The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has issued fresh guidelines to assist deposit money banks in the ongoing recapitalisation.
The commission, in a statement signed by its management and posted on its Facebook account on Friday, said the new directive is according to its powers under Section 8(1)(e) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 3 of 2020, stressing immediate adherence to the policy.
It said the new guidelines were issued to guide proper filing for new incorporations, increases in share capital, mergers and upgrades or downgrades of licence authorisation.
For new incorporations, the CAC stated that intending applicants must submit requirements, including, “an approved name reservation or availability, approval-in-principle from the sector regulator, a duly completed online incorporation form, payment of stamp duty, and filing fees for the category of license authorisation.”
It added that a certificate of incorporation shall be issued within 24 hours for applications that satisfy all requirements for incorporation of companies prescribed in the “Commission’s operations checklists available at www.cac.gov.ng/resources.”
Also, banking institutions seeking to increase their share capital through private placements, rights issues, and/or offers for a subscription must submit a duly signed company resolution, return of allotment and other statutory declaration by directors verifying that the issued share capital is fully paid- up
Other requirements include, “Notice of the fact that regulatory approval is required, an affidavit deposed to by a director of the company to the effect that regulatory approval is required for the increase, and an amended memorandum of association reflecting the new share capital.
“Payment of stamp duties and filing fees, Issuance of a letter acknowledging notice of increase and requirement of regulatory approval, filing of regulatory approval and the issuance of a certificate of increase.”
Under this category, the commission warned that a notice of the fact that regulatory approval is required must be filed following the provisions of Sections 127(3), (4) & (5) of CAMA.
“Annual returns and information on persons with significant control must be filed up-to-date and certificate of increase shall be issued within 24 hours of filing of regulatory approval,” it said.
Similarly, small and medium banking institutions seeking to merge must submit duly signed special resolutions for merger by each of the merging companies.
The Securities and Exchange Commission must have properly approved the merger scheme, among other requirements.
“A certified true copy of the court order authorising Extraordinary General Meeting of each of the merging companies. Evidence of publication of court-ordered meeting in two newspapers and the Federal Gazette and a CTC of Court order sanctioning the Scheme of Merger.
“All enquiries and complaints on these guidelines and applications submitted in pursuance of the recapitalisation exercise should be addressed to bankrecapitalization@cac.gov.ng or call +234 816 920 9551,” the statement added.
Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria in March 2024 directed all banks to increase their capital base for improved productivity.
The apex bank had directed commercial banks with international authorisation to increase their capital base to N500bn and national banks to N200bn.
It also said commercial banks with national licences must meet a N200bn threshold, while those with regional authorisation are expected to achieve a N50bn capital floor.
This process has commenced fully with banks issuing public offers and rights issues to meet the two-year target.
