Singapore's GIC in talks to own at least 7% of Vietnam's Vietcombank: sources

[SINGAPORE] Singapore's GIC Pte Ltd is in talks to own a stake of at least 7 per cent in Vietcombank, sources with knowledge of the matter said, in what would be the sovereign wealth fund's second major investment in Vietnam this year.

Vietcombank will issue new shares to GIC should the deal go through, the sources said on Friday.

A successful stake sale in Vietnam's biggest lender by value would be a vote of confidence in the country's banking sector, once ridden with bad debts.

Vietcombank has been planning to issue new shares equivalent to 10 per cent of existing stock to foreign investors. That would total more than US$600 million based on current market value.

The stake is offered to GIC at a discount to market prices, the sources said, declining to be more specific.

The deal would need the approval of Vietnam's central bank, Vietcombank's biggest shareholder.

A GIC spokeswoman declined to comment, while Vietcombank did not reply to a request for comment.

With a 7 per cent share, GIC would be the third-biggest investor after the State Bank of Vietnam, which owns a 77 per cent stake, and Japan's Mizuho Bank, which holds a 15 per cent share, said the sources, who declined to be identified because talks are still ongoing.

In March, GIC bought additional shares to own more than 5 per cent in leading Vietnamese food producer Masan Group .

Vietcombank has said it expected a deal with a foreign investor this year.

Vietcombank's net profit in the first half of 2016 jumped an estimated 39 per cent from a year earlier on strong credit growth and lower provisions for bad debts.

Moody's Investors Service said Vietcombank's retail business will grow due to a strong funding franchise and client base.

Vietnamese banks have enjoyed solid credit growth backed by a rebounding economy, while bad debts in the banking system have fallen from historic highs in 2012.

Bad debts rose to as much as 17.2 per cent of total credit in 2012. The ratio has improved to 2.55 per cent in 2015, central bank data shows.

But reforms in the sector have been hampered by complicated cross-holdings and a 30-per cent foreign ownership cap.

REUTERS