The value of Binh’s stock assets soared by VND1 trillion to VND8.5 trillion because FPT share prices have increased rapidly and the founder of the technology firm has received dividends and bought ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) shares. 

FPT, the largest Vietnamese IT group, has spent VND1.1 trillion to pay dividends carried forward from 2022 in cash with the rate of 10 percent. In addition, it has issued 165.65 million shares to pay 2022 dividends with the ratio of 20:3, which means that shareholders will receive three more shares for every 20 shares they hold.

It has also issued 7.3 million ESOP shares.

Prior to that, FPT president Truong Gia Binh held 77.1 million shares. After the moves, he has11 million more shares, raising the total amount of shares to 88.73 million.

On September 26, FPT share prices increased by 1.1 percent to VND95,300 per share, which helped raise Binh’s assets to VND8.5 trillion.

With the assets, Binh has surpassed Ho Xuan Nang, who now has VND7.83 trillion worth of stock assets, and has been added to the list of the 10 richest billionaires in the Vietnamese stock market. This is the first time Binh has returned to the list.

FPT share prices have soared thanks to the good business performance and the bright prospects of the businesses in field of technology. As such, the share price surged by 40 percent this year and it once climbed to a record high.

Binh’s position in the list of billionaires has gradually improved since the second half 2022, when the stock market was disrupted, with many real estate and bank shares sliding in prices, including Novaland (NVL), Hoa Phat (HPG), Vingroup (VIC), Phat Dat (PDR) and VPbank (VPB).

From the position outside the top 30 in early 2022, Binh entered the top 15 in early 2022 and has become a member of the top 10.

FPT was once the share which brought prosperity to many investors in the early days of the stock market. In 2006, Binh was recognized as the richest Vietnamese with stock assets worth VND2.4 trillion. After 15 years, FPT shares have once again made a breakthrough.

Analysts point out that FPT is expected to get big benefits as it operates in the field of technology, and as the development of software and semiconductor industries has been placed as a high priority after Vietnam and the US announced the upgrading of their relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 

The US has stated it will promote the re-establishment of supply chains of high technologies, including the semiconductor industry, to friendly countries.

A number of large American technology groups, including Amkor Technology, Synopsys, Marvell and SK, have announced their investments in semiconductor projects in Vietnam.

FPT Semiconductor has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with American Silvaco on developing human resources for the semiconductor industry and developing business in the field. FPT plans to invest $100 million and have 1,000 workers in the US by the end of 2023.

The prices of HPG shares have also been increasing rapidly since October 2022, increasing stock assets of president Tran Dinh Long by several times. Long is now holding 1.5 million HPG shares, worth VND40 trillion.

Meanwhile, it is not a good time for real estate shares. As share prices decline, realtors’ assets have decreased significantly. 

VIC shares of Vingroup, for example, have seen prices drop by 40 percent since mid-August, from VND76,000 per share to VND45,000 by September 26, and its capitalization value has decreased by $5 billion.

Just in the last few trading sessions, the capitalization of the group dropped by trillions of dong.

Billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong is now directly holding 691 million VIC shares, worth VND31 trillion ($1.3 billion). He is indirectly holding 1 billion VIC shares. So, his assets are worth VND94 trillion despite the 40 percent price decrease. The figure doesn’t include shares at VinFast.

However, Vuong has had to use his shares to make capital contributions to businesses, so the asset value has decreased significantly. In March 2023, Vuong used 49 million MIC shares to make capital contributions to GSM Green and Smart Mobility JSC.

Most Vietnamese billionaires have seen their assets decrease in recent days.

According to Forbes, in the last three weeks, the assets of Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, president of Vietjet, dropped by $100 million to $2.1 billion.

Manh Ha