Favourable policies needed to lure investments via M&A deals: Experts
Compared to three years ago, domestic investors outperformed on the merger and acquisition (M&A) market, but the most valuable deals still belonged to foreign investors, heard a conference on M&A trends in Ho Chi Minh City on March 12.
Some speakers at the conference on M&A trends in HCM City on March 12. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Compared to three years ago,domestic investors outperformed on the merger and acquisition (M&A) market,but the most valuable deals still belonged to foreign investors, heard aconference on M&A trends in Ho Chi Minh City on March 12.
The event was organised by the Business Association ofHigh-Quality Vietnamese Products in coordination with relevant units.
According to the Vietnam M&A Transformation report byKPMG, the total value of M&A transactions in Vietnam reached 4.4 billionUSD in the first ten months of 2023, involving over 260 deals. The average dealvalue stood at 54.5 million USD.
Nguyen Tuan Anh, a lecturer at RMIT University Vietnam,Saigon South Campus, said consumer goods and non-essential goods among thepotential industries in Vietnam's M&A market. Investors will targetbusinesses with stable and long-term product investment strategies includingagriculture and food with the basic foundation of the economy - food productionand distribution, he added.
To create an open environment for the M&A market and attract foreign investments, experts recommended that it is necessary to promulgate more favourable policies for divestment activities, alongwith shortening the duration for a M&A deal.
It should be noted that environmental, social, governance(ESG) trends will increase and become one of the key factors driving M&Adeals. Statistics showed that every year, at least two out of five deals requireESG during the appraisal process.
Regarding the M&A trend, Huynh Thanh Binh Minh, Directorof TAEL Partners Investment Fund in Vietnam, pointed out that completing a capitalcall and carrying out an M&A deal involve the engagement of many units. Businesses need to proactively evaluate the company's strengthsand build a management strategy that has the ability to attract capital, she said, addingthat it is necessary for them to restructure corporate governance activities,busine🙈ss strategies, market orientations and brand building.
With such favourable conditions as signing many free trade agreements, a large population and stable geopolitics, Vietnam is a potential M&A market.However, insiders said Vietnam must have rational policies and mechanisms to attract capitalin various fields through M&A deals as the capital flows into Southeast Asian countries are the same./.
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Some speakers at the conference on M&A trends in HCM City on March 12. (Photo: VNA) 
