Eye-catching deals in a year of disruptions

While global turmoil had a marked impact on appetite for deals, the market was not short of headliners, photo Le Toan

Masan Consumer, VinCommerce, and VinEco

Vingroup’s VinCommerce and VinEco arms were merged into Masan Consumer Holdings, the retail consumer business of Masan Group, to establish a leading consumer retail group with a network of over 2,600 supermarkets and convenience stores in Vietnam. Masan took control while Vingroup become a minor shareholder.

The value of the deal has not been disclosed, but it may well be the largest mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal of 2019, igniting a competitive retail war.

KEB Hana Bank and BIDV

BIDV successfully completed the sale of 603.3 million shares, equal to 15 per cent of the bank’s post-deal capital, via a private placement to KEB Hana Bank. The acquisition was completed this June.

The $875 million deal is the biggest M&A transaction in Vietnam’s banking industry, and has raised BIDV’s charter capital from VND34.19 trillion ($1.47 billion) to VND40.22 trillion ($1.74 billion), the highest registered charter capital of any bank in the industry.

KKR, Temasek, and Vinhomes

In June, Singapore’s investment company Temasek Holdings and US private equity manager KKR were among a group of investors that acquired a 6 per cent stake in Vietnamese property developer Vinhomes for VND15.1 trillion ($650 million) from its parent company, Vingroup.

Stark Corporation, Thipha, and Dovina

In April, Stark Corporation Plc. of Thailand completed the purchase of 100 per cent equity in Thinh Phat Electric Cable JSC (Thipha Cable) and Dong Viet Non-Ferrous Metal & Plastic JSC (Dovina) for $240 million.

The transaction was implemented by Stark Corporation’s subsidiary Phelps Dodge International Co., Ltd., a leading Thai wire and cable manufacturer.

Sumitomo Life and Bao Viet Holdings

Sumitomo Life Insurance Company, Japan’s third-largest life insurer, spent VND4 trillion ($173 million) purchasing over 41.4 million shares or a 4.61 per cent stake in major Vietnamese insurance company Bao Viet. The deal was completed in December last year.

Through this move, Sumitomo Life raised its shareholding at Bao Viet from 17.48 to 22.09 per cent, or 163.94 million shares, while the registered capital of Bao Viet increased to VND7.42 trillion ($319.11 million). The shares subject to acquisition would not be transferable within one year from the sale.

Danh Khoi Holdings and Sun Frontier

Danh Khoi Holdings is known as the real estate developer which spent trillions of dongs to revitalise hibernating projects.

One notable example is the $920 million acquisition of Japanese firm Sun Frontier, a subsidiary of Tokyo-headquartered Sun Frontier Fudousan, to officially become investor of the Sun Frontier project in the central city of Danang.

Aozora Bank and Orient Commercial Bank

Japan’s Aozora Bank has decided to acquire a 15 per cent stake in Orient Commercial Bank (OCB), a local mid-sized commercial bank, in a deal worth $139 million.

This was the first M&A deal by Aozora in a foreign market since 2001 and made Aozora OCB’s largest shareholder.

FWD Group and Vietcombank - Cardif Life Insurance

In April, FWD Group announced it has secured regulatory approval to proceed with the previously announced acquisition of Vietcombank-Cardif Life Insurance (VCLI), a life insurance joint venture between Vietcombank and BNP Paribas Cardif. The acquisition further strengthens FWD’s presence and market share in the Vietnamese insurance market and underlines the company’s continued confidence in the long-term growth potential of Vietnam.

Investors buy into Pharmacity

In late 2019, Pharmacity, the largest pharmaceutical retailer in Vietnam, completed the sale of 292 million bonds for VND29.2 billion ($1.27 million). Local investors bought 91.4 per cent of offered bonds and foreign investors acquired the remaining 8.6 per cent.

This capital will help Pharmacity to expand its pharmaceutical store chain with 350 units this year and the figure will increase to 1,000 stores next year.

Vinamilk, GTN Foods, and Moc Chau Milk

Vinamilk officially became the parent company of GTNFoods after finalising the purchase of 79.5 million GTN shares (an additional 31.83 per cent stake) to raise its holding to 75 per cent. After the transaction, Vinamilk will own 51 per cent in Moc Chau Milk, which is a subsidiary of GTNFoods.