Grupo Salinas Participates in Women's World Banking Microfinance and the Capital Markets: A Global Exchange Conference

Grupo Salinas Participates in Women's World Banking Microfinance and the Capital Markets: A Global Exchange Conference

-Presents Ways to Effectively Communicate With Financial Markets-

MEXICO CITY, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Salinas, a group of dynamic, fast-growing and technologically advanced companies deeply committed to the modernization of the countries where it operates, reiterates its commitment to improving living conditions through microfinance with participation by Grupo Salinas IRO Bruno Rangel in the Microfinance and the Capital Markets: A Global Exchange Conference held this week in New York City.

The event was organized by the Women's World Banking and the Global Markets Institute at Goldman Sachs, and was attended by more than 100 people, from financial institution leaders to international investors that support microfinance throughout the world.

Mr. Rangel stressed the growing importance of investor relations to achieve accurate market valuation, precise risk assessment, fair cost of capital of financial institutions, and building impartial perceptions. He highlighted Banco Azteca, a successful Grupo Salinas bank focused on the mass market, as an example of how effective communication can modify investors' perceptions about the business potential of the sector.

"Four years ago, financial markets were highly skeptical about the savings capabilities of the Mexican mass market, debt collection, and the expenses associated in operating a bank with a large base of small clients," said Mr. Rangel. "Today investors recognize that there is a large, unattended market that generates enormous profitability, sustains dynamic growth of financial institutions, and also helps improve well-being of millions of families of modest means. It's no wonder that microfinance is a Nobel Prize winning concept."

Now in its fifth year of operation, Banco Azteca is a paragon of microfinance success for Latin America and the rest of the world. With double digit annual financial revenue growth, and more than 1,500 branches in Mexico and Panama, every day Banco Azteca gives more than 12,000 loans and opens 7,000 deposit accounts, which add to a balance of six million credits and the same number of deposit accounts. Banco Azteca strongly supports segments unattended by traditional banking institutions, and has notable expansion plans in Mexico and Latin America.

Along with massive credits related to merchandise sales, Banco Azteca's Empresario Azteca Micro-financing Program allows 80,000 small entrepreneurs to create a business, employ themselves and generate employment for others, contributing to the generation of wealth for families with scarce resources.

Commenting on the event, Luis J. Echarte, Executive Vice President of Grupo Salinas and Chairman of Azteca America, said, "We have presented two notable attributes of the Group: the efficient operations of Banco Azteca and its social merits; and the skills of our recognized team of communicators who successfully convey our company insights in multiple scenarios."

Grupo Salinas Profile

Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast-growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, building the Mexican middle class, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas, Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies: TV Azteca (www.tvazteca.com; www.irtvazteca.com), Azteca America (www.aztecaamerica.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), Iusacell (www.iusacell.com), Unefon (www.unefon.com.mx), Movil@ccess (www.movilaccess.com), and Todito.com. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. However, member companies share a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.

Press Contact

Tristan Canales
Corporate Communications
Grupo Salinas
(5255) 1720-1441
tcanales@gruposalinas.com.mx

Daniel McCosh
International Communications
Grupo Salinas
(5255) 1720-0059
dmccosh@gruposalinas.com.mx

Source: Grupo Salinas

CONTACT: Tristan Canales, Corporate Communications, +011-5255-1720-1441,
or tcanales@gruposalinas.com.mx, or Daniel McCosh, International
Communications, +011-5255-1720-0059, or dmccosh@gruposalinas.com.mx, both of
Grupo Salinas

Web site: http://www.gruposalinas.com/

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