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.