MANILA, Philippines, Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ayala Corporation signed a €50 million (₱3.1 Billion) social loan from leading European bank ING to support AC Health's portfolio growth.
Key officers of Ayala Corporation on December 16, including Chief Finance Officer Albert de Larrazabal and Treasurer Estelito Biacora, finalized the deal with ING, represented by Jun Palanca, Country Manager for ING Philippines, and Lenin Dueñas, Head of Corporate Sector Coverage and Financial Institutions for ING Philippines.
This social loan from ING comes at an opportune time, as AC Health continues to make strides in addressing significant pain points in the Philippine healthcare sector. Proceeds of the social loan are allocated to AC Health portfolio growth, and capital expenditures for retail pharmacy and hospital, including QualiMed and Joseph Drug. This enables Ayala, through AC Health's integrated healthcare ecosystem, to continue providing accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare to all Filipinos.
Jun Palanca, Country Manager for ING Philippines, said: "As a global bank with deep expertise in sustainable finance, we are proud to play a crucial role in enabling Ayala to address pressing challenges in the healthcare sector. This social loan marks an important milestone for ING and our partnership with the Ayala Corporation. ING's commitment to sustainability goes beyond financing; it is about empowering businesses to drive meaningful, long-term impact."
The €50 million social loan (approximately ₱3.1 billion) is the first Euro denominated social loan that ING has structured for a Philippine conglomerate. The social loan is structured with adherence to the latest Social Loan Principles published by the Loan Market Association, Asia Pacific Loan Market Association, and the Loan Syndications & Trading Association, paving the way for other foreign banks, including European banking institutions, to come in and participate in financing the growth of sustainable projects in the Philippines.
"At Ayala, we always look for like-minded partners who believe in our purpose. This sustainable finance transaction from ING confirms our commitment to building businesses that enable people to thrive," Larrazabal said. "This social loan from ING will enable us not only to build and scale our AC Health portfolio, but it will also enable us to serve more Filipinos by providing them access to quality and affordable healthcare."
About Ayala Corporation
For 190 years, Ayala Corporation has been building businesses that enable people to thrive.
Ayala, currently one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, has meaningful presence in real estate, banking, digital solutions, and renewable energy. It likewise has a growing presence in healthcare, mobility, and logistics as well as investments in industrial technologies, education, and other ventures. Ayala manages its corporate social responsibility initiatives through Ayala Foundation.
Visit our website at https://ayala.com and by follow us on LinkedIn to learn more about the company.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Ayala Corporation partners with ING to secure sustainable finance €50 million, advancing healthcare growth in the Philippines
HONG KONG, Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- HKBN Enterprise Solutions (HKBNES) has announced the launch of CyberZafe, an enterprise-grade network security solution that draws upon its nearly 30 years of cybersecurity expertise. CyberZafe stands out for delivering tailored assessments for SMEs from all industries, enabling each customer to gain a unique understanding of his/her operational vulnerabilities, followed by precise recommendations in terms of security solutions. With this level of personalised attention, CyberZafe empowers users to adopt the appropriate security strategy and tools for their organisation, freeing them to prioritise innovation and business growth.
With AI applications becoming more popular, the cost for hackers to launch cyber-attacks is decreasing, making SMEs more likely targets of intrusion than large enterprises (which typically have more resources for security). If not managed properly, this could lead to business disruption, reputational damage, and ultimately, financial and business losses. In collaboration with leading cybersecurity experts Check Point Software, Integrity Technology, Palo Alto Networks and Qi An Xin Technology, HKBNES's CyberZafe solution offers services including Security Consultancy Services, Phishing Awareness, Configuration Review and Reporting, Network Security Health Check, Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Test, Managed Firewall, Managed Firewall and Email Security. Managed by an expert group of cybersecurity professionals with a deep understanding of SMEs and their unique cybersecurity challenges, the CyberZafe team provides end-to-end security consultation, guidance, support and prompt response via step-by-step handling of cyber-attacks, before or after they occur.
As a leading telecom and ICT solutions provider, HKBN attaches great importance to cybersecurity, with Talents being a key defence against cyber risks. To beef up its internal security, HKBN conducts about 10 impromptu phishing email assessments on its Talents every year, and has achieved an average failure rate of 1.49% in the past year – well below the global standard of 4.9%*. This demonstrates HKBN's success in building strong cybersecurity awareness among its team.
Wilson Tang, HKBN Co-Owner and Chief Information Security Officer, said, "Cyber threats are everywhere. Small, medium and large enterprises should always have a robust incident response mechanism and tools in place to effectively combat and quickly address cyber threats. HKBN is committed to providing enterprise-level and tailor-made response solutions, including network health checks, incident response guidance, and trend analysis, so that even amidst a shortage of IT professionals, organizations from all industries can still be empowered with the support to enjoy a strong foundation for network security."
For more information about CyberZafe solution, please visit https://www.hkbnes.com/web/sme/promotions/cyberzafe/.
* KnowBe4's 2024 Phishing Industry Benchmark Report - 2024 Phishing By Industry Benchmarking Report
About HKBN Enterprise Solutions
HKBN Enterprise Solutions ("HKBNES") is the arm of HKBN Ltd. (SEHK stock code: 1310) ("HKBN"). As a leading system integration ICT services provider, it focuses on enterprise solutions development. Comprises a professional team and profound experience, together with HKBN's unique tri-carrier network, HKBNES provides enterprises with one-stop comprehensive digital transformation solutions, including cloud and data centres, cybersecurity, smart and digital solutions, and more. For more information about HKBNES, please visit www.hkbnes.com.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
HKBN Enterprise Solutions Launches CyberZafe Solution, Empowering SMEs with Enterprise-Grade Cybersecurity Deployment
