The Government has just issued Decree No. 69/2025/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 01/2014/ND-CP dated January 3, 2014 on foreign investors buying shares of Vietnam credit institutions.
Regarding the form of share purchase for foreign investors, Clause 2, Article 6 of Decree 01/2014/ND-CP stipulates: Foreign investors buy shares in the case of credit institutions (CIs) selling shares to increase charter capital or sell fund shares.
According to Decree No. 69/2025/ND-CP, the above content is amended and supplemented as follows: Foreign investors buy shares in cases where TCTDs offer shares, issue shares to increase charter capital or sell fund shares purchased by TCTD before January 1, 2021.
Regarding the share ownership ratio for foreign investors, Decree No. 69/2025/ND-CP amends and supplements Clause 5, Article 7 of Decree 01/2014/ND-CP as follows:
"5. The total share ownership of foreign investors shall not exceed 30% of the charter capital of a Vietnamese commercial bank, except for the cases specified in Clauses 6 and 6a of this Article or during the implementation period specified in Clause 9, Article 14 of this Decree. The total equity ownership of foreign investors does not exceed 50% of the charter capital of a non-bank credit institution in Vietnam, except for the cases specified in Clause 6 of this Article".
Meanwhile, Clause 6, Article 7 of Decree 01/2014/ND-CP is also amended and supplemented: "6. In special cases to ensure the safety of the credit institution system, the Prime Minister decides on the share ownership ratio of a foreign institution, a foreign strategic investor, the total share ownership of foreign investors in a weak joint stock credit institution, facing difficulties exceeding the limit prescribed in Clauses 2, 3, 5 of this Article for each specific meeting".
At the same time, Decree No. 69/2025/ND-CP also adds Clause 6a after Clause 6, Article 7 of Decree 01/2014/ND-CP:
"6a. The total share ownership of foreign investors in commercial banks receiving compulsory transfers (excluding commercial banks held by the State with over 50% of charter capital) is allowed to exceed 30% but not exceed 49% of the charter capital of commercial banks receiving compulsory transfers according to the approved compulsory transfer plan and implemented within the period of the compulsory transfer plan".
