Promoting Economic Growth in Frontier Markets with Significant Trade Finance Support
HONG KONG, CHINA, July 6, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — Financely, a globally recognized trade and project finance advisory firm, proudly announced today that it has successfully secured a syndicated line of credit totaling USD 116,482,000. This monumental financial breakthrough was achieved in collaboration with four prestigious banking institutions; ICBC, China Construction Bank, Hang Seng Bank, and Standard Chartered.
The newly secured line of credit aims to provide robust trade finance support to companies operating in frontier markets, marking a remarkable step forward in facilitating economic growth and diversification in these regions.
The financing aims to bolster trade and economic growth in frontier markets. The strategic initiative embodies Financely’s commitment to providing comprehensive financial solutions to frontier market companies, enabling them to overcome liquidity constraints, manage trade risks, and support their working capital requirements.
Through this syndicated line of credit, Financely is ensuring these companies have the necessary financial leverage to expand their trade operations and facilitate commerce. This move is expected to foster employment, promote financial inclusion, and stimulate sustainable economic growth in these frontier markets.
On this auspicious occasion, Jason W. Lee, Managing Director of Financely, stated, “This substantial line of credit embodies our relentless pursuit of innovative financial solutions to propel frontier market economies. Our collaboration with ICBC, China Construction Bank, Hang Seng Bank, and Standard Chartered underscores the strong alliances we are forging to provide unparalleled financial support to companies operating in these markets.”
Lee further added, “We are optimistic that this initiative will significantly alleviate financial burdens on these companies, bolstering their capacity to engage in international trade. Ultimately, our goal is to facilitate the creation of vibrant, resilient, and inclusive economies in these frontier markets.”
In the wake of this significant financial achievement, Financely continues to solidify its position as a leading trade and project finance advisory firm, committed to fostering global economic growth and prosperity.
Financely is a leading trade and project finance advisory firm offering bespoke financial solutions to companies worldwide. With a distinct focus on frontier markets, the firm’s expertise lies in structuring innovative financing solutions that support economic growth, promote financial inclusion, and foster sustainability.
https://www.myluxepoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/financely-1-1.jpg7191280Jackson Thompsonhttps://www.myluxepoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/logo2v-1.pngJackson Thompson2023-07-07 20:39:002023-07-16 08:31:42FINANCELY SECURES A LANDMARK SYNDICATED LINE OF CREDIT FOR $116,482,000
Manchester City FC named world’s most valuable football club brand
Manchester City FC becomes the world’s most valuable football brand, ending Real Madrid’s four-year streak at the top
Real Madrid CF reigns supreme as the world’s strongest football club brand
Spanish clubs continue to perform strongly in the 2023 ranking
Manchester United jumps ahead of rival Liverpool FC to take 4th position
London football clubs hold onto top 10 ranks, with Arsenal FC seeing the biggest brand value increase
AC Milan represents Italy as the fastest-growing football club brand for second year running
Paris Saint-Germain overtakes FC Bayern Munich, while only three French clubs feature in top 50
Germany holds the second-highest number of clubs in the ranking behind UK, while Bundesliga continues to lose brand value
Flamengo just holds onto 50th position as the only non-European club in the ranking
Manchester City FC becomes the world’s most valuable football brand, ending Real Madrid’s four-year streak at the top
Manchester City FC (brand value up 13% to €1.51 billion) has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing Real MadridCF (brand value down 4% to €1.46 billion) as the world’s most valuable football club brand. The club’s brand value has seen a positive increase of 34% growth since the COVID-19 pandemic and has now reached an all-time high. Manchester City FC also boasts the highest revenue in this year’s table, a key driver in its ascent to the top.
Hugo Hensley, Head of Sports Services at Brand Finance, commented:
“Manchester City FC has achieved an extraordinary feat by surpassing Real Madrid to become the champion of football club brands. For a decade now, the City team has exerted its dominance in English football, including securing four Premier League titles in the past five seasons.However, the club’s performance in this year’s ranking highlights that Manchester City FC are performing off the pitch in terms of building a strong brand and attracting fans and sponsors, and setting the stage for what should be an iconic 2023 Champions League final against Inter Milan.”
Real Madrid CF reigns supreme as the world’s strongest football club brand
In addition to calculating brand value, Brand Finance also determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics evaluating marketing investment, stakeholder equity, and business performance. Compliant with ISO 20671, Brand Finance’s assessment of stakeholder equity incorporates original market research data from over 10,000 football fans in Europe, Brazil, China, and the USA.
While beaten out of the top spot by Manchester City FC this year, Real Madrid CF strikes again as the strongest and second-most valuable football club brand. In 2022, Brand Finance research determined that the Spanish powerhouse were the most likely club to be rated ‘the best club in the world’ by fans. Brand strength is what attracts fans, players, investors, and sponsors to engage with the club –delivering commercial value through higher revenues, prices – especially for sponsorship, higher growth, and sponsors, reducing risks to profitability related to weak on pitch performance.
Spanish clubs continue to perform strongly in the 2023 ranking
Following Real Madrid in 2nd, FC Barcelona (brand value up 4% to €1.4 billion) defends its 2022 rank in 3rd, as does Club Atletico de Madrid (brand value down 5% to €549.56 million) in 12th. Following a period of on-pitch setbacks and financial struggles, FC Barcelona appears to have resurged its reputation, winning the Spanish LaLiga ahead of historic rival Real Madrid in 2nd and Club Atletico de Madrid in 3rd.
Sevilla FC (brand value up 6% to €189.27 million) has also shot up five places to 25th, while Villareal CF (brand value up 5% to €137.38 million) has gone up four rankings to 36th position. After struggling in LaLiga and changing coaches multiple times, Sevilla FC found stability under the leadership of Jose Luis Mendilibar, who is credited with reviving the team’s success. Further solidifying its international reputation, the club has achieved remarkable results in Europe, defeating British and Italian powerhouses Manchester United FC and Juventus.
Spain adds two more achievements to its 2023 success, as Real Sociedad (brand value €133.63 million) is a new entrant in 37th place, while Real Betis (brand value up 31% to 153.1 million) shoots up nine positions to 34th to be named the third fastest-growing football club brand. Finishing 6th in LaLiga (ahead of Sevilla FC in 12th), Real Betis is hoping to further boost its brand strength and global recognition through a €70 million renovation of its home stadium. Further, Brand Finance also ranked Real Betis 2nd, one spot ahead of Real Madrid CF, in its Football Sustainability Index. The club’s commitment to raising awareness about climate change has further bolstered its positive reputation worldwide.
Manchester United jumps ahead of rival Liverpool FC to take 4th position
Manchester United FC (brand value up 9% to €1.4 billion) now sits one rank ahead of its historic rival Liverpool FC (brand value up 7% to €1.4 billion) in fourth and fifth position respectively. Both clubs have recorded positive brand value trajectories since 2022, finally surpassing their pre-pandemic values. After two Covid-hit seasons, 2022-2023 saw the continued return of live matches and fans to stadiums, resulting in increased ticket sales and revenues.
Jurgen Klopp’s appointment as manager of Liverpool FC in 2015 has propelled the club to unparalleled success, establishing them as one of the country’s most formidable teams. As for its rival, Erik ten Hag’s arrival as Manchester United’s leader in 2022 also seems to have resurged the club’s reputation. The Red Devils’ win against Newcastle United to win the League Cup this year saw them clinch their first trophy in six years.
London football clubs hold onto top 10 ranks, with Arsenal FC seeing the biggest brand value increase
Arsenal FC (brand value up 14% to €906.28 million) is up two positions from 2022 and now ranks 8th. Squad investments, (Arsenal FC signed Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City FC in summer 2022) strengthened on-pitch tactics, and Mikel Arteta’s effective leadership have all contributed to The Gunners’ strong season, their 3-1 win over Chelsea FC (brand value up 1% to €860.5 million) on May 3rd propelling them to the top of the Premier League. Although eventually beaten into a respectable second by Manchester City FC, Arsenal FC set the record for the most days spent at the top of the league without winning it. Furter, their status as the youngest squad in the league instils hope among key stakeholders for a promising future.
AC Milan represents Italy as the fastest-growing football club brand for second year running
AC Milan (brand value up 33% to €357.98 million) ranks 15th this year and is named the fastest-growing football club brand, closely followed by SSC Napoli, (brand value up 31% to €239.81 million) in 18th as the second-fastest growing. AC Milan had a successful season, reaching the Champions League semi-finals and holding a respectable 4th position in Serie A. The club’s brand value has increased through royalties and sponsorships, totalling nearly €20 million in 2022. Also solidifying its growing success, SCC Napoli has stormed to the top of the Serie A league following continued on-pitch success. Revenues generated from the Serie A and the Champions League qualifiers, in addition to broadcasting and sponsorship opportunities, have further propelled the club’s growth.
Paris Saint-Germain overtakes FC Bayern Munich, while only three French clubs feature in top 50
Paris Saint-Germain (brand value up 10% to €1.1 billion) has moved up one rank into 6th, overtaking 2022 rival FC Bayern Munich (brand value down 1% to €1.1 billion) who drops to 7th. PSG, the current top-ranked team in the French Ligue 1, gained global recognition and popularity following the 2022 World Cup, which saw young talent Kylian Mbappé, and footballing legend Lionel Messi go head-to-head in a historic final. The club’s formidable and widely recognised powerhouse trio of Messi, Mbappé, and Neymar, has solidified PSG’s iconic status, in the footballing world and beyond.
Germany holds the second-highest number of clubs in the ranking behind UK, while Bundesliga continues to lose brand value
Germany has an impressive 10 clubs in this year’s ranking, with its strongest and most valuable club brand, FC Bayern Munich holding its top 10 rank in 7th. Although the team made a record start to the 2022-2023 season, they are facing increasing competition from other German clubs. They sit in 2nd place behind Borussia Dortmund (brand value up 5% to €541.92 million, ranked 13th) in the Bundesliga, while Bayern also recently suffered their first-ever defeat by RB Leipzig (brand value down 9% to €222.46 million, ranked 19th). That said, Bayern’s exceptional talent pool, global reputation and popularity remains undisputed; the club have secured more victories than all remaining Bundesliga teams combined, and the club boasts a global fan base of loyal and dedicated fans.
Flamengo just holds onto 50th position as the only non-European club in the ranking
Flamengo (brand value up 2% to €97.85 million) have dropped from 49th in 2022 to 50th position in 2023. Despite Brazilian hopes for their success, the team were knocked out of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in February after a disappointing defeat to Saudi Arabian team, Al-Hilal. That said, the Brazilian club still performs respectively in the BSI ranking, dropping only one place to 16th. This strong result indicates that the club maintains a favourable global reputation, attributed to the successful legacy and rich heritage of its nation’s football culture. Flamengo also achieves the second-highest score globally for its passionate fan base.
Microsoft Overtakes Apple to Become World’s Most Intangible Company
With an intangible asset value of nearly $2 trillion, Microsoft becomes world’s most intangible company, overtaking Apple, Saudi Aramco, and Amazon, as Microsoft Teams keeps global economy running through COVID-19 lockdowns.
Corporates booming – global intangible value has grown by nearly a quarter over past two years of pandemic, from $61 trillion in 2019 to $74 trillion in 2021
Over past 25 years, intangibles have seen astronomical growth – increasing 1145% from estimated $6 trillion in 1996. At this historic rate of change, global intangibles could be worth $1 quadrillion by 2050.
Brand Finance and International Valuation Standards Council call for more comprehensive reporting of intangible asset value to facilitate investor understanding and economic recovery post-COVID
Every year, the Brand Finance Global Intangible Finance Tracker (GIFT™) report ranks the world’s largest companies by intangible asset value.
This year’s number one company in terms of total estimated intangible value is Microsoft (US$1.90 trillion), which has jumped from 4th position in 2020 to overtake Apple (US$1.87 trillion), SaudiAramco (US$1.64 trillion), and Amazon (US$1.47 trillion). Microsoft Teams has become embedded into business life for global organisations, once again proving the value of Microsoft’s ability to innovate and roll-out at scale. Microsoft is investing heavily in its business suite solutions. Although Apple is the more valuable company by approximately $200 billion, Microsoft is estimated to have more intangible value with its portfolio of brands and business operations.
Intangible assets are identifiable, non-monetary assets without physical substance. Intangible assets can be grouped into three broad categories – rights (including leases, agreements, contracts), relationships (including a trained workforce), and intellectual property (including brands, patents, copyrights).
Intangible assets boom during COVID-19 pandemic
Over the past year in particular, global intangible asset value has grown faster than usual, and at $74 trillion it exceeds pre-pandemic levels by nearly a quarter, having increased 23% compared to $61 trillion in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated even further the importance of people, innovation, reputation, and brand for businesses all around the world. Intangible assets are now unequivocally a boardroom priority.
Increases through the pandemic were primarily fuelled by the growth of the world’s largest organisations which were resilient to investor uncertainty due to their scale and their focus on technologies which we continued to rely on through lockdowns. This year, growth has been driven by China and the USA, with several industries recovering from the downturn in 2020.
In times of crisis, brands – especially those most valuable and strongest in their categories and markets – become a safe haven for capital. Like gold or fine art during past economic downturns, nowadays well-managed, innovative, and reputable brands are what the global economy turns to in the hour of need. There can be no better evidence for why brands matter than the role they have already played and will continue to play in the post-COVID recovery.
David Haigh, Chairman & CEO, Brand Finance
Global intangible value grows by over 1000% in 25 years
25 years ago – when Brand Finance was established – global intangible assets were worth only an estimated $6 trillion, less than a tenth of the same value today. As of September 2021, global intangible assets are worth over $74 trillion. This is a 1145% growth over 25 years – approximately 11% per annum.
It is a pivotal moment in financial reporting for intangibles. Total estimated intangible value has grown by over 1000% in the past 25 years. At the same rate, total global intangible value could stand at over $1 quadrillion by 2050 (that is $1,000,000,000,000,000). As investors grapple with balancing various issues such as Climate Change and ESG over the coming years, it is essential that the data they need to understand these vast sums is readily available.
Annie Brown, Associate, Brand Finance
Internally generated intangibles should be recognised in financial reports
The majority of intangible assets are not recognised, due to the limitations set by the financial reporting rules, which state that internally generated intangible assets such as brands cannot be disclosed in a company balance sheet.
Investors should not be deprived of this critical information. Intangible assets such as strong, valuable brands and innovative technology can be the differentiators that drive a $2 billion company to $2 trillion in 25 years – as witnessed with Apple. This information vacuum for investors is part of the reason why Brand Finance endeavours to estimate the extent of “undisclosed intangible value” in our GIFT™ study each year.
David Haigh, Chairman & CEO, Brand Finance Plc
To truly aid investors and provide them with useful information, we believe management should be allowed and required to:
Identify the key intangibles of the entire business – both internally generated and acquired.
Provide an opinion on the value of those intangibles in the notes to the financial statements.
Provide an opinion of the overall business value at the reporting date, to help investors to understand whether or not their capital is allocated efficiently.
Despite the importance of intangible assets to the capital markets, only a small percentage are recognised on balance sheets, typically via acquisition from a third-party transaction. The pandemic has further exacerbated the disparity between market values and book values for those industries most reliant on brands, technology, and human capital for value creation. The IVSC supports Brand Finance, and all others, that look to make progress on this most critical issue.
Kevin Prall, Technical Director, International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC)
