Acorns of APAC
Acorns of APAC is an AIMA outreach program for emerging managers in the region. This year's Acorns will be held as a joint APAC virtual forum on 29 April 2021.
We welcome both AIMA and non-AIMA members who meet any of the following criteria to join us at this forum:
1. Managers that are new to the industry (defined as < 2 years)
2. Managers looking to start a fund
3. Managers in their early stages of raising assets (with AUM < US$200m)
This event is part of AIMA’s initiative to support the growth of the fund management industry in the region, so we have designed the forum to cover important considerations new managers may have. Topics covered will include the legal and operational toolkit required for starting up a fund and raising AUM.
Please check this page for the latest updates.
Agenda
Time zone: GMT +8
Agenda subject to change
THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
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8:25 AM - 8:30 AM
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OPENING REMARKS
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8:30 AM - 9:25 AM
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PANEL 1 – THE ESSENTIAL LEGAL TOOLBOX: PREPARING TODAY FOR TOMORROW’S SUCCESS
This panel will focus on the essential knowledge that aspiring managers/young start-ups will need during the initial stages of setting up a private fund. Topics covered will include a basic understanding of the regulatory requirements for a start-up as well as insights on various fund structures and jurisdictions including Cayman, Luxembourg, Hong Kong LPF/OFC, Singapore VCC etc.
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BREAK
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9:45 AM - 10:40 AM
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PANEL 2 – HELL RAISING AUM IN TODAY’S COVID WORLD: OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO EMERGING MANAGERS
The driving force of any successful fund is performance and AUM. With regards to the latter, what do hedge funds need to be aware of when marketing and what are investor looking for in a manager? These questions, and more will be covered in this panel session. The panel consists of experienced managers and investor who allocate to “acorn” managers.
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BREAK
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11:00 AM - 11:55 AM
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PANEL 3 – BUDGET MAKE OR BREAK: SET UP ESSENTIALS
Having a proper setup and infrastructure in place is essential for the efficient functioning of the office. Join us for this panel which will focus on various key aspects in running an investment firm including licences required, operating systems selection, cybersecurity considerations, insurance plans as well as real estate costs when sourcing an office location.
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BREAK
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12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
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MANAGER FIRESIDE CHAT – BRINGING CONCEPT TO LIFE, MAKING IT ALL WORK
Join us for a chat with a manager(s) as they share insights and experiences on the challenges in building up a fund management business in Asia Pacific.
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1:00 PM - 1:05 PM
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CLOSING REMARKS
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Please note that this event is conducted under the Chatham House Rule.
Registration
Registration is now closed, for more information please contact [email protected].
Non-emerging managers and service providers who register may be rejected and will not receive a link to the stream.
Speakers
OPENING REMARKS
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Michael Bugel, Managing Director, Co-Head of APAC, AIMA
Michael joined AIMA in 2016 as Managing Director and Co-Head of APAC and brings a wealth of experience in Asian financial markets and has been located in Hong Kong for close to 18 years. He has held senior positions on the sell side both in New York and Hong Kong. He has held leadership positions at BNP Paribas, Bear Sterns, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan and most recently at HSBC where he managed the banks senior relationships with the Asset management sector with in the Financial Institutional Group. Michael is responsible for the management of all our activities across Asia including our National groups, membership staff, events communications and finances. Together with Kher Sheng Lee (Co-Head of APAC) operate as our senior ambassadors for AIMA in APAC and the Industry we represent.
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PANEL 1 – THE ESSENTIAL LEGAL TOOLBOX: PREPARING TODAY FOR TOMORROW’S SUCCESS
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Audrey Woon, Managing Director, Head of Asia Prime Services Hedge Fund Consulting, Goldman Sachs (Asia)
Audrey is a managing director and head of Asia Prime Services Hedge Fund Consulting at Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC, based in Hong Kong. Previously, Audrey was co-deputy head of Asia Pacific Securities Division Compliance and held various leadership roles within Securities Division Compliance at Goldman Sachs since joining in 2005. She is on the Advisory Board of the GS Hong Kong Women’s Network. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Audrey worked in private practice law firms in Los Angeles and Tokyo. Audrey earned a BA in both Government and Psychology from Cornell University and a JD from Cornell University Law School.
Nikki Bentley, EY Oceania Law Partner, Financial Services and Investment Funds
Nikki advises leading Australian and global fund managers on a full range of corporate, commercial and regulatory issues facing their businesses. Nikki often assists offshore managers entering the Australian market. Nikki has a particular focus on alternative investments. She has assisted many Australian hedge fund managers start up their businesses and establish Australian domiciled funds and Cayman Island offshore infrastructure. Nikki has been recognised a leading lawyer in Investment Funds and Financial Services Regulation by Chambers Asia Pacific since 2012.
Hannah Cassidy, Partner, Head of Financial Services Regulatory, Asia, Herbert Smith Freehills
Hannah is a contentious regulatory partner who also advises financial services clients on regulatory policy and compliance. She heads the award-winning Financial Services Regulatory practice in Asia. Hannah helps international and regional financial institutions with contentious regulatory cases and cross-border investigations involving, for example, systems and controls breaches, anti-money laundering failures and insider dealing. Hannah also regularly advises clients on regulatory developments, including in relation to licensing, senior management accountability and fintech. She is leading the firm's thought leadership efforts in the Asia-Pacific region on benchmark reforms, including the litigation and regulatory risks arising from IBOR discontinuation.
Yuki Sako, Counsel, K&L Gates LLP
Ann Ng, Partner, Maples Group
Anne Yeo, Co-head & Partner, Funds and Investment Management Group, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP
Anne co-heads the investment funds practice at Rajah & Tann. Anne’s practice focuses on the formation and restructuring of a wide range of onshore and offshore private investment funds covering hedge and other pooled investment vehicles employing a diverse range of strategies. Anne regularly acts for start-up managers through various stages of a fund’s life including advising on capital raising, complex restructurings, liquidity challenges, evolving fund terms and the structuring of hybrid investment structures; and regularly advises fund managers on seeding arrangements, fund management licensing and enforcement related matters.
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PANEL 2 – HELL RAISING AUM IN TODAY’S COVID WORLD: OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO EMERGING MANAGERS
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Stephen Lien, Director, Asia Pacific Asset Management Services, Asia Pacific Equities, Bank of America Securities
Stephen Lien is a Director in Financing Sales, Asset Management Services at Bank of America. He is based in Singapore. Stephen joined BofA in 2010 in London and is responsible for the distribution of all financing products to institutional asset managers and Hedge Funds, this incorporates Prime Brokerage, Securities Lending and linear derivatives products. Stephen holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Macquarie University, Sydney Australia.
Robb Fipp, Head of Marketing and Investor Relations, Astignes Capital
Mr. Fipp is Head of Marketing and Investor Relations for Astignes Capital. Prior to Astignes Capital, Mr. Fipp was a Managing Director with UBS Asset Management in Singapore, where he served as a Senior Investment Specialist for UBS Hedge Fund Solutions and Head of Business Development, APAC and MIddle East for UBS O'Conner, UBS’ single manager hedge fund platform. Before joining UBS, Mr. Fipp spent eight years with advisory firm Veracity Worldwide. As a founding partner, Mr. Fipp initially built and ran Veracity’s Asia practice in Singapore before serving as global Chief Operating Officer, based in New York. Previously, Mr. Fipp established and managed the Asia operations of a US-based venture capital firm, founded a boutique consulting firm focused on the Asia region and played a leading role in developing the partnerships and alliances group of enterprise software firm Trilogy. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Singapore American School. Mr. Fipp graduated from Boston College with a B.A in Communications and Germanic Studies.
Theresa Han, Managing Director, Absolute Return Strategies, GCM Investments Hong Kong Limited
Ms. Han is the strategy head for Asia and serves on the Global Investment Council. Prior to joining GCM Grosvenor, she was a MD at China Investment Corporation, where she co-managed the hedge fund portfolio. Previously, she was with Alternative Investment Solutions of UBS with responsibilities in manager research and operational due diligence in Asia. Prior to joining UBS, she was an Associate Fund Manager with Value Partners Hong Kong. Ms. Han holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy from Chinese University of Hong Kong. She holds the CFA and CAIA designations.
Samuel Mann, CEO, Longreach Alternatives
Sandeep Mand, Managing Director, Wolver Hill Asset Management Asia Ltd
Sandeep Mand heads up the Wolver Hill office in HK and his focus is on business development and risk oversight to the group. Prior to joining Wolver Hill in 2017 he was Head of Rates Sales & Trading Asia for Mitsubishi UFJ Securities HK having previously spent 22yrs in Tokyo in various management and trading roles. He holds a BEng in Avionics and a MSc in Management Science. |
PANEL 3 – BUDGET MAKE OR BREAK: SET UP ESSENTIALS
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Halley Caldwell, APAC Head of Business Consulting Services, Morgan Stanley
Halley Caldwell is Head of Business Consulting Services in Asia for Morgan Stanley Prime Brokerage. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2016, Halley was the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of Sylebra HK Company Limited in Hong Kong. She started her career in hedge funds with Coatue Management in New York in 2010. Halley focuses on all aspects of fund manager operational best practices, including regulatory and compliance considerations, governance, operational due diligence, service provider engagements, HR and staff retention.
Niall Rowark, Associate Director, Office Services, Colliers
Christopher Jung, Head of Asia Outsourced Trading, Cowen and Company (Asia) Ltd
Christopher Jung is a Managing Director and Head of Asian Outsourced Trading. Prior to joining Cowen, Mr. Jung was Head of trading at Makto Capital. Mr. Jung also held Senior Sales trading roles at Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Nomura and BNP in addition to others over the last 23 years. Mr. Jung graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles California and received a Master’s in Business Administration from Boston university.
Michael Steinkuhl, Director, APAC Division, Eze Castle Integration
Dagmar Baeuerle, COO & Co-Founder, InvenTIO Capital Management (HK) Limited
Dagmar Baeuerle is the Chief Operating Officer and Founding Partner at Inventio Capital Management (HK) Limited, a boutique hedge fund manager focusing on North Asian investment opportunities. Prior to InvenTIO, she held various other hedge fund COO/CFO/CCO roles in Hong Kong and New York, as well as completed a four year stint with Citi Prime Finance in Asia.
Martin Giggins, Executive Director, Regional Head of Investment Management Industry Group Asia, Willis Towers Watson
Martin has 30 years experience in the insurance industry specialising in providing legal and financial liability solutions across many industry sectors. Running and overseeing a portfolio of over 300 clients across Asia Martin’s particular expertise is in the investment industry, mapping risks for clients ranging from traditional funds, Hedegfunds, Private Equity, Venture Capital etc. together with professionals such as administrators, lawyers, accountants, banks, custodians etc. In providing the above solutions to there liabilities, Martin has an indepth of knowledge and track record of managing and placing bespoke polices, affinity programs, schemes, and also finite reinsurance solutions for a range of insurances including Warranty and Indemnity Insurance, Professional indemnity, Directors and Officers liability, Cyber liability and Crime. Heavily involved in claims, Martin brings extensive knowledge and experience in the management and settlement of complex claims such as litigation, mediation, trade errors, regulatory actions, social engineering/crime and cyber liability.
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MANAGER FIRESIDE CHAT – BRINGING CONCEPT TO LIFE, MAKING IT ALL WORK
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Alex Howarth, Executive Director, Capital & Consulting Group, J.P. Morgan
Alex Howarth is an Executive Director for the Hedge Fund Consulting team for J.P. Morgan. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan in 2016, he was a lawyer by training and practiced derivatives and structured finance with Allen & Overy in London for a number of years. In 2009 Alex moved away from law and into Deutsche Bank’s Prime Brokerage business, firstly in London before moving to Hong Kong in 2012.
Carrie W. Burke, CRO & Head of Investor Relations, Navik Capital
Carrie Burke has over 12 years of experience on both sell side and buy side firms. With a focus on FX and rates derivatives, she is specialized in emerging market products in Asia. Carrie studied financial engineering before starting her career at Barclays Tokyo on the FX structured products trading desk. Most recently, she was a senior Director in the fixed income sales team at Deutsche Bank Singapore. Prior to that, she oversaw Asian rates hedge fund sales at Barclays. Carrie holds a MSc in Computational Finance from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor’s in Economics from University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, China.
Philip King, Founder, CIO, Regal Funds Management
Philip King is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Regal Funds Management. He founded Regal around 2005 and since then Regal has become one of Australia’s most awarded investment managers, named Australian Hedge Fund of the Year four times. Recently inducted in to the Australian Fund Managers Hall of Fame, Phil has been recognised as one of Australia’s “most astute readers of the share market” and “shrewdest fund managers”. Prior to launching Regal, Phil was a portfolio manager at a London based hedge fund, De Putron Funds Management, for six years. Before that he spent five years with Macquarie Bank as a sell side analyst. Phil also worked with KPMG as a Chartered Accountant for eight years. Phil holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of New South Wales.
Kendall Johnson, COO, Torq Capital
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CLOSING REMARKS
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Kher Sheng Lee, Managing Director, Co-Head of APAC and Deputy Global Head of Government Affairs, AIMA
Kher Sheng leads AIMA’s policy and regulatory initiatives in the region and also operates as a senior ambassador for AIMA and the industry it represents. He is commended by the Financial Times in the FT Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyers 2015 (only in-house counsel flying solo to be recognised and win a place in the rankings) where the FT noted he "has played an important role developing asset management standards in Hong Kong". He is named to the Corporate Counsel 100: Asia Pacific 2014 by the global legal rankings publication Legal 500 which identifies "an array of the most influential and innovative in-house lawyers in Asia". Kher Sheng has lived and worked in Singapore, London and Hong Kong. He is a CFA and CAIA charter holder.
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Sponsors
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PLATFORM SPONSOR |
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For any sponsorship enquiries, please contact [email protected].