After the relative lull of the summer, most of us have had a busy September and this looks likely to continue until the other major shutdown of the year, Christmas (do I get the ‘earliest mention’ award?). On the subject of awards, by the time you get this edition, The Treasurer’s Deals of the Year panel will have been hard at work selecting the best debt and equity deals of the last 12 months – the opportunity for readers to have their say comes with a chance to vote for your favourite deal in the November issue.
Meanwhile, the Editorial and Publications Committee and the inhouse team have been working to plan our spotlights and features for 2004.We are, naturally enough, covering the ‘old favourites’ such as cash management, risk management, funding and careers during the course of the year, but we will also be addressing several issues which may not be core to all treasurers but which feature significantly in their job spec. The first few months run as follows, with the full list available at www.treasurers.org/thetreasurer
January/February edition – in addition to our Deals of the Year feature, we will be covering Foreign Exchange, as well as including the first of two-part special feature on Asset Finance (part two is in March).
March – The Treasurers’ Conference special edition will include a Spotlight on Cash Management & Cash Forecasting, as well as contributions tying in with The Treasurers’ Conference 2004, which is being organised by the ACT (see pages 22-23).
April – we return to relative ‘normality’, where the Spotlight will be on Leveraged Finance, with a special feature on Treasury Technology. Our planning process brings most of the key issues to the fore by involving the Editorial Committee, but we always welcome comment, advice and contributions from readers. A key aspect of keeping readers interested is to have contributions from practising treasurers and finance directors.We would in particular like to hear from any of you with an interesting and/or topical story or case study, which we would be happy to cover through an article or by interview. Please contact me at mhenigan@treasurers.co.uk or telephone +44 (0)20 7213 0723.
Talking of getting involved, I would like to thank those committee members who have recently had to stand down for all their hard work and contributions over the past few years (see page 15). Another person who will be sorely missed is Sheelagh Killen, Technical Editor, who is making a change of direction in career to train as a solicitor.
There are several places available on various committees, including Editorial and Publications, for members who would like to get involved – hard work can be part of the package but it also presents an ideal opportunity to meet your peers, get involved in lively discussion on topical issues and put something back into the treasury community. Please contact Richard Raeburn if you are interested.
MIKE HENIGAN
Managing Editor
