Vietnam -- C.P. Pokphand plans to buy Modern State for US$ 610 million in order to obtain the company's animal feed manufacturing, animal breeding, meat processing, and food manufacturing businesses in Vietnam, according to a company filing.
Modern State is affiliated to a Thai-registered subsidiary of Pokphand's parent.
By acquiring 70.8% of the Vietnamese animal-feed producer C.P. Pokphand Co (the Chinese arm of Thailands Charoen Pokphand Group) is to expand into Southeast Asia, in a bid to tap into new markets outside China, the origin of 96% of its sales last year.
Modern State has a 20% share of Vietnam's commercial feed market which has expanded about 16% annually between 2005 and 2009, and 30% of its broiler-farming market.
Unique opportunity
As one of the largest corporate acquisitions in Vietnam, the deal represents a unique opportunity for CPP to acquire a controlling stake in a market leader and expand into one of the fastest growing feed and farming markets in South East Asia. The acquisition enables CPP to broaden and diversify its business base.
Established in Vietnam in 1993, CPVL's integrated livestock and aquaculture businesses span the entire food production value chain, from the manufacturing and distribution of animal feed, to breeding and farming of livestock and aquatic animals, as well as processing and production of meat and food products. CPVL commands a leading position with approximately 20% of commercial feed market, 77% of industrial swine farming markets and 30% of broiler farming markets in Vietnam. For the year ended 2010, CPVL recorded an audited total revenue and net profit of VND20,077,880 million (US$1,046.5 million) and VND964,584 million (US$50.3 million), respectively.
Strong demand
Vietnam's strong demand for meat and seafood products is driven by its young and expanding population, with a median age of 28. The country is also a major exporter of seafood in Asia. Capitalising on this favorable environment, Vietnam's commercial feed market has been growing strongly, enjoying a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 16% between 2005 and 2009, and strong growth is expected to continue in the coming years.
Industrial farming is also growing faster, driven by a structural shift to large scale production through scientific farming. Industrial production of poultry and swine in Vietnam registered a robust CAGR of approximately 22% and 24%, respectively, between 2005 and 2009.
Meanwhile, CPVL's feed production, poultry and swine farming businesses achieved revenue CAGRs of 28%, 34% and 44% respectively between 2005 and 2009, consistently outperforming the market.
CPVL currently has four livestock feed mills with a total capacity of approximately 2.26 million tons per year and three aquatic feed mills with a combined capacity of approximately 0.61 million tons per year. CPP expects the acquisition of CPVL's feed operations in Vietnam to be synergistic with the CPP's existing 78 feed mills in China by enhancement in its economies of scale in raw material procurement.
Positioning as leader
Dhanin Chearavanont, chairman and executive director of CPP said, "This strategic acquisition will immediately position CPP as the leader in the commercial feed and industrial farming market of Vietnam. We expect the fast growing business in Vietnam to become a key growth driver and to contribute to a broader and more diversified income base for the Group going forward. We are confident that this, together with our leading business presence in China, will move CPP closer to our goal of becoming a significant player in Asia's promising agri-food market."
