The annual general meeting for Farmer Business Developments heard some details of the new share-trading scheme which is scheduled to open for buying and selling in July. It will be run through a timed online auction organised by Asset Match, a company regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, which has significant experience in running share auctions for private companies.

Farmer Business Developments said that no financial services provider in Ireland would operate a private market for shares. Trading of shares will be restricted to existing shareholders and approved new farmer investors.

The online auction will open in July and end in September. Participants will say how many shares they want to trade and the minimum price they will accept (if selling), or the maximum price they will pay (if buying).

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Participants in the auction are free to decide the price they are willing to buy or sell at.

Dublin-based business advisory firm Crowe Ireland provided an independent valuation of €2.80/share, which the AGM was told will serve as a guide towards pricing.

Farmer Business Developments will write to all shareholders by the end of June with information on how to access the service. Shareholders will need their share certificate in order to trade their shares.

The company was careful to point out that it is not providing investment advice, services or recommendations. Any decision to trade shares is entirely up the individual shareholder and their own financial adviser.

Farmer Business Developments said that it is very conscious of the challenges around shareholder liquidity and the desire of long-standing shareholder and estates to realise share value. There is also a desire among the next generation of farmers to be able to invest in Farmer Business Developments, the company said.

The previous grey market for shares ceased trading three years ago, with the last trade price listed on the company’s shares at €1.91 in August 2023.

According to its most recent annual report, Farmer Business Developments had earnings of €34.4m in 2025 on revenue of €142.2m. The company announced dividend of 18c/share.

Farmer Business Developments has two main investment categories. It is the largest shareholder in FBD plc, a stake which was valued at €137m at the end of 2025, and it also has a substantial hotel business with properties in Ireland and Spain.

In 2025 the company completed the purchase of the Grand Hotel in Malahide.