Michael O'Brien Email & Phone Number

Christchurch, Nz

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

440 Strand, London

Company Information:Coutts & Co is the pre-eminent brand for Private Banking and Wealth Management in the UK. It is part of the wealth division for The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Current Responsibilities:Generate, structure and complete debt transactions – with a focus on the larger or more complex deals – ranging from NZD equivalent of $5m - $100m. All aspects of the deal are controlled via me, from initial contact with the clients through to negotiating terms, presenting the deal to our Credit Committee, managing the finance documentation, draw down and on-going monitoring of the debt facilities. I have also led a number of bespoke projects for the Bank eg. LIBOR interest rate project and implementation of IT enhancements to improve the Bank wide loan documentation process. KEY ACTIVITIES: Completing new debt transactions and portfolio management valued at NZD equivalent of $400m split across a range of private clients (including farming, professional sportspeople and entrepreneurs). Includes some of the largest, more high profile and complex debt facilities provided by the Bank.Transactions cover lending against Landed Estates, managed investment portfolios (IBLs – Investment Backed Lending), Superprime residential properties (+NZD equiv $20m), residential property development and residential and commercial property investment Mentoring members of credit analysts and mortgage specialistsTraining private bankers in lending transactionsProject management: I led a team that reviewed all the commercial loans across the Bank as part of remediation exercise. This was highly sensitive subject as the purpose was to determine which Clients were eligible for compensation. The forensic work undertaken by my project team resulted in savings for the Bank of NZD equivalent $4m.

440 Strand, London

Responsibilities:Write submissions to present to the Credit Committee for new and existing debt transactions. Conduct annual reviews and manage a portfolio of NZD equivalent of $150m. KEY ACTIVITIES: Managing a portfolio of NZD equivalent of $150m consisting of private clients whom hold the larger or more complex debt facilities provided by Coutts & Co.Responsibility for new lending transactions involving: Face-to-face clients meetings, agreeing the structure, preparing & submitting reports to Credit Risk, engaging in third party professionals, managing the finance documentation process, and responsibility for on-going monitoring.Managing a team to ensure existing Commercial loan facilities are reported correctly as per UK Bank Regulators Advising private bankers in lending transactionsProject work: I led a team that implemented a new loan documentation process for complex loan facilities (an idea that I proposed). Involved me instructing IT teams in Switzerland to produce system enhancements, UK Legal and presenting papers to ExCo to have it agreed. Result being that the process is now more efficient with less expense to the Bank and a better experience for the Clients.