Vietnam's consumer promise beckons in M&A

Hanoi

VIETNAMESE mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are forecast to hit a fresh record again this year, spurred by foreign buyers' interest in the country's fast-growing consumer sector.

Announced acquisitions involving Vietnamese companies rose 40 per cent last year to US$4.3 billion, beating the previous record of US$4.2 billion from 2012, data from the Vienna-based Institute of Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances shows. The financial sector had US$1.6 billion in deals, followed by consumer, with US$1.2 billion. Dealmaking could rise further in 2016 after free-trade agreements came into effect and the government passed streamlined investment rules, according to Baker & McKenzie and Duane Morris LLP.