China Policy Action: Risk or Opportunity?

What are the implications of the recent restrictions and regulations in China, and what might come next? How are investors navigating this uncertain environment across public and private markets? Are these short-term headwinds or does China’s shift towards a “common prosperity” agenda alter the long-term investment thesis for foreign investors?  What risks should be top of mind for investors and what opportunities might it create?

The Portland Alternative Investment Association is excited to host a timely discussion on the outlook and impact of China’s recent policy actions, and the risks and opportunities that it may create for both liquid and illiquid alternative investments.  Join us to learn more from a great panel of professionals.

Panelists

Dr. Yan Liang - Professor of Economics, Willamette University

Yan Liang is Peter C. and Bonnie S. Kremer Chair, Professor of Economics and Chair of International Studies at Willamette University. She is also a Research Scholar at the Global Institute of Sustainable Prosperity. Yan specializes in Modern Money Theory, International Trade and Finance, Economic Development, with a special regional focus on China. Yan publishes in various leading heterodox journals, including Journal of Economic Issues, International Journal of Political Economy, Forum for Social Economics, and China-focused journals such as the Chinese Economy and China & World Economy, in addition to multiple edited books. Yan regularly contributes expert commentaries to the public media, including the East Asia Forum, the Diplomat Magazine, the China Social Sciences Magazine, the China Global TV Network, South China Morning Post, Bloomberg, Reuters and Yahoo!Finance. She also provides expert analysis to research and advisory institutions, such as World 50, Redburn Access and World Affairs Council. Yan is frequently invited to speak at various academic and educational institutions, including Singapore Nanyan Technology University, University of Mexico, Shan’xi Normal University and Portland State University. Yan received several grants from the Institute for New Economic Thinking, the Luce Foundation, and the Chinese Ministry of Education for teaching and research. Yan served as an editorial board member of the Journal of Economic Issues and is an editorial board member of the Chinese Economy. Yan currently serves as Vice President of Association for Institutional Thought and is an active member of the Association for Evolutionary Economics. Yan holds a BA in Economics from Zhongshan University (China) and a PhD in Economics (with Distinction) from University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Stephen Zhang – Partner, Roc Partners

Roc Partners was formed in June 2014 following a management buyout of the business from Macquarie Group by its senior executives. Since 1996, the business has been focused on managing and advising clients on their private equity investments in the Asia Pacific region focusing on primary commitments, secondaries, co-investment and direct investments. Roc Partners is one of the largest and oldest independent private equity advisors in the Asia Pacific region with over $5.9 billion in funds under management or advice across their primary, secondary, and co-investment strategies. Stephen Zhang is a Partner based in Roc Partners’ Hong Kong office. Stephen is responsible for sourcing and analyzing investment opportunities in Asia, with a focus on Greater China. Stephen joined Macquarie in 2010, and prior to that, worked for JPMorgan in Hong Kong and Singapore. Stephen has been broadly involved in Macquarie Group and Roc Partners’ Asian investment advisory activities in primary funds, secondary investments and co-investments. Stephen holds a Bachelor of Finance from Fudan University in Shanghai and is a CFA® Charter Holder. Stephen is fluent in Mandarin.

Andrew Nash-Webber - Managing Partner, Highwest Global Management

Founded in 2019, Highwest is an investment firm that employs a long-term, fundamental equity strategy to target less mature and inefficient sectors and geographies globally. The Highwest investment process is characterized by bottom-up, primary research with a focus on business model robustness and management quality. Andrew Nash-Webber is the Founder and Portfolio Manager of Highwest Global Management. He was most recently Co-Chief Investment Officer and Partner at Ward Ferry Management, based in Hong Kong. Andrew spent 11 years at Ward Ferry, the last five of which as Portfolio Manager of the firm’s equity long/short strategy. Previously, he worked at McKinsey & Company. Andrew is a CFA charter holder. He earned a BA (Economics) from Davidson College, and an MBA from Stanford University, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar.

Moderator

Li Tang – Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager, Radnorwood Capital Li Tang is a portfolio manager and partner at Radnorwood Capital, managing a long short hedge fund and a long only fund in technology sector. Since 2017, Li has been the board chairman of 2Fuel Technologies, a software start-up providing fuel management system to displace diesel with cleaner and cheaper natural gas. Before joining Radnorwood in 2013, Li was a technology sector portfolio manager at Mazama Capital. Prior to that, he was a sell side analyst with Pacific Crest Securities covering Greater China semiconductor and telecom sectors. Before his investment career, Li had various finance and engineering positions with Intel, John Deere and Trak Communication. Li has a MBA from UCLA, a MSEE from New Jersey Institute of Technology, a BS from Beijing Institute of Technology. He has been a CFA Charter holder since 2005.