FORMS OF COMPANY TO BE SET-UP IN VIETNAM

According the Vietnam Law on Enterprises, there are four common types of companies:

• Private enterprise is an enterprise owned by an individual who is liable for all of its operations with his/her entire property;
• Partnership is an enterprise in which (i) there are at least two partners who are co-owners of the company, jointly conduct business under one common name; in addition to general partners, there may also be limited partners; (ii) general partners to a partnership must be individuals who are liable for all obligations of the partnership with his/her own entire property; (iii) Limited partners shall be liable for debts of the partnership only to the extent of their capital contribution to the partnership;
• Joint stock company is an enterprise where (i) Its charter capital is divided into equal portions known as shares; (ii) Shareholders may be organizations and/or individuals; the minimum number of shareholders shall be three and shall not be restricted to any particular maximum number; (iii) Its shareholders shall be liable for debts and other property liabilities of such enterprise within the limit of the value of their capital contribution to the enterprise; (iv) Shareholders shall be entitled to freely transfer their shares according to the provisions of law;
• Limited liability company (multi-member limited liability company and single-member limited liability company). A one-member limited liability company is an enterprise which is owned by one organization or individual (hereinafter referred to as the company owner); the company owner is liable for debts and other property liabilities of the company within the charter capital of the company. A limited liability company is an enterprise of which: (i) Members may be organizations and/or individuals; the total number of members shall not exceed fifty; (ii) Members are responsible for debts and other property liabilities of the enterprise within the amount of capital that they have committed to contribute to the enterprise; (iii) Capital shares of the members may only be transferred in accordance with the provisions of law.

Our lawyers of foreign investment practice at ANT Lawyers are available to advise and provide client with service and representation in Vietnam.  In order to seek further advice or request service to set up company in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, please contact us at ant@antlawyers.vn or call + 84 912 817 823.

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Foreign Investors May Be Allowed to Hold 60% Shares

A new decision has been proposed to the Prime Minister with a number of changes that encourage foreign investors to make investment in Vietnam and in the meantime improve the financial market to catch up with international standard.

Foreign investors may be allowed to hold 60% shares

ANT Lawyers’ foreign investment practice always follow the change in legal environment to assist our client with the best service. First, foreign investors could own up to 60% of total voting right shares of a listed company.   The previous provisions only allow this ratio for strategic partners.  Secondly, the foreign investors may hold maximum 49% total voting right shares. The previous provision is 49% of charter capital.  Thirdly, for non-voting right shares, the foreign investors are not restricted to hold.  Fourthly, for fund certificate, the foreign investors may hold 100% for both close and open funds while the previous provision only allows 49% and restricts the foreign –owned in open funds.  Fifthly, foreign organizations business in securities may hold securities companies in Vietnam up to 100% Charter capital while in recent provision, maximum of 49% and 100% for the specific cases.

When the new Decision will have been officially issued, the securities market of Vietnam will be more open and attractive to foreign investors. As expected, impact will be increasing liquidation, opening the conditions to establish investment funds, changing the enterprise’s structure, developing the fund management companies, and as such developing the financial market with more options to invest and control the investment in Vietnam.

For further information or intensive advice, please contact ANT Lawyers, your securities lawyers in Vietnam via email ant@antlawyers.vn or tel (848) 3520 2779.

ANT Lawyers is a Vietnam law firm with international standards, recognized by IFLR1000 on Financial and Corporate practice. We are an exclusive Vietnam member of Prae Legal, the global law firm network covering more than 150 jurisdictions. The firm provides a range of legal services as following to multinational and domestic clients.

Commercial

Dispute Resolution

Debt Recovery

Employment

Foreign Investment

Intellectual Property

International Trade and Taxes

Infrastructure and Project

Civil Matter

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NOTABLE CHANGES OF VIETNAM LAW ON ENTERPRISES

ON NOVEMBER 26TH, 2014, THE NEW VERSION OF LAW ON ENTERPRISES HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY VIETNAM’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. THE ACT WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1ST, 2015 AND REPLACE LAW ON ENTERPRISES 2005. IT COMPRISES 10 CHAPTERS AND 213 ARTICLES, WHICH SEEK TO IMPROVE VIETNAMESE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT. KEY POINTS OF THE AMENDMENT INCLUDE.

how to setting up business company in Vietnam

Company seals will be made optional

Pursuant to the prior Law on Enterprise, the Gorvernment shall stipulate the content of seals, conditions for making seals and regulations on seals usage. Now this regulation has changed under the new law. According to Article 44 of the new law, the company shall be entitled to decide the design, number and content of seals. The seals must supply the following information:

- Name of the company

- Tax number of the company Before using, the company must supply the seal sample to business registration office to post on National Portal of Business registration. The usage of seals must be in conformity with the company’s bylaw. Seals shall be used in case stipulated by law or agreed between transactional party.

 Limited company, joint-stock company may have more than one representatives

Article 13 of the law states that limited company or joint-stock company may have one or many representatives. The number of representatives, titles, rights and obligations of each representative are set out by the company’s bylaw. The company must ensure that at least one representative lives in Vietnam and that representative, if leaving Vietnam, must authorize another person in writing to perform on behalf of him.

The director or general director of joint-stock company will not be prohibited being concurrently the director or general director of another enterprise

Under the Law on Enterprises 2005, the director or general director of the company cannot be concurrently the director or general director of another enterprise. This regulation has been removed by the new amendment. The only exception is the one who is appointed by the state as owner representatives of state capital portions in state-invested enterprises.

ANT Lawyers is a Vietnam law firm with international standards, recognized by IFLR1000 on Financial and Corporate practice. The firm provides a wide range of services, including M&A, corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory, dispute resolution for multinational and domestic clients.

This publication has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. For further details or to contact the firm, please email ant@antlawyers.vnor call us at +848 35202779.

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Incorporation and licensing services in Vietnam

In Vietnam, Ant Lawyers advises on pre-licensing/set up issues, licence application, operational issues and post-licensing services, which also involves preparation and filing of documents.

We also assist our clients in other related work such as annual reviews to renew their business licences and preparation of board resolutions and other documents to effect changes in registrations.

Our team of commercially astute practitioners advises clients on a full range of regulatory and compliance issues to achieve successful operation of their businesses in Vietnam.

If you would like further information on Dispute resolution, please either email to our Partners at. ant@antlawers.vn, or call +84 8 3520 2779 (HCMC Office), +84 4 39388751 (Hanoi Office). To learn more about us, please visit www.antlawyers.vn

ANT Lawyers is a Vietnam law firm with international standards, recognized by IFLR1000 on Financial and Corporate practice. We are an exclusive Vietnam member of Prae Legal, the global law firm network covering more than 150 jurisdictions. The firm provides a range of legal services as following to multinational and domestic clients.

Commercial

Dispute Resolution

Debt Recovery

Employment

Foreign Investment

Intellectual Property

International Trade and Taxes

Infrastructure and Project

Civil Matter

This publication is designed to provide updated information of legal matters, and does not constitute professional advice.

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