Vietnam’s cinema operator Beta Media gets $8mln investment from Daiwa PI Partners

In 2017, it received $ 2.5 million from Blue HK Financial Group, a private equity fund with offices in UK, Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City. In 2015 Beta Media received investment capital from Vietnam Investment Group.  

Beta Media, which was founded in 2014, operates the low-cost movie theater chain Beta Cinemas, with 12 cineplexes and nearly 60 cinema halls nationwide, becoming direct competitors of CJ CGV, Lotte Cinema, BHD and Galaxy.

Beta Cinemas has cineplexes in Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Bac Giang, Nha Trang, Bien Hoa, Long Xuyen. With new, modern, youthful and colorful design styles, the cinemas are loved by young audiences, welcoming millions of moviegoers each year.

As the COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges for businesses in Vietnam, this investment agreement is a positive sign for the market from Beta Media, the company founder Bui Quang Minh said in a statement to media. The pandemic forced Beta Cinemas suspending operations for weeks, he added.

With this investment, Beta Media plans to expand it business to 50 cinemas in the next few years. 

In Vietnam market, South Korea’s CJ CGV leads the box office business with more than 80 outlets and a 50 percent market share, Deal Street Asia cited data reported in 2018. The second-largest player in terms of the network of branches is Lotte Cinema.

Vietnam cinema industry is booming with the total cinemas nationwide reported at 200 as of end-2019, thanks to the strategic policies from the government, it is expected that by 2030 Vietnam will reach 1,050 cinemas, with 210 million moviegoers annually. The cinema market is a potential and attractive business market for investors, Beta Media said.

Daiwa PI Partners is an entity of Daiwa Securities Group which engages in the principal investment business in the areas of debt investments, private equities, and also establishment and management of investment funds. In the South East Asia area, Daiwa PI Partners has provided growth capital to leading entrepreneurs and businesses across key growth sectors.