Vietnamese food and beverage company Masan Consumer is considering selling a minority stake of up to $1bn ahead of a planned stock market listing, according to people familiar with the matter.
The company is reportedly in talks to bring in a pre-IPO investor that could acquire between 15% and 20% of its business.
Plans for pre-IPO investment
The discussions are said to be at an early stage and a deal is not guaranteed. Sources suggest the stake sale would be finalised before Masan Consumer’s listing on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, scheduled for the second quarter of next year.
Securing a pre-IPO investor could support the company in achieving stronger valuations and attracting wider market interest once the offering takes place.
Impact of trade tensions and market recovery
Masan’s listing plans were postponed earlier this year after U.S. tariffs unsettled global markets. Vietnam, one of the countries most affected by those trade measures, faced initial tariff threats of 46% on exports to the United States.
A July agreement reduced that rate to 20% for Vietnamese goods, easing investor concerns.
Since then, Vietnam’s main equity index has rebounded by about 22% over the summer, with year-to-date gains of 31%.
Regional IPO activity picks up
Investor confidence in Asia has improved following tariff adjustments and monetary easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve. This has supported a rise in deal-making across the region, with Singapore and Malaysia leading a recent wave of IPOs.
Masan Consumer, which currently trades on Hanoi’s unlisted securities trading system UPCoM, announced late last year that it intended to shift to the main board in Ho Chi Minh City.
Founded in 1996, Masan Consumer is one of Vietnam’s largest fast-moving consumer goods companies. Its portfolio spans instant noodles, sauces, coffee and beverages, with exports reaching more than 15 countries.
The company is nearly 70% owned by Masan Group, a diversified conglomerate with businesses ranging from retail and finance to mineral resources.
