China’s Business Landscape: Cautionary Tales and Key Strategies
It is crucial to understand the unique risks and requirements for doing business in or with China. This post explores real-world China scenarios faced by foreign companies, highlighting the importance of due diligence to mitigate risks and ensure success.
中国日益增长的风险
中国给外国企业带来了独特的挑战。随着外国企业调整在华战略，必须意识到不断变化的市场环境。外国企业的任何重大举措都会在中国引起密切关注。
我们律所常需告知客户：他们以为拥有的中国实体或知识产权并不存在，或以为能保障自身权益的合同完全无效。部分企业选择彻底撤离，另一些则在缩减业务规模。两条路都充满挑战。 企业动向引发连锁反应——无论是企业内部还是来自北京的反应。紧张局势已然形成：企业承受着压力，而中国方面则在评估损失。企业必须核实注册信息和权利归属是否明确。在重组中国业务前，务必确保拥有坚实的法律基础。
经典中国范例
1. 从未存在过的十亿美元公司
About a decade ago — before China got so much better at spotting such things — we were retained to help a U.S. company whose China general manager had stolen funds from its China subsidiary. Our investigation quickly revealed there was no China subsidiary. No China entity had ever been formed even though the China operations were manufacturing more than a billion dollars of product a year, with around 300 “employees.” The general manager had lied about having formed a WFOE, no China taxes had ever been paid, and every “employee” had been working illegally.
2. 从未存在过的十亿美金公司（下篇）
此外，大约十年前，某证券交易所对近期一家新上市公司产生了怀疑，于是委托我的律师事务所调查这家中国企业。该公司主营面向25至35岁职业女性的高端时尚产品，据称拥有超过3500家门店，总部位于山东省。
我们首先询问了一位在青岛颇具时尚品味的女律师，了解她对这家公司的认知。由于她身处山东地区，且属于该公司及其产品的核心目标人群，我们本以为她会有所耳闻，但她表示并不知晓。她承诺会询问朋友们，结果发现她的朋友们同样对此一无所知。
We dug deeper and found that this company was a tiny company that made low-end cheap products it mostly sold at low prices wholesale. Near as we could tell, it did not have a single retail outlet, much less 3,500. The stock exchange expected the company would have issues, but nothing like this. I believe its owners pocketed the money from the IPO and were never heard from again.
3. 翻译中的迷失：中美合资企业
某美国公司曾联系我们，称其中国合资企业开始在美国销售产品，与该公司形成直接竞争。我们受托评估该合资企业的中文协议是否赋予美国公司阻止其在美销售的权利。问题在于这份中文"合资协议"实为咨询协议，且合资企业从未成立。 我方客户完全无计可施。
4. The Non-Existent Trademark
A Norwegian company once came to us looking to sue its former China distributor for manufacturing and selling the Norwegian company’s product in China, “in violation of our China trademark.” The Norwegian company told us how its former distributor had registered its brand name for it in China, and the Norwegian company even had a trademark certificate to prove this. The trademark certificate turned out to be fake and the trademark had actually been registered in the name of a Chinese citizen (probably a relative of the distributor), who was now licensing it to the former distributor.
5. Non-Existent Trademarks, Parts 2 to 50
Verifying trademarks is crucial. In a significant number of cases (roughly 1 in 15), we’ve found clients believing they owned Chinese trademarks, only to discover a local entity held them. This poses a major challenge, potentially hindering exit strategies or causing legal issues.
You also need to beware of fake law firms that collect money from foreign companies to register their IP or their company and then pocket the money and do nothing.
中国尽职调查的重要性
除上述涉及不诚实行为的案例外，我们还经常处理因各种原因（通常是快速扩张）未能及时更新必要国际注册的客户事务。
验证您的国际实体及知识产权注册信息快速、简便且经济实惠。若您存有丝毫疑虑，请立即进行审核。
中国尽职调查清单
进行彻底的尽职调查有助于避免代价高昂的失误。以下是需要核查的关键事项：
- 直接通过政府来源核实海外实体的注册文件
- 对潜在合作伙伴和关键员工进行背景调查
- 确认知识产权注册已妥善提交且归贵公司所有
- 与经验丰富的国际法律顾问详细审查所有合同和协议
- 检查拟收购实体的设施、运营及库存情况
- 分析过去几年的财务报表和税务申报文件
- 访谈现有分销商和销售渠道以评估合作关系
- 检索法院记录中涉及目标实体的未决诉讼案件
- 确认所需的营业执照、监管批准及认证
- 审查公司记录和文件，以发现任何修改或异常情况
- 确认银行账户已正确注册且为本人所有
行动号召
通过吸取历史教训、优先开展尽职调查并提前保障资产安全，企业能在日益严峻的中国市场中提升生存几率。知识就是力量，主动出击可规避风险。面对中国环境的快速变化，保持警惕至关重要。
Don’t become the next cautionary tale. Now is the time to take stock of your China position and to take action to safeguard your interests.
