By Favour Nnabugwu

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) says the equity investments in FBN Holdings made by Leadway Pensure Ltd on behalf of the pension funds under its management are in the name of the pension fund and belong to the RSA holders.

This comes against the backdrop of an allegation of misuse of the pension fund by Leadway Pensure Limited.

PenCom explained in Abuja, yesterday, that the equity investments in FBN Holdings Plc, as stated, could not be appropriated or classified as shareholdings of any related party to the PFA.

It declared that Leadway Pensure Ltd was not in breach of the investment regulation by investing pension funds in the equities of FBN Holding Plc.

It added: “Records, which can be confirmed from the Securities and Exchange Commission, show that the equity investments in FBN Holdings Plc are in the name of the Pension Fund on behalf of the RSA holders.”

Citing the relevant sections of the Pension Reform Act 2014 (PRA 2014), PenCom explained further: “Pension fund assets are managed by licensed PFAs and held in custody by Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs) on behalf of Retirement Savings Account holders and other beneficiaries of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), in line with the provisions of Section 69 (b) of PRA 2014 stipulates that the PFA and PFC shall take reasonable care that the management or custody of the pension funds is carried out in the best interest of the retirement savings account holders. Therefore, all investments made by licensed PFAs in eligible securities and corporate entities are ‘ring-fenced and belong to the RSA holders and other pension beneficiaries. Accordingly, these pension assets cannot be appropriated directly or indirectly to any individual or related party of the PFA.”

According to the pension regulatory body, the provisions of Section 6.1(iii) of the Investment Regulation dealing with conflict of interest, stipulate that “the PFA or any of its agents are prohibited from investing Pension Fund Assets in the shares or any other securities, issued through public or private placement arrangements, by related party/person of any shareholder of the PFA. Related persons/party as defined in Section 1.10 of the Investment Regulation ‘includes natural persons related by blood, adoption or marriage; legal entities one of which has control or significant influence over the other, or both of which are controlled by some other person or entity; a corporate entity where any of the aforementioned holds five per cent or more beneficial interest; and any other relationship that can be reasonably construed as related persons or parties.”

The Commission restated that there was no breach of its investment regulation whatsoever, urging the general public to be guided accordingly.

The Commission restated its commitment to fulfilling its regulatory and supervisory functions as well as ensuring the safety of pension assets and the soundness of the pension industry.