Derek Wong

Business Valuation Adviser of the Year - Hong Kong

Profile

Mr. Wong has been working in the financial industry since 2003, with experiences serving clients in a wide range of industries, including building and construction, electronics, entertainment and gaming, hygiene and sanitary, information technology, mining, pharmaceutical and healthcare, retail chain stores, and telecommunication, etc. Having performed hundreds of appraisals and appraisal reviews, and provided opinions of value for transaction, financial reporting and litigation purposes, with his extensive knowledge and coverage, Derek also advised on corporate and deal structures to facilitate mergers and acquisitions and presented as an expert witness in the High Court of Hong Kong.

Being asked to explain what “Business Valuation” is, Derek thinks it is about innovation and creativity, though it is never easy to conclude such a vast subject in a sentence. Over the last decade, valuation industry becomes attractive and competitive. Good and bad are intermingled. More effort from valuation professionals might be required for Asia market’s industry governance, which has always been auditors driven. In contrast to self-regulation, the said auditor-dominated industry tends to follow historical references and literatures, thus limiting innovative ideas in valuation.

As the finance industry keeps evolving as well as accounting standards and regulations, valuation professionals need to keep abreast of the latest changes and develop the appropriate methodology framework themselves in order to be in compliance with the requirements. As a professional appraiser, we should always be open-minded and prepared for exotic valuation challenges with comprehensive theoretical and experimental knowledge as the foundation.

Looking into the future prospects of the valuation industry, Derek shared the inspiration behind his company, Grant Sherman. It is a story about a victorious partnership and deep friendship between two of the most important figures, the 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, and William T. Sherman. In the Civil War, the trust and growing mutual admiration between Grant and Sherman set the stage for the crucial final year of the war and the peace that would follow. Sharing the spirit, he hopes the industry could support clients and fellows in the face of challenges and success, and grow up together.

About Grant Sherman

Founded by Mr. Keith Yan, one of the only few veteran appraisers who pioneered the valuation industry in Hong Kong since its early age in the 1980s, Grant Sherman provides valuation and consulting services for a wide range of industries and business functions. Since the establishment in 2002, it has been working with listed companies and private businesses in Hong Kong, Macau, mainland China and other countries to help them achieve their business objectives. Grant Sherman has been engaged in the development of Asian frontier markets such as Laos and Myanmar since 2017. In 2019, it further expanded the business scope of services in Singapore. Amongst the hundreds of clients Grant Sherman has served, the majority are listed on the Main Board and the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, the London Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ and the Singapore Stock Exchange, such as BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited, China Everbright International Limited, China Merchants Holdings (International) Company Limited, Geely Automobile Holdings Limited, Melco International Development Limited, Regal REIT, Regal Hotels International Holdings Limited, Suncity Group Holdings Limited, Value Partners Group Limited, to name a few.