Positive signals but challenges remain
PGG Wrightson (PGW) chief executive Stephen Guerin says that while there are positive signals within the market, there are also challenges.
The board of rural trader PGG Wrightson Limited has agreed to call a special meeting demanded by its largest shareholder.
In a NZX filing yesterday afternoon, PGW says it will issue a notice of meeting at the relevant time together with appropriate information for shareholders about the matters to be addressed at the meeting.
Agria Singapore, which holds a 44% stake in PGW, is seeking a special shareholders meeting where it wants to overhaul the PGW board – removing directors Garry Moore, Sarah Brown and Charlotte Severne. It is proposing to appoint former PGW chairman Alan Lai, Wilson Liu, Vena Crawley and Traci Houpapa as new directors.
PGW says following receipt of the notice on the afternoon of 8 February 2024 PGW promptly sought to engage with Agria in relation to the matters outlined in the notice and sought advice from its external lawyers, Chapman Tripp.
“The PGW board convened on 12 February and 13 February to discuss the notice and has continued to liaise with Agria to explore whether Agria would withdraw the request to enable a more constructive board transition to take place.
“Following further dialogue today, Agria has this afternoon confirmed that it will not withdraw the notice requesting that a special shareholders meeting be convened and accordingly PGW is preparing for a shareholders meeting.”
Lai, founder of Agria Corporation, stepped down from the PGW board in 2018, following investigation for alleged securities law breaches in Singapore.
The 2025 game bird season is underway with Hawke’s Bay and Southland reporting the ideal weather conditions for hunters – rain and wind.
A group of meat processing companies, directors and managers have been fined a total of $1.6 million for deliberately and illegally altering exported tallow for profit.
New Zealand’s top cheeses for 2025 have been announced and family-owned, Oamaru-based Whitestone Cheese is the big winner.
Waikato farmer, and Owl Farm demonstration manager, Jo Sheridan is the 2025 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
New Zealand’s special agricultural trade envoy Hamish Marr believes the outlook for the dairy sector remains strong.
Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe (NZVA) awards.