Speakers celebrate 30 years with preview of beneficial owners’ event
31 January 2025
The 30th Annual Beneficial Owners' International Securities Finance and Collateral Management Conference, hosted by IMN, will come to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 3-4 February
Image: SeanPavonePhoto
Speakers of IMN’s headline securities lending conference in the US have revealed the core discussions anticipated for next week’s event, and what to look forward to.
The 30th Annual Beneficial Owners' International Securities Finance and Collateral Management Conference will come to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 3-4 February.
It marks the event’s 30th anniversary, and will bring together agent lenders, broker-dealers, beneficial owners and more from across the US, Canada, and Europe.
The conference first debuted in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1995, previously titled The Beneficial Owners’ Summit on Domestic and International Securities Lending. Having been held in many different states over the last three decades — including Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee — at 22 this year’s event supports a record number of sponsors.
For its anniversary, Securities Finance Times spoke with key speakers that will feature in next week’s event at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina to provide a preview for attendees.
Brendan McCarthy, director, client management and business development at Deutsche Bank; Margaret Anne Hennessy, head of Americas securities finance relationship management at BNY; Ed Blount, executive director at Advanced Securities Consulting; and Greg Korte, partner, trust/custody and securities lending, Aon Consulting, all shared their thoughts.
This year’s conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida marks IMN’s 30th anniversary. How significant has this beneficial owners’ event been for the greater securities finance industry?
Brendan McCarthy: Over the past 30 years, the IMN Beneficial Owners’ conference has presented a great opportunity for industry participants to come together to discuss and learn about trends, opportunities, and changes in the industry.
It has been a valuable source for beneficial owners to dive deeper on challenges and opportunities the market is facing along with the potential impact on their programme. Over the years, the IMN has addressed salient topics including borrower defaults, regulatory changes impacting securities lending, and challenges in opening new markets. This year’s conference looks to address just as many important topics.
Margaret Anne Hennessy: I am grateful to the IMN for once again hosting this event.?It provides a unique opportunity for beneficial owners, agent lenders, borrowers and vendors to meet and share insights about the trends and themes they’re seeing in the industry.
Greg Korte: Over the last 24 years I have attended, participated and sponsored the conference. It started out as a beneficial owner focused event. Traditionally, a large number of clients came to the conference to learn more about the basics of securities lending. Along the way, attendance migrated to more of the ‘super user community’ attending to gain insight on much more complex aspects of the industry. Overall, it has been a very valuable learning experience as well as a forum to meet fellow industry practitioners and old friends.
With a fantastic line-up of speakers at the ready, can you highlight some of the keyinsights and thought-provoking topics you hope to explore at the event?
Ed Blount: The 30th anniversary of the IMN Beneficial Owners’ Securities Lending Conference marks a pivotal moment for the industry, underscoring its evolution from a data-driven yet static field to one energised by transformative technologies like Generative AI.
My keynote, ‘Gen AI: 7 Questions for Lending Agents’, will explore how these advancements can redefine relationships between large agents and fund lenders, fostering a deeper collaboration.
Historically, securities lending relied on static monthly reports, offering little more than backward-looking comparisons of prior earnings. Today, we stand at the cusp of real-time decision-making powered by dynamic intraday alerts and shared ledgers. With large language models (LLMs), agents can now generate insightful, accessible reports that support oversight officials and beneficial owners alike.
Gen AI assistants hold immense potential to create synergy between agents and lenders. By linking investment policies, trading strategies, and inventory management tactics, beneficial owners can actively shape portfolio outcomes. This collaborative approach not only aligns with modern transparency demands but also empowers stakeholders to navigate increasingly complex markets.
The introduction of SLATE disclosure rules further enhances this landscape. Leveraging second-generation transformer models alongside regression techniques like autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), lenders can refine forecasts and integrate data from vendors with unprecedented accuracy. This convergence of advanced analytics and regulatory compliance sets the stage for a new era of securities finance, in which the 30-year legacy of this conference serves as a foundation for future innovation.
McCarthy: All of the panels and speakers certainly present opportunities to learn. The key topics I’m most looking forward to hearing include how market participants are measuring performance potentially utilising AI, growth opportunities in new markets and trades, and potential new routes to market.
Korte: I am very interested in better understanding beneficial owner’s oversight and governance programmes from a standpoint of both risk as well revenue generation.
Hennessy: As always, there is a great schedule that I’m sure will initiate lots of stimulating conversations, both during and after the event.?I am thrilled to be speaking along with my co-panellists and hearing their thoughts on the market outlook for 2025.?
Another highlight is?the panel discussion ‘Novel Routes of Market, Peer to Peer & Alternative Counterparty Developments’, where my colleague Shane Parks will be speaking and sharing his insights.?I am delighted to see that Women in Securities Finance is once again hosting a grow-your-network speed networking session, as this event was a huge success last year.
As you prepare to travel to Florida’s Southeastern coast, what are you most looking forward to?
McCarthy: Certainly, I’m looking forward to enjoying the warm weather, as well as the opportunity to connect with clients, prospects, and other industry participants.
Hennessy: It’s always great to travel to Florida, but with the recent single-digit temperatures in New York, I am especially eager for some sunshine. Aside from the Florida sun, I am looking forward to seeing some of our clients. Connecting with clients in person is always a great experience, so I am excited for that.
Blount: I’m looking forward to reconnecting with old friends, who somehow seem to be getting younger every year.
The 30th Annual Beneficial Owners' International Securities Finance and Collateral Management Conference will come to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 3-4 February.
It marks the event’s 30th anniversary, and will bring together agent lenders, broker-dealers, beneficial owners and more from across the US, Canada, and Europe.
The conference first debuted in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1995, previously titled The Beneficial Owners’ Summit on Domestic and International Securities Lending. Having been held in many different states over the last three decades — including Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee — at 22 this year’s event supports a record number of sponsors.
For its anniversary, Securities Finance Times spoke with key speakers that will feature in next week’s event at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina to provide a preview for attendees.
Brendan McCarthy, director, client management and business development at Deutsche Bank; Margaret Anne Hennessy, head of Americas securities finance relationship management at BNY; Ed Blount, executive director at Advanced Securities Consulting; and Greg Korte, partner, trust/custody and securities lending, Aon Consulting, all shared their thoughts.
This year’s conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida marks IMN’s 30th anniversary. How significant has this beneficial owners’ event been for the greater securities finance industry?
Brendan McCarthy: Over the past 30 years, the IMN Beneficial Owners’ conference has presented a great opportunity for industry participants to come together to discuss and learn about trends, opportunities, and changes in the industry.
It has been a valuable source for beneficial owners to dive deeper on challenges and opportunities the market is facing along with the potential impact on their programme. Over the years, the IMN has addressed salient topics including borrower defaults, regulatory changes impacting securities lending, and challenges in opening new markets. This year’s conference looks to address just as many important topics.
Margaret Anne Hennessy: I am grateful to the IMN for once again hosting this event.?It provides a unique opportunity for beneficial owners, agent lenders, borrowers and vendors to meet and share insights about the trends and themes they’re seeing in the industry.
Greg Korte: Over the last 24 years I have attended, participated and sponsored the conference. It started out as a beneficial owner focused event. Traditionally, a large number of clients came to the conference to learn more about the basics of securities lending. Along the way, attendance migrated to more of the ‘super user community’ attending to gain insight on much more complex aspects of the industry. Overall, it has been a very valuable learning experience as well as a forum to meet fellow industry practitioners and old friends.
With a fantastic line-up of speakers at the ready, can you highlight some of the keyinsights and thought-provoking topics you hope to explore at the event?
Ed Blount: The 30th anniversary of the IMN Beneficial Owners’ Securities Lending Conference marks a pivotal moment for the industry, underscoring its evolution from a data-driven yet static field to one energised by transformative technologies like Generative AI.
My keynote, ‘Gen AI: 7 Questions for Lending Agents’, will explore how these advancements can redefine relationships between large agents and fund lenders, fostering a deeper collaboration.
Historically, securities lending relied on static monthly reports, offering little more than backward-looking comparisons of prior earnings. Today, we stand at the cusp of real-time decision-making powered by dynamic intraday alerts and shared ledgers. With large language models (LLMs), agents can now generate insightful, accessible reports that support oversight officials and beneficial owners alike.
Gen AI assistants hold immense potential to create synergy between agents and lenders. By linking investment policies, trading strategies, and inventory management tactics, beneficial owners can actively shape portfolio outcomes. This collaborative approach not only aligns with modern transparency demands but also empowers stakeholders to navigate increasingly complex markets.
The introduction of SLATE disclosure rules further enhances this landscape. Leveraging second-generation transformer models alongside regression techniques like autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), lenders can refine forecasts and integrate data from vendors with unprecedented accuracy. This convergence of advanced analytics and regulatory compliance sets the stage for a new era of securities finance, in which the 30-year legacy of this conference serves as a foundation for future innovation.
McCarthy: All of the panels and speakers certainly present opportunities to learn. The key topics I’m most looking forward to hearing include how market participants are measuring performance potentially utilising AI, growth opportunities in new markets and trades, and potential new routes to market.
Korte: I am very interested in better understanding beneficial owner’s oversight and governance programmes from a standpoint of both risk as well revenue generation.
Hennessy: As always, there is a great schedule that I’m sure will initiate lots of stimulating conversations, both during and after the event.?I am thrilled to be speaking along with my co-panellists and hearing their thoughts on the market outlook for 2025.?
Another highlight is?the panel discussion ‘Novel Routes of Market, Peer to Peer & Alternative Counterparty Developments’, where my colleague Shane Parks will be speaking and sharing his insights.?I am delighted to see that Women in Securities Finance is once again hosting a grow-your-network speed networking session, as this event was a huge success last year.
As you prepare to travel to Florida’s Southeastern coast, what are you most looking forward to?
McCarthy: Certainly, I’m looking forward to enjoying the warm weather, as well as the opportunity to connect with clients, prospects, and other industry participants.
Hennessy: It’s always great to travel to Florida, but with the recent single-digit temperatures in New York, I am especially eager for some sunshine. Aside from the Florida sun, I am looking forward to seeing some of our clients. Connecting with clients in person is always a great experience, so I am excited for that.
Blount: I’m looking forward to reconnecting with old friends, who somehow seem to be getting younger every year.
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