On the 25^th of November 2015, the The Business Security Act B.E. 2558 (2015) (‘BSA’) was passed by the Thai National Legislative Assembly. The BSA came into force on the 1^st of July 2016.

Previously, the field of secured transactions law was governed by the Thai Civil and Commercial Code (CCC). The new BCA expands both the range of security interests that can be taken, and the enforcement powers enjoyed by secured creditors.

Previously under the CCC, only mortgages and pledges could be created by parties. Industry participants nonetheless entered into a range of security arrangements, such as assignments of accounts, but these arrangements were sometimes affected by uncertainty. This limited regime was viewed as an impediment to financing in Thailand: a problem that was to be addressed by the BSA.

The BSA creates a new type of contract: a Business Security Contract. Under a Business Security Contract, the security provider—which can be a legal entity or a private individual—is permitted to grant non-possessory security to the security receiver, which must be a financial institution or an approved body).

The BSA specifies a list of different categories of assets which can form part of a Business Collateral Contract: see BSA, ss.8-9

In order to be valid, a Business Security Contract must be in writing, and must be registered with the Business Security Registration Office.

The security receiver then enjoys a right of recourse to the asset in preference to unsecured creditors, and is treated as a secured creditor for the purposes of the Thai Bankruptcy Act.

The security provider retains the right to alienate, dispose of, or otherwise make use of the asset, among other rights.

The BSA further provides for enforcement methods for specific categories of assets, and for third party rights in certain transactions

It is envisioned that the BSA will enhance the provision of credit and improve the ease of entering into secured transactions in Thailand.

An unofficial translation of the BSA is available here.

An overview of the reforms, created by DLA Pipier, is available here.

Last Checked August 2020

If you have any questions or would like to suggest an update please email magda.raczynska@ucl.ac.uk