Home

Best Liquidity Solution Highly Commended: Qualcomm

Published: Feb 2022

 

Photo of Matt Post, Assistant Treasurer.

Matt Post

Assistant Treasurer
Qualcomm

Qualcomm is a global leader in the development and commercialisation of foundational technologies for the wireless industry. Based in San Diego, US, it has over 170 offices in more than 40 countries. It has been operating in Asia for more than 20 years and has subsidiaries in China, Singapore, Japan, Australia, India, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

in partnership with

Qualcomm implements liquidity solution following pilot in Singapore and PRC

Listen to podcast

The challenge

Qualcomm’s legacy liquidity structure in Asia was decentralised. Given the accelerated growth Qualcomm was experiencing in Asia, Matt Post, Assistant Treasurer in San Diego was eager to enhance the company’s liquidity efficiency by establishing a structure that would:

  • Deploy liquidity from markets with surplus cash to markets with deficits.
  • Reduce third-party borrowing.
  • Automate the mobilisation of surplus cash locally and regionally with minimal human intervention, within the regulatory framework of each country and with minimal FX exposure.
  • Facilitate the investment of surplus cash.

The solution

The solution in partnership with Bank of America comprises domestic cash sweeping for local currency and US dollar to optimise yield while reducing related FX cost. A multi-currency notional pool at the regional level so that wherever the regulations allow, the company can concentrate liquidity in a centralised location in its base currency with the benefit of minimising FX costs and maximising yield.

Specifically, for China, by setting up both CNY and US dollar cross-border cash sweeps between China and Singapore, Qualcomm can benefit from different regulatory schemes. Qualcomm can have separate CNY and US dollar cross-border lending and borrowing quotas, giving the company enhanced flexibility when moving funds between China and overseas. The accumulated quota of CNY and US dollar can fully address Qualcomm’s inflow to and outflow from China, seamlessly connecting China liquidity with Singapore and then extending globally.

For regulated countries like Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand, the solution incorporates a structure based on a thorough understanding of the regulation as it applies to sweeping of funds in local and foreign currencies.

Leveraging automatic zero-balance domestic sweeps, Qualcomm can centralise surplus cash, gain full transparency and facilitate higher yield. In the case of China, an automatic on-demand structure for the domestic US dollar cash sweep eliminates unnecessary funds movement and minimises the lending and borrowing among Qualcomm subsidiaries.

A pilot was launched in China with two CNY cross-border cash sweeps and two US dollar cross-border cash sweeps simultaneously with one bank.

Qualcomm needed to segregate the liquidity between its controlled foreign company (CFC) and non-CFC subsidiaries due to US tax requirements. An exception from the regulator was obtained to implement the four cross-border cash sweeps with one bank simultaneously. As a result, Qualcomm can not only enhance liquidity management efficiency but also ensure full compliance with local and US policies.

Qualcomm adopted a phased rolled out starting with Singapore and China. During the pilot, Qualcomm managed the cross-border pools on an on-demand basis and instructed the bank to move funds between China and Singapore when needed. This ensured the team is familiar with the platform and understood the procedure to develop the cross-border cash position control mechanism before migrating to a fully automated phase.

Much of this new structure is already implemented and scheduled to go live on a fully automated basis on October 1st 2021.

Best practice and innovation

Qualcomm’s rigorous attention to clarity and detail in articulating its objectives for the Asia liquidity structure paved the way for the successful selection, collaboration, and implementation of the best in class solution. Qualcomm worked with Bank of America to develop solutions to create a centralised, automated, and flexible liquidity management system, leveraging a combination of technological innovation and effective management strategies, while considering the disparate regulatory landscape across Asia.

Key benefits

  • Centralised and enhanced regional liquidity management.
  • Seamless global connection of Asia liquidity.
  • Costs saved.
  • Reduced FX administration costs.
  • Integrated with Qualcomm’s treasury management system.

Ankur Gupta

Director, APAC Regional Corporate Sales, Global Transaction Services
Bank of America

Qualcomm’s key objective was to consolidate surplus liquidity globally in order to minimise third-party borrowings. Bank of America’s experts across sales and solutioning worked with Qualcomm’s global treasury team to put in place a sophisticated liquidity structure comprising of physical sweeping, zero balance accounts, single and multi-currency notional pooling. Key considerations also included complex central bank regulations across countries and tax considerations. What resulted was a bespoke and multiple award winning solution that helped Qualcomm consolidate liquidity in a highly automated manner, providing significant cost savings and full visibility on balances across accounts, currencies and entities.

in partnership with

The Adam Smith Awards Asia is the industry benchmark for best practice and innovation in corporate treasury. The 2021 awards attracted a record-breaking 497 nominations. To find out more please visit treasurytoday.com/adam-smith-awards-asia

View more winners

NOT FOR RETAIL DISTRIBUTION: This communication is for intended recipients only.

The views contained herein are not to be taken as advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any investment or interest thereto. This document is confidential and intended only for the person or entity to which it has been provided. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the reader. The material was prepared without regard to specific objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular receiver. Any forecasts, figures, opinions, statements of financial market trends or investment techniques and strategies expressed are those of as of the date of issuance.

Investment involves risks. Any investment decision should be based solely on the basis of any relevant offering documents such as the prospectus, annual report, semi-annual report, private placement or offering memorandum. For further information, any questions and for copies of the offering material you can contact your usual J.P. Morgan Asset Management representative. Both past performance and yield are not a reliable indicator of current and future results. There is no guarantee that any forecast will come to pass.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management and/or any of its affiliates and employees may hold positions or act as a market maker in the financial instruments of any issuer discussed herein or act as the underwriter, placement agent or lender to such issuer. The investments and strategies discussed herein may not be suitable for all investors and may not be authorized or its offering may be restricted in your jurisdiction, it is the responsibility of every reader to satisfy himself as to the full observance of the laws and regulations of the relevant jurisdictions. Prior to any application investors are advised to take all necessary legal, regulatory and tax advice on the consequences of an investment in the products.

09cj212810020209

All our content is free, just register below

As we move to a new and improved digital platform all users need to create a new account. This is very simple and should only take a moment.

Already have an account? Sign In

Already a member? Sign In

This website uses cookies and asks for your personal data to enhance your browsing experience. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring your data is handled in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).