Lempriere Grain in slow payments for grain

GRAIN growers are reporting slow payments for grain by trader Lempriere Grain.

Farmers and grain traders are reporting slow payments by Lempriere Grain.

GRAIN growers and traders are reporting slow payments for grain by Lempriere Grain.

Lempriere Grain, whose office is registered in Collins Street, Melbourne, has pulled down its website and the Victorian Farmers Federation said the company was not answering phone calls.

It comes as Lempriere Capital distanced itself from the grain trader, after receiving negative feedback from the industry.

Lempriere Grain uses the Lempriere name under a licence agreement.

According to Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents, Lempriere Grain is half owned by Singapore company Starcom Resources Pty Ltd, with the other 50 per cent stake held by two companies owned by William Lempriere.

Mr Lempriere had been a director of Lempriere Grain since its inception in 2003 until he resigned in January last year.

The other directors are Jon Holdsworth and Singapore-based Ajay Aggarwal.

The company also has an office in Ballarat involved in buying grain.

Mr Holdsworth works as an executive of the company.

In a statement to The Weekly Times, Lempriere Capital said neither it nor company principal William Lempriere had “any operational involvement whatsoever in Lempriere Grain”.

“The directors of Lempriere Grain have been sent a notice of revocation of the licence agreement,” the statement said.

The Weekly Times has been unable to contact Mr Holdsworth or Lempriere Grain.