Consumer financier FCCOM sells 50 pct stake to foreign investor

The Korean credit issuer Hyundai Card has struck a deal that allows it to buy half of total shares at the consumer finance firm FCCOM for nearly 42 million USD.
Consumer financier FCCOM sells 50 pct stake to foreign investor ảnh 1Illustrative image (Photo: cafef.vn)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Korean credit issuerHyundai Card has struck a deal that allows it to buy half of total shares atthe consumer finance firm FCCOM for nearly 42 million USD.

The deal will help the foreign credit card issuer expand itsbusiness in Vietnam, where consumer lending is booming on high domestic consumption,the company said.

The deal is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2020and the post-merger company will start operating in the second half of 2020.

"The entry into the Vietnamese market has a significantmeaning in that it will mark Hyundai Card's first direct entry into a foreignmarket," Hyundai Card said in a statement.

“Vietnam is one of the world's fastest growing markets. Itsmarket for individual loans is currently growing at an annual average of 60percent, with the number of credit card holders surged 27 percent on-year to7.4 million last year.”

The Korean firm also plans to explore other markets inSoutheast Asia.

FCCOM is a member company of the Maritime Joint StockCommercial Bank (MSB).

Hyundai Card’s officers will be responsible for the financewhile MSB staff will take care of sales and operations in the post-mergerbusiness.

In addition to consumer lending, FCCOM will also cover othersectors such as credit card issuance, automobile financing and corporate financing,which is expected to support the operation of two automobile firms Hyundai andKia Motors in Vietnam.

The deal was reported by Yonhap News Agency on October 29.

Before Hyundai Card, some Korean finance firms had enteredVietnam. In 2017 Lotte Card bought out Techcom Finance and launched its unitLotte Finance in late June 2019.

In early 2018, Shinhan Card acquired Prudential Vietnam for 150million USD. The merged business started operating in May 2019.

Aside Korean investors, Japanese firms have appeared on theVietnamese consumer lending market such as Credit Saison and Shinsei Bank,which have formed joint ventures with HDBank and Military Bank.

According to data provider FiinGroup, consumer lending roseby average 66.3 percent per year in the 2015-2017 period, more than three timesthe rate recorded in 2013-2014. In 2018, the rate was 30.4 percent.

In 2018, FE Credit had the biggest part of the market with amarket share of 47.3 percent, down from 2017’s figure of 48.9 percent.

The proportion of consumer lending in the economy’s totallending increased to 17 percent in 2017 and 19.7 percent in 2018 from 12.3percent in 2016. But the rate is still low compared to other developedeconomies where the rate is estimated at 40-50 percent./.
VNA

See more

Industrial factories in Tan Uyen city, the southern province of Binh Duong (Photo: VNA)

Investors upbeat about Vietnam’s industrial property market

Investors are bullish on Vietnam's industrial property market growth on the back of the nation's strategic location, sound infrastructure, and increasing demand for industrial space, particularly industrial parks that meet green standards, according to market research.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the EU Nguyen Van Thao addresses the forum (Photo: VNA)

Forum connects Vietnamese, Belgian busineses

The Vietnam-Belgian business forum took place in Brussels on October 23, offering a chance for enterprises of the two countries to introduce their products and explore new cooperation opportunities.

The expos cover over 6,000 sq.m, drawing over 210 exhibitors from 10 countries and territories. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi hosts textile & garment, fabric garment accessories expos

The Vietnam Hanoi Textile & Garment Industry and Fabric Garment Accessories Expos 2024 (HanoiTex & HanoiFabric 2024) is taking place in Hanoi on October 23 – 25 as part of a series of international exhibitions on Vietnam's textile and garment industry.

Representatives from Vietnamese and Lao agencies, localities and businesses at the opening ceremony of the Vietnam-Laos trade fair 2024 in Xiengkhouang province. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos step up trade, tourism promotion

A Vietnam-Laos trade fair was kicked off in Phonsavanh township in Xiengkhouang province of Laos on October 23 as part of activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the traditional day of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos (October 30, 1949 – 2024).

Illustrative photo (Photo: chinhphu.vn)

Vietnamese goods enter US through global supply chain

The Saigon Co.op Distribution Company Limited (SCD) - a member of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Trade Cooperatives (Saigon Co.op), and STC Natural Vina Company on October 23 held a hand-over ceremony for goods that will be exported to the US.

Vietnam’s lobsters have clawed their way back onto Chinese menus after a suspension. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam’s lobsters claw back prominence in China

Vietnam’s lobster export to the Chinese market in January-September rose 33 folds year-on-year on the back of lower prices and stronger trade ties between the two nations, the South China Morning Post said on October 22.