Fonterra consumer business sale price jumps to $4.22b
The sale price of Fonterra’s global consumer and associated businesses to the world’s largest dairy company Lactalis has risen to $4.22 billion.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says the co-op cannot afford to repeat last year’s disappointing performance.
The co-op has forecast earnings of 15-25c/share for this financial year, based on a forecast EBIT range of $700-800 million.
“While this is down on last year, our forecast EPS (earnings per share) is up, reflecting lower interest and tax. To get here, we can’t repeat last year’s disappointing performance.
“The fundamentals of dairy remain strong.”
He says the world wants more dairy, and a growing middle class with high disposable incomes is looking for premium products.
“We believe we can create value from innovation, sustainability and efficiency.
“And our new strategy positions us well to leverage this.”
But at the same time, Hurrell says, the global economy is showing signs of slowing, with increasing trade tensions.
“Given our reliance on the international market, these are factors we continue to watch closely.”
On 2019-20 milk collection, he says milk collection forecast is similar to last year.
Fonterra has revised its milk price to a range of $6.55 to $7.55/kgMS – the fourth consecutive year of milk prices over $6/kgMS.
Fertiliser co-operative Ballance has written down $88 million - the full value of its Kapuni urea plant in Taranaki - from its balance sheet in the face of a looming gas shortage.
The Government and horticulture sector have unveiled a new roadmap with an aim to double horticulture farmgate returns by 2035.
Canterbury farmers and the Police Association say they are frustrated by proposed cuts to rural policing in the region.
The strain and pressure of weeks of repairing their flood-damaged properties is starting to tell on farmers and orchardists in the Tasman district.
The sale price of Fonterra’s global consumer and associated businesses to the world’s largest dairy company Lactalis has risen to $4.22 billion.
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