Council admits its failures

It has told a steering group about challenges and constraints it faces, including being prevented from sharing and discussing information with shareholders due to market disclosure rules. 

A copy of the council submission was obtained by Rural News.

The steering group, chaired by retired senior public official James Buwalda, is reviewing the council’s functions. A final report is expected this month.

In its submission to the steering group, the council points out that its “watchdog and cornerstone shareholder” mantles do not reflect the reality.

The council says that as Fonterra’s cornerstone shareholder, its view should be heard when the board and management are considering matters which affect farmers’ supply or ownership interests. 

“This has happened to varying degrees over time. What is meant by ‘cornerstone shareholder’ needs to be more clearly defined and have a more prescribed framework,” it says.

The council isn’t consulted and has no role in the development or approval of, Fonterra’s strategy, business plans and use of shareholder capital.

The council says it learns of these decisions when shareholders do.

“If council is required to be a cornerstone shareholder it must be empowered to be one, but should only focus on matters of importance to a cornerstone shareholder in a co-op context.”

The council performance committee, which monitors the co-op’s performance, also operates under great restraint.

Information provided by board and management cannot be shared with the rest of council, let alone with shareholders. 

The council says there’s also a reluctance to provide the committee with information considered sensitive under market disclosure rules.

“These factors frustrate the reporting function, do not enable the committee to empower other councillors with knowledge to assist their discussions in the farmer base, contribute to unrealistic expectations about council’s ability to call out poor performance early or influence investment decisions, and tie council into shareholder perceptions of complicity with the board.”

Some Fonterra shareholders claim the council is a lap dog to the board.

The council says there are differences of opinion with the board but they are resolved behind closed doors.

It told the steering group that there has historically been a desire to keep differences of opinion between board and council in-house …“that is, behind closed doors, resolved constructively and out of the media”. 

“This has given rise to a shareholder impression that council is unduly compliant and does not as a matter of course express an alternative view.”

The council maintains that it has a role to play. Some shareholders want the council scrapped.

The council notes Fonterra’s shareholding base is widely dispersed with no substantial shareholders.

“This means that, without a representative body, the collective  power of shareholders would be difficult to organise in a way that adequately protects their interests.”