Access to finance

Corporate vulnerabilities as reported by firms in the SAFE

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

The current rise in vulnerabilities identified in the SAFE is driven mostly by firms in industry, construction and trade and by large firms rather than by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Key Points: 
  • The current rise in vulnerabilities identified in the SAFE is driven mostly by firms in industry, construction and trade and by large firms rather than by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
  • Balance sheet data on firms in the SAFE confirm that corporate vulnerabilities have implications for their investment rate and employment growth.

Ping An Awarded A in MSCI ESG Ratings for Two Consecutive Years

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 29, 2023

HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An", the "Company" or the "Group", HKEX: 2318 / 82318; SSE: 601318) announced that it has been rated A in the Morgan Stanley Capital Investment's (MSCI) latest ESG Ratings, this is the second consecutive year for Ping An to be awarded an A rating, and continued to rank 1st in multi-line insurance & brokerage industry in APAC.

Key Points: 
  • One of the most widely adopted benchmark indexes, the MSCI index is an important basis for investment decisions and data analyses by global asset managers.
  • According to the MSCI ESG rating report, Ping An's performance in the areas of "Privacy & Data Security", "Access to Finance", and "Financing Environmental Impact" exceeded industry average.
  • Ping An has incorporated environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) philosophies and standards into its corporate management as part of its ongoing exploration and learning from world-class companies.
  • Maintaining a focus on people and customer needs, Ping An has continued to expand its financial services capabilities and coverage.

Ping An Awarded A in MSCI ESG Ratings for Two Consecutive Years

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 29, 2023

HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An", the "Company" or the "Group", HKEX: 2318 / 82318; SSE: 601318) announced that it has been rated A in the Morgan Stanley Capital Investment's (MSCI) latest ESG Ratings, this is the second consecutive year for Ping An to be awarded an A rating, and continued to rank 1st in multi-line insurance & brokerage industry in APAC.

Key Points: 
  • One of the most widely adopted benchmark indexes, the MSCI index is an important basis for investment decisions and data analyses by global asset managers.
  • According to the MSCI ESG rating report, Ping An's performance in the areas of "Privacy & Data Security", "Access to Finance", and "Financing Environmental Impact" exceeded industry average.
  • Ping An has incorporated environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) philosophies and standards into its corporate management as part of its ongoing exploration and learning from world-class companies.
  • Maintaining a focus on people and customer needs, Ping An has continued to expand its financial services capabilities and coverage.

Swoop Funding Empowers South African Businesses with Official Launch

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 16, 2023

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Nov. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Swoop Funding , the global powerhouse in business funding solutions, proudly announces its official launch in South Africa.

Key Points: 
  • CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Nov. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Swoop Funding , the global powerhouse in business funding solutions, proudly announces its official launch in South Africa.
  • With a mission to combat high unemployment rates and stimulate economic growth, Swoop is empowering South African businesses by providing seamless access to various funding solutions.
  • Ciaran Burke, Co-founder of Swoop Funding, expresses enthusiasm, "We are thrilled to introduce Swoop to South Africa, a country teeming with potential and a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit.
  • For more information on Swoop Funding and its initiatives in South Africa, please visit Swoop's website .

Full Skope Empowers CDFIs and Mission-Driven Lenders to Transform Lending Operations

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 17, 2023

By working with Full Skope, Accessity has improved efficiency and scalability, minimized manual data entry and increased digital access for small business clients.

Key Points: 
  • By working with Full Skope, Accessity has improved efficiency and scalability, minimized manual data entry and increased digital access for small business clients.
  • Moreover, Full Skope's partnership with Habitat for Humanity Greater Des Moines is yet another testament to the platform's dedication to driving efficiencies in lending operations.
  • "We are honored to collaborate with leading mission-driven organizations like Accessity and Habitat for Humanity," said Doug Hogan, CEO of Full Skope.
  • As the partnership between Full Skope and mission-driven lenders strengthens, the future of financial inclusivity looks brighter than ever.

Ping An awarded A in MSCI ESG Ratings

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 15, 2022

HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Nov. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An" or the "Group", HKEx:2318; SSE:601318) announced that it has been rated A in the Morgan Stanley Capital Investment's (MSCI) 2022 ESG Ratings, ranking the first in multi-line insurance & brokerage industry in APAC. The upgrade from BBB last year recognizes Ping An's outstanding performance in the area of "Access to Finance", and substantial improvements in "Responsible Investment, Climate Change Vulnerability, Corporate Governance and Corporate Behavior". Ping An's consistent implementations on responsible investment initiatives with a five-year green finance target also contributed to its score, according to the MSCI ESG Rating report.

Key Points: 
  • Ping An's consistent implementations on responsible investment initiatives with a five-year green finance target also contributed to its score, according to the MSCI ESG Rating report.
  • Through the Ping An Rural Communities Support program, the Group has provided nearly RMB50 billion for poverty alleviation and industrial revitalization as of September 30, 2022.
  • Ping An's pursuit of innovation of insurance products aims to make insurance as an economic "shock absorber" and a social "stabilizer".
  • Ping An has integrated the core philosophies and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) standards into its corporate management, drawing on international best practices.

Ping An awarded A in MSCI ESG Ratings

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 15, 2022

HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Nov. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An" or the "Group", HKEx:2318; SSE:601318) announced that it has been rated A in the Morgan Stanley Capital Investment's (MSCI) 2022 ESG Ratings, ranking the first in multi-line insurance & brokerage industry in APAC. The upgrade from BBB last year recognizes Ping An's outstanding performance in the area of "Access to Finance", and substantial improvements in "Responsible Investment, Climate Change Vulnerability, Corporate Governance and Corporate Behavior". Ping An's consistent implementations on responsible investment initiatives with a five-year green finance target also contributed to its score, according to the MSCI ESG Rating report.

Key Points: 
  • Ping An's consistent implementations on responsible investment initiatives with a five-year green finance target also contributed to its score, according to the MSCI ESG Rating report.
  • Ping An's pursuit of innovation of insurance products aims to make insurance as an economic "shock absorber" and a social "stabilizer".
  • Ping An has integrated the core philosophies and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) standards into its corporate management, drawing on international best practices.
  • Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An") strives to become a world-leading retail financial services group.

EIT Health's Venture Centre of Excellence Names ProductLife Group as Privileged Partner for Regulatory & Compliance

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 8, 2022

EIT Health, co-operator of the Venture Centre of Excellence alongside the European Investment Fund (EIF), has named ProductLife Group the exclusive Privileged Partner for Regulatory and Compliance to help expedite the navigation of regulatory barriers, thanks to its extensive Healthtech experience & trusted status as an existing EIT Health partner.

Key Points: 
  • EIT Health, co-operator of the Venture Centre of Excellence alongside the European Investment Fund (EIF), has named ProductLife Group the exclusive Privileged Partner for Regulatory and Compliance to help expedite the navigation of regulatory barriers, thanks to its extensive Healthtech experience & trusted status as an existing EIT Health partner.
  • PARIS, Nov. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ProductLife Group (PLG), a specialist provider of regulatory and compliance services for the life sciences industry, has announced its status as the exclusive Privileged Partner for Regulatory & Compliance services of the Venture Centre of Excellence (VCoE).
  • EIT Health's selection of PLG as its exclusive Privileged Partner for Regulatory & Compliance services in the VCoE is a testament to PLG's proven track record in helping emerging Biotech and other innovative life sciences start-ups navigate regulatory complexity.
  • ProductLife Group's mission is to improve human health by delivering regulatory compliance services for the safe and effective use of medical solutions.

Latinia invests in fintech company Ábaco to boost financial inclusion in the region

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 15, 2021

Latinia, a software vendor specializing in real-time event processing for financial institutions has recently announced its investment in the SaaS fintech company baco, which operates in Colombia and Mexico and provides financial access to unbanked individuals.

Key Points: 
  • Latinia, a software vendor specializing in real-time event processing for financial institutions has recently announced its investment in the SaaS fintech company baco, which operates in Colombia and Mexico and provides financial access to unbanked individuals.
  • baco develops a groundbreaking software for the generation of credit histories, the lack of which is a barrier preventing millions of workers from gaining access to credit.
  • According to McKinsey, last year approximately 70 percent of the population over 15 years old lacked full or partial access to banking services.
  • Reaching this segment of the population means serving the heart of many countries' economies," explains baco CEO and founder Victoria Blanco Alegra.

The COVID-19 pandemic and access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises: evidence from survey data

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 18, 2020

The outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically affected global economic activity.

Key Points: 
  • The outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically affected global economic activity.
  • In an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 infections, governments around the world have introduced social-distancing measures and lockdowns and cancelled public events.
  • The business activity of many companies has been severely disrupted, leading to an unprecedented adverse impact on economic growth globally.
  • The latest Survey on the Access to Finance of Enterprises (SAFE) documents a deterioration in the business activity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the reporting period from October 2019 to March 2020.
  • Chart A Change in turnover and profit of SMEs across euro area countries (over the preceding six months; net percentages of respondents)
  • The decline in profits was particularly strong among Greek, Spanish, Italian and Slovakian SMEs.
  • At the sectoral level, industry appears to have been the worst hit by the deterioration in profits (-20%, from -7%), notably in Italy.
  • A weakening financial position and a deteriorating macroeconomic environment raised concerns about access to finance among SMEs.
  • Firms expectations for access to finance in the near future shed more light on the severity of the COVID-19 crisis.
  • However, the forward-looking component of the survey captured the ongoing and anticipated worsening of the economic conditions.
  • Chart B Enterprises expecting a deterioration in the availability of external finance over the next six months during the fieldwork (estimated percentages)
  • The deterioration in the expected access to finance appeared to level off after the PEPP announcement, at least with regard to bank loans and credit lines.
  • While worsening is evident for both internal and external financing sources, differences exist between the two.
  • [4] Chart C Change in expected availability of financing for euro area firms (over the next six months; net percentages of respondents)