HÀ NỘI — The HCM Stock Exchange (HOSE) has approved the listing of Việt Nam’s largest brewer Sài Gòn Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Corporation (Sabeco) at a starting price of VNĐ110,000 per share (US$4.89).

In a statement released on November 28 on its website, HOSE said it approved the listing of 641.2 million shares on November 25 and that these shares would be available for trading on December 6, earlier than the previous schedule of December 12, under the code SAB.

Sabeco’s market capitalisation will reach VNĐ70.5 trillion, making it the fifth largest listed firm on Việt Nam’s stock market, behind dairy firm Vinamilk (VNM), PetroVietnam Gas Corp (GAS), Vietcombank (VCB) and property developer Vingroup JSC (VIC).

Võ Thanh Hà, Sabeco’s chairman, told local media on Sunday that the company was completing necessary procedures and selecting a consultancy company to sell the state’s ownership, at the request of the prime minister and the industry ministry.

Being listed will make Sabeco’s shares more attractive, especially as the company met its 2016 targeted profit within the first nine months.

As per the company’s nine-month combined financial report, its revenue is more than VNĐ21.8 trillion, an increase of 9 per cent year on year, while its post-tax profit is more than VNĐ3.65 trillion, an increase of 24 per cent year on year.

The State currently holds 89.6 per cent of Sabeco’s charter capital and plans to divest it in two phases. The first tranche of stake sale will be 53.6 per cent of its ownership and will be conducted by the end of this year. The remaining 36 per cent will be transferred next year after the company completes its listing. The total value of the state’s holding in Sabeco is about VNĐ40 trillion.

Sabeco has been fined VNĐ100 million by the State Securities Commission for not publishing company information in compliance with the laws on their websites, such as the company’s 2014 and 2015 managerial reports, annual reports or the company’s charters.

Habeco prepares for listing on HOSE

The Hà Nội Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Corporation (Habeco), the northern large-cap brewer, is collecting opinion from its shareholders on moving from the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) to the HOSE.

Habeco has also attracted public attention with regard to the selling of the State’s 81.8 per cent ownership in the company, which is valued at VNĐ9 trillion. The Denmark-based brewer Carlsberg is now Habeco’s strategic investor and holds 15.77 per cent of the company’s capital. Carlsberg has been allowed to purchase an additional 5.77 per cent, but the deal has not yet been finalised.

About 231.8 million of Habeco’s shares are now being traded on the UPCoM, under the code BHN. The company’s share price yesterday was up 0.7 per cent to close at VNĐ106,200. — VNS