SME Financing

Many customers think that they should first go to the bank for financing. Why do they need to negotiate with so-called experts? If the company can borrow, it can be borrowed. If the boss can lend, it can be borrowed. Is it difficult for experts outside the company to do the same? Let me, a former banker, tell you that the loan managers in charge of the bank company will only look at the documentary evidence, such as sales records, audit reports, tax returns and bank statements, to calculate the repayment ability, but the reviewers will make adjustments to calculate the payment pressure and loan amount. The question is what kind of adjustment? Can you not get a loan without the above documents? Our professional team can make a preliminary assessment and provide a solution within one day, and then introduce it to the bank loan manager.

Popular SFGS Program

To help these enterprises cope with the financing difficulties that may arise from credit tightening in the uncertain global economic environment, the Financial Secretary announced a series of measures to support these enterprises in the 2012-13 Budget, including the introduction of a time-limited "special concessionary measure" under this scheme to provide 80% credit guarantee for loans approved by lending institutions to eligible enterprises at a concessional guarantee fee.

SFGS – 80% Credit Guarantee Product

Since its launch on May 31, 2012, the product has effectively assisted these enterprises in obtaining loans in the commercial credit market, and the number of enterprises benefiting from the 80% Credit Guarantee product has continued to increase. In order to further reduce the financing burden of these enterprises and assist them in obtaining financing from lending institutions, the Government has from time to time introduced optimization measures for eligible credit guarantees under the 80% Credit Guarantee product.

SFGS – 90% Credit Guarantee (“90% Credit Guarantee Product”)

The Legislative Council's Finance Panel approved the relevant funding on 6 December 2019, and the 90% Credit Guarantee product under the Scheme was launched on 16 December 2019. The 90% Credit Guarantee product is designed to help smaller businesses with less operating experience to obtain financing. With the outbreak and spread of the COVID-19 virus, the business environment has deteriorated rapidly. The Government announced some optimization and relief measures for eligible credit guarantees under the 90% Credit Guarantee product.

SFGS – 100% Guaranteed Special Loan (“SFGS”)

The Financial Secretary announced the introduction of the 100% Guaranteed Ex-Concessional Loan in the 2020-21 Budget. The 100% Guaranteed Ex-Concessional Loan aims to alleviate the pressure on such enterprises that are unable to pay employee salaries or rents due to reduced revenue, helping to reduce business closures and layoffs. The 100% Guaranteed Ex-Concessional Loan is 100% guaranteed by the Government and will be open for application on April 20, 2020. With the outbreak and spread of the 2019 coronavirus, the business environment has deteriorated rapidly. In order to ease the cash flow problems of SMEs, the Government announced some optimization measures for the 100% Guaranteed Ex-Concessional Loan.

Eligible borrowing enterprises must have been in operation for at least 3 months before June 30, 2020, and their turnover in any single month from February 2020 (the "Affected Period") must have fallen by 30% or more compared with the average monthly turnover in any quarter from January 2019 to June 2020 (the "Reference Period"), and the "Affected Period" must not be earlier than the "Reference Period".

The maximum loan amount for each eligible borrowing enterprise is the sum of employee salaries and rents for 18 months, with a cap of HK$6 million. The longest repayment period is 8 years, and the longest interest-only arrangement is 24 months.

SME Financing - Comparison of SFGS Guarantee Schemes

 

80% credit guarantee

Application qualifications: Non-listed locally registered companies. • Application period for listed companies is relaxed by one year.

Years of business operation: The borrowing enterprise must have been in business for at least 1 year on the day of applying for guarantee.

Maximum loan amount: HK$18 million.

Maximum warranty period: 7 years.

Repayment method: Enterprises can apply to repay interest but not principal for the first 6 months.

Loan types: term loans and revolving loans, with no restrictions on the loan ratio. Qualified companies can apply for both term loans and revolving loans at the same time.

 

90% credit guarantee

Eligibility: Unlisted locally registered enterprise.

Years in business: Not applicable.

Maximum loan amount: HK$8 million

Maximum warranty period: 5 years.

Repayment method: Enterprises can apply to pay interest only but not principal for the first 12 months.

Loan Type: Term Loan.

 

100% Special Guarantee

Business operation period: Has been in business in Hong Kong for at least 3 months before the end of June 2020. The turnover in any month from February 2020 has decreased by 30% or more compared with the average monthly turnover in any quarter from January 2019 to June 2020.

Maximum loan amount: HK$6 million.

Maximum warranty period: 8 years

Repayment method: Enterprises can apply for repayment of interest but not principal for the first 18 months.