Market entery into Vietnam market through merger and acquisition

Over the past 10 years, Vietnam has always been one of the leading M&A destinations in Southeast Asia. Many international investors have chosen Vietnam as their place of business destination to set up company and apply for investment registration certificate under direct investment or acquiring shares or capital contributions through M&A.

 

M&A activities enable international businesses to take advantage of the existing business platforms of Vietnamese businesses to continue making investments. This helps international investors to timely grasp the changing trend of technology, legal policies, and facilities to do business, instead of rebuilding from scratch, it will take more time and effort.

Recently, the M&A market in Vietnam has been active and attractive to many investors around the world, especially in the retail and financial sectors. Many international investors have undertaken significant M&A deals in Vietnam over the years and achieved significant profits in their business.

There are many reasons for investors to choose Vietnam as a place to do business, but some of the main factors that make Vietnam attractive are political stability and its economic growth, despite the effects of the Covid-19 epidemic. In addition, with a population of 100 million people, this is considered a large consumption market, along with an abundant and high-quality labour source.

Currently, with the trend of moving production out of China, many investors have chosen Vietnam as the location of setting up company for manufacturing facilities. Rebuilding factories from scratch also makes investors time consuming and costly, therefore taking advantage of Vietnamese factories will help investors not to interrupt their production, and operate the business in a best way.

However, to be able to perform M&A activities in Vietnam, foreign businesses need to understand the Vietnamese market and partners before performing M&A. This will help investors understand the partners’ strengths and weaknesses, and outline a suitable business path after implementing M&A. In addition, to avoid unnecessary risks relating to the transaction and to the business itself, investors need to find a reputable and experienced professional consulting company that could help with market research, background check, management criminal record check, business certificate verification, corporate and individual reputation to build up confidence in doing M&A deal in Vietnam.

ANT Lawyers in a law firm in Vietnam, recognized by Legal500, IFLR1000. We are an exclusive Vietnam member of Prea Legal, the global law firm network covering more than 150 jurisdictions. The firm provides a range of legal services to multinational and domestic clients. For advice or services request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

 

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M&A Vietnam – “Hot” Investment Channel

In recent years, foreign investors spent approximately 3 billion USD to buy shares in more than 3,000 enterprises in Vietnam, in which most of them purchased over 50% of the shares. It indicates that investment trends through the model of merger and acquisition (M&A) are booming strongly in the market.

According to the report from the Foreign Investment Department under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, from July 1^st 2015 to July 1^st 2016, there were 3,141 companies in Vietnam are acquired by foreign investors in the form of buying shares. The total value of those deals is 2,948 billion USD. This is the first time the Foreign Investment Department showed the statistics on foreign investment flows into Vietnam through M&A activities. It shows that the trend of investment into Vietnam through M&A is increasing greatly.

As reported by the IMAA, a foreign research institute on M&A, the total value of M&A in Vietnam in 2015 reached 4.3 billion USD, 40% higher than in 2014 and surpassing the record level of 4.2 billion USD in 2012. It is expected that the value of M&A deals in Vietnam in 2016 is likely to break the record of 2015 and reached 6 billion USD.

Many analysts are predicting that the food, logistics, retail and real estate industries will still be targeted by foreign investors. The main reason is that the potential of Vietnamese consumers is growing due to young population and growing economy.

Among more than 3,000 M&A deals that are statistically by Foreign Investment Department, there were 1,894 deals valued at 1.8 billion USD that are invested by foreign investors to hold dominant share of over 50% . It means more than half of M&A deals in the past year are made with long-term investment objectives.

There has been more active involvement of the Private Equity fund (PE). Previously, if the PE funds often take part in the purchase of shares which is not dominant, but now, the PE fund is ready to invest at a higher percentage to increase profit and reduce competition. In addition, the increase in ownership percentage will also help to increase the PE funds’ intervention in business activities of enterprises to create surplus value.

When the inflow of foreign investment into Vietnam through M&A increases, it will create opportunities for domestic enterprises to mobilize capital, improve enterprise management skills and competitiveness. One of the examples is the case that Vietnam Airlines sold 8.8% of shares to ANA Holding, the largest airline corporation in Japan.

In fact, many other businesses also consider M&A as an effective channel for capital mobilization. Therefore, after the Vietnam Government allowed to increase the percentage of capital held by foreign investors at the company listing on the stock market to 100%, many companies have decided to open “room” to welcome this new capital flows. Many examples are Hoang Quan Real Estate Company, Thu Duc Housing, An Phat Plastic and TNG Garment. Even Vinamilk, one of the most successful dairy enterprises in Vietnam, also have to think about loosening “room” to 100% to attract foreign investment through M&A activities.

ANT Consulting is here to assist you from the outset; providing corporate intelligence, risk advisory, management consulting services that assist market entrance, and ensure efficient business start-up operation. 

We strive to save your cost by guiding you towards economical solutions that comply with local legislation and procedures. We support you through early logistic solutions and carry you through as your business grows.  We aim to bridge the gap between international best practices and local cultures and assist foreign companies and organizations entering Vietnam market to overcome commercial and regulatory issues.

We could be reached at email: ant@antconsult.vn or tel: +848 3520 2779 .  To learn more about us, please visit www.antconsult.vn

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