Asian Investment Conference 2022

What is Web 3 and how is the internet as we know it today going to change?

Ask a question

Advocates argue that digital innovation makes the world a better place. They point to the power of digital platforms to make people more informed and connected, as well as give them greater access to financial services and economic opportunities. However, a growing chorus of critics argue that the model for today’s internet is instead driven by division and exploitation. Alexis Ohanian, a pioneering founder and investor, will share why he believes in the democratizing power of technology and innovation, and how they can make the world more manageable. This session will explore the potential of Web 3 to deliver better outcomes for humanity – and ask whether the metaverse will be a great leap for the many, or the playground for a few?

Speaker

• Alexis Ohanian, Founder, Seven Seven Six; Co-Founder and former Executive Chairman, Reddit
• Host: Stephen Ju, US Internet and Online Game Sector Analyst, Credit Suisse

Metaverse - will the virtual world create real value?

Major technology companies are betting billions of dollars on their vision of a future where virtual worlds offer new outlets for social interactions and business applications. What will this metaverse look like? What will it be used for, and who will control it? Our global TMT research team offers a guide to the metaverse, exploring the opportunities ahead and the implications for the technology ecosystem. What are the use cases for consumers and enterprises? How fast will the metaverse grow? And how will demand for more advanced technology affect the hardware and telecoms sectors?

Speakers

• Randy Abrams, Head of Asia Semiconductors Securities Research, Credit Suisse
• Stephen Ju, US Internet and Online Game Sector Analyst, Credit Suisse
• Kyna Wong, Head of China Technology and Telecoms Securities Research, Credit Suisse
  
• Moderator: Manish Nigam, Head of Global Sector Research, Credit Suisse
   

Mining net zero – what is the next climate transition super material?

The pathway to net zero will require the deployment of new climate technologies that will, in turn, be dependent on new minerals and specialty materials. While demand for core energy transition materials such as lithium will continue to grow, there is a broader range of specialty materials where exposure to the climate transition could trigger an explosion in demand. In this panel, company leaders and transition experts discuss the investment opportunities from identifying the next climate transition super materials.

Speakers

• John de Vries, CEO and Managing Director, Black Rock Mining Limited
• Rimas Kairaitis, Managing Director, Alpha HPA Limited
• Dino Gnanamgari, Chief Commercial and Technical Officer, 5E Advanced Materials Inc
• John Dorian, Investment Manager, Orion Resource Partners
• Moderator: Phineas Glover, Head of ESG Securities Research, Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse
  
  

The future of digital assets – what does blockchain mean for owning and earning?

Ask a question

Asia is at the cutting edge of digital asset innovation – and its vast, young population holds the key to the future of Web 3. Hear from a leading founder and venture capital investor in metaverse projects, whose portfolio includes pioneering play-to-earn games that show the potential of the metaverse to power new economic models. What does ‘GameFi’ tell us about the future of assets and ownership in virtual environments? What can we learn from the hit blockchain games Sandbox, Axie Infinity, Rev Racing and others about the interoperability of Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and why is this a game-changer? Yat Siu will bring us his insights into one of the fastest-growing sectors of the crypto industry.

Speaker

• Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Animoca Brands; Founder and CEO, Outblaze
• Host: Billy Naveed, Chief Strategy Officer, Smile Group

Going circular – how will the transition to a circular economy create investment opportunities?

A radical transformation in the way the world uses natural resources is needed to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and meet the needs of a growing population. Pressure on primary resources is only intensifying: to hit net-zero globally by 2050 will require six times more mineral inputs in 2040 than today. The circular economy, which aims to minimize waste by keeping materials and products in circulation for as long as possible, will be a core part of the transition to a more sustainable and resilient society. But how will we get there, and what opportunities will it create? This panel will ask business leaders in the circular economy how they are responding to these challenges and embracing the opportunities in the transition to net zero waste.

Speakers

• Rob Kaplan, Founder and CEO, Circulate Capital
• Dominic Charles, Director, Finance and Transparency, Minderoo Foundation
  
• Moderator: James Gifford, Head of Sustainable & Impact Advisory and Thought Leadership, Credit Suisse
   

Fake news or real value — can media platforms retain our trust?

In today’s hyper-connected world, stories spread across the globe far faster than the facts behind them can be verified. Information – and misinformation – has the power to sway elections, steer public opinion and hold governments and companies accountable for their actions. But can we really trust what we see on social media or read in the newspapers?

Maria Ressa, the Philippines veteran journalist, CEO of Rappler and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, has exposed the rise of terrorism and extremism in Southeast Asia, and has documented the use of social media channels to spread fake news. Where does the media industry go from here? How can social platforms be expected to monitor content on their channels? Does every media platform need to have its own agenda?

Speaker

• Maria Ressa, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner; CEO, Rappler; journalist
• Host: Lito Camacho, Vice Chairman, Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse
   

How will China’s online gaming industry evolve?

Ask a question

The introduction of tighter regulations in China in recent months has created uncertainties over the gaming industry’s prospects. As a result, overseas expansion will become an increasingly important growth engine for Chinese developers in the future. How will the industry evolve amid the changing regulatory regime? What are the key challenges and lessons when expanding overseas? Will the Metaverse be an opportunity for Chinese game developers? Looking ahead, what are other key risks and opportunities ahead for the sector? The co-founder of China’s biggest mobile games publisher will share his insights on the road ahead for this fast-changing industry.

Speaker

• Hendrick Sin, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman, CMGE Technology Group Limited; Founding Partner, China Prosperity Capital Fund
• Host: Kenneth Fong, Head of China Internet Securities Research and Head of Gaming and Lodging Securities Research, Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse
  
  

How will Australia grow from an entrepreneur and business owner’s perspective?

Australia is looking beyond the Covid-19 pandemic with an end to social restrictions and the reopening of its international borders for the first time in two years. As companies position themselves for a post-pandemic recovery, concerns around supply chains, inflation and sustainability are clouding the picture. Can rising input prices be passed on to consumers? What will border policies mean for Australia’s labor market? How will the government’s response to climate change affect the energy and resources sectors? Hear from Ryan Stokes, one of Australia’s best-known corporate leaders and entrepreneurs.

Speaker

• Ryan Stokes, CEO, Australian Capital Equity; Managing Director and CEO, Seven Group Holdings
• Host: Shane Galligan, Senior Client Partner, Credit Suisse Australia
  

How will hardware developments unlock the potential of the metaverse?

Ask a question

Technology companies are investing heavily in a next-generation internet that will bring users together in a virtual metaverse. These visions for the future, however, are still evolving, and the value proposition for hardware providers is not yet clear. What will the metaverse mean for the tech supply chain? This session will ask what the metaverse means for two of Taiwan’s leading technology companies. Virtual reality (VR) maker HTC has launched its own range of virtual reality headsets and is investing in platform and content. Himax, a designer of semi solutions for displays, will discuss the technology requirements for virtual reality, augmented reality and 3D sensing. How are HTC and Himax positioned for the metaverse? What new use cases are emerging? Will traditional hardware suppliers maintain their competitive edge?

Speakers

• Raymond Pao, Senior Vice President of Business Solutions, HTC
• Jordan Wu, Co-Founder, President, CEO and Director, Himax
• Moderators: Pauline Chen, Asia Technology Analyst, Securities Research, Credit Suisse; Jerry Su, Asia Technology Analyst, Securities Research, Credit Suisse
   

What are the implications of inflation on economic growth and equity returns?

Inflation is at a 40 year high, expectations for US Fed rate hikes are spiking, and stocks have come under pressure. Is this inflation sustainable? Is it a harbinger of further downside for markets? Economic growth is forecasted to run well above long-term averages, but will these expectations be met? Credit Suisse’s Chief US Equity Strategist Jonathan Golub has a unique outlook on inflation, economic growth, corporate profits, equity valuations and sector leadership going forward. He explains the risks and opportunities of this unusual market.

Speaker

• Jonathan Golub, Chief US Equity Strategist and Head of Quantitative Research, Credit Suisse
  
  

Where are ASEAN banks on the digitalization curve?

Digitalization is delivering on its promises in Southeast Asia, bringing financial services to millions of unbanked consumers and offering better, faster services with lower costs. Integrating new technologies, however, takes robust planning and can require a comprehensive re-engineering of business models. Banks face challenges in choosing the right talent, implementing impactful marketing and product development strategies, and managing their exposure to new risks.

How is digitalization affecting the bottom line for banks in ASEAN? What value proposition do new digital customers offer in the competitive digital banking environment? In ASEAN, with its rapidly growing affluent middle class, these considerations may be critical.

Speakers

• TG Limcaoco, President and CEO, Bank of Philippine Islands
• Chalee Asavathiratham, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Digital Banking Officer, Siam Commercial Bank
• Peterjan van Nieuwenhuizen, Director of Digital Banking, Bank Jago
• Kevin Lam, Head of TMRW and Group Digital Banking, UOB
• Moderator: Danny Goh, Co-Head of ASEAN Securities Research and Head of Securities Research, Malaysia, Credit Suisse
  
  

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Patrick Kelly, Head of Cash Equities, Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse

Look ahead to the future — impact of innovation and artificial intelligence

Speaker

• Mo Gawdat, Author; Founder, One Billion Happy; former Chief Business Officer, Google X
• Moderator: Adil Virani, Head of High Touch and Program Trading, Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse
  
  

Crypto connections — what is the future of markets?

Speakers

• Chris Bland, Head of Crypto Business Development, Tower Research Capital
• Paul Howard, Institutional Sales Director, BlockFi Asia
• Ben Radclyffe, Managing Director, Amber Group
• Moderator: Raj Mathur, Co-Head of Advanced Execution Services (AES), Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse

How will companies build meta-prises over the next 25 years?

Ask a question

In the metaverse, the architecture of games is set to become a foundation for the enterprise. From automation with low-code application platforms (LCAP), to social networking, to serverless architectures and gaming hardware, the metaverse is poised to eject the intranet from the corporate world and replace it with something profoundly more productive. Creator tools that game-makers already use will help enterprises craft metaverse content, script complex behaviours and develop whole B2B worlds for events and commerce. Everything from R&D to sales meetings will get a metaverse makeover. A leading expert on business and technology will highlight the tools in play, their potential and who makes them to give investors a deeper understanding of how the metaverse will shape the enterprise of the future – and where opportunity already exists.

Speaker

• Jon Radoff, Founder and CEO, Beamable; author; game designer
• Moderators: Manish Nigam, Head of Global Sector Research, Credit Suisse; Randy Abrams, Head of Asia Semiconductors, Securities Research, Credit Suisse
   

17:25 HKT

How crowd psychology and new technologies are changing the world of trading

Speaker

• Ben Mezrich, Bestselling author, ‘The Antisocial Network’
• Moderator: Clare Witts, Head of Market Structure, Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse