Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals

There is growing demand in Vietnam for reliable, international standard healthcare, and such demand is ever-increasing. At present, this demand still largely remains unmet, and a wealth of opportunity exists for investors in the healthcare sector who are prepared to invest the time and effort necessary to succeed in this highly dynamic sector. Navigating the regulatory framework surrounding investment in the healthcare sector is by no means straightforward. Satisfaction of the various minimum investment conditions is a decidedly challenging endeavour, and the regulatory procedures which must be followed in order to obtain the necessary licences and approvals to operate healthcare facilities in Vietnam can be complicated.

A sampling of our highlight matters in this area includes:

• Representing a leading German pharmaceutical manufacturer in its proposed 40% equity acquisition of a Vietnamese entity for the production, management, trading, research and development and production of pharmaceutical products in Vietnam for consumption in the South-East Asian markets (including Vietnam) and European markets.
• Advising a major multi-national European company in the pharmaceuticals industry on the legal requirements and procedures for obtaining the licences and certificates required for the importation of pharmaceutical products and medical equipment for distribution, in addition to local manufacture.
• Acting for one of Japan’s largest pharmaceuticals companies in its proposed acquisition of a number of Vietnamese pharmaceutical manufacturing companies. Frasers was required to undertake a due diligence review with respect to the Vietnamese company and to provide comprehensive regulatory advice. We also focused on the key area of concern being whether a foreign investor may purchase shares in a listed pharmaceutical company that is licensed to distribute third-party pharmaceutical products.
• Advising a leading manufacturer of pharmaceutical products in relation to numerous employment related issues, including the change of the Chief Representative of the representative office of a pharmaceuticals company in Vietnam.
• Advising a private equity fund on the acquisition of shares acquisition in a leading pharmaceuticals company in the securities market via the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
• Acting for a major Singapore-based investment firm, in relation to numerous of its actual and proposed business and investment activities in the healthcare sector in Vietnam.