SFI Master Classes

Register now for this SFI Master Class and participate either in person at the Renaissance Tower Hotel in Zurich or online.
 
Depending on the development of the pandemic situation, this Master Class can be changed into an online-only activity.

Current Situation

Since the 2008 financial crisis, the amount of corporate debt outstanding has more than doubled, in part due to the accommodating monetary policy and the outbreak of Covid-19. This increasing reliance on corporate debt as a source of financing raises important questions about the benefits, costs and risks associated with debt financing. The Master Class on “Managing Risks with Debt” will focus on determining an optimal funding strategy corresponding to the risk profile of the issuer. This Master Class will cover both financial risks, such as interest risk or currency risk, and non-financial risks. The latter will be analysed through the lens of sustainable bonds. A particular emphasis will be put on green bonds and their relation to financial and environmental performance.

Objective

Building on industry practice and recent academic insights, the Master Class will discuss both opportunities and shortcomings of current practices in debt financing. The master class will aim to equip banking and finance professionals with up to date and relevant knowledge about corporate debt financing. Specific objectives are:

• Becoming familiar with the recent trends in corporate debt markets
• Understanding the trade-offs associated with different funding strategies and the potential implications of alternative financing decisions in relation to the risk exposures of issuers (e.g. interest rates, currencies, ...)
• Being able to select the appropriate funding strategy and the corresponding debt instruments (fixed versus floating rate, currency-linked, commodity-linked, short versus long-term...) for a given issuer with an application to a recent case study
• Non-financial risks will be analyzed through the lens of sustainable bonds. A particular emphasis will be put on green bonds and their relation to pricing, financial performance, and environmental performance.

Target Audience

The Master Class is aimed at specialists in the financial industry who wish to deepen their understanding of corporate debt markets and funding strategies.

SAQ Recertification

This Master Class is an acknowledged SAQ recertification measure for the CWMA, CCoB, Affluent- and SME-Advisor profile and comprises four learning hours.