Developing Private Equity and Venture Capital Markets

As capital market liquidity improves and access to debt financing tools grows, equity sponsors are strengthening their positions in Asia. Do these trends signal the increasing sophistication of Asia’s alternative investment vehicle markets? Does post-restructuring growth provide opportunities in the finance, telecom and healthcare sectors? Does integration of the global supply chain create significant value? Will Japan’s experience enable its emergence as the region’s reference market? Does China, with its unprecedented number of higher-growth companies, present an unique opportunity for equity sponsors?

This panel will discuss the latest developments and success stories in the private equity and venture capital industries of Asia.

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Capturing the Healthcare Boom in Asia

The health care industry has been identified as one of the primary growth industries in Asia. The key to the provision of reliable and reputable health care services remains the research and development conducted under the auspices of governmental agencies by multinationals in these countries. The outsourcing of research by US firms to lower cost Asian countries raises issues in partnership between the US and Asia. How can US firms enforce the protection of their intellectual property rights? What role should the US adopt in helping these Asian countries build the infrastructure and technical expertise necessary to conduct research? What are the exploitable synergies in this partnership between East and West?

This panel will address these issues in depth and explore the potential benefits US firms stand to reap from their investments and partnerships in Asia.

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The Japanese Renaissance

Once an undisputed economic powerhouse, Japan has experienced a decade of decline and market confusion. As past obstacles fade, new challenges have arisen to create barriers to a full economic recovery. How leading Japanese firms adjust to this economic and geopolitical environment will shape the development of the Japanese identity of the 21st century. Will Japanese leadership in the global arena transform the country’s role from that of economic power into an international participant in the quest for improved international security and human welfare?

The experts on Japan will share their perspectives on the various social, economic, and political forces influencing the future of Japan. A holistic picture of Japan’s future will be drawn from which you may formulate a sketch of your own.

 

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Manufacturing in Asia: Beyond Outsourcing

Since the 1990s, globalization has weakened the boundaries that once delineated world markets. However, efficient cross-continent operations of companies is only now being realized, as operations strategies look beyond outsourcing to create sustainable competitive advantages along the value chain.

This panel addresses the transfer of manufacturing, material procurement, and service functions to the inexpensive, but skilled labor markets of Asia. According to Forrester Research, 5 to 10 percent of Fortune 1000 firms are already relying on outsourcing as a critical business strategy. The potential for cost reduction through off-shore operations could prove a false promise, as firms fail to integrate Asian outsourcing operations into their global manufacturing footprint. Furthermore, focus on outsourcing obscures the potential for significant value creation along other steps of the value chain.

How can companies ride this wave of change and emerge as winners in the evolving global economy? This discussion will examine the opportunities and challenges posed by outsourcing and provide insight into the best strategies for continued success.

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Embracing Innovation: Continuing Success in the New Age of Telecommunication

Technological innovation and deregulation are rapidly changing the dynamics of the telecommunications market in Asia. New wireless technologies, supported by larger bandwidth and higher quality hardware, enable creation of more diverse and innovative services. VoIP (Voice over IP) is altering the business model of fixed line services, creating significant benefits to end users. The increasing penetration of broadband among households in Asia is a key driver of future growth in the telecommunications market. Changing regulations such as the portability and transferability of phone numbers create both opportunities for innovative carriers and threats to current market leaders. These changes could re-shape and re-define the Asia telecommunication market.

This panel will discuss the market trend and business strategy within the context of new technologies, the regulatory environment and the increasing sophistication of market needs in Asia.

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Facing the Challenge: Strategic Value Creation in Asia

As companies attempt to capture market share in the burgeoning Asian markets, strategic, operational, and financial challenges threaten to derail even the most compelling of market expansion plans. As multinational corporations build global brands, cross-functional cooperation and cross-market expertise enhance competitive positions that enable sustainable growth.

Panelists will share insights on their firms’ successes and failures in globalization. They will highlight their offensive and defensive tactics to combat the challenges and opportunities confronting multinationals moving into Asia and Asian companies venturing into the West.

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