NORTH EAST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEET THE FUNDER EVENTS

Could your business benefit from expert advice on securing external finance?

1. Who should be interested in the Events?

These events are aimed at owner-managers of businesses who wish to explore how to access finance from: Banks and finance houses, Venture capital companies, Invest NI and the Rural Development Programme.

2. What will happen at the Events?

A panel of expert speakers who will share their experiences of how SMEs can source finance from banks and other institutions, especially in the current economic climate. (Please see next page for details of our guest speakers). A Meet the Funder forum where you will have the opportunity to meet with providers of external finance. We have representatives from the local banks, from Invest NI and from a variety of other finance providers who will be attending each of these events and who will discuss with you your potential funding requirements.

3. Who is funding the Events?

The Programme is funded by Antrim BC, Carrickfergus BC, Ballymena BC, Coleraine BC, Larne BC and Moyle DC, Invest NI and by the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland. Full Circle Management Solutions Ltd is delivering the Programme on behalf of the funders. To register to attend these free events, simply contact Claire at Full Circle Tel: 02890 691027 / email: claire@fullcircle.eu.com

4. Where are these Meet the Funder Events taking place?

Dates 7 November 2012 21 November 2012 12 December 2012 9 January 2013 23 January 2013 13 February 2013 Dunadry Hotel, Antrim Carrickfergus Town Hall, Carrickfergus Willowbank Business and Conference Centre, Larne The Braid, Town Hall, Museum & Arts Centre, Ballymena Sheskburn House, Moyle District Council Offices The Bushtown Hotel, Coleraine Venues Times 14:00 18:00 14:00 18:00 14:00 18:00 14:00 18:00 14:00 18:00 14:00 18:00

Our Guest Speakers Ross Boyd Director of Full Circle Finance Ltd. A qualified accountant, Ross has worked with a massive cross-section of local companies in NI, ROI and GB to raise finance and to develop their financial management capabilities.

Topics What is the current demand for and supply of external finance with the SME sector in NI? Ross will present the facts based on a major research project recently completed by Full Circle on what SME owner-managers are looking for in terms of external finance and what the banks and others can realistically provide.

Colum Lewis Canning Colum is a former banker who has worked with Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank Limited and Irish Nationwide. Colum has over 30 years experience in retail, business and corporate banking. Colum is a Director of the Institute of Bankers and advises businesses on restructuring and fund raising. Michael McQuillan Michael is one of NIs leading entrepreneurs, having founded and built up The Streat chain of coffee shops to become one of Irelands most successful ever franchises. Peter Stafford Chair of A&L Goodbody law firm. Peter specialises businesses. Brian Stewart Associate director with Ross Boyd Ltd. Brian has over 15 years experience of developing business plans for clients seeking to secure finance from banks, venture capital firms, finance house and economic development agencies in both NI and ROI. in providing legal advice to ownermanagers who are considering selling equity in their

What do banks look for in any application for bank funding from a business in NI? Colum will provide a warts and all insight ..from a bankers perspective why do some businesses manage to secure finance and others fail? The challenges of sourcing finance .from an

entrepreneurs perspective. Michael will share his first hand experiences of the challenges that he faced in securing finance as he set up and built up The Streat franchise. Dotting the Is and crossing the ts .getting the legals right in an equity sale. Peter will highlight the opportunities and the potential pitfalls of selling equity in any business .to family members, to relatives or to an external investor. Presenting your business case .Brian will outline the dos and donts of presenting a business plan to a bank, finance house or to Invest NI.

To register to attend these free events, simply contact Claire at Full Circle Tel: 02890 691027 / email: claire@fullcircle.eu.com