Wharton Asia Business Conference 2008

Date: Saturday, November 8th, 2008

Venue : Park Hyatt, Philadelphia

Learn more about our recruiting process here.

The world has been enamored with the abundance of opportunities in the renaissance of Asia. Yet, the Asian financial crisis in 1997 is a powerful lesson of the inherent risks in operating business in the emerging markets.  Ten years later, Asia has re-emerged as the world's growth engine as the region's economies surge to new heights, exerting increasingly more business and political influences around the world.  The 2007 Wharton Asia Business Conference aims to explore not just the opportunities, but also the risks faced by global business leaders in a world with a wealthier and ever more integrated Asia.

Join us in this year's conference:

"Rediscovering the Risks and Rewards in Asia"

Saturday, November 17, 2007
Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia
Ten Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Panels

Investment Banking - Asia Goes Global

While the world focuses its attention on Asia's growth and the inherent investment opportunities within, the region itself has begun to look outward to fuel its progress. For several years, emerging Asian economies have together accounted for more of global GDP than any other regions. Asian companies steadily increasing their international acquisitions in search of overseas development can only attest to the mounting importance of Asia in the worldwide stage. These enterprises have set a precedent for aggressive cross-border transactions that will dramatically change the global business landscape. With the speed at which such activities have taken place, there must be an accompanying shift in the way the world views Asia.

Capital Markets - Is the Asian Market Really Attractive?

In the past few years, Asia has played an important role and become a major part of the world economy.  Asia's booming economy, more open and experience government, and better transparency, have attracted capital inflow from investors around the world.  Meanwhile, with rising wealth, more sophisticated investors, stronger banking system, and regulatory reform, Asia has been purchasing overseas financial assets and has increasingly been seen as an attractive fund raising destination. Yet, unsettled political tensions, government intervention, and cultural differences remain a concern.  Will the current developments overcome long time obstacles and make Asia a truly international capital markets center?

Consumer Marketing - Branding in Asia: Globalizing the Local and Localizing the Global

As the size of Asia's middle class grows considerably, the purchasing power, and vast potential of the region's consumers plays a pivotal role to enterprises seeking to strengthen revenues. Multi-national companies in the midst of expanding an international geographic presence have only to look at Asia's spending to understand the impact of the region's consumer purchasing habits on profitability. At the same time, home-grown Asian companies, whether on their own or in partnership with multinational companies, are beginning to establish their presence around the world. This panel aims to dissect the paths different companies in varying industries have taken to navigate the complex environment of marketing to consumers in Asia.

Private Equity - Facing New Challenges in Investing in Asia

Competition in the Asian private equity market has rapidly been intensifying as more and more global funds enter the region's markets with a continued push for aggressive fund raising. As the private equity market in Asia matures, economies and the competitive environment will face the constant need for change. This change will usher in new roles for those influenced by the industry. What kinds of challenges will private equity funds face in the future? What efforts are required for private equity funds to generate excess returns in the current context? How does each regional market differ in terms of the market environment and the stages of development? This panel aims to discuss the above questions and explore the winning strategy for private equity funds in Asia.

Private Wealth Management - Managing a Wealthier Asia

The complex dynamics created by Asia's growing affluence remains one of the most significant positions global wealth management players currently find themselves in. With the rise of enormous spending capacities and the introduction of increasingly sophisticated asset management alternatives, a new generation of moneyed residents in the region presents a host of opportunities for various sectors. How do different financial institutions intend to capture these opportunities? How are Asian private banking clients different from those in the US and Europe? What are the key challenges ahead as shifting demographics and economics conditions shape the growth of Asia?

Real Estate - Building and Investing in the New Land of Opportunity

Despite recent downturns in overseas markets, Asia's property markets, like its economies, are among the strongest in the world. Growth is expected to continue as investors, developers, and fund managers look into Asia's Real Estate in the hopes of generating handsome returns. Property investors are at the same time faced with the challenges and rewards of the region's real estate market transformation as developers begin focusing both on high-end as well as affordable middle-class properties. This panel aims to explore where emerging opportunities lie, how private equity and REITs select acquisition targets, and the current development of commercial mortgage-backed securities in Asia.

This website is produced and administered by the Wharton Asia Business Conference, an independent student-run organization of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. All contents are the responsibility of the clubs.