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PODCAST | Adapting to change: The future of factoring and supply chain finance

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PODCAST | Adapting to change: The future of factoring and supply chain finance

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Listen to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean, Podtail, ListenNotes, TuneIn

The volatility of the geopolitical and macroeconomic environment in recent years has caused some problems in the trade, treasury, and payments industries. 

However, industry actors have adapted and are working together to build resilience and make international trade even stronger.

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To hear about developments in the factoring and supply chain finance world, Trade Finance Global (TFG) spoke with Çağatay Baydar, Chairman at FCI and Irina Tyan, Principal Banker, TFP at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Challenges and growth in the factoring industry

The factoring industry has demonstrated impressive growth since the turn of the century despite facing significant challenges, particularly in emerging markets. 

Baydar said, “The growth rate in 2023 was 3.3% globally in the volume of the world factoring and in 2022 it was 18%. Over the last 20 years, the average growth rate has been 8% which shows that factoring is becoming a mainstream financial product globally, which is very good indeed.”

The sector, which revolves around the purchase of receivables from businesses to provide them with immediate liquidity, has become an essential component of global trade finance, but it also faces challenges. One of the primary challenges is the bureaucratic and infrastructural limitations inherent in the current system. 

Factoring, being an invoice-based product, requires a significant amount of paperwork and documentation, which can be cumbersome and traditionally relies on a paper-based system that only adds to the administrative burden for businesses.

In developed regions like Europe, factoring’s penetration rate – a measure of the amount of trade volume that uses factoring – is around 15%, reflecting a more mature understanding and use of this financial product. By contrast, in emerging markets, the penetration rate is significantly lower, with countries like Turkey and Georgia showing rates as low as 3%.

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This discrepancy highlights the knowledge gap and infrastructural deficiencies in these regions. Businesses in these markets often lack the necessary awareness and understanding of factoring, which limits their ability to leverage this financial tool to its full potential.

However, factoring usage in some emerging markets is growing.

Tyan said, “We see the progress in the countries where we started five to seven years ago, like Georgia. We recently had a workshop in Jordan, where we also see a more adapted market, more ready to look into this type of product.”

Further collaboration and efforts to promote regulatory reforms and technological advancements may be what is needed to drive factoring growth in these underutilised regions.

Regulatory reforms and technological integration

Regulatory reforms are crucial for the sustained growth and development of the factoring industry, and legal clarity is particularly important in emerging markets, where the absence of a well-defined regulatory environment can pose significant barriers to factoring’s growth.

One of the key areas that require attention is the standardisation of data exchange formats. 

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Creating common data standards for supply chain transactions can facilitate smoother integration between different platforms and financial institutions, improving efficiency, reducing administrative burdens, and enhancing the overall effectiveness of the factoring process. 

Another important aspect of regulatory reform is cybersecurity. 

Tyan said, “As this product heavily relies on platforms, clear regulation on data security and cybersecurity is crucial to build trust among the participants.”

Ensuring the integrity and security of transactions protects sensitive financial information from potential cyber threats and is vital for the long-term sustainability and credibility of the industry.

Digitalising to draw clients and talent to factor

The factoring industry has been significantly transformed by the integration of digital technologies that have made the process faster, more efficient, and more accessible, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). 

Traditionally, the paperwork involved in factoring, particularly for international transactions, slowed down the process and added to its complexity but digital platforms are allowing for quicker access to funds and improving the overall client experience.

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Baydar said, “Today, with digitalisation and the platforms, we are making our business much faster, quicker, and more effective. This really helps SMEs to touch the money very soon, very quickly. This makes our clients happier than before because they can experience a very fast, very effective, seamless transaction.”

This shift not only speeds up transactions but also minimises the risk of errors and fraud associated with manual paperwork and can help attract more young professionals to the industry. 

Baydar said, “Young people prefer to work with new technology and high-level startup businesses rather than traditional models.”

The new generation of workers is drawn to innovation and technologically advanced sectors. By embracing digital advancements, the factoring industry can position itself as a forward-thinking and dynamic field, appealing to young talent looking for exciting career opportunities. This influx of new talent is essential for sustaining the industry’s growth and development in the long term.

Organisations that fail to embrace digitalisation risk being left behind in a rapidly evolving market, meaning that investing in digital solutions is not just an option but a necessity for the future of the factoring industry.

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Plano-Based Finance of America Announces $2.5B Partnership with Funds Managed by Blue Owl to Expand FOA’s Home Equity Lending

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Plano-Based Finance of America Announces .5B Partnership with Funds Managed by Blue Owl to Expand FOA’s Home Equity Lending

Finance of America Companies, a leading provider of home equity-based financing solutions for a modern retirement, and funds managed by Blue Owl Capital, a leading alternative asset manager, announced an enhanced $2.5 billion strategic partnership to accelerate product innovation and distribution for the nation’s fast-growing retirement demographic.

With more than 10,000 Americans entering retirement age every day, the market for home equity access continues to expand. FOA said its collaboration with New York City-based Blue Owl positions it to capture significant share in this rapidly evolving sector.

“This is a pivotal moment not just for Finance of America, but for the senior finance market as a whole,” Graham Fleming, CEO of Finance of America, said in a statement. “By aligning with Blue Owl, we are creating a platform of scale and innovation to better serve one of the fastest-growing demographics in the United States.”

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The enhanced partnership includes, per FOA:

  • $2.5 billion commitment for new product innovation, providing scale and liquidity to support origination growth across multiple asset classes
  • $50 million equity investment in Finance of America, enhancing long-term alignment between the companies and supporting FOA’s continued growth initiatives
  • Joint innovation and product-development initiative focused on the continuous rollout of new, differentiated financial products tailored for people looking to maximize freedom, security, and opportunity throughout their retirement
 

This product expansion will complement FOA’s existing industry-leading reverse mortgage product suite while strengthening the company’s commitment to innovation and its role as a leader in delivering powerful financial solutions for retirees.

FOA said it continues to empower retirees with responsible, flexible access to capital to support aging in place, healthcare expenses, and lifestyle goals.

The partnership reinforces Finance of America’s mission to provide comprehensive, retirement-focused financial solutions, with the goal of expanding beyond reverse mortgages to become the nation’s leading, full-spectrum home equity lending platform, the company said.

“We believe Finance of America is uniquely positioned to redefine how financial products are delivered to retirees,” said David Aidi, senior managing director and co-head of Asset Based Finance at Blue Owl.

“This partnership provides the capital, the strategic alignment, and the innovation engine to build category-defining products at scale,” added Ray Chan, senior managing director and co-head of Asset Based Finance at Blue Owl.

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R E A D   N E X T

  • Little Elm’s Sachchit Balamurugan, an incoming senior at TOPS, flew to Japan Friday to present his ACC cancer detection app at the International Young Researchers’ Conference. He’s also won first place at a BPA national mobile app competition, won an award at the NASA Space App Challenge, started a nonprofit called Youth Opportunities in Tech Innovation—and done lots, lots more.

  • A slide showing Tremedics' award-winning technology for treating narrowed aortas in children (left). Their special dissolving stent (right) opens blocked blood vessels and then disappears as the child grows, eliminating the need for repeated surgeries and potentially helping thousands of the 40,000 U.S. babies born with heart defects annually. [Image source: Tremedics]

    Tre Welch, Tremedics Medical Devices Inc., Leon Jacobson, Ted Price, Nerveli Inc., Sarah Iselin, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, TechFW, MassChallenge, ClearLeaf, Feathery, Algas Organics, Coastal Protection Solutions

  • “We closed the first volume of our story—25 years in the making.” That’s how CEO Tom Spackman described Gigabit Fiber’s majority stake sale to Blue Owl, marking a new phase of growth as AI and cloud drive demand for hyperscale connectivity.

  • Topgolf said the limited-time experience is available at all Topgolf U.S. venues Feb. 1 through April 13. It’s accompanied by a national in-venue sweepstakes and limited-time menu items.

  • The bank’s Support Services team fills a critical role in BOA—acting as an in-house consulting firm for every line of business.

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Finance

Bérangère Michel announced as BBC Group Chief Financial Officer

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Bérangère Michel announced as BBC Group Chief Financial Officer

The BBC has announced that Bérangère Michel has been appointed to the role of Group Chief Financial Officer.

Bérangère brings extensive experience from her 16-year career at the John Lewis Partnership, where she held senior roles including Chief Financial Officer, Customer Service Executive Director, Operations Director and Finance & Strategy Director.

Prior to joining the John Lewis Partnership, Bérangère spent 11 years at the Royal Mail Group in a number of finance, change and strategy roles, including as Finance Director of the property division.

In an expanded role as BBC Group Chief Financial Officer, Bérangère will be responsible for the overall BBC Group financial strategy, with a remit across BBC Public Service, BBC Studios and the BBC’s commercial subsidiaries. She will play a leadership role and will sit on both the Executive Committee and, for the first time, the Board.

This position will strengthen the BBC’s financial leadership, support its transformation, and make the best use of the licence fee and commercial opportunities. Bérangère will report to the Director-General and will take up the role in early January.

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Director-General Tim Davie says: “Bérangère brings a wealth of experience from her time at the John Lewis Partnership and will play a critical role in shaping our new financial strategy. I’m pleased to welcome her to the BBC, and to both the Executive Committee and Board.

“Bérangère’s appointment to this expanded role comes at an important time for the BBC, as we look ahead to Charter renewal and continue to accelerate our transformation to deliver outstanding value for our audiences.”

BBC Chair Samir Shah says: “The role of Group Chief Financial Officer will be hugely important as we build a BBC for the future, and I look forward to welcoming Bérangère to the Board.”

Bérangère Michel says: “I am delighted to be joining the BBC, an institution whose purpose and mission I have always admired. It’s a privilege to be part of shaping its exciting future at such a crucial moment and I cannot wait to get started.”

BBC Press Office

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ATI Promotes Longtime Leader to CFO and SVP of Finance

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ATI Promotes Longtime Leader to CFO and SVP of Finance

ATI Inc., a Dallas-based manufacturer of high-performance materials for the aerospace and defense industries, announced that James Robert “Rob” Foster will be promoted to senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer, effective January 1, 2026.

Foster succeeds Don Newman, who will serve as strategic advisor to the CEO beginning January 1. As previously announced, Newman will retire on March 1, 2026, and serve in an advisory capacity in that time to allow for a smooth transition.

“Rob is a proven P&L leader with enterprise-wide experience in the areas that matter most to ATI’s continued growth,” Kim Fields, president and CEO, said in a statement. “He brings deep expertise not only in finance but also as an operational leader. Rob played a pivotal role in the successful Specialty Rolled Products transformation, consistently helping ATI to deliver strong returns and shareholder value. I look forward to partnering with him as we enter our next phase of profitable growth.”

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Foster, a longtime ATI leader, brings both operational expertise and financial discipline to the CFO role, the company said. He most recently served as president of ATI’s specialty alloys & components business, where he improved efficiency, grew capacity, and advanced the company’s role as a global leader in exotic alloys. Foster previously served as vice president of Finance, Supply Chain, and Capital Projects, overseeing ATI’s global finance organization, capital deployment processes, and enterprise supply chain performance. Earlier in his career, he led Finance for both ATI operating segments and the Forged Products business.

“I’m honored to become ATI’s next CFO,” said Foster. “ATI is well-positioned with a strong balance sheet, focused strategy, and significant opportunities ahead. I look forward to working with our team to drive disciplined investment, operational excellence, and long-term value creation for our shareholders.”

Newman added, “Rob is an exceptional leader who understands ATI’s strategy, operations, and financial drivers. He has delivered transformative results across the organization. I look forward to supporting a seamless transition as we pursue this next step in our succession planning.”

Before joining ATI in 2012, Foster held senior finance roles at API Technologies Corp. and Spectrum Control Inc., where he led ERP implementations, acquisition integrations, and internal control enhancements. He began his career as an auditor at Ernst & Young (EY).

ATI produces high-performance materials and solutions for the global aerospace and defense markets, and critical applications in electronics, medical, and specialty energy. 

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R E A D   N E X T

  • The company said Keith Schroeder brings more than 40 years of experience in accounting, corporate control and reporting, finance, operations, and CEO and CFO strategic roles.

  • James Cook announced his retirement after 24 years of service and will officially retire on June 30. James Gilligan will take his new post, effective June 16.

  • Anthony DiSilvestro joins KDP at a pivotal moment as it moves to close its $18 billion acquisition of Netherlands-based JDE Peet’s. His “significant” M&A experience will advance the combined company’s integration and its ultimate split into two “winning companies,” CEO Tim Cofer said.

  • Donna Guy brings more than 25 years of experience in financial leadership across public and private companies to her new position. 

  • Last week, Irving-based Caterpillar marked its 100th anniversary year with celebrations throughout the U.S. commemorating “a monumental moment” in the company’s history. The company officially turns 100 on April 15, marking a century of “customer-centric innovation and industry-leading transformation”

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