Non bumi plantation group to buy over Bplant as a whole is highly unlikely due to political sensitivity. Privatization of Bplant to take it out of public limelight is possible and sensible . After privatization , they can monetize a portion of the estate or valuable landbank to pare down debts.
Malaysian conglomerate Boustead Holdings Bhd is weighing options for its listed palm oil subsidiary including a sale, people with knowledge of the matter said.
The parent of Boustead Plantations Bhd is working with an adviser on the potential options, the people said, asking not to be named as the information is private. A plan could be implemented as soon as in the next few weeks, they said.
The holding company, which owns 57.4% of the subsidiary, could sell the unit or lease the plantations to third parties, the people said. Another option is to sell the individual plantations separately, one of the people said.
Malaysia’s armed forces pension fund Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera, the majority shareholder of Boustead Holdings, owns 12.1% of the plantations unit, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Boustead Plantations has a market value of about RM1.3 billion.
Deliberations are still ongoing and Boustead Holdings could decide not to proceed with a sale, the people said.
Boustead Holdings does not have immediate plans to pare down its stake in Boustead Plantations, a spokesperson said in response to a Bloomberg News query. Boustead Plantations is a core contributor to the group’s performance, however the company is continuously on the lookout to unlock value within the group, they said.
Restructuring challenges The potential sale comes as Boustead Holdings is attempting to reinvent itself amid difficulties that predate the coronavirus pandemic, including debt totalling almost RM7.5 billion, according to its earnings statement for the quarter ended March 31. Its shares tumbled in February after LTAT announced it would not proceed with a take-private proposal for Boustead, citing economic challenges from the coronavirus pandemic.
The restructuring plan by one of Malaysia’s oldest conglomerates, which traces its roots to 1828, included a pledge to dispose of non-strategic assets.
Palm oil prices are up 3.7% this year after touching an all-time high in May. Palm oil planter Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd last month offered to buy a controlling stake in smaller rival IJM Plantations Bhd for RM1.5 billion.
Boustead Plantations owns and leases a total of 48 oil palm plantation estates and 10 palm oil mills in Malaysia, according to its website. Its land bank consists of more than 98,200 hectares, of which 79,400 hectares are used for oil palm cultivation.
The unit’s chief executive officer Ibrahim Abdul Majid resigned in order to join Boustead Holdings, according to an exchange filing Tuesday. Majid will lead the company’s plantation technology and innovation initiatives
Ioi pays 61000 rgt per hectare for Sabah oil palm NPC.. Since bplant has 98200 hectares the land cost is 98200x61k is worth 5.99b. Market value only 1.3b. Surely new CEO will reinvent bplant by hiving off some estate land
LTAT is the Main player/holder. Will they "SELL out" ? and INSTRUCT B.Holdings to "SELL" ?? Many Serious BUYERS in the Market for Bplant estates & Land.
I agreed on Boustead plantation on sales news, If you look at Boustead Plantation latest annual report, Negeri Sembilan Palm Oils Berhad and Chin Teik Plantation Berhad has been listed as top 7 and 8 shareholder in Boustead plantation top 30 largest shareholder
I guess selling a portion of the estates (like what NPC and TSH is doing) is more likely. Too much political sensitivity or backlash to deal with for disposing Bplant as one piece, unless the buyer is GLC or bumi company.
At least , the management is taking right steps forwards. The disposal will result disposal gain and put the company in healthier financial position. Value in Bplant will gradually emerge!
@Mutts, I can’t think of any successful Bumi individual who owns sizeable plantation other than SM. All other GLCs plantations companies have their plate very full and unlikely to have resources to take over Bplant. Just my guess.
Does not ring a bell to have the ex CEO transfer and lead the Group Plantation innovation. Report card on profit seemed good, maybe due to the right timing of CPO price.
Syed Mokthar was a keen buyer for FGV but Felda was not agreeable to his offer. His financing structure already in place. BPLANT is a smaller plate vs FGV valuations. Why not?
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
I don’t think the political development now will necessarily derail what Bstead plan to do with Bplant. Whoever in power shall give blessing to the rationalisation plan to turnaround Bstead and Bplant for the welfare of the arm forces .
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!
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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....
CCWONG
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Posted by CCWONG > 2021-07-05 11:05 | Report Abuse
Fly Bplant to the moon.