Allied Finance NZ: A Profile
Allied Finance NZ was a finance company operating in New Zealand that ultimately failed, contributing to the wave of finance company collapses that plagued the country in the late 2000s and early 2010s. These collapses had significant repercussions for investors, particularly retail investors who entrusted their savings to these firms.
The company offered investment products, primarily debentures, promising relatively high returns compared to traditional bank deposits. This appeal attracted many investors seeking higher yields in a low-interest-rate environment. However, the higher returns often came with significantly greater risk, a factor that was not always fully understood or appreciated by investors.
Allied Finance’s business model revolved around borrowing funds from investors through debentures and then lending these funds to businesses and individuals. A critical aspect of their operation, like many finance companies at the time, was their exposure to the property development sector. This sector is inherently cyclical and susceptible to downturns, making finance companies heavily involved in it particularly vulnerable.
The Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008 had a devastating impact on Allied Finance. The crisis triggered a sharp downturn in the property market, leading to a significant increase in loan defaults. As borrowers struggled to repay their debts, Allied Finance found itself with a growing portfolio of bad loans. This, in turn, made it difficult for the company to meet its obligations to debenture holders.
In 2010, Allied Finance was placed into receivership. The receivership process aimed to recover assets and distribute them to creditors, including the debenture holders. However, the recovery rate was typically low in such situations, meaning that investors often lost a significant portion, if not all, of their investment.
The collapse of Allied Finance and numerous other finance companies led to a period of intense scrutiny of the finance sector in New Zealand. It highlighted the need for stronger regulation, improved risk management practices, and greater investor education. The government responded with regulatory changes aimed at enhancing the oversight of finance companies and protecting investors.
The failure of Allied Finance serves as a cautionary tale about the risks associated with investing in higher-yielding, less regulated financial products. It underscores the importance of due diligence, understanding the underlying business model, and recognizing the potential consequences of economic downturns. For many investors, the collapse resulted in significant financial hardship and a loss of confidence in the finance sector.