Increased competition might lead to a need for single invoice finance

The FT reported in a couple of articles that the FCA and CMA have decided to investigate the murky world of investment consultants and their relationships with trustees, pension funds, and asset managers.

It seems everyone in the industry has known of the conflicts, need for greater transparency and competition.  Asset  managers secretly welcome the investigation, but are scared of the risk to loss of business if they speak out, given the power investment consultants wield.  At least secretly they say 'investment consultants had for too long escaped proper scrutiny'.  Another reason they are pleased is consultant industry's move into asset managers' territory - exposing an obvious conflict of interest.

Now regulators have decided to take a long overdue look under the bonnet, and expressed 'serious concerns about this market'.  There is no certainty they will do what is right and fair, so what were high hopes of necessary reform will turn out to be a drawn-out waste of time and taxpayers' expense - much to the relief of investment consultants.

It is important to realise that this criticism of investment consultants could be used by trustees and pension funds to blame the appalling management of pension funds, on investment consultants.  What is likely is the trustees and managers of investors' pensions have been grossly incompetent, nor should their regulators escape censure (recall the Marks and Spencer scandal). 

If reforms do occur - such as introducing more competition - then it is likely investment consultants will see a fall in revenues and profit margins.

Invoice finance finance including single invoice finance from Cash for Invoices Limited, helps fill the cashflow gap.

What is single invoice finance?
Cash for Invoices Limited offers single invoice finance (sometimes called spot factoring or selective invoice finance)  - a type of debt factoring that has key advantages over conventional debt factoring and invoice finance:

• NO   security.  No debenture or personal guarantee is provided by the invoice seller.  This makes the funding process less complicated, less expensive, and quicker to complete for the seller
• NO   commitment to sell an invoice. The seller has no obligation to sell its entire sales ledger to the funder.  The seller might be flush with cash at times yet with debt factoring it is forced to take funds from the factoring company, and pay associated costs of the facility.  This is inefficient and undesirable.  Single invoice finance from Cash for Invoices Limited requires no commitment so is far more efficient as a source of funds - used only when the seller wants funding.  Because there is no ongoing funding, associated costs are avoided.
• Almost all types   of businesses eligible.  Cash for Invoices Limited is available for many types of organisation.  In addition to limited companies, this includes LLPs, charities, social enterprises and academic institutions.  Single invoice finance from Cash for Invoices Limited opens up a new source of alternative finance for these organisations that might have found it difficult to find funding from other sources.
• Sell just one   invoice.  Since no facility is set up and no commitment is required to sell its entire sales ledger, the seller may sell just one invoice, and whenever it chooses.  With single invoice finance from Cash for Invoices Limited, the seller is in control of funding not the factoring company or bank lender.
• One   fee only  Since no facility is created with single invoice finance from Cash for Invoices Limited, there are no ongoing costs of financing nor none of the associated set up or termination costs
• No recourse   (beyond retention) if the invoice debtor defaults  If the debtor fails to pay on time, some factoring companies sell the invoice back to the seller and demand a return of money it gave to purchase the invoice.  Once an invoice, Cash for Invoices Limited retains credit risk
• Credit protection included   - some funders add a charge if the seller wants to completely transfer the risk of default by the debtor.  Single invoice finance from Cash for Invoices Limited does not charge extra for credit protection.

To find out more about Cash for Invoices Limited's single invoice finance service contact Cash for Invoices Limited or call 0208 987 0429.  Cash for Invoices Limited will consider invoices sold by businesses (or their customers) located in Ealing, Hounslow, Hammersmith, Richmond, Kingston, Harrow, Acton, Brentford, Chelsea, Kensington, Holland Park, Barnet, and the north, south, centre, and east of London, plus other regions of England, Wales, and Scotland, and overseas.