Noumi’s auditor Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu has told the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) it has a conflict of interest due to the class action proceedings being brought against it in relation to its role as the company’s auditor when it was operating as Freedom Foods Group.
In January the class actions were combined into one.
Subsequently, Deloitte ceased being noumi’s auditor on 13 April.
Deloitte told ASIC it intends to plead a proportionate liability defence and identify noumi as a concurrent wrongdoer, and a defensive crossclaim against the company.
Noumi said it intends to vigorously defend all claims made against it in the proceedings. Its defence was due on 8 April 2022.
Noumi said it had started looking for a new auditor.
CFO resigns
Barely 12 months after joining the company, Noumi CFO Josée Lemoine has resigned, saying the completion of the company’s ‘reset’ phase was the right time for her departure.
“I am proud to have kicked-off the Finance component of the ‘transformation’ phase, providing a platform to build on for the journey ahead,” Lemoine said.
Her replacement is Peter Meyers, who has CFO experience of listed and private companies. Recent roles include Speedcast International, Amart Furniture, and Billabong International.
Noumi said, “He brings extensive experience leading business turnarounds, financial restructuring and corporate transformation across a variety of industries, including retailing, media, manufacturing, and leisure and tourism.”
Lemoine was part of the comprehensive leadership renewal program undertaken after the horror that was 2020 for the company including $590 million in write downs.
