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Debt collection

September

Indebted founder and chief executive Josh Foreman has relocated to the US, its most lucrative market.

Digital debt collector worth $350m after big money raise

Business booms for InDebted when cost-of-living hits consumers. It has attracted new investors, including a super fund to back a rare valuation increase.

  • Paul Smith

July

Andrew Griffin, the chief executive of Balmain, is targeting companies that have failed ESG tests for his latest private credit fund.

This private credit fund is going big on companies failing ESG tests

Balmain Corporation said it had considered calling the strategy a “Vulture Series” – but decided naming it after a different bird of prey was more appropriate.

  • Primrose Riordan
Panthera Finance has purchased more than $5.5 billion in receivables from banks, telcos, utilities and the like.

Panthera Finance administration prompted by founder stoush: PwC

The Brookfield-backed company collapsed into administration after the twin brothers who founded the debt collection business fell out with one another.

  • Kylar Loussikian
Thames Water has been under significant financial strain, with its largest shareholder writing down the value of its stake to zero.

QIC coy on Thames Water stake as utility drowns in debt

The state-backed asset manager has not marked down its valuation of the embattled London investment, despite its largest shareholder writing it off entirely.

  • Updated
  • Aaron Weinman
There’s plenty of money to be made in debt collecting – and lending to those same customers – Brookfield has discovered.

This must be one of the worst ways of making a return

There’s a dollar to be made lending to people with “impaired credit” while running a debt collection firm. Just ask Brookfield, which is all over this business.

  • Kylar Loussikian
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Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus will announce the overhaul on Monday.

Labor reveals personal bankruptcy overhaul

The threshold for involuntary bankruptcy will rise to $20,000 and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus will also launch consultations for a mini-bankruptcy regime.

  • Ronald Mizen

June

Panthera Finance has purchased more than $5.5 billion in receivables from banks, telcos, utilities and the like.

PwC appointed VA at parent company of Brookfield-backed Panthera

Panthera’s parent entity’s shares are controlled by the administrator, who may be seeking a buyer.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Taxation Commissioner Rob Heferen is four months into the job.

‘Deeply offensive’: ATO boss slams robo-debt comparison

New Tax Commissioner Rob Heferen was forceful in his first appearance before Parliament, rejecting criticism of a Tax Office program to chase small debts.

  • Tom McIlroy
Pioneer Credit boss Keith John.

Challenger, Revolution storm Pioneer Credit’s $300m refinance

Sources said Pioneer and Nomura had found enough demand to upsize the growth facility to haul the total from $245 million to about $300 million.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport

April

Credit Clear co-founder and property developer Mark Casey (left).

Mark Casey-backed debt recovery fintech plots path to the Nasdaq

Having launched in all 50 US states and in Canada, Remitter has signed on a range of enterprise clients including Bank of America, Citizens Bank and Hyundai.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
About 50,000 taxpayers had outstanding debts over $100,000.

More than 50,000 taxpayers are ghosting the ATO

Many have Tax Office debts of more than $100,000 that are older than 90 days, and they collectively owe about $15 billion. But they aren’t returning its calls.

  • Tom McIlroy

January

Victoria’s consumer watchdog is assessing how a Panthera Finance entity operates in debt collection in the state.

PwC’s corporate restructuring team called in at Panthera Finance

Street Talk can reveal a crack team of accountants has landed at the debt collection outfit to clean house.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Victoria’s consumer watchdog is assessing how a Panthera Finance entity operates in debt collection in the state.

Investors monitor Panthera Finance amid reg troubles

Sources said while Grant Samuel wasn’t officially engaged, it had kept close to the founders after running a debt refinancing process in 2022.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Victoria’s consumer watchdog is assessing how a Panthera Finance entity operates in debt collection in the state.

Brookfield-backed Panthera falls under debt watchdog’s gaze

One debt collecting entity was banned from operating in Victoria. Another sister company – with the same shareholder, address and directors – still operates there.

  • Liam Walsh and Sarah Thompson

October 2023

“It’s one of the risks in our business”: Credit Corp CEO Thomas Beregi.

Credit Corp shares smashed as US debt repayments shrink

Inflation might be putting a squeeze on how many people can pay back debts in the US, hurting the Sydney-based collection giant.

  • Liam Walsh
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Josh Foreman, founder and CEO of Indebted.

Digital debt collector counts benefits of a cost-of-living crisis

Perennial-backed InDebted has made its first acquisition since 2021 as a rise in people defaulting on payments sees it approach profitability for the first time.

  • Tess Bennett

May 2023

Street Talk.

Small caps Credit Clear, Entyr, Terra Uranium rattle the tin

Monday morning’s raising candidates included listed debt collection software business Credit Clear and waste tyre processing outfit Entyr.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport

February 2023

Shares in debt collector Credit Corp fell after revealing lower first-half earnings.

Struggling Aussies keeping up payments, Credit Corp says

The debt-chasing, short-term lending outfit has missed its earnings expectations but forecasts a recovery.

  • Liam Walsh

October 2022

IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva says China needs to lift its game on debt restructuring.

Unco-operative China accused of fuelling debt crisis

In Washington this week, officials have expressed frustration at China’s foot dragging on moves to restructure poor nations’ debt.

  • Matthew Cranston

September 2022

Collection House had a large headquarters lease in inner Brisbane’s Newstead, the same building as BoQ.

Lease stranglehold ‘helped sink’ Collection House

An administrator’s report into the collapsed debt chaser also examines the failed attempts to pull a financial rabbit out of the hat.

  • Liam Walsh

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/debt-collection-1nso