The Swiss Franc Forum

On 12 March 2013 Euromoney will host the second Swiss Franc Forum in Zurich. The Forum brings together international and domestic issuers with Swiss investors and the sponsoring intermediaries to discuss opportunities for funding and investing in the Swiss Franc bond market.

Speakers who have recently confirmed include:   

- Daniel Bytcanek, Director, Debt and Liquidity Management Agency (ARDAL), Slovakia
- Andrew Efiong, Director of Treasury, Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd.
- Rolf Enderli, Group Treasurer, Credit Suisse AG
- Gabriel Felpeto, Director, Financial Policies, CAF, Latin American Development Bank
- Pavel Ilichev, Head of Capital Markets, Financial Institutions, Risk Management and IR, Russian Railways
- George Morgan Dorgan, Fixed Income Portfolio Manager and Financial Editor
- Claude Moser, Group Treasurer, UBS AG
- Robert Savage, Chief Strategist, FX Concepts
- Jörg Schmid, Director, Pfandbriefbank schweizerischer Hypothekarinstitute
- Rainer Skierka, Vice President and Senior Analyst, Bank Sarasin & Co
- Martin Svedholm, Manager, Funding, Municipality Finance
- Markus Unternährer, Head of Capital Markets, Holcim
- Raphael Vannoni, Head, Economic Analysis and Member of Senior Management, Swiss Bankers Association
- Michael Widmer, Head of Treasury, Aduno Gruppe
- Boris Zurcher, Former Director and Chief Economist, BAK Basel Economics

Shortly after the inaugural conference the Swiss National Bank implemented the cap on the Swiss Franc after the currency had appreciated 22% against the dollar and 15% against the Euro, with obvious implications for exporters and the Swiss economy. The SNB’s actions succeeded in stabilizing the currency, however this measure can only be a short term solution.

Since the inaugural conference the Swiss Franc bond market has continued to thrive, with an abundance of issuance coming from new credits and new jurisdictions. Swiss investors’ demand for yield amid record low rates has seen them diversify from traditional top euro credits; 2012 has seen a record number of debut issuers.

Although corporate issuers have dominated this year, Swiss buyers have warmed to FIG names again after having shunned them as the eurozone crisis gathered pace late last year. The low supply of Swiss franc FIG paper in the early part of this year and domestic investors’ hunt for yield in a low rate environment have contributed to a post-summer revival of this asset class.

The Euromoney Swiss Franc Forum will bring together SSA, corporate and financial issuers with credit and rates investors to discuss the opportunities that abound in the world’s most stable capital markets.