Companies intending to offer switching and processing as well as mobile money services in Nigeria will now have to set up a Payments Service Holding Companies (PSHCs) structure and pay N1m licence fee.
This was contained in the guideline released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the establishment and regulation of PSHCs, signed by CBN’s director of payments system management department, Musa Jimoh.
“This arrangement would prevent commingling of activities, facilitate management of risks and enable the Central Bank of Nigeria exercise adequate regulatory oversight on all the companies operating within the Group (PSHC),” the circular read in part.
CBN said promoters of a PSHC shall be required to submit a formal application for the grant of a licence and that the application process will be in two phases: approval-in-principle (AIP) and a final licence.
According to the guideline, the capital requirement to apply for an AIP is “a non-refundable application fee of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira only) or such other amount that the CBN may specify from time to time; payable to the Central Bank of Nigeria, through electronic transfer.
“Not later than six (6) months after obtaining the AIP, the promoters of a proposed PSHC shall submit an application to the CBN for the grant of a final licence.
“The application shall be accompanied with non-refundable licensing fee of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira only), or such other amount that the CBN may specify from time to time, payable to the Central Bank of Nigeria by electronic transfer”.
The apex bank explained that a PSHC will be set up for the purposes of making and managing equity investment in two or more companies being its subsidiaries, which are payments service providers across three categories: mobile money operations, switching and processing, and payment solution services.
“PSHC shall be non-operating, existing solely to carry out investment in approved subsidiaries without engaging in the day-to-day management and operations of subsidiaries.
“It shall have a board size of between 5 and 10 or as determined by applicable CBN Corporate Governance Guidelines.”
CBN added that no PSHC is allowed to borrow from the Nigerian banking system for the purpose of capitalising itself or any of its subsidiaries.
