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    SEC outlines guide for agri fund-raising

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    By Ruelle Castro

    Copyright malaya

    SEC outlines guide for agri fund-raising

    The Securities and Exchange Commission has issued new guidelines that will make fundraising for agriculture-related businesses easier, embodied in a document called “Securing & Expanding Capital for Farms & Agri-business Related Modernization Schemes” (SEC FARMS).

    According to the SEC’s statement on Thursday, SEC FARMS eases the registration process for the securities of agribusinesses in a bid to boost investor participation and drive growth in the industry.

    Under SEC FARMS, the Commission will review the registration statements of agri-business firms within 28 days from the filing date, subject to the guidelines of the SEC.

    “Through the scheme, agri-businesses may raise to P500 million in funds per project,” it said.

    “We know that agriculture is the backbone of our economy—it feeds our people and sustains millions of families. Yet farmers and agri-businesses have often been left with little water to grow—the water here being capital or financing,” Francis Lim, SEC chairman, declared.

    “SEC FARMS is our way of irrigating that field, making sure resources reach those who need them most so you can modernize, expand, and thrive,” he added.

    SEC FARMS is in line with the Marcos administration’s “Masaganang Agrikultura, Maunlad na Ekonomiya” program, which focuses on farm clustering and consolidation, modernization, and industrialization to develop the country’s agriculture sector, the SEC said.

    The SEC also introduced the guidelines in a conference, “SEC FARMS: Sowing the Seeds of Growth through the Capital Market,” last month.

    The event featured discussions from the SEC Markets and Securities Regulation Department, Company Registration and Monitoring Department, Corporate Governance and Finance Department, Financial Analysis and Audit Department, and Office of the General Accountant on the requirements under SEC FARMS, the SEC said.

    Representatives from the Philippine Stock Exchange and Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines also delved into the processes for initial public offering listing and engaging with underwriters, respectively, it added.

    “Think of SEC FARMS as a new set of farming tools—lighter, sharper, and more efficient. With the right tools, your hard work will yield bigger harvests, not just for your families but for the whole nation,” Lim said.

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