About six companies have indicated interest in merger/acquisition, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has said.

The Director, Policy & Regulation Directorate, NAICOM, Pius Agboola, who is also Chairman, Insurance industry Recapitalisation Committee, said this at the interactive session with shareholders association of quoted insurance companies in Lagos, adding that 44 underwriting firms have received regulatory approval to continue with implementation of their recapitalisation plans, while the plans of six companies was not appropriate and they have been asked to make amend and re-submit.

He noted that two insurers plans are currently undergoing review while two insurers are yet to submit their plans at all, a development he attributed to perculiar situation the erring companies are currently undergoing.

Agboola also used the event to unveiled the commission’s commitment post recapitalisation, noting that there is no doubt that the growth potentials of insurance in Nigeria is huge, hence, NAICOM has decided to put more emphasis on market development to enable investors have value for their investment.

“In doing the above, other prudential issues and market conduct and practice will be put close attention at in order to put companies on tract for the achievement of shareholders’ expectation.

“As a stakeholder in ensuring that investors has value for their money, NAICOM make commitment to develop and deploy appropriate framework for enforcement of compulsory insurances,” he said.

Continuing, he posited that the commission would also deploy information technology in the insurance sector; ensure Risk Based Supervision (RBS); appropriate and relevant distribution model; improve insurance awareness, better corporate governance oversight and effective collaboration with relevant sectors.

Also, NAICOM has stated why it said that recapitalization proceeds from insurance companies should be deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Escrow Account.

Director, Policy and Regulation Directorate who is also the Chairman, Recapitalisation Implementation Committee, Pius Agboola who disclosed this during an interactive session with shareholders’ associations of quoted insurance companies in Lagos, assured that their investments are secured.

He added that this is to correct some anomalies of the previous insurance industry recapitalization exercise and to protect shareholders’ fund.

Agboola who represented the acting Commissioner for Insurance, Olorundare Sunday Thomas, said, “The recapitalization fund with CBN escrow account cannot be withdrawn without NAICOM’s approval after a time frame.

“NAICOM will make sure that the money that insurance companies have collected is not wasted. NAICOM will assist shareholders. So, we will supervise the escrow account.”

It would be recalled that NAICOM recently reviewed the existing minimum paid – up capital share of Life Insurance business and raised it from N2 billion to N8 billion.

General Insurance business was raised from N3 billion to N10 billion, Composite business was raised from N5 billion to N18 billion while reinsurance business was raised from N10 billion to N20 billion.

The new paid-up share capital requirement takes immediate effect for new applications made to NAICOM by companies seeking to carry on insurance business in Nigeria and existing insurance and reinsurance companies are required to fully comply with the new minimum capital requirement not later than June 30, 2020.

Agboola while giving options on how insurance companies can raise the money said, “Insurance companies can raise the money through Initial Public Offering (IPO), right issues, capitalisation of retained earnings and other means such as private placement, merger or acquisition.”

He however condemned borrowing adding that, “If any company wants to go for merger and acquisition or IPO, it must give date because all options have time frame.”

So far, the director said NAICOM has approved the recapitalization plans of 44 companies, rejected that of six insurance companies of which they have been directed to make amendments, two companies are under review, while two companies have not submitted any plans at all to the Commission.