A lot of insurance companies have asked for permission to increase capital to improve their financial capability, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The applications all were made to the Ministry of Finance in the first quarter of 2007. Insurers asking to increase capital included Bao Viet, Bao Minh, Vinare, Bao Long, Vien Dong, BIC, and newly licenced companies like Toan Cau, Bao Nong, Bao Tin.

Insurers are rushing to increase their capital in order to have the capital levels stipulated by Government Decree 45. The decree, dated March 27, 2007, says that non-life insurance companies must have at least VND300bil in legal capital (the previously applied level was VND70bil), while life insurance companies must have at least VND600bil in legal capital instead of VND140bil. Brokerage insurance companies must have the minimum legal capital of VND4bil.

The insurance companies which have been previously established and do not have the required capital level must raise their capital within three years after the date the decree went into effect.

However, according to Phung Dac Loc, Secretary General of the Vietnam Insurance Association, the strict requirements stipulated in the decree are not the main reasons insurers want to increase their capital. In fact, insurers want to become stronger to get ready for the fierce competition to come.

Among the companies, BIC (BIDV Insurance Company) has asked for the biggest capital increase. BIDV, the mother bank, has decided to inject VND300bil more in the insurance company to raise the chartered capital of the insurer to VND500bil in June 2007.

Pham Quang Tung, BIC Director, said that the required capital levels might be high for local companies, but they proved to be relatively low compared to those of companies in regional countries. Insurers need to increase their capital in order to become financially stronger.

Mr Tung said that with the stock market’s development, it was not a difficult task nowadays to increase capital.