Justin Fong

Hong Kong’s accounting and restructuring sectors are entering a transformative phase, and my interview with South China Morning Post SCMP earlier this week offered a great opportunity to discuss how AI and talent investment are redefining our work.   As I shared, young professionals are increasingly drawn to restructuring and liquidation – but they expect the right AI tools to enhance efficiency and impact. That’s why we’re investing in AI and expanding our team, as demand for restructuring support continues to grow in a challenging economic environment.   AI isn’t replacing people – it’s empowering them. By streamlining document‑heavy work, it enables our teams to focus on strategic, high‑value outcomes and makes the profession more dynamic and forward‑looking.   Excited for what’s ahead as we continue building a future‑ready restructuring practice.   Read my interview here: https://lnkd.in/gtCzniVS   #EYParthenon #Restructuring #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence  

81

1 Comment

IPO activity in the first half of 2025 may be muted, but high-potential companies will still need to tap on the capital markets for growth. With stock exchanges across Asia looking to attract companies to list, EY Partners Wei Hock Lee and Yew Kiang Chan outline key pitfalls that companies seeking cross-border IPOs should be mindful of. #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence #IPO

14

IPO activity in the first half of 2025 may be muted, but high-potential companies will still need to tap on the capital markets for growth. With stock exchanges across Asia looking to attract companies to list, EY Partners Wei Hock Lee and Yew Kiang Chan outline key pitfalls that companies seeking cross-border IPOs should be mindful of. https://ow.ly/4OVX50X476H #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence #IPO

10

In order to consolidate innovative power and accelerate the growth of potential enterprises, EY, in collaboration with the TPEX, Taipei Medical University, and TCA, held the 'Entrepreneurs' Capital Expressway Forum' today. The focus was on policy promotion, capital market strategies, and professional guidance from accountants, aiming to facilitate effective connections between startups, investors, and industries, and to build a communication platform with investors and industries. Since the establishment of the Go Incubation Board for Startup and Acceleration Firms (GISA), a total of 263 companies have been listed. This year, the launch of 'GISA Plus' further simplifies the application process, optimizes the guidance process, and provides fundraising matching, professional courses, and internal control guidance. It connects listed companies, underwriters, accountants, and venture capital resources, while collaborating with government agencies to strengthen support for startups. To date, over 540 companies have been assisted. Among them, EY actively helps companies participate in the emerging stock mechanism and capital market planning and has won the GISA Promotion and Guidance Performance Award' for nine consecutive years, demonstrating its long-term commitment to nurturing startups. During the forum, EY shared tips for financial health checks for companies, emphasizing the importance of the three major financial statements: the balance sheet, the income statement, and the cash flow statement. #EY #StartUps #GISA

52

In the first half of 2025 alone, Japan has clocked $232B in M&A activity, leading Asia’s revival in dealmaking. This isn’t a blip—it reflects deep strategic intent: take-privates, outbound acquisitions, and private equity are all firing at once.   Across the region, Asia’s M&A volumes have doubled to $650B, signalling a return of boardroom confidence and long-term bets on transformation.   Closer to home, SMBC’s investment in Yes Bank is more than just a deal—it’s a clear sign of cross-border conviction and the growing weight of India in global capital conversations.   As Japanese firms look beyond a slowing domestic market, India’s scale, tech depth, and energy transition story present an unmatched opportunity. And for those of us building for the next decade, these shifts matter deeply.   #MergersAndAcquisitions #Japan #India #CrossBorderDeals #PrivateEquity #SMBC #YesBank #AsiaBusiness #StrategicGrowth #DealMaking2025 https://lnkd.in/gW5jSste

17

Private equity (PE) deal value in Southeast Asia moderated sharply in 2025, reflecting a more cautious investment environment. Total PE deal value declined 43% year on year while deal volumes fell a more modest 12%, indicating sustained deal flow but less megadeals. Read more about Southeast Asia's PE performance in 2025 and outlook for 2026: https://ow.ly/8KXN50YcNAi #PrivateEquity #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence

66

Policy shifts shape deals. That’s why real-time insight into trade, regulatory, and economic developments is more critical than ever for M&A. KPMG US created the Policy in Motion hub to help business leaders and investors track the regulatory developments influencing strategy, growth, and transactions. As dealmakers adjust to more complex operating environments from #tariffs and tax to capital formation and national security, understanding where policy is headed is essential to moving with precision. Explore the latest: https://lnkd.in/ehjNUwMn #KPMGDealAdvisory #PolicyInMotion #MergersAndAcquisitions #Strategy #PublicPolicy #RiskManagement #Leadership #CapitalMarkets

19

This year’s EY Finance Leaders Forum features an insightful panel discussion that will explore the critical balance between navigating compliance and leveraging technology to transform the finance function. Moderated by EY Partner Adele Liew, the panel includes Khong Shoong Chia, CFO, NCS Group; Cyndi Pei, CFO, Digital InfraCo at Singtel; and board director Nagaraj Sivaram. Key discussion points: • Striking the right balance between compliance and transformation • Leveraging transformation initiatives to bolster compliance efforts • Measuring success in compliance and transformation initiatives • Learnings from panelists’ transformation journeys Don’t miss this unique opportunity to gain clarity on how finance leaders can support their organizations to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape! Find out more: https://go.ey.com/4jwRYdY #FinanceTransformation #CFO #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence

26

1 Comment

Ernst & Young (EY) has taken a bold step to fortify its U.S. operations by nominating Dante D’Egidio as the next Managing Partner for the U.S., pending a partner vote. D’Egidio currently serves as EY Americas Vice Chair for Assurance, overseeing more than 30,000 professionals across audit, financial accounting advisory, climate services, forensic services, and more. This move comes as part of a sweeping internal overhaul to address audit quality concerns. Under D’Egidio’s leadership, EY has dramatically reduced its U.S. audit deficiency rate — from a staggering 46% in 2022, to 37% in 2023, 28% in 2024, and is now targeting at or below 9% in 2025, the lowest in more than 16 years. These improvements haven’t been superficial. EY has cut ties with more than 100 underperforming public-company audit clients, centralized its audit support teams, revamped training, and heavily invested in technology — especially AI and data analytics — as part of a multi-year, $1 billion investment in talent and audit innovation. This transformation also aligns with a broader quality-management framework. EY’s 2023 transparency report affirmatively states that as of June 2024, its system of quality management meets the International Standard on Quality Management (ISQM 1). If confirmed, D’Egidio will succeed Julie Boland, who has led EY U.S. since July 2022 and is set to retire in mid-2025 after a four-year term. Why this matters: EY’s appointment reflects a broader recalibration of priorities — audit quality is not just a compliance obligation, but a strategic pillar. By elevating the executive who spearheaded the audit-cleanup, EY is signaling internal accountability, renewed trust, and a commitment to future-proofing its assurance business. --- #AuditQuality #Leadership #EY #Accounting #Transformation #RiskManagement #AIinAudit #ProfessionalServices #QualityFirst #BigFour

59

1 Comment

At the KPMG CFO Series, Paul Lau, Head of Capital Markets and Head of Professional Practice at KPMG China, shared the good news about the thriving Hong Kong IPO market, fueled by a recent surge in A+H listings. New initiatives, such as the Technology Enterprise Channel (TECH) and the allowance of confidential filings for Specialist Technology and Biotech companies, further solidify Hong Kong’s position as a premier listing platform for emerging and innovative enterprises. Paul also delved into the new Corporate Governance Guide and FAQs published by HKEX, designed to assist issuers in complying with the updated Corporate Governance Code, which takes effective in July. 

12