About Free Eyre

ABOUT US

With 475 shareholders FREE Eyre is an Eyre Peninsula based rural investment vehicle that investigates and co-invests in the development of new businesses and value adding rural enterprises.

All investments meet strict strategic and profit criteria, reduce costs along the rural supply chain and ensure competitive tension for the farmer and agribusiness community of the Eyre Peninsula.

Our list of business ventures and partnerships continues to grow. With proven success in our model we continue to pursue strategic partnerships in industries in which we can take control and add value for our shareholders and the rural community.

 

BACKGROUND

Eyre Peninsula’s farming community was under severe pressure in 2006 following a string of droughts, falling rural returns and grain industry deregulation.

Passionate community leaders initiated numerous public meetings throughout the region to garner the interest and motivation of farmers to actively make a difference.

With strong and enthusiastic community support, a Steering Committee was established to develop an effective preliminary business model and a sound operational and legal basis for the organisation, whilst preserving the intentions – and the passion – of its contributors.

This united community spirit resulted in the founding of a co-operative venture with a vision to actively seek entrepreneurs to develop businesses that could take back control and add value to rural communities.

Since this time FREE Eyre as evolved and has a list of successful business ventures which are adding value back to rural communities. The company continues to investigate strategic partnerships which meet its guiding philosophies.

 

FREE EYRE LIMITED

Born from adversity, FREE Eyre’s mandate is to “take control and add value” for our shareholders and the rural community we serve.

The culmination of a progressive droughts, grain industry deregulation and falling rural margins, resulted in resilient Eyre Peninsula farmers and local entrepreneurs stepping forward and take control of the sustainability and profitability of the region’s rural community.

At FREE Eyre, we are passionate about increasing competition in the agribusiness sector and reducing costs along the supply chain. As such we have evolved to become a rural investment vehicle that investigates and co-invests in the development of agri-business and value adding rural enterprises.

The success of this model is seen through our increasing list of strategic and successful business ventures and partnerships. 

Our culture is one whereby we thoroughly explore all opportunities put to us. Any subsequent investment must meet strict strategic and profit criteria, reduce costs along the rural supply chain and ensure competitive tension for the farmer and agribusiness community of the Eyre Peninsula and progressively throughout South Australia.

This is an exciting time for agriculture, FREE Eyre and our 475 rural shareholders.

 

INCORPORATION

The founders of FREE Eyre recognised that, in order to fulfil its mandate of taking control and adding value, it would need to become a legal entity.

FREE Eyre Limited was incorporated as an unlisted public company in 2007. A Prospectus was launched to raise initial funds for the establishment of an office and management team which is now fulfilling the mandate of the founders.

Two successive capital raising swelled the number of FREE Eyre shareholders to 475. The importance of this number is that well over half of the Eyre Peninsula’s farming families are now shareholders of the company, demonstrating the commitment and support provided to this truly unique business.

The Board and management recognise the value of fostering relationships and trust with potential business partners and all ventures have subsequently been formed with suitable and appropriate parties. Resulting business ventures have delivered increased competition and choice in the agribusiness marketplace and improved access to and control of the supply chain.