Survey Results Confirm that Cash Flow is a Major Concern Amongst SMEs

Sydney, NSW (PR Wire – 20July 2011) – The Interface Financial Group (IFG), a growing source of alternative funding for Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs), announced that the company offers support to SMEs that are concerned about the cash flow prospects for their businesses going forward. IFG provides short-term financial resources includinginvoice factoringto companies in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Singapore.

According to the results of the June 2011 Sensis Business Index which measures the confidence and behaviours of Australian SMEs through its quarterly surveys, SMEs ranked cash flow problems as one of the main problems impacting their businesses over the last quarter. Cash flow concerns ranked equally withproblems caused by the current economic climate which has been impacted by weakening consumer confidence and uncertainty over the pending carbon tax policy.

David Hechter, chief operating officer for IFG in Australia said thatSMEs have more options than they think when it comes to resolving their cash flow challenges. "Many SMEs will think first of approaching their bank to see if an overdraft or business line of credit can be arranged to assist with their working capital. However, most will discover that they do not meet the bank's criteria for a conventional loan and only a few of the banks still offer a debtor finance option for SMEs. This is why we are seeing an increased level of enquiry for invoice factoring because it requires ahands-on approach to understanding the risk involved with SMEs and the invoices they generate with their customers. Specialist invoice factoring companies are well placed to service the SMEs who cannot secure a facility with their bank."

Factoring allows SMEs to raise the working capital they require to grow their businesses despite the challenges of having customers who are slow to pay their invoices.With the average time frame for invoice payment stretching out to 60 days in Australia, many SME's are traking advantage of the benefits of invoice factoring. Factoring can be used across a wide range of industriesincludng transportation, labour hire, manufacturing and even construction.

Invoice factoring is structured as the purchase of financial assets, or receivables, from the SME to afactoring company. Factoring belongs to the family of debtor finance products where a company can use one of its most valuable assets – its credit worthy customer base – as a source of cash flow. With invoice factoring, there are no minimums, no maximums, no long-term commitments and no lengthy application process.

About The Interface Financial Group (www.ifgnetwork.com.au)

The Interface Financial Group (IFG) provides short-term financial resources includinginvoice factoring(invoice discounting). IFG launched the Australia operation in 2006 following the success of its New Zealand businesses which commenced in 2004. IFG's innovative products also includes spot factoring – the purchase of a single invoice or number of invoices. IFG does not require the whole debtor book.

The IFG Network is the funding arm of The Interface Financial Group providing capital and transactional support to IFG's international office network. IFG has grown to over (150) international offices in Australia, UK, the United States, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Singapore. Each IFG office is managed on a local level, providing immediate service to clients with local knowledge and experience.This makes IFG unique to all otherfactoring companiesin Australia. The IFG team has substantial business experience and expertise in numerous diverse areas, including accounting, finance, law, marketing, banking, etc.

W: http://ifgnetwork.com.au/

Headquarters:

The Interface Financial Group

Suite 1, Level 3, 179 New South Head Road

Edgecliff, NSW 2027

T: Toll Free: 1300 957 900