Ablrate Administration – Peer To Peer Lending
** Ablrate review updated January 18th 2023 **
ABlrate has entered into the administration process with using Quantuma. This announcement was made on December 23, 2023 and is an unfortunate ending to what was once an innovative and creative form of alternative finance. You can read the full announcement here.
Previously Ablrate was in voluntary wind down that has progressed to administration due to financial and loan issues.
This administration announcement is not surprising due to the lack of Ablrate’s financial income, partly due to the FCA’s forced closure of the secondary market, and the lack of new loans being written.
I will be updating this page as I receive more information.
What does this wind down mean to you as investor? Read on to find out.
Click here to listen / watch my podcast with David Bradley Ward, Ablrate CEO and founder.
What Is Ablrate?
Ablrate is a UK based peer to peer lending platform where investors can lend money to borrowers who secure loans with residential, commercial, or industrial real estate. Secondary security to a loan may include a first ranking debenture over the business or business assets, third-party corporate guarantees, and personal guarantees.
How Can I Contact Ablrate?
Email: customerservices@ablrate.com
UK Tel: 01491 410 400
What Is a Voluntary Loan Book Wind Down?
When a business looks at the future and see some troubled waters ahead, they sometimes decide to place the company into voluntary wind down to protect investors. Other companies such as Bondmason and Growth Street entered voluntary wind downs and repaid all investors.
A voluntary wind down is a restriction the business places on itself (and notifies the FCA of) and means that the business does not write any new loans or take on any new customers and the existing loan book is administered until completion.
Is Ablrate Out Of Business?
Yes No. Ablrate can no longer operate as a business and has placed Quantuma, a company that specializes in peer to peer lending company administrations, in charge of managing the loanbook.
Why Did Ablrate Decide To Go From Voluntary Wind Down to Administration?
According to David, “The dwindling revenues, the inability to pursue new business opportunities, the time-consuming process of addressing FOS complaints, and the escalating costs associated with recovery efforts have left us with no alternative but to place the company into administration”.
In other words a mix of bad loans, and lack of money created the situation
What Happens To My Existing Lending?
Your loans and any capital recovered will be managed and administered by Quantuma.
There may be more some loans that run into trouble throughout the course of the loan book.
What Happens To Unused Funds In My Ablrate Account?
This depends on how to administration is handled and we will know more in the future.
When Did Ablrate Launch?
July 2014
Is Ablrate Regulated?
Yes, by the UK Financial Conduct Authority under full permissions. FCA regulation is nothing like the FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme). FSCS covers consumers when they deposit money in banks, the FCA does not.
The FCA does have the ability to pursue criminal action against companies that violate its standards. The FCA is not a government entity and it’s funded by the very companies it regulates.
Am I Lending To The Ablrate Platform Or To Borrowers?
Loan agreements are directly between lenders and borrowers.
What Are The Length Of The Loans?
Most loans are one to five years. Loans can renew at the end of term or be paid off early.
What Security Does Ablrate Loan Against?
Loans are usually secured by items such as aircraft, property, or business assets and debentures. Loan To Values vary but aren’t shown on the secondary market page. If the borrower defaults, Ablrate or its loan partners can try to sell the assets to recover lenders money. If a borrower defaults, it can take months or even years for recovery. That is one of the risks of peer to peer lending.
What Are The Loan Default Rates?
Ablrate doesn’t provide default statistics but judging the the adminstration announcement, defaults are an issue.
Is There a Secondary Market?
Ablrate used to have a secondary market but this was shut down by the FCA and no longer operates. This means investors have no way to access loans prior to their completion.
Is There A Provision Fund?
No
What Happens Now Ablrate Is In Administration Goes Bust?
All loans and recoveries will be handled by Quantuma, the administration company.
As with other financial companies that have system operate, the administration company will manage the loan book and try to recover as much money as possible from the borrows.
If history is any indication, administration usually ends in high fees and low recoveries, but only time will tell. These administration person can last for several years.
Communication
Ablrate has been quite since it annouced the voluntary wind down of the loanbook. Now the company is in administration I expect more reasonable updates from Quantume.
The Ablrate Conclusion
Ablrates administration announcement while disappointing, was not surprising. Nearly all the UK peer to peer lending companies offering high risk high reward loans have closed their doors. I had my doubts as to the sustainability of Ablrate’s business due to the failings of previous high paying peer to peer platforms but remained optimistic.
It is my hope that Quantuma can wind down and recover assets from Ablrate’s loan book but realistically investors can expect a low percentage recovery rate due to the unconventional and complicated nature of the loans.
The peer to peer lending industry needed to clear out the bad companies in order to grow and thrive. Ablrate was one of the few remaining who unfortunately folled the same path as Moneything and Funding Secure.
If you enjoyed my Ablrate information and want to learn more about peer to peer lending, click here and receive my complimentary Top 5 Peer to Peer Lending Sites Report.
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** This Ablrate page is for information purposes only. This information is not financial advice and has been prepared without taking your objectives, financial situation or needs into account. You should consider its appropriateness for your circumstances. All investing carries risks. Opinions expressed in this review are opinions based on my own personal experiences. The FSCS does not cover peer to peer lending and your capital is at risk. Please don’t invest more than you can afford to lose. **
