Singapore's M1 acquires 70 per cent stake in Vietnam’s ADG

Singapore's M1 acquires a 70 per cent stake in Vietnam’s ADG. Photo: The Business Times

ADG’s remaining 30 per cent stake will continue to be held by the existing shareholders, including its chairman and founder, Vu Minh Tuan.

M1, through its wholly-owned subsidiary AP Tech Holdings Pte. Ltd., will pay a total purchase consideration of VND719.9 billion ($28.4 million).

With a track record of 18 years in the value chain, ADG is a leading provider of IT products and services in Vietnam, with a network of more than 2,000 local agents and partners, and operations in the four major cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Can Tho.

Supported by a team of over 190 employees who possess in-depth market knowledge, ADG serves as a trusted enabler between Technology Principals and System Integrators, providing advanced technology products and a full suite of customised solutions such as professional training, solution consulting, system deployment and technical support to small and medium-sized businesses and other enterprise customers.

Significantly, ADG brings advanced computing and storage solutions, high-performance networking solutions, as well as innovative computing and IT services to the market through its robust network of over 20 global technology partners, such as CommScope, Dell Technologies, Fujitsu, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Juniper Networks, Nvidia and Oracle.

M1 is a subsidiary of Keppel Ltd., a global asset manager and operator, which has a longstanding and strong presence in Vietnam, especially in the real estate sector.

The acquisition of a majority stake in ADG marks M1’s strategic entry into the Vietnamese market. This will allow M1 to diversify its portfolio and tap into new growth opportunities in Vietnam’s booming Technology sector, with the growing focus on Vietnam’s National Digital Transformation Programme.

The ADG acquisition will extend M1’s regional expansion blueprint and synergise with M1 subsidiary AsiaPac’s hybrid multi-cloud competencies, AI solutions, managed services and established partnerships with key technology vendors. This new acquisition will also serve as a global centre of excellence for application development. ADG will benefit from M1’s advanced telecommunications technology, extensive coverage across diverse industry verticals, and close collaboration with key technology and channel partners, which will enhance ADG’s service capabilities and competitive edge in the IT sector.

Manjot Singh Mann, CEO, Connectivity of Keppel Ltd. and CEO of M1 said, “This acquisition marks a significant milestone as we expand M1’s footprint into Vietnam and continue our expansion into the enterprise solutions space, following our acquisitions of AsiaPac in Singapore and Glocomp in Malaysia. Through this acquisition, M1 will be able to leverage ADG’s expertise and local presence in Vietnam to further enhance our ability to deliver innovative and comprehensive solutions to our customers in the country. M1’s investment in ADG will also augment Keppel’s suite of connectivity offerings for enterprises.”

Vu Minh Tuan, chairman and founder of ADG said, “We are excited to join forces with M1. This partnership will enable ADG to leverage M1’s cutting-edge technology and expertise, enhancing our ability to serve our customers and drive growth in the Vietnamese market.”

The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and the fulfilment of mutually agreed conditions.

Domestic firms in Vietnam intensify dealmaking action Merger and acquisition deals are mainly dominated by foreign players in Vietnam. However, more local firms have stepped up their dealmaking activities. Binh Le Vandekerckove, CEO and head of M&A of ASART, shared with VIR’s Thanh Van the current trends.

M&As pick up pace in sectors from food to energy A raft of transactions are still taking place in the Vietnamese market across different industries, from food to renewable energy, signalling improved sentiment from investors.

M&A figures can be rejuvenated through stability Mergers and acquisitions activity saw a decline during the first nine months of 2024, as rising inflation and economic slowdowns affected dealmaking confidence. Masataka “Sam” Yoshida, head of the Cross-border Division of RECOF Corporation, spoke with VIR’s Thanh Van about how this trend is expected to be temporary.