IP Ventures inks deal with Vietnam coffee shop chain

MANILA, Philippines - IP Ventures Inc., the newly-established private holding company of technology and gaming conglomerate IPVG Corp. has signed a franchise agreement with Viet Thai International Joint Stock Co., to bring Vietnamese coffeeshop chain Highlands Coffee to the Philippines.

In its disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) yesterday, IP Ventures said the agreement calls for the use of the trademark, brand and trade name of Highlands Coffee for operating coffee shops in the Philippines.

Highlands Coffee is a producer and distributor of coffee products and was established in Hanoi by Vietnamese-American David Thai in 1998. The founding of the Highlands Coffee company marked the first time an overseas Vietnamese was able to register a private company within Vietnam. As of 2009, the company operated 80 coffee shops in six cities and provinces across Vietnam and is looking to expand its network to 100 by end-2012.

Highlands Coffee is a brand of Viet Thai International (VTI) one of the largest consumer marketing and multi-unit retail operators in Vietnam.

VTI’s vision is to play a significant part in improving the quality of life for Vietnam’s rising middle class. Aside from Highlands Coffee, VTI ‘s portfolio of company-owned brands include Meet & Eat Food Courts, Bounce Night Club and 1911 Restaurant at the Hanoi Opera House. Additionally, VTI represents leading international brands including Hard Rock

Cafe, Emporio Armani, Swarovski, La Vie en Rose, Nike, Debenhams Department Store, ALDO Shoes & Accessories, Coors Light beer and Grey Global Group (advertising).

“There is a strong fit and synergy between our two companies, and this collaboration is truly value creating,” said Enrique Gonzalez, chief executive officer of IP Ventures.

 IP Ventures’ subsidiaries operate in various industries: IP E-Game Ventures, the group’s online gaming subsidiary, operates the largest network of Internet cafes in the Philippines; while IP Converge Data Center Inc. is the only listed data center company on the PSE.

 It also operates I-Pay Commerce Ventures Inc., the fastest growing direct agent of Western Union in the Philippines. The company has also formed joint partnerships with PCCW of Hong Kong, Kennet Partners of the US and UK, GMA Network and the Philippine Star Group.