UK regulator and ombudsman interventions are the big focus at this summer’s Asset Finance Connect conference on 6th June at etc venues, County Hall, London, where we will take a hard look at:

• the review of historic motor finance agreements in the auto finance stream;
• the super-complaint made by FSB in the asset finance stream;
• the twin challenges of sustainability and margin management for banks and captives in the equipment/vendor finance stream; and
• the decision not to mandate commission disclosure through the FLA code which will affect all intermediaries working with lenders in all three segments of the AFC community.

Star-billing at the conference will be:

• Martin McTague, head of FSB who will be talking to lenders direct about the compelling opportunities for the industry to drive growth among SMEs, removing the gap created by indiscriminate use of personal guarantees with otherwise credit-worthy SMEs who prefer opt for no finance to losing their homes in the event of their businesses defaulting.
• Simon Evans, head of the Consumer Redress Association who will talk about the gaps in the FOS lead consumer complaints customer journey which claims management companies can plug if the regulator will let them.
• Wayne Gibbard partner at Shoosmiths will provide his observations on the impact of a switch from legal process to regulation which has lead to Barclay’s Bank needing to appeal a decision using the high bar of judicial review, on a complaint which seemingly lacks any merit and where the customer seems to have been treated rather well by an industry which has taken repeat business as a sign that customers are happy.

This conferences:

• asset finance sessions will consider alternative models that drive good interaction between lenders, customers and intermediaries and a series of roundtables which will enable critical debate between lenders and brokers about the strengths and weaknesses in the way the industry is changing.
• equipment finance sessions will consider the strategic approach of HSBC and Lombard; and Scania and John Deere as they consider how to manage transition driven by sustainability objectives and technological change;
• auto finance session will focus not just on regulation but also will dig deeper into the emerging powerhouse that is China, and their increasingly engaging approach to the EU which seems to be embodied by a firm assurance that they are “In Europe for Europe”. Ian Plummer, from Auto Trader will be providing his insights following his trip round the auto OEMs of China last month, and Yin Noe will be joining us to talk about YRD the OEM alliance she represents which will provide lenders with a unique opportunity to build ties with new market entrants; and to help drive their businesses here in the UK.

The tech sessions will be focussing on tech that can drive down the cost to serve – with our dragons Steve Taplin (Lendscape), Catriona Powell (Novuna), Andy Trimmer (Simply) considering their own hot-spot chart of where the hot spots for tech deployment lie in the credit cycle; and FICO will be demoing their auto-decisioning platform in one of our workshops. We will also be running a roundtable for the new Guild of Finance Professionals; and a roundtable for brokers who wish to understand what it takes to become hybrid lenders (lead by Rob Harris).

• A fitter and thinner-than-normal Nathan Mollett (UTB Bank) will provide his insights into the capabilities that helped him complete the Marathon De Sables that also help him in the workplace.
• Philip White (BrokerHub) will be addressing the next-gen workshop on the related topic of resilience. Philip started BrokerHub his business designed to assist brokers to develop better businesses, and did it despite a life changing injury a few years ago.

And the afternoon will end with a debate: “The house believes that the industry should mandate commission disclosure”

Places for the event are being snapped up fast – so if you haven’t booked yours, go to our website at https://afcconferenceuk.com/assetfinanceconnect2024/en/page/book-now

Important - new venue. Don’t get caught out by going to our usual venue – the AFC Summer Conference takes place at COUNTY HALL on the Southbank and NOT at the usual venue next to Liverpool Street Station.
Agenda

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