Template:South African CLN: Difference between revisions
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In any case this chap sent in his mark-up of the, er, [[sw-æp]], and he had rather gone to town on it, in a manner indicating only a passing acquaintance with the derivatives market, but great expertise in the complications that arise when one transports goods by sea. | In any case this chap sent in his mark-up of the, er, [[sw-æp]], and he had rather gone to town on it, in a manner indicating only a passing acquaintance with the derivatives market, but great expertise in the complications that arise when one transports goods by sea. | ||
My supervising partner in those days was an excitable fellow<ref>''Highly'' excitable. To keep a lid on his blood pressure, he retired shortly thereafter and now runs a newsagent in Gillingham.</ref>. I confess it was with | My supervising partner in those days was an excitable fellow<ref>''Highly'' excitable. To keep a lid on his blood pressure, he retired shortly thereafter and now runs a newsagent in Gillingham.</ref>. I confess it was with salacious glee that I trotted around and dropped the [[comments]] — which were as compendious as they were ill-informed — on his desk, the way an obstreperous child might drop a lit match into a canister of petrol. | ||
It had the anticipated effect. Whilst the young [[JC]] was patiently explaining this unexpected setback to our client — represented by a callow but quick young fellow from Dublin, in his first year out from Trinity College — the supervisor stormed into the room, his face a rich shade of puce. | It had the anticipated effect. Whilst the young [[JC]] was patiently explaining this unexpected setback to our client — represented by a callow but quick young fellow from Dublin, in his first year out from Trinity College — the supervisor stormed into the room, his face a rich shade of puce. | ||
Revision as of 14:24, 12 March 2021
The South African credit-linked note and the misunderstood sw-æp
It was two decades ago, a mild Friday evening in the infancy of the credit derivatives market. It was all to do with a secured note, credit-linked to the republic of South Africa. I had drafted it — elegantly, if I do say so myself — and faxed if off, as one did in those days, to our client, a giant investment bank, and the prospective purchaser. The week’s work done, I was putting my blazer on and groping for my brolley when the phone rang.
I turned on my heels and regarded it resentfully. Should I answer?
Valour got the better part of discretion, and I did. It turned out to be a partner from that famous derivatives firm[1] Stephenson Harwood. He announced himself as the prospective client’s solicitor, and told me he had some comments on the swap. Only he pronounced it “sw-æp”, to rhyme with “crap”, and not “sw-ŏp”, to rhyme with chop — something that, after Noel Edmonds, you would think no self-respecting British child, let alone one who had matured into a derivatives whizz, would do.
In any case this chap sent in his mark-up of the, er, sw-æp, and he had rather gone to town on it, in a manner indicating only a passing acquaintance with the derivatives market, but great expertise in the complications that arise when one transports goods by sea.
My supervising partner in those days was an excitable fellow[2]. I confess it was with salacious glee that I trotted around and dropped the comments — which were as compendious as they were ill-informed — on his desk, the way an obstreperous child might drop a lit match into a canister of petrol.
It had the anticipated effect. Whilst the young JC was patiently explaining this unexpected setback to our client — represented by a callow but quick young fellow from Dublin, in his first year out from Trinity College — the supervisor stormed into the room, his face a rich shade of puce.
“I have never been so outraged”, said he, “and I have covered his ridiculous mark-up with unspeakable obscenities! Filthy! words that start with “c” and “p”!”
There was the most exquisite pause before an Irish voice on the speakerphone interjected: