Capital Market

SEC Implements 100% Custody Requirement in Collective Investment Schemes

Published

3 years ago

September 21, 2021

Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced that it has commenced implementation of 100 percent custody requirement in the Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) sector to protect investors.

The Director-General of the SEC, Mr Lamido Yuguda said this in a statement that the custody requirement covered all Funds and Portfolios being managed by registered Fund/Portfolio Managers.

He explained that all clients’ assets managed under discretionary and non discretionary mandates were to be held under independent custodial agreement and custodial banks.

According to Yuguda, this was in addition to CIS, Mutual Funds, authorised for public offering.

Yuguda said that although it was a natural operational requirement of CIS, the SEC was having some new enforcement and insistence on the compliance that has been in the books, but have not been implemented before now.

“For example, we have the collective business sector where you have the fund managers. We have a dichotomy between public funds, which are funds that are publicly traded, and you can see the unique values on the stock exchange and in newspapers daily.

“There are also private, which are investment agreements between fund managers and specific investors. A lot of these funds in the privately held fund management mandates are in our custody.

“The investment manager before now did not only have the investment management responsibility for the fund, but also kept the securities and cash as whole shares in this investment.

“The risk is that if the investment manager should go bust, then the investor loses and that is not acceptable in financial markets around the world. I think with the introduction of total custody in that sector, we are likely to see a massive uptake of these kinds of products.

“We have released some regulations recently in this area for the different types of fund managers, and I think this is an area that is now becoming increasingly attractive to investors and is also receiving the attention of the commission”.

According to Yuguda, with the SEC having 100 per cent custody agreement in the CIS sector, any investor in the capital market should be confident that their investments were secure.

He added that it was a good thing for the market and an area that can bring about a lot of growth in the market because it offered a very good opportunity to save.

The SEC D-G also said that the commission was also looking at the market to see how it could formulate regulations that would help investors protect their investments.

“We have a Fintech division in the commission that was set up purposefully to understand these new types of investment structures and to collaborate with Fintech firms that wish to register as capital market operators and offer services to the investing public. “This is a developing area, and we intend to issue new regulations from time to time,” he added.

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Capital Market

Stanbic IBTC Holdings to Raise N550bn Through Debt Issuance, Rights Issue

Published

4 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Stanbic IBTC Holdings, one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, is set to raise a total of N550 billion through a combination of debt issuance and a rights issue.

This ambitious move comes amidst the backdrop of regulatory changes and the need for financial institutions to bolster their capital bases to meet new requirements set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The announcement was made in a notice of the company’s annual general meeting filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited.

According to the disclosure, Stanbic IBTC Holdings plans to establish a debt issuance program with a capacity of up to N400 billion.

This program will enable the company to issue various forms of debt securities, including senior unsecured or secured, subordinated, convertible, preferred, equity-linked, or other forms of debt obligations.

Also, the board of Stanbic IBTC Holdings is seeking shareholder approval to raise additional equity capital of up to N150 billion through a rights issue or offer for subscription.

Shareholders will also vote on increasing the company’s issued and paid-up share capital to accommodate the proposed capital raise.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings has been a key player in Nigeria’s financial landscape, with a strong track record of performance and a diverse range of financial services.

The proposed capital raise is expected to provide the company with the necessary resources to pursue growth opportunities, enhance its market position, and continue delivering value to shareholders and stakeholders alike.

Capital Market

Nigerian Breweries to Raise N600 Billion to Tackle Foreign Exchange Debt

Published

3 days ago

April 22, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Nigerian Breweries Plc, the largest brewery in Nigeria, has announced plans to N600 billion through a rights issue, with the primary objective of clearing its N500 billion foreign exchange debt burden.

This initiative was unveiled by Uaboi Agbebaku, the company’s secretary and legal director, during a pre-annual general meeting press conference held in Lagos.

Agbebaku stated that Nigerian Breweries is committed to implementing a comprehensive company-wide reorganization strategy to ensure a resilient and sustainable future for all stakeholders.

“The additional capital raised via rights issue will be utilized to settle all overdue foreign exchange debts and payables, effectively eliminating foreign exchange exposure,” Agbebaku explained.

He further highlighted the importance of strengthening the company’s balance sheet and liquidity position to restore profitability in the shortest possible time frame.

Hans Essaadi, the managing director and CEO of Nigerian Breweries, echoed Agbebaku’s sentiments, acknowledging the challenging operating environment characterized by factors such as double-digit inflation rates, currency devaluation, and foreign exchange challenges.

Essaadi emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues to mitigate their adverse impact on the company’s financial performance.

To achieve its objectives, Nigerian Breweries intends to leverage the support of its majority shareholder, Heineken Plc, which has committed to contributing over 50 percent of the N600 billion fundraising target.

This partnership underscores the strategic importance of the rights issue in revitalizing Nigerian Breweries’ financial health and positioning it for sustainable growth.

As part of its broader business restructuring efforts, Nigerian Breweries had previously announced plans to temporarily suspend operations at two of its nine breweries.

Sade Morgan, the director of corporate affairs at Nigerian Breweries, explained that the company is committed to executing its 2024 business recovery plan, which comprises cost management, operational optimization, and portfolio innovation.

“Our strategy for success in 2024 revolves around strong cost management, operational efficiency, and the introduction of exciting innovations to delight our customers,” Morgan stated.

“We remain dedicated to our employees, communities, and stakeholders as we navigate through these challenging times.”

With the proposed rights issue, Nigerian Breweries aims to not only alleviate its foreign exchange debt burden but also to fortify its financial resilience and drive sustainable growth in the dynamic Nigerian market.

Capital Market

Royal Exchange Plc Rights Issue Falls Short, Closes at 75.83%”

Published

1 week ago

April 15, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Royal Exchange Plc, a leading player in life assurance, health insurance, and credit financing, recently concluded its rights issue with a subscription rate of 75.83%, indicating a shortfall in investor uptake.

The rights issue aimed at raising capital through the issuance of additional ordinary shares saw only a portion of the offered shares subscribed by existing shareholders.

According to the weekly report of the Nigerian Exchange Limited, an additional 3,121,328,866 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each were listed on the market, resulting from the completion of Royal Exchange’s rights issue.

This falls short of the total intended issuance of 4,116,296,059 ordinary shares at a price of N0.50 per share.

Despite the lower-than-expected subscription rate, Royal Exchange remains optimistic about its future prospects.

The company’s unaudited 2023 report revealed significant growth in earned income, soaring by 253% to N882.32 million compared to the previous year.

This boost in earnings was attributed to increases in net interest income and profits from investments in associates, totaling N591.55 million.

Also, Royal Exchange reported a profit of N46.09 million for the year 2023, a stark turnaround from the loss of N150.47 million recorded in 2022.

The company’s restructuring efforts, with a focus on asset management, have contributed to its improved financial performance.

Despite the shortfall in its rights issue, Royal Exchange Plc remains committed to its growth trajectory, leveraging its strengthened financial position to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the insurance and financial services sectors.