1 October we become SureStone CapitalSame team, same ABN. Our website and email addresses move to surestone.com.au.
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Key points:
Stronger Australian fee funding and disbursement funding with guidance reaffirmedUS growth strategy leverages Aiwyn’s access to leading CPA firmsViola facility expanded to $60m to support further loan book growth
QuickFee flags SME headwinds but stronger fee funding outlook. Bruce Coombes from QuickFee outlines a robust fourth-quarter update, stating increases in both fee funding and disbursement funding, with guidance affirmed at $3.75–$4.25 million. Coombes attributes stronger Australian fee-fund originations to a tougher economy, which in his view is driving higher demand for legal and accounting advice from SMEs. He adds that upcoming changes such as payday super and recent budget measures are intensifying cash flow pressure, prompting many SMEs to preserve cash and use QuickFee’s finance facilities instead.
In the United States, Coombes notes originations are essentially flat year on year, following the sale of QuickFee’s payments and software businesses in September while retaining the fee finance arm. New customer acquisition is now largely in the hands of the acquirer, Aiwyn, which Coombes says services over 300 of the top 500 CPA firms. He sees scope for a 30–40% uplift in US originations if more of these firms adopt pay-over-time solutions.
Coombes highlights the upsizing of the Viola private credit facility from $45 million to $60 million, viewing this as added headroom for growth. He also points to one live AI project and warns that higher minimum wages and likely further RBA rate hikes will weigh heavily on SMEs.
