Mohammed Shosanya
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has lifted its suspension on investment in commercial papers by licensed pension fund administrators (LPFAs) in the country.
The commission had recently suspended investments on commercial papers on account of an unestablished regulatory framework by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC).
It further cautioned fund administrators to stop investing in the affected portfolio pending the provision of guidelines on the issuance of commercial papers by the SEC.
PenCom conveyed the removal of the month-long suspension in a statement on Tuesday.
It reads:“The National Pension Commission (PenCom) refers to its circular of 23 October 2024 on the above subject, in which it directed all Licensed Pension Fund Administrators (LPFAs) to immediately suspend further investment in commercial papers where capital market operators (non-banks) are engaged as Issuing and Paying Agents (IPAs) due to the absence of rules governing the issuance.
“PenCom has noted that SEC has developed draft rules and an amendment to rule 8 (Exemptions) to regulate the issuance of Commercial Papers by its regulated entities.
“Accordingly, SEC is addressing PenCom’s concern about the role of non- bank IPAs in Commercial Paper transactions by bringing them within regulatory boundaries.
“Consequently, to facilitate capital raising and ensure continued market stability, PenCom has lifted the restriction on LPFAs investing in commercial papers where capital market operators act as IPAs.”
The commission enjoins LPFAs to ensure that appropriate legal and financial due diligence are undertaken on all prospectus and offer documents of all commercial papers prior to investment in line Section 2.9 of the Regulation on Investment of Pension Fund Assets.
