PROJECT

Projects

Summary of Proposed Investment

Project Number

8871

Company Name

Guyana Americas Merchant Bank

Date SPI Disclosed

Mar 11, 1998

Country

Guyana

Industry

Financial Markets

Status

Completed

Sector

Merchant Bank

Department

Regional Industry FIG LAC & EUR

Environmental Category

FI

Previous Events

Approved : Jun 30, 1998
Signed : Jun 22, 2000
Invested : Nov 17, 2000

Project Description

Summary Of Project Information (SPI)

Project NameGuyana - Guyana Americas Merchant Bank
     
RegionLatin America and the Caribbean

Sector
Project No8871
Projected Board DateApril 17, 1998
Company NameGuyana Americas Merchant Bank (GuyAm Bank)
Technical Partner and/or Major Shareholders

The sponsors are Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), a commercial bank with a merchant banking license, and the Beharry family as the majority GBTI shareholder (the Beharry family would also invest directly in the new merchant bank). The Beharry family has interests in agroindustry, trade and financial services in Guyana and abroad.

Project Cost Including proposed IFC investment

US$25 million of which the proposed IFC investment would comprise up to US$1 million in equity and an up to US$7 million credit line.

Location of project and Description of site

Georgetown, Guyana

Description of Company and Purpose of Project

The project is to establish Guyana’s first merchant bank to support development of the country’s private sector and capital markets, by providing term finance and new financial instruments and services. It will help reduce Guyana’s current dependence on official aid flows. Additionally, the Bank will have an outward focus which would contribute to capital market development and financial integration among other countries of the region. IFC has technical assistance, institution-building and resource-mobilization roles.    


Environmental Category and Issues

This is a Financial Intermediary (FI) category project according to IFC''s environmental review procedure. The bank will be required to undertake an environmental review of eligible borrower''s environmental performance and each sub-project''s compliance with the Government of Guyana environmental, health and safety requirements as well as applicable World Bank policies and guidelines. In addition, IFC will assess the Bank''s capability to carry out environmental reviews.      
Date SPI sent to PIC March 11, 1998

“This Summary of Project Information is prepared and distributed to the public in advance of consideration of the proposed transaction by the Corporation’s Board of Directors. It is provided for the purpose of enhancing the transparency of IFC’s activities and should not be construed as presuming the outcome of IFC Board consideration.”

For Additional Information contact: Corporate Relations Unit -
telephone: (202) 473-7711
facsimile: (202) 974-4384

Sponsor / Cost / Location