OMTRIX currently manages three investment funds, one non-governmental organization (NGO) and three technical facilities aimed at strengthening the microfinance sector generally and individual microfinance institutions (MFIs) throughout the region:

1. FUND MANAGEMENT

EMERGENCY LIQUIDITY FACILITY – ELF

ELF, www.emergencyliquidityfacility.com, a US$ 40million loan facility that serves as a lender of last resort to MFIs located in Latin America and the Caribbean by providing short-term loans to MFIs whose liquidity position has been affected by unforeseen, external events such as natural disasters or economic shocks. ELF operates by pre-qualifying MFIs, which are submitted to a thorough evaluation, and later monitoring their financial performance to assure solvency and institutional health. Working with prequalified MFIs allows ELF to act very quickly when one or more of the affiliated institutions encounter a liquidity crunch due to an exogenous event that threatens their normal operation.

SHORT TERM LIQUIDITY FACILITY- STLF

The Short Term Liquidity Facility, www.stlfacility.com, was initiated in 2005 as a complement to the Emergency Liquidity Facility; the STLF provides short-term loans to MFIs facing temporary liquidity gaps caused by unexpected funding shortages. This US$ 5 million Facility complements ELF by serving as a non-systemic “Lender of Last Resort.” Omtrix acts as the agent for Gray Ghost Microfinance Fund for Social Investments, which provides the resources. The STLF has provided 25 loans to 17 MFIs totaling nearly US$ 14 million and has proven its ability to quickly turn-around its loans (in less than two weeks). All loans are current and performing according to the initial terms.

ANTARES FUND

The Antares Equity Participation Fund, www.antaresfund.com, is a US$ 5 million for-profit equity investment fund sponsored by Gray Ghost Microfinance Fund LLC. This Fund aims to foster a secondary market for MFI shares by acquiring,holding, and trading equitystakes in MFIs. Omtrix developed and manages the Fund and as such, identifies investment targets, conducts due diligence and structures potential investments, as well as identifies potential buyers and conducts sales negotiations.

2. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FACILITIES

RISK MANAGEMENT FACILITY (RMF)
In February 2008, Omtrix launched the Risk Management Facility, a donor-funded technical America assistance facility that will provide tools and training to microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Latin America and the Caribbean that address common financial risks.

TECHNICAL SERVICES FACILITY (TSF)
Omtrix is also responsible for managing a, US$ 780,000 Technical Services Facility (TSF), which has performed an institutional diagnostic and produced risk management plans for 51 MFIs in thirteen different countries in order to improve the MFIs’ ability and level of preparedness to cope with future liquidity crises.

CARIBBEAN TECHNICAL SUPPORT FACILITY (CTSF)
The Caribbean Technical Support Facility (CTSF) offers natural disaster prevention and risk management technical assistance to MFIs in the Caribbean. The Facility has financial commitments of US$630,000, provided by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) of the IADB and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and it is managed by OMTRIX/ELF.

3. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO)
 

CALMEADOW FOUNDATION

Calmeadow, www.calmeadow.com, is a registered Canadian NGO managed by OMTRIX that for 20 years has supported innovative ideas in microfinance; ideas that promote greater levels of efficiency and outreach through the commercial provision of financial services to low-income borrowers and microentrepreneurs. From humble beginnings as a family charity, Calmeadow’s work has produced far reaching impacts on the global microfinance industry.

In the past, Omtrix has participated in the following initiatives:

1. MANAGEMENT OF PROFUND INTERNACIONAL (1994 – 2005)

In 1994, Omtrix was hired to establish and manage ProFund Internacional, a US$ 22 million for-profit investment fund promoting the growth of regulated and sustainable financial intermediaries whose main target market was the small and microenterprise (SME) sector of Latin America and the Caribbean. ProFund sought a high return on investment for its shareholders and increased access to capital for micro and small entrepreneurs.

Omtrix managed all aspects of the funds, including the following activities:

2. MFIs SUPERVISION (2000 – 2004)

In 2000, Omtrix was contracted by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) to supervise its microfinance investment/loan portfolio of US$ 11.2 million in Latin America and the Caribbean. The agreement included the oversight of financial institutions located in Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Under this agreement, Omtrix was responsible for conducting site visits, preparing comprehensive quarterly and semi-annual reports on each operation, occasionally participating as MIF’s board representative in certain entities, as well as providing recommendations to the MIF on strategic decisions.

3. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO AFRICAP MICROVENTURES, LTD. (2000 – 2008)

In 2000, Omtrix signed a consulting agreement with AfriCap Microventures Ltd. to provide technical assistance for the establishment and implementation of an investment fund focused on promoting the growth of regulated financial institutions in Africa that specialize in providing services to micro and small enterprises.

Under this contract, Omtrix has:

4. BOARD REPRESENTATION

Omtrix engages in monitoring and representation on the Boards of various MFIs located in Nicaragua, Haiti, Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia for international investors such as the Inter-American Development Bank, Multilateral Investment Fund, Desjardins and Triodos Bank.

5. SHORT TERM CONSULTING PROJECTS

With its extensive knowledge and experience in the microfinance industry, Omtrix has engaged in several short-term consulting projects, including work for: