IBC泰國法律金融會計事務所International Business Consultancy

Restriction for Foreign Shareholdings of

Electricity Business in Thailand

外資持股泰國電力業務的限制

Currently, Thailand’s Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is reviewing a draft regulating the nationality qualifications for the ultimate shareholders and directors of applicants for energy business licenses. The draft of ERC Regulation Re: Qualifications, Documents and Application for Electricity Business, which will replace the EPC Regulations Re: Application and Permission for Electricity Business B.E. 2551 and its amendments, may be adopted soon and will influence licensed companies that are mostly owned by foreigners when they apply for or renew their energy business licenses.

目前，泰國能源管理委員會(ERC)正在審查一項法規草案，更新能源業務許可證申請人的最終股東和董事的國籍資格。 ERC 法規草案《關於電力業務的資格、文件和申請》旨在取代佛曆2551年EPC法規《關於電力業務的申請和許可》及其修正案，可能很快就會被採用，並將影響外資控股的持牌公司申請或延展能源業務許可證。

The draft regulation requires Thai partnerships, limited companies, and public limited companies to have the following qualifications unless there is an international agreement granting national treatment for a specific commitment (mode 3 or mode 4) or exemption by other laws:

法規草案要求泰國的合夥企業、有限公司和公共有限公司必須具備以下資格，除非存在給予特定承諾國民待遇（模式3或模式4）國民待遇或其他法律豁免的國際協議：

• Juristic persons must be incorporated under Thai laws or registered in Thailand with the objective of carrying out electricity business according to Clause 7 subsection (2)(A);

依據第7條第 (2)(A) 款法人必須根據泰國法律設立或在泰國註冊，目的是開展電力業務;

• For private limited companies, foreign ultimate shareholders must not hold more than 49% of the total shares, and the number of foreign shareholders must not be more than half of all shareholders according to Clause 7 subsection (2)(B);

    依據第 7條第(2)(B)款，對於私人有限公司，外國最終股東持股不得超過總股份的49%，且外國股東人數不得超過全體股東的一半;

• At least half of the directors must possess Thai nationality according to Clause 7 subsection (2)(C);

    依據第 7條第(2) (C)款，至少一半董事必須具有泰國國籍;

• Authorized directors must possess Thai nationality business according to Clause 7 subsection (2)(D);

    依據第 7條第(2)(D)款，任何授權董事必須具有泰國國籍;

• Juristic persons must not be a person under suspension or have a history of having the license revoked within 2 years prior to the date of application for a license according to Clause 7 subsection (2)(E);

    依據第 7條第(2)(E)款，法人不得申請執照之日前2年內被吊銷執照或曾被吊銷執照;

• Directors, managers, or authorized persons to bind the juristic person applying for a license must not be bankrupt and must never be a dishonest bankrupt person according to Clause 7 subsection (2)(F).

    依據第 7條第(2)(F)款，申請執照的法人的董事、經理或授權人不得破產，也不得是不誠實的破產人。

When Thai government adopts the draft regulation, it will not take retroactive effect on previously granted energy business licenses, which will continue to be valid until its expiration date, if there is no material change to the license as defined by the draft regulation. When a license is due for renewal, it will needs to be complied with the draft regulation.

泰國政府通過該條例草案後，不會對之前頒發的能源業務許可證產生追溯效力，如果條例草案規定的許可證沒有發生重大變化，該許可證將繼續有效直至到期日。當許可證需要延展時，需要遵守法規草案。

All license applications submitted prior to the effective date of the draft regulation and under consideration will be taken into applications for a license under the draft regulation. Thai companies should be prepared to arrange the shareholding structure to follow the new requirements with the effectiveness of the draft regulation.

所有在條例草案生效之前提交並正在審查的許可證申請都將被納入條例草案規定的許可證申請中。泰國公司應準備好安排股權結構，以適應法規草案生效後的新要求。

IBC International Consultancy is a Law, Finance, and Accounting firm located in Bangkok, Thailand. With Experienced lawyers, accountants, and financial advisers, we provided services including investment, tax, and legal consultants in Thailand. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via Line: @ibcfirm for further information.

IBC泰國法律金融會計事務所 (International Business Consultancy) 為一間位於曼谷的泰國法律金融會計事務所，由經驗豐富的律師、會計師、及財務顧問組成，可提供泰國投資、泰國稅收及泰國法律諮詢等服務。如果有什麼問題，可以隨時通過Line: @ibcfirm與我們聯繫。