N300m new capital: Operators seek extension
As the September 30 deadline for the new
capital requirement for market operators approaches, some operators have
renewed calls for an extension. Speaking with New Telegraph the operators noted
that insisting on the deadline and withdrawing the licences of those who could
not meet the deadline would throw the market into further crisis.
The reasons cited for the demand
included lack of investors’ confidence, the dwindling prices of crude oil and
the impact on the economy, especially the devaluation of the naira and the hike
in interest rates. Director-General of Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, had recently said that the commission had no plans to
extend the deadline, stressing that it has come to stay. He said that the
capital requirement would be implemented vigorously.
“The deadline is still September and
progress is being made; the level of compliance has gone up, but we are
determined to keep to that September 30, no shaking, no going back. There is no
going back and we are happy the way we are receiving responses from all the
capital market operators,’’ he said. But the Managing Director of Perfecta
Securities Limited, Mr. Emma Eze, told New Telegraph that SEC should put aside
the recapitalisation of stockbroking firms currently being pursued and first
restore investors’ confidence. “SEC should put aside the recapitalisation
process for now. The issue of new capital requirement will not reactivate the
market, what will reactivate the market is restoration of investors’
confidence.
For the full story, check New Telegraph newspaper.
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