capital market

SEC to step up investors education

Published

1 year ago

February 3, 2023

By Philemon Adedeji

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has restated its commitment to continue to educate and enlighten investors in a bid to ensure they make informed investment decisions.

This was stated by Head, Office of the Chief Economist of the SEC, Dr. Okey Umeano during an interview in Abuja.

Umeano stated that the upsurge in the activities of illegal fund managers in recent times has been a source of worry to the Commission and assured investors that the SEC is working hard along with other government agencies to reduce their activities to the barest minimum.

According to Umeano, “This is an area that we are doing a lot and still have a lot to do. If you look at the Capital Market master plan, you will see that a lot of the things we want to do revolves around investor education. In investor education, what we tell investors is how to know who is genuine and it is very simple.

“Just go to the sec.gov.ng you can just on the search portal type CMO. The search portal comes out and you type the name of the firm marketing to you, if it is not there then it is not registered with SEC that means you are not protected. You are not covered by that investor protection that I am talking about. Those who are marketing financial products, investment related financial products must come to SEC and be registered.”

Umeano disclosed that in an effort to further protect investors, the Commission has been carrying out enforcement exercises against these illegal fund managers and would continue to do so.

He said, “We have been going around closing Ponzi schemes and all those illegal fund managers and you know we have been on different stations. I personally have been on several TV stations, radio, and newspaper talking about this. We are about to launch a few billboards around the country saying these same things. Nigerians must understand that the money that they are giving people it is difficult to get.

“It is difficult to raise capital and before you give it to someone, it is important to know that person is the right person. This they can easily ascertain by going on our website. That is the message.”

He stated that the Commission has a police Unit that assists in investigating these entities and carrying out enforcement actions when the need arises, while also collaborating with relevant government agencies like the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“The problem with Ponzi schemes is they use the money from Mr. A to pay Mr. B and use Mr. B’s own to pay Mr. C and while they are paying all that, they are taking their own so by the time we close them, there’s not enough money again to return to the people whose money they took. You also know they promise outrageous returns and these returns are paid to the first people.

“We have a few now that we are trying to resolve but I must tell you that it is difficult for anyone who has put money in a Ponzi scheme to recover much. It is important that Nigerians understand it is not nice. If anyone promises you a return too good to be true, then it is probably not true.”

Dr. Umeano therefore urged Nigerians to be vigilant and carry out their due diligence by visiting the Commission’s website to ascertain registration status of the entities before investing, adding that there is also a need for them to understand the products they are investing in to obtain desired returns on their investments.

capital market

Stock market recovery short-lived as investors lose N199bn

Published

2 days ago

April 24, 2024

NewsDirect

Investors in the Nigerian equities market lost N199 billion at the close of trading on Tuesday.

Before Monday’s N70 billion gain, investors had endured over two weeks of consecutive bearish trading sessions.

Yesterday’s loss followed the dip in the value of stocks like Honey Well Flour, FBNH, Oando and FTN Cocoa Processors, amongst others on the trading floor today.

After five hours of trading at the capital market, the equity capitalisation decreased to N56.1 trillion from N56.3 trillion posted by the bourse on Monday.

Similarly, the All-Share Index (ASI) decreased to 99,311.54 from 99,665.05 achieved by the bourse the previous day.

The market breadth was negative as 16 stocks advanced, 24 declined, while 75 others remained unchanged in 7,324 deals.

Sunu Assurances Nigeria led other gainers with 10 percent growth in share price to close at N1.10 from its previous N1.00 per share.

Japaul Gold and Ventures, CAP, and Omatek Ventures also raised their share prices by 9.58 percent, 9.38 percent, and 9.21 percent respectively.

On the flip side, Honeywell Flour Mills led other price decliners as it shed 9.89 percent off its share price to close at N3.19 from its previous N3.54 per share.

First Bank of Nigeria Holdings (FBNH), Oando, and FTN Cocoa Processors equally shed their share prices by 9.88 percent, 9.82 percent, and 9.40 percent respectively.

On the volume index, Transcorp traded 125.700 million shares valued at N1.8 billion in 467 deals followed by United Bank for Africa (UBA) which traded 55.486 million shares worth N1.27 billion in 685 deals.

Access Holdings traded 51.473 million shares valued at N883.2 million in 958 deals.

On the value index, Transcorp also recorded the highest value for the day trading stocks worth N1.89 billion followed by UBA which traded equities worth N1.27 billion in 685 deals.

Access Corp traded stocks worth N833 million in 958 deals.

capital market

MRS Oil Nigeria seeks shareholders’ approval to delist from NGX

Published

2 days ago

April 24, 2024

NewsDirect

The Board of MRS Oil Nigeria Plc will, at the company’s Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), request shareholders’ endorsement to voluntarily delist from the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

The decision to exit from the NGX was contained in the notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held in Lagos on May 21, 2024.

The company will also seek shareholders’ approval for its Memorandum and Articles of Association (MemArts) to be modified to allow for a share buyback and share capital reduction.

This will be carried out in accordance with applicable laws and regulations at the discretion of the board.

It will also seek an understanding that following the conclusion of voluntary delisting and while the company remains public, the board is empowered to facilitate the admission of its shares on the NASD OTC Securities Exchange.

This action ensures compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s rules on trading in unlisted securities.

According to the statement signed by O.M Jafojo, Company Secretary, as part of special business, the company will request the shareholders to consider, and if thought fit, pass, with or without modification, the following sub-joined resolutions as special resolutions:

“That the voluntary delisting of all the Company’s issued shares from the daily official list of Nigerian Exchange Limited (the ‘Voluntary Delisting’) be and is hereby approved, on such terms and conditions (including but not limited to timing of implementation, arrangements for dissenting shareholders (if any) and the fulfilment of specific conditions precedent to effectiveness (if any)), that the Board of Directors of the Company (the ‘Board’) deems appropriate in connection with the Voluntary Delisting; and subject to obtaining all requisite regulatory approvals.

“That the Memorandum and Articles of Association (‘MemArts’) of the Company be and are hereby amended to authorize the Company to undertake a share buyback and share capital reduction.

“That the Company be and is hereby authorised to undertake a share buyback and share capital reduction in connection with any of its issued shares which may be purchased from dissenting shareholders where necessary as a consequence of the Voluntary Delisting; on such terms and conditions, in such volumes and at such times as the Board deems fit; subject to, and in accordance with, applicable laws and regulations.

“That the MemArts of the Company be amended upon completion of the share buyback and share capital reduction, to reflect the Company’s updated share capital.

“That upon conclusion of the Voluntary Delisting, and whilst the Company remains a public limited liability company, the Board be and is hereby authorised to take all such action as may be required, to admit the Company’s shares on the NASD OTC Securities Exchange in order to ensure that dealings in the Company’s shares are implemented in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Rules on Trading in Unlisted Securities.”

The company will also seek approval to authorise the board to take all such lawful actions and steps (including but not limited to entering into/executing such agreements and documents, appointing professional advisers and other parties, complying with directives of any regulatory authority) deemed necessary to give full effect to the above-referenced resolutions.

capital market

Bearish trend halted as investors gain N70.87bn

Published

3 days ago

April 23, 2024

NewsDirect

Investors in the Nigerian equities heaved a sigh of relief as the losing streak on the bourse was halted on Monday, April 22, 2024 as investors recorded a profit of N70bn at the end of trading.

This followed the boom in the share value of stocks like Japaul Gold, GTCO, FTN Cocoa, Universal Insurance Company and RT Briscoe amongst others on the trading floor today.

After five hours of trading at the capital market, the equity capitalization increased to N56.367 trillion from N56.296 trillion posted by the bourse on Friday, last week.

Similarly, the All-Share Index (ASI) grew to 99,665.05 from 99,539.75 achieved by the bourse the previous day.

The market breadth was negative 16 stocks advanced, 18 stocks declined, while 85 stocks remained unchanged in 8, 298 deals.

Japaul Gold and Ventures Plc led other gainers with 9.58 percent growth to close at N1.83 from its previous price of N1.67, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), FTN Cocoa Processors, and Universal Insurance Plc are amongst other gainers that also grew their share prices by 9.55 percent, 8.76 percent, and 8.57 percent respectively.

On the flip side, The Initiate Plc led other price decliners as it shed 10% off its share price to close at N1.80 from its previous close of N2.00. Prestige Assurance, Omatek Ventures, and VitaFoam Nigeria Plc are amongst other losers that also shed their share prices by 9.84 percent, 9.52 percent, and 9.26 percent respectively.

On the volume index, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc traded 50.158 million units of its shares in 630 deals, valued at N1.1774 billion followed by Access Holdings Plc which traded 48.067 million units of its shares in 951 deals, valued at N815.925 million and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc which traded 41.746 million units of its shares in 776 deals, valued at N956.455 million.

On the value index, GTCO recorded the highest value for the day trading stocks worth N1.773bn in 630 deals followed by UBA which traded equities worth N956bn in 776 deals and ACCESSCORP which traded equities worth N815m in 951 deals.