2016-03-07

Added · Updated

Circular dated December 7, 2015 regarding issuing a definition for companies and micro, small and medium enterprises

The Central Bank of Egypt establishes a unified definition for micro, very small, small, and medium enterprises based on paid-up capital, employee count, and annual sales/revenue thresholds, replacing previous inconsistent bank definitions. The circular amends existing regulations to exempt banks from reserve requirements for loans to these enterprises, updates credit scoring requirements to use the new definition, and modifies credit assessment rules to allow financing for very small and micro enterprises in their first year without audited financial statements. Banks are required to align their internal policies and credit risk management systems with these new definitions and classifications by June 30, 2016.

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Egypt

Central Bank of Egypt

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Dear Sir / Chairman of the Board of Directors,

Greetings,

In light of the interest the Central Bank of Egypt attaches to the small and medium enterprises sector, and affirming the role of banks in financing these companies due to the fundamental role this type of financing plays in developing the national economy, providing employment opportunities for youth, and reducing unemployment rates, and referring to the Central Bank of Egypt's initiative encouraging banks to finance small and medium enterprises and establishments issued pursuant to the Board of Directors' resolution in its meeting held on December 16, 2008, I would like to inform you that in light of the differing definitions banks use for this category of companies, it was necessary to establish a unified definition in accordance with what is practiced in most countries of the world, in order to provide accurate and comprehensive data about this sector. It was also necessary to make amendments to some existing supervisory instructions, including the rules organizing the credit registration system at the Central Bank of Egypt issued pursuant to the Central Bank of Egypt Board of Directors' resolution in its meeting held on April 26, 2005, as well as the principles of creditworthiness assessment for customers and provisioning issued pursuant to the Central Bank of Egypt Board of Directors' resolution dated May 24, 2005 (attached table showing amendments to creditworthiness assessment principles).

Accordingly, the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Egypt decided in its meeting held on December 3, 2015 the following:

  1. Companies and micro, very small, small, and medium enterprises and establishments are defined as follows:
Category
New
(Newly Established)
No
Company
SizeCapitalSize
Paid-up CapitalEmployees*of Sales
Employeesand(Annual
EstablishmentsRevenue)
LessMicro
thanLess
than
1 million
EGP.
Less
thanLess
than
50 to
EGP.
10 individualsNo
Very Small
Less
than
1 million
to
less
than
10
million
EGP.
than
50 to
EGP. to
5
million
EGPfor Industrial
EstablishmentsNo
and 3
million
EGP for
non-
industrial.
LessLess
than 200than
individuals
10
million to
less
than
20
million
EGP.
than
5
million
EGP to
10
million
EGPfor Industrial
Establishments,
and
3
million
EGPfrom
20
million to
less
than
100
million
EGP.
to
5
million
EGP for non-
industrial.
  • Employee size is indicative and not specified for the definition of the company or establishment.

** "Paid-up capital" is used in the case of new companies and establishments instead of sales size, for a period of one year from the start of activity until they have data on sales size available, so this classification is temporary and thereafter the original definition based on sales size is applied.

  1. Amendment to the Central Bank of Egypt initiative issued by Board of Directors Resolution No. 2008/2408 dated December 16, 2008 regarding exempting banks from the reserve ratio against direct loans granted to micro, very small, small, and medium enterprises and establishments as follows: a. The initiative applies to both micro and very small companies and establishments. b. Article Two of the initiative regarding the conditions that must be met by the companies and establishments subject to exemption is amended according to the new definition proposed above. c. Clause 6(c) of the detailed rules and procedures issued on January 14, 2009 regarding the necessity of obtaining a certified certificate from the auditor on the company's sales size or sales for the closest quarter of the financial year is repealed.

  2. Regarding the Central Bank of Egypt Board of Directors Resolution No. 2008/205 dated January 22, 2008 regarding the Egyptian Credit Information Company (Score-I) providing credit information and classification services for small and medium enterprises and establishments, and requiring all banks and real estate financing and financial leasing companies to obtain credit information and data regarding debts of those companies and establishments whose credit granted to any of them does not exceed one million EGP.

It is necessary to confirm according to the new definition in Clause (1) for the size of credit granted (up to a maximum of one million EGP), instead of the confirmation according to the credit granted (up to a maximum of one million EGP), so that the Egyptian Credit Information Company (Score-I) displays companies and establishments according to the new definition within its issued reports.

  1. According to the Central Bank of Egypt Board of Directors Resolution in its meeting held on April 26, 2005 regarding the rules organizing the credit registration system at the Central Bank of Egypt, banks are obliged to confirm the status of each client provided with financing or credit facilities amounting to 30,000 Egyptian pounds or more, whether natural or legal person. And in light of the addition of the new definition to the confirmation of the type of companies and establishments (micro, very small, small, medium), it is necessary for the confirmation according to this purpose to include the Central Bank of Egypt making this information available for review.

  2. Central Bank of Egypt Board of Directors Resolution No. 2008/2408 issued in its meeting held on December 16, 2008 regarding encouraging banks to finance small and medium enterprises and establishments.

  3. Amendment to the principles of creditworthiness assessment for customers and provisioning, issued by the Central Bank of Egypt Board of Directors Resolution dated May 24, 2005 as follows: a. Amendment of Clause /1/h-"Regarding the results of 'Financial Position Analysis of the Client according to his financial statements for at least three years...', so that banks are allowed to finance very small and micro enterprises and establishments - according to the definition above - during the first year of dealing without obtaining audited financial statements from the auditor, given that most of them work in the informal sector and allowing sufficient time to gradually qualify them to prepare audited data and financial statements. While ensuring that the bank's credit policy includes appropriate controls that align with financing this type of company to ensure the verification of the soundness of the client's financial position.

b. Consideration of applying credit risk management rules and creditworthiness assessment principles for institutions included in Clause "First

c. Amendment of Clause "Thirdly

Banks are granted a period to regularize their status according to the above, ending on June 30, 2016.

  1. The necessity of developing specialized departments in financing small and medium enterprises and establishments in banks by establishing policies, procedures, and internal systems, and starting to collect the necessary data to establish a suitable classification system for the nature of this category of clients, to be applied within a maximum of three years from its date.

Please be kind enough to alert to take the necessary action to implement the aforementioned decision.

Accept our highest respect.

Tarek Amer

(Appendix) Clarification of Clause (5) of the Central Bank of Egypt Board of Directors Resolution in its meeting held on December 3, 2015 regarding amendments to the principles of creditworthiness assessment for customers and provisioning issued by the Central Bank of Egypt Board of Directors Resolution dated May 24, 2005

Clause
Before
Amendment
After
Amendment
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
AssessmentCredit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to
finance
Companies
and
Establishments
that are
Very Small
and Micro
(according
to the
new
definition)
in the
first year
of dealing
without
obtaining
audited
financial
statements
from
the
auditor.
Credit Risk
Management
and
Principles of
Assessment
of
Creditworthiness
for
Institutions
included
in
:
First
Companies
and
Medium
Enterprises:
It is
necessary to
consider the
following
factors in
determining
creditworthiness:
...
...
Results of
Financial
Position
Analysis of
the Client
according to
his
financial
statements
for at
least three
years
...
/1/h-
First
Banks are
allowed to

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