Understandably, there’s been a lot of angst among Murray Goulburn’s farmer-supplier-shareholders.

At the heart of debate in dairy circles has been a proposal for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM). But few MG suppliers feel sure of what an EGM really entails, especially since the massive changes to MG after the co-operative was partially listed last year.

I am grateful to  MG’s Executive General Manager Supplier Relations, Robert Poole, for answering some important questions for Milk Maid Marian.

Q: What’s needed to trigger an EGM at Murray Goulburn?
RP: Calling a General Meeting is a fundamental right of all supplier/shareholders. To call a General Meeting, supplier/shareholders require 5% of shareholder votes – as defined under our Constitution and in line with the Corporations Act. For any resolution to pass at such a meeting, a 50% vote of shareholders is required, unless it is a constitutional amendment which requires 75% support.

Q: Where are EGMs held and can they be shared electronically (eg: via video link) for those unable to attend?
RP: Murray Goulburn’s general meetings are normally held in Melbourne. Typically we don’t provide remote access to these meetings due to cost considerations.

Q: How long after an EGM is triggered must it be held?
RP: If shareholders with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at the general meeting request that Murray Goulburn convene a general meeting, the meeting must be called within 21 days and must be held no later than 2 months after the request is given to the company.

Q: Who pays for an EGM called by supplier shareholders? What is an indicative cost?
RP: If shareholders with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at the general meeting request that Murray Goulburn convene a general meeting, it is expected that the costs of the meeting would be borne by Murray Goulburn.  The cost varies depending on venue availability and number of attendees, so it is hard to define until closer to the event.

Q: What is the format of an EGM? Can questions be asked unannounced from the floor? Do resolutions need to be submitted in advance or can they be proposed from the floor on the day?
RP: It is expected that questions will be allowed from the floor.  However, any resolutions to be proposed at the meeting must be set out in the formal request given to Murray Goulburn to convene the general meeting. Effectively, this is to ensure that shareholders will know what business is to be dealt with at the meeting, and can decide whether to attend or not, or if they attend by proxy, they can instruct their proxy how to vote.

Q: For a resolution to pass, does the 50% vote of shareholders apply to those at the meeting or the entire shareholder group? What is the voting process on a resolution?
RP: An ordinary resolution must be passed by at least 50% of the votes cast by shareholders entitled to vote on the resolution. A special resolution (eg. for proposed changes to Murray Goulburn’s Constitution), generally must be passed by at least 75% of the votes cast by shareholders entitled to vote on the resolution.

At a general meeting, a resolution put to the vote must be decided on a show of hands (where each shareholder present who is entitled to vote has one vote), unless a poll is demanded (where each shareholder present shall have one vote for each ordinary share held). In the event that a poll is called, this means that all the vote will include the proxies received prior to the meeting as well as those voted on the day.

Declaration: Marian’s farm no longer supplies Murray Goulburn but she does hold non-voting shares in the unit trust.