Projects, Banking and Finance
Advised Techcombank, a leading Vietnamese listed commercial bank, in relation to the largest ever in the market USD 500 million syndicated loan arranged by United Overseas Bank of Singapore.
Advised a large listed European company on all legal and regulatory aspects of the development of its first renewable energy project in central Vietnam.
Represented a large Vietnamese State-owned group and one of its subsidiaries in connection to the restructuring of foreign loans under English law governed project finance documentation for two major maritime infrastructure projects in Northern and Southern Vietnam.
Advised Sembcorp Utilities Pte. Ltd., a large listed energy company based in Singapore, in relation to the financing package provided by multilateral development agencies (IFC, MIGA, ADB) for the construction of the Myingyan gas-fired power plant project in Myanmar.
Advised the syndicate of lenders, led by HSBC and Mizuho Bank, and export credit agencies (including KEXIM) on the USD 795 million financing of the Petro Vietnam Thai Binh 2 USD 1.65 billion power plant.
Advised Cathay United Bank as the agent for a syndicate of international lenders in relation to a USD 280 million facility arranged for PetroVietnam Gas Corporation – Joint Stock Company (PV Gas).
Advised a Northern European renewable power company on structuring of power sale and purchase contractual arrangements for its solar power project in Vietnam to take into account foreign exchange rates fluctuations, proposed direct power purchase agreements, bank guarantees and shareholder loans.
Represented a large private Russian bank in relation to its proposed acquisition of a minority stake in a commercial bank operating in Vietnam.
Advised an US-based international financial services provider in relation to its plans to incorporate a subsidiary in Vietnam to provide electronic commerce related services and card payments related services.
Advised an US-based international financial services provider in relation to its plans to set up an independent ATM services business in Vietnam.
Advised a top Singapore bank in in relation to its proposed full acquisition of a Vietnamese commercial bank under State Bank of Vietnam’s special control.
Advised a leading Vietnamese private commercial bank head-quartered in Hanoi, in relation to its proposed USD200 million Tier 2 high-yield Regulation S international bond issuance with subsequent listing on Singapore stock exchange (SGX-ST).
Advised a large international investment group based in Singapore in relation to its proposed full acquisition of a Vietnamese commercial bank under State Bank of Vietnam’s special control.
Advised a large international investment group based in Singapore in relation to its plan to acquire a majority stake in a Vietnamese private commercial bank.
Advised a leading Vietnamese joint-stock commercial bank in relation to the first ever international issuance of Tier 2 high-yield bonds listed on the SGX-ST including a Regulation S international offering.
Represented a Singapore incorporated investor in relation to financing aspects of the acquisition of two solar energy projects in Vietnam from local investors.
Advised a large private commercial bank in Vietnam in connection with a USD 150 million cross-border syndicated loan agreement with a Singaporean branch of an Indian bank.
Represented Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company in its proposed issuance of high-yield securities listed on the SGX including a Regulation S international offering.
Advised a global investment management firm with over USD 900 billion in assets under management on a highly structured private placement in Vietnam Prosperity Bank (VPBank) shares.
Advised a global investment management firm with over US$900 billion in assets under management on the mechanism and regulations pertaining to off-exchange transactions of listed companies in Vietnam.
Advised a global investment management firm with over USD 900 billion in assets under management on a highly structured private placement in Vincom Retail shares.
Advised a leading consumer finance company in Vietnam in relation to a USD20 million bilateral loan extended by a major Middle-Eastern commercial bank.
Represented a large Russian mining and natural resources conglomerate in relation to a rare earth minerals processing project in Vietnam involving the acquisition of a substantial portion of a local company’s capital contribution.
Represented IFC on a USD 182 million equity investment in, and USD 125 million subordinated loan (which qualifies as Tier 2 capital) to, Vietinbank, the largest Vietnamese state-owned bank by assets.
Advised a leading European bank in an attempted purchase of a strategic shareholding (up to 15%) in a major Vietnamese State-owned commercial bank. An in-depth due diligence on the seller was complicated by the existence of its extensive branch network and broad scope of its business lines.
Advised FMO, the Dutch development agency, in relation to a EUR 35 million facility to Damen Song Cam Shipyards, a joint venture between Damen, a Dutch ship builder, and a State-owned company to construct shipbuilding facilities in Hai Phong.
Represented Société Générale in the sale of its consumer credit finance subsidiary in Vietnam to a local commercial bank, the first ever sale of a credit institution as a separate entity under Vietnamese regulations (and the template for future transactions in this field).
Advised Crédit Agricole CIB in connection with the reorganisation of its operations in Vietnam.
Advised IFC on a USD 5 million investment in Thien Viet Securities JSC, a Vietnamese securities company by way of a convertible loan.
Advised a leading international co-working space and services provider in relation to short-term loans to its subsidiary in Vietnam.
Advised a leading international money transfer company in relation to Vietnamese regulations on pre-funding of payments to money transfer beneficiaries.
Represented a Singapore manufacturing company in relation to structuring of financing transactions and collateral arrangements to a Vietnamese manufacturing company.
Advised a large UK-based infrastructure investment group in relation to its proposed plans to participate in Vietnamese Public Private Partnership infrastructure projects.
Represented one of the largest Vietnamese partially State-owned listed commercial banks in negotiations on ISDA documentation to be entered into with a leading US investment banking group.
Advised a large private bank in Singapore in relation to its plan to provide investment services to clients targeting Vietnamese listed and unlisted securities.
Advised a European private equity group in relation to a convertible loan granted to one of its portfolio companies in Vietnam.
Advised a leading US-based jewelry maker in relation to a series of cross-border intercompany loans to its subsidiary in Vietnam.
Acted as legal counsel for a leading international money transfer services company in connection with Vietnamese regulatory framework for initiating telephone transactions/ voice activated transactions in a disaster recovery scenario.
Advised an Eastern European micro-finance company in relation to its project to enter the Vietnamese consumer lending market.
Advised a leading international bank in relation to Vietnamese laws and regulations affecting the bank’s clients operating in the oil and gas sector with particular focus on foreign exchange control regulations.
Advised on legal and regulatory aspects of trust lending arrangements and drafting the trust loan documentation for a large Japanese bank.
Advised a leading international currency remittance services provider in relation to its cross-border remittance services to Vietnamese based clients offered via a network of local bank and non-bank agents.
Advised a foreign bank on offshore structures for financing a Vietnamese finance company.
Advised a foreign investment fund on a potential investment in distressed assets of Vietnamese commercial banks (NPLs).
Advised a European Development Agency relating to a cross-border trust loan structure and documentation for a multi-end borrower facility. The structuring of the transaction is quite challenging due to an incomplete regulatory framework for cross-border trust loans with insufficient protections for off-shore lenders and to a non-standard foreign exchange risk protection mechanism.
Represented SMBC in a EUR 120 million loan to Vietinbank.
Advised a European Development Agency in relation with a non-sovereign credit facility secured by receivables to be granted to a large Vietnamese state-owned natural resources company.
Assisted Crédit Agricole CIB in negotiating and drafting bespoke documentation for each of the transfers of facilities, agency roles and security packages from the bank’s Vietnam branches to its Paris head-office.
Advised a member and agent of a syndicate of lenders on the restructuring of port facilities with a comprehensive security package.
Advised Crédit Agricole CIB on regulatory issues relating to the termination or transfer outside Vietnam of IRS hedging arrangements.
Advised a leading European bank on its potential involvement in a commercial dispute between a large European construction company and a Vietnamese company due to its role as bank guarantees issuer.
Advised a leading European bank in relation to a claim against a State-owned satellite and cable television services provider to refund the amounts paid by the bank under a performance guarantee issued by the bank and called on by the beneficiary.
Advised IFC in connection with a number of short-term credit facilities entered into with Vietnamese credit institutions (OCB and Techcombank).
Advised an international commercial bank on highly structured trust loan arrangements involving alternate Vietnamese borrowers.
Advised a French Bank in relation to the validity and enforceability of an ISDA Master Agreement and it schedules with a Vietnamese State-owned bank.
Advised a leading European investment bank on the Vietnamese regulatory issues relating to the development of its online derivatives business with Vietnamese counterparties.
Advised a large international bank in relation to the prospective launch of funded and unfunded risk participation products.
Represented FMO, the Dutch development agency, in connection with a loan to a Vietnamese manufacturing company.
Advised a large international bank on the project to launch mortgage products to retail clients.
Advised a large international bank on the transfer to other lenders of participations in offshore loans to Vietnamese entities as part of an establishment of a secondary trading loan desk.
Represented Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam in a syndicated loan to Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP).
Advised Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam in relation to a large cross-border rice exports financing to VINAFOOD II, a State-owned agricultural products and food trading company.
Advised Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam in relation to a loan to Gamuda Land Project in Hanoi.
Advised Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam in relation to ISDA derivatives agreements with Vietnamese commercial banks.
Represented Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam entities on numerous loans and trade finance transactions for local private and State-owned corporates.
Advised Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam in relation to a dispute with a leading State-owned commercial bank in connection with its investments in an off-shore fund.
Advised Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam in relation to a dispute with a leading State-owned commercial bank in connection with that bank’s foreign exchange trading business.
Fintech and IT
Represented a leading listed commercial bank in Vietnam in negotiations on a multi-million IT software and hardware procurement agreement with a foreign IT services company working in joint-venture with a leading Vietnamese IT group.
Advised Infinity Blockchain Labs, a leading international blockchain technology focused R&D company, in relation to international and Vietnamese legal and regulatory aspects of various applications of blockchain technology.
Advised a leading Vietnamese state-owned bank in relation to a full IT renewal programme including projects to roll out Core Banking, Credit Risk Management, Enterprise Content Management, Loan Origination System, HR Management softwares.
Represented a large US IT group in its acquisition of a French IT data management company operating a subsidiary in Vietnam.
Advised Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) Ltd. (as in-house counsel) on rolling out of major IT software projects, including eBBS, AML transactions reporting system, Straight-to-Bank, Output Management System.
Advised Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) Ltd. (as in-house counsel) on legal aspects of rolling out of systems to ensure compliance with Basel II rules.
Advised Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) Ltd. (as in-house counsel) in relation to setting up of a business continuity site in compliance with the State Bank of Vietnam regulations.
Advised Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) Ltd. (as in-house counsel) in relation to setting up of back-office systems for a new branch in Ho Chi Minh City in compliance with the State Bank of Vietnam regulations.
Corporate and M&A
Represented a large private Russian bank in its acquisition of 100% of equity of a real estate company in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Advised a leading Vietnamese private holding group in relation to a proposed take-over of one of the country’s largest super-markets chains.
Advised a foreign invested educational establishment in central Vietnam on a broad range of legal matters, including land related issues, equity transfers, dispute resolution.
Advised a French invested company based in Singapore in relation to the establishment of a subsidiary in Vietnam operating a food and beverage business.
Advised a sea-food processing company based in Mauritius on setting up a fish-oil production facility in partnership with a local Vietnamese sea-food company.
Assisted one of the leading global groups operating in the animal feed and livestock sector head-quartered in France with defending it from Vietnamese tax authorities claim for payment of a withholding tax arising from an off-shore M&A transaction.
Represented a leading European operator of wholesale fresh food markets in a project to build a number of such markets in Hanoi and other locations in Vietnam.
Advised a leading Russian car maker in relation to its project to establish a joint-venture company in Vietnam to import and assemble Russian designed cars in Vietnam.
Advised a leading investment management and real estate development firm in Vietnam on the acquisition of a Vietnamese incorporated telecoms real estate asset company financed by a USD 12 million loan extended by an international bank and secured by various assets including the company’s bank accounts and backed by a Sponsor guarantee.
Advised a leading European investment group in relation to the proposed equity acquisition in a Vietnamese limited liability food processing company.
Advised a large Russian group in relation to the potential acquisition of a hot rolled steel mill belonging to the State-owned Vietnam Shipbuilding Group (Vinashin) located in Northern Vietnam.
Advised Standard Chartered Bank Group in relation to the establishment of a second branch in Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City.
Advised on the acquisition by Standard Chartered Bank Group of a strategic stake in Asia Commercial Bank in 2005-2006, then the largest local private bank.
Advised Standard Chartered Bank Group in relation to the establishment of a wholly owned banking subsidiary in Vietnam and the subsequent business transfer from the existing two branches to the newly created entity.
Assisted Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam branches in relation to American Express Bank integration in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, following its acquisition by Standard Chartered Bank Group.