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The ABS Asia conference stands as one of the most important annual gatherings for professionals in structured finance, drawing hundreds of senior-level investors, regional issuers, lenders, regulators, service providers, and industry leaders to Hong Kong to discuss the latest trends and opportunities spanning the Asia-Pacific’s securitisation and credit markets.
Hosted at the Conrad Hong Kong, the event has become a focal point for multinational dialogue and collaboration in structured finance — bringing together more than 500 delegates, over 50 expert speakers, and representatives from 15+ countries in the sector.
The following is a detailed summary of what unfolded across two days of high-impact programming.
A Strategic Gathering for Global Market Leaders
ABS Asia is positioned as the premier forum to connect global expertise with Asia’s dynamic structured finance landscape. Its core value lies in facilitating:
- Insightful market perspectives
- High-value networking with key institutional players
- Deal-making and partnership opportunities
- Curated discussion on emerging asset classes and technologies
This combination ensures attendees walk away not just informed — but genuinely equipped to navigate evolving markets and capital flows throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Day One Highlights: Macro Trends, Market Expansion & New Frontiers
Opening Session — The Big Asset-Backed Opportunity
The conference kicked off with a comprehensive market overview, examining how macroeconomic volatility is reshaping credit performance, liquidity conditions, and issuance trends across the region. Leaders analyzed evolving domestic markets and what these changes mean for global capital allocation.
APSA Special Presentation — Global Connectivity
A standout segment featured the Asia-Pacific Structured Finance Association (APSA), which presented its Structured Finance Global Connect initiative — a program designed to streamline investment flows from international capital into Asia’s asset-backed securities (ABS) market. This session underscored the region’s push toward deeper cross-border liquidity and standardisation.
Keynote Fireside Chat — Navigating the Global Outlook
A fireside discussion with a leading credit ratings expert provided invaluable perspectives on macroeconomic and geopolitical risks — highlighting opportunities amid global economic uncertainty and offering a forward-looking view on Asia-Pacific credit markets.
Regional Focus – Australia and India
- Australia: A segment delved into the nation’s structured credit boom, focusing on innovations in RMBS, reverse mortgage structures, and ESG-linked deals.
- India: Another major session explored India’s explosive growth in auto, mortgage, and consumer issuance — placing a spotlight on private credit and evolving regulatory frameworks.
Infrastructure ABS & Emerging Southeast Asia
The emergence of Infrastructure ABS (IABS) was a critical theme — reflecting how Asia’s infrastructure build-out is creating new securitisation opportunities.
Concurrently, discussions on Alt Credit from Alt Markets examined how countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines are nurturing nascent securitisation markets and alternative collateral types.
Technology’s Role — AI & Tokenisation
One of the most forward-looking discussions centered on how artificial intelligence and tokenisation are reshaping structured finance operations — from predictive credit monitoring to distributed ledger-based deal structures.
Networking and Deal-Making
The first day wrapped up with a highly anticipated networking reception — designed to catalyze one-on-one investor/issuer meetings and early stage deal conversations.
Day Two Highlights: Innovation, Credit Expansion & Tools for Growth
Private Credit & Asset-Based Finance
The second day began with an examination of the expanding universe of private credit — including the role of regional banks, specialist lenders, and fintech platforms in broadening access to asset-based finance.
Digital Infrastructure Financing
Delegates discussed the explosive demand for data centers, fiber networks, and digital infrastructure — and how these can be financed using innovative securitisation structures.
Public & Private Capital Convergence
A high-level roundtable examined how the lines between public and private credit are blurring — offering insights from institutional investors on how allocations to structured and hybrid credit are evolving in today’s market.
SRT Evolution & Fund Finance Intersection
Sessions on Securitisation-Related Transfer (SRT) products highlighted how these tools are becoming more viable for capital management across Asia — compared to mature markets like Europe and the U.S.
Another advanced topic explored the intersection of fund finance and securitisation technology, especially through emerging instruments like NAV loans and hybrid structures.
What Makes ABS Asia So Influential?
Several defining features elevated the conference beyond a typical industry gathering:
1. Depth of Expertise
Speakers included senior leaders from top global institutions, rating agencies, banks, legal and advisory firms — offering perspectives grounded in real-world market dynamics.
2. Focus on Execution, Not Just Discussion
The programme intentionally blended market trend analysis with actionable frameworks for issuers, investors, and intermediaries to navigate both risks and opportunities.
3. Global Investment Connectivity
ABS Asia continues to serve as a bridge connecting global capital to Asia’s structured finance markets — stimulating cross-border deal flow and improving access to international investors.
4. Real-World Deal Flow
The use of dedicated 1:1 networking and structured meetings enabled participants to pursue tangible partnership opportunities — rather than merely expanding contact lists.
Final Thoughts: Asia’s Structured Finance on the Rise
ABS Asia reinforces a powerful narrative: Asia’s structured finance ecosystem is maturing quickly, and the dialogue among issuers, investors, and regulators is becoming more collaborative, strategic, and innovative.
From exploring frontier markets and alternative assets to dissecting AI-driven credit technology, the event captured a market at the intersection of rapid growth and structural evolution.
For participants, the conference wasn’t just a look at the present landscape — it was a roadmap for where structured finance is headed across the Asia-Pacific region.
