M&A or IPO: What is the right strategy for your business?

While M&A has been widely practiced for a long time in many parts of the world, it is still relatively new and has not been thoroughly practiced in Vietnam. In addition, specific regulations in Vietnam on M&A are still at the early stage. At the same time, the indigenous nature and factors of M&A deals often limit the sharing of practical experience.

IPO, on the other hand, has been attracting the attention of many Vietnamese agencies, organizations, and businesses as a popular way of raising capital. However, the preparation, regulatory compliance, and reorganization to accommodate this option are both opportunities and challenges that businesses need to be aware of before making a decision.

Whether M&A has just started being known recently or IPO has been known for a long time in Vietnam, information and understanding about these two options are still fragmented, inconsistent, and sometimes confusing. If properly known and fully understood with appropriate preparation, these important strategic decisions can be significant opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to thrive to the next level. If not properly understood, fully understood, and with appropriate preparation, these options can bring many difficulties and risks to the business.

ASART Deal Advisory and AmCham Vietnam are pleased to co-host a panel discussion “M&A or IPO: What is the right strategy for your business?” with the participation of prominent speakers and credible panelists to provide practical experience and valuable insights to assist business owners and top executives in making these important strategic decisions.

We believe that the sharing of practice and experience in M&A and IPO from our prominent speakers and panelists will bring tremendous practical value to event participants, especially business owners and executive leaders.

PANELISTS

Binh Le – Founder & CEO, ASART Deal Advisory
Binh is a seasoned, committed, and prominent corporate finance and corporate strategy advisor in Vietnam market. She has over 13 years of intensive experience in corporate finance, corporate strategy, with a strong focus on M&A and fund raising, for both sell-side and buy-side.

Over the years she has demonstrated a unique set of skills, track record, and a combined knowledge in M&A, finance, strategy, valuation, transaction structure, commercial performance, structuring, accounting, tax, legal, reporting, problem solving, executive negotiation, organizational behaviors, government relations, and advocacy.

She has assisted and advised 110+ projects, for 230+ leading Vietnamese companies and multinational corporations, in 15+ industries, from 25+ countries, with an approximate total value of USD3.6+ billion.

Noticeable and disclosed deals she participated include the liquidation of the first and largest foreign owned PE fund in Vietnam – Indochina Capital, DHG Pharma and Mega LifeSciences, SCG bought Batico, Lafarge merged with Holcim, Warburg Pincus invested in Vincom and VinaCapital.
Binh holds an MBA from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Commerce from RMIT University with Distinction. Before founding and leading all aspects of ASART, she worked for KPMG and Lafarge.

Chinh Hoang – Managing Partner of Vietnam, Excelsior Capital Asia
Chinh Hoang is the Managing Partner of Vietnam and member of the Investment Committee with Excelsior Capital Asia – a mid-market Asia-based private equity investment group. He co-founded and successfully raised Excelsior Capital Vietnam Partners – a Vietnam focused Private Equity fund.

Mr. Chinh has 18 years of experience in private equity investment management and 7 years in operational management. Over his private equity career in Vietnam, Chinh has led and been actively involved in the investment of more than USD200 million into 20 Vietnamese companies. He served on the Board of Directors of more than 15 companies and has been actively involved in scaling up those businesses.

Giang Nguyen – Founder & CEO, Tititada
Mrs. Giang Nguyen has more than 2 years of experience in the position of CIO of SOVICO Group, responsible for investment and capital mobilization. During her time at Sovico, she has done many transactions including issuing corporate bonds of USD165 million to IFC, DEG, and LeapFrog, and USD160 million to DEG and Affirmity, and other M&A transactions.

Before working at SOVICO, Giang has 5 years of experience in the position of Head of Investment Banking at SSI, a leading securities company in Vietnam. During this time, she participated in IPO transactions of Novaland, HDBank, Vincom Retail, Vinhomes, divestments of Vinamilk, Binh Minh Plastic, and M&A of DHG Pharma and Taisho.

Prior to joining SSI, Giang held the position of Director, Head of Capital Markets at VinaCapital, managing the listed and OTC portfolio of VOF Fund, which was the fund with the largest net assets value (NAV) in the market as of 2013.

Giang graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and an MBA from the University of Hawaii.

Hoa Phan, CFA – Deputy CEO & CFO, Hung Thinh Land
Mr. Hoa Phan, CFA is currently Deputy CEO & CFO of Hung Thinh Land, a private real estate development and investment company based in HCM city. He has 20-year working experience in financial and investment management in South East Asia, specializing in developing businesses and IPO transactions.

He was the COO of Gaw NP Capital, a mixed-use real estate developer with flagship project Empire City in HCMC (2020-2021); and was the Deputy CEO, CFO of BW Industrial Development JSC – a Joint Venture between Warburg Pincus and Becamex (2019-2020), helped to raise USD250 mi.


MODERATOR – Cuong Bui – Associate, ASART Deal Advisory
Cuong is an Associate at ASART. He has assisted sophisticated and complex M&A projects.
He holds a Master in Investment and Risk from University of Westminster and a Bachelor of Economics from Foreign Trade University.