2026-09-18
Added · Updated
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issues guidelines requiring Market Operators to conduct due diligence and adhere to specific eligibility, financial, and collateral standards before investing in unlisted securities, including commercial paper, unlisted notes, bonds, and equities. The rules impose aggregate exposure limits of 10% of Funds Under Management for unlisted securities, with a 5% cap per single issuer and related parties, and mandate detailed reporting, valuation, and default notification procedures. Administrative penalties ranging from fifty to twenty thousand penalty units apply for non-compliance, and existing investments lacking required Information Memorandums must be rectified within three months or liquidated.
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‘Ensuring Investor Protection’
ARRANGEMENT OF GUIDELINES
PART A: PRELIMINARY
SECURITIES INDUSTRY (GUIDELINES FOR INVESTMENT IN UNLISTED SECURITIES) 2026
PART A: PRELIMINARY
the issuer is incorporated under the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992) and is in good standing
with the Office of the Registrar of Companies;
the issue is denominated in Ghana Cedis;
the issuer complies with all applicable laws and regulatory requirements governing its
operations;
the investment is consistent with the investment mandate and constitutive documents of the
relevant portfolio;
a due diligence exercise is conducted as specified under clause 6;
the investment is approved through the Market Operator's internal governance and
investment approval procedures;
the securities have been approved or registered by the SEC;
there is full and accurate disclosure of all transactions in accordance with applicable AntiMoney Laundering (AML) requirements;
the Board of Directors of the issuer consists of at least three members, maintains a minimum
of one-third independent directors and operates an Audit Committee that meets on quarterly basis;
the debt securities are rated Investment Grade by a credit rating agency licensed or registered
by the SEC;
the cumulative investment in a single issuer complies with the investment limit prescribed in
the Act and other relevant laws.
the aggregate amount issued shall remain within limits approved by the Board of Directors of
the issuer;
the investment is supported by an Information Memorandum or equivalent disclosure
document containing all material information necessary for an informed investment decision as specified in Schedule 1; and
the risk(s) and corresponding mitigation measures associated with the proposed investment
is/are assessed and documented.
PART C: ADDITONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INVESTMENT IN UNLISTED
SECURITIES
Eligibility Requirements
a. The Commercial Paper may be interest-bearing or issued at a discount to face value as may be determined by the issuer; b. The Commercial Paper shall not be issued in tranches or series;
c. The maturity period ranges from fifteen (15) days to two hundred and seventy (270) days
from the date of subscription; d. Proceeds of the Commercial Paper are intended solely for working capital requirements and shall not be used for on-lending except where the issuer is a deposit-taking institution licensed by the Bank of Ghana; e. The issuer has no history of default or overdue borrowings as evidenced by a Credit Referencing Bureau report issued within thirty days prior to the investment.
Financial Requirements
The audited financial statements of an issuer shall:
a. be dated not more than fifteen (15) months prior to issuance. b. show pre-tax profits during the three financial years immediately preceding the date of its application and has a plan that details its prospects and future cash flow as well as the ability to fully service its financial obligations as they fall due.
c. have stated capital and distributable reserves of at least GH¢3,000,000, which shall not
be impaired by losses during the period that any Commercial Paper remains outstanding. d. have a debt-to-equity ratio not exceeding 30:70 prior to issuance and post issuance debtto-equity ratio not exceeding 45:55. e. have achieved a three-year average return on assets and return on equity of not less than 5% and 20% respectively. f. maintain an interest coverage ratio of not less than 4.0 times as at the investment date.
Collateral for Secured Commercial Paper
Pledged assets provided for the purpose of a collateral in a Commercial Paper issuance shall:
a. be held in the name of the issuer. b. be registered with the Collateral Registry.
Additional Requirements for Unsecured Commercial Paper
Where the Commercial Paper is unsecured, the Market Operator shall additionally ensure that:
a. the issuer has stated capital and distributable reserves of at least GH¢10,000,000 which shall not be impaired by losses during the period that any Commercial Paper remains outstanding. b. the issuer's debt-to-equity ratio does not exceed 20:80 before issuance and 40:60 after issuance.
c. the Commercial Paper is supported by a bank guarantee or unused credit line covering
the face value.
Unlisted Equities, ensure that it complies with all the following:
A Market Operator shall undertake due diligence prior to investing in unlisted securities.
The Market Operator shall document the findings and recommendations arising from the due
diligence in a Due Diligence Report, which shall be submitted to the Investment Committee for consideration and approval prior to any investment being made.
The Due Diligence Report shall be supported by documented investment research, including
the technical and fundamental analysis conducted, serving as the basis for the recommendations.
The Investment Committee shall document its approval of the due diligence report and the
committee’s recommendations proposed for each investment and shall not consider an investment proposal that is not accompanied by documented investment research.
A Market Operator shall comply with the recommendation and asset allocation strategy
approved by the Investment Committee.
issuer. b. invest in more than 20% in a single issuance.
c. invest in an issue where the issuer has unretired Commercial Papers and Unlisted Notes
and Bonds.
2) Related-Party Investment Restrictions
A Market operator shall not invest more than an aggregate of five percent (5%) of its FUM in Unlisted Securities issued by related parties.
3) Continuous Monitoring
A Market Operator shall continuously monitor compliance with the exposure limits prescribed under these Guidelines and shall maintain records demonstrating compliance with such limits at all times.
10. Rollovers And Redemption
statements. b. The annual report shall be made available to the holders of the unlisted securities.
c. The annual financial statements shall be audited by an auditor registered by the SEC.
d. The annual report shall include, at a minimum:
i. the audited statement of financial position;
ii. the audited statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income;
iii. the audited statement of changes in equity;
iv. the audited statement of cash flows;
v. the notes to the financial statements;
vi. the auditor's report; and
vii. disclosure of any material event or transaction occurring during the financial year or
after the reporting date that may reasonably be expected to affect the rights or interests of holders of the unlisted securities.
2) Quarterly Reporting
a. An issuer of unlisted securities shall, within one (1) month after the end of each quarter, prepare and submit to the SEC financial statements in respect of the relevant quarter. b. The issuer shall make the quarterly financial statements available to the holders of the unlisted securities.
c. The quarterly financial statements shall:
i. be signed by either two directors of the issuer or one director and the chief executive
officer;
ii. be presented on a basis consistent with the presentation adopted by the company in its
most recent annual financial statements;
iii. be presented primarily on a year-to-date basis except where the disclosure of events
or transactions material to the quarter is required under these regulations or is relevant or material to explain the performance of the issuer for the interim period.
14. Sanctions
“Constitutive Documents” means the legal and governing documents establishing and regulating the affairs, ownership, rights, obligations and operations of an issuer of unlisted securities, including its certificate of incorporation, constitution, shareholders’ agreement and trust deed. “Default” means a failure by an issuer to meet a payment, redemption or other material obligation arising under an Unlisted Security when the obligation becomes due in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions. “Discretionary Funds” means funds managed by a Market Operator pursuant to an arrangement under which the Market Operator has authority to make investment decisions on behalf of the investor in accordance with the applicable investment mandate or agreement. “Funds Under Management” or “FUM” means the total value of funds managed by a Market Operator on behalf of its clients. “Information Memorandum” means a document, also referred to as a Private Placement Memorandum or Offer Memorandum, containing material information about an issuer and the Unlisted Security necessary to enable an investor to make an informed investment decision. “Investment Committee” means a committee or other duly constituted body of a Market Operator responsible for reviewing and approving investment proposals in accordance with the Investment Guidelines. “Investment Grade” means a credit rating within the investment-grade category assigned by a credit rating agency licensed or registered by the SEC. “Issuer” means a company or other entity that issues or proposes to issue an Unlisted Security. “Market Operator” means a person or entity licensed or otherwise authorised by the SEC to carry on any activity or provide any service regulated under the securities laws, and includes a fund manager, collective investment schemes, investment adviser, broker-dealer, custodian, trustee, or any other person prescribed by the SEC. “Maturity Date” means the date on which the principal amount or other amount due under an Unlisted Security becomes payable in accordance with the terms of the security. “Note Trustee” means a trustee licensed by the SEC and appointed in respect of an issue of Unlisted Notes or Bonds. “Redemption” means the repayment by an issuer of the principal or other amount due in respect of an Unlisted Security in accordance with its terms and conditions. “Related Party” has the same meaning as Associated Person as ascribed to it under section 212 of the Act.
“Related Party Investment” means an investment by a Market Operator in an Unlisted Security issued by a Related Party. “Rollover” means the extension or renewal of the maturity of an existing unlisted security investment by the issuer beyond its original maturity date, subject to the limits prescribed under these Guidelines. “Secured Commercial Paper” means a Commercial Paper supported by collateral provided by the issuer or security provider to secure the obligations arising from the Commercial Paper. “Unlisted Equities” means shares or other equity interests in a company that are not listed or traded on a securities exchange and are issued or transferred through private arrangements or placements. “Unlisted Notes and Bonds” means debt securities in the form of notes or bonds that are not listed or traded on a securities exchange, and which meet the requirements prescribed under these Guidelines. “Unlisted Securities” means securities covered by these Guidelines that are not listed or traded on a securities exchange, including Commercial Paper, Unlisted Notes and Bonds and Unlisted Equities. “Unsecured Commercial Paper” means Commercial Paper that is not secured by collateral but is supported by the creditworthiness and payment obligation of the issuer and, where applicable, the guarantee required under these Guidelines. “Valuation” means an independent assessment of the value of an asset or security undertaken in accordance with an appropriate and documented valuation methodology. “Valuer” means a suitably qualified professional engaged to conduct a valuation required under these Guidelines.
SCHEDULE 1: INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
Content of Unlisted Securities Information Memorandum A Market Operator shall, prior to investing client funds in any Unlisted Securities, ensure that the issuance is supported by an Information Memorandum approved by the Board of Directors of the issuer and contains all material information necessary to enable an investor to make an informed investment decision. The Information Memorandum shall contain at a minimum the following:
j. significant service agreements, management agreements or outsourcing arrangements; k. details of the issuer's business strategy and growth plans;
l. effects of governmental policies, regulations or industry-specific requirements on the issuer's
operations; m. environmental, social and sustainability matter which affect the issuer's operations; and n. any known trends, uncertainties or events that may affect future operations.
4) Management, Directors and Corporate Governance
In respect of directors and key management personnel (proposed and substantive):
a. full names, date of birth and nationalities. b. qualifications and professional memberships;
c. employment history and experience during the preceding ten (10) years;
d. other directorships and significant business interests held; e. areas of responsibility within the issuer; f. details of remuneration arrangements; g. any relations among directors, executives or significant shareholders; h. details of the Board Committees and governance structures;
i. policies on conflicts of interest, dispute resolution mechanisms, related-party transactions
and ethics; j. attendance record of directors at Board meetings within the preceding financial year; and k. succession plans for key management personnel. The Information Memorandum shall additionally disclose whether any director, proposed director, chief executive officer or senior officer has been:
a. declared bankrupt or insolvent; b. convicted of fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust, money laundering or similar offences;
c. subject to regulatory sanctions or disciplinary action;
d. disqualified from serving as a director of a company; or e. the subject of any adverse court judgment, ruling or regulatory finding that may be material to investors.
5) Capital Structure and Ownership
a. a detailed description of the capital structure of the issuer; b. the authorized, issued and paid-up capital of the issuer;
c. the classes of securities issued by the issuer and the rights attached;
d. a certified extract of the register of members showing beneficial owners and their respective holdings from the Office of Registrar of Companies; e. details of shareholders holding five percent (5%) or more of the issuer; f. details of shareholder agreements and voting arrangements; g. any outstanding options, warrants, convertible securities or similar instruments; and h. any restrictions on transferability of shares or securities.
i. the history of issued share capital of the issuer for the preceding five (5) years.
6) Statement of Indebtedness
A comprehensive statement of indebtedness certified by the issuer's auditor who shall be
registered by the SEC.
The statement of indebtedness shall be dated not earlier than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the submission of the Information Memorandum and shall include:
a. all outstanding borrowings and debt securities; b. bank facilities, overdrafts, contingent liabilities and pending claims;
c. related-party indebtedness;
d. guarantees provided or received by the issuer; e. secured and unsecured obligations; f. amount and maturity of all outstanding securities issued or agreed to be issued by the issuer; g. details of debt covenant applicable to existing obligations; h. off-balance-sheet obligations;
i. the capitalization and indebtedness of the issuer before and after the proposed issue.
Where the indebtedness is secured, details including the nature, value and status of the underlying collateral provided by the issuer shall be included in the Information Memorandum.
7) Related Party Transactions
All related party transactions occurring within the preceding three (3) years, including:
a. loans and advances. b. guarantee arrangements.
c. management and service agreements.
d. asset purchases and disposals. e. leases and financing arrangements. f. transactions involving directors, officers and shareholders. g. transactions involving subsidiaries, associates and affiliated entities; and h. any other transaction capable of creating a conflict of interest.
8) Litigation and Legal proceedings
This section shall include:
a. all pending or threatened litigation; b. arbitration proceedings;
c. tax disputes;
d. regulatory investigations; e. environmental claims; f. insolvency proceedings; g. administrative proceedings; and h. any proceeding that may affect the financial position, operations or reputation of the issuer.
9) Risk Factors
A comprehensive disclosure of all risks associated with the issuer including:
a. business and operational risks. b. management and key-person risks.
c. financial risks.
d. liquidity risks. e. leverage risks. f. market and industry risks.
g. legal and regulatory risks. h. environmental and social risks.
i. technology and cybersecurity risks.
j. foreign exchange risks. k. concentration risks.
l. shareholder and governance risks.
m. risks relating to collateral or security arrangements; n. risks associated with the debt or equity instrument being offered; and o. risks relating to the lack of a secondary market for the securities.
10) Financial Information
a. audited financial statements for the preceding three (3) financial years. b. management accounts not exceeding three (3) months.
c. key financial ratios;
d. cash flow statements. e. details of capital expenditure. f. debt servicing analysis where applicable. g. projected financial statements covering a minimum period of five (5) years. h. assumptions underlying the financial projections; and
i. sensitivity analysis of key assumptions.
11)Information on the Unlisted Securities a. the type of securities being offered; b. the size of the issue;
c. the purpose of the issue and use of proceeds;
d. maturity and repayment terms where applicable; e. interest or coupon structure where applicable; f. rights attached to the securities; g. events of default; h. collateral arrangements;
i. redemption provisions;
j. transfer restrictions; and k. investor eligibility requirements.
12) Additional Requirements for Unlisted Equities
a. dividend policy; b. shareholder rights;
c. dilution analysis;
d. proposed exit strategy; e. projected shareholder returns; and f. pre-emptive rights and other investor protection rights.
13) Additional Requirements for Unlisted Notes and Bonds
a. repayment schedule; b. trustee arrangements where applicable;
c. guarantee arrangements; and
d. priority of instruments.
14) Mandatory Declarations and Statements
This cautionary statement must be displayed in bold at the commencement of the Information Memorandum and must be signed by all directors of the issuer:
“This information memorandum has been prepared and approved by the Directors of the Issuer. The Directors collectively and individually accept full responsibility for the accuracy of the information given and that after making all reasonable inquiries and to the best of the knowledge and belief of the Directors, there are no facts, the omission of which would make any statement in the document misleading”. Further declarations/statements to be included:
a. a declaration by the external auditors confirming that the financial information included in the memorandum gives a true and fair view of the company and b. any such additional declarations as the SEC may prescribe from time to time. ISSUED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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Source: Securities and Exchange Commission Ghana — original document
Summary generated with machine assistance and reviewed before publication; the authoritative text is the regulator's original document. How RegAlert works
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