Three of Clydesdale Bank’s senior staff from the Aberdeen office are at OTC to let the industry know that the bank is still open for business.
Craig Yeoman, area director of the bank’s corporate and structured finance team, is in the US with John Brebner, managing partner of the Aberdeen financial solutions centre and his colleague Dave Walker, a partner at the Aberdeen base.
Mr Yeoman said: “OTC is a great opportunity for us to let the industry know that we are a bank with a strong track record that is still doing deals. We are keen to support the industry following its significant period of growth as it looks to the future, despite the challenges of the current recession.”
Despite Mr Yeoman’s optimism, the world’s economic woes are taking their toll on every business and the bank is taking a characteristically prudent approach in scaling back the number of staff it has sent to Houston this year.
He added: “There are three of us attending OTC this year, while there were six last year. This reflects the approach being taken by our clients who are mindful of cost in the current climate. That being said, as a bank we are in a strong position and continue to maintain that, for the right deal, funds are available.”
Mr Yeoman is also clear on the benefits attending and exhibiting at OTC offers Scotland’s oil and gas industry.
He said: “OTC offers Scottish companies a global shop window in which they can sell their products, and also their company if they so wish. The UK has often been a technological leader and OTC, along with Offshore Europe later in the year, offers Scottish companies a great showcase for their latest products and innovations.”
The conference also offers an opportunity for the bank’s team to learn more about the latest developments in the industry, which they can then feed back to other clients in Aberdeen. Mr Yeoman said: “OTC really brings together the best from around the world, so is a brilliant place for us to find out more about the latest technologies, skills and practices that can make a real difference to our clients’ operations. By really understanding how the operations side works, we find that we are much better placed to advise on the commercial and financial benefits.”