Examining the fintech appeal of business lending in Australia
A question often asked in the fintech space is, “Which area of fintech has the greatest potential?” The answer invariably sticks with the obvious – insurtech, blockchain, mobile payments, peer-to-peer lending and banking – and while focus to these areas is deserved, business lending has been exponentially gaining steam. Lenders are flocking to the market and it seems every week there is a new entrant, partnership or innovation. The online business lending space is full of diversified products and lenders are constantly looking for new ways to benefit business borrowers. The market is becoming flooded by choice. So, what is the appeal? It’s simple. The space exemplifies fintech as it […]
Blockchain more than hype: Nikko AM
Speaking on a panel at the Bloomberg buy-side forum, Nikko Asset Management managing director Sam Hallinan described blockchain as “the new facilitator”, one that is set to drastically improve efficiency in the sector. “It could be deemed hype, but it could also be the biggest change to asset management in years,” he said. Blockchain’s capacity to list and reconcile transactions and trades represents a marked shift from traditional methods, which rely on several phonecalls and paperwork, Mr Hallinan said. “The current method of reconciling trades hasn’t changed in 40 years,” he added. According to Mr Hallinan, the change to retail market interaction triggered by robo-advice is significant, and he noted […]
ASX spends $9m to boost stake in blockchain company
The Australian Securities Exchange has forked out an extra $9.5 million to increase its stake in blockchain company Digital Asset to over 8 percent. The stock exchange in January announced it had paid $14.9 million for a 5 percent stake in the US-based fintech firm. The money was also intended to help fund the development of a new post-trade platform for the ASX based on distributed ledger technology. At the time the ASX said it had the potential to buy further equity if it chose. It today said it had taken up that option and splashed an extra US$7.1 million (A$9.5 million) to increase its stake to 8.5 percent. Digital […]
Ethereum, rival to bitcoin, gains traction
With a rising market value and a roster of high-profile patrons, Ethereum in recent months has become the next hot thing in cryptocurrencies. Ethereum is an open software platform, comprising a currency called ether, a public “blockchain” ledger for keeping track of transactions and tools for building so-called smart contracts that automatically make payments when their terms are fulfilled. Anyone can develop new applications that make use of its code. More ambitiously, the currency’s inventors and users are revolting against the growing centralisation of the internet under big companies like Google and Facebook by creating financial structures that can run themselves. Much like its older cousin bitcoin, however, ether is […]
Crowdfunding and real estate align on Sydney development
Online crowdfunding platform VentureCrowd has raised more than $900,000 for a Western Sydney residential project, with most of the money coming from self-managed super fund investors. Investors put between $10,000 and $80,000 each into the 35-lot development in Riverstone East, acquiring a 49 per cent equity stake in the $10 million project. The developer, ClearState, has invested the remaining equity, totalling $1.81 million with the rest of the funding coming from mezzanine and senior bank debt. Returns in of more than 100 per cent on the equity invested are anticipated upon completion of the development in mid-2017, which is forecasting $13.1 million in net revenue with 22 of the 35 […]
Loans flood in for fintechs
Non-bank business lenders are receiving more than $1.1 billion of loan applications every month as awareness of new fintech operators and other alternative providers accelerates, according to a new survey. Providing insight into the level of demand for loans outside traditional banks, the survey by online business lending aggregator eBroker found non-banks were attracting at least 11,676 loan applications a month, worth $1.13bn. Non-banks are alternative lenders that don’t take deposits, sidestepping the need for a full banking licence and oversight by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. The survey, conducted with marketing company WebBuzz, took place in early May and included the chief executives of 29 non-bank business lenders, including […]
Waddle secures first round funding to support $30 million in new loans
Waddle, a leading online provider of revolving credit lines to businesses, today announced it has secured its first round of debt funding lead by an Australian private investment group to facilitate $30 million dollars in new loan volume over the next 12 months. The funding round marks the first external debt raising since launching in 2014. Waddle has pioneered a new wave of invoice financing as Australia’s first fully online, cloud-based platform enabling business owners to obtain automatic approvals and ongoing revolving credit lines based on outstanding invoices held in their online accounting packages. Thanks to the seamless integration with cloud accounting providers, a two-way data exchange enables Waddle to […]
Huddle Money raises $6m to create peer-to-peer bank
Sydney-based fintech start-up Huddle Money will emerge from so-called stealth mode this week after securing $6 million backing for its bid to take on traditional banking services with peer-to-peer offers. The company, founded by expat Brits Jonathan Buck and Jason Wilby has been self-funded for the last year, but has closed its first funding round, which was led by Hollard Australia managing director Richard Enthoven. Huddle Money is the latest in a growing band of fintech start-ups to set their sights on opening up new options for consumers in a market that had previously been dominated by large institutions. It says it will do this by challenging existing business models […]
