Former Provident Financial subsidiary, International Personal Finance (IPF), has emerged from the global economic blizzards affecting niche lenders to become a tipster favourite for 2010.

IPF, has a market capitalization of £540 million and operates home credit and niche lending operations across eastern Europe and Mexico where credit penetration and consumer debt to GDP remains much lower than in developed markets.

Despite recent events in the Western world, where specialist lenders are hugely out of favour with investors, IPF is fast becoming a favourite for personal and institutional investors alike.

The company said back in October that it expects revenues to be way ahead of market expectations, although full year figures are not due out until March. Its third quarter statement showed that the balance sheet remains in rude health, however.

More importantly, perhaps, funding lines are in place until October 2011 – vital considering the problems other international lenders have experienced obtaining new funding lines in the current climate.

Nick Brind, fund manager at HIM Capital, is one of those backing IPF for continued expansion and profit growth over the 12 months ahead.

He explained, ‘It is currently trading on less than 10 times earnings and two times book multiple, a significant discount to similar companies, despite arguably offering much greater growth prospects.’