On 5^th April 2024, Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC) and Royal Group Securities Plc. (RGS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation on bond guarantees to support the bond market development in Cambodia witnessed by H.E. Sou Socheat, Delegate of the Royal Government of Cambodia in charge as Director General of Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), and highly attended by H.E. Hong Sokhour, Delegate of the Royal Government of Cambodia in charge as Chief Executive Officer of Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX).

CGCC officially became the First Cambodian Bond Guarantor on 31 January 2024 after getting approval from H.E. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance on the Policy Framework on Bond Guarantee, accredited by the SERC as the first local bond guarantor, and rated khAAA, the highest rating on a local scale, by the Rating Agency of Cambodia.

Mr. Wong Keet Loong, Chief Executive Officer of CGCC, said, “CGCC has been accredited by the SERC to be the bond guarantor for corporate bonds listed on the CSX.  This partnership with RGS will enable us to be part of the structuring of bonds between the Issuers and Investors.  The guarantee for corporate bonds enhances the credit rating of the bond issuance, which adds confidence to investors.  CGCC, as a state-owned enterprise under the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), will support SERC’s aspirations to develop the capital market to enable large businesses to source for funding by issuing bonds. With the bond guarantee, we hope to attract both local and foreign institutional investors to invest in the guaranteed bonds.”

Mr. Seng Chan Thoeun, Chief Executive Officer of RGS, said, “I am pleased to announce our strategic partnership with CGCC, aimed at enhancing debt capital raising through bond guarantee in Cambodian capital market by the state-owned corporate bond guarantor. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in our commitment to foster growth and trust within the financial sector. By leveraging our expertise and resources as a well-established securities firm, RGS will collaborate and support CGCC in providing guarantee to our local businesses, enhanced assurance to investors, thereby increasing confidence in bond offerings. Our joint effort will also enable us to offer more favorable terms and conditions to issuers, facilitating access to capital and promoting greater participation in the market. Ultimately, we believe this partnership will play a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth and development by providing a robust environment for capital formation and investment.”

The partnership between CGCC and RGS will play a significant role in supporting Cambodia’s sustainable economic development by collaborating in knowledge and resource sharing between the two institutions to develop bond guarantees that will support bond issuers in raising funds in capital markets, attract investors to invest in corporate bonds, and increase the bond market’s liquidity.

About CGCC

CGCC is the only credit guarantee corporation in Cambodia, established by the decision of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, as a state-owned enterprise under the technical and financial guidance of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The primary mission of CGCC is to provide credit guarantees to improve financial inclusion and support the growth of SMEs in Cambodia.

About RGS

Royal Group Securities Plc. (RGS) is a full-licensed securities firm under the supervision of Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia. RGS offers a wide range of professional financial services including capital raising, M&A, capital restructuring, stock trading, international stock investment, equity valuation, co-investment and financing, and more. RGS is the sole financial advisor and underwriter of all bonds issued in 2023 and subsequently listed on Cambodia Securities Exchange. In the second half of 2023, the company raised over USD 100 million for local businesses through IPO, bonds, and loan.