PEREGRINE Investments: niche China player or regional force? Chairman Philip Tose has no doubt Peregrine will spread its wings further in Asia, following several years of rapid development in the territory and on the mainland.
At present, 70 per cent of Peregrine's income is attributed to China and Hong Kong with the remainder to the region.
But Peregrine planned for at least half of the company's business to come from outside China and Hong Kong, according to Mr Tose.
''A year ago, China and Hong Kong were the dominant part of our business. It is still our dominant part. But we are trying to build up the income base of the group outside of Hong Kong and China. So we have a more evenly spread business,'' he said.
''You don't want to put all your eggs in one basket. For sure, there will be a time when things in Hong Kong will slow down for whatever reasons. Things will be back to India, Korea, or somewhere else for a short period of time. So you have to have a diversified income. Otherwise you end up with serious problems.'' Since it was founded in 1988, Peregrine has set the local investment banking world alight with deals that have included advising CITIC Hong Kong during its takeover of listed company Tylfull and its later injection of assets including a stake in Cathay Pacific.
It has also cut some smart deals for itself and, in the space of five years, has seen net tangible assets rise from $1.2 billion in 1988 to $3.5 billion in 1992.