Quote Originally Posted by 1leon View Post
Anyone thinking Chinese investment is a home run for Chinese access should look carefully at the sequence of Bright Investment in Synlait Milk and its insistence on control even when dropping under 50% shareholding. And the aggressive takeout of shareholders in Synlait Farms provides equally little ground for optimism for long term future of a farmer partnership with a large corporate shareholder.
A farmer grows stuff to sell.

A corporate farmer generally looks at vertical integration. In the case of SFF, from the pasture to the plate. In the case of Exxon, from the oil well to the petrol pump.

It allows for much closer control of costs, and provides options as to where the profit can be made or declared.

It is not easy to see the interests of farmers and corporate farmers aligning closely over time.