“Previously, financial investors bought shares at the minimum level to explore the market, but now they are disbursing money at the highest possible levels with higher investment frequency," said Nguyen Lan Phuong from Baker & McKenzie law firm.

The latest M&A deal in the sector was one in which Navis Capital Partners, a Malaysia-based company which manages assets of $5billion, invested in TTCE, a private education service group in south Vietnam.

This was the first time the investment fund disbursed money in the educational sector.

Navis is known as the investor in Go Dang JSC, OPV Pharmacy and a hospital in Hanoi.

 Another M&A deal which caught special attention from the public was investment by Nguyen Hoang Group in Hoa Sen University. The value of the deal remains a secret, but observers say the value must be high because Hoa Sen is a well known brand.

Nguyen Hoang Group is the owner of 40 projects which serve 50,000 students. Besides Hoa Sen, Nguyen Hoang also owns Hong Bang International University, Gia Dinh and Ba Ria – Vung Tau Universities.

In 2018, Nguyen Hoang established IEC, called an international education city, in Quang Ngai province, covering an area of 10 hectares with investment capital of VND1 trillion, or $43.47 million.

The educational sector has become attractive for foreign investors as well. Mekong Capital has announced that Mekong Enterprise Fund III has invested $4.9 million into Yola Education JSC, the sixth investment from Mekong Enterprises Fund III.

Swedish EQT Capital Partners, through its subsidiary EQT Mid Market, has poured money into ILA Vietnam, specializing in English teaching. Meanwhile, TAEL Partners has invested $10 million in IvyPrep Education.

Phuong commented that Vietnam’s economy is shifting from labor-intensive production into services, and the process requires a high-quality labor force. As education plays a very important role, investing in the sector is considered a wise move.

English teaching schools, international schools with high revenue, and well known brands are the targets for foreign investors and investment funds. The investors are ready to bet on Vietnamese education brands which have plans to develop strongly and expand their networks rapidly.

Andy Ho from VinaCapital divided the education market into three groups: K-12, from preschool to 12th grade; foreign language teaching; and skills teaching and online training. He said that K-12 is the most lucrative sector.

Thanh Lich

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