There has been steady growth in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Vietnam since it joined the WTO in 2007. The main ways to obtain control of a public company are acquiring shares from shareholders, purchasing shares on the stock exchange, or making a public share purchase offer. A bidder conducts due diligence on legal, financial, and regulatory matters before making an offer. Certain share purchases require a tender offer and approval from securities regulators. Payment for shares can be made in cash or other approved assets, and profits and capital can be repatriated through investment capital accounts.