Saigon Asset Management plans PE, RE funds, appoints CIO

The Ho Chi Minh City-based private equity and real estate firm has hired a former Zurich Financial and UBS investment professional to help launch two follow-up vehicles.

Saigon Asset Management (SAM), the Ho Chi Minh City-based private equity and real estate firm, is poised to launch follow-ups to its private equity and real estate funds in the near future and has appointed Hoang Nguyen as chief investment officer to help facilitate its plans.

The firm, which was established two years ago, said it was “in the process of launching new, highly differentiated investment funds focusing on equities and real estate in Vietnam”.

Nguyen, who was previously an investment manager at Zurich Financial Services before joining, told local media that the details of the vehicles are still being finalised. He said: “We are launching them now based on what we see as demand from investors seeking to invest in Vietnam through more innovative vehicles with less fees and carry.”

The firm currently manages Vietnam Equity Holding and Vietnam Property Holding, two Cayman Island-domiciled investment companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on Xetra, the Frankfurt-based electronic trading system. The private equity vehicle has approximately $75 million of assets under management while the real estate vehicle manages about $50 million of assets.

Nguyen added: “Our challenge will be in our execution ability in sourcing great deal flow and having clear exit plans for each investment we make.”

In addition to his time at Zurich Financial Services, Nguyen has also previously worked for UBS where he was a portfolio manager.