Higher prices of the tropical oil over the past year created a profit windfall for the industry, making the time ripe for cash-rich planters to snap up plantation assets. It’s also an opportunity to monetize estates for smaller-sized growers grappling with rising operational costs and worker shortages, as well as heightened scrutiny on environmental, social and governance issues.
Palm oil, used in everything from cooking oil to chocolate and detergent, is trading more than 40% above its five-year average amid a global rally in farm commodities, lower-than-expected production and optimism over demand. Still, while vaccination efforts are picking up in some parts of the world, several countries are battling fresh infections and renewed lockdowns, complicating matters for an industry so heavily reliant on manual labour.
“Sellers are bringing down prices to more reasonable levels because they see the challenges of labour shortages, forced labour allegations, and sustainability issues,” said Ivy Ng, head of research at CGS-CIMB in Kuala Lumpur. “Buyers are more confident of striking a deal because palm oil prices have been pretty good for the last nine months.”
Some companies are also looking to sell plantation assets to relieve debt burdens worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, she said. “The high palm oil price means getting a better value. They have to sell those assets that are doing relatively well, and therefore plantations are the ones being transacted.”
Malaysian conglomerate Boustead Holdings Bhd is weighing options for its listed palm oil subsidiary including a sale, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Boustead Plantations Bhd, which has a market value of about RM1.4 billion, may be sold, or see its plantations leased to third parties or sold separately.
The potential sale comes on the heels of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd.’s takeover bid of IJM Plantations Bhd for RM1.5 billion last month.
More deals may materialize in coming months. Listed plantation companies with high net gearing and financial commitments may consider offers from growers looking to expand. Buyers — especially palm giants with economies of scale to cope with higher ESG compliance costs — will be scrutinizing the quality of estates, the age profile of trees and sustainable certification
Many dare not buy Pelikan at 30 sen. When the news about pelikan disposing an asset worth more than its market capitalization leaked to the market many scrambling to buy pelikan even up to 55 sen. I think there is a lesson we all can learn from pelikan episode!
$1.20 is high? It’s all depend how you look at it and how much you understand it’s intrinsic value. When MMC was 70-80 sen most of the time last year , a $2 TP was unthinkable ! Even the experts or analysts gave TP of $1.20-1.30.
Any possibility of Bplant and Bstead shares come to a price range of { eg 70 sen -75 sen } Bstead will offer & exchange Bplant minorities on a 1 :1 basis. No cash offer but just exchange of Bplant shares with Bstead. Just my own guess ?
Bplant ...NTA is 1.27 ? Without Re-Valuation of LAnd Assets. Many Holder will NOT approve the Share Swap. If give 1 Bplant = 2 Boustead ..... Maybe. ???? LoL .
Government approves 14 mil doses of Sinovac to be sold to states and private companies. This is despite $billions of funds already allocated to vaccinated all for free and millions are waiting in long queues ! Is this for’ bailing out’ pharmaniaga/Bstead/LTAT ??
This book is the result of the author's many years of experience and observation throughout his 26 years in the stockbroking industry. It was written for general public to learn to invest based on facts and not on fantasies or hearsay....
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Johnzhang champion he collect 0.55 cents