VietinBank Insurance offers 25-per cent stake to Korean partner

Korean-based Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co., Ltd (HMFI) announced that it will acquire a 25-per cent stake in Vietinbank Insurance Co., Ltd (VBI), a subsidiary of Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietinbank).

VBI will issue 6.7 million shares to Korean partner to raise its capital to VND667 billion ($28.6 million). The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019 after being approved by the competent authorities.

Previously, VBI held the general meeting of shareholders (GMS) to approve the plan to increase charter capital through the private placement of shares to foreign investors.

The GMS showed that since June 2018, 33 foreign investors have officially asked to purchase shares of VBI.

Among them, HMFI was the most qualified and selected to negotiate the purchase of VBI's privately placed shares.

To promote this deal, HMFI has set out one condition that there will be at least one staff from foreign investor appointed to VBI´s Board of Directors (the staff will not be involved in VBI´s business operation) to join in VBI´s administration as well as offer the best support to VBI.

This staff will be appointed to VBI´s Board of Directors right at the time when the Ministry of Finance approves in writing the increase of VBI´s charter capital and foreign shareholders. 

This content is also one of the terms set out in the share acquisition agreement signed between VBI and HMFI and the strategic cooperation agreement signed between HMFI and VietinBank.

HMFI will also be subject to a transfer restriction that is deemed to be up to 10 years from the time of completion of the share acquisition, except in certain cases specifically agreed upon by the parties.

"The involvement of foreign investors will help VBI strengthen its balance sheet and enhance its operational safety. At the same time, technical assistance and business cooperation with foreign investors will help VBI exploit more important resources to improve its governance, develop IT platforms, enhance risk management in the field of non-life insurance, train and develop excellent human resources and solidify the prestige of the VBI brand domestically and internationally," stated VBI.

In 2017, VBI was named in the top 10 largest insurance companies in Vietnam. Its total insurance revenue in 2017 reached VND1.01 trillion ($43.3 million), up 29.4 per cent over 2016. The company reported a pre-tax profit of VND84.5 billion ($3.62 million).

Meanwhile, HMFI is one of Korea's largest non-life insurers in terms of revenues and assets. The company received the rating A (excellent) affirmed by AMBest and A-credit rating affirmed by S&P.