With this agreement, USAID-FinGAP and Eximguaranty have reduced the credit guarantee premium from 5.5% to 4.5% for agribusinesses in the project’s value chains. Eximguaranty guarantees up to 75% on the loan amount approved by the financial institution. USAID-FinGAP’s grant will be used to pay half of the credit guarantee premium required by the financial institutions.

“We are happy to work with Eximguaranty to achieve the twin objectives of facilitating financing for agribusinesses by reducing financial institutions’ risk while making it less costly for agribusinesses to get financing” said Rick Dvorin, USAID-FinGAP’s Chief of Party.

“This project has come at an opportune time to support agricultural growth and development in Ghana geared towards reducing poverty and improving livelihoods in the three Northern regions, and it is in tandem with the call by the President to grow most of the food stuff we eat, improve food security and as well increase our exports. We at Eximguaranty are excited to be part of the collaboration with USAID-FinGAP as it offers

a platform to realize our mission of ensuring the flow of credit from financial institutions to SMEs especially in the agricultural sector through credit guarantees”stated Zac Bentum, Managing Director of Eximguaranty Company Ghana Ltd.

To access this grant, a financial institution making a loan to an agribusiness in the rice, maize and soy value chain, will submit the loan application to Eximguaranty for consideration. Once Eximguaranty agrees to cover the transaction, the financial institution will either bear the 50% cost of the premium or share with the agribusiness.

About USAID-FinGAP

USAID-FinGAP is a five-year project that is unlocking financing for agribusinesses in the rice, maize and soy value chains based in or sourcing raw materials from northern Ghana. The project is building the capacity of its network of business advisory service (BAS) providers in identifying, preparing and packaging financing proposals for viable agribusiness opportunities. It is also using a combination of incentives and technical

assistance to help financial institutions better understand agribusinesses and develop products tailored to financing their needs. Since its inception in July 2013, theproject has facilitated over $9.5 million in financing for agribusinesses in the target areas, with much more in the pipeline through the project’s network of BAS providers.

About Eximguaranty Ghana Company Ltd.

Eximguaranty Company Ghana Limited’s mission is to facilitate the flow of credit to SMEs by providing credit guarantees and general financial risk management solutions using innovative instruments. This includes assisting Banks and Non-Bank Financial Institutions to extend credit facilities to borrowers who may have inadequate or no collateral as well as providing mechanism through which agriculture products, can be financed and marketed.

Exim Signs Agreement with FinGAPUSAID-Financing Ghanaian Agriculture Project (USAID-FinGAP) has reserved an amount of USD 500,000 as grant to Eximguaranty Company Ghana Limited (Exim Ghana) to subsidize the cost of credit guaranteepremiums on loans from financial institutions to agribusinesses in the rice, maize and soy value chains. The fund will serve as collateral substitute to help agribusinesses secure financing while reducing the risk for the financial institutions. The two organizations have signed an agreement to this effect.

We at Eximguaranty are excited to be part of the

collaboration with USAID-FinGAP as it offers a platform

to realize our mission of ensuring the flow of credit from financial institutions to SMEs especially in the

agricultural sector through credit guarantees”stated Zac Bentum, Managing Director of Eximguaranty Company

Ghana Ltd.

If you would like to know the value of money, try to borrow some - Benjamin Franklyn

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Exim Newswww.eximghana.com

April 2015

On behalf of the Board of Directors of our Company, I will like to warmly welcome all Team Members back to work and to wish YOU a Joyous New Year.

I would also take this opportunity, on my own behalf, the Executive and Board to thank you for the hard work and resilience in 2014. We were able to achieve some targets, though not all.

I encourage all Staff to start this year, 2015, with greater focus, determination and commitment to succeed and provide exceptional

service to grow our market share

and profit. 2015 will be tough but let us face our challenges with courage and confidence.

2015 is slated as a challenging year. However, with the right attitude, right strategy, courage and confidence Exim should be able to face the challenge confidently.

This will call for a new mindset and as the leader of the Team; I ask you be better in all your endeavours.

§ Be Better in your Work: Be creative, effective and results oriented

§ Be Better with our Customers: Show more care, passion and respect to all our Customers

A Publication of Eximguaranty Company Ghana Limited P. O. Box 18543 Accra.Tel:+233 0302 - 768763-4www.eximghana.com

All Rights Reserved 2015

FROM THE DESK OF THE

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Mr. Zac Bentum

§ Be Better with your Team mates: Show more support to each other as you warm up relationship.

§ Be Better to Yourself: Learn more, take care of yourself and improve your performance

§ Be Better in your Community: Give of your time to support community activities

§ Be better in your Relationship: Spend quality time with family and friends

Thank you for your loyalty, efforts and dedication to growing Exim as a relevant brand that supports SMEs .

In 2015 we should be:

§ Focused

§ Determined

§ Bold

§ Committed

And be positioned to provide exceptional service to our clients and stakeholders so as to grow our market share and profit.

I wish you a Happy and Fruitful year with satisfaction to yourselves and advantage to Exim.

Zac Bentum

Our VisionTo play a leading role in the emerging credit guarantee market.

Our MissionTo facilitate the flow of credit to SMEs by providing credit guarantees and general financial risk management solutions. We will achieve this by using innovative instruments and highly motivated staff while providing a return to our shareholders.

Core ValuesProfessionalism:

Timeliness, Efficiency, Integrity and Credibility are our hallmarks

Communication:We believe in Transparency and Free-flow of information

Team Work:Our strength will be derived from continued co-operation, Tolerance and Mutual respect for all

Customer Care:Customer satisfaction is the heart of our Business

Responsibility:Our common responsibility lies in the efficient use of resources, protection of our values and image and in strong employee loyalty and high confidentiality standards

Products & ServicesSMEs can access these Exim products and services through their banks and financial institutions:

§ Credit Guarantee covers for Financial Institutions

§ Credit Guarantee for refinance

§ Local Credit Line Guarantee for Micro Finance Institutions

§ Credit Guarantee for Micro- Mutual Groups or Associations.

§ Credit Syndication Guarantee

§ Group Credit Syndication Guarantee

§ Credit guarantee cover for pre and post-shipment export

§ Machinery Credit Guarantee

§ Insurance cover for export proceeds

SMEs/Entrepreneurs may walk into an Exim office for the following:

§ Bid Bonds/Tender Security

§ Advance Payment Guarantee

§ Advance Mobilization Guarantee

§ Seed Fund Guarantee

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President inaugurates Exim Bank Task Force

Mrs. Eva Osei Bonsu joined Exim on 10th November 2014 as a National service person.

She holds a Diploma and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from the Advanced Business University College, Accra.

Eva, before joining Exim, was an entrepreneur with appreciable knowledge in Marketing. She is ready to learn on the job and also contribute her quota in generating new ideas to improve the marketing of Eximguaranty.

Faustina Naa Borley Alabi joined the Exim team effective April 15th as Front Desk Officer. She holds a BSc in Human Resource Management from the Central University College.

Naa Borley has over three years working experience in front desk management. Until her appointment, she was the Front desk executive at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company Limited, Accra

On 11th February 2015, President Mahama inaugurated two bodies at the Flagstaff House to strengthen the infrastructural and export financing sectors of the economy. The first was the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) Board and the Presidential Task Force on the establishment of the Ghana Exim Bank.

The fourteen- member Board on the establishment of the Ghana Exim Bank has Mr. Lionel Van Dosoo, a former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana as Chairman, the Governor of Bank of Ghana Mr. Henry Wampah and others including Mr. Zac Bentum, Managing Director Eximguaranty Company Ghana Limited as a member of the team.

The task force is tasked with the responsibility of putting together the framework establishing an Exim bank in Ghana.

As a quasi-governmental institution, the Exim bank will act as an intermediary between the government and exporters for export financing.

Over the years, the government has supported importers and exporters through many initiatives, but the President said the key role of Exim banks as drivers for the export of strategic goods and services and overseas investment by Ghanaian companies was unavailable.

President Mahama said he did not want Ghana to remain an import-dependent country.

culled from the Daily Graphic

MOVEMENT

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Eximguaranty Company Ghana Limited, the leading name in credit guarantees in Ghana, marked its twentieth anniversary under the theme “20 years of Guaranteeing Credit for SME Ghana: Repositioning Exim as a critical partner in Financial Intermediation” in April 2014. The half yearlong celebration was organized with an elaborate programme which included activities like health walk, clean up exercise, donation to the Dzorwulu Special School and a Workshop for Financial institutions.

The celebration was crowned with an awards ceremony to reward deserving Clients, Board members and Staff at a corporate lunch held at the African Regent Hotel. The ceremony was preceded by a colorful thanksgiving service at the Prison’s

Interdenominational Church, Accra to show appreciation to God for the company’s successes over the years. In his sermon, the Rev. Father Selwyn Adama Okai admonished Management and Staff to be good stewards and work to propel the company to greater heights in the future.

In his remarks at the luncheon, the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Felix Ntrakwah congratulated Management and Staff on their achievements, stating that many companies start but are not able to survive in this harsh business environment indicating that it was a feat that Exim has thrived this long. He stressed that even though it had taken the company a long time for Banks and SMEs to appreciate the nature of Exim’s business, the prospects are good. He

EXIM ROUNDS OFF 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

affirmed that there is hope that more Banks will soon join Exim’s satisfied clients. He challenged staff to work hard, doing a continuous assessment of their jobs and roles in order to grow the company.

Acknowledging and rewarding its stakeholders, Memphis Metropolitan Limited was adjudged the ‘Most Loyal Client’ while Justmoh Construction Company won the ‘Most Promising Client’ award. Mr. Felix Ntrakwah was also adjudged the ‘Longest Serving Board Chairman’, Mrs. Felicity Acquah, the ‘Longest Serving Managing Director’ and Mr. Andrew Boye- Doe the ‘Longest Serving Board Member’. Mr. Ben Koufisile received the ‘Longest Serving Employee’ award

Anniversary Pictures

Mr. Ben Koufisile receives “Longest Serving Employee” award from Ms Yvonne Quansah.

Staff and a representative of NRGP at 20th Anniversary Lunch

Representative of Memphis Metropolitan Ltd with ‘Most Promising Client’ award

Proposal of Toast Staff enjoying lunchThe MD of Exim congratulates Mr. Patrick Danso, MD of Memphis Metropolitan Limited

Eximguaranty Company Ghana Limited has been recognized for its long and excellent support of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The Special Award for 20 Years of Unbridled Support to SMEs was conferred on Exim by the 13th Ghana Banking Awards held on 1st November 2014. Over the past 20years, Exim has provided financial intermediation to facilitate economic growth of the real sector. This support has been in the form of credit guarantees to banks and other financial institutions to facilitate lending to SMEs and other guarantees given to Contract Awarding Agencies.

In the citation, Corporate Initiative, the event organizers acknowledged Exim’s achievements over the years and these included:

§ Supporting Non-Traditional Export sector growth and expanding foreign exchange earnings.

§ Swelling the ranks of successful Ghanaian entrepreneurs and SMES by facilitating access to credit for both start ups and existing enterprises.

§ Supporting the overall growth of the national income and tax revenues

§ Promoting the progressive increase in employment opportunities

§ Encouraging business innovation and technology transfer projects and

§ Advancing the adoption of best practice in export –import banking principles

In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Priscilla Budu, Head of Admin/Legal, was grateful for the recognition and dedicated the award to Customers, Management and Staff of Exim for their dedicated service and loyalty to the company over the years.

Never worry about numbers, help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you -Mother Teresa

Ms. Sarah Badu receives support From Exim

Ms. Sarah Badu, a 13 year old brilliant and promising orphan of the Village of Hope Orphanage in Gomoa Feteh has received financial support from Eximguaranty Company Ghana Limited (Exim) to enable her undergo Chemotherapy at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

The Village of Hope Orphanage on November 28, 2014 made an appeal to Exim to support Ms. Sarah Badu, diagnosed of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, a cancerous disease.

Making the presentation to Mr. Daniel Yeboah Manko , the Public Affairs Manager of Village of Hope Orphanage, Frank Oduro , Head , MRPD stated that the Company’s CSR agenda revolves round Health and Education and found Ms. Badu’s condition as deserving of support to ameliorate the pain she is going through. Mr. Manko expressed the Orphanage’s profound appreciation to Exim’s timely support.

The Golden rule for every business man is this: Put yourself in your customer’s place. –Orison Swett Marden

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GHANA BANKING AWARDS HONOURS EXIM FOR SMEs SUPPORT

Cheers!!! to First Quarter Birthday Celebrants

Wilhemina Mills January

Frank Oduro January

Irene Okae Februrary

Zac Bentum Februrary

Esther Kenyenso Februrary

Priscilla Budu March

Evelyn Abeka March

Bernard Addo Asah March

Solomon Duah March

Mr. Zac Bentum cutting his birthday cake with Staff

A majority of office workers suffer from a wide group of health problems. Their health conditions deteriorate as they get more involved into work and begin to neglect their health. This makes them more prone to ailments that may lead to serious issues if not detected and treated on their early stages. You cannot develop a pleasant working environment if you can’t help feeling sick, tired, or restless.

To reduce the number of sick days taken by employees, as well as to promote the well-being of a company’s work force.

Let’s go through some essential information on how to enjoy a better state of health even if you are a busy office worker.

Nurture your body with 6 hours of sleeping time. If you give your body regular sleep during the night, you won’t feel tired or restless at your desk. Sleep replenishes your energy level so you are able to focus yourself on your tasks and feel interested in your work. However, if you do not get optimum sleeping time, you will develop more vulnerability to health problems, irritation behavior, stress, moodiness, impatience, and burnouts.

2. Try standing and walking around instead of sitting at one place all day long. If you are a part of some meeting, and are asked to brief the committee, try to walk and talk instead of speaking out from your seat. Make your meeting mobile. This will make your body feel more active. Sitting all day obstructs your capacity of fat oxidation, so make some standing workstations. Your joints will feel smoother and your muscles will get more responsive.

3. Put up some potted plants in your room. Plants absorb your exhaled carbon dioxide and use it to produce fresh oxygen for you. Taking this measure will make you feel fresh all day long and refill your lungs with the maximum possible concentration of oxygen so your and thoughts flow quicker.

4. Encourage frequent breaks. You might want to try getting out of your seat and resting about every hour or so. Once you divert your mind for 10 minutes into something you like, you will feel much happier and your mood will enhance naturally. This will enable you to focus more on your duties rather than making you feel frustrated about your work. Taking a short break once in a while is far better than taking a single long break.

5. Take proper breakfast before you starting your day. It is perhaps the most important meal of all. People who simply take a cup of tea or coffee are more prone to acidity throughout their day. Therefore, breakfast is a necessity. It gives you the right mood and avoids fussy or crabby feelings so you can concentrate on your work instead of hunger.

6. Keep a strict eye on your diet. Instead of taking a single, huge meal, it is better to take frequent, smaller meals. Divide your daily calorie intake into approximately 5 parts, and eat after a uniform interval of approximately an hour and a half. This will keep your supply of nutrition consistent and won’t let your energy level fall at any time during the day. If you primarily purchase food from your office canteen, ensure that your choices are healthy. Fat-rich and sugar-laden edibles lead to poor health.

7. Exercise regularly. Before you make your way to the office, make sure you have done a few exercises. They will open up your muscles and refresh your neurons. If you do not get enough time to exercise early in the morning, try opting for sitting exercises that you could possibly try out in your office for just 10 minutes after every 2 or 3 hours.

8. Take a vacation once or twice a year. Every now and then, people get fed up of a uniform routine filled with stress. It is therefore a healthy act to go on vacations with your family or friends at least once a year. If you feel this is not enough and you need another break, try taking two breaks of moderate time spans every year.

Effective Health Tips for Office Workers

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TURNAROUND TIME FOR CLIENT “As” IMPROVES

The Board of Directors has approved a special Guarantee Line for selected ‘Client A’ members of the Company.

Customers categorized as Client A belong to high premium group noted for their proven loyalty and high patronage of Exim products and services. Customers in this Category receive special services and rates from the Company.

With the Board’s approval, Customers classified as Client A will now have an improved turnaround time for all their business requests. The Board considers turnaround time for SMEs as critical for business development especially in today’s competitive business environment.

Sample of Clients who heard of this development expressed their joy for this timely development.

PRODUCT PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE FROM 1994 – 2014

Exim’s overall contribution by way of total value of Guarantees issued to Banks, Non Bank Financial Institutions, Contract Awarding Agencies and SMEs for various projects from 1994 to 2014 stood at GHC 348,139,681.00. A breakdown is seen in the bar chart.

As part of Project monitoring and Capacity building for SME Clients of EXIM, our Project Officers regularly inspects projects that have been secured with Exim guarantee.

One notable Construction project that received lots of commendation by our Project Officers for quality and timely delivery was the construction of the District Education Office at Lambusie in the Upper West Region funded by USAID.

The Lambusie District Education Office was constructed by Asul New Build Enterprise Ltd with Advance Mobilisation Guarantee.

PRODUCT ANALYSIS CHART (1994-2014)

A substantial amount of GHC 156,806,383 representing 45% of Exim total support went into Advance Mobilisation / Payment Guarantees, our flagship product. Seed Fund Guarantees came second with 20.93% with total support of GHC 72,853,636. This was followed by Credit Guarantees with 11.62% and then Bid Securities with 10.76%. The fifth place went to Credit Syndication Guarantees which had 5.87%; followed closely by Performance Bonds / Retention Guarantees with 5.81%.

A total number of 5,485 Guarantees has been approved and issued to various SMEs and Banks from 1994 to 2014.

Exim was incorporated in 1994 as a Development Finance Institution with the mandate of facilitating credit access to various SMEs in the productive sectors of the economy who have collateral challenges with their Bankers. The focus therefore of Exim was to issue Credit Guarantees to Banks and Non Bank Financial Institutions as cover for SMEs to grow and expand their business activities.

Over the past 20 years Exim has engaged various Financial Institutions through Workshops and Direct sales efforts to advance the course of its mandate. It is estimated that about 92% of Ghanaian businesses are in the SME sector, a sector so critical to Ghana’s development.

PROJECT INSPECTION THUMPS UP FOR ASUL NB ENTERPRISE LTD.

Project Inspection is critical to SMEs Development

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“ Quality in a product or service is not what the supplier puts in. It is what a customer gets out and is willing to pay for. William James

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PhotoSplash

Ms. Evelyn Abeka receives “Best Employee of the Year 2014 “award

Mr. Zac Bentum addressing staff at End of Year Lunch

Mr. Zac Bentum and Mrs. Priscilla Budu on the dance floor at End of Year Lunch

Staff at 20th Anniversary lunch

Cutting of Cake at End of Year Lunch

Ms. Yayra Dunyo receives ‘5 Years Long Service Award’

Anniversary Cheers!!

Mr. Joseph Acquah receives ‘5 Years Long Service Award’

Mr. Dennis Teinor receives ‘5 Years Long Service Award’