about us
Finlease was established in 1989 as an alternative to traditional banks. As the banks became bigger and more impersonal, small business owners, especially in Capital Intensive Industries such as Manufacturing were being treated more and more shabbily. Finlease focussed on providing those client with equipment finance based on low interest rates, tax effective structures with minimal conditions and a high level of service.
Mark O'Donoghue, the founder of Finlease was astounded at how banks had begun to treat loyal customers seeking equipment, property and cash-flow finance. At best, they made the procedure of taking out a loan cumbersome and time consuming. At worst, they were not only unhelpful, but downright obstructive. Mark recognised that most of his clients just didn't have the time, expertise or resources to battle the banks and negotiate the most favourable debt structures. He also knew that the banks felt no obligation to offer any deal other than the one that best suited them and their shareholders.
So in 1989 with just himself and an assistant, Mark founded Finlease (Australia) Pty Ltd to facilitate getting finance for people with high capital requirements. The first year of trading resulted in a turnover of $7 million in equipment financed.
Today, the Finlease Group has a staff of 40 doing business all over Australia from our offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. This year we expect to see turnover in equipment and property finance exceed $300 million for a loyal client base of some 4,000 companies. And we just keep growing.
If you have read enough and just want to see the key people then scroll down, otherwise, if you would like to know we could make the difference for and add your company to our growing list of long term clients, please read on.
What we do for our clients is to bring back the benefit of a 10 – 20 year relationship with a good bank manager without the problem of being tied to any ONE bank.
The Finlease Difference:-
We will come and see you, in less than an hour we will have an understanding of how you operate. Because we specialise in a broad range of industries, the Finlease representative you're dealing with will already have a good grasp of your working environment. Then we will act on your behalf. While you tend to business, we'll go looking for the most competitive arrangement possible for you.
We have access to over 20 bank, non bank and equipment specialist lenders. With this wide a choice, we're bound to find the deal that best suits your individual company circumstances. If we don't like what one institution proposes, we have plenty of others to approach for the best arrangement.
We use our massive buying power - some $250 million annually - as leverage to source discounted rates as well as realistic, commercial approvals. This way, you benefit from the most competitive rates as well as the least number of conditions. In some cases we can obtain workable finance approvals where you might have been unsuccessful on your own.
Dealing with more than one lender comes in particularly handy when you're trying to buy several pieces of equipment. What we do is establish pre-approved lines of credit with a number of financiers, placing each item with the best lender at the time. Even better, we arrange to have the equipment itself provide security. In the most tax-effective manner possible. On a structure that best suits your cash flow.
This often results in our clients having their debt exposure in smaller amounts with several financiers than with one Bank or Financier who holds all of the security and is calling the shots. It is far better to have a number of positive relationships with finance partners who are continually keen to see more than in a bad marriage with One Bank which is extremely difficult to leave despite the poor relationship.
Finally, Now here's the clincher. Finlease does not charge you any fees for arranging your equipment finance. Our financiers pay us (much the same as insurance brokers work). And because we're finding you the best deal possible, you can't help but come out ahead. As you would have seen on our home page, we even guarantee it.
Our people
Mark O'Donoghue
Mark, as the founder and principal of the Finlease Group continues to remain active in the provision of finance for clients particularly in manufacturing sector as well as being the industry expert in the Charter Boat Finance area.
You can e-mail Mark at mark@finlease.com.au.
Jeff Wilson
Our Cranes and Access specialist has been involved in the finance industry all of his working life. For the past 13 years Jeff has concentrated on equipment finance. Of these 12 years, nine have been spent with Finlease. E-mail Jeff at jeff@finlease.com.au.
Michael Ryan
Michael comes from the shire and like his two bothers was attracted to engineering, serving his apprenticeship as an electrical engineer. Unlike them he made a serious career switch to banking and finance almost 20 years ago, specialising in woodworking and engineering equipment finance. Outside work Michael enjoys all football, boating, fishing, camping and 4-wheel driving.
E-mail Michael at michael@finlease.com.au
Miles Beamish
Miles has been with us for nearly 5 years after having spent the previous 11 years in commercial and corporate banking both in Sydney and Melbourne. Whilst specialising in more structured finance requirements, Miles is developing several specific markets including aviation, bus and coaches, packaging and strata/body corporate loans.
E-mail Miles at miles@finlease.com.au.
Peter Zaj
Pete migrated from Macedonia to Beverly Hills at the age of five. Following 28 years in banking, during which time he held a series of senior positions, Pete joined Finlease to assist Mark O'Donoghue in writing equipment finance. Over the past eight years he has also become an expert on boat and charter boat finance. And, according to Mark, the best ambassador for Finlease imaginable. Says Mark, “I wish I had five of him.” When he's not causing the boss to sing his praises, Pete gets off on cars - the sleek and fast kind. When it comes to travel, another big interest, he's still trying to see as much of Australia as he can. He also has two daughters, Nikole and Pauline, in their early 20s.
E-mail Pete at peter@finlease.com.au.
Jackie Mitchell
Jackie has over 20 years experience in the banking and finance industry and is an accredited mortgage consultant with the Mortgage Industry Association of Australia (MIAA).If you are looking for a solution for:
Residential and property finance
Business finance
Trade debtor finance
Talk to Jackie today to find out how a customised solution can work for you.
E-mail Jackie at jmitchell@finlease.com.au.