Decree 71/2017 - new corporate governance rules for public joint stock companies in Vietnam

Decree 71/2017 provides for a various corporate governance rules applicable to public joint stock companies in Vietnam. Decree 71/2017 takes effect from 1 August 2017. Below is a detailed comparison between Decree 71/2017 and the old corporate governance rules under Circular 121/2012 of the Ministry of Finance. This post is contributed by Ha Thanh Phuc and Nguyen Hang Nga, legal interns at Venture North Law.

COOPERATION MECHANISM IN PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR INVESTMENT AND ENTERPRISE REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN INVESTORS IN VIETNAM

Circular 2/2017 taking effect from 15 June 2017 regulates the cooperation mechanism in processing applications for investment registration and enterprise registration of foreign investors (cooperation mechanism). Under the cooperation, a foreign investor submits its applications for investment registration and enterprise registration and receives its registration certificates at applicable Department of Planning and Investment (DPI). Therefore, the procedure of investment registration and enterprise registration under the cooperation mechanism may reduce significantly the licensing workload of foreign investors compared to the original separate procedures of investment registration and enterprise registration  (separate procedure).

Voting thresholds of a general meeting of shareholders in a Vietnamese listed company

The 51% simple majority voting in a general meeting of shareholders of a joint stock company (JSC) under the Enterprise Law 2014 is a major change compared with the Enterprise Law 2005 which provides for a 65% simple majority. However, if a JSC incorporated under the Enterprise Law 2005 already follows the Enterprise Law 2005’s voting rules, then such JSC will need to amend its charter to enjoy the new lower voting thresholds under the Enterprise Law 2014. And such amendment is still subject to the old 75% super majority vote under the Enterprise Law 2005.

Updated rules on divestment of State capital in Vietnamese State-owned enterprises

In Decision 58/2016, the new Prime Minister has pushed for much further divestment of State capital in existing State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in various sectors. In general, Decision 58/2016 reduces the industries where the State must maintain a minimum level of ownership interest and, more importantly, publishes a list of about 240 SOEs where the State may sell down its ownership interest by 2020. In comparison with Decision 37/2014: