Use of import factoring and export invoice discounting suggests overseas sales are an important factor in business recovery, writes Evette Orams, managing director of Hilton-Baird Financial Solutions.
Renewed concerns
about the state of the UK economy were sparked by the Office for
National Statistics’ shock announcement of a 0.6% contraction
during the final quarter of 2010.
However, the Asset Based Finance Association’s (ABFA) latest figures show that targeted cash flow support is delivering real benefits to businesses.
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Asset based finance clients experienced sharp increases during 2010, including a 12% rise to £56.2bn (€64.5bn) in the final quarter of the year.
This is particularly significant when considering the raft of cash flow pressures that UK businesses have faced in that time and suggests that, by releasing capital against the value of a range of business assets, firms are better equipped to combat challenges and seize new business opportunities.
The statistics
also suggest that international opportunities are growing, with
businesses using import factoring recording 43% sales growth, the
largest year-on-year increase. This was closely followed by export
invoice discounting client sales, up 39%.
Sales increases were also noted in businesses using domestic factoring, up 6%; and in invoice discounting, up 11%.
Recent research by Bacs Payment Services revealed that more than £24bn is owed in outstanding payments to SMEs at any time, so it is encouraging to hear that uptake of debtor protection is rising. ABFA figures show a 23% increase in client sales for non-recourse asset based finance facilities, which incorporate debtor protection.
An additional benefit for invoice finance clients is that their customers appear to pay them more quickly, demonstrating the benefits of having an external dedicated and expert credit control resource provided by a factoring company.
Indeed, factoring clients’ Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) improved by 1.8 days from 59.2 to 57.4 days in the 12 months between the final quarter of 2009 and the final quarter of 2010.
These results are a reminder that flexible and affordable cash flow solutions are available. Client sales have risen in six of the last seven quarters, while the annualised data for 2010 revealed an 11% increase in client turnover to £212.2bn. This indicates that, as far as invoice finance clients are concerned, finances are heading in the right direction.
This is despite the news that lending under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme fell by a further 31% in the fourth quarter of 2010. UK banks released only £99m in the final three months of 2010 under the scheme the lowest figure since the initiative was introduced.
Conversely, advances made by the ABFA’s members to clients rose by 8% to £14.9bn between the final quarter of 2009 and the final quarter of 2010. Of this figure, advances against debt in pure invoice finance facilities increased by 9% annually.
Meanwhile, advances against plant and machinery rose 88%, and stock 21%, demonstrating that funding remains available against a range of business assets, depending on a business’ individual requirements and circumstances.
