Reference no: EM133003072

ABC Inc. is a Canadian public company that owns several soya bean farms across North America. XYZ Inc. is a Canadian private company that, among other things, manufactures and sells several types of food products made from soy beans. Since XYZ was established, ABC Inc. has owned 18% of the voting common shares of XYZ. The other 82% of the voting common shares are held by 12 individuals and companies not related to ABC Inc. The largest shareholding percentage by any of these 12 shareholders is 22%.

• ABC Inc. and XYZ recently signed a contract whereby XYZ has to buy all of ABC Inc.'s harvest of soya beans for the next 10 years. The price that XYZ has to pay for the soya beans is equal to the fair market value of soya beans at the time of sale. (Soy beans is a commodity which fair value is determined on the open market). XYZ is free to also buy soy beans from other suppliers. In fact, soya beans from ABC is estimated to amount to about 30% of all of XYZ's soya bean purchases.
• For the first time since XYZ was established, ABC has this year been able to vote one of its own directors onto the board of directors of XYZ.

Problem 1: Explain whether ABC Inc. should classify its investment in XYZ as a non-strategic or significant influence investment.