What Would Synlait Be Worth to Fonterra or a2 Milk?
Speculation of a possible joint move by Fonterra and a2 Milk to buy Synlait raises a much bigger strategic question, says agribusiness expert Dr Nic Lees.
So this old mutt was pleased to hear the council finally baring its teeth in its recent annual report on the performance – or more correctly non-performance – of Fonterra during the past year. Council chair Duncan Coull was brutally frank in his assessment of the mothership, telling farmers that Fonterra’s effort over the last 12 months has been “not good enough and fundamental change is required in thinking and practice to reverse the performance of the business”. Meanwhile, your old mate reckons another former shareholder council chairman – current Fonterra big-cheese John Monaghan – would not have enjoyed his former organisation finally growing a pair and giving the co-op a proper serve for once.
