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Photo of Irene Tay, Bank of America collects the award on behalf of Hypertherm.
Hypertherm Inc is a US based middle market manufacturer of industrial cutting products and solutions that is 100% owned by its associates. The company operates in over 30 countries worldwide and has been in China since 2001.
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The central tenet of the Hypertherm global treasury team’s risk mitigation strategy has always been an unwavering focus on controls and standardisation, from its treasury processes to the solutions employed globally and at country level, including the adoption of one-off solutions. Treasury management is centralised and considered a CoE at the company headquarters in New Hampshire, US. This CoE develops, owns and monitors these controls, which are perpetuated throughout its offices globally.
As Carolyn Maloney, Treasurer, who has shaped the company’s treasury vision of centralised oversight for over 16 years, says, “Everything we do as a company is around corporate standards – the perpetuation of the same processes and standards throughout the globe.”
The company was keen to capitalise on technology advances and its relationship with its primary global banking partner, Bank of America (BofA), to further eliminate inefficiencies and enhance visibility and control through several initiatives:
A significant initiative in China this year is migrating to an e-tax solution by BofA that enables Hypertherm to reduce local bank accounts with a Chinese bank maintained specifically to facilitate local tax payments in China. It also allowed the global treasury team greater visibility into its transactions and account balances through BofA’s CashPro platform.
An ongoing assessment of its FX risk and the benefits of FX management. To date, the decision remains not to hedge in China due to the relative stability of the RMB and a focus on short terms with customers here, which limits its FX exposure in RMB. As in all jurisdictions where Hypertherm operates, treasury works with operations and tax to assess this situation on a regular basis.
The establishment of a sub-line in China, off the company’s primary credit facility with BofA, to manage liquidity risk in China.
Establishment of host-to-host (H2H) connectivity to automate payments. This has been implemented throughout much of Hypertherm’s footprint, most recently in Singapore and is planned for China in the future.
Other ongoing global initiatives to be addressed as timing and circumstances permit include:
The exploration of implementing a global corporate card programme for enhancing control and visibility of employees’ travel and other expenses in China. A global card has already been implemented throughout Europe, North and South America.
The use of artificial intelligence to facilitate cash application.
A strict adherence to a corporate culture and policy of standardisation and controls, as well as ongoing assessments of current practices to ensure effective mitigation of risk. A significant goal of Hypertherm’s CoE is for treasury to own the treasury management controls globally and review them on an ongoing basis.
Cost savings.
Process efficiencies.
Return on investment (ROI).
Increased automation.
Risk mitigated.
Improved visibility.
Errors reduced.
Number of banking partners/bank accounts reduced.
Manual intervention reduced.
Increased system connectivity.
Future proof solution.
Exceptional implementation (budget/time).
Hypertherm is well on its way to achieving consistency and improved efficiencies across its treasury management practices due to its proactive risk monitoring and management strategy. This is an excellent example of how a company can amalgamate risk and treasury management and the rewards it can bring.
The Adam Smith Awards Asia is the industry benchmark for best practice and innovation in corporate treasury. The 2022 awards attracted a record-breaking 416 nominations. To find out more please visit treasurytoday.com/adam-smith-awards-asia
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