OREANDA-NEWS. August 22, 2014. Lately, Beijing Branch of Agricultural Bank of China Limited (“ABC”) entered into a Bank-Enterprise Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Beijing Equity Trading Center Co. Ltd. ("BETC"). The Branch commits in the agreement to provide an intentional credit line totaling RMB5 billion to the companies already listed or to be listed on BETC. The funds are to meet the financing needs of micro and small enterprises ("MSEs") in cooperation with the center and explore new ways for banks to support MSE development.

Under the agreement, ABC Beijing Branch will provide customized and innovative financing support to meet the financing demand of companies listed on BETC, especially MSEs. The support shall range from private debt underwriting, equity pledged loan, IPR pledged loan, accounts receivable pledged loan to order financing. It will also offer special credit lines to meet the financing needs of MSEs, shorten the approval process and enhance loan granting efficiency.

In addition, the Branch will conduct special researches with BETC on asset management, M&A, cash management, bills and guarantee services, jointly design and develop innovative financial products, hence providing more convenient financing support to the MSEs listed on BETC.
Beijing Branch, as a major institution of ABC located in the capital of the country, has always given priority to contributing to the socioeconomic development of Beijing.

It actively performed its responsibilities as a major state-owned bank, continuously participated in, contributed to and integrated with the socioeconomic development of the capital. It has received the acknowledgement of the senior officials of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the Beijing Municipal Government, as well as the universal recognition of society. In recent years, the Branch has actively provided financial service to MSEs. At the end of May 2014, its balance of loans to MSEs was close to RMB11 billion, meeting the regulatory requirements on loan increase rate and year-on-year increment concerning loans to MSEs for four straight years.

The Branch has achieved substantial growth in financial services to MSEs.

BETC, the other party to the above agreement, is a private equity market approved by the Beijing Municipal Government and specialized in providing financing services to local enterprises, especially MSEs. It constitutes an integral part of a multi-tier capital market. Its main functions include registration, custody and settlement for the equities, creditor's rights and other equity products of non-public enterprises in Beijing.