Masan High-Tech Materials Corporation’s modern processing line in Viet Nam. — Photo courtesy of Masan

Masan High-Tech Materials Corporation (MHT), a subsidiary of Masan Group, on November 27 announced it has wrapped up a strategic alliance in the tungsten industry with Japan’s Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (MMC) with an objective to develop a leading, high-tech tungsten materials platform.

As part of the strategic alliance, MMC bought 109,915,542 newly issued shares via a private placement for a cash consideration of US$90 million.

MMC now owns 10 per cent of the fully diluted share capital of MHT and is the second largest shareholder.

The parties will discuss developing a separate business unit to strengthen and unlock synergies for their respective mid-stream tungsten platforms.

The ability to offer cutting edge solutions to customers and the strategic flexibility of being integrated across the value chain is a critical factor in delivering sustainable growth and will continue to be a critical factor in the tungsten space.

MHT prides itself on constantly delivering improved and innovative product offerings. MHT is one of the only tungsten platforms that benefits from regular supply of primary (concentrates) and secondary raw (recycled) materials that are then further processed into the finest quality oxides, powders, carbides and chemicals.

The success of MHT is underpinned by a combination of world-class research and development with dedicated applications engineers who have a track record of delivering fine-tuned specifications to meet end customers’ evolving demands.

After the acquisition of H.C Starck , a leading global mid-stream tungsten business, in June this year, MMC’s participation as a strategic partner is a validation of management’s transformation into a vertically integrated high-tech tungsten platform.

MMC will add significant value as a strategic partner, and through partnering the parties will be positioned to develop better leading-edge solutions for end customers which will accelerate growth.

They include establishing the opportunities for joint collaboration and investment in revolutionary research and development of key technologies to enhance the parties’ respective high-tech tungsten portfolios, improving their ability to provide industry-leading quality and performance of high-tech tungsten materials products, and finally strengthening the sales network in the Asia Pacific region.

Credit Suisse acted as exclusive financial advisor to MHT.

Key regulatory and MHT shareholders’ approvals required for the strategic investment have been obtained.

Entering the poultry meat market

On the same day Masan MEATLife Joint Stock Company (MML), another subsidiary of Masan Group, announced the acquisition of 51 per cent of 3F VIET Joint Stock Company, a leading domestic player in the poultry meat market, through a primary injection of VND613 billion ($26.37 million).

Established in 2014, 3F VIET has emerged as one of the country’s leading players with a vision to transform the poultry market with chilled packaged and processed chicken meat products.

Its offerings span the value chain, from breeding, hatcheries and meat farms to large-scale food processing and packaging, all complying strictly with environmental standards related to food hygiene and safety.

With an efficient operating model, 3F VIET hopes to generate revenues of VND1trillion ($43.1 million) with break-even EBITDA in financial year 2020.

The VND613 billion will be used by 3F to expand its business and build a poultry power brand.

Regulatory approvals required for the transaction have been obtained.

Masan MEATLife CEO Pham Trung Lam said: “Entering the poultry meat market through the investment into 3F VIET is a part of Masan MEATLife’s vision to transform into a pure FMCG company.

“With the completion of this strategic milestone, we expect to bring breakthrough value to consumers in a much more scalable fashion and develop power brands. Our mission is to supply fresh, safe, affordable, and traceable meat products to each and every Vietnamese consumer.” — VNS