500 representatives to join Vietnam M&A Forum 2019

The press conference announcing Vietnam M&A Forum 2019

This was announced by the organising board at the July 23 Hanoi press conference announcing Vietnam M&A Forum 2019. The 11^th annual Vietnam M&A Forum held by Vietnam Investment Review and AVM Vietnam under the theme "Going for breakthrough" will take place at GEM Convention Center, Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday, August 6, 2019.

Accordingly, the M&A Forum will have three main sessions, namely policy dialogue, identifying breakthrough fields, and brand issue in M&A activities.

Notably, in Session 1, managers and experts from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, the State Securities Commission, the State Bank of Vietnam, the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC), and leaders of domestic and foreign enterprises will pool their knowledge to answer questions like "What changes do the Vietnamese government and authorised agencies need to make to create a breakthrough in M&A?" or "How do investors and businesses need to react to upcoming changes?"

Besides, managers and experts will clarify new policy incentives which can facilitate M&A in the fields that require motivation for development such as high-tech industries, high-tech agriculture, renewable energy, and smart infrastructure. Additionally, they will issue incentives to facilitate special M&A deals where local firms buy into foreign partners (particularly cross-border transactions) to expand globally or to facilitate the emergence of startup unicorns which can team up with global groups to grow more powerful.

In addition, experts will explain the differences that the establishment of the CMSC will bring to the SOE equitisation and state capital divestment cause, as well as outline the specific opportunities in businesses under the management of the CMSC in 2019-2020.

In Session 2, speakers from big domestic and foreign corporations and investment funds will work together to find solutions to pressing questions about business in fields which need large medium-term capital like real estate, especially as the ratio of short-term capital for medium and long-term loans is being gradually reduced to 30 per cent in the next year or two. This is putting pressure on both banks and businesses, but is also creating an opportunity for M&A activities.

Besides, experts will discuss the opportunities left for investors who arrive late to the market, highlighting opportunities in the retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, and service sectors – while warning of tough competition in these areas.

In Session 3, leading Vietnamese and international CEOs will share their experiences and lessons about protecting and developing Vietnamese brands via cross-border M&A activities as foreign businesses are arriving en masse to Vietnam.

Besides, participants will have the opportunity to listen to ideas about the issue of brand valuation in M&A. Is the brand valued too high or low? How can the proper valuation be found to avoid causing losses to Vietnamese SOEs and the state via M&A transactions and SOE equitisation.

Furthermore, the CEOs will clarify the role of advisory firms in brand and intellectual property (IP) protection and valuation in M&A deals, discussing in detail matters that the buyer and the seller should pay attention to in branding when it comes to M&A negotiations and transactions.

On the sidelines of the seminar "Going for breakthrough", the Organising Board will also provide space and time for activities for investment connection between domestic and foreign enterprises to share information.

In particular, the organising board will nominate and honour the best M&A deals and advisory firms of 2018-2019. The purpose of the nomination is to asses and honour businesses conducting the best M&A deals, as well as to recognise the best M&A advisory firms of the past year.

“During the preparation for the Vietnam M&A Forum 2019, the organising board has received the attention of government agencies and ministries such as the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communication, as well as received dedicated help from many experts, businesses, and professional organisations,” said Le Trong Minh, editor-in-chief of Vietnam Investment Review and head of the Organising Board of Vietnam M&A Forum.

According to Vo Thanh Thong, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, “The annual Vietnam M&A Forum has attracted the participation of more and more investors, especially foreign investors. It is now a bridge to connect foreign and local enterprises with each other, while simultaneously contributing to luring foreign investment in Vietnam and making proposals to complete the policy to attract M&A investment.”