“Handles high-value transactions across the media, e-commerce, telecoms and IT spaces”
Legal 500
Technology, Media, Telecom
With the advent of Vietnam as a rising star for IT and high-tech, our teams have served as counsel in connection with some of the largest transactions to close in recent years in a range of TMT sub- sectors including:
- E-commerce;
- Telcos;
- Information technology;
- Medias; and
- Advertisement.
Our TMT expertise sits squarely in our dispute resolution and M&A practices. Cross-border work is facilitated by our teams in Singapore.
Our clients profile includes:
- Unicorns;
- State-owned enterprises;
- Investment funds, including sovereign funds;
- Global social medias and e-commerce platforms, marketplaces;
- Telco manufacturers; and
- Software editors.
Contacts
Relevant resources
Recent accolades
| 2020 | Band 1 | Chambers |
| 2020 | Tier 1 | Legal 500 |
| 2020 | Tier 1 | IFLR |
| 2020 | Outstanding | Asialaw |
| 2019 | Band 1 | Chambers |
| 2019 | Band 1 | Legal 500 |
| 2019 | Tier 1 | IFLR |
| 2019 | Outstanding | Asialaw |
Reputation
“Established practice regularly acting for both borrowers and lenders on complex financings. Long-standing roster of prominent international clients including major global investment banks and Vietnam’s state-owned banks … Highly valued for its banking and capital markets expertise, including corporate and project finance, with particular strength in the local market.”
“They are head and shoulders above the market standard” and “know how to navigate the minefield.” “They have a strong practice,” affirm commentators, describing the lawyers as “collaborative, commercial and knowledgeable.”
(Chambers)
“YKVN is one of Vietnam’s foremost law firms and a leader in the financial and corporate space.”
(IFLR)
“A very good firm for banking and finance”
(Legal 500)
“YKVN is amongst the best law firms in Vietnam as far as banking and finance transactions are concerned.”
(IFLR)
Representative deals
- Advised Masan Industrial Corporation on a US$108 million syndicated financing arranged by JP Morgan;
- Advised Masan Thai Nguyen Resources Company Limited on a US$80 million syndicated financing arranged by Standard Chartered Bank;
- Advised Vietnam Shipbuilding Group (Vinashin) on a US$650 million syndicated financing arranged by Credit Suisse;
- Advised Vietnam Shipbuilding Group (Vinashin) on a US$300 million syndicated financing arranged by Deutsche Bank;
- Advised PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation Ltd (PVEP) on a US$430 million syndicated financing arranged by Standard Chartered Bank;
- Advised Vingroup Joint Stock Company (Vingroup) on a US$100 million syndicated financing arranged by Credit Suisse;
- Advised Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) on a US$75 million syndicated financing arranged by Standard Chartered Bank;
- Advised Citibank and Salomon Smith Barney as lenders’ counsel on a US$70 million-equivalent VND syndicated loan facility to refinance project debt of Holcim Vietnam;
- Advised a syndicate of foreign banks led by Credit Suisse as lenders’ counsel on a US$300 million financing of Vietnam Coal and Mineral Resources Group (Vinacomin); and
- Advised Ha Tien Cement Company No. 1 on the financing and construction of its Binh Phuoc Cement Plant with total project investment of approximately US $300 million. This is the largest cement plant project developed by a Vietnamese investor.
- Advised the China Development Bank (CDB) and a syndicate of Chinese and international banks on the proposed financing for a coal fired power plant in Hai Hau, Nam Dinh province;
- Advised the China Development Bank (CDB) and a syndicate of Chinese and international banks on the proposed financing for a coal fired power plant in Vinh Tan, Binh Thuan province;
- Advised one of the sponsors (also serving as the EPC Contractor on the project), China Huadian Engineering Co., Ltd., on project development issues, including shared facilities, project documents (including the MOJ legal opinion), and generally all aspects of the project through financial close;
- Advised the China Development Bank in connection with its financing for the Hai Duong BOT Power Plant, a 1,200MW coal-fired power plant that is located in Hai Duong Province developed by JASK Pacific Power Limited;
- Advised KEXIM and the lenders in connection with the international financing of the Mong Duong 2 Power Plant, a 1,200MW coal-fired power plant that is located in Quang Ninh province and developed by AES, Posco Engineering and Construction and Stable Investment Corporation, a subsidiary of China Investment Corporation (named “Deal of the Year” 2011 by Asian Counsel). This is the first and only BOT power project that has reached financial close since the closing of the Phu My 2 BOT power project in 2003;
- Advised the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) as converting bank in connection with the financing for the Nghi Son Refinery Plant that is located in Thanh Hoa and developed by Idemitsui Kosan, PetroVietnam and other sponsors;
- Advised Saudi Aramco on the prosposed establishment of a US$22 billion refinery and petrochemical complex in Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam, including in relation to project development, possible joint ventures with subsidiaries of PetroVietnam, and all aspects of the project’s negotiation and development with the Government;
- Advised, together with Latham & Watkins and the International Finance Corporation, the Ministry of Industry & Trade on the development of a standard framework for BOT power projects in Vietnam, which included advising the government on the implementation of practices and documentation in its selection of investors, negotiation of key project documents, such as power purchase agreements, and, more generally, in reaching financial close. The proposed template is being applied by the government for the first time in the Nghi Son II Thermal Power Project;
- Advised the China Southern Power Grid International and China Power International Development in the development of the 1,200MW Binh Thuan BOT Coal-Fired Power Plant;
- Advised PetroVietnam in connection with the establishment of a joint venture with EGATi, a subsidiary of the electricity-generating authority of Thailand, to develop a 1,200MW coal fired power plant. Project costs are estimated to be US$ 1.5 billion;
- Advised Asian Development Bank, ANZ Bank, Credit Lyonnais, Fortis Bank and Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad on the financing of a BOT water treatment plant for Ho Chi Minh City in Thu Duc. This was one of the first limited recourse international BOT project financings in Vietnam, which was subsequently awarded “Asia-Pacific Water Deal of the Year 2001” by Project Finance;
- Advised Credit Suisse and a syndicate of foreign banks on a syndicated loan to Vietnam Coal and Minerals Group (Vinacomin);
- Advised a syndicate of banks led by Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam on a US$ 192 million financing of Uong Bi Thermo-power Plant – Extension 2;
- Advised a syndicate of banks led by Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam on a US$224 million financing of the Dinh Vu Polyester Fiber Plant;
- Advised a syndicate of the four State-owned banks led by Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam on a US$ 90 million financing of the Pleikrong Hydropower Plant;
- advising a syndicate of the four State-owned banks led by Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam on a US$ 134 million financing of Nam Chien Hydropower Plant;
- Advised a syndicate of the four State-owned banks led by Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam on a US$ 62 million financing of Ta Thang Hydropower Plant;
- Advised a syndicate of the four State-owned banks led by Industrial and Commercial Bank of Vietnam on a US$ 90 million financing of Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant;
- Advised a syndicate of 4 State-owned banks led by Industrial and Commercial Bank of Vietnam on a US$ 212 million construction financing of the Bim Son Cement Plant;
- Advised a syndicate of banks led by Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam on a US$ 222 million financing of the Huoi Quang Hydropower Plant;
- Advised a syndicate of banks led by Joint Stock Commercial Bank of Foreign Trade of Vietnam on a US$ 120 million financing of the Cam Pha 2 Thermo-power Plant;
- Advised a syndicate of the four State-owned banks led by Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam on a US$ 110 million financing of Srepok Hydropower Plant;
- Advised a syndicate of the four State-owned banks led by Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam on a US$ 100 million construction financing of the A Vuong Hydropower Plant;
- Advised a syndicate of the 4 State-owned banks led by Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam on a US$ 89 million construction financing of the An Khe-Kanak Hydropower Plant;
- Advised a syndicate of the 4 State-owned banks led by Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam on the US$ 26 million financing of the 100MW Na Duong Thermal Power Plant;
- Advised a syndicate of the four State-owned banks led by Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam on a US$12 million financing of Ban Coc Hydropower Plant;
- Advised a syndicate of the 4 State-owned banks led by Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam on a US$ 65 million construction financing of the Sekaman 3 Power Plant in Laos. This is the first BOT power project undertaken by Vietnamese developers outside Vietnam; and
- Advised a syndicate of 4 State-owned banks led by Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam on a US$ 255 million financing of the construction of Dong Nai 3 and Dong Nai 4 Hydropower Plants (named “Deal of the Year” 2006 by Asian Counsel).
- Advised Vietnam Airlines on the US Eximbank-guaranteed financing of its purchase of 4 Boeing 777-200 aircraft;
- Advised Vietnam Airlines on the ECGD-COFACE-HERMES-guaranteed financing of its purchase of three Airbus 321-231 aircraft;
- Advised Vietnam Airlines on the ECGD-COFACE-HERMES-guaranteed financing of six ATR-72 500 aircraft;
- Advised Vietnam Airlines on the ECA backed financing of 10 Airbus A321-231 aircraft; and
- Advised various lessors such as SkyWest, AerCap, AirCastle, Babcock & Brown and CIT Aviation Finance in relation to the financing for the leases of aircrafts to airlines in Vietnam such as VietjetAir, Jetstar Pacific Airlines and Air Mekong.
- Advised Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade (Vietcombank) in the strategic sale of a 15% stake to Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. Vietcombank is one of the four leading State-owned banks in Vietnam. It is the biggest M&A deal in Vietnam in 2011 and named “Deal of Year” in 2011 by Asian Counsel;
- Advised Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietinbank) in the strategic sale of a 20% stake to Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. Vietinbank is one of the four leading State-owned banks in Vietnam. It is the biggest M&A deal in Vietnam in 2013 and named “Deal of Year” in 2013 by Asian Counsel;
- Advised Vietnam Technological and Commercial Bank (Techcombank) in the share buyback from HSBC;
- Advised Vietnam Technological and Commercial Bank (Techcombank) in the pre-IPO sale of shares to Warburg Pincus; and
- Advised Fullerton Financial, a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, in the acquisition of a 15% strategic stake in Mekong Development Bank.
- Advised Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank), Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank of Vietnam and other banks and corporates on ISDA derivatives transactions;
- Advised on credit risk swap transactions with regards to government bonds between Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) and Barclays Bank; and
- Advised on the sale/buy-back of bonds between Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) and Standard Chartered Bank.
- Advised Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited, Hanoi Branch (ICBC) in reviewing and updating the master agreement for inter-bank trade refinance loan, template working capital loan contract, personal loan contract, personal guaranty contract, personal security agreements, guarantee contract, pledge contract, and mortgage contract;
- Advised Deutsche Bank AG, Ho Chi Minh City Branch in reviewing various banking forms, including master payment collection services agreement, express collect service agreements and cash management agreements;
- Advised Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) in reviewing forms of security agreements and credit agreements (loan, factoring, guarantee, etc.);
- Advised HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Ltd. in reviewing the template blocked account service agreements, facility agreements, BOS service agreements, credit card opening application forms and agreements;
- Advised Bangkok Bank, Hanoi Branch in reviewing and updating the account opening application forms and agreements;
- Advised Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) Ltd. in reviewing and updating various forms for its daily operations (e-banking, SMS banking); and
- Advised Citibank with regards to legal matters in relation to human resources.
