THE
GOVERNMENT
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SOCIALIST
REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
Independence - Freedom - Happiness
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No:
79/2002/ND-CP
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Hanoi,
October 04, 2002
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DECREE
ON ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF FINANCIAL COMPANIES
THE GOVERNMENT
Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the
Government of December 25, 2001;
Pursuant to the Law on Vietnam State Bank of December 12, 1997;
Pursuant to the Law on Credit Institutions of December 12, 1997;
At the proposal of the Governor of Vietnam State Bank,
DECREES:
Chapter I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1.- Regulation
scope
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Article 2.- Definition
of the financial company
The financial company constitutes a type of
non-bank credit institution, with function of using equity capital, mobilized
capital and other capital sources to provide loans, make investment; provide
services on financial or monetary consultancy and provide some other services
under the provisions of law, but not to provide payment services, not to
receive under-one year- deposits.
Article 3.- Founding
forms
The financial companies are set up and operate
in Vietnam in the following forms:
1. The State-run financial companies are those
invested with capital, set up and managed in term of business operation by the
State.
2. The joint-stock financial companies are those
set up in form of joint-stock companies by organizations and/or individuals
that jointly contribute capital thereto.
3. The financial companies of credit
institutions are those each set up and owned by a credit institution with its
equity capital under the provisions of law, which conduct independent
cost-accounting and have their own legal person status.
4. The joint-venture financial companies are
those set up with capital contributed between the Vietnamese party comprising
one or many credit institutions and/or Vietnamese enterprises and the foreign
party comprising one or many foreign credit institutions, on the basis of
joint-venture contracts.
5. The financial companies with 100% foreign
capital are those set up with capital of one or many foreign credit
institutions according to the provisions of Vietnamese law.
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The legal capital of financial companies shall
be prescribed by the Government. The change of legal capital levels of
financial companies shall be decided by the Government.
Article 5.- Operation
duration
The operation duration of a financial company in
Vietnam shall not exceed 50 years. In case of necessity to extend the operation
duration, the approval of Vietnam State Bank (hereinafter called the State Bank
for short) is required. Each extension shall not exceed 50 years.
Article 6.-
Interpretation of terms and phrases
In this Decree, the following terms and phrases
shall be construed as follows:
1. Entrustment taking means that the financial
companies use the entrusted capital to lend or invest in projects or works on
the basis of entrustment contracts between the entrusting parties and the
financial companies.
2. Payment contracting means a form of
discounting vouchers with a view to providing credit support for enterprises,
on the basis of repurchase of receivable debts of enterprises which arise from
goods sale with deferred payment, and performing the management of invoices,
vouchers and accounting books for enterprises.
Article 7.- State
management
The State Bank is responsible for the State
management over the organization and operation of financial companies, grant
and withdraw establishment and operation licenses; supervise and inspect the
activities of financial companies in Vietnam; promulgate documents guiding the
organization and operation of financial companies; perform other State
management tasks under the provisions of law.
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ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION
OF FINANCIAL COMPANIES
Section 1. GRANTING
ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION LICENSES
Article 8.- Conditions
for granting of licenses
1. The conditions for a financial company to be granted
establishment and operation license (hereinafter called the license for short)
include:
a) Having the demand for operations of the
financial company;
b) Having enough legal capital prescribed by the
Government;
c) The founding members are organizations or
individuals, that have prestige and financial capability as provided for by the
State Bank;
d) The manager and administrator have full civil
act capacity and professional qualifications suitable for the operation of the
financial company;
e) Having the organization and operation charter
compatible to the provisions of the Law on Credit Institutions and other law
provisions;
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2. In addition to the conditions prescribed in
Clause 1 of this Article, the foreign parties in financial companies, the
financial companies with 100% foreign capital must also satisfy the following
conditions:
a) They are allowed by competent bodies of
foreign countries to carry out banking activities or to conduct operations of
the financial companies;
b) They are allowed by competent bodies of
foreign countries to operate in Vietnam.
Article 9.- Dossiers for
granting of licenses
1. A dossier of application for a license
includes:
a) The application for the license, which
clearly states the operations applied for;
b) The draft charter;
c) The plan for operation in the first three
years, clearly stating the economic efficiency and benefits of the operation of
the financial company;
d) The list, curricula vitae, diplomas
evidencing the professional capabilities and qualifications of the founding
members, the Managing Board and Control Board members and the general director
(director);
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f) The financial situation and information
related to major shareholders;
g) The approval by the provincial/municipal
People’s Committee of the place to locate the head-office of the financial
company.
2. Apart from the documents prescribed in Clause
1 of this Article, the dossiers of application for licenses of the
joint-venture financial companies and the financial companies with 100% foreign
capital shall also include:
a) The charters of the capital-contributing
parties;
b) The licenses of the capital-contributing
parties;
c) The documents of the competent foreign
agencies permitting the foreign parties to operate in Vietnam in the form of
joint-venture financial company or financial company with 100% foreign capital;
d) The financial balance sheet, the profit and
loss sheet, which have already been audited, and the report on situation of
operation for the latest three years of the capital-contributing parties;
e) The joint-venture contracts, for the
joint-venture financial companies.
3. The dossiers of application for licenses of
the joint-venture financial companies and the financial companies with 100%
foreign capital shall be made in two sets, one in Vietnamese and one in
English. The foreign-language documents in the dossiers must be consularly
legalized and the translations from foreign languages into Vietnamese must be
certified by Vietnamese notaries public or diplomatic missions or consulates
overseas.
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The financial companies licensed by the State
Bank must pay fees according to regulations of the Finance Ministry.
Article 11.- The time
limits for granting and use of licenses
1. Within 90 days as from the date of receiving
complete dossiers of application for licenses of financial companies, the State
Bank must grant or refuse to grant the licenses. In case of refusal, the State
Bank must explain in writing the reasons therefor.
2. In the licenses granted to financial
companies, the State Bank specifies professional operations to be performed by
the financial companies.
3. The licensed financial companies must use the
right names and operate strictly according to the contents prescribed in their
licenses. It is forbidden to forge, erase, cross out, transfer, lease or lend
licenses.
Article 12.- Conditions
for inaugurating operations
1. To carry out their operations, the licensed
financial companies must meet the following conditions:
a) Having their charters approved by the State
Bank;
b) Having business registration certificates;
having enough legal capital and head-offices suitable for the operations of the
financial companies;
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d) Having legal documents on the right to own or
use the head-offices of the financial companies in Vietnam;
e) Publishing on central or local newspapers as
provided for by law the contents prescribed in the licenses.
2. Within 12 months as from the dates they are
licensed, the financial companies licensed by the State Bank must commence
their operations.
Article 13.- Withdrawal
of licenses
The withdrawal of licenses of financial
companies shall comply with the provisions in Article 29 of the Law on Credit
Institutions and the guidance of the State Bank.
Section 2. ORGANIZATION,
MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL OF FINANCIAL COMPANIES
Article 14.- Opening
branches and representative offices and setting up affiliated companies
1. Financial companies may open branches and
representative offices at home and abroad when so approved in writing by the
State Bank.
2. Financial companies may set up affiliated
companies which have legal person status, conduct independent cost-accounting
in order to provide financial, monetary, brokerage, insurance, securities and
consultancy services according to law provisions.
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The conditions, dossiers and procedures for
opening branches and representative offices or setting up affiliated companies
of financial companies shall comply with Article 33 of the Law on Credit
Institutions and the guidance of the State Bank.
Article 16.-
Management, administration and control
The management, administration, control,
inspection system and internal auditing of financial companies shall comply
with the provisions in Section 3 and Section 4, Chapter II of the Law on Credit
Institutions and the guidance of the State Bank.
Chapter III
OPERATIONS OF FINANCIAL
COMPANIES
Section 1. CAPITAL
MOBILIZATION
Article 17.- Forms of
capital mobilization
Financial companies may mobilize capital from
the following sources:
1. Deposits of one year or longer of
organizations and individuals under the regulations of the State Bank.
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3. Loans from domestic and foreign financial
organizations as well as international financial organizations.
4. Capital entrusted to them by the Government,
organizations and individuals at home and abroad.
Section 2. CREDIT OPERATIONS
Article 18.- Lending
Financial companies may provide loans in the
following forms:
1. Providing short-term, medium-term and
long-term loans according to the regulations of the State Bank.
2. Providing loans under entrustment by the
Government, organizations and/or individuals at home and abroad according to
the current provisions of the Law on Credit Institutions and the entrustment
contracts.
3. Providing consumer loans in form of loans for
installment buying.
Article 19.- Discount,
rediscount, mortgage of commercial bills and other valuable papers
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2. Financial companies and other credit
institutions may rediscount or mortgage commercial bills, bonds and other
valuable papers for each other.
Article 20.- Guarantee
Financial companies may provide guarantee with
their own prestige and financial capabilities for the guaranteed. The guarantee
by the financial companies must be effected according to the provisions in
Articles 58, 59 and 60 of the Law on Credit Institutions and the guidance of
the State Bank.
Article 21.- Other
forms of credit granting
Financial companies may grant credits in other
forms according to the regulations of the State Bank.
Section 3. ACCOUNT OPENING
AND TREASURY SERVICES
Article 22.- Opening
accounts
1. The financial companies may open deposit
accounts at the State Bank in localities where they are headquartered and at
banks operating on the Vietnamese territory. The opening of accounts at banks
outside the Vietnamese territory must be permitted by the State Bank.
2. The financial companies which take deposits
shall have to open their accounts at the State Bank and maintain there the
credit balances not lower than the level prescribed by the State Bank.
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The financial companies may provide services on
cash collection and distribution to customers.
Section 4. OTHER OPERATIONS
Article 24.- Other
operations permitted to perform under the current law provisions include:
1. Contributing capital to, and/or purchasing
shares of, enterprises and/or other credit institutions.
2. Investing in projects under contracts.
3. Participating in monetary markets.
4. Providing overseas currency exchange, trading
in gold.
5. Acting as agents to distribute bonds, share
certificates and other valuable papers for enterprises.
6. Taking entrustment or agency in domains
related to finance, banking, insurance and investment, including the management
of assets and/or investment capital of organizations and individuals under
contracts.
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8. Providing services on preservation of
precious objects, valuable payers, leasing safes, pawning and other services.
Article 25.- Operations
to be permitted by competent State management bodies
1. Foreign exchange operations: The State Bank
shall consider and license the financial companies to perform some foreign
exchange operations according to the current regulations on foreign exchange
management.
2. Payment contracting operations: The State
Bank shall have to issue regulations guiding the performance of payment
contracting operations and consider and permit the qualified financial
companies to perform these operations.
3. Other operations.
Section 5. RESTRICTIONS TO
ENSURE SAFETY IN OPERATIONS OF FINANCIAL COMPANIES
Article 26.- The risk
reserve appropriation and use
The financial companies must make risk reserves
and account these risk reserve amounts into their operating expenses. The risk
reserve appropriation and use shall comply with the regulations of the State
Bank.
Article 27.- Cases of
non-provision of credits
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Article 28.- Cases of
credit restriction
1. The financial companies must not provide credits
without security and/or provide credits with preferential conditions to the
subjects defined in Clause 1, Article 78 of the Law on Credit Institutions.
2. The total balance of loans provided to the
subjects prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article must not exceed 5% of the
equity capital of financial companies.
3. The guarantee level for a customer and the
total guarantee level of a financial company must not exceed the ratio to the
equity capital of the financial company as provided for by the State Bank
Governor.
Article 29.- Capital
contribution and share purchase limits
1. The level of capital contribution to,
purchase of shares of, an enterprise by a financial company, the total level of
capital contribution to and purchase of shares of, all enterprises must not
exceed the maximum levels prescribed by the State Bank Governor.
2. The total capital amount of a financial
company investing in other credit institutions in form of capital contribution
and share purchase must be subtracted from the equity capital of such financial
company when calculating the safety ratios.
Article 30.- The
provisions on ensuring safety
The financial companies must abide by the
following safety-ensuring provisions:
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2. Purchasing and investing in their fixed
assets at levels not exceeding 50% of the equity capital of the financial
companies.
3. The limits of loans provided to a customer is
prescribed as follows:
a) The total balance of loans provided to a
customer must not exceed 15% of the equity capital of a financial company,
except for cases where loans are provided from the entrusted capital sources of
the Government, organizations and/or individuals or for cases where borrowing
customers are other credit institutions;
b) Where the capital demand of a customer
exceeds 15% of the equity capital of a financial company or the customer have
the demand to mobilize capital from various sources, the financial company may
provide consolidated loans according to the regulations of the State Bank.
4. Other relevant safety provisions of current
legislation.
Chapter IV
FINANCE, ACCOUNTING AND
REPORTING
Article 31.- Finance
1. The fiscal year of the financial companies
commences on January 1st and ends on December 31st of the calendar year.
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Article 32.- Accounting
1. The financial companies accounting shall
comply with the provisions in Article 86 and Clause 1 of Article 111 of the Law
on Credit Institutions and the guiding documents of the State Bank.
2. For newly- supplemented operations of
financial companies, for which accounts have not yet been prescribed, the State
Bank shall have to supply new accounts into the system of book- keeping
accounts of the financial companies.
Article 33.-
Appropriation and use of funds
1. The appropriation, maintenance and use of
funds of the financial companies shall comply with the provisions in Article 87
of the Law on Credit Institutions and the Finance Ministry.
2. The financial companies must not use the
funds prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article to pay dividends or to make
distributions to owners and shareholders in any form, except where they are
dissolved or liquidated, but priority must be given to paying creditors before
making reimbursement to owners and shareholders.
Article 34.- Transfer
of profits abroad by foreign investors
The foreign parties to financial companies may
transfer abroad the profit amounts divided to them and the asset quantity after
liquidation or termination of operation as provided for in Article 112 of the
Law on Credit Institutions and the guidance of the State Bank.
Article 35.- Regime of
financial reporting and auditing
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Chapter V
INSPECTION, SPECIAL
CONTROL, BANKRUPTCY, DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Article 36.- Inspection
1. The financial companies must submit to the
inspection by the State Bank Inspectorate according to the provisions of the
Law on Credit Institutions.
2. The rights and obligations of the inspected
financial companies shall comply with the provisions in Articles 118 and 119 of
the Law on Credit Institutions and the regulations of the State Bank.
Article 37.- Special
control, bankruptcy, dissolution and liquidation
The special control, bankruptcy, dissolution and
liquidation of financial companies shall comply with the provisions in Chapter
V of the Law on Credit Institutions and the regulations of the State Bank.
Article 38.- Commendation
and discipline
The commendation and handling violations of
financial companies shall comply with the provisions in Chapter X of the Law on
Credit Institutions and the relevant legal documents.
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IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS
Article 39.- Implementation
effect
1. This Decree takes effect 15 days after its
signing and replaces the previous regulations which are contrary to this
Decree.
2. The State Bank shall assume the prime
responsibility and coordinate with the relevant agencies in guiding the
implementation of this Decree.
Article 40.- Adjustments
applicable to the financial companies licensed before this Decree comes into
force
The financial companies set up and operating
under the licenses granted by the State Bank before this Decree takes effect
are subject to the following regulations:
1. They must not carry out procedures for
re-granting of establishment and operation licenses.
2. Their operation duration shall comply with
the provisions in the issued licenses.
3. Within 12 months as from the date this Decree
comes into force, they must readjust their organization and operation charters
strictly according to this Decree.
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ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT
PRIME MINISTER
Phan Van Khai