Vietnam's major coffee exporter seeks domestic listing

HANOI - Thai Hoa Vietnam Group Co, one of Vietnam's largest coffee export companies, has sought license to list shares on the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the exchange said on Wednesday.

The Hanoi-based joint stock company, which is capitalized at VND550 billion (US$28.2 million) and fully owned by domestic investors, has sought to list all of its 55 million shares, the exchange said in a statement.

Thai Hoa Vietnam is among the country's biggest coffee export companies, along with Vinacafe, Intimex and Simexco.

Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee producer after Brazil and ranks the first in production of robusta beans. Its output from the 2010/2011 harvest is forecast to rise more than 2 percent to 19.77 million bags, a Reuters poll found on Tuesday.

One of Thai Hoa's affiliates, An Giang Coffee, listed on the Hanoi exchange in January 2009.
The Hanoi market's index closed up 0.48 percent at 120.39 points on Wednesday, having fallen 28.4 percent so far this year.