Sixty per cent of Irish small and medium businesses use bank borrowings, significantly higher than the EU average of 39%.

The reason is that, in the past, the main banks had no real competition in Ireland. But this is changing. To focus on that change, a major conference looking at the alternative finance options for agri-industry is being run by the Irish Farmers Journal and Kennedys law firm on 5 November in Dublin.

Larry Murrin, chief executive, Dawn Farm Foods and former president of the IBEC; Kieran Carolan, chief executive, Carroll Cuisine; and Philip Martin, founder of food startup Blanco Nino; are included in an impressive lineup of speakers who will look at the options companies now have for restructuring and funding their growth. John Concannon, JFC Manufacturing managing director, will discuss how the company grew to employ over 250 people using bank-funding, tax incentives and other schemes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Aidan O’Byrne of OBK Accountants and formerly chief financial officer of Valeo Foods, will look at the Employment and Incentive Investment Scheme (EIIS) and crowdfunding to fund business growth. Mark Flood, Renatus Capital Partners, and Paul McMahon, SML Partners, will identify what private equity firms look for when investing.

Banks will still be a major part of funding for many and their role in the future will be closely examined. We will also look at the role of state-funding.

Expertise

Agribusiness companies looking at funding to grow their business should not miss on the insights and expertise around the alternative sources for your business in this half-day conference.

For further information or to book, email alternative finance@farmersjournal.ie or call 01-4199578.