Mitsubishi buys Franklin Templeton’s stake in Vietnam logistics firm
Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Logistics Corp. has acquired 13.63% of Vietnam’s Indo Trans Logistics from American investment firm Franklin Templeton.
The purchase is for Franklin Templeton's entire stake in the Ho Chi Minh City-based logistics company, shortly known as ITL, Mitsubishi Logistics said Wednesday from Tokyo without disclosing the acquisition price.
“ITL and Mitsubishi Logistics have a long and successful business partnership over the past decade in the country where remarkable economic development has been achieved, and we are excited about further strengthening this partnership by taking a minority stake in this fast-growing and aggressively-diversifying premium logistics player in Indochina,” Masao Fujikura, president of Mitsubishi Logistics, said in a release.
Container trucks belonging to Indo Trans Logistics in Ho Chi Minh City, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the company.
The Japanese firm and ITL established in 2011 a 51-49 joint venture company in Vietnam. MLC ITL Logistics Co., with offices in Hanoi and HCMC, has developed domestic logistics services like warehousing, transportation, distribution, and handling of air and sea imports and exports.
BDA Partners said Wednesday that it acted as the exclusive advisor to Franklin Templeton on the stake transfer.
Mark Webster, partner and head of services at BDA Partners, said: “We’re delighted with this transaction, BDA’s second Asian transport and logistics deal in recent weeks.”
California-based Franklin Templeton in 2015 invested $15.8 million in ITL, 15 years after it was established. The Vietnamese company’s business segments include aviation services, freight management, contract logistics, and port logistics.
ITL is seeking to expand to new businesses such as e-commerce logistics and cold chain logistics through its own developments as well as merger and acquisition deals.
Mitsubishi Logistics CEO Munenori Kimura said from Tokyo: “This growth direction of ITL has a high affinity with ours, we have decided to strengthen the relationship with ITL. By combining our know-how and customer network with the extensive capabilities of ITL, we aim for further business expansion in Vietnam and the Indochina region.”
- Related News
- Read More
Vietnamese agri major Loc Troi’s predicament ahead of partnership with TTC AgriS
TTC AgriS, a leading sugar maker in Vietnam, and Loc Troi Group, a major agricultural service supplier and producer, have agreed to cooperate in a bid to upgrade the country’s rice industry. But Loc Troi is entering the partnership amid the most severe crisis in its history and faces an urgent need for substantial financial support.
Companies - Thu, December 25, 2025 | 8:37 am GMT+7
Korean textile maker Panko Vina to shut Vietnam operations from Feb
Panko Vina Co Ltd, a South Korean textile manufacturer, will cease all production and business operations in Vietnam from February 1, 2026, ending more than 23 years of operations in the country.
Companies - Wed, December 24, 2025 | 9:13 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's garment giant Vinatex posts second-highest profit in 30 years despite trade headwinds
Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex), the country's top garment maker, expects consolidated profit to reach VND1,355 billion ($51.5 million) in 2025, the second-highest result in its 30-year history, despite mounting global trade and cost pressures on the industry.
Companies - Wed, December 24, 2025 | 5:03 pm GMT+7
Finding a new balance
The State Bank of Vietnam's proactive and flexible monetary policy in 2026 is expected to maintain market operations within a stable range. For businesses, particularly those in the external sector, it remains essential to proactively hedge against exchange rate and interest rate risks to protect their bottom line, writes Vu Binh Minh, associate director, FX Trading, MSS, HSBC Vietnam.
Consulting - Wed, December 24, 2025 | 4:47 pm GMT+7
Thai giant Central Retail sells Vietnam electronics business to Pico for $36 mln
Thailand’s Central Retail has announced the sale of its Vietnamese electronics retail business to local retailer Pico Holdings JSC for nearly THB1.14 billion ($36 million), as it sharpens its focus on core businesses in the country.
Companies - Wed, December 24, 2025 | 2:00 pm GMT+7
What should investors reasonably expect from IPO stocks?
Experience from both Vietnam and global markets shows that initial public offering (IPO) stocks rarely deliver immediate gains. However, investors who select companies with solid fundamentals and maintain a long-term holding strategy can be rewarded for their patience.
Finance - Wed, December 24, 2025 | 10:45 am GMT+7
Vingroup completes $325 mln overseas bond issuance
Vingroup, Vietnam's biggest listed company by market capitalization, has completed its international issuance of bonds totaling $325 million, with a 5-year maturity, and listed on Austria's Vienna Stock Exchange.
Finance - Wed, December 24, 2025 | 10:17 am GMT+7
Vietnam's public investment-linked stocks seen benefiting in 2026
Capital flows in 2026 are expected to favor sectors that stand to benefit from Vietnam’s public investment drive, including infrastructure, energy, and construction, market experts said.
Finance - Wed, December 24, 2025 | 9:33 am GMT+7
High gold prices to drive prices of property, goods in Vietnam: Sunhouse chairman
In a scenario where gold prices remain elevated in Vietnam, the real estate market is likely to follow suit, pushing income levels higher and driving up prices across other goods, said Nguyen Xuan Phu, chairman of Sunhouse, a leading home appliance manufacturer, while outlining his 2026-2030 forecast.
Economy - Wed, December 24, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Malaysia’s economy grows robustly in 2025: IMF
Malaysia has shown notable resilience amid global trade tensions and policy uncertainty, with its economy growing at a healthy pace this year, supported by strong domestic consumption and investment, solid employment growth, and a global upcycle in the technology sector, according to Masahiro Nozaki, Mission Chief for Malaysia at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Southeast Asia - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 10:07 pm GMT+7
Indonesia to stop rice imports next year
Indonesia will not import rice for either consumption or industrial use next year, citing sufficient domestic production, according to a government official.
Southeast Asia - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 10:04 pm GMT+7
Indonesia faces challenge of balancing wages, labor costs
Indonesia plans to raise minimum wages by about 5-7% in 2026 under a new formula signed into law by President Prabowo Subianto, a move that could test the country’s cost competitiveness in Southeast Asia.
Southeast Asia - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 10:00 pm GMT+7
Philippines extends sugar import ban
The Philippine Government has decided to extend its ban on sugar imports until the end of December 2026, as domestic supply has improved.
Southeast Asia - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 9:56 pm GMT+7
Duc Giang Chemical stock comes under heavy selling pressure as bottom-fishing shares return
DGC shares of Duc Giang Chemical Group JSC (DGC) closed Tuesday at VND71,600 apiece, down 4% from Monday which saw a 6.27% increase after four sessions of sharp declines last week.
Companies - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 9:49 pm GMT+7
Hanoi clears zoning for major mall project after Aeon exit, Thaco arm steps in
Hanoi authorities have approved a detailed zoning plan for an 8.03-hectare mixed-use site in Hoang Mai district, paving the way for a shopping mall-led development after Japan’s Aeon withdrew and a unit of Vietnam’s Thaco Group moved in.
Real Estate - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 5:05 pm GMT+7
Viettel Commerce partners with China’s Dreame Technology to expand home appliance ecosystem in Vietnam
Viettel Commerce and Import-Export Co. Ltd., one of the core pillars in trade and logistics of the military-run telecom giant Viettel, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China-based Dreame Technology, a global high-end technology brand, in Hanoi.
Companies - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 3:38 pm GMT+7
