Category: Company Law

Establishing a Food Production Plant in Thailand

Under the Food Act of 1979, no one is allowed to establish a food production plant in Thailand, unless they have received a license from the proper authorities. The licensing process has two main parts: (1) the preparation and submission of the application and (2) the preparation of the food production site. The application must […]

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DBD Regulations for Company Registrations

The Department of Business Development (DBD) has issued an order promulgating additional rules and documents necessary for the registration of partnerships and companies with a capitalization of over 5,000,000 Baht or for the registration of an increase in capitalization of a partnership or company of to an amount over 5,000,000 Baht. Generally, applicants are required […]

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Foreign Business License: Regional Office

Foreign multinational companies with business operations in the ASEAN region or Asia may consider setting up a regional office in Thailand as a support hub for their corporate network in the region. Nevertheless, the regional office is considered a “service” business within the definition of category (21) of List Three annexed to the Foreign Business […]

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BOI and the Foreign Business Act

Foreign-owned companies that are registered in Thailand are eligible for promotion under the Board of Investment (BOI) Thailand. Furthermore, once BOI promotion has been granted, the promoted company may apply for a “Foreign Business Certificate” under Section 12, which allows majority foreign ownership specifically for companies promoted under the BOI. Nevertheless, the Foreign Business Certificate […]

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Section 10 of the Foreign Business Act

Foreigners who operate a business in Thailand under a treaty to which Thailand is bound, such as Americans who open a company under the Thai-U.S. Treaty of Amity have their rights to operate business confirmed under Section 10 paragraph two of the Foreign Business Act of 1999 which states as follows: “Foreigners operating businesses specified […]

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Withholding Tax for Sale of Property with Co-Owners

According to Thai Revenue Department regulations1, when the immovable property, such as land, with co-owners is sold, then payment of withholding tax when the transaction is registered at the Land Office shall apply as if the co-owners are engaged in an ordinary partnership according to Section 1012 of the Civil and Commercial Code2; in other […]

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Operating as a Foreign Business in Thailand: Pros and Cons

When doing business in Thailand, one has the option of operating in a joint-venture with majority Thai ownership or as majority or solely foreign-owned firm. Although Thai law is restrictive of how foreigners are able to operate the business, it nevertheless does allow majority foreign ownership of the business and foreign entrepreneurs to engage in […]

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Capitalization for Foreign Business in Thailand

The Foreign Business Act of 1999 restricts and regulations foreign business activity in Thailand in order to protect Thai businesses and one of the ways it does so is through specifying rules regarding the capitalization of foreign businesses in Thailand. Notably, although retail is restricted under (14) of Annex 3 of the Foreign Business Act, […]

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Withdrawal of Shareholder Meeting Resolutions

A basis for withdrawing a resolution passed by a shareholder meeting of a Thai limited company is that the resolution was passed through bad-faith. Section 5 of the Civil and Commercial Code provides that “Every person must, in the exercise of his rights and in the performance of his obligations, act in good faith.” Furthermore, […]

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Limiting the Authority of a Company Director

When foreign investors do business in Thailand, it is often more expedient to hire a Thai person to serve on the board of directors along with the foreign directors. Generally, Thai law does not require a limited company to have a Thai national to serve on the board of directors. Furthermore, maintaining control of the […]

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