The 2008 attack on Lehman Brothers by US hedge fund star David Einhorn and the equally bold but less successful salvo fired at Olam of Singapore in 2012 by shortseller Muddy Waters have something in common – they were both launched at a Sohn conference.

Now the star-studded event is poised to bring its mix of big-name managers, radical investment ideas and cancer charity fundraising to Hong Kong, in a further sign that Asia’s hedge fund industry is becoming more established.

Asia-based hedge funds have about $140bn of assets under management – less than 10 per cent of hedge fund money worldwide. However, there are now about two dozen managers with more than $1bn under management in the region, and more international managers are establishing teams in Asia.