Shanghai Pexquin could have done with a little PR

The clear left and right divide over the purchase of the 16 North-Island Crafar Farms (7,900 hectares) by the joint venture of Landcorp and the Milk New Zealand Holding (a subsidiary of Chinese investor Shanghai Pexquin Co Ltd.) created media frenzy. It is purported that the joint venture agreement has Landcorp managing farms operations with Pexquin investing $15.75 million towards property development, including investment into an effluent management system. This investment excludes the purchase of shares in Fonterra, to whom the joint venture plans to sell its milk.

Woburn International works with overseas investors looking to invest in New Zealand and understands some of the challenges faced when investing in New Zealand. Looking at the way the media and public reacted to the Crafar farms bid, there is an interesting lesson for Chinese investors wanting to invest in New Zealand.

Judge all investors fairly

The Crafar farms have been in receivership since October 2009, and with the exception of a $175 million low-ball bid from a cooperative organised by Sir Michael Fay there has not been New Zealand investor with the financial clout and interest required to sell the deal. In the absence of sufficient internal interest the farms will require foreign investment if they are not only to sell for a fair price but also to ensure the investment required to return these farms profitable productivity. While the integrity of this should not mean that a purchaser is discriminated against by virtue of nationality. This is also contrary to free trade agreement signed in 2009, under which New Zealand is also obliged to welcome Chinese Foreign Direct Investment. According to University of Auckland law professor Jane Kelsey the FTA is a two-way street, and if we expect kiwi businesses to have the opportunity to invest in China, the reverse must happen: Chinese business must be free to invest in New Zealand.

The only valid reason to for the Labour party to oppose the joint venture Landcorp, Shanghai Pengxin sale would be basis of the investor's integrity. The OIO conducted its investigation of Shanghai Pengxin's, and whilst the owners were rumoured to have ties to the Chinese underworld it was found that the company met all the requirements for the investment. The New Zealand public can put some trust in the OIO finding, given that they had refused Kim Dotcom the purchase of three properties.

Why then once the company was established as reputable did the Chinese investors continue to receive so much opposition from the New Zealand public and the Labour party?

Do a little PR

The sale of land, assets continues to be an emotive subject for New Zealanders, this coupled with a sprinkling of distrust and ignorance of Chinese Business methods made the sale highly contentious. New Zealanders needed to be convinced that the sale was in everyone's best interest and that it would not result in a wave of land sales to foreign investors with the financial reserves to buy New Zealand for a price. Understanding the culture, environmental issues and political hot potatoes (such as asset sales) are key to producing convincing arguments that with a little public relations investment can smooth the passage to successful business outcomes. This is not an isolated case as the lack of PR is a common failing of Chinese investors. Ensuring that New Zealand farms are operated ethically with regards to the environment and clean green image while returning profits to New Zealand is important. Although this should not factor into the case for the Sale of the Crafar farms as New Zealand's Landcorp will be managing the operation, Shanghai Pexquin could have done more to calm the New Zealand public and Labour's fears that this was not selling the "family silver" instead it was preserving the silver for future generations. Unlike business in China, where doing big business deals relies on having connections with people in positions on influence and the opinion of the public is not factored into business deals, western economies like New Zealand, value the opinion of the public. Although Shanghai Pexquin had a representative in New Zealand they could have done more to tell the company's story, and tell the New Zealand public that their investment of $15.75 million in the lands development, would: create jobs, create an on-farm dairy training facility, enhance ecological sustainability, and would introduce overseas agribusiness marketing opportunities for New Zealand agricultural expertise in China and spend $100 million over the next five years marketing New Zealand dairy products in China.

Woburn International has had experience matching overseas investors with investment opportunities in New Zealand. Woburn International also understands and can support the need for foreign investors to work with and consult the community when conducting deals.

ENDS

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