Fintel plc has completed the acquisition of Threesixty Services from abrdn plc for £14.6 million in an all-cash transaction. This marks Fintel’s eighth acquisition in the past year.

Fintel, based in Huddersfield, provides fintech and support services to the UK retail financial services sector through its brands SimplyBiz, Compliance First, and SIFA. With the addition of Threesixty Services, a Manchester-based firm, Fintel now serves over 900 independent financial adviser and discretionary fund management firms and 10,000 advisers.

Threesixty Services generated external revenues of £6.5 million in 2023, giving the acquisition a revenue multiple of approximately 2.2x.

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Neil Stevens, joint CEO of Fintel, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition: “We are delighted to welcome the talented team and prestigious client base of Threesixty to the Fintel family. With a shared commitment to promoting the value of professional financial advice, we believe this deal will further expand the choice of quality services in this vital sector.”

Stevens added, “We are confident we can enhance services for Threesixty clients through joint investment in technology and will explore opportunities to leverage our wider technology and data platform over time. Our intention is to grow the strong brand and quality services of Threesixty with the full support of the existing leadership, who will remain with the business to see it develop in the future.”

The acquisition of Threesixty Services adds to Fintel’s growing portfolio, which now includes AKG, VouchedFor, Competent Adviser, Micap, Synaptic, Owen James, and ifaDASH.

Source: businesscloud.co.uk

The post Yorkshire’s Fintel plc finalises £14.6m swoop for Manchester’s threesixty appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.

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Exclusive Interview with Roshan Shah, Co-Founder and CEO of VoloFin

1. Can you tell us about VoloFin and the idea behind its launch?

VoloFin is a groundbreaking fintech platform that provides comprehensive end-to-end solutions in factoring and supply chain financing. Unlike other industry players, which are either balance sheet-driven lenders or match-making platforms, VoloFin is a multi-lender platform that includes banks among its participants. Our goal was to create a platform that supports small businesses with the trade finance they need, addressing the credit and liquidity challenges that often hinder their growth. From the outset, our vision was clear: to offer an all-encompassing platform that grants borrowers quick and easy access to trade finance while enabling banks to participate and expand their operations.

2. What are the unique services and USPs of VoloFin?

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We pride ourselves on being the industry’s first complete invoice and supply chain financing platform. VoloFin offers end-to-end solutions encompassing origination, collection, and credit insurance for platform lenders. Our wide array of services for clients (suppliers) and lenders includes protection against buyer non-payment risk, collateral-free financing, and a state-of-the-art tech platform with full-stack supply chain solutions. We also ensure supplier KYC and compliance through extensive integration, global buyer underwriting, and framework-based lending models with banks. By providing these comprehensive solutions, we help small businesses overcome the significant barrier of credit access, allowing them to focus on scaling their operations and increasing production capacity.

3. How does VoloFin differentiate itself from other fintech platforms catering to SMEs?

Several factors set VoloFin apart in the market:

• Technology Platform: Our robust platform manages all critical functions, from origination and KYC to credit, operations, debt management, and insurance wrap.
• Comprehensive Solutions: VoloFin offers factoring solutions to both banks and lenders, creating a one-stop platform.
• Lending Partnerships: Our platform includes multiple lenders across APAC and the US, allowing us to offer competitive pricing, higher risk capacities, wider geographic coverage, and seamless high-value/volume transactions.
• Strong Credit Mechanism: Our experienced team has built a robust credit mechanism, fostering trust and confidence among lenders.
• Trade Credit Insurance: Our unique policy provides 100% coverage in cases of delayed payments or buyer defaults.
• Global Reach: Our partnerships enable us to serve untapped regions, including LATAM countries.

4. What challenges do SMEs face in accessing financial services, and how does VoloFin address them?

SMEs often struggle with access to credit, which hampers their growth. VoloFin offers advanced, tailored financial solutions that accelerate SME growth, especially in tier-2 cities. Our platform provides accessible and flexible financing options, enabling SMEs to focus on critical functions such as tech adoption, infrastructure development, and talent acquisition. By offering quick, non-recourse, and collateral-free financing, we assume buyer risk defaults and convert long receivables into instant liquidity, empowering small businesses to scale and increase production capacity.

5. How does VoloFin address supply-chain financing challenges?

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VoloFin improves supply-chain financing transparency and efficiency through advanced technologies and analytics to assess obligors’ creditworthiness. Our user-friendly interface facilitates seamless communication among stakeholders, streamlining document sharing and approval processes. By reducing risk and accelerating financing decisions, VoloFin helps small businesses overcome roadblocks and contributes to building a robust, resilient supply-chain financing ecosystem.

6. How does VoloFin leverage technology to streamline financial processes for SMEs?

Technology is the core foundation of VoloFin. Our platform manages critical functions like origination, KYC, onboarding, credit, operations, compliance, buyer approvals, disbursement, collection, and insurance wrap, all through advanced technology. This secure and immutable ledger reduces the likelihood of fraud and uses advanced analytics to assess creditworthiness, accelerating financing decisions and mitigating risk. Our proprietary tech platform allows us to function as both a lender and a platform, paving the way for banks to partner with us and offering ready factoring solutions.

7. What is your vision for the fintech industry in the next five years?

The fintech industry is rapidly evolving, bringing banking capabilities to the non-banking and under-banked populations. Innovations like mobile wallets, digital payment gateways, and platform-based transactions are unlocking new opportunities. We anticipate the seamless integration of digital identity and wallets, enhancing security and user experiences. Generative AI will further transform banking experiences. VoloFin’s approach is relatively new in India, but growing awareness and increasing exports signal strong growth potential. The difference in product penetration between India and other regions presents a unique advantage for us and our clients.

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8. What are VoloFin’s growth and future plans?

This year is crucial for us, with several milestones and announcements in the pipeline. We aim to enhance our client portfolio by onboarding globally renowned banks and plan to raise our first equity round. Our long-term objective is to expand across India and improve our offerings to better serve our clients. All strategic decisions and alliances in 2024 will be directed towards these goals.

Source: cxotoday.com

The post VoloFin: Revolutionizing Fintech with Comprehensive Factoring and Supply Chain Solutions appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.

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 LONDON, July 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Lakshmi Narayanan, Chairman of the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI), has been awarded the prestigious title of Freeman of the City of London during the highly successful Global Wealth Conference (GWC) 2024. This ancient honour recognizes Narayanan’s significant contributions to the financial sector and his efforts to foster international cooperation in wealth management.

The Freedom of the City of London, one of the oldest surviving traditional ceremonies dating back to 1237, has been awarded to numerous notable figures throughout history. Narayanan’s recognition comes as a testament to his pioneering work with SWFI, which has become a leading platform for research, analysis, and networking in the global capital and sovereign wealth fund sector.

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Receiving the prestigious award, Narayanan commented: “I am deeply honored to receive the Freedom of the City of London. This recognition not only celebrates our work at SWFI but also underscores the growing importance of sovereign wealth funds in the global financial landscape. As we continue to foster collaboration and innovation in this sector, this esteemed title will serve as a reminder of the responsibility we bear in shaping the future of international finance.”

The conferment ceremony, held at The Chamberlain’s Court in Guildhall, was a highlight of the three-day Global Wealth Conference, which brought together 21 sovereign wealth funds and leading asset managers from around the world, representing a combined assets under management (AUM) value of 10 trillion pounds.

“I was delighted to nominate Lakshmi Narayanan for the Freedom of the City of London, and attend the Ceremony in the Chamberlain’s Court, in recognition of his work in hosting the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute’s Global Wealth Conferences in the City and his philanthropic work.” Said Alderman Robert Hughes-Penney.

The conference, now in its second year, featured critical discussions on sustainable finance, innovation, and the potential formation of a UK sovereign wealth fund. Notable events included:

• A conversation with the APPG chair of sovereign wealth funds, exploring the possibility of a UK fund reaching 500 billion pounds in size.
• The Investment Guild’s inaugural charity dinner, attended by 125 invited guests, including renowned boxer Ryan Garcia.
• Discussions on the need for an ESG tracker for asset managers and the faster adoption of artificial intelligence in the industry.
• Presentation of a research report by David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance, on the impact of brand image on sovereign wealth funds.

Narayanan’s new status as a Freeman of the City of London is expected to further strengthen ties between SWFI, the City of London, and the global investment community.

“We are honored by this recognition from the City of London,” added Narayanan. “The Global Wealth Conference 2024 in London has once again provided a crucial platform for discussions on the future of sovereign wealth and asset management. This award reinforces our commitment to promoting best practices and fostering collaboration worldwide.”

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The Global Wealth Conference 2024 and Narayanan’s award highlight London’s continued importance as a global financial hub and SWFI’s role in shaping the future of sovereign wealth management.

About SWFI:

The Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI) is a global organization dedicated to studying sovereign wealth funds, pensions, endowments, central banks, and other long-term public investors. SWFI provides research, data, and advisory services to governments, financial institutions, and corporations worldwide.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2453641/GWC_2024_SWFI.jpg

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