Establishment and Operations of the Collateral Registry of Liberia Euphemia Gbadee Swen-Monmia Savannah, Georgia May 19, 2015

OUTLINE Macroeconomic Developments Liberia Financial Sector Landscape Challenges prior to a Secured Transaction Regime Collateral Registry Implementation Process Operations of Liberia's Collateral Registry Statistics of Liberia's Collateral Registry Strategy and Prospects of Liberia's Collateral Registry 2

MACROECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS The Liberian economy recorded a decline in terms of growth from 8.7% at end 2013 to 0.3% in 2014 due to slowdown in the economy on account of the EBOLA pandemic. Projected growth for 2014 was 6.9%. The major sector contributing to the decline is the agriculture and fisheries sector. The growth rate projected for 2015 is negative 1.1%, thus indicating a reduction from 0.3% recorded in 2014, largely due to the prevailing health crisis being faced by the country. The economic condition of the country could experience a turnaround if the Government and its partners continue to curb the spread of EBOLA until Liberia is declared EBOLA free in

LIBERIA’S FINANCIAL SECTOR LANDSCAPE There are nine (9) licensed and operating commercial banks in Liberia. One (1) of the commercial banks is specialized in microfinance lending and another is focused in agricultural lending. Commercial banks have 85 branches spread over 11 of the fifteen political subdivisions of the country. There are seven (7) Rural Community Finance Institutions (RCFIs); four of which are providing financial services in the four political subdivisions that have no commercial bank branch. There are twenty (20) licensed insurance companies with 30 branches and one hundred fifteen (115) registered forex bureaux operating in Liberia under the direct supervision of the CBL. 4

PRIOR CHALLENGES LIBERIA FACED Lack of Adequate Legal Framework (Law and fast track court) Collateral Taken by Financial Institutions (largely Immovable assets) Immovable collaterals were overly exposed (One property deed was used as collateral to secure several loans) No centralized real time online registry to register landed property that has been used as collateral to secure credit Movable assets alone were not option for securing loan because of the lack of experience in Assets Based Lending and the legal framework 5

6 COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION 13 2 COLLATERAL REGISTRY IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK  Commercial Code Revised in 2010 Chapter 5 on Secured Transactions; Sub-Chapter 5 on Registration of Security Interests Chapter 3A on Finance Leases; Sub-Chapter 5 on Registration of Interests Chapter 1 on General Provisions  Establishment of the Commercial Court in 2010  Secured Transactions/Collateral Registry Regulation issued by the CBL in 2013  Schedule of fees issued by the Registrar  Finance Lease for Bank Financial Institution Regulations issued by the CBL in

LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK RIGHTS AND PROTECTION OF USERS:  CREDITORS/ SECURED PARTIES  DEBTORS  CONSUMERS  SEARCHERS  REGULATORS AND POLICY MAKERS

INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR REGISTRATION  Identification and address of the debtor  Identification and address of the secured party  Collateral description (generic  or specific)  Duration of registration  Type of interest taken by the secured party Upload of documents are permissible but optional.

BUILDING OF AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM Bsystem Ghana Limited – was contracted to develop our electronic collateral registry system consistent with the revised Commercial Code of 2010 and the Secured Transaction and Collateral Registry Regulations issued by the Central Bank in The electronic system was completed and launched in June Offline version of the system was developed and installed on the Registry's in December

BUILDING STAKEHOLDERS CAPACITY 11

OPERATIONS OF THE REGISTRY REGULATION AND SUPERVISION DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & REGISTRAR PULIC ACCESS SITES CBL PUBLIC ACCESS SITE LIBA PUBLIC ACCESS SITE FINANCE CAPACITY BUILDING & PUBLIC EDUCATION ASSISTANT REGISTRAR 12 Administrative structure of the Registry

Operations of the Registry The registry operates within the Regulation and Supervision Department of the Central Bank of Liberia. The Registry’s function is Administrative. The Registry’s staff can not add, change or delete any information in the financing statement registered in the system. Only secured parties and agents serve as registrant. Users can transact in the system as pre-paid and post- paid users. Fees are charged for registration and update of Financing Statement in the system and to get a certified search certificate. (Searches are free).

Operations of the Registry All fees are paid in Liberian Dollars, but amounts are dependent on the loan value. The table below displays the fees in United States Dollars for easy understanding. 14 LOAN AMOUNT REGISTRATION FEES UPDATE FEESCERTIFIED SEARCH CERTIFICATE FEES </= US$7,000.00US$2.00US$1.00US$3.00 US$7, – US$50, US$4.00US$2.00US$3.00 > US$50,000.00US$6.00US$3.00

STATISTICS OF THE REGISTRY …… up to March 2015 CLIENTS LEGAL ENTITIES17 INDIVIDUALS20 SEARCHES 85 DEBTORS INDIVIDUALS34 SMALL FIRMS6 MEDIUM FIRMS 12 LARGE FIRMS9 REGISTRATIONS NUMBER OF REGISTRATIONS 61 VALUE OF REGISTRATIONS US$249,373,358.00

STATISTICS OF THE REGISTRY

STRATEGY AND PROSPECTS OF THE REGISTRY Partnership with private sector players, like the Liberian Business Association; Capacity building for key stakeholders; Continuous public education and public awareness. Establish public access sites in leeward counties. Two (2) counties are expected to have public access in 2015.

SAMPLE OF CAMPAIN MATERIALS 18

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