Better days ahead for Synlait farmers
Synlait farmer suppliers are relieved to see the troubled milk processor on the road to recovery.
Synlait Milk has dual listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and started trading on Friday.
“Interest in Synlait from Australian investors has grown in the past few years – 72% of our institutional shareholding is based in Australia,” says John Penno, managing director and chief executive.
“Being dual listed on the NZX and ASX increases access for institutional investors in Australia, and opens up the company to Australian retail investors too.”
Synlait expects this dual listing will provide increased liquidity, as well as a broader and diversified shareholder base.
“We’ve launched our next growth phase - a three year, $300 million capital expansion programme - and will continue to pursue profitable opportunities to make more from milk. I’m pleased NZX and ASX investors both have the opportunity to be a part of our journey.”
Synlait’s growth was recently underpinned by the successful $98 million pro-rata rights issue, which closed in October 2016.
Synlait has listed on ASX as a foreign exempt issuer under a compliance listing, which will not see any capital raised as a part of the process.
In the financial year ending July 31, 2016 (FY16), Synlait reported a record net profit after tax (NPAT) of $34.4 million ($10.6 million in FY15).
Located in New Zealand’s South Island, Synlait employs more than 430 staff and their Dunsandel site in Canterbury received 658 million litres of milk in FY16.
Farmer-owned co-operative Ravensdown is winding down the operations of its agritech subsidiary C-Dax following a long decline in sales.
The recent East Coast Farming Expo, held over two days at Wairoa, offered an insight into the current state of agriculture on the east of the North Island, at a time when the locals are remembering the second anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle.
A Research programme supported by Beef+Lamb NZ is investigating the potential of ‘accelerometer’ sensors for early detection of conditions such as facial eczema (FE) in sheep.
In the past year, the Farmer Time for Schools programme which seeks to connect New Zealand school students with farmers, has experienced further growth.
Fresh Carriers Co. Ltd (FCC) and Zespri have completed the first ever kiwifruit charter powered by a low-emissions fuel.
New Zealand lingerie brand Rose & Thorne is expanding its virtual bra fitting service in an effort to provide rural women in with better access to specialised advice.
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