However, it believed the Vietnam beer market would be a profitable venture for the company and was optimistic about the prospects of Sabeco. Asked by analysts about developing synergies between ThaiBev and Sabeco, the firm said it was working on a number of areas including procurement, marketing, and R&D. The amount is part of Sabeco’s VNĐ2.7 trillion in undistributed profits and the dividend the Government should have received from Sabeco for its 89.6 per cent ownership of the company as of December 31, 2016. After selling more than a 50 per cent stake to ThaiBev, the Government now has 36 per cent. At the auction, the head of industry at the Ministry, Truong Thanh Hoai, said that Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will decide whether to sell more shares of Sabeco. While Sabeco’s foreign ownership is capped at a maximum of 49%, ThaiBev’s Vietnam Beverage is registered as a local company, allowing it to own a controlling stake.