, head of asset finance, HSBC UK, and Ian Durston, head of commercial performance, Global Financial Services, Jaguar Land Rover, will discuss:

• The Zoom generation - What faster digitalization means for personalized customer service and competitive differentiation
• Sustainable finance models - The growth of the circular economy and opportunities to develop pay-per-use and outcome-based finance
• Data is the key - Why data-driven organizations will be in a stronger position to make real-time decisions and deliver winning services

Next is Now: How human behaviour is changing and what this means for the customers of financial services today.

Human behaviour is changing at an unprecedented rate and financial service businesses are struggling to respond effectively. EY and NETSOL Technologies bring the latest thinking and cutting-edge research into human behaviour to the International Asset Finance Network to consider the implications of these changes. 

• Human Behaviour in a Post Covid-19 World
• What it Means to be Financially Vulnerable 
• What can behavioural science teach us?
• Implications for asset finance companies

The session will feature research undertaken during COVID-19 lockdown with both financial services businesses and their customers as well as reflections on what it means to step into the shoes of a vulnerable customer.

In-depth insights

70 minutes

- Expert panel

- Adam Goodacre, business application and robotic automation development manager, Volkswagen Financial Services

This focused session will look at Robotic Process Automation and how it can transform equipment and auto finance operations.

It provides a detailed understanding of the concept of RPA and looks at how it can be used to benefit asset finance companies.

RPA provides rules based processing of repetitive functions so they can be automated to allow employees to move onto higher value tasks.

This includes exclusive case studies, looking at how leading companies in the industry have introduced the technology and how it has benefitted their businesses.

• Learn how Volkswagen Financial Services has automated manual processes using robotic process automation (RPA).
• Understand when to use RPA rather than developing new digital processes from VIP Apps Consulting, business process specialists for the asset finance industry.
• Insights on hyperautomation from RPA platform provider UI Path
• Practical advice from practitioners on how and when to apply RPA

The event also includes an extensive resource list of downloable insights, including how CIOs can redefine IT priorities and how to start your RPA and innovation journey.

Join co-founders of International Asset Finance Network Brian Rogerson and Edward Peck to discuss the outlook for auto and equipment finance industry as the UK starts to ease the lock-down.

Session framework

Effect of government regulation

•  Auto - FCA payment holidays; PCP balloon payments; scrappage and other future schemes
• Equipment –BBLs and CIBIL

Economic timelines

• End of lockdown June/July 2020
• End of furlough November 2020
• Potential resurgence of COVID-19 Autumn/Winter 2020/2021
• New year BREXIT transition end
• Repayment scheme interest payment holidays end June 2021

Sectoral demand 

• Auto demand affected by reduced appetite for public transport appetite, unemployment and potential for permanent structural changes from homeworking and increased focus on environment
• Effect of COVID-19 on niche funders, and dead cat bounce – funding investment in businesses for PPE and screens etc.
• Demand generation offers and impact on margins

Appetite of funders

• Competition for capital for auto captives versus investment in BEVs
• ABS/Block funders appetite to lend; technical defaults leading to liquidity shortages and higher cost of capital
• Future of block funding

Industry consolidation

• Which lenders will survive and which will go
• Lender risk appetite post funding
• Broker impact

Post Covid-19 landscape

• New scorecards to reflect new risks
• Real time data and early warning indicators

First shown May 14, 2020

120 minutes

In the second in a series of online seminars on the challenges facing the asset finance industry during the Coronavirus crisis, industry experts provide critical guidance on the key issue of Operations and Forbearance.

Experts provide their analysis on planning a return to market, while there is also expert insight on how regulators are expecting organisations to treat their good and bad customers through to bounce-back.

Expert witnesses

• Melanie Chell, partner and head of asset finance, Shoosmiths
• Adrian Dally, head of motor finance, Finance & Leasing Association
• Colin Fleischmann, group director, White Clarke Group
• Simon Harris, partner, AVANTALION Consulting Germany
• Peter Landers, director, strategic partnerships, MotoNovo Finance
• John Rees, global head of sales and marketing, Societe Generale Equipment Finance
• Rohan De Souza, global head of auto finance, Genpact

“I want to thank delegates for your very positive comments on our first session we ran and to thank you all for the care and attention you have taken in your requests to tell us what you want to know.” Edward Peck, chief executive officer, International Asset Finance Network Online

Responding to the Coronavirus crisis

First shown May 5

90 minutes

In the first in a series of International Asset Finance Network Online special seminars on the COVID-19 crisis, IAFN CEO Edward Peck led discussions to look at the "brave new world" facing the industry.

With UK car sales collapsing and the country in lockdown, this session looks at the challenges ahead and how the industry could adapt to them.

Keynote speaker

• Stephen Sklaroff, former director general, Finance and Leasing Association

Expert witnesses

•  Simon Goldie, head of asset finance at the Finance and Leasing Association
• Richard Knubben, deputy director general of Leaseurope and Eurofinas
• Colin Fleischmann, group director, White Clarke Group

Viewpoint

• Jonathan Andrew, chief operating officer, PEAC Finance

“Over the next few weeks as our conference series unfolds, we intend to progressively change by building in more interaction and giving you more control of the way the conference progresses. We want to know what you want to know.” Edward Peck, chief executive officer, International Asset Finance Network Online