M&A transactions valued at over USD3 billion in first half

In his speech at the event, Le Trong Minh, Editor in chief of Vietnam Investment Review, head of the organizers for the forum, said that together with the restructuring process of the economy and Vietnam’s active international integration, over the past years, M&A activities in Vietnam have been increasing.

Total value of M&A transactions in Vietnam only reached over USD1 billion in 2009, but the figure hit a record high of USD5.2 billion in 2015. The figure is expected to hit USD6 billion in the year.

Retail, consumption industry and real estate continued to make up a high proportion of the M&A transactions. These sectors are also attracting the attention of foreign investors, as well as potential domestic partners.

Professor Christopher Kummer, President of Institute of Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA), said that so far this year, Vietnam has made big progress on the global M&A rankings when the country climbed to the 20th place with nearly 400 transactions; up 4 grades from 2015 with 339 transactions.

Lecturers at the event commented that in the current circumstance, removing burdens to develop a healthy M&A market which is expected to become an effective capital mobilization channel and is a factor to promote restructuring of the economy and enterprises is one of important solutions in order to achieve socio-economic development targets.

The 8th annual M&A forum, themed “M&A in open economic space”, will be held on August 18th, 2016 in Ho Chi Minh city. The event will feature investment connectivity programs, an M&A deal award, and a training course on M&A strategy.

It is expected to attract about 500 representatives from domestic and foreign businesses and investment funds which contribute to 85 percent of M&A value in Vietnam.