PRESS RELEASE

Global Hedge Fund Industry Gives Back to Hong Kong Community

- Largest ever Sohn Hong Kong Investment Conference raises more than HKD 3,300,000

In the fight against gynaecological and pediatric cancers in Hong Kong and globally

- Conference organisers Karen Leung Foundation to launch a cervical DNA self-screening initiative for Hong Kong’s female population

June 3, 2019 (Hong Kong) – The 7th Annual Sohn Hong Kong Investment Conference, presented by the Karen Leung Foundation, passed off successfully in Hong Kong last week, drawing a record breaking crowd of more than 450 finance professionals from across the region. Leading fund managers presented short and buy investment ideas ranging from sports apparel companies to watch makers, to Indian banks and Japanese oil refiners.

Celebrating its 7th year in Hong Kong, the conference culminated in a dinner attended by more than 100 guests including speakers, sponsors, major donors and volunteers. Approximately HKD HKD 3,300,000 was raised by this year’s conference, bringing total proceeds for charity over the seven year period to HKD 23 million. The organiser of the event, the Karen Leung Foundation (the “Foundation”), will continue to use these funds for the vaccination and screening of the HPV virus for girls, women and boys. As part of this, the Foundation and other parties have launched a new program to assess the effectiveness of HPV DNA self-screening to boost low screening uptake rates in Hong Kong’s female population. The study will cover 1,500 women in Hong Kong.

In addition, the Foundation also launched a helper screening program for the summer to address the low screening rates in this often forgotten demographic of Hong Kong’s women.

Investment idea highlights included:

• Soren Aandahl of Blue Orca Capital questioned Hong Kong listed Anta Sport’s accounting and corporate governance
• Sean Debow of Interlink Asia Pacific Fund shorted Casio, warning that the watchmaker was facing a major challenge as consumers shift to smartwatches
• Oasis Management Co.’s Seth Fischer unveiled a new activist campaign in Japan, arguing that there is plenty of upside in scandal-hit commercial refrigeration-equipment maker Hoshizaki Corp.
• Japan’s two major oil refiners JXTG Holdings and Idemitsu Kosan Co won backing from York Capital Management’s Masahiko Yamaguchi and Asia Research & Capital Management’s Alp Ercil, respectively.

In addition, this year saw the Sohn “Next Wave” Hong Kong program feature investment ideas from rising stars from Asia’s hedge fund industry.

During the conference all six speakers from the “Next Wave” and half of the main session speakers made the “Sohn Pledge”, committing to pay between 5-15% of all profits made on their investment ideas over the next 12 months to the Foundation.

Foundation Executive Director Katharina Reimer said: “We wish to thank all of our generous event sponsors, partners, individual supporters, Next Wave and main stage speakers, attendees, and our volunteers for making the 2019 conference the largest and most successful Sohn Conference Hong Kong has ever seen.  

“Cervical cancer remains a significant issue in Hong Kong and yet it is very preventable. With these proceeds, we will continue to drive vaccinations and screenings in Hong Kong, helping girls, women, boys and domestic helpers to access vital medical support.

“The overwhelming support from the Asia hedge fund industry and wider financial community demonstrates the growing importance of ‘doing good’ for society.”

For more information about the Sohn Conference Hong Kong presented by the Karen Leung Foundation, please visit: http://www.karenleungfoundation.org/events/2018-sohn-hong-kong-investment-conference.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Katharina Reimer                                                              James Hill/Vanessa Chong

Karen Leung Foundation                                                   MHP Communications

Katharina.Reimer@karenleungfoundation.org                  sohn@mhpc.com      

+852 2847 7765                                                                +852 9313 8120

About The Sohn Conference Foundation:

The Sohn Conference Foundation is dedicated to the treatment and cure of pediatric cancer and other childhood diseases. The Foundation supports cutting edge medical research, state-of-the-art research equipment, and innovative programs to ensure that children with cancer survive and thrive. The Foundation raises its funds through premier investment conferences and special events, including its renowned annual New York Sohn Investment Conference.

Founded in 1995, the Conference honors the memory of Ira Sohn, a Wall Street Professional who lost his battle with cancer at age 29. The Foundation has expanded its reach to include the Sohn Australia, Sohn Canada, Sohn Geneva, Sohn Hong Kong, Sohn India, Sohn London, Sohn San Francisco, and Sohn Tel Aviv. To date, the Foundation has raised more than $90 million globally. More information on the Sohn Investment Conference is available at www.sohnconference.org

About the Karen Leung Foundation:

The Karen Leung Foundation (KLF) www.karenleungfoundation.org is working to save lives in Hong Kong by raising awareness of gynaecological cancer, educating women to increase rates of early detection and ensuring that women in treatment have access to optimal medical care. Founded in 2013, we are the first and only organisation in Hong Kong solely devoted to women's gynaecological cancers. To date, the Karen Leung Foundation has raised more than HK$23 Million to fight gynaecological cancer and help Hong Kong girls and women. The Karen Leung Foundation honours the memory of Karen Leung, a hedge fund trader, who died at age 35 following a diagnosis of metastatic cervical cancer.

www.karenleungfoundation.org

https://www.facebook.com/KarenLeungFoundation

https://twitter.com/karenleungfdn