Why is factoring attracting so much interest from funds today?
Maxime Bertin: In today’s tighter market environment, cash optimisation has become critical. Factoring offers an excellent financing amount-to-cost ratio, significantly more attractive than an RCF or traditional debt facility. And with 3-month Euribor rates trending downward, it is becoming an even more compelling financing tool. It is a short-term financing solution that is quick to implement, cost-efficient, and naturally aligned with the company’s financial health since it is backed by trade receivables. Even in stressed situations, it enables businesses to secure liquidity quickly, improve working capital, avoid additional leverage, and ultimately finance growth, support restructurings, or stabilise cash flow.
How do you support Private Equity transactions?
We work alongside around forty active funds across Europe and the United States, covering all market segments – small, mid and large cap – for portfolio companies ranging from SMEs to international groups. Eighty percent of our assignments involve LBO-backed businesses. Factoring can be used to refinance debt, replace cash pooling arrangements in carve-outs, or finance build-ups under conditions that are often far more attractive than the cost of invested or reinvested equity capital. Some funds have clearly understood that involving us early in the lifecycle of a portfolio company significantly increases strategic flexibility. Fibus structures stable financing solutions under the best possible conditions, regardless of the company’s situation.
“Factoring is not a side activity for us – it is our core business.”
What is Fibus’ added value?
Our deep understanding of the expectations and operating logic of investment funds is a major strength, alongside our international reach: we operate in 40 countries and more than half of our transactions are cross-border. Factoring is not a secondary business line for us – it is our core expertise. With a team of 65 specialists, Fibus has the largest dedicated factoring advisory team in Europe and is the only player offering a fully integrated approach that secures every stage of a factoring programme: from initial structuring to ongoing optimisation of financing, through both credit insurance advisory and dedicated digital solutions.
You have also developed a digital solution.
ARI enhances existing factoring programmes by providing real-time visibility over both funded and unfunded receivables, while enabling precise monitoring of credit insurance coverage. Connected to insurers through API integrations, ARI helps secure and maximise funding capacity. It is a powerful tool for unlocking liquidity without operational complexity, while providing full transparency over available financing headroom.