Core Insights - Time Finance has appointed Geoff Worrall as the head of structured credit within its asset finance division, aiming to expand its lending book to £300 million ($399.8 million) as part of its UK asset finance growth strategy [1][3] Group 1: Appointment and Background - Geoff Worrall brings nearly 40 years of experience in financial services, having held roles at Barclays, RBS, KPMG, Santander, and Co-op, focusing on analytics, credit, and relationship management [2] - Prior to joining Time Finance, Worrall led the structured credit team at Haydock for four years [2] Group 2: Strategic Goals - Worrall expressed excitement about Time Finance's ambition to enhance its presence in the asset finance industry, particularly in structured credit [3] - Steve Nichols, managing director of asset finance at Time Finance, highlighted Worrall's appointment as a key part of the company's growth strategy to strengthen its market presence [3] Group 3: Commitment to Businesses - The company emphasizes its commitment to supporting businesses, especially during times when they are balancing growth ambitions with cash flow pressures [4] - In September 2025, Time Finance introduced a virtual asset inspection platform in collaboration with verifi, aimed at facilitating remote inspections for asset finance activities [4]

Core Viewpoint - Admiral Leasing and Loans has appointed Lauren Mullings as Broker Manager to enhance regional coverage and strengthen broker relationships as part of its growth strategy [1][4]. Group 1: Appointment and Role - Lauren Mullings will collaborate with existing Broker Manager Colin Hanney, focusing on developing new relationships and supporting brokers in Northern England [2]. - The appointment aims to ensure that "local expertise and personal service remain at the heart" of Admiral's offerings to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) [2][4]. Group 2: Background and Experience - Mullings joins Admiral from PEAC Solutions and Haydock Finance, where she held similar roles in the asset finance sector [3]. - Her experience is viewed as a valuable addition to Admiral's 35-member team, with an emphasis on her understanding of the broker market [3]. Group 3: Company Strategy and Services - Admiral Leasing and Loans provides finance solutions to SMEs across various sectors, with approvals often completed within 24 hours [4]. - The company continues to invest in people, technology, and broker partnerships to support UK businesses [4].

Core Insights - Simply Asset Finance has become a Patron lender of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB), enhancing its support for the UK broker community and expanding its asset finance and leasing product distribution [1][2] Group 1: Company Developments - The decision to join NACFB reflects Simply's commitment to support brokers, which are essential for businesses of all sizes to access necessary funding [2] - Simply's technology-enabled lending platform will provide NACFB members with rapid credit decisions for SME clients, aligning with the company's strategy to strengthen broker relationships and improve funding access for SMEs [2] Group 2: Industry Impact - Jim Higginbotham, CEO of NACFB, stated that Simply's addition as a Patron will drive necessary changes in the industry, emphasizing the alignment with the Association's values of integrity, collaboration, and broker-led market access [3] - Simply Asset Finance reported £1.75 billion in total loan origination since its inception in 2017, with a pre-tax profit of £8.5 million and a gross loan book of £505 million for the 2024 financial year, indicating strong demand for asset-backed lending solutions among UK SMEs [3]

Core Viewpoint - Close Brothers Asset Finance has expanded its sustainability funding to include hydrogen projects, positioning itself as a leading lender in the hydrogen sector, which is crucial for decarbonisation in hard-to-electrify industries like heavy industry and transport [1][3]. Group 1: Funding and Offerings - The firm is providing funding across the hydrogen supply chain, including electrolysers, multi-element gas containers (MEGC), and Hydrogen Power Units (HPU), applicable in various sectors such as construction and film production [2]. - Close Brothers aims to support small to medium-sized enterprises and mid-size corporates, which are often underserved in the energy transition market [3]. Group 2: Strategic Insights - The decision to support hydrogen was based on extensive research into the hydrogen value chain, focusing on new-to-market assets that contribute to the emerging European green hydrogen market [3]. - The company offers multiple forms of finance from different security bases to adapt to market conditions in nascent markets, providing a comprehensive solution from production to end use [3].

Core Insights - UK-based lender Ultimate Finance has adopted a virtual asset inspection platform from verifi to enhance its service model through technology [1] - The integration of this platform is expected to improve the asset finance process by utilizing open banking and real-time financial data for quicker lending decisions [1][4] Group 1: Technology Adoption - The self-certifi platform allows customers, brokers, and dealers to conduct asset inspections, leading to significant savings in time and expenses [2] - The platform provides data-driven insights and employs AI to prevent fraud by verifying the existence and condition of assets [2] Group 2: Strategic Partnership - Jonathan Garnett, co-founder of verifi, highlighted Ultimate Finance's reputation for combining tailored lending with a digital approach, making them an ideal partner [3] - The adoption of the virtual inspection technology is expected to automate manual processes, allowing Ultimate Finance to allocate resources towards growth objectives [3] Group 3: Commitment to Innovation - Simon Gregory, head of Asset Finance operations at Ultimate Finance, stated that the collaboration with verifi marks a significant step in their commitment to innovation [4] - The integration aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of asset inspections, expediting the verification process and fund release for asset financing [4] Group 4: Implementation Success - Ultimate Finance expressed satisfaction with the smooth implementation of the digital application into their operations and looks forward to continued collaboration with verifi [5] - Kingsley Asset Finance in the UK also integrated verifi's platform recently, aiming to improve digital offerings and service quality for clients and brokers [5]

Core Insights - The UK's asset finance market experienced a 3% decrease in new business for August 2025 compared to the same month in the previous year, although there was a marginal cumulative increase of 1% for the first eight months of 2025 compared to 2024 [1][2]. Sector Performance - Business new car finance and business equipment finance sectors showed growth in August 2025, with increases of 7% and 4% respectively compared to August 2024 [2]. - In contrast, the commercial vehicle finance sector saw a significant decline of 17%, while the IT equipment finance sector experienced an 11% drop in new business compared to the same month in 2024 [2]. Economic Outlook - FLA's Q3 2025 Industry Outlook Survey indicated that over half of asset finance respondents expect a decrease in business investment over the next year, with the percentage anticipating an increase in new business dropping from 79% to 71% between Q2 and Q3 2025 [4]. - The FLA emphasized the need for a government growth agenda to restore business confidence, noting that the asset finance market supports about one-third of all UK investment in vehicles, machinery, and equipment [5].

Core Insights - DLL and Iveco Group have formed a Joint Venture (JV) to enhance access to low- to zero-emission commercial vehicles in Europe, with regulatory approvals obtained as of October 1, 2025 [1] - DLL has acquired a 51% stake in GATE, a former subsidiary of Iveco Group, while Iveco retains 49%, aiming to support the transition to sustainable mobility [2] - The JV will strengthen GATE's financial backing and asset financing expertise, facilitating its growth strategy and expansion [2] Company Overview - DLL is a global asset finance company with a managed portfolio exceeding EUR 47 billion, providing financial solutions across various industries in over 25 countries [4] - DLL focuses on sustainability, embedding it into its business strategy to support a more sustainable future [4] - Iveco Group operates seven major brands in the commercial vehicle sector, employing 36,000 people globally and maintaining 19 industrial sites and 30 R&D centers [5]

Core Insights - Simply Asset Finance has successfully delivered £150 million in funding to SMEs in Scotland since its establishment in 2022, supporting over 900 businesses across various sectors [1][5] - The company aims to double its lending volumes in Scotland to £300 million within the next two years, highlighting the importance of the Scottish market for its growth strategy [5] Funding and Market Activity - In 2024, origination volumes in Scotland reached £27 million, financing 529 assets for more than 230 customers, driven by public investments in infrastructure [2] - The increased demand for flexible finance among SMEs is attributed to significant infrastructure projects such as the A9 dualling and power grid upgrades [2] Notable Transactions - Simply Asset Finance facilitated a management buyout of AB2000, a plant hire specialist, enabling its return to Scottish ownership through a deal that included asset refinance and asset-based lending [3] Company Growth and Strategy - The company has expanded its team to ten members and relocated to a new office in Glasgow's financial district, aiming to enhance its presence in Scotland's business community [4] - The new office location is intended to provide local expertise and support the company's growth objectives in the region [4]

Core Insights - Time Finance reported a profit before tax (PBT) of £7.9 million ($10.6 million) for the year ending 31 May 2025, marking a 34% increase from the previous year's PBT of £5.9 million ($8 million) [1] - The company's lending book value reached £217.4 million, reflecting an 8% growth, while deal origination increased by 5% to £96.5 million [1] - The asset finance division grew by 31% to £111 million, and the invoice finance division saw an 8% increase to £70 million [1] Financial Performance - The financial performance for the final year of the four-year strategy was strong, with revenue, profit before tax, and earnings per share all experiencing double-digit growth, with PBT and EPS both exceeding 30% growth [3] - The balance sheet strengthened, with record highs in the lending book and net tangible assets as of 31 May 2025, while arrears and write-offs remained controlled [4] Strategic Developments - Time Finance has introduced a specialist Materials Handling team to expand into new markets [2] - Following the completion of its four-year strategy initiated in June 2021, the company has launched a new three-year plan titled 'Continuing the Journey' aimed at enhancing lending book growth and improving operational efficiencies [2] - The company announced an expansion of its lending capabilities, with total facilities exceeding £250 million [4] Funding and Capacity - Growth has been supported by the renewal of contracts with a consortium of eight funding partners, providing an additional financial capacity of over £95 million [5]

Core Insights - PEAC Solutions has made two senior appointments to enhance its technology financing operations in the UK [1][4] Group 1: Appointments - Jordan Lisle has been appointed as the lead of the newly established technology team, bringing experience from major companies such as BMW, HP, Apple, Microsoft, and TD Synnex [2][4] - Paul Fletcher has joined as Channel Tech Manager, with over 20 years of experience in IT and automotive leasing, including roles at Lombard, CF Corporate, and TD Synnex [4] Group 2: Strategic Goals - Lisle expressed enthusiasm about joining PEAC Solutions at a crucial time, particularly highlighting the recent acquisition of Topi as a significant advancement for the company in the UK market [2] - Alexia Mann, Divisional Director at PEAC Solutions, stated that the appointments demonstrate the company's commitment to the technology financing landscape and aim to enhance value for partners and customers [4] Group 3: Company Overview - PEAC Solutions operates as a multinational asset finance platform across the UK, Europe, and the US, indicating a broad market presence [4]