Advans SA SICAR announces the creation of Advans Pakistan Microfinance Bank in Karachi and La Fayette Microfinance Bank in Ibadan, Nigeria

Advans SA SICAR (“Advans SA”), the international venture capital company specialised in microfinance, announces the incorporation of its sixth and seventh greenfield institutions: Advans Pakistan Microfinance Bank in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and La Fayette Microfinance Bank in Nigeria.

Advans Pakistan Microfinance Bank was incorporated in April 2012 by its initial investors: Advans SA as majority shareholder with 70% of the shares and FMO (the Netherlands Development Finance Company) with 30% of the shares. Advans Pakistan Microfinance Bank’s initial share capital is PKR 800 million (c. EUR 6.8 million). As a microfinance bank, Advans Pakistan will offer a complete range of financial products: loans to micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), as well as current and saving accounts for MSMEs and households. The first branch is expected to open in November 2012 in Karachi.

La Fayette Microfinance Bank has received an Approval-in-Principle from the Central Bank of Nigeria to carry out microfinance services in Oyo State. La Fayette MFB will be incorporated in June 2012 and will be headquartered in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. It is expected to start operations in December 2012. La Fayette’s lead shareholder will be Advans SA with an equity investment of NGN 501 million (c. EUR 2.4 million), holding 50.10% of the shares. IFC (World Bank Group) and KfW (German development bank) will each invest NGN 174.5 million (c. EUR 853k) holding 17.45% each, while FMO will acquire 15.00% of the shares investing NGN 150 million (c. EUR 733k). As with all Advans affiliates, the ambition of La Fayette Microfinance Bank Limited is to contribute to the professionalisation of the microfinance sector in the region it operates by offering high-standard loans and financial services.


About Advans SA: Advans SA is headquartered in Luxembourg and was created in August 2005. It currently has a committed capital of EUR 43.6 million. Advans’ mission is to build a network of microfinance banks in developing countries and emerging economies to cater to the financial needs of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, which have limited or no access to formal banking services. Advans is managed by Horus Development Finance, its sponsor and shareholder alongside several development financial institutions: European Investment Bank (EIB), KfW, FMO, CDC Group, Fonds d’Investissement et de Soutien aux Entreprises en Afrique (FISEA – AFD Group), and IFC. For more information, please visit www.advansgroup.com

Enquiries
Advans Pakistan Microfinance Bank
Eric Marquer, CEO
E: emarquer@advanspakistan.com

La Fayette Microfinance Bank
Zine el Abidine Otmani, CEO
E: zotmani@horus-df.fr

Advans SA
Amanda Hannan, Head of Investment Unit
Claude Falgon, Director, Advans SA SICAR
T: +33 1 53 32 75 75
E: ahannan@advansgroup.com
cfalgon@advansgroup.com
www.advansgroup.com

Advans Côte d’Ivoire starts activities in Abidjan and welcomes IFC as a new shareholder

Advans SA Press Release

Advans SA, the international venture capital company specialised in microfinance, is pleased to announce the opening of its fifth greenfield microfinance institution: Advans Côte d’Ivoire. The first branch opened its doors to the public on 14 March 2012 in Adjamé, Abidjan.

Advans Côte d’Ivoire is also proud to announce that IFC will join the shareholding of Advans Côte d’Ivoire through a capital increase of CFA 498.75 million (about EUR 760,000). This capital increase will bring Advans Côte d’Ivoire’s total share capital to CFA 3.75 billion (about EUR 5.72 million).

Advans Côte d’Ivoire was created in June 2009 as a private limited company, and signed a convention cadre with the Ministry of Economy and Finance in November 2010 to carry out microfinance activities. Following the capital increase, the shareholding structure is as follows: Advans SA: 50.10%; FMO: 13.30%; FISEA: 13.30%; IFC: 13.30%; SGBCI: 10.00%. Advans Côte d’Ivoire offers a complete range of financial services to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Advans Côte d’Ivoire grants loans to MSMEs from CFA Francs 150,000 (about EUR 230) to CFA Francs 50 million (about EUR 76,000). Advans Côte d’Ivoire also offers current accounts, savings accounts, term deposits and money transfer services to a large public.

Over the next five years, Advans Côte d’Ivoire plans to serve more than 45.000 clients and finance more than 16.000 MSMEs thanks to a network of 12 branches located in the main cities of the country.

About Advans SA: Advans SA is headquartered in Luxembourg and was launched in December 2005. Its mission is to build a network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in developing and emerging countries to cater to the financial needs of micro, small, and medium sized enterprises, which have limited or no access to formal banking services. The Advans network currently spans six countries: Cambodia, Cameroon, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire. Advans MFIs serve more than 305,000 clients from 87 branches, and have an outstanding loan portfolio of more than EUR 100 million. Over the next three years, Advans SA plans to establish 6 to 7 new MFIs in Africa, Asia and the Middle-East. For more information, please visit www.advansgroup.com.


Enquiries

Advans Côte d’Ivoire
Grégoire Danel-Fedou, CEO
Christophe Ban Koffi, CFO
Tel: +225 20 22 23 97
E: contact@advanscotedivoire.com

Advans SA
Amanda Hannan, Head of Investment Unit
Claude Falgon, Advans SA SICAR Director
T: +33 1 53 32 75 75
E: ahannan@advansgroup.com
cfalgon@advansgroup.com

www.advansgroup.com
www.advanscotedivoire.com

Nigeria: IFC Partners with Advans S.A. to Set Up Microfinance Bank in Oyo State

African Press Organization (APO)/ — IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is investing $1.1 million (174.5 million Nigerian naira) alongside Advans S.A., German development bank KfW, and Dutch development bank FMO to establish La Fayette Microfinance Bank in Oyo State, Nigeria.

La Fayette, which is expected to start operations during the fourth quarter of 2012, will serve small and medium enterprises that have limited or no access to formal banking services. Financial surveys indicate that only one in five Nigerian adults owns a bank account, and over half of the country’s adult population is excluded from access to financial services.

“With the objective of becoming the leading microfinance bank in Oyo State, La Fayette will address a critical gap by providing quality financial services to help small businesses grow and create jobs,” said Claude Falgon, Director of Advans S.A.

Advans S.A. will be La Fayette’s lead shareholder with an equity investment of $3.1 million (501.0 million naira). IFC and KfW are each investing $1.1 million (174.5 million naira), while FMO is investing $940,000 (150.0 million naira).

Within five years, La Fayette expects to establish 11 branches, broadening access to finance and stimulating economic growth across Oyo State.

“Microfinance is a vital tool in the fight against poverty and forms a core part of IFC’s efforts to support small-scale entrepreneurs in Africa,” said Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, IFC’s Country Manager for Nigeria. “In Nigeria, IFC aims to increase the number of commercially viable microfinance institutions, especially in under-served areas like Oyo State, so that a vibrant private sector can give rise to economic growth.”

IFC has a long-standing partnership with Advans S.A., which is building a network of microfinance institutions in developing countries across Africa and Asia. IFC is also a shareholder of Advans network banks in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, and Ghana. The Nigeria investment reaffirms IFC’s partnership with Advans SA. to support entrepreneurs in Africa.

About IFC

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, providing advisory services to businesses and governments, and mobilizing capital in the international financial markets. In fiscal 2011, amid economic uncertainty across the globe, we helped our clients create jobs, strengthen environmental performance, and contribute to their local communities—all while driving our investments to an all-time high of nearly $19 billion.

For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

Advans SA publishes its 2010/2011 Annual Report

Advans SA Release

Advans SA is pleased to announce the publication of its Annual Report for the year 2010/2011. Over the year, the Advans group has reinforced its operations by increasing its outstanding loan portfolio to EUR 65 million (against EUR 42 million for the previous year) and total deposits to EUR 22 million (against EUR 4 million). The group also strengthened its initial investment in Côte d’Ivoire by carrying out a capital increase and welcoming new co-shareholders in October 2010. Finally, its first institution in East Africa, based in Tanzania, launched its operations in February 2011. Click here to download the 2010/2011 Annual Report.


About Advans SA:

Advans SA is headquartered in Luxembourg and was created in August 2005. Its committed capital is EUR 43.6 million. Its mission is to build a network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in developing and emerging countries to cater to the financial needs of micro, small, and medium sized enterprises, which have limited or no access to formal banking services. The Advans network currently spans six countries: Cambodia, Cameroon, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire. As of the end of November 2011, Advans MFIs serve 300,000 loan clients from 81 points of sale, and have an outstanding loan portfolio of circa EUR 85 million. Advans SA is managed by Horus Development Finance, its sponsor and shareholder, along with the European Investment Bank (EIB), the German Bank of Development (KfW), the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), UK’s Development Finance Institution (CDC Group plc), an investment fund dedicated to equity participations in Sub-Saharan Africa (FISEA – Group AFD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC – Group World Bank).

For more information, please visit www.advansgroup.com.

Contacts:
Advans SA
Amanda Hannan, Head of Investment Unit
Claude Falgon, Advans SA SICAR Manager
T: +33 1 53 32 75 75
E: ahannan@advansgroup.com
cfalgon@advansgroup.com
www.advansgroup.com

Link to the 2010/2011 Annual Report: http://www.advansgroup.com/fileadmin/Advans/Annual_reports/Rapport_SA_2011_web.pdf

Advans SA signs grant agreements with AFD and OeEB

Advans SA Press Release

Advans SA, the international venture capital company specialised in microfinance, is pleased to announce the signature of grant agreements with two renowned development finance institutions. These grants represent a tremendous contribution to the development and extension of the Advans network, as they will be channelled to several of Advans SA’s affiliated microfinance institutions.

Agence Française de Développement (AFD) provided three grants to Advans SA. The first one, amounting to EUR 440,000, will be made available to Advans Banque Congo to enhance the provision of financial services to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The second grant amounts to EUR 750,000 and is dedicated to the creation of Advans Côte d’Ivoire, a microfinance institution which will shortly open its doors to the public in Abidjan. The third grant, amounting to EUR 1.5 million, is a contribution of AFD to the creation of three greenfield microfinance institutions, which will increment the Advans network in a near future.

OeEB, the Development Bank of Austria, awarded Advans SA the amount of EUR 500,000 from the Advisory Programmes, funded with means of the Austrian Ministry of Finance. OeEB’s grant is dedicated to the implementation of technical assistance activities to the benefit of existing and future institutions of the Advans network, including training, transfer of knowledge and best practices, and implementation of Management Information Systems.

Advans SA would like to express its appreciation to both AFD and OeEB for their support, which will indeed contribute to the provision of sound financial services to micro and small enterprises in the countries of its network.

About Advans SA:

Advans SA is headquartered in Luxembourg and was launched in December 2005. Its mission is to build a network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in developing and emerging countries to cater to the financial needs of micro, small, and medium sized enterprises, which have limited or no access to formal banking services. The Advans network currently spans six countries: Cambodia, Cameroon, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire. Advans MFIs serve about 261,000 loan clients from 72 points of sale, and have an outstanding loan portfolio of circa EUR 70 million. Over the next three years, Advans SA plans to establish 6 to 7 new MFIs in Africa, Asia and the Middle-East. For more information, please visit www.advansgroup.com

About AFD:

The French Development Agency (AFD), a public agency, has been working to combat poverty and promote development in Southern Hemisphere countries for over 60 years. The agency implements the development policy defined by the French Government. The AFD, which has a presence in the field in over 50 countries, finances and supports projects that improve the living conditions of the population, support economic growth and protect the planet: children’s schooling, support for farmers and small companies, water supply systems, conservation of tropical forests, combating climate change, etc. In 2010, the Agency invested over EUR 6.8 billion in financing initiatives in Southern Hemisphere and overseas countries. These investments involved providing primary schooling for 13.4 million children, improving drinking water supplies for 33 million people and granting microloans to 700,000 people. Energy saving projects carried out in the same year will enable almost 5 million tonnes of CO2 to be saved on an annual basis. For more information, please visit http://www.afd.fr/

About OeEB:

Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG (OeEB) has been operating as the official Development Bank of Austria since March 2008. It is specialized in the provision of long-term finance for the implementation of private sector projects in developing countries which create sustainable development. OeEB provides tailor-made financing solutions for a diverse set of long-term investments that would otherwise find it difficult to raise funding or borrow money in international capital markets. Additionally OeEB provides Technical Assistance (Advisory Programmes) which can be used to enhance the developmental impact of projects. For more information, please visit http://www.oe-eb.at/

Enquiries:

Advans SA

Steven Duchatelle, Head of Investment Unit

Claude Falgon, Advans SA SICAR Manager

T: +33 1 53 32 75 75

E: sduchatelle@advansgroup.com

cfalgon@advansgroup.com

www.advansgroup.com

AFD:

Aude Penent

T : +33 1 53 44 31 74

E : penenta@afd.fr

OeEB:

Kristin Duchâteau, Head of Advisory Programmes

T : +43 1 533 12 00 29 61

E : kristin.duchateau@oe-eb.at

Full Press Release in French

Advans SA’s affiliates secure local currency refinancing facilities from various international and domestic lenders

Press Release

Advans SA SICAR has the pleasure to announce that two microfinance institutions of the Advans network recently secured local currency refinancing loans, which will allow them to continue to expand their outreach in their respective countries of operation.

Advans Cameroun received a XAF 667 million loan (EUR 1.017 million) from Access Africa Fund, managed by MicroVest and circa XAF 500 million (circa EUR 760,000) from the Regional MSME Investment Fund for Sub-Saharan Africa, managed by Symbiotics. Advans Ghana secured a GHS 3.3 million loan (circa EUR 1.55 million) from SG-SSB, the Ghanaian affiliate of the Société Générale Group, backed by an ARIZ guarantee from the Agence Française de Développement, a GH¢ 1.58 million loan (circa EUR 735,000) from the International Finance Corporation (the very first loan made by IFC in local currency in Ghana), as well as a GHS 2 million (circa EUR 930,000) from Triodos.

Such deals constitute important milestones towards the sustainability of these greenfield microfinance institutions, and reinforce the ambition of Advans SA, which is to become the leading microfinance network in Sub-Saharan Africa. In line with this goal, Advans SA was recently ranked among the top 5 MIVs in terms of commitment in Sub-Saharan Africa by a report jointly published by MIX and CGAP, entitled “Sub-Saharan Africa Microfinance Analysis and Benchmarking Report 2010”.

Advans Cameroun launched its operations in May 2007 and has thus far opened 7 branches in Douala, Yaoundé and Bafoussam. It serves almost 15,000 clients and has a loan portfolio close to EUR 10 million.

Advans Ghana opened its first branch in October 2008. After 2.5 years in operations, it has developed a network of 9 branches and outlets in Accra and Koforidua. Its outstanding loan portfolio amounts to circa EUR 3 million for more than 12,000 active clients.

Advans SA is headquartered in Luxembourg and was launched in December 2005. Its mission is to build a network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in developing and emerging countries to cater to the financial needs of micro, small, and medium sized enterprises, which have limited or no access to formal banking services. The Advans network currently spans six countries: Cambodia, Cameroon, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire. Advans MFIs serve more than 257,000 loan clients from 70 branches, and have an outstanding loan portfolio of circa EUR 64 million. Over the next three years, Advans SA plans to establish 6 to 7 new MFIs in Africa, Asia and the Middle-East. For more information, please visit www.advansgroup.com.

Enquiries

Advans SA

Steven Duchatelle, Head of Investment Unit
T: +33 1 53 32 75 75
E:  sduchatelle@advansgroup.com

Advans Ghana
Tanguy Gravot, General Manager
T: +233 21 25 13 22
E: tgravot@advansghana.com

Advans Cameroun
Frank Snieders, General Manager
T: +237 33 43 79 45
E: fsnieders@advanscameroun.com

Advans Bank Tanzania opens its doors to the public in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Advans SA Press Release

Advans SA, the international venture capital company specialised in microfinance, is proud to announce the opening of its fourth greenfield microfinance institution: Advans Bank Tanzania. The second fullyfledged bank of the Advans network launched its activities after being granted the permission to operate by its supervisory authority, the Bank of Tanzania.

Advans Bank Tanzania’s first branch is located in Manzese, one of the busiest areas of Dar es Salaam, the capital city. It opened its doors to the public on February 7, 2011, with a staff of 18 people.

During the first days in operation, the branch registered a strong affluence of potential clients enquiring about products and services offered by the bank. Some showed immediate interest: no less than 220 savings accounts were opened and 48 loan applications completed by the end of the first week. The first loan to be disbursed amounted to TZS 1.3 million (EUR 630).

Given the initial results, a rapid development of the institution could be hoped for. By the end of 2011, Advans Bank Tanzania should have hired 69 employees and opened a second branch in Dar es Salaam.

About Advans SA:

Advans SA is headquartered in Luxembourg and was launched in December 2005. Its mission is to build a network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in developing and emerging countries to cater to the financial needs of micro, small, and medium sized enterprises, which have limited or no access to formal banking services. The Advans network currently spans six countries: Cambodia, Cameroon, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire. Advans MFIs serve nearly 245,000 loan clients from 61 branches, and have an outstanding loan portfolio of circa EUR 55 million. Over the next three years, Advans SA plans to establish 6 to 7 new MFIs in Africa, Asia and the Middle-East. For more information, please visit www.advansgroup.com

Enquiries
Advans Bank Tanzania
Brigitte Laydeker, CEO
Isabelle Montfort, CFO
E: blaydeker@horus-df.com
isabelle.montfort@horus-df.com

Advans SA
Steven Duchatelle, Head of Investment Unit
Claude Falgon, Advans SA SICAR Manager
T: +33 1 53 32 75 75
E: sduchatelle@advansgroup.com
cfalgon@advansgroup.com
www.advansgroup.com

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE – 15 février 2011

Advans SA announces the signature of a convention cadre between the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and Advans Côte d’Ivoire for the creation of a microfinance institution

Advans SA Press Release -

Advans SA, the international venture capital investment company specialised in microfinance, is pleased to announce the signature of a convention cadre between the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and Advans Côte d’Ivoire for the creation of a Système Financier Décentralisé (Decentralised Financial System) operating as a microfinance institution.

Advans Côte d’Ivoire was created by Advans SA in June 2009 with an initial capital of FCFA 250 million. At the signature of the convention cadre Advans Côte d’Ivoire announced that a capital increase was being carried out, which will raise the capital of the company to FCFA 3.25 billion, providing the necessary financial resources to implement its business plan.

At this occasion, Advans Côte d’Ivoire will open its capital to three new shareholders: FMO (the Netherlands Development Finance Company), FISEA, (the investment fund for support and development of enterprises in Africa – AFD Group). and the Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire (SGBCI). FMO and FISEA have both committed FCFA 498.75 million while SGBCI will invest FCFA 375 million. Advans SA, which will raise its participation to FCFA 1.88 billion, will remain majority shareholder of Advans Côte d’Ivoire.

The ambition of Advans Côte d’Ivoire is to serve the market of micro, small and medium enterprises in urban areas, through the provision of individual loans as well as saving products. Initially located in Abidjan, Advans Côte d’Ivoire plans to expand its branch network to other densely populated areas over the next five years.

About Advans SA:

Advans is headquartered in Luxembourg and was created in August 2005. Its committed capital amounts to EUR 40.1 million. Advans’ mission is to build a network of microfinance banks in developing and emerging countries to cater to the financial needs of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, which have limited or no access to formal banking services. Advans is managed by Horus Development Finance, its sponsor and shareholder alongside several development financial institutions: European Investment Bank (EIB), KfW, the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), CDC Group, Fonds d’Investissement et de Soutien aux Entreprises en Afrique (FISEA – AFD Group), and International Finance Company (IFC – World Bank Group). For more information, please visit www.advansgroup.com

Advans SA
Amanda Hannan
Claude Falgon
Ph: +33 1 53 32 75 75
E: ahannan@advansgroup.com or cfalgon@advansgroup.

The Press Release in French

IFC supports the Advans Network through refinancing facilities

Advans SA SICAR is pleased to announce that two microfinance institutions of its network benefited from IFC’s support in 2010, in the form of local currency refinancing loans. Advans Cameroun received a XAF 500 million loan (circa EUR 762,000), while Advans Ghana benefited from a GHS 1.58 million loan (circa EUR 840,000). Both institutions will use the funds made available by IFC to increase their outreach.

Already a shareholder of Advans SA, Advans Cameroun and Advans Ghana, IFC further demonstrates its commitment to a strong and effective partnership with the Advans network to support micro, small and medium enterprises through microfinance institutions in Africa.

Advans Cameroun launched its operations in May 2007 and has thus far opened 6 branches in Douala and Yaoundé. It serves more than 11,000 clients and has a loan portfolio in excess of EUR 7 million.

Advans Ghana opened its first branch in Accra in October 2008. After less than 2 years in operations, it has developed a network of 5 branches and outlets. Its outstanding loan portfolio amounts to circa EUR 2 million for more than 7000 active clients.

Advans SA is headquartered in Luxembourg and was launched in December 2005. Its mission is to build a network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in developing and emerging countries to cater to the financial needs of micro, small, and medium sized enterprises, which have limited or no access to formal banking services. The Advans network currently spans six countries: Cambodia, Cameroon, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire. Advans MFIs serve nearly 245,000 loan clients from 61 branches, and have an outstanding loan portfolio of circa EUR 55 million. Over the next three years, Advans SA plans to establish 6 to 7 new MFIs in Africa, Asia and the Middle- East. For more information, please visit www.advansgroup.com

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. As such, IFC creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. IFC does so by providing financing to help businesses employ more people and supply essential services, by mobilizing capital from others, and by delivering advisory services to ensure sustainable development. In a time of global economic uncertainty, IFC’s new investments climbed to a record $18 billion in fiscal 2010. For more information, please visit www.ifc.org

Press Release in French

Enquiries

Advans SA
Steven Duchatelle, Head of Investment
Claude Falgon, Director
T: +33 1 53 32 75 75
E: sduchatelle@advansgroup.com or
cfalgon@advansgroup.com

Advans Ghana
Tanguy Gravot, General Manager
T : +233 21 25 13 22
E: tgravot@advansghana.com

Advans Cameroun
Frank Snieders, General Manager
T : +237 33 43 79 45
E: fsnieders@advanscameroun.com

Advans SA SICAR incorporates Advans Bank Tanzania, microfinance bank in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Advans SA, the international venture capital company specialised in microfinance, announces the incorporation of its sixth microfinance institution (second with a full banking status): Advans Bank Tanzania, in the United Republic of Tanzania. The first branch will open in December 2010 in the administrative ward of Manzese in Dar es Salaam, the country’s capital city.

Advans Bank Tanzania was incorporated in July 2010. Its initial investors are: Advans SA as majority shareholder and FMO (the Netherlands Development Finance Company). Advans Bank Tanzania’s initial share capital is of TZS 7.2 billion (around EUR 3.7 million at current exchange rate).

As a fully-fledged bank, Advans Bank Tanzania will offer a complete range of financial products: loans to micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), as well as current and saving accounts in local and foreign currency for MSMEs and households. Additional services such as cheques and money transfer will also be offered shortly after the launch of operations.

About Advans SA: Advans SA is headquartered in Luxembourg and was launched in December 2005. Its mission is to build a network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in developing and emerging countries to cater to the financial needs of micro, small, and medium sized enterprises, which have limited or no access to formal banking services. The Advans network currently spans six countries: Cambodia, Cameroon, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire. Advans MFIs serve nearly 245,000 loan clients from 61 branches, and have an outstanding loan portfolio of circa EUR 55 million. Over the next three years, Advans SA plans to establish 6 to 7 new MFIs in Africa, Asia and the Middle-East. For more information, please visit www.advansgroup.com

Enquiries
Advans Bank Tanzania
Brigitte Laydeker, CEO
Isabelle Montfort, CFO
E: blaydeker@horus-df.com
isabelle.montfort@horus-df.com

Advans SA
Steven Duchatelle, Head of Investment Unit
Claude Falgon, Advans SA SICAR Manager
T: +33 1 53 32 75 75
E: sduchatelle@advansgroup.com
cfalgon@advansgroup.com
www.advansgroup.com

Press Release in French