Warren Buffett up next for SFU students after victory at BC investment showdown

VANCOUVER– A team of undergraduate and graduate students from Simon Fraser University took top honours this past weekend at the BC Investment Research Challenge regional competition. The finance showdown, sponsored by CFA Vancouver and held at the Four Seasons in downtown Vancouver, included the top business schools and universities from across British Columbia.

The SFU team was represented by Beedie School of Business students Jin Yan, Chris Tse, Lauren Looi and Alex Conconi; and SFU Economics student Robb Ponti. The team was coached by Beedie School of Business adjunct professor Derek Yee and SFU alumnus Jamie Kozak.

The team’s final presentation was focused on a valuation of Vancouver technology firm Westport Innovations, a leading global provider of proprietary technology that allows engines to operate on clean-burning gaseous fuels. The SFU presentation was evaluated by a high-profile panel of research analysts and portfolio managers.

By taking top honours, the SFU team will advance to the Americas Final, held in Omaha, Nebraska in April, where they will compete against 40 other universities and sit in on a lecture from billionaire investor Warren Buffett.

“To come out on top against some of the best business school minds in British Columbia is a testament to the caliber of students and teachers at Simon Fraser University,” said Sam Thiara, Manager, Student Affairs at SFU’s Beedie School of Business. “To provide this level of research and analysis around a designated publicly traded company takes an extraordinary level of skill and dedication.”

The CFA Institute Global Investment Research Challenge offers students the unique opportunity to learn from leading industry experts and compete with peers from the world’s top finance programs. The annual educational initiative promotes best practices in equity research among the next generation of analysts through hands-on mentoring and intensive training in company analysis and presentation skills. The challenge gathers students, investment industry professionals, publicly traded companies, and corporate sponsors together locally, regionally, and globally for a real world competition.

Participation in the challenge promotes best practices in equity research and company analysis, as students research, analyze, and report on a company as if they are practicing analysts. Additionally, all participants are introduced to and held to the standard of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

For more information, visit:
http://girc.membersocieties.org/Pages/Default.aspx
http://www.cfavancouver.com/Pages/GIRC.aspx