Attention in Drafting Registration Application for Invention

Inventions are created with purpose to people’s life convenience and consequently bring economic benefits to the inventor. As a result, protecting the intellectual property of inventions through patent registration in Vietnam is essential.

However, applicant of invention may find it difficult in declaring some of the information i.e. name of invention, field of use, technical status of field of use, technical nature and brief description while drafting an invention description that meets legal regulations in Vietnam.

To overcome this difficulty, applicant should take note the followings:

Name of the invention: name of inventions and name of inventor should be brief without promotion.

Filed of use: the invention registration application shall demonstrate the filed in which the invention is applied or related.

Technical status of field of use: the technical shall include information of prior known technical solutions until the priority date of the same application.

Technical nature of invention: the technical nature of the invention is the purpose that the invention need to get or technical problem that the invention shall solve to overcome disadvantage or shortage of the same technical solutions declared in “Technical status of field of use” part.

The description of constitutive signs of invention: The description shall declare new signs of the invention.

Brief description with enclosed images (if any): Applicant shall declare and submit clearly the scope of protection invention request in the description. The scope shall be presented briefly, clearly and fix with the description and images as stipulation of law on intellectual property.

With professional staff and vast experience in Intellectual Property aspect in Vietnam, ANT Lawyers could support inventor in advising and drafting dossier to request patent protection in Vietnam.

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HCMC chooses PPP as key fund-raising vehicle

The HCMC People’s Council on July 6 opted for public-private partnership (PPP) as a key fund-raising vehicle given the lack of capital for vital infrastructure development projects.

The council on July 6 allocated VND171.8 trillion (US$7.5 billion) for urgent infrastructure projects to be carried out in 2016-2020. Of the total amount, around VND22 trillion will come from the central State budget, and VND150 billion from the city’s budget.

The city will use around VND11.2 trillion as reciprocal capital for projects funded by official development assistance (ODA) loans, and another VND9.2 trillion for funding public-private partnership (PPP) projects.

According to a council resolution on the city’s socio-economic development tasks in the second half of this year, the local government will have to take measures to disburse State capital and prop up private investment.

PPP is a viable vehicle to lure private capital to meet the growing demand for infrastructure development. Private finances will be used for numerous projects, including traffic infrastructure, flood control, rehabilitation of major canals, and construction of new residential blocks.

According to the resolution, the city aims for gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 8.4-8.7% this year, with total factor productivity contributing 36% or higher to GDP and development investments 35%.

The city will have to make effort to realize the budget collection target. The central Government has assigned the city a budget collection target of VND 347.88 trillion this year, up 16% over last year.

However, the above targets are hard to obtain in the current circumstances. During the previous session of the city council, many voiced concerns that the city is facing a slew of difficulties.

In particular, the city has seen slow growth in supporting industries. Its tourism sector has yet to reach its full potential. The business environment and competitiveness of the city have improved at a slower pace than expected.

Source The Saigon Times

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What a Law Firm Could Assist in an M&A Deal?

M&A, abbreviated by Mergers and Acquisitions is expanding in both quantity and volume in Vietnam in many sectors. Successful M&A deals depend on various factors and legal due diligence, and drafting agreements are important processes in Vietnam.

For investors whom are interested in M&A deal in Vietnam as buyer or seller,it is important to hire a law firm that will assist in the process. The law firm in Vietnam could provide assessment of the target company through a legal due diligence, a legal background directly related to M&A deal, all of which are necessary to the completion of a successful deal.

The attorney could then draft the letter of intent, and legal contracts, including the final purchase agreement, which will include a lot of stipulations that will need to be done correctly in order for the business transaction to be beneficial to both parties and in compliance with Vietnam regulations.

A law firm with expertise of Vietnam regulations, with the lawyers having experience and legal knowledge will be able to provide the clients with the right check-list of the documents to review.  In addition, the presence of lawyers contributes to strengthening the trust of the parties. In recent years, foreign businesses have often made acquisitions of all or part of a Vietnamese enterprise, and they often require the seller to engage law firms specializing in M&A. And now, not only the foreign businesses but also the Vietnamese parties are in need of conducting M&A deals with the participation of lawyers to ensure the success.

Lawyers shall conduct legal due diligence of enterprises, check reports and explanations with prudence, honesty and efficiency. They help the buyer and/or seller to understand their legal status, legal rights and obligations, legal regulations for assets, labor contracts, land records, construction and investment registration, certificates, and licenses and other matters. This is the basis for determining the status of enterprise and possible legal risks may cause. Lawyers will conduct and produce the most comprehensive, accurate, legal and objective information and legal documents by their professional, knowledgeable and ethical.

Lawyers shall advise the structure of an M&A to ensure the commercial intent that the parties are aiming and shorten the execution time and costs. In addition, it ensures the legality of procedures, safety and minimizes the legal and financial risks for the parties.

There is no common contract template for all M&A deals. Lawyers shall actualize the trade agreements, the will of the parties to the legally binding terms of the contract as well as clearly defines the rights and obligations of the parties to ensure the enforceability, minimize unlawful agreements or unclear terms that may cause the subsequent disputes.

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Two power projects worth US$4.8 billion approved

HANOI– Two large thermo-power projects capitalized at US$4.863 billion have been approved, contributing to boosting foreign direct investment approvals in the first half of 2017.

A report of the Ministry of Planning and Investment says Nghi Son 2 thermo-power plant project involving a Japanese investor will cost over US$2.79 billion and have a capacity of about 1,200 MW.

The investor of this build-operate-transfer (BOT) project is not known but in November last year, Japan’s Marubeni Corporation and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) signed an agreement with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade to develop Nghi Son 2 thermo-power plant.

The plant will have two generators, with each having a capacity of 600 MV, and be located in Nghi Son Economic Zone in the northern province of Thanh Hoa. The facility will be fueled by coal to be imported from abroad.

With a total investment of nearly US$2.8 billion, this is one of a few BOT thermo-power plant projects approved in Vietnam. Nghi Son 2 thermo-power plant is also the largest foreign-invested project in the first six months, helping Thanh Hoa attract the most foreign investment capital in Vietnam, at US$3.06 billion, accounting for 15.9% of the country’s total.

Another large thermo-power project approved is Nam Dinh 1 thermo-power plant which costs an estimated US$2.07 billion. It will also run on coal and have a capacity of about 1,100 MW.

According to an investment certificate issued by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in mid-June, the project will be developed under the BOT format on 242 hectares in Hai Chau and Hai Ninh wards, Hai Hau District, Nam Dinh Province.

The project made Nam Dinh the third largest recipient of foreign capital in the first half with US$2.19 billion, accounting for 11.4% of the country’s total.

There are some BOT power projects in Vietnam already put into operation, including Phu My 1, 2 and 3 thermo-power plants in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.

However, experts have called for the Government to take greater caution when approving thermo-power projects as they are potential environmental polluters.

Source: The Saigon Times

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Benefits of Investors to Set-up Business in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City offers many benefits for foreign companies to do business and invest.

The population of Ho Chi Minh City is of more than 10 mil, earning a higher average income than other part of the country.  Consumer retail has found Ho Chi Minh City as an attractive market for investment in retail shops, malls, introducing quality consumer goods to the local.

Ho Chi Minh City offers adequate infrastructure such as the Sai Gon port systems, deep seaport access from Vung Tau port systems, Tan Son Nhat international airport, and possible Long Thanh international airport project, Saigon railway station, the expressways, etc, connecting the city to neighbouring countries in the region and other part of the world.  Through setting up factories in industrial zones, processing zones, local and international manufacturing companies could take advantage of high quality labor resources at reasonable cost and move the finished goods to final destinations in US, EU with reasonable lead-time and expenses.  Consequently, the city has become leading industrial city of Vietnam, contributing more than 30% industrial production, 30% GPD and 30% national income to the country’s total.

Ho Chi Minh City is also a financial center, which the biggest stock exchange is located.  Many corporations, and investment companies has chosen Ho Chi Minh City to set-up management and investment offices to search for opportunities,  conduct Merger and Acquisitions and other business transactions, to leverage the annual growth of the country at more than 6%.

At the same time, the city government has been improving policies to support the removal of difficulties for foreign-invested enterprises investing in Vietnam  through fixing administrative procedures to shorten the administrative process, saving time for investors, offering “one-stop” mechanism at the main state agencies.

Our professional consultants and lawyers have assisted a number of foreign companies and individuals to conduct transactions, set-up companies, make investment through M&A, and actively involve in the development of Ho Chi Minh City in particular and the whole country.

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Benefits of Investors in Setting up a Business in Da Nang

Da Nang is one of the five major cities in Vietnam, having a geographical location that is particularly conducive to rapid and sustainable economic development. Da Nang has important transportation routes such as the China-ASEAN international railway crossings, seaports and international airports.

Da Nang is one of the tourist centers of the country, has rich tourism potential including natural tourism resources and humanities. Da Nang has many famous scenic spots such as Hai Van pass, Son Tra mountain, Ba Na hills, Ngu Hanh Son, Cham Museum or My Khe beach have been voted by Forbes magazine as one of the six most beautiful beaches in the world. These conditions are favorable for the development of diversified forms of tourism such as travel, research, cultural.

Da Nang have infrastructure development, four types of roads are popular: high way, rail way, International airport and International sea way. Da Nang have the sea lanes to most major ports in Vietnam and around the world. It helps investor more convenient to travel everywhere in Vietnam and other countries. Moreover, Da Nang’s water supply, electricity supply and communication system has developed rapidly and is increasingly modernized, ranking third in the whole country after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Da Nang have Da Nang Port, which help investor in import/export activities easily.

The first advantage of the policy mechanism is that Da Nang has also had great support the mechanism and policies for socio-economic development of Da Nang. Since Da Nang was recognized as a national grade I city in 2003, Da Nang has implemented guidelines, regulatory directions and the issuance of specific regulatory mechanisms. With the support from the Central Government, Da Nang authorities have also developed appropriate policies and mechanisms to facilitate the development of the economy, such as the one-stop-shopping mechanism, so Da Nang which is considered as a locality with attracting investment policies in Vietnam. Examples: Procedures related to investment, investment locations, clearance and handover plan, the granting of business registration certificates and investment preference certificates shall be carried out under the one-stop-shopping mechanism at the provincial municipal all of them are resolved at Da Nang Administration Center. Investors shall be exempt from all expenses related to the settlement of investment procedures apart from the payment of business registration fees according to the provisions of law. When investing in Da Nang, investors not only enjoy many preferential policy from city government but also have chance to find clients from many countries or compete with other companies in Vietnam and foreign countries.

Tradition of unity, consensus of people and the dynamism and creativity of the leadership, these advantages has aroused, mobilized the strength, the most important and decisive resource for the development of Da Nang. The determination of leaders, city authorities in building programs, projects with the support of the people, investors, enterprises, ect that help investors who will invest in Da Nang have highest benefits.

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Differences Between Limited Liability Company and Joint Stock Company

Vietnam Law allows the establishment of a company in Vietnam in various forms. It is an important step in investment process.

Investors could choose different forms depending on the needs and capacity on the ability to raise capital and sharing the risk in business as well as the management and operating costs. Each form will have its own organizational structure, operating mechanism, rights and obligations specified under Law on Enterprise 2014.

Currently, Limited Liability Company (“LTD”) and Joint Stock Company (“JSC”) are two popular enterprise forms operating in Vietnam.

What is the difference between these two forms of companies?

I. Organizational Structure

Number of members/shareholders:

LTD

• Single member LTD: Having only one member (member can be an organization or an individual);
• Multi members LTD: Having at least 2 members and not exceed 50 members (member can be an organization or an individual).

JSC

Joint Stock Company has at least 3 shareholders and not limit the maximum number.

Management structure

LTD

• Single member LTD

Single member LTD owner by an organization shall be organized under two models: Company president, Director/General director and Supervisor; (OR) Members Council, Director/General director and Supervisor.

Single member LTD owner by an individual shall be organized as follows:  Company president, Director/General director.

• Multi members LTD

Multi members shall be organized by: LTD Council members, Chairman of the Members Council and Director/General director;

Multi members LTD having 11 members or more shall establish the Board of Supervisors.

JSC

JSC can be organized under two models: General Meeting of Shareholders, Board of Directors, Board of Supervisors and Director/General director; (OR) General Meeting of Shareholders, Board of Directors (Board of Internal Supervisors under Board of Directors) and Director/General director.

II. Capital Contribution

Raising capital

LTD

• Single member LTD: Owner increases charter capital
• Multi members LTD: Members increase their charter capital, or increasing the number of capital contributors

JSC

Different from LTD, JSC can raise its capital by various methods as follows: Selling shares to existing shareholders; Selling shares individually to non-shareholders; Issuing shres on the stock market.

Transfer of contributed capital

LTD

• Single member LTD: Owner transfers a part of contributed capital to other persons and this could lead to changes of the type of business or other procedures if all capital is transferred (for instance in a M&A deal).
• Multi members LTD: Offer the stakes to other members in proportion to their stakes in the company under the same conditions;  The stakes could only be transferred to other persons if the members do not buy or do not buy completely within 30 days from the offering date.

JSC

The shareholders of JSC are free for transfer their contributed capital after 03 years from the establishment.

Having said that, LTD is a type of enterprise that the capital contribution is not the only link between the members of the company but they are also linked together by relationship. They may be acquaintances and trust each other to jointly contribute capital to establish an enterprise. Therefore, the management of the LTD is as complicated as JSC. With the larger the number of shareholders, the level of capital mobilization, voting power to decide on issues of the company based on the ratio of capital contribution of each shareholder, the management and operation of the JSC is more complex.

The ability to raise capital of a JSC is higher than a LTD. Because, JSC can issue shares to the public in the form of securities. When the stocks are listed on stock exchange, the information of company’s business operations must be public and more transparent.

The procedure to set up a company in form of an LTD or a JSC has not much differences.

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