US investors eye Vietnam market

David Bonderman, one of the two TPG founders, and TPG experts from around the world attended the conference.

The event also saw the participation of chief executive officers (CEO) of key TPG-invested companies from China, Israel, India, Vietnam and other Asian countries, who assess global investment trends.

Madhur Maini, CEO of Masan Group, one of the two TPG-invested companies in Vietnam, is scheduled to highlight Masan as a success story of private investment, as well as opportunities for expanding operations in consumer goods production and other areas in Vietnam.

With a population of more than 90 million, Vietnam has emerged as a potential market for consumer goods production

Most of the participants have not yet been to Vietnam, and their firms have total assets of up to US$1,000 billion. Therefore, the conference offers TPG limited partners a great chance to sound out business and investment opportunities in Vietnam.

In Vietnam, TPG injected US$36.5 million into FPT in late 2006 and another US$35 million into Masan group in late 2009.

TPG holds the annual conference in San Francisco for its LPs to review their investments and operational efficiency. This is the first time such conference has been held outside the US.

TPG has selected Vietnam as the venue of the gathering following the successful operation of Masan group in the country. Masan is one of several TPG-invested companies that have achieved the highest growth rate globally.

With a population of more than 90 million, Vietnam is considered a lucrative market for consumer goods production – an industry which is yet to develop on a par with its potential.

Hosting the event in Vietnam also demonstrates TPG’s growth fund operations as more than half of its portfolio is invested in developing markets.