Conference programme

Change is the only constant in the global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market, and successful practitioners must adapt accordingly. This session offers practical insights into identifying opportunities amidst uncertainty, from evaluating market trends to leveraging innovative strategies for deal success on a global scale.

Against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions between China and the United States in addition to challenging macroeconomic conditions, GPs in the Asia Pacific have been increasingly setting their sights on opportunities in Japan and India while seeking to diversify their strategies in the region. Panellists will discuss how the shifting deal landscape in Asia is impacting private equity (PE) deal-making in the region.

As a consequence of the increase of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Asia and globally, combined with increase in interest rates, trade tensions and sovereignty protection, litigation has again become more prevalent following the closing of M&A deals. This session will discuss the most common post-closing litigation issues, and how to professionally handle them. Among other issues, the panel will discuss price adjustment, representations and warranties (R&W) litigation, and information rights post-closing.

The tasks and challenges for in-house counsels in cross-border transactions are many and varied. They need to meet the expectations of senior management while protecting company from risk, managing external counsels and familiarising themselves with new legal developments and transaction tools - to name just a few responsibilities. Knowing, understanding and anticipating the mindset, needs and expectations of in-house counsels is key for practitioners to properly support them, make their lives easier and build a trusting and lasting client relationship. In this panel discussion, highly experienced in-house counsels from global companies will share their perspective on cross-border transactions, how they approach mergers and acquisitions (M&A) projects and what they expect from their outside counsels.

This panel will discuss key challenges for practitioners in successfully managing cybersecurity and data privacy issues in merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions from both seller and acquiror perspectives, with an emphasis on considerations resulting from different jurisdictional rules and practices across Asia.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors have become a major focus of attention for companies. Regulators are becoming more demanding, both in terms of reporting and in setting policies and targets. Investors are increasingly paying more attention to the degree of compliance of companies in these areas when making their investment decisions. Even consumers themselves often discriminate between the products they consume based on their perception of the sustainability of the product and the companies that market them.

The panel of seasoned practitioners will survey developments and trends in the public mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape, including takeovers, privatisations, tender offers, mergers and schemes. This panel offers a behind-the-scenes look as they dissect front page deals in their jurisdictions, covering topics ranging from defence tactics, board duties, shareholder activism to regulatory concerns – all played out in the public eye.

The panel will discuss the major trends driving investment from Asia into Europe, the US and within the Asia-Pacific region; how such investments have led to developments in the renewables sector, including wind, solar and hydro projects, and in green hydrogen and battery projects. Technology, too, has been a key driver of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) across the Asia-Pacific region. Relevant to this, the panel will discuss corporate activities in the fields of artificial intelligence, cyber, automation, software and semiconductors.