Saigon Asset Management

Saigon Asset Management (SAM) is an asset management and investment banking firm domiciled in the Cayman Islands. Founded in 2007 by Louis Nguyen, the firm initially concentrated on investment opportunities in Vietnam before extending its activities to other Southeast Asian markets. Its Vietnam office is located in Ho Chi Minh City. SAM's business has combined investment fund management with corporate finance and investment banking services. Through SAM Investment Banking, the firm has provided private placements, mergers and acquisitions advice, and corporate finance services, particularly in infrastructure, energy, and natural resources. The firm has reported completing projects in Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, giving it a regional rather than exclusively Vietnamese scope. Its investment platform has included both public- and private-market vehicles. A Vietnam-focused open-end investment fund began operations in August 2007 after being launched initially as a closed-end fund, and it was converted to an open-end structure in June 2013. The fund was listed on the Stuttgart Stock Exchange. Vietnam Equity Holding (VEH) invested in companies with substantial Vietnam exposure through listed shares on the Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi stock exchanges, over-the-counter securities, private companies and development projects, and debt securities. In June 2018, VEH shareholders approved a soft wind-down, after which the board began an orderly liquidation of the portfolio. In December 2019, the directors announced that compulsory redemption would take place. Other vehicles included Vietnam Property Holding (VPH), a real estate fund investing in listed property developers and development projects. VPH merged with VEH in June 2017. Vietnam Impact Holding (VIH) was designed as a Cayman Islands-domiciled, general-partner/limited-partner fund targeting private companies that support sustainable and inclusive economic growth while seeking competitive risk-adjusted returns. The fund's stated fundraising objective was US$100 million. SAM has also used an engaged-investor model. It assisted portfolio companies in working toward international standards and took board positions intended to influence corporate governance and transparency. The firm previously held board positions at Vietnamese listed real estate developers Century 21 (C21) and Nam Bay Bay (NBB). In 2014, VEH was placed among the top three Vietnam investment performers by Edmond de Rothschild. In November 2016, Hong Kong-based Sunwah Group announced an advisory-services joint venture with SAM. Public reference material identifies the firm as active in regional investment management and investment banking, but does not establish its current operating status, current assets under management, ownership, or leadership beyond its founding attribution.

Saigon Asset Management was founded in 2007 by Louis Nguyen as an investment firm with an initial emphasis on Vietnam. The business was domiciled in the Cayman Islands and established a Vietnam office in Ho Chi Minh City. Its early platform centered on investment funds, including a Vietnam-focused vehicle launched in August 2007. That fund began as a closed-end structure and was later converted into an open-end fund in June 2013; it was listed on the Stuttgart Stock Exchange. SAM developed a multi-vehicle investment platform covering public equities, property, private companies, development projects, and debt securities. Vietnam Equity Holding was structured to invest in businesses with significant exposure to Vietnam. Its investment universe included securities traded on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange and Hanoi Stock Exchange, over-the-counter instruments, private companies and development projects, and debt securities. The firm also managed Vietnam Property Holding, a real estate fund focused on listed property developers and development projects in Vietnam. VPH merged with VEH in June 2017. The firm's investment approach included active engagement with portfolio companies. SAM sought to help investee businesses move toward international standards and used board representation to influence corporate governance and transparency. It previously held board positions at the Vietnamese listed real estate companies Century 21, identified by the ticker C21, and Nam Bay Bay, identified by the ticker NBB. In 2014, Vietnam Equity Holding was reported to have ranked among the three best-performing Vietnam investment funds according to Edmond de Rothschild. SAM also expanded beyond traditional public-market fund management. Through SAM Investment Banking, it provided private placement, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance services, with particular attention to infrastructure, energy, and natural resources. Reference material records completed projects in Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, indicating a wider ASEAN mandate. The firm subsequently introduced Vietnam Impact Holding, a Cayman Islands-domiciled general-partner/limited-partner fund intended to invest in private companies supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth while seeking competitive risk-adjusted financial returns. Its stated fundraising target was US$100 million. In November 2016, Sunwah Group announced an advisory-services joint venture with SAM, adding a regional partnership dimension to the business. Vietnam Equity Holding entered a managed wind-down phase in the late 2010s. Shareholders approved a soft wind-down at an extraordinary general meeting in June 2018, and the board began an orderly liquidation of the fund's assets. In December 2019, the directors announced that compulsory redemption would occur. Publicly available reference material also reported that SAM had US$125 million in assets under management as of 2014. No reliable current public information in the supplied sources confirms the firm's present status, current assets, current executives, ownership, or website.

• 2019

  Compulsory redemption announced for VEH

  [1]Saigon Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  The directors of Vietnam Equity Holding announced compulsory redemption in December 2019.

• 2018

  VEH soft wind-down approved

  [1]Saigon Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Shareholders approved a soft wind-down of Vietnam Equity Holding, initiating an orderly liquidation of its assets.

• 2017

  Vietnam Property Holding merged with Vietnam Equity Holding

  [1]Saigon Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  VPH merged with VEH in June 2017.

• 2016

  Sunwah advisory joint venture announced

  [1]Saigon Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Sunwah Group announced an advisory-services joint venture with SAM.

• 2013

  Fund converted to open-end structure

  [1]Saigon Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  The Vietnam-focused fund was converted from closed-end to open-end form in June 2013 and was listed on the Stuttgart Stock Exchange.

• 2007

  Saigon Asset Management founded

  [1]Saigon Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Louis Nguyen founded SAM as a Cayman Islands-domiciled investment firm initially focused on Vietnam.

• 2007

  Vietnam-focused investment fund launched

  [1]Saigon Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  SAM launched a Vietnam-focused investment fund in August 2007, initially using a closed-end structure.

A Vietnam- and ASEAN-focused investment platform combining fund management, engaged ownership, and investment banking services in growth-oriented sectors.

• Vietnam equity fund

  Vietnam Equity Holding

  A fund investing in companies with significant exposure to Vietnam. Its investment universe included listed companies on Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi exchanges, over-the-counter securities, private companies and development projects, and debt securities. The fund entered a soft wind-down after shareholder approval in June 2018, followed by an announcement of compulsory redemption in December 2019.

• Real estate investment fund

  Vietnam Property Holding

  A Vietnam-focused real estate fund investing in a portfolio of listed property developers and development projects. The vehicle subsequently merged with Vietnam Equity Holding in June 2017.

• Impact investment fund

  Vietnam Impact Holding

  A Cayman Islands-domiciled general-partner/limited-partner fund designed to invest in private companies supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth while seeking competitive risk-adjusted returns. Its stated fundraising target was US$100 million.

• Investment banking and corporate finance

  SAM Investment Banking

  SAM's investment banking activity provided private placement, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance services. The cited sector focus included infrastructure, energy, and natural resources, with projects reported across several ASEAN and neighboring Southeast Asian markets.

• 2018

  Approved soft wind-down of Vietnam Equity HoldingStrategy

  Background

  VEH shareholders considered the future of the Vietnam-focused equity vehicle at an extraordinary general meeting.

  Action taken

  Shareholders approved a soft wind-down, and the board began an orderly liquidation of the fund's assets.

  Aftermath

  In December 2019, the directors announced that compulsory redemption would take place.

  Source

• 2017

  Merged Vietnam Property Holding into Vietnam Equity HoldingM&A

  Background

  VPH was a real estate fund investing in Vietnamese property developers and development projects.

  Action taken

  VPH merged with VEH in June 2017.

  Aftermath

  The supplied reference does not provide details of the resulting portfolio or fund structure.

  Source

• 2013

  Converted Vietnam-focused fund to open-end structureGeneration change

  Background

  SAM's Vietnam-focused fund had originally operated as a closed-end vehicle after its 2007 launch.

  Action taken

  The fund was converted to an open-end structure in June 2013 while remaining listed on the Stuttgart Stock Exchange.

  Aftermath

  The supplied reference does not describe the longer-term effects of the structural change.

  Source

1. 1Saigon Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org