NAMFISA Draft Proposed Standard on Transfer and Merger of Participatory Interests in Collective Investment Schemes

N$8.00 WINDHOEK - 4 November 2025 No. 8776 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA CONTENTS Page GENERAL NOTICE No. 854 Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority: Draft Proposed Standard under the Financial Institutions and Markets Act, 2021...................................................................................................................... 1

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General Notice NAMIBIA FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY No. 854 2025 DRAFT PROPOSED STANDARD UNDER THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND MARKETS ACT, 2021 The draft Standard No. CIS.S.4.2, as set out in Schedule 1, are published by the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA) under section 409(3) of the Financial Institutions and Markets Act, 2021 (Act No. 2 of 2021). All financial institutions, financial intermediaries, industry associations or self-regulatory organisations are invited to make representations in writing to NAMFISA with respect to the draft proposed standard, within 30 calendar days after the date of publication. Such representations will be taken into account in determining whether to issue the standard as originally published or in a modified form. Written representations must be supplied in the template provided under Schedule 2, and must be submitted to NAMFISA at the Upper Ground floor, Gutenberg Plaza, 51 – 55 Werner List Street, Windhoek or email: acloete@namfisa.com.na and projectnewdawn@namfisa.com.na K. MATOMOLA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER NAMIBIA FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY

2 Government Gazette 4 November 2025 8776 SCHEDULE 1 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND MARKETS ACT, 2021 COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT SCHEMES TRANSFER AND MERGER OF PARTICIPATORY INTERESTS IN COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT SCHEMES Standard No. CIS.S.4.2 issued by NAMFISA under sections 409(1) and 410(5)(cc) of the Financial Institutions and Markets Act, 2021

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Definitions

1. (1) In this Standard – (a) “Act” means the Financial Institutions and Markets Act, 2021 (Act No. 2 of 2021), and it must be read with the regulations prescribed under the Act and the standards and other subordinate measures issued by NAMFISA under the Act; (b) “merger” means the consolidation of i) two or more portfolios within the same umbrella collective investment scheme or ii) two or more standalone collective investment schemes, into a single portfolio or scheme, in which all assets, liabilities, and investors’ participatory interests of the merging portfolios or schemes are transferred to and vest in the designated portfolio or scheme; (c) “original collective investment scheme or portfolio” means the collective investment scheme or portfolio that will be transferred to another collective investment scheme or portfolio; (d) “reorganisation” means any significant structural, strategic or operational change affecting a collective investment scheme or portfolio, including but not limited to, changes to investment policies or objectives, the creation or closure of collective investment schemes, portfolios or classes, or any alteration that materially affects investor rights or economic interests; (e) “transfer” means any of the following acts relating to a collective investment scheme or any of its portfolios: (i) the assignment or cession of management, administrative, fiduciary or operational responsibilities to another party; (ii) the movement or reallocation, in whole or in part, of assets, liabilities or participatory interests between portfolios within the same collective investment scheme or across different collective investment schemes; or (iii) the cession, assignment, delegation, substitution or novation of investor participatory interests or rights from one portfolio or collective investment scheme to another; (f) “targeted portfolio or collective investment scheme” means the collective investment scheme or portfolio which will receive another collective investment scheme or portfolio; and (g) “transaction” means the collective reference to merger, transfer or reorganisation.

8776 Government Gazette 4 November 2025 3 (2) Words and phrases defined in section 168 of the Act have the same meaning in this Standard, unless the context indicates otherwise, including without limitation, the following: (a) assets; (b) collective investment scheme; (c) custodian; (d) deed; (e) investor; (f) manager; (g) participatory interest; (h) portfolio; and (i) trustee. Applicability 2. (1) This Standard outlines the requirements and approval conditions applicable to a transaction of a collective investment scheme or its portfolios. (2) This Standard applies to: (a) a collective investment scheme; (b) a manager of a collective investment scheme; (c) an authorised representative of a manager; (d) a designated representative of an authorised representative; (e) a nominee company; and (f) a trustee or custodian. Conditions for Approval or Decline 3. (1) No transaction shall be effected unless – (a) the prior written consent is obtained from investors holding 51% in value of participatory interests in the original and targeted collective investment schemes or portfolios in accordance with the provisions of the trust deed; and (b) NAMFISA has granted prior written approval. (2) Notwithstanding sub-clause (1)(a), a manager is exempt from obtaining the prior written consent of investors, provided that the merger with, or reorganisation of, the collective investment scheme or portfolio with another collective investment scheme or portfolio is conducted in accordance with the following conditions:

4 Government Gazette 4 November 2025 8776 (a) the boards of the manager of the original and targeted collective investment schemes have approved the proposed merger or reorganisation; and (b) the trustee or custodian of the original and targeted collective investment schemes confirms in writing that the proposed merger or reorganisation complies with the process outlined in the trust deed. (3) Notwithstanding sub-clause (1)(a), a manager is exempt from obtaining the prior written consent of investors, provided that the transfer is conducted in accordance with all the following conditions: (a) investors in the targeted portfolio must be provided, in writing and promptly with a clear notice of the proposed transfer, concurrently with the notification of the ballot to investors in the original portfolio; (b) the warning under paragraph (a) must contain accurate and sufficient information sufficient to enable investors in the targeted portfolio to make an informed decision regarding their rights, including the potential impact on investment policy, risk and performance; (d) the assets transferred into the targeted portfolio must be of a type, quality and liquidity comparable to those held in the original portfolio, or otherwise comply with the investment mandate of the targeted portfolio; (e) the manager must prepare and maintain a documented plan to manage any illiquid assets, including all required investor disclosures, and must ensure that the plan upholds the principles of fair treatment of investors; and (f) the custodian or trustee of the targeted portfolio must confirm in writing that – (i) receiving the transferred assets is consistent with the investment objective and policy of the portfolio; (ii) such transaction does not contravene applicable investment limits imposed by NAMFISA; and (iii) such transaction is authorised by the deed. (4) If investors holding 51% in value of participatory interests in the targeted portfolio object in writing to the proposed transfer, the manager – (i) may not proceed with the transfer; and (ii) must inform NAMFISA in writing of such objection within 14 business days. Submission of proposed transaction for approval 4. (1) The manager must submit to NAMFISA the full particulars of the proposed transaction, including: (a) a detailed description of the nature and terms of the transaction; (b) valuation reports;

8776 Government Gazette 4 November 2025 5 (c) a communication plan for investor notification; and (d) any other information NAMFISA may require. (2) The submission must be made sufficiently in advance to allow NAMFISA to discharge its oversight function effectively. Investor notification 5. The manager must ensure that every investor of whom the manager is aware is furnished, at least 30 business days prior to the effective date of the transaction, with written notice containing: (a) full particulars of the proposed transaction; (b) anticipated impact on investor participatory interests; (c) procedures for investor approval or objection; and (d) options for redemption or withdrawal, if applicable. Conditions for regulatory approval 6. NAMFISA may grant approval of a transaction only if satisfied that – (a) upon effectiveness of the transaction, each investor will hold participatory interests with an aggregate monetary value not less than the lower of (i) the net asset value, or (ii) the market value, of the investor’s existing participatory interests; (b) the transaction does not result in unfair prejudice to investors, having regard to the interests of the investors as a whole and the fiduciary duties of the manager; (c) no majority in value of investors have objected in writing within the stipulated time; and (d) all creditor rights and existing obligations are preserved or novated as appropriate. Effect of approved transactions 7. Upon effectiveness of the approved transaction – (a) the deed of the targeted collective investment scheme or portfolio is binding on all investors of the original collective investment scheme or portfolio; (b) all assets, liabilities, rights and obligations of the original collective investment scheme or portfolio vest in the targeted collective investment scheme or portfolio; (c) income and other benefits accruing from the assets accrue to investors of the targeted collective investment scheme or portfolio; (d) substituting participatory interests of equivalent economic value shall be issued to investors without the imposition of registration or endorsement fees; and (e) NAMFISA must effect such endorsements or registrations as are necessary to give effect to the approved transaction.

6 Government Gazette 4 November 2025 8776 General 8. This Standard does not derogate from any rights of creditors or existing obligations of any original collective investment scheme or portfolio, except as agreed in writing. SCHEDULE 2 TEMPLATE FOR WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS: DRAFT PROPOSED STANDARD NAME STANDARD AND CLAUSE COMMENT/DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE PROPOSED AMENDMENT

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