VinaCapital teams up with Japan’s Ryobi in Vietnam investment

VinaCapital, a leading investment management firm company in Vietnam, and Japanese conglomerate Ryobi have signed a deal to form a business alliance to jointly explore real estate and other investment opportunities in the country.

The duo will look at suitable real estate projects and opportunities in listed and private equity, venture capital, infrastructure, and energy.

A potential project for collaboration is the development of low-rise residential projects in satellite towns surrounding Ho Chi Minh City being undertaken by VinaLiving, the real estate investment arm of HCMC-based VinaCapital.

The southern metropolis continues to be one of the primary drivers of Vietnam’s robust economic growth. The construction and enhancement of infrastructure such as roads and highways are increasing accessibility and development to a wider area beyond the city.

“This in turn is creating the need for more homes and commercial space in the satellite cities that are expected to rapidly grow as more businesses locate offices and operations in these up-and-coming areas,” VinaCapital said Wednesday, the date it signed the collaboration deal with Ryobi.

VinaLiving is a pioneer in developing high-end residential projects targeting Vietnam’s rising middle class. Its developments include Nine South estates in Nha Be district, The Garland in District 9, both in HCMC, and Azura, The Ocean Villas in Danang and Quy Nhon in central Vietnam.

Ryobi was founded as a railway company over 100 years ago in Okayama, Japan. Today, the group has over 40 subsidiaries operating in a wide range of sectors, including transportation and tourism, ICT, life services, urban development, logistics, town development, and healthcare.

The VinaCapital-Ryobi strategic partnership was established thanks to the engagement of Aozora Bank’s Japan Desk in Vietnam.

Toshiyuki Matsuda, group president of Ryobi, said his corporation and VinaCapital first worked together about 10 years ago on an equity investment “that did very well.”

“At that time, VinaCapital’s CEO Don Lam presented us with several other investments that in retrospect, we would have done very well had we invested in them all. But I am delighted that we maintained the trusted relationship between our two companies and now have exciting new opportunities to work together across a variety of sectors in Vietnam”.

VinaCapital chief operating officer Brook Taylor said: “As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Vietnam continues to present enormous investment opportunities across a wide range of sectors, from real estate and renewable energy to logistics and IT.

“I am honored that Ryobi has once again selected VinaCapital to be its partner as it expands its participation in this market.”

In 2015, Ryobi established Ryobi (Vietnam) Distribution Service Co., Ltd. which has been operating HCMC’s largest multifunctional warehouse at Saigon Hi-tech Park. It has also expanded to support Vietnam’s economy through strategic investments in Vietnamese companies, mainly the logistics sector.