Conference Agenda
Asia Go IPO Summit Agenda
8:00-9:00 a.m.
Light breakfast and coffee
9:00 a.m.
Welcome and Introductory Remarks from Drew Bernstein
MarcumAsia’s Co-Chair, Drew Bernstein, welcomes the attendees and sponsors, providing an overview of cross-border IPOs and SPACs from Greater China and Asia, the growing interest among U.S. investors, and the challenges and success factors for listing in the U.S.
9:15 a.m.
State of the U.S. IPO Market, NASDAQ
NASDAQ’s Chris Hao introduces recent listing and trading data for NASDAQ-listed companies, explains the exchange's role in supporting companies before and after listing, and discusses the key listing criteria that private companies must meet to list on NASDAQ.
9:35 a.m.
Elements of IPO Success: What Investors Expect
This panel discussion will provide candid perspectives and current market information to help guide management in determining whether a U.S. initial public offering (IPO) is the right choice for their company. Topics to include:
What criteria must a company meet to be suitable for an IPO?
How much money can be raised in an IPO, and how is the valuation set?
Which sectors and industries are of greatest interest to investors today?
What special considerations do companies from Greater China face when listing in the U.S.?
What important work needs to take place before meeting underwriters?
What are the most common reasons new public companies fail to reach their objectives after the IPO?
Moderator: Crocker Coulson, CEO, AUM Advisors
Speakers:
David Boral, CEO, D. Boral Capital
Johnson Ngie, Head of Corporate Finance, Asia, UBS
Frank Giglio, CEO, Hong Kong, BNY
Edric Yi Guo, Chief Executive Officer & Head of Investment Banking, Univest Securities, LLC
Kamal Masud, Senior Investment Banker, Roth Capital
10:25 a.m.
Conversation with the SEC: Cross-border Listings & Compliance
The regulation of cross-border listings by foreign private issuers in the U.S. capital markets remains a complex subject with potential changes under consideration. Perrie Weiner, Chair of the North American Securities Litigation practice at Baker McKenzie, will lead a fireside chat with Katy Wanner, senior trial counsel of the SEC, about recent enforcement actions and other issues that IPO candidates from Asia should be aware of.
10:50 a.m.
Coffee and Networking Break
11:15 a.m
IPO Case Study: How They Did It? - Company TBA
This is a behind-the-scenes look at one of the highest-profile IPOs from Greater China in the past 12 months. Company management, their underwriters, and legal counsel will explain the path to choosing a US listing, the challenges overcome, and the lessons learned.
11:45 a.m.
SPACs: Advantages and Lessons Learned
After enjoying a boom period in 2020 and 2021, often referred to as “SPAC-mania,” SPACs lost their luster due to high redemption rates and more complex SEC regulations. However, 2025 has seen a surge in new SPAC IPOs, and several high-profile deals have been completed with Asian issuers. Hear from CEOs, investment bankers, and advisors about the advantages and challenges of a de-SPAC.
Moderator: Crocker Coulson, CEO, AUM Advisors
Speakers:
Kester Ng, Co-CEO, Black Spade Acquisition I and II
Mitch Nussbaum, Co-Chair, Loeb & Loeb
Brandon Sun, Managing Director, Cohen & Co.
Arila Zhou, Partner, Robinson & Cole
12:30 p.m.
Luncheon
1:00 p.m.
Luncheon Keynote Speaker & Fireside Chat:
TBA
1:45 p.m.
Preparing for the IPO: Legal, Accounting, and Audit
Building the right team of advisors is crucial for capitalizing on market opportunities and navigating the SEC registration process efficiently. Learn about the roles of your auditor, internal accounting firm, SEC legal counsel, and other key advisors in the IPO process. How can you select the right firms, develop your internal team, and manage the costs associated with a cross-border IPO?
Moderator: Drew Bernstein, Co-Chair, MarcumAsia
Speakers:
Richard Anslow, Partner, Ellenoff Grossman & Schole
David Danovich, Partner, Sullivan & Worcester
Joshua Kaufman, Co-Chair, Capital Markets, DLA
Ying Li, Partner, Hunter Taubman
Eric Luo, Founding Partner, JS Capital
Joy Pan, Partner, MarcumAsia
2:30 p.m.
Special Challenges for PRC Companies: Navigating the US-China Divide
Companies from the PRC face special challenges when seeking to go public in an era of heightened geopolitical conflict. This panel will deal with several sensitive issues, including:
How can companies obtain approval from the CSRC to list overseas, and what are the implications for deal timing?
How can you manage the risks of attracting unfavorable attention from U.S. political figures, including the House Select Committee on the CCP?
How can Chinese companies make themselves attractive to global fund managers?
Moderator: Crocker Coulson, CEO, AUM Advisors
Speakers:
Albert Li, CFO, Tim Hortons Coffee China
Matt Roberts, Asia Head of Corporate, Maples and Calder LLP
James Tunkey, COO, I-On Asia
Mengyi “Jason” Ye, Partner, Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP
3:00 p.m.
Coffee and Networking Break
3:15 p.m.
Developing a Following on Wall Street: IR, Research Coverage, and Trading
While some may think that ringing the opening bell on the first day of trading is the end of the IPO journey, it is only the beginning. New public companies must proactively engage with investors to develop liquidity in the stock and attract an institutional following. Learn about the elements of success, including analyst coverage, non-deal roadshows, investment conferences, and frequent and accurate disclosures. The discussion will also cover the intelligence tools available to track your shareholder base and anticipate activist investor activity.
Moderator: Mellissa Kong, Director, Asia, AUM Advisors
Speakers:
Inez Chew, Director, DFIN
Crocker Coulson, CEO, AUM Advisors
Esther Luo, Director, Nasdaq
3:45 p.m.
Tapping the Markets: Shelf Offerings, ATMs, and PIPEs
One of the primary advantages of a U.S. listing is the flexibility to conduct follow-on offerings, allowing for multiple rounds of growth capital to be raised. This is particularly important in sectors such as life sciences, technology, or AI, which may require intensive investment over multiple years to reach scale or approval of drug candidates. Learn about the options to tap the equity and debt markets, including registered directs, ATMs, PIPEs, and convertibles, as well as the “toxic” structures that can destroy shareholder value.
Moderator: Crocker Coulson, CEO, AUM Advisors
Speakers:
Stephanie Hu, Co-head of Investment Banking, D. Boral Capital
Alex Jin, Managing Director, Maxim Group
Wei Wang, Partner, Ellenoff Grossman & Schole
Mark Zagotti, President, Cathay Securities, Inc.
4:20 p.m.
M&A as a Public Company
Public companies have greater flexibility to make acquisitions using their equity as currency and generally have greater access to the debt markets as well. This panel will teach you how to use M&A to drive global expansion, acquire valuable IP, and consolidate market share. Experienced dealmakers will discuss the secrets of due diligence, deal multiples, financing alternatives, and extracting synergies.
Moderator: Jacken He, Partner, MarcumAsia
Speakers:
Karen Cheung, Partner, BDA Partners
Raymond Choy, Partner, Beyond Century
Lawrence Venick, Managing Partner, Loeb & Loeb
Li Xin, Managing Director, CICC
4:50 p.m.
The Asia Crypto Convergence
After years of uncertainty under the Biden Administration, public market activity in the crypto sector has surged, driven by President Trump's declaration as the “crypto president,” a more favorable SEC regulatory environment, and recent congressional legislation aimed at fostering stablecoins. This panel will examine the surge in Treasury Strategy de-SPACs and RTOs, as well as the performance of crypto-themed IPOs in 2025.
Herman Yu, Cheif Strategy Officer, Antalpha
5:30 p.m.
Closing and Thank You
Drew Bernstein, MarcumAsia
5:35-7:00 p.m.
Cocktails and Hors d’Oeuvres