New guidance on expedited proceedings for disputes arising from handling of non-performing loans in Vietnam

On 15 May 2018, the Supreme Court issued Resolution 3 on expedited proceedings for disputes arising from handling of non-performing loans (NPL) and security assets of NPL (Resolution 3). Resolution 3 is an implementing legislation of Resolution 42 of the National Assembly on NPLs (Resolution 42). Resolution 3 takes effect from 1 July 2018 and will expire when Resolution 42 expires in August 2022. Resolution 3 will apply to claims (1) accepted for hearing by the courts before 1 July 2018 but have not been brought to trial; and (2) accepted during its term but still in process when it expires. Resolution 3 cannot be based on to protest against effective judgment under retrial and cassation.

Resolution 42 allows disputes relating to security asset of an NPL to be conducted under expedited proceedings. Resolution 3 further clarifies that:

Disputes on obligations to hand-over security assets of an NPL is clarified to be dispute relating to the case where the securing party or the party holding the security asset (1) does not hand-over the security asset, or (2) does not hand-over correctly according to the request of the secured party or the party having right to enforce the security asset; and
Dispute on right to enforce security asset of NPL is clarified to be dispute on the determination of person having right to enforce the security asset of an NPL.

ACQUIRING LAND USE RIGHTS THROUGH A BUSINESS COOPERATION CONTRACT IN VIETNAM

In Vietnam, if a real estate investor (Investor) cannot Acquire A Land Area Through Common Options to implement its investment projects, it may consider entering into a business cooperation contract (BCC) with a local land user. Under a BCC structure, the parties do not establish an entity but usually cooperate to use their available resources (including land use rights) to do business. In this case, the party having land use rights (Landlord) retains the title over the land without transferring them to the Investor, but the Investor may obtain certificate(s) which evidence its title over assets attached to the relevant land area (generally, ownership certificate). There is a risk that a BCC contract may be regarded as a land sub-lease contract between the local land user and the Investor. However, a BCC structure is quite common in practice and there are certain legal basis for such a structure.

Corporate criminal liability in the context of an M&A transaction in Vietnam

The Penal Code 2015 is silent as to whether corporate criminal liability incurred by one commercial legal person will be succeeded or extinguished if such legal person is liquidated, merged (sáp nhập), consolidated (hợp nhất) or split (chia) and ceases to exist. Under the Civil Code 2015, when a legal person is merged, consolidated or split, only “civil obligations” (nghĩa vụ dân sự) of such legal person are transferred to the relevant new (or succeeding) legal person. As such, criminal liability (trách nhiệm hình sự) of such legal person may not be transferred to the new (or succeeding) legal person. Similarly, under the Enterprise Law 2014, when an enterprise is merged, consolidated or split, only unpaid debts and property obligations (nghĩa vụ tài sản) are transferred to the relevant new (or succeeding) enterprises. It is not clear if criminal liability of the first enterprise could qualify as property obligations which can be transferred to or succeeded by the new (or succeeding) enterprise.

Under the Criminal Proceeding Code 2015, if a legal person, who has been convicted with a crime, undergoes a merger, de-merger, consolidation then the legal person succeeding the rights and obligations of the first mentioned legal person is responsible for performing penalties in form of monetary fine. This provision seems to suggest that not all criminal liabilities will be passed on the succeeding legal person. That said, in a recent seminar on corporate criminal liability, an official of the Ministry of Justice, being a member of the drafting team of the Penal Code 2015, has indicated that he is in favour of the requirement that in the context of the liquidation, merger, consolidation or split of a legal person, a new (or succeeding) legal person must inherit criminal liability of the disappearing entity.

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New Decree (Decree 81/2018) on trade promotion in Vietnam

On 22 May 2018, the Government issued Decree 81/2018 on trade promotion activities. Decree 81/2018 will take effect from 15 July 2018 and replace Decree 37/2006. Decree 81/2018 introduces new regulations relating to promotion activities. In particular,

Traders must not promote their products by directly comparing with products of other traders for any purpose. Previously, promotion by comparison among products is only prohibited if the promotion is for purpose of unfair competition. However, such purpose is abolished in Decree 81/2018 so the restriction in comparative promotion is stricter;
There is a new maximum rate for promotion activities in mass/concentrated promotion programs (chương trình khuyến mại tập trung). In case of mass promotion programs, the maximum value of goods and services used for promotion and maximum discount rate for promoted goods and services can be 100% of the value of such promoted goods and services. Previously, the maximum rate of the value of goods and services used for promotion and the maximum discount rate in all circumstances can be 50%;
Money can be used as goods, services for promotion except the case of giving the samples free of charges to customers, giving goods as gifts or selling goods or providing services at prices lower than previous price;
Total duration of promotion by discount for a certain goods or services does not exceed 120 days in a year and does not include promotion sale in mass promotion programs and promotion activities approved by the Prime Minister. In Circular 37/2006, duration of promotion by discount cannot exceed 90 days per year and 45 days for one promotion program;
Regarding promotion by games of chance, Decree 81/2018 has provided specific conditions of evidence to determine the prize winners such as this evidence being in material form (ticket, electronic information, etc.) and being different to the lottery exclusively issued by the State. There is no limitation of duration of promotion in the form of games of chance under Decree 81/2018. Time limit and procedure for submitting 50% of prize value to state budget in case of no prize winners is detailed under Decree 81/2018;
Article 15.2 of Decree 81/2018 specifies obligation of traders providing e-commerce trading platform and online promotion website. Particularly, among others, they must request traders in the platform to provide information of promotion, be responsible as the third party in provision of promotion information for consumers;
In case of sale of goods/ service with promotion by contest forms and games of chance, the prize must be announced within 45 days from the end date of promotion duration, instead of 30 days as provided under Decree 37/2006; and
Informing of promotion programs (except promotion by games of chance) to competent authority is not required if total value of prize and gifts is under VND 100 million, or promotion is on e-commerce trading platform and online promotion website. This provision could potentially reduce much paperwork for small businesses with small scale promotion campaigns.

This post is contributed by Le Minh Thuy, a legal trainee at Venture North Law Limited.

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Vietnam Business Law