First State Stewart Asia Investment Forum 2018

Tuesday 20 November 2018

Portfolio managers Alistair Thompson, Martin Lau, Quanqiang Xian, Richard Jones and Vinay Agarwal will provide their views on what matters to them in the current investment climate; and provide examples of where they believe there are still attractive investment opportunities to be found. 

In addition, Patricia Dwyer, Founder and Director of The Purpose Business, will highlight recent developments on ESG investing in Asia. She will discuss the approach taken by companies and investors in the region and why it is becoming more important to incorporate ESG factors into the investment process. 

Michael Stapleton, Joint Managing Partner, will close the event with an update on the business.

This annual Investment Forum aims to provide an opportunity for our clients to interact with the First State Stewart Asia investment team; this year, we have incorporated more time for shared discussions. We would welcome your questions and comments – either at the event or submitted in advance.

Attendance at this event also qualifies for two hours of unstructured CPD learning hours.

Agenda

Welcome to the FSSA Investment Forum
Michael Stapleton, Managing Partner, First State Stewart Asia

Asian Markets Review - Not So Different This Time
Richard Jones, Director, First State Stewart Asia

ESG: The State of Play in Asian Markets
Pat Dwyer, The Purpose Business

Panel Discussion: ESG in an Asian Context – Our Approach and Experience
Moderator: Pat Dwyer, The Purpose Business
Participants: Alistair Thompson, Quanqiang Xian, Vinay Agarwal

Secular Growth Trends in China
Martin Lau, Managing Partner, First State Stewart Asia
Helen Chen, Investment Analyst, First State Stewart Asia

What Matters in India
Vinay Agarwal, Director, First State Stewart Asia
Sreevardhan Agarwal, Investment Analyst, First State Stewart Asia

Q&A

Lunch

Event close

Location and Timings

Date: Tuesday 20 November 2018
Registration: 10:00
Session starts:10:30
Buffet lunch: 13:00
Event closes: 14:00
Location: Rosewood Hotel, 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN

Contact

Elizabeth Dourof
Elizabeth.Dourof@firststate.co.uk

Speaker Biographies

Sreevardhan Agarwal

INVESTMENT ANALYST

Sreevardhan Agarwal is an Investment Analyst at First State Stewart Asia, part of First State Investments.  Sreevardhan joined the team in May 2014 and provides research support to the portfolio managers, with a focus on Australia, India and the Southeast Asian markets. He graduated from the National University of Singapore with a management degree and a specialisation in Finance.

Vinay Agarwal

DIRECTOR

Vinay Agarwal is a Director of First State Stewart Asia, part of First State Investments. Vinay has more than 15 years of investment experience, with a focus on Indian and Asian equities. He joined the First State Stewart Asia team in July 2011 and is based in Singapore. Vinay is lead manager of the First State Indian Subcontinent Fund and the Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies Trust. He is also responsible for managing a number of Far East Leaders and Indian equity portfolios on behalf of key client segregated accounts. Vinay graduated in 2002 with a management degree with a major in Finance from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. He also holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree with a major in Accountancy from Calcutta University.

Helen Chen

INVESTMENT ANALYST

Helen Chen is an Investment Analyst at First State Stewart Asia, part of First State Investments. Helen joined the team in August 2012 and is responsible for research into Greater China companies, including China A-share, offshore China, and Taiwan companies. She holds a Bachelor of Economics in Finance from the Peking University in China.  She is also a CFA charterholder.

Pat Dwyer

FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE PURPOSE BUSINESS

Pat Dwyer is the Founder and Director of The Purpose Business and has over 15 years of sustainability leadership experience, most recently as Global Head of CSR & Sustainability for Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts. Pat brought Shangri-La to the forefront of responsible tourism operations, making it the only Asian hotel group to be recognised in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index since 2012. Pat was the first CSR head of Ayala Land, Inc. in the Philippines where she broke ground with its first GRI sustainability report in 2007 and the first mixed-used facility, Nuvali, to be certified LEED. Today, Pat serves on the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Environment and coaches several charities on strategic fundraising, including Enrich, a Hong Kong-based charity that empowers migrant domestic workers to invest in themselves through financial education. Pat is a fellow at the Asia Society and is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. In 2017 she was recognised as an Asia CSR Hero. She has an MA in Globalisation & Governance and certificates of completion for Transformational Leadership at the University of Oxford and Global Leadership & Public Policy for the 21st Century at Harvard Kennedy School.

Richard Jones

DIRECTOR

Richard Jones is a Director of First State Stewart Asia, part of First State Investments. Richard has more than 29 years of investment experience in Asia, focused on both company research and portfolio management. He joined the First State Stewart Asia team in January 2010 and is based in Hong Kong. Richard is the lead manager of the First State Asia Opportunities Fund, the First State Asian Growth Fund and the First State Singapore and Malaysia Fund. He is also responsible for managing a number of Asia Pacific Leaders portfolios on behalf of key client segregated accounts. Richard graduated from the London School of Economics with a first class degree in Economics (Government).

Martin Lau

MANAGING PARTNER

Martin Lau is a Managing Partner of First State Stewart Asia, part of First State Investments. Martin has more than 22 years of experience in managing Asia Pacific and Greater China portfolios. He joined the First State Stewart Asia team in April 2002 and is based in Hong Kong. Martin is the lead manager of a number of First State funds: the First State Asian Equity Plus Fund, the First State Asian Bridge Fund, the First State Asia Pacific All Cap Fund, the First State New Era PRC Fund, the First State China Growth Fund, the First State Greater China Growth Fund and the First State Hong Kong Growth Fund. Martin graduated from Cambridge University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Masters degree in Engineering. He is also a CFA charterholder.

Michael Stapleton

MANAGING PARTNER

Michael Stapleton is a Managing Partner of First State Stewart Asia, part of First State Investments. Michael has more than 20 years of experience in the investments industry. He joined the First State Stewart Asia team in July 2015 after being part of First State’s global business for more than 16 years. Michael is based in Hong Kong and is responsible for the business management of the First State Stewart Asia team. After joining Colonial First State Global Asset Management in 1998, Michael worked in the institutional business in Australia before moving to the UK to become Head of Institutional Business Development. He subsequently moved to Hong Kong in June 2009 and has been based in Asia since then. Michael was most recently Managing Director, Asia Pacific, overseeing business development and the day-to-day functional operations in the Asia region. Michael holds a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University. He is also a CFA charterholder.

Alistair Thompson

DIRECTOR

Alistair Thompson is a Director of First State Stewart Asia, part of First State Investments. Alistair has been managing Asia Pacific portfolios for more than 27 years. He joined the FSSA team in January 2003, initially based in the Edinburgh office. He subsequently moved to Singapore in December 2003 has been based in Asia since then. Alistair is co-manager of the First State Asia Opportunities Fund, First State Asian Growth Fund and the First State Singapore and Malaysia Growth Fund. He is also responsible for managing a number of Asia Pacific Select portfolios on behalf of key client segregated accounts. Alistair was lead manager of the First State Asian Growth Fund from 2003-2013. Alistair holds a Diploma in Fund Management from the Securities Institute of London.

Quanqiang Xian

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

Quanqiang Xian is a Portfolio Manager at First State Stewart Asia, part of First State Investments. Quanqiang has more than 21 years of investment experience and is focused on the Greater China equity markets. He joined the FSSA team in June 2006 and is based in Hong Kong. Quanqiang is the lead manager of the First State China Focus Fund and the First State China A Shares Fund. He is also co-manager of the First State China Growth Fund and the First State Greater China Growth Fund. Quanqiang holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the National University of Singapore and a Masters in Finance degree from the London Business School. He is also a CFA charterholder.

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