
2017 CBBF


The Logic Behind Chinese Domestic Merger and Outbound Acquisitions
Over the past two years, a burgeoning number of Chinese high-profile companies have been merging with domestic competitors largely in response to Beijing’s Supply Side Structural Reform. Simultaneously, China is scaling up its outbound foreign direct investment (OFDI), shifting from resource-focused investment in emerging markets to high-end and more diversified investment in developed markets. The logic behind this mergers and acquisition trend is far from clear. Would China end up with monopolies following the trend? How will the industry integration plans affect efficiency and innovation? What are the primary risks associated with globalizing Chinese companies?
One Belt One Road: A Strategy which will Change the World
The “One Belt One Road” initiative presents great opportunities for the UK in areas of trade, investment and people-to-people exchange. Moreover, the Chinese infrastructure investment involved in this project would allow the UK to update and reinforce its infrastructure, promoting recovery and growth in the long run. However, the currency mismatch, term mismatch and structure mismatch pose great challenges to the realisation of this ambitious plan. How can these challenges be addressed? How can the UK tap this opportunity to reshape UK-China relations?
BREXIT & THE UK ECONOMY
The United Kingdom’s vote on leaving the EU in mid 2016 has significant impacts on the global economic landscape: sharp negative reactions in Asian stock markets, volatilities in FX and commodities markets etc. According to the Independent, UK’s trade-weighted currency index slumps to a historic new low in October due to hard Brexit fears. Six months after Brexit, much commentary has been focusing on the continuous post-Brexit effects on the world economy and UK trade relations with the EU and other emerging markets especially China. Therefore, the China-Britain trade and investment relationship after the Brexit are worth further discussion.
Chinese Investors in the UK: Individuals, Institutions, and Corporations
The unexpected Brexit decision cast doubts over how Chinese investors at different levels would react to UK’s loss of automatic access to EU market and potential regulatory problems. Will Britain continue to be the most attractive investment destination? What are the investment opportunities and concerns in post-Brexit Britain? This panel discussion will shed light on these above-mentioned questions by bringing different views from individual, institutional and corporation investors.

SPEAKERS

Jennie Gubbins
Senior Partner at Trowers & Hamlins

Xu Jin
Minister counsellor of the Economic & Commercial Office at the Chinese Embassy in London

Professor Eric Neumayer
Pro-Director (PVC) of Faculty Development, LSE

Gordon Orr
Senior Advisor and former Chairman Asia - McKinsey, Non-Executive Board Member of Lenovo and Swire Pacific

Sir Richard Heygate
Founder of SinoFortone and 88 Initiative, Board Advisor at China Rail Construction 3 and Fortone Group

Jon Wingent
Head of Portfolio Specialists at Lloyds Private Banking Wealth Investment Offie

Biao Ding
General Manager of the UK Office of CRRC Corporation, the largest railway rolling stock manufacturer in the world

Arthur Chen
Executive Director of Fosun Group

Tom Wigley
Partner at Trowers & Hamlins

Syrus Lohrasb
CEO at China-Britain Business Fusion

Richard Hildebrand
Partner at Trowers & Hamlins