Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
Fonterra's share price jumped on the news that the co-op will provide financial support to improve liquidity in its share trading platform - the Fonterra Shareholders Market.
After the co-op's share price plummeted to $2.29/share, compared to trading at $3.15 just three months ago, chairman Peter McBride wrote to farmer shareholders advising of the move.
Last week, Fonterra's share price reached $3.09/share, its highest level in over three months. Its share price has dipped since the co-op started consulting on its capital structure review and liquidity in the FSM has been low.
"We know there is concern about the decline in our share price over recent weeks and the impact this is having on your balance sheets," McBride told farmers in an email. "As set out in the capital structure consultation and voting documents last year, we will be putting in place additional arrangements to support liquidity in the FSM when we transition to the new Flexible Shareholding structure, including through arrangements with one or more market-makers.
"While those arrangements are still being worked on, Fonterra will on an interim basis be providing additional financial support to the current registered volume provider to more actively support liquidity in the FSM."
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
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