The value of M&A activities in the first half of 2016 in Vietnam reached $1.551 billion in 20 deals, according to the “South East Asia M&A Trend Report H1 2016” launched on July 19 by Mergermarket, an independent M&A intelligence service with an unrivaled network of dedicated M&A journalists based in 62 locations across the globe.

M&A activities in Vietnam in the first half fell 34 per cent compared to the same period last year, when the value was $2.351 billion in 29 deals. Mergermarket’s data runs from January 1 to June and is correct as at July 18.

The consumer sector stood out in the first half, driven by the divestment of Thailand’s Casino Guichard Perrachon in its Big C Supercenter in Vietnam for $1.1 billion. Other major deals were seen in energy, leisure, financial services, food, real estate and e-commerce.

As in Vietnam, the consumer sector was also prominent in Southeast Asia in the first half, with 16 deals worth $8.3 billion, an increase of 556.9 per cent and driven by the two divestments by Casino Guichard Perrachon in its Big C Supercenter in Thailand and Vietnam for $6.2 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively.

Given the continuing downward trend seen since 2013 in Southeast Asia, total M&A activity during first half showed a revival by deal value, recording $29.8 billion in 188 deals, up 41.2 per cent.

Source: Mergermarket, July 19, 2016