Mekong Capital plans to invest in four new companies in the first half of 2017, with each investment valuing at US$8-15 million, the firm has announced.

The names of the four companies have not been disclosed, but they are unlisted firms in the retail, education and transport sectors, the source revealed.

“The investments could be a minority stake or can be majority shareholders, depending on each investee,” the source said.

These investments will be conducted through the $122.5-million Mekong Enterprise Fund III Ltd (MEF III), which made three investments last year, including logistics firm ABA Corporation, restaurant operator Wrap & Roll and pawn shop chain F88.

MEF III focuses on investments in Vietnamese consumer-driven businesses such as retail, restaurants, consumer products and services, with each investment ranging from $6-15 million.

In 2016, it fully exited Phu Nhuan Jewelry, tech giant FPT Corporation, real estate firms Intresco and Nam Long, and, recently, made a partial exit of MobileWorld. It exited MobileWorld in the last quarter at 89 times the price per share compared to its purchase price in 2007.

The HCM City-based private equity firm recently won the “Frontier Market Firm of the Year in Asia” award for 2016 by Private Equity International. It was the fourth year in a row that it bagged this award. — VNS