新西兰英语 620 Fonterra Trading Scheme

 　　The milk company, Fonterra, is a co-operative of farmers. The dairy¹ farmers who send their milk to Fonterra for processing, all own the company. Big farms have more shares than small farms. Two years ago, Fonterra introduced the idea of a Farmers Trading Scheme – TAF. Farmers could buy and sell shares to other farmers. Most farmers liked the idea but now they have another vote. This time, the vote includes another plan – to allow other people to buy units so they would earn dividends².

　　This is like buying shares in a company but the difference is that these investors⁴ would not be able to vote about anything the company wants to do. Also only 20% of the Fonterra shares, a maximum of $500m, will be for non-farmers. Investors would have no control over the company. It would still be 100% farmer control and ownership⁵.

　　The reason for Fonterra’s plan is to raise more money for investing⁶ in dairy companies overseas.

　　One farmer said that allowing other people, people who are not farmers, to invest³ in the co-operative would lead to problems. Non-farmer investors might want higher dividends instead of paying farmers a good price for their milk.

　　The CEO of Fonterra said that there has to be a 75% majority of farmers voting for non-farmer investors.

　　About half of the 10,500 farmers have already voted online. On Monday morning, June 25th, meetings will be held in 8 locations around the country for the other farmers to vote in person. The results are expected later on Monday.

　　Listen to September 22nd 2011 to hear more about Fonterra.

　　Vocabulary

　　introduce – bring in a plan for farmers to think about

　　scheme – plan

　　co-operative, cooperative; co – together, working together; co-operate (v); co-operation (n)

　　non (prefix) – not

　　dividends – paid to shareholders when the company makes a profit

　　investors – people who buy shares in a company or put their money in a business

1 dairy   

n.牛奶场，乳品店；adj.乳制品的

参考例句：

• The yogurt sold by this dairy is delicious.这家乳品店出售的酸奶非常好喝。
• He kept a few dairy cows.他养了几头奶牛。

2 dividends   

红利( dividend的名词复数 )； 股息； 被除数； （足球彩票的）彩金

参考例句：

• Nothing pays richer dividends than magnanimity. 没有什么比宽宏大量更能得到厚报。
• Their decision five years ago to computerise the company is now paying dividends. 五年前他们作出的使公司电脑化的决定现在正产生出效益。

3 invest   

v.投资；投入(时间等)；授予，赋予

参考例句：

• I have decided to invest in a new car.我已经决定买一辆新汽车。
• The best time to invest is now.现在是投资的最佳时机。

4 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

5 ownership   

n.所有(权)，所有制

参考例句：

• The house is under new ownership.那栋房子已易新主。
• He claimed ownership of the house.他声称那幢房子归他所有。

6 investing   

v.投资，花费( invest的现在分词 )；授予；（把资金）投入；投入（时间、精力等）

参考例句：

• He was timid about investing money. 他不敢投资。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Europe also caught the excitement of investing in American railroads. 欧洲人对投资美国铁路也极感兴趣。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件