Credit experts to discuss means of strengthening financial oversight

In light of the weaknesses in risk management and credit analysis practices that contributed to the recent global financial crisis, the Oakland University School of Business Administration is sponsoring its first ever International Conference on Credit Analysis and Risk Management.

Set for Thursday through Saturday, July 21-23, on the campus of Oakland University, the event will bring practitioners and academics together to discuss ways of improving existing models of analyzing credit risk and encouraging improvements in risk management.

Internationally recognized academic and industry experts participating in the conference will include:

• Edward Altman of New York University, speaking on contemporary topics in global credit analysis;
• Sean Keenan of GE Capital, speaking on practical analysis of individual loans and credits;
• Uday Rajan of the University of Michigan, speaking on the importance of using 'soft' information in credit analysis;
• Erik Heitfield of Federal Reserve Bank, speaking on the limitations of using only statistics in credit analysis.

The conference will be hosted by Enterprise Risk Analysis Institute, a part of the SBA's Center for Business Research and Education, as well as the Department of Accounting and Finance. The SBA plans to hold the conference biannually.

The cost to register is $195. Participants can attend a luncheon for $20 and a dinner reception featuring Ed Altman at Meadow Brook Hall for $95. Tickets will not be issued for the event, so attendees should have photo identification available to confirm registration at the door.

The deadline to register for conference is Friday, July 8. For more information, including a full conference agenda and a list of local accommodations, visit oakland.edu/internationalcreditconference.