DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF INVESTMENT FUNDS

Omtrix is highly skilled in raising and channeling capital to regulated Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in need of resources to expand their portfolio and sustain growth.

From 1995 to 2005 and on behalf of ProFund Internacional S.A., Omtrix raised funds for and managed a US$ 22.6 million investment fund targeting MFIs in Latin America and the Caribbean. Omtrix managed all aspects of the funds, including the following activities:

• Identifying promising investments
• Conducting risk assessments
• Designing, developing and implementing innovative financial instruments
• Structuring and negotiating investments
• Disbursing and monitoring investments
• Coaching, supporting and nurturing investee institutions toward highest value possible
• Managing ProFund’s treasury
• Structuring and implementing exit strategies

Omtrix currently manages three investment funds, one non-governmental organization and one technical facility aimed at strengthening the MFI market:

ELF: Omtix worked with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) to design the Emergency Liquidity Facility (www.emergencyliquidityfacility.com), a loan facility providing short-term funding to MFIs in Latin America and the Caribbean facing liquidity shortages due to exogenous events such as natural disasters and economic shocks. Omtrix now manages the US$ 11.5 million facility, along with its parallel US$ 780,000 Technical Services Facility (TSF), which provides technical diagnostics and emergency contingency plans to ELF-affiliated MFIs.

STLF: Omtrix collaborated with Gray Ghost Microfinance Fund LLC to create the Short Term Liquidity Facility (www.stlfacility.com), a US$ 5 million facility complementing ELF by providing short-term loans to MFIs facing temporary liquidity gaps caused by unexpected funding shortages.

ANTARES: Omtrix additionally manages for Gray Ghost the Antares Fund (www.antaresfund.com), a US$ 5 million equity participation facility aiming to foster a secondary market for MFI shares by acquiring, holding, and trading participations in MFIs.

CALMEADOW: Currently, Omtrix manages Calmeadow (www.calmeadow.com) an non-governmental organization (NGO) with the goal of supporting women in economic development. Since its inception in 1983 the institution has invested in several microfinance institutions in Latin America and Africa.

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

APPRAISAL AND SUPERVISION OF INVESTMENTS
FOR BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL INSTITUTIONS

Through its work with ProFund Internacional, Desjardins, Triodos Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, Omtrix has gained expertise in the appraisal and supervision of over 20 financial institutions dedicated to small and micro-enterprises throughout 15 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Supervision activities include:

• Monitoring enabling environment
• Conducting on-site visits to monitor operations and performance
• Preparing written reports focusing on analysis of contractual compliance, evaluation of financial, portfolio and operating performance, risk analysis, and recommendations for improved performance
• Participating as board representatives
• Providing recommendations on strategic decisions
• Monitoring financial regulations

Appraisal and promotion activities include:

• Identifying business opportunities
• Originating and structuring potential transactions
• Appraising and due diligence
• Executing and formalizing of operations

STRENGTHENING OF MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS

Omtrix has actively participated in the institutional strengthening of some of Latin America’s most successful regulated microfinance institutions. Its staff has played a vital role in formulating innovative solutions to financial and organizational problems by providing services in the following areas:

• Sharing of cross-border industry best practices
• Facilitation of access to funds from bi/multilateral and private funding agencies
• Improvement of operational and financial performance
• Advising in the transformation of unregulated microfinance organizations into regulated financial institutions and the merger of unregulated microfinance organizations with commercial banks
• Streamlining of organizational structures to improve efficiency