Highlights of the Vietnam M&A Forum

More than 15 years ago, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) between businesses were still very new and little known, but they presented a strong opportunity for growth. At that time, the Editorial Board of Investment Newspaper had the idea of ​​organizing a seminar where businesses involved in mergers and acquisitions could meet, exchange experiences, discuss needs, and share information.

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Planning and Investment , the first M&A Forum was successfully held in Hanoi in June 2009, marking the beginning of a prestigious annual event that attracts the attention of numerous domestic and foreign businesses and investors.

Over its 15 years of organization, the Forum has attracted hundreds of speakers and thousands of senior leaders from domestic and international businesses, investment funds, and consulting firms. Along with the development of Vietnam's M&A market, the Forum has been organized with different themes over the past 15 years. Carefully selecting the right theme and keynote speakers based on market developments, the domestic and international context each year, and the needs of the business community and investors, ensures the Forum remains fresh and appealing to participants.

It's rare to find a forum or conference where attendees remain seated until 6 or 7 PM, attentively listening and engaging in lively discussions, like the Vietnam M&A Forum. It could also be said that the Forum was a pioneering event at the time in selling tickets, opening up a avenue for similar events later on, not only for Investment Newspaper but also for other organizations.

In addition to the seminars, practical activities serving investors are also organized, such as the MAF Expo showcasing businesses and projects, the M&A Outlook Special Publication, and the annual selection of outstanding M&A deals and consultants. The Forum's activities truly become a practical investment networking channel, where businesses and investors can share information and seek investment and M&A opportunities.

The global Covid-19 pandemic has had unprecedented impacts on many sectors and altered many ways of social interaction, including event organization. The M&A Forum was no exception. However, even in the years most severely affected by the pandemic, such as 2020-2021, the Organizing Committee still strived to hold the Forum with rich content and as relevant to the context as possible, bringing together the most reputable businesses. The themes "Rising in the New Normal " in 2020 and "Opportunities in a Booming Market" in 2021 exemplify this.

Looking back over its 15-year history, the Vietnam M&A Forum has made significant contributions to improving laws and policies on M&A, sharing information and experiences, and connecting investments through M&A. As assessed by the Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyen Chi Dung, the annual Vietnam M&A Forum, organized by Investment Newspaper, has played a crucial role in promoting healthy M&A activity. For Investment Newspaper, the Forum has helped enhance its reputation and brand, fostering close ties with the community of investors and businesses.

This year, the Forum will be held on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at the JW Marriott Saigon Hotel – one of the most luxurious 5-star hotels in Ho Chi Minh City, recently renamed the InterContinental Hotel. Hopefully, with the experience and prestige gained over the past 15 years, the 16th Vietnam M&A Forum will continue to receive the support of businesses, professionals, consulting firms, and the domestic and international investment community.

Mr. Masataka “Sam” Yoshida .

Contributing to the promotion of M&A activities in the country.

– Mr. Masataka “Sam” Yoshida, Global Director of Cross-Border Mergers & Acquisitions Services, RECOF Corporation, General Director of RECOF Vietnam

For many years, the Vietnam M&A Forum has been an annual event bringing together leading investors, business executives, senior advisors, private equity investment experts, journalists, and government officials from across Vietnam and the region. It can be said that few forums are better than the M&A Forum at effectively connecting with such a large number of clients, experts, and decision-makers in the business world.

With numerous discussions, presentations, and case studies, we believe the M&A Forum has been highly successful in developing investment ideas and promoting domestic M&A activity. Investors explored new investment opportunities, while Vietnamese companies gained a better understanding of domestic and international transactions. Private sector investment experts presented the latest investment trends and strategies for various industries.

Meanwhile, M&A experts shared the process of executing M&A transactions to avoid disruption and successfully complete deals. The M&A forum was welcomed as it created a platform for participants with a wealth of useful information, where people could connect, share business information, conduct transactions, and learn from practical experiences.

The annual M&A Forum not only receives extensive media coverage but also attracts participation from government officials and policymakers to discuss regulations governing M&A activities. Through these discussions, we are pleased to learn that the Vietnamese government is committed to creating an environment that fosters foreign investment and promotes innovative approaches to cross-border M&A transactions. The forum's sessions also feature debates on policy and proposed amendments.

For me personally, the M&A Forum left many fond memories, but the most memorable moment I still haven't forgotten was when we were honored to receive the "Most Contributing M&A Enterprise between Japan and Vietnam" award from the Ministry of Planning and Investment. We were invited onto the stage at the evening reception at GEM Center to receive the award from Mr. Vu Dai Thang, then Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, along with the praise that "RECOF is the only, irreplaceable M&A consulting company connecting Vietnam and Japan."

That was a moment I truly felt very happy after many years of working in Vietnam. We are very grateful to the Forum Organizing Committee for their appreciation of us, as well as to our Vietnamese and Japanese clients, legal and accounting professionals, and other experts who were so involved in our unforgettable transaction.

Mr. Seck Yee Chung .

Affirming the prestige and brand of Investment Newspaper – VIR.

  – Mr. Seck Yee Chung, Managing Partner, Baker & McKenzie Law Firm

Foreign investors are a vital and integral part of the Vietnamese economy. From the early days following Vietnam's economic reforms in the late 1980s, the majority of investment flows were foreign direct investment and joint ventures, concentrated in manufacturing and real estate. With the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) coming into effect in 2001 and Vietnam joining the WTO in 2007, foreign investors have shown increasing interest in and invested in Vietnam, opening doors to many other sectors, particularly in the service industry.

Over time, domestic companies have grown stronger and created value in their respective market segments. This attracts attention and opens up many opportunities for M&A activities. Participation in numerous trade agreements in recent years demonstrates Vietnam's market openness.
The legal framework also needs to adapt over time to accommodate both direct investment and M&A activities. To date, Vietnam has strived to strike a balance between building a modern, open market for investment, while also setting certain conditions and restrictions on foreign investment in specific sectors.

Recognizing the trends and growth in the M&A sector, the Vietnam M&A Forum, organized by Investment Newspaper, has become an annual event bringing together numerous businesses, investors, experts, and service providers. This event serves as a platform for networking and gathering opinions from industry companies, major investors, and successful businesses.

The Forum also reaffirmed Vietnam's commitment to developing a modern and open economy, welcoming investments, partnerships, and cooperation between domestic and foreign businesses. The success of the Forum has affirmed the prestige and brand of Vietnam Investment Review – VIR.

Ms. Binh Le Vandekerckove .

We should invite more speakers from regional and global markets.

– Ms. Binh Le Vandekerckove, Founder and CEO of ASART Business Consulting Company

  As a long-time participant and speaker at the annual M&A Forum (since 2009), I have witnessed the development and increasing complexity of M&A transactions in Vietnam. M&A activities require a wide range of expertise and fields, making comprehensive information gathering and dissemination difficult. Furthermore, the confidentiality of these transactions adds to the complexity and difficulty of sharing information.

Investment Newspaper has established itself as one of the leading business news providers in Vietnam. Our initiative to organize the annual M&A Forum in Vietnam since 2009 has provided a crucial and leading platform for industry professionals to gather, share information, and discuss the latest development trends. We are proud to have contributed a wealth of practical and useful content to both the Forum and VIR's various publications.

To make this year's Forum even more successful, I would like to see it include the latest trends in the M&A market, emerging industries, changes in laws and regulations, the importance of sustainable development and its impact on the economy. The Forum should also consider implementing live polls and on-site Q&A platforms to gather audience input and foster networking. Inviting speakers from regional or global markets to share perspectives and best practices would also be very helpful.

To maintain its leading position in business news and provide exceptional value to its readers, Investment Newspaper could consider adopting digital platforms to make information more accessible and engaging, combined with podcasts and live Q&A sessions/interviews with industry experts, and offering exclusive content and in-depth reports that no other provider can offer.

Congratulations to the Editorial Board and the entire team on the 33rd anniversary of Investment Newspaper. I look forward to continuing to contribute to the development of your newspaper in general and the annual Vietnam M&A Forum in particular for many years to come.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Ai .

Participating in the Forum is a natural annual event.

– Mr. Nguyen Cong Ai, Deputy General Director of KPMG Vietnam

One of the most significant events marking the collaboration between KPMG and Investment Newspaper is the annual M&A Forum. KPMG is regularly commissioned by Investment Newspaper to report on the M&A market situation in Vietnam. Furthermore, for many years, KPMG has participated in the Forum as a keynote speaker, as well as participating in discussion sessions, moderating, or speaking at the Forum.

Each time I've attended the Forum, I've been amazed by the professionalism of the speakers, attendees, and the Organizing Committee. Even during the years affected by Covid-19, the Organizing Committee still strived to hold this annual event with the richest possible content, bringing together the most reputable businesses and speakers who are truly "veterans" in the Vietnamese M&A industry.

KPMG has been honored for many years with the "Outstanding M&A Advisor of the Year" award from the Selection Committee and the Forum Organizing Committee. This is a great source of encouragement for the M&A advisory team at KPMG, including the legal advisory, financial review, commercial review, as well as valuation and corporate finance support teams.

We now consider participating in the Forum a natural annual event, where we can chat with our clients, receive the latest market information, and learn valuable lessons from all parties involved in transactions, including buyers, sellers, and consulting firms that are partners or competitors of KPMG. Once again, we would like to thank Investment Newspaper for accompanying the Vietnamese M&A market for the past 15 years and for always being a valuable source of information and effective support for us, the members of the market.

Mr. Angus Liew .

Integrate additional technological features.

– Mr. Angus Liew, Chairman of Gamuda Land Vietnam

Gamuda Land is proud to be the principal partner of the Vietnam M&A Forum organized by Investment Newspaper. The logistics and preparation for the event left a strong impression. The organizing team ensured that every aspect, from event setup to the seamless flow of the discussion sessions, was meticulously planned and executed.

The venue was carefully selected, creating a conducive environment for effective discussions, while the technical aspects were handled with high professionalism. Furthermore, the registration and coordination process was highly efficient, allowing delegates to focus on networking and engaging with the event's content.

In the future, Investment Newspaper can enhance the quality of the Forum by integrating more technological features. Implementing an event application to provide real-time information updates, online connectivity, and audience interaction during discussion sessions will increase participant engagement. Furthermore, organizing industry-specific discussion sessions or themed meeting rooms will offer more targeted networking opportunities, helping participants maximize the value of the event.

Mr. Edwin Tan .

To make the event even better…

– Mr. Edwin Tan, Deputy General Director of Frasers Property Vietnam

As an organization that has partnered with the Investment Newspaper's M&A Forum for many years, we highly appreciate the value these events bring. To contribute to the even greater success of future events, we would like to propose some ideas.

Firstly, expanding the scale and organizing a key event in a major center in the North will create an attractive platform for businesses and investors. Collaborating with professional event organizers will also help improve the quality and effectiveness of the event.

Furthermore, enhancing hands-on experiences such as project visits, in-depth discussion sessions, and business networking activities will create more opportunities for collaboration and learning. Finally, inviting more leading industry players and startups will help diversify participants and create a vibrant M&A ecosystem.

I believe that these suggestions will help make M&A events even better and bring more value to the business community.