THE STATE BANK
OF VIETNAM
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THE SOCIALIST
REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
Independence-Freedom-Happiness
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No. 04/VBHN-NHNN
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Hanoi, March 31,
2025
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DECREE
PRESCRIBING FOREIGN
INVESTORS’ PURCHASE OF SHARES OF VIETNAMESE CREDIT INSTITUTIONS
The Government’s Decree No. 01/2014/ND-CP dated
January 03, 2014 prescribing foreign investors’ purchase of shares of
Vietnamese credit institutions, which comes into force from February 20, 2014,
is amended by:
The Government’s Decree No. 69/2025/ND-CP dated
March 18, 2025 providing amendments to the Government’s Decree No.
01/2014/ND-CP dated January 03, 2014 prescribing foreign investors’ purchase of
shares of Vietnamese credit institutions, which comes into force from May 19,
2025.
Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization
dated December 25, 2001;
Pursuant to the Law on the State Bank of Vietnam
dated June 16, 2010;
Pursuant to the Law on Credits Institutions
dated June 16, 2010;
Pursuant to the Law on Enterprises dated
November 29, 2005;
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At the request of the Governor of the State Bank
of Vietnam (SBV);
The Government promulgates a Decree prescribing
foreign investors’ purchase of shares of Vietnamese credit institutions[1],
Chapter I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1. Scope[2]
1. This Decree provides for conditions and
procedures for purchase of shares, maximum total aggregate shareholding of
foreign investors, maximum shareholding of a foreign investor, and maximum
shareholding of a foreign investor and its related persons at a Vietnamese
credit institution; conditions to be satisfied by Vietnamese credit
institutions selling shares to foreign investors.
2. Foreign-invested economic organizations that are
required to meet the same relevant conditions and follow the same procedures
for investment as foreign investors when making investment or capital
contribution or purchasing shares in accordance with regulations of law shall
comply with regulations applicable to foreign investors enshrined herein when
purchasing shares of Vietnamese credit institutions.
Article 2. Regulated entities
1. Joint-stock credit institutions and credit
institutions converting legal form into joint-stock credit institutions
(hereinafter referred to as “Vietnamese credit institutions”).
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3. Other organizations and
individuals involved in foreign investors’ purchase of shares of
Vietnamese credit institutions.
Article 3. Definitions
For the purpose of this Decree, the terms herein
are construed as follows:
1. Joint-stock credit institution means a credit
institution that is established and organized in the form of a joint-stock
company. Joint-stock credit institution include joint-stock commercial banks,
joint-stock finance companies, and joint-stock finance lease companies.
2. Credit institution converting legal form into
joint-stock credit institution means a credit institution that is undergoing
conversion of its legal form from a credit institution operating in the form of
a limited liability company into a credit institution operating in the form of
a joint-stock company.
3. Foreign investors include foreign organizations
and foreign individuals.
4. [3] Foreign individual means any person who
holds foreign nationality.
5. [4] Foreign organization means an
organization that is established under the law of a foreign country and carries
out business investment activities in Vietnam.
6. Foreign strategic investor means a foreign
organization that is financially capable and has a competent person’s written
commitment to form a long-term interest-based attachment with a Vietnamese
credit institution and assist this Vietnamese credit institution in receiving
transfer of modern technologies, developing banking products and services, and
improving its management, administration and financial capacity.
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8. [5] Credit institution given “very poor”
rating and facing difficulties prescribed in clause 6 Article 7 hereof is a
credit institution falling in any of the following circumstances:
a) A credit institution that is placed under
special control by SBV;
b) A commercial bank that is subject to mandatory
transfer;
c) A credit institution that is rated “very poor”
according to the latest ranking results announced by SBV.
9. [6] Total aggregate shareholding of foreign
investors means the sum of shareholdings of the foreign individuals, foreign
organizations and economic organizations prescribed in clause 2 Article 1
hereof.
Article 4. Currency used in share purchase and
sale transactions
The currency used in foreign investors’ share
purchase and sale transactions in Vietnamese credit institution is Vietnamese
dong (VND).
Article 5. Participation in administration of
Vietnamese credit institutions
1. Participation in and appointment of
representative for contributed capital amount to participate in the Board of
Directors of a Vietnamese credit institution shall comply with provisions of
the Law on Credit Institutions and relevant laws.
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a) The foreign investor participates in, or
appoints its representative for contributed capital amount to participate in,
the Board of Directors of another credit institution that is a subsidiary of the
Vietnamese credit institution of which it participates in, or appoints its
representative for contributed capital amount to participate in, the Board of
Directors.
b) The foreign investor participates in, or
appoints its representative for contributed capital amount to participate in,
the Board of Directors of a “very poor” rated credit institution to carry out
restructuring according to the plan approved by SBV.
Chapter II
SPECIFIC PROVISIONS
Section 1. FORMS, PERCENTAGE AND PROCEDURES FOR
SHARE PURCHASE
Article 6. Forms of share purchase by foreign
investors
1. Foreign investors purchase shares from existing
shareholders of joint-stock credit institutions.
2. [7] Foreign investors purchase shares in
case credit institutions conduct offering of shares, issue shares to increase
their charter capital or sell treasury stocks which they purchased before
January 01, 2021.
3. Foreign investors purchase shares in case where
credit institutions convert legal form into joint-stock credit institutions.
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1. A foreign individual’s shareholding shall not
exceed 5% of the charter capital of a Vietnamese credit institution.
2. A foreign organization’s shareholding shall not
exceed 15% of the charter capital of a Vietnamese credit institution, except
the case prescribed in clause 3 of this Article.
3. The shareholding of a foreign strategic investor
shall not exceed 20% of the charter capital of a Vietnamese credit institution.
4. The shareholding of a foreign investor and their
related persons shall not exceed 20% of the charter capital of a Vietnamese
credit institution.
5. [8] Total aggregate shareholding of foreign
investors shall not exceed 30% of the charter capital of a Vietnamese
commercial bank, except the cases prescribed in clauses 6, 6a of this Article
or during the period over which provisions of clause 9 Article 14 hereof apply.
Total aggregate shareholding of foreign investors shall not exceed 50% of the
charter capital of a Vietnamese non-bank credit institution, except the cases
prescribed in clause 6 of this Article.
6. [9] In order to ensure the safety of the
credit institution system, the Prime Minister may in some special cases decide
the shareholding of a foreign organization, the shareholding of a foreign
strategic investor, and total aggregate shareholding of foreign investors at a
credit institution given “very poor” rating and facing difficulties which may
exceed such limits prescribed in clauses 2, 3, 5 of this Article on a
case-by-case basis.
6a. [10]
Total aggregate shareholding of foreign investors at a commercial bank that
acts as the transferee under an approved mandatory transfer plan (excluding
those commercial banks over 50% of charter capital of which is held by the
State) may exceed 30% but shall not exceed 49% of its charter capital during
the validity period of such mandatory transfer plan.
7. [11] The shareholdings specified in clauses
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6a of this Article include those shares purchased by other
organizations or individuals using funding entrusted by foreign investors.
8. Foreign investors that covert convertible bonds
of Vietnamese credit institutions into shares must also meet the shareholding
requirements and conditions for ownership of shares laid down herein.
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1. Regarding the cases where the purchase of shares
leads to the shareholding of 10% or more of charter capital; cases of share
purchase and establishment of foreign strategic investor status of a Vietnamese
credit institution:
a) The Vietnamese credit institution (for a credit
institution whose shares are not yet listed/registered for trading[12]) or the foreign organization
(for a credit institution whose shares have been listed/registered for trading[13]) shall prepare an
application for approval of transaction, and send it directly, by post or
electronically to SBV before performing any transaction.
b) Within 40 days from its receipt of an adequate
and valid application, in consideration of the conditions set out in Articles
9, 10 of this Decree, SBV shall consider whether to issue a decision to approve
the foreign organization's purchase of shares or not. If an application is
refused, SBV shall give a written response clearly stating reasons for such
refusal.
2. Regarding purchase of shares resulting in
shareholding of 5% or more of the charter capital, and additional purchase of
shares by a foreign organization that holds 5% or more of the charter capital
of a Vietnamese credit institution, except the cases prescribed in clause 1 of
this Article, foreign investors shall follow the procedures laid down in clause
2 Article 37[14] of
the Law on Credit Institutions.
3. Regarding other cases of share purchase, except
the cases prescribed in clauses 1 and 2 of this Article:
a) The foreign investor that wishes to purchase
shares of a Vietnamese credit institution whose shares are not yet
listed/registered for trading[15]
shall send an application directly or by post to that Vietnamese credit
institution for its consideration and making of decision which must be
conformable with provisions of Article 7 of this Decree.
The Vietnamese credit institution shall impose
specific provisions on the application documents to be submitted by foreign
investors that wish to purchase shares in accordance with regulations of law.
Within 20 days from its receipt of an adequate and
valid application, the Vietnamese credit institution shall give a written
response to the foreign investor. If an application is refused, the Vietnamese
credit institution shall clearly state reasons for such refusal.
b) Foreign investors are allowed to purchase shares
of joint-stock credit institutions whose shares have been listed/registered for
trading[16] in
accordance with regulations of law on securities and securities market, and
must comply with provisions of Article 7 hereof.
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Section 2. CONDITIONS FOR HOLDING OF SHARES
Article 9. Conditions for foreign organization’s
purchase of shares resulting in its shareholding of 10% or more of charter
capital of a Vietnamese credit institution
1. It is rated “stable” or equivalent or higher by
a reputable international credit rating agency.
2. It has sufficient funding for purchasing shares
as demonstrated in its financial statements which have been audited by an
independent audit organization of the year preceding the year of application submission,
and such funding is derived from lawful sources as prescribed by law.
3. Its purchase of share does not cause adverse
influence on the safety and stability of the system of Vietnamese credit
institutions; does neither create monopoly nor limit competitiveness among
Vietnamese credit institutions;
4. The foreign investor has not committed any
serious violations against regulations on money, banking, securities and
securities market of the country where such foreign investor is headquartered,
and those of Vietnam within the last 12 months prior to the date of application
submission.
5. The value of its total assets is equivalent to
at least USD 10 billion, for a foreign investor that is a bank, finance company
or finance lease company, or it maintains a charter capital equivalent to at
least USD 1 billion, for a foreign investor that is another organization, in
the year preceding the year of application submission.
Article 10. Conditions for foreign
organization’s purchase of shares and establishment of foreign strategic
investor status
1. It meets the conditions set out in clauses 1, 2,
3, 4 Article 9 of this Decree.
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3. It has at least 5 years’ experience in
performing international finance and banking activities.
4. The value of its total assets in the year
preceding the date of application submission is equivalent to at least USD 20
billion.
5. It has a written commitment and clear plan for
forming a long-term interest-based attachment with a Vietnamese credit
institution and assist this Vietnamese credit institution in receiving transfer
of modern technologies, developing banking products and services, and improving
its management, administration and financial capacity.
6. It does not hold 10% or more of the charter
capital of any other credit institution in Vietnam;
7. It is committed to hold or is holding at least
10% of the charter capital of the Vietnamese credit institution of which it is
applying for purchase of shares and foreign strategic investor status.
Section 3. VIETNAMESE CREDIT INSTITUTIONS
SELLING SHARES
Article 11. Conditions for Vietnamese credit
institutions' sale of shares to foreign investors
1. A credit institution converting legal form into
a joint-stock credit institution must have an equitization plan or conversion
plan which has been approved by a competent authority in accordance with
regulations of law, and includes the plan for sale of shares to foreign
investors.
2. [17] A joint-stock credit institution must
have a plan for increase of charter capital or plan for sale of treasury stocks
which has been approved by its General Meeting of Shareholders and includes the
plan for offering or issuance of shares to foreign investors. A joint-stock
credit institution over 50% of charter capital of which is held by the State
shall be required to complete procedures according to regulations of law on
financial management of state-owned enterprises before submitting the plan for
increase of charter capital or plan for sale of treasury stocks to its General
Meeting of Shareholders for approval.
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1. The prices of shares sold to foreign investors
of Vietnamese credit institutions which are not yet listed/registered for
trading[18] shall
be determined through auction or agreement.
2. The prices of shares sold to foreign investors
of joint-stock credit institutions which have been listed/registered for
trading[19] shall
be determined in accordance with regulations of law on securities and
securities market.
3. Deposits for share purchase transactions shall
be made according to specific agreements between foreign investors and
Vietnamese credit institutions in accordance with regulations of law.
Section 4. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF FOREIGN
INVESTORS
Article 13. Rights of foreign investors
1. Be entitled to all rights of a shareholder as
prescribed by the law of Vietnam, the Charter of the joint-stock credit
institution from which the foreign investor purchases shares, and specific
agreements which are conformable with the law of Vietnam and included in the
share purchase and sale contract signed by and between the foreign investor and
the Vietnamese credit institution.
2. Make outward remittance of incomes from the
foreign investor’s investment in or purchase of shares, and proceeds from their
transfer of shares after having fulfilled all financial obligations as
prescribed by the law of Vietnam.
3. Participate in or appoint their representative
to participate in the Board of Directors and/or the Board of Controllers of or
to act as an executive of the joint-stock credit institution from which the
foreign investor purchases shares in conformity with this credit institution’s
Charter and the law of Vietnam.
4. Have other legitimate rights and interests
protected by the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in accordance with
regulations of the law of Vietnam and international conventions to which
Vietnam is a signatory.
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1. Fulfill all obligations of a shareholder as
prescribed by the law of Vietnam, the Charter of the joint-stock credit
institution from which the foreign investor purchases shares, and specific
agreements which are conformable with the law of Vietnam and included in the
share purchase and sale contract signed by and between the foreign investor and
the Vietnamese credit institution.
2. Ensure and take responsibility for the legality
of their funding used for purchasing shares, the validity of their application
for share purchase, and the accuracy of their provided information and
documents in accordance with regulations of the law of Vietnam.
3. Provide adequate information on the foreign
investor's related persons holding shares of, and information on the foreign
investor’s holding of shares through their related persons and investment trust
at the Vietnamese credit institution from which the foreign investor purchases
shares, and assume responsibility for the accuracy of such provided
information.
4. Transfer adequate funding for purchasing shares
of the Vietnamese credit institution as agreed upon in the share purchase and
sale contract signed by and between the foreign investor and the Vietnamese
credit institution, and in conformity with regulations of law.
5. A foreign strategic investor shall not be allowed
to transfer the shares which they are holding at a Vietnamese credit
institution to any other organization or individual within at least 5 years
from the date on which they are certified as a strategic investor of that
Vietnamese credit institution as specified in the written approval given by
SBV.
6. A foreign investor that holds at least 10% of
the charter capital of a Vietnamese credit institution shall not be allowed to
transfer the shares which they are holding to any other organization or
individual within at least 3 years from the date on which they are certified to
hold at least 10% of the charter capital of this credit institution.
6a. [20]
When the limits on shareholding of foreign investors prescribed in Article 7 hereof
are exceeded as a result of foreign investors’ additional purchase of shares
offered by a credit institution in proportion to each shareholder’s holding of
ordinary shares at that credit institution, the following provisions shall
apply:
a) If the shareholding of a foreign investor or a
foreign investor and its related person prescribed in Article 7 hereof is
exceeded, within a maximum duration of 6 months from the time of occurrence of
such excess, the foreign investor shall take appropriate actions to reduce its
shareholding as well as ensure its compliance with the corresponding
shareholding limit prescribed in Article 7 hereof.
b) If total aggregate shareholding of foreign
investors prescribed in Article 7 hereof is exceeded, the foreign investors
shall not be allowed to additionally purchase shares of that credit institution
until the requirement regarding total aggregate shareholding of foreign
investors prescribed in Article 7 hereof is satisfied.
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7. A foreign investor that wishes to purchase
shares of a “very poor” rated joint-stock credit institution which is subject
to restructuring as prescribed in clause 6 Article 7 of this Decree shall
develop and submit a plan for purchase of shares and restructuring of that
“very poor” rated credit institution to SBV for its review, appraisal and
submission to the Prime Minister for his decision.
8. Strictly comply with Vietnam’s regulations on
foreign exchange management in force.
9. [22] Upon expiry of the mandatory transfer
plan, foreign investors shall not be allowed to additionally purchase shares of
the commercial bank that acts as the transferee under such mandatory transfer
plan (unless that commercial bank offers shares to its existing shareholders or
a foreign investor sell their shares at that commercial bank to another foreign
investor under a specific agreement) until total aggregate shareholding of
foreign investors at that commercial bank falls below 30% of its charter
capital.
Chapter III
IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION[23]
Article 15. Responsibilities of regulatory
authorities
1. SBV shall:
a) Provide guidelines for and inspect, supervise
the implementation of this Decree;
b) Provide information on purchase and sale of
shares by foreign investors under its jurisdiction for the Ministry of Finance
to serve cooperation in performing management tasks as prescribed herein.
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2. The Ministry of Finance shall:
a) Manage, and provide guidelines on, foreign
investors’ purchase of shares of joint-stock credit institutions whose shares
have been listed/registered for trading[25] in a manner ensuring that they comply
with the shareholding limits prescribed herein and regulations of law on
securities and securities market;
b) Provide information on purchase and sale of
shares by foreign investors under its jurisdiction for SBV to serve cooperation
in performing management tasks as prescribed herein.
Article 16. Responsibilities of Vietnamese
credit institutions
1. Organize the sale of shares in accordance with
regulations of this Decree and relevant laws.
2. Carry out disclosure of information in
accordance with regulations of law.
3. [26] Submit in an adequate and timely
manner to competent authorities reports on purchase of shares by the foreign
investors and economic organizations prescribed in clause 2 Article 1 hereof.
Article 17. Handling of violations
Any violations against regulations of this Decree
shall be considered and handled in accordance with provisions of the Decree
prescribing penalties for administrative violations in banking and monetary
sector.
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This Decree comes into force from February 20, 2014
and replaces the Government’s Decree No. 69/2007/ND-CP dated April 20, 2007
prescribing foreign investors’ purchase of shares of Vietnamese commercial
banks.
Article 19. Implementation
Ministers, heads of ministerial agencies, heads of
Governmental agencies, Chairpersons of People’s Committees of
central-affiliated cities or provinces, Chairpersons of Boards of Directors,
Chairpersons of Boards of Members, and General Directors (Directors) of
Vietnamese credit institutions, foreign investors and relevant organizations
and individuals are responsible for the implementation of this Decree./.
CERTIFIED BY
PP. GOVERNOR
DEPUTY GOVERNOR
Doan Thai Son