THE
GOVERNMENT
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SOCIALIST
REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
Independence - Freedom - Happiness
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No:
64-CP
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Hanoi,
October 09, 1995
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DECREE
PROMULGATING THE PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS ON ORGANIZATION AND
OPERATION OF FINANCIAL LEASING COMPANIES IN VIETNAM
THE GOVERNMENT
Pursuant to the Law on
Organization of the Government of September 30, 1992;
Pursuant to the Ordinance on the State Bank, the Ordinance on Banks, Credit
Cooperatives and Financial Companies of May 24, 1990;
At the proposal of the Governor of the State Bank,
DECREES:
Article 1.- To
promulgate, attached to this Decree, the Provisional Regulations on
Organization and Operation of Financial Leasing Companies in Vietnam.
Article 2.-
These Regulations apply only to financial leasing activities and take effect
from the date of their signing.
Article 3.- The
Governor of the State Bank has the responsibility to provide detailed guidance
for the implementation of the Regulations and shall after a period of time draw
experiences, amend and complete them for official promulagion.
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ON
BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT
FOR THE PRIME MINISTER
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Phan Van Khai
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS
ON ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF FINANCIAL LEASING COMPANIES
IN VIETNAM
(issued
attached to Decree No.64-CP of October 9, 1995 of the Government)
Chapter I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Article
2.- In these Regulations, the following terms shall be understood as
follows:
1/ Lessor: is a Financial
Leasing Company having the legal person status and the license for operation in
accordance with these Regulations;
2/ Lessee: is a business
established under Vietnamese law, and directly uses the leased assets for its
legal business purposes during the leasing term;
3/ Leased assets: are machinery,
equipment and other movables of advanced technology having a utility period of
more than one year, and domestically produced or imported;
4/ Leasing term: is the period
during which the lessee uses the leased assets and pays rent as agreed upon by
the lessor and the lessee in the leasing contract.
Article
3.- A financial leasing transaction must satisfy one of the following
conditions:
1/ Upon the expiry of the
leasing term as stated in the leasing contract, the lessee is entitled to
transfer the ownership of leased assets or to continue to lease such assets as
agreed upon by the two parties;
2/ The leasing contract shall
contain the following provision: upon the expiry of the leasing term, the
lessee is entitled to opt for the purchase of the leased assets at a nominal
price lower than the real value of the leased assets at the time of
re-purchase;
3/ The leasing term applicable
to one type of assets shall at least equal 60% of the time required for its
depreciation;
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Article
4.- The Vietnam State Bank, hereinafter referred to as the State Bank, is
the agency exercising State management of the financial leasing activities,
shall have to issue and withdraw operating licenses, promulgate the legal
documents on professional practice, management, supervision and inspection of
the operations of Financial Leasing Companies in Vietnam.
Chapter II
FINANCIAL LEASING COMPANY
Part I:
FINANCIAL LEASING COMPANY
Article 5.- A
Financial Leasing Company is a type of financial company, whose principal
operation is leasing of machinery, equipment and other movables.
A Financial Leasing Company may
be established and operate in Vietnam under the following forms:
1/ Financial Leasing Company:
established by Vietnamese banks, financial companies, or jointly by Vietnamese
banks, financial companies and other Vietnamese enterprises;
2/ Joint venture Financial
Leasing Company: established between a Vietnamese partner consisting of one or
more banks, financial companies/or, other enterprises, and a foreign partner
consisting of one or more banks, financial companies, financial leasing companies
and international financial institutions;
3/ Financial Leasing Company
with 100% foreign-owned capital established by foreign banks, financial
companies, foreign financial leasing companies.
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1/ 55 billion VND for a
Financial Leasing Company mentioned in Point 1, Article 5 of these Regulations;
2/ 5 million USD for a joint
venture Financial Leasing Company mentioned in Point 2, Article 5 and a Financial
Leasing Company with 100% foreign-owned capital mentioned in Point 3, Article 5
of these Regulations.
Article 7.- The
duration of operation of a Financial Leasing Company shall be no more than 70
years. In case an extension is needed, it must be approved by the State Bank.
Each extension shall not exceed the period defined in the initial operating
license.
Part II:
CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE ISSUE OF OPERATING LICENSE
Article 8.-
The banks, financial companies and other enterprises wishing to conduct
financial leasing activities must have enough credibility and three consecutive
years in profitable business, and establish an independent Financial Leasing
Company as prescribed by law.
Article 9.- Procedures
and applications for operating licenses of Financial Leasing Companies
mentioned in Point 1, Article 5 of these Regulations are similar to those
applied to Credit Institutions in Vietnam.
Article
10.-
1/
Partners to a joint venture Financial Leasing Company mentioned in Point 2,
Article 5 of these Regulations, and a Financial Leasing Company with 100%
foreign-owned capital mentioned in Point 3, Article 5 of these Regulations must
submit an application and supporting documents to the State Bank for approval
in principle ( the "Approval in Principle") as directed by the State
Bank;
2/ The Approval in Principle is
valid for 12 months from the date of its issue. During this period,
the partners must complete the application file as directed by the State Bank;
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Article
12.- After receiving the Operating License, the Financial Leasing Company
shall have to:
1/ Pay the operating license fee
equal to 0.1% of its statutory capital to the State Bank within 15 days from
the date written on the Operating License;
2/ Register its business in
accordance with the regulations in force;
3/ Generate 100% of the
statutory capital;
4/ Publicize its operating
license, business registration and details of its operations in five
consecutive issues of a Vietnamese newspaper before the inauguration of its
operation as directed by the State Bank;
5/ Fulfill all the above
stipulations before commencing its operation, and the inauguration shall not be
later than 6 months from the date written on the Operating License.
Article
13.- The Operating License of the Financial Leasing Company shall not be
transferable.
Part III:
CONTENT AND SCOPE OF OPERATION
Article
14.- Sources of capital:
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2/ Loan capital: loans from domestic
and foreign financial or credit institutions; bonds and other valuable papers
issued with the State Bank's permission;
3/ A Financial Leasing Company
shall not receive deposits in any form;
4/ A Financial Leasing Company
is entitled to open deposit accounts in the State Bank or other banks operating
on the territory of Vietnam. In case it wishes to open deposit accounts in
banks located outside the territory of Vietnam, permission from the State Bank
shall be required.
Article
15.- With respect to the utilization of capital sources, the Financial
Leasing Company shall comply with the following regulations:
1/ The company shall not use
more than 25% of its statutory capital to purchase fixed assets for itself;
2/ The loan capital shall not
exceed its self-procured capital by 20 times;
3/ The total value of assets
leased to one client shall not exceed 30% of its self-procured capital. In case
this limit is exceeded, a written approval from the State Bank shall be
required;
4/ Other provisions of existing
laws and the State Bank's regulations.
Article
16.- A Financial Leasing Company is entitled to carry out the following
activities:
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2/ Providing consultancy and
guarantee for clients on services relating to financial leasing;
3/ Carrying out other activities
when permitted by the State Bank and other competent State agencies.
Article
17.- A Financial Leasing Company is entitled to collect leasing fees as
directed by the State Bank.
Chapter
III
FINANCIAL LEASING
CONTRACT
Article
18.- A financial leasing contract (hereafter referred to as contract) is a
type of economic contract signed between the lessor and the lessee on leasing
one or more machinery, equipment or other movables for a specific period
(leasing term) in accordance with the conditions provided for in Article 3 of
these Regulations.
Article
19.- The contract must meet the following requirements:
1/ Made in writing;
2/ Registered at the State Bank
and the contract-managing agency where the head office of the Financial Leasing
Company is located in accordance with the provisions of law;
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Article
20.- The contract must include the basic contents set forth in Chapter IV
of these Regulations and the contents in the model contract issued by the State
Bank.
Article
21.- The contract shall take effect from the date agreed upon by parties to
the contract.
Chapter IV
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
OF THE PARTIES
Article 22.-
Rights and obligations of a Financial Leasing Company:
1/ To be entitled to require the
lessee to fully and completely provide quarterly and annual reports on
production and business operations and matters related to the leased assets;
2/ To be entitled to the
ownership and to attach the ownership sign to the leased assets during the
whole leasing term;
3/ To be entitled to require the
lessee to pay compensation for all losses caused by the lessee's failure or
improper discharge of its responsibility to maintain, repair, and pay insurance
for the leased assets during the leasing term;
4/ To be entitled to transfer
its rights under the agreement to another financial leasing company without the
need to obtain the lessee's consent. In such case, the Financial Leasing
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5/ To be entitled to require the
lessee to make a deposit as security for the contract, or require a guarantor
to secure the obligations of the lessee;
6/ To be obligated to register
the contract and abide by the procedures to buy insurance for the leased
assets;
7/ To be obligated to sign the
purchase contract, pay for the leased assets to the supplier in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the purchase contract. The Financial Leasing
Company shall not be responsible for assets which are not delivered or
delivered not in accordance with the terms and conditions agreed upon by the
lessee and the supplier. In case the leased assets are imported, the Financial
Leasing Company shall have to complete all necessary import procedures;
8/ To fulfill its
responsibilities and to pay compensation for all losses incurred by the lessee
in case the leased assets are not delivered on time to the lessee due to the
violation of the purchase contract by the Financial Leasing Company.
Article
23.- Rights and obligations of the lessee:
1/ To be entitled to select,
negotiate and agree with the supplier the technical specifications, type,
price, insurance coverage, mode and time of delivery, installation and
guarantee of the leased assets;
2/ To be entitled to receive the
leased assets directly from the supplier;
3/ In case the contract is
canceled before the delivery of the leased assets to the lessee due to the
lessee's fault, the lessee shall have to pay compensation for all losses
incurred by the Financial Leasing Company;
4/ To be obligated to use the
leased assets in comformity with the purposes agreed upon in the contract;
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6/ To have the responsibility to
maintain and repair the leased assets during the leasing term;
7/ Not to transfer the right to
use the leased assets to a third party without prior written consent of the
Financial Leasing Company;
8/ Not to use the leased assets
as collateral or mortgage;
9/ The lessee shall have to duly
pay the leasing rental as provided for in the contract and shall, in principle,
bear the costs and expenses related to the leased assets such as: import
expenditures, tax, expenditures to register the contract and buy insurance for
the leased assets;
10/ To have the responsibility
to return the leased assets to the Financial Leasing Company upon expiry of the
leasing term, and to bear all costs and expenses in connection with the return
of the leased assets, except when the lessee is entitled to own or to buy the
leased assets, or continue to lease as provided for in the contract.
Article
24.- Termination of the contract prior to the expiry
1/ A Financial Leasing Company
may terminate the contract prior to its expiry in the following cases:
- The lessee fails to pay the
rent as agreed upon in the contract;
- The lessee breaches any provision
of the contract;
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- In case a guarantor is
required for the lessee but the latter cannot find an alternative guarantor
acceptable to the Financial Leasing Company when the guarantor is insolvent,
goes bankrupt, or is dissolved;
2/ The lessee may terminate the
contract prior to expiry in the following cases:
- The leased asset is not
delivered on time as result of the Financial Leasing Company's fault;
- The lessor violates any
provision of the contract;
3/ The contract shall be
terminated prior to expiry in the event the leased assets were lost or
irreparably damaged.
Article
25.- Handling of cases in which the contract is terminated prior to its
expiry:
1/ In case the contract is
terminated prior to expiry as stipulated in Point 1, Article 24, the lessee is
obligated to pay immediately to the Financial Leasing Company the total rent
due under the contract.
The Financial Leasing Company is
then entitled to recover immediately the leased assets without having to bring
the case to any Court or any agency of jurisdiction;
2/ The Financial Leasing
Company's ownership over the leased assets shall not be affected, if the lessee
is insolvent, goes bankrupt or is dissolved. The leased assets shall not be considered
the lessee's assets when these assets are liquidated to pay other creditors;
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4/ In case the contract is
terminated prior to expiry due to the Financial Leasing Company's violation of
the agreement, the Financial Leasing Company shall have to pay the compensation
for all damages incurred by the lessee.
Chapter V
FINANCIAL MATTERS, COST
ACCOUNTING
Article
26.- Leased assets which are imported machinery, equipment and other
movables shall be subject to import tax applied to businesses eligible for
direct importation.
In the event the contract is
terminated, re-exportation of the leased assets shall not be subject to export
tax.
Article
27.- The activities of a Financial Leasing Company are subject to tax
applied to banks and credit organizations in accordance with the regulations in
force.
Article
28.- A Financial Leasing Company is entitled to deduct fees to establish
reserve funds for risk compensation. Reserve funds for risk compensation shall
be stipulated by the State Bank from time to time under concrete situations,
but shall not exceed 5% of the unpaid rent.
Article
29.- The transfer abroad of profits of a foreign party shall be carried out
in accordance with the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam.
Article
30.- The fiscal year of a Financial Leasing Company commences on the 1st of
January and ends on the 31st of December of each year.
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1/ A Financial Leasing Company
shall have to observe the accountancy in accordance with the system of cost
accounting issued by the State Bank.
2/ A Financial Leasing Company
has to make accurate and adequate accounts and keep its books of accounts
related to its operations in accordance with the Ordinance on Accounting and
Statistics.
Article
32.- Reporting regime:
1/ A Financial Leasing Company
shall implement the periodical reporting regime in accordance with the State
Bank's regulations. Any violations of the system of periodical reporting shall
be penalized in accordance with the regulations in force;
2/ The assets inventory, the
annual financial reports of the Financial Leasing Company shall be certified by
an audit company. The selection of an audit company shall be approved by the
State Bank.
Chapter VI
SUPERVISION, INSPECTION,
HANDLING OF VIOLATIONS AND DISPUTES
Article
33.- A Financial Leasing Company is subject to the supervision and
inspection of the State Bank with regard to all its business activities and its
compliance with the current prescriptions of law.
Article
34.- All violations by a Financial Leasing Company shall be handled in
accordance with the Ordinance on Banks, Credit Cooperatives and Financial
Companies, and other relevant regulations.
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Disputes among partners of a
joint venture Financial Leasing Company shall be resolved through negotiation
and conciliation. In case these disputes can not be resolved through
conciliation, the agreements laid down in the joint venture contract shall be
used as basis to settle such disputes.
Chapter
VII
AMENDMENT, EXTENSION,
TERMINATION OF OPERATION AND LIQUIDATION
Article
36.-
1/ In
case there is a need to change its location, scope of activities and provisions
in the operating license, a Financial Leasing Company must submit an
application to the State Bank for approval.
2/ In case an extension of its
term of operations is needed, the Financial Leasing Company must submit an
application to the State Bank 6 months prior to the expiry date provided for in
the operating license or the previous extension approval.
Article
37.- The State Bank shall specify circumstances in which the operating
license of a Financial Leasing Company may be withdrawn in accordance with the
Ordinance on Banks, Credit Cooperatives and Financial Companies.
Article
38.-
1/ In
case of suspension of operations, license withdrawal, or voluntary dissolution,
termination of operation due to license expiration, the Financial Leasing
Company shall fill the procedures for liquidation and dissolution in accordance
with the provisions of Vietnamese law.
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3/ The State Bank shall provide
detailed guidance on the order and procedures for dissolution of the Financial
Leasing Company under current Vietnamese law.
Article
39.- A Financial Leasing Company faces difficulties or losses in its
operations resulting in insolvency shall be declared bankrupt; the order and
procedures to settle bankruptcy shall be implemented in accordance with the
provisions of the Law on Bankruptcy.
Chapter
VIII
FINAL PROVISIONS
Article
40.- Organizations conducting financial leasing activities shall have to,
within 12 months from the effective date of these Regulations, readjust their
organizations and operations in compliance with these Regulations.
Article
41.- Any amendment of, or supplement to, these Regulations shall be decided
by the Government.