For the third year in a row, Alvantia has sponsored the Receivables Finance International Convention (RFIx), which took place this year on 14 and 15 March at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London.

This event has become the main meeting point for the receivables finance industry, as it represents the market’s leaders such as service providers, and banking and non-banking financial entities.

The most topical issues discussed were very diverse, ranging from the impact of Fintech on the receivables finance market to expansion of the business in emerging economies. Once again, one of the hot topics was the impact of Blockchain on business and several approaches were presented creating genuine interest.

As in the 2017 edition, Factors Chain International (FCI), the largest factoring correspondents network, took the opportunity to present last year’s results among its over 400 members, presented by Chairman Çagatay Baydar and Secretary General Peter Mulroy.

The results presented at the convention remain provisional but suggest a significant 4% growth during 2017, particularly bearing in mind that the market has experienced sustainable growth of 9% every year over the last 20 years. In Europe, where FCI has over 100 members, growth is 7%, led by 12% in Spain and 10% in Germany. Poland’s spectacular growth of more than 24% is also noteworthy, as is the United Kingdom’s drop by 1%. As for the Americas, where FCI has under 40 members, its growth is only 3%, with Brazil leading with 11% and Mexico with 4%.

Coinciding with the event, the most prominent participants were awarded the 2018 industry awards. Among others, Banco Santander, whose solutions we have supported at Alvantia for years, was given recognition as a Confirming finance provider and as a global factoring provider.