Fintech

Rifco Provides a Corporate Update

Published

4 years ago

October 13, 2020

Red Deer, Alberta–(Newsfile Corp. – October 13, 2020) – Rifco Inc. (TSXV: RFC) (“Rifco” or the “Company“) would like to provide the following information as a form of corporate update.

Rifco’s profitability is generating significant shareholder value, including $2.2M in net income in the quarter ending June 2020.

Rifco’s financial position is exceptionally strong with $1.77 per share of adjusted book value, and attractive, flexible, long term funding relationships in place.

Rifco’s industry leading achievements in advanced decision making and loan applications processing automation provides for competitive advantages.

During this COVID-19 period, Rifco has remained operational, and its loan portfolio has performed exceedingly well.

Rifco is in an enviable position, able to pursue strategic and shareholder-friendly capital allocation initiatives.

Shareholder Value
Recent investments and significant efforts are resulting in meaningful improvements in shareholder value – including a return to meaningful profitability.

Generated net income of $2.2M ($0.10/share) for the quarter ended June 30, 2020.
The Custom Credit Model, along with improvements in loan servicing and collections functions are driving meaningful improvements in finance receivable credit performance and profitability.
The Credit Spread Rate (finance yield less credit losses) has improved from a low of 8.98% for the quarter ending June 2018 to 11.28% for the quarter ending June 2020.
Generated a 25% year-over-year increase in originations for the year ended March 31, 2020, making it the 3rd largest origination year in the history of Rifco (prior to the impacts of the lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic).

Financial Position
The operational improvements that the Company continues to pursue are supported by an extraordinarily strong financial position:

Adjusted Book value per share at a record of $1.77 as of June 30, 2020 (and climbing).
Five credit and securitization facilities with a combined approved and authorized funding capacity exceeding $100M*.
Rifco’s three core securitization facilities have been in place for between 10 and 15 years each, with an uninterrupted history of successful annual renewals, reviews, and increases. Our current cost of borrowing remains competitive and consistent.
Each securitization facility has successfully advanced new capital, associated with individual tranches of finance receivables, since May 2020.
Although certain other lease or finance companies have required relief, and some of our current providers offered relief, at no time did Rifco need, request, nor receive any payment relief from any of our credit or securitization facilities.
In this year, Rifco completed a treasury reorganization resulting in improved cost of funds, improved liquidity, and optimized lender covenants providing for increased overall financial flexibility.
Successfully settled a lawsuit resulting from an incomplete sale processes resulting in receipt of $1.5M settlement payment.

* As a reminder, each annual period, upon successful renewal, a new allotment is provided from two of our securitizers while the other is a revolving facility.

Data and Analytics
Since the 2018 Annual Shareholders meeting, when the company announced that it was refocusing its priorities to data and analytics, considerable progress has been made in developing advanced decision making and automation. Rifco’s industry leading achievements in advanced decision making and loan applications processing automation provides for competitive advantages.

Hiring of a big 5 bank trained data and analytics focused credit officer (Nov 2017)
Implementation of a new loan origination platform (Feb 2018)
Launch of Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence platform (June 2018)
Launch of advanced and automated pricing model (August 2018)
New Credit Scorecard with Equifax trended attributes (November 2018)
Started limited auto adjudication of loan applications (August 2018)
Grown automated adjudication of 85% of incoming loan applications (June 2020)
Auto import of borrower income data into the loan origination software via bank records (April 2020 now 45% of applications and growing)
Automated servicing phone call transcription and call scoring to improve quality and compliance (August 2020)

Further development initiatives are on the roadmap for the coming quarters.

COVID-19 Response
Rifco’s initiatives in dealing with the economic shock of COVID-19 has produced excellent results.

Rifco remained open for originations and for loan servicing each business day.
COVID-19 Loan payment deferrals peaked at 10.9% of payments in April 2020. COVID-19 based payment deferrals expired in July 2020 and borrowers have been on normal schedule since then. Loan delinquency rates remain better than in comparable years and credit performance is still very strong.
For defaulted loans, as is typical, Rifco was able to recover and remarket vehicle collateral in each month since the pandemic began having economic effects. Recovery rates were never meaningfully different than historic industry averages.
The company took a cautious approach toward originations during the economic shock. It continues to take a measured approach toward applications from borrowers working in ‘at risk’ industries.
Rifco implemented appropriate procedures to ensure the safety of its employees through a combination of work from home, reduced workplace density, and other strategies as recommended by health officials.

Opportunities
Operational excellence, a strong balance sheet and ample committed funding relationships put the company in a superior position to examine a range of important strategic opportunities:

Backup and replacement servicer engagements
Finance receivables portfolio purchases
Company acquisitions
Pursue further data and analytics projects toward better decision making and automation.
Re-establish loan origination growth trajectory.
Shareholder friendly capital allocation initiatives.

The Board and Management are focused on growth, profitability, and high returns. Now, more than ever, we are ready and capable to deliver with a tested and proven platform.

About Rifco Inc.

Rifco Inc. is focused on being the best alternative auto finance company through its wholly owned subsidiary Rifco National Auto Finance Corporation. Our mission is to help deserving Canadians own automobiles.

Rifco seeks to create sustainable long-term competitive advantages through personalized partnerships with dealers, innovative products, the use of industry-leading data and analytics, and leading collections practices. Rifco’s corporate culture fosters employees that are highly engaged innovative and performance driven.

The common shares of Rifco Inc. are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “RFC”. There are 21.60 million shares (basic) outstanding and 23.17 million (fully diluted) shares.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to the Company, its products and operations. These statements generally can be identified by use of forward-looking words such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “intends”, “believe” or “continue” or the negative thereof or similar variations. The actual results and performance of the Company discussed herein could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations.

In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the following: the future plans of Rifco.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon factors and assumptions which management of the Company believes to be reasonable, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, among other things, general economic and market factors, the purported termination of the Arrangement Agreement, future impacts of the pandemic on the Company’s business, competition, changes in government regulations, and the factors described under “Risk Factors” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of the Company and the Circular, both of which are incorporated by reference herein and are available at www.sedar.com.

The cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to the Company and persons acting on their behalf. Unless otherwise stated, all forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and the Company has no obligation to update such statements other than in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

All trade names are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT:
Rifco Inc.
Warren Van Orman
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: 1-403-314-1288 Ext 7007
Fax: 1-403-314-1132
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.rifco.net

Fintech

Fintech Latvia Association Releases Fintech Pulse 2024: A Guide to Latvia’s Growing Fintech Hub

Published

1 day ago

November 25, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

fintech-latvia-association-releases-fintech-pulse-2024:-a-guide-to-latvia’s-growing-fintech-hub

The Fintech Latvia Association has launched the latest edition of its annual publication, Fintech Pulse 2024, unveiling insights and resources that position Latvia as a thriving hub for European fintech.

Announced at this year’s Fintech Forum, the magazine is now available in digital format, offering a comprehensive guide for fintech professionals and entrepreneurs navigating the Latvian market and exploring its advantages.

This issue covers essential topics, from support tools provided by Latvijas Banka and newcomer roadmaps to Riga’s investor resources and fintech education opportunities. Readers will find the latest fintech news from Latvia, coverage of this year’s key industry events, and member insights on the future of fintech. The Fintech Landscape section provides a comprehensive overview of the Latvian fintech ecosystem.

Tina Lūse, Managing Director of Fintech Latvia Association, expressed excitement about the ecosystem’s growth: “We are excited to unveil the third annual edition of Fintech Pulse. This year has been pivotal for our ecosystem, and together with public sector stakeholders, we are enhancing financial inclusion, democratizing investments, and driving innovation throughout the sector. This is a testament to Latvia’s emergence as a fintech hub, establishing itself as an equal partner in innovation and support within the Baltic region.”

Minister of Finance Arvils Ašeradens highlighted Latvia’s fintech potential in the magazine, stating: “Latvia has already made strides in adapting its regulatory framework to support a stable financial system. Now, we encourage financial market players to invest in modern technologies to meet the growing demand for inclusive financial services and solidify Latvia’s position in the fintech landscape. We are confident that with the combined offer of the government, Latvijas Banka and Riga city, we are a great place to start your next scalable European FinTech!”

Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis expressed Latvia’s ambition in the magazine, stating: “Latvia wants to become a WEB 3.0. innovation hub and solidify itself as one of the leaders of a newly regulated EU crypto-asset market. We welcome international companies to choose Latvia, a flexible and fast-paced country, where you can obtain a MICA license in just 3 months. Open your office in Latvia, receive a MICA license and serve the whole EU market!”

The Fintech Latvia Association brings together fintech and non-banking financial service providers to represent their interests at both the national and international levels. It promotes sustainable development in Latvia’s financial sector by fostering reliable, responsible, and long-term industry practices that earn trust from consumers and regulatory authorities. The association is committed to supporting innovation and growth opportunities within the fintech landscape.

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Fintech

Quantum Security and the Financial Sector: Paving the Way for a Resilient Future

Published

1 day ago

November 25, 2024

Zoltan Tundik

quantum-security-and-the-financial-sector:-paving-the-way-for-a-resilient-future

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released a pivotal white paper in collaboration with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), titled “Quantum Security for the Financial Sector: Informing Global Regulatory Approaches”. This January 2024 publication underscores the urgent need for global cooperation as the financial sector transitions from a digital economy to a quantum economy, highlighting both the immense opportunities and cybersecurity challenges posed by quantum computing.

Quantum: A Double-Edged Sword for Finance

Quantum computing offers transformative benefits for the financial sector, such as accelerated portfolio optimization, enhanced fraud detection, and improved risk management. Yet, it simultaneously threatens the very foundation of cybersecurity. With quantum’s ability to break traditional encryption methods, sensitive data and financial transactions face significant risks. The white paper warns that such vulnerabilities could erode trust in the financial system and destabilize global markets.

The urgency to prepare is evident, with some quantum threats, such as “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” attacks, already emerging. Governments and regulators, including the United States with its National Security Memorandum on Quantum (2022), have begun advocating for quantum security readiness by 2035. However, as noted in the paper, transitioning to a quantum-secure infrastructure is a monumental task requiring unprecedented coordination between regulators, industry leaders, and technology providers.

A Collaborative Framework: Four Guiding Principles

To address the complex challenges posed by quantum technologies, the WEF and FCA have proposed four guiding principles to inform global regulatory and industry approaches:

Reuse and Repurpose: Leverage existing regulatory frameworks and tools to address quantum risks, rather than creating entirely new systems.
Establish Non-Negotiables: Define baseline requirements for quantum security, ensuring consistency and interoperability across organizations and jurisdictions.
Increase Transparency: Foster open communication between regulators and industry players to share best practices, strategies, and knowledge.
Avoid Fragmentation: Prioritize global collaboration to harmonize regulatory efforts and avoid inconsistencies that could burden multinational organizations.

These principles aim to create a unified, forward-looking strategy that balances innovation with security.

A Four-Phase Roadmap for Quantum Security

The white paper introduces a phased roadmap to help the financial sector transition toward quantum security:

Prepare: Raise awareness of quantum risks, assess cryptographic infrastructure, and build internal capabilities.
Clarify: Formalize engagement between stakeholders, map current regulations, and model the cost and complexities of transitioning to quantum-safe systems.
Guide: Address regulatory gaps, translate technical standards into actionable frameworks, and develop industry-wide best practices.
Transition and Monitor: Implement cryptographic management modernization and adopt iterative, adaptable regulatory approaches to remain resilient in the quantum economy.

This roadmap emphasizes adaptability, encouraging stakeholders to continuously refine their strategies as quantum technologies evolve.

The Path Forward: Collaboration as a Catalyst

The transition to a quantum-secure financial sector is not merely a technological shift but a comprehensive rethinking of how industries and regulators approach cybersecurity. The interconnected nature of global finance means that collaboration between mature and emerging markets is crucial to avoid vulnerabilities that could undermine the entire system.

Regulators and financial institutions must act with urgency. As Sebastian Buckup, Head of Network and Partnerships at the World Economic Forum, notes in the report:
“The quantum economy era is fast approaching, and we need a global public-private approach to address the complexities it will introduce. We welcome this opportunity to collaborate with the FCA to chart the roadmap for a seamless and secure transition for the financial services sector.”

Similarly, Suman Ziaullah, Head of Technology, Resilience, and Cyber at the FCA, emphasizes:
“Quantum computing presents considerable opportunities but also threats. The financial sector relies heavily on encryption to protect sensitive information, the exposure of which could cause significant harm to consumers and markets. Addressing this requires a truly collaborative effort to transition to a quantum-secure future.”

Global Impact: Ensuring Resilience in an Evolving Landscape

As quantum technologies mature, they will redefine the landscape of cybersecurity. The financial sector, as one of the most sensitive and interconnected industries, must prioritize preparedness to ensure stability, protect consumers, and maintain trust.

The Quantum Security for the Financial Sector: Informing Global Regulatory Approaches white paper offers an essential foundation for continued dialogue and action. By adhering to the guiding principles and roadmap outlined in the report, stakeholders can navigate this transformation with foresight and cooperation.

The full report, published by the World Economic Forum, highlights the need for a unified global approach to quantum security, serving as a rallying call for industry and regulatory leaders alike.

Source: World Economic Forum, “Quantum Security for the Financial Sector: Informing Global Regulatory Approaches”, January 2024.

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Fintech

Fintech Pulse: Daily Industry Brief – A Dive into Today’s Emerging Trends and Innovations

Published

5 days ago

November 21, 2024

Peter Tolan

fintech-pulse:-daily-industry-brief-–-a-dive-into-today’s-emerging-trends-and-innovations

The fintech landscape continues to redefine itself, driven by innovation, partnerships, and groundbreaking strategies. Today’s roundup focuses on the latest digital wallet offerings, evolving payment trends, strategic collaborations, and notable funding achievements. This editorial explores the broader implications of these developments, casting light on how they shape the future of fintech and beyond.

Beacon’s Digital Wallet for Immigrants: A Gateway to Financial Inclusion

Beacon Financial, a leading player in financial technology, recently launched a digital wallet tailored to meet the unique needs of immigrants moving to Canada. This offering bridges a critical gap, enabling seamless financial integration for newcomers navigating a foreign system.

By combining intuitive technology with user-centric features, Beacon aims to empower immigrants with tools for payments, savings, and remittances. This aligns with the growing demand for tailored financial products that resonate with specific demographics.

Op-Ed Insight:
Financial inclusion is more than just a buzzword; it’s a moral imperative in the fintech space. Products like Beacon’s digital wallet highlight the industry’s potential to create tangible change. As global migration trends increase, such offerings could inspire similar initiatives worldwide.

Source: Fintech Futures.

Juniper Research Highlights 2025’s Payment Trends

Juniper Research’s latest report unveils pivotal payment trends poised to dominate in 2025. Central themes include the adoption of instant payment networks, a surge in embedded finance solutions, and the rise of crypto-backed financial products.

The research underscores the rapid adoption of real-time payment systems, fueled by increasing consumer demand for speed and efficiency. Meanwhile, embedded finance promises to blur the lines between traditional banking and non-financial services, delivering personalized and context-specific solutions.

Op-Ed Insight:
As the lines between financial services and technology continue to blur, these trends emphasize the industry’s shift toward convenience and personalization. The growing role of crypto-based solutions reflects an evolving consumer mindset, where decentralization and digital-first experiences gain precedence.

Source: Juniper Research.

MeaWallet and Integrated Finance Partner to Revolutionize Digital Wallets

MeaWallet, a prominent fintech solutions provider, has partnered with Integrated Finance to advance digital wallet capabilities and secure card data access for fintech companies. This collaboration focuses on empowering fintechs to deliver better, safer digital payment experiences.

MeaWallet’s role as a technology enabler aligns seamlessly with Integrated Finance’s goal of simplifying complex financial infrastructures. Together, they aim to create scalable, robust platforms for secure payment solutions.

Op-Ed Insight:
Partnerships like this underscore the importance of collaboration in driving innovation. As security concerns grow in tandem with digital payment adoption, solutions addressing these challenges are essential for maintaining consumer trust. The fintech ecosystem thrives when synergy and innovation coalesce.

Source: MeaWallet News.

Nucleus Security Among Deloitte’s Fastest-Growing Companies

Nucleus Security has achieved a remarkable milestone, ranking 85th on Deloitte’s 2024 Technology Fast 500 list. This achievement is attributed to its robust cybersecurity solutions, which cater to the increasingly digital fintech environment.

With cyberattacks becoming more sophisticated, fintech companies are under immense pressure to safeguard their platforms. Nucleus Security’s growth reflects the rising demand for comprehensive, scalable security solutions that protect sensitive financial data.

Op-Ed Insight:
In a digital-first world, robust cybersecurity isn’t optional—it’s fundamental. The recognition of companies like Nucleus Security signals the growing importance of protecting fintech infrastructure as the industry scales globally.

Source: PR Newswire.

OpenYield Secures Funding to Transform the Bond Market

OpenYield has announced a successful funding round, aiming to revolutionize the bond market through innovative technology. The platform promises greater transparency, efficiency, and accessibility in fixed-income investments.

This funding underscores the growing appetite for digitizing traditionally opaque financial markets. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, OpenYield seeks to democratize bond investments, making them accessible to a broader audience.

Op-Ed Insight:
The bond market, long viewed as complex and inaccessible, is ripe for disruption. OpenYield’s efforts to modernize this space highlight fintech’s transformative potential to democratize finance and empower individual investors.

Source: PR Newswire.

Key Takeaways: Shaping the Future of Fintech

Today’s developments underscore several critical themes in the fintech landscape:

Personalization and Inclusion: Products like Beacon’s wallet highlight the importance of understanding and addressing specific user needs.
Collaborative Ecosystems: Partnerships, like that of MeaWallet and Integrated Finance, emphasize the power of collaboration in solving industry challenges.
Emerging Technologies: Juniper Research’s predictions affirm the continued influence of blockchain, embedded finance, and instant payment networks.
Security at the Core: The recognition of Nucleus Security underscores the essential role of cybersecurity in fintech.
Market Transformation: OpenYield’s funding signifies the ongoing disruption of traditional financial markets, paving the way for broader accessibility.

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