AnaCap is a specialist private equity fund focusing on pan-European investments in the financial services sector. It provides both operational and financing expertise to its investments, targeting those businesses with high growth, strong management teams or restructuring needs. Based in London, the fund has more than €920 million under management and is backed by highly regarded global institutional investors including Goldman Sachs, Honeywell, Morgan Stanley, Allianz and Adams Street Partners.

AnaCap’s combination of analytical and operational expertise will provide our existing management team with the resources we need for expansion. Their backing allows us to retain our independence and significantly enhances our ability to exploit the considerable potential for further growth and development within the SME lending market.

The transaction is subject to the approval of Cattles plc shareholders for which a circular is being issued. It will be very much business as usual over the coming months here in the Midlands. You will continue to benefit from the same dedicated contact points, access to rapid decision making, sensible and creative lending decisions and a fully operational local business centre.

With an invoice factoring solution  the factor agrees to pay an agreed percentage of approved debts as soon as they receive a copy of the invoice. The percentage depends upon several issues, but 80-85% is common. The balance, less charges, is paid when the customer pays. This flexible finance keeps pace with business growth, without parting with control or equity.

The factor will also undertake all credit management and collections work, following an agreed credit policy to ensure faster customer payments without loss of goodwill.

The savings in administration are substantial, and faster customer payments mean less need to borrow and lower interest costs. In addition, some factoring companies offer the option of including protection against bad debt losses in their service. This safeguards profits, cash flow and enhances the balance sheet.

There will normally be a charge for the collections service and, if required, bad debt protection, expressed as a percentage of turnover. It is the subject of a formal quotation after we gain an understanding of a business and the workload to be undertaken. It is commonly between 0.75% and 2.5% of turnover.

For the finance provided in advance of collections, there is usually a discount charge calculated on the day-to-day usage of funds. It is likely to be comparable with normal secured bank overdraft rates. This type of finance is generally of interest to start-up and SME sized companies.

For more information on whether Invoice Factoring could help or be right for your business  and or to receive a free and with no obligation factoring quote please call Phillip Evans or apply online at Free Factoring Quotes

Also useful when considering factoring take a look at our invoice discounting pages

Banks’ access to funds has always been through the wholesale money markets. Such funding is charged at a wholesale rate known as LIBOR (London Inter Bank Offered Rate). Funds are then lent on to customers at a retail rate – over Bank of England base rate. Historically LIBOR has predicted the direction of base rate and thus the status-quo has been achieved.

With the onset of the financial downturn in 2008 many banks, including some of the largest in the UK, lost confidence in the value of the security being offered to them by their peers and as a result became very reluctant to lend on the wholesale markets. This drove up the cost of wholesale funds (LIBOR) at the same time as the base rate started to fall, driven by the Bank of England’s desire to control inflation. For the first time ever a gap opened up between the two market rates.

Several Banks and Invoice Factoring Companies now base all advances on LIBOR. The impact of this adjustment on clients initially will have been a big increase as there was a large disparity between base rate and LIBOR. However, there seems now to be closer similarity between the two rates as money markets begin to stabilise. Some may still notice a slight monthly fluctuation in the rate being charged.

Enable Finance are committed to supporting SME businesses during these difficult economic times – we have an excellent track record of and believe we are very well placed to continue to provide funding and expertise for clients. For further information on how Invoice Factoring could help your Company please contact Phillip Evans on mobile: 07970 500 425

In this ever changing financial climate and in light of recent events, I thought it would be useful to update you on our status and confirm the very strong position we find ourselves in.

Put simply, there is no change of direct ownership. We remain part of ABN AMRO BU Netherlands and their ultimate owner is now the Dutch Government. This offers us a tremendous amount of solidity during these turbulent times.

In fact, the only change Venture has experienced lately has been positive, having recently moved our Haywards Heath headquarters to newly renovated and larger premises, spanning four floors across 23,000 square feet – a great step forward, bringing our head office staff under one roof and making us better equipped to support our regions than ever before.

The year ahead may well provide a bumpy ride for many businesses, but with our strong and credible backing, Venture will continue to support all kinds of businesses across the UK, delivering an award-winning service that consistently exceeds the expectations of our clients, introducers and partners. Venture Finance the Factoring Company is very much open for business.

Registry Trust, which collects and distributes court judgment information in the public interest throughout the UK, has revealed there was a marked increase in bad debt judgments against businesses in 2007. The rise of 4% to 185,395, takes the number of judgments to the highest level since 2001.

Malcolm Hurlston, the chairman of Registry Trust, said: “The next 12 months should be interesting. I certainly expect the upward trend in commercial judgments to continue in 2008 which promises to be a tough year for British businesses, especially in the small and medium-sized enterprise sector, against which most of the commercial judgments are made.”

Bad debt protection solutions are available to both factoring and invoice discounting clients’ and will be tailored to the needs of the individual businesses. Bad debt protection provides clients with protection for up to 90% of any loss suffered by reason of the failure of a debtor to pay, owing to insolvency or protracted default.

For more information about factoring or invoice discounting follow the link or call Phillip Evans direct on 01623 812902

The service, which provides independent advice to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) considering refinance options, has experienced a record number of requests for information via its Factoring Services website.

The combined impact of a downturn in the economy and quarter commercial rent and bank re-payments has left many businesses short on cash. As a result alternative methods of raising funds, such as factoring and invoice discounting, are becoming more popular as businesses find banks less willing to extend overdrafts.

Factoring is a way for businesses to raise funds quickly using existing assets or the debtor book, and so is a very sensible method for business directors to better manage cash flow without having to approach reluctant banks or give equity away.

If you think your business would benefit from a free chat about how factoring or asset refinance could help your business with cash flow call Phillip Evans direct on 01623 812902 or apply for factoring online

Young but rapidly growing businesses often play a dangerous game, boasting hockey-stick-style financial projections only to run out of cash before the good times kick in. The best risk management too for any business large or small is a nice pot of cash.

Easier said than done I hear you say… We’ll Enable Finance may have a perfect solution for the business wishing to keep cash flowing through its business. Speak with Enable Commercial Finance about invoice factoring our commercial business advisers provide a free financial review to assess what if any cash flow or invoice finance solution would best suit your business.

If cash flow is of concern to you and your business call: Phillip Evans on 01623 812902 or Apply for factoring Online