On April 2, 2024, the Cambodian Competition Commission (CCC) issued Decision No. 087 on Requirements and Procedures of Exemptions under the Law on Competition, outlining the requirements and procedures for requesting exemptions for agreements or activities that could prevent, restrict, or distort competition in Cambodia. Franchise agreements often include clauses such as price fixing, exclusive supply arrangements, or territorial restrictions, which could potentially raise concerns under the Law on Competition. Therefore, it is necessary for both franchisors and franchisees to understand how the law applies to their agreements and whether an exemption request may be required. Some arrangements under franchise agreements may fall within the scope of prohibited practices under the Law on Competition. These include horizontal and vertical agreements, abuse of dominant position, and anti-competitive business combination. If a business owner contemplates that their franchise agreement could be interpreted as anti-competitive, they must assess whether to apply for an exemption. Key Criteria for Exemption Under Decision No. 087, the CCC may grant an exemption if the applicant can demonstrate that the proposed agreement or activity meets all four of the following conditions: Significant and identifiable benefits: The agreement must provide clear technological, social, or economic benefits such as cost efficiencies, qualitative efficiencies, initiations of new technologies, or environmental and sustainable benefits. Necessity of the agreement/activities: These benefits must not be achievable without the proposed agreement or activity. The applicant must show that prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition are essential to realizing the benefits. Benefits outweigh harm: The positive impacts must significantly outweigh any adverse effects caused by the prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition, and the benefits should be likely to materialize within one year. No elimination of competition: The agreement must not eliminate competition in any substantial aspect of goods or services. Application and Supporting Documents

On June 1, 2025, Thailand’s Office of Central Company and Partnership Registration of the Department of Business Development opened a public hearing period on its draft notification regarding criteria and supporting documents for establishment of partnerships and limited companies in which foreign nationals are involved as investors or have signing authority. The draft notification requires applicants for registration of establishment of partnerships and limited companies to submit financial evidence of the capital contributions made by each Thai partner or shareholder in the following cases: When a partnership or limited company has partners or shareholders who are foreign nationals holding shares or equity amounting to less than 50% of the total capital contribution or registered capital in the partnership or company; or When a limited company has no foreign shareholders but has a non-Thai director who is an authorized or co-authorized signatory. The amounts shown in this financial evidence must be in accordance with the capital contribution or shareholding amount of each Thai partner or shareholder. Evidence can be provided in one of the following forms: Financial evidence issued by a bank to verify or demonstrate financial status. Copy of bank statement for the past six months. Copy of personal income tax or corporate income tax document (Form PorNgorDor.90 or PorNgorDor.91 for individuals; Form PorNgorDor.50 or PorNgorDor.51 for corporate shareholders). Any other supporting document showing the source of funds used for the capital contribution. The consultation period will be open until June 20, 2025, and the draft may be subject to additional revisions before it is finalized and made legally binding.

Tilleke & Gibbins attorneys in Vietnam have contributed the 2025 edition of Doing Business in Vietnam, a comprehensive Q&A-style resource from Thomson Reuters Practical Law that provides essential insights for companies navigating business operations in Vietnam. The guide presents a detailed overview of the country’s legal framework and regulatory environment, reflecting recent updates in Vietnamese legislation and practice. This annually updated guide offers key information on the following areas: Legal system: Structure of the Vietnamese judiciary and the role of codified law. Foreign investment: Conditions for market access, licensing requirements, foreign ownership restrictions, and investment incentives. Business vehicles: Formation and operation of legal entities, including limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, and representative offices. Employment: Employment contracts, social insurance, labor rights, and procedures for hiring foreign nationals. Tax: Overview of corporate income tax, personal income tax, value-added tax, and other tax obligations. Intellectual property: Procedures for protecting and enforcing patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other IP rights. Data protection: Compliance requirements under Vietnam’s data privacy laws, including the Personal Data Protection Decree. Competition law: Antitrust rules and regulatory oversight under the Law on Competition. Anti-bribery and corruption: Legal framework and enforcement practices aimed at curbing corrupt activities. E-commerce and digital business: Regulations governing online platforms, digital content, and cross-border services. Marketing and advertising: Laws and guidelines on advertising standards and consumer protection. Product regulation and liability: Safety requirements, product liability issues, and roles of relevant authorities. Doing Business in Vietnam is part of Practical Law’s global series of legal guides designed to support international practitioners and businesses. To access the most recent edition of the Vietnam guide, visit the Practical Law website and sign up for a free trial.

Thailand’s Department of Business Development (DBD) has issued a regulation mandating the closure of the legacy “e-Registration” system for registration of juristic persons, effective June 1, 2025. The e-Registration system will be formally discontinued as part of Thailand’s transition to the “DBD Biz Regist” digital platform, which aims to modernize and streamline online registration processes for corporate entities. Beginning July 1, 2025, the DBD will suspend all paper-based application submissions. All corporate registration applications for partnerships and private limited companies must be submitted online through the DBD Biz Regist system. The DBD introduced the DBD Biz Regist system in 2024 by a regulation of the Office of Central Company and Partnership Registration. While paper-based registration has remained available during the transition period, it has been limited to a reduced number of cases. DBD Biz Regist System The key principles of the DBD Biz Regist system include: Online submission and identity verification. The application process is fully digital throughout the entire registration procedure. Users can create accounts on the DBD Biz Regist website and complete identity verification online through ThaID, National Digital ID (NDID), or the DBD e-Service application—which is currently the only online option available to foreign nationals. In-person verification before a DBD registrar remains available as an alternative option. Electronic signatures. The system supports electronic signatures without requiring physical appearance for document signing. Users can sign documents electronically through ThaID, NDID, or the DBD e-Service application. Consent form process. After the DBD registrar approves an online application submission, the system will generate a consent form to be signed by the relevant parties. This form certifies the information presented in the online registration application. Applicants may either print and physically sign the consent form before uploading it to the system or sign it electronically through the DBD Biz Regist platform. Digital certified corporate documents. Upon completion of the