FGV ... Jan13

It may sell its 20 per cent stake in Tradewinds (M) Bhd, worth an estimated RM551.5 million, to fund future land expansion. FGV president and chief executive officer Datuk Sabri Ahmad said if the company decides to sell the stake, the proceeds will be used in its upstream sector, which is to buy more plantation land.

It makes sense for FGV to sell the stake rather than keep it because at 20 per cent, FGV does not have management control over Tradewinds. With proceeds of over RM550 million, it is better for FGV to buy controlling stakes in many other companies.

It is expected to reap a hefty ROI estimated at RM390.2mil or 188% from its strategic acquisition of a 20% stake in Tradewinds (M) Bhd in just over a two-year period. From January 2010 to Dec 2012, FGVH has also received net dividends amounting to RM46.3mil from its equity stake in Tradewinds. Back in January 2010, FGVH bought Tradewinds' 20% stake or equivalent to 59.3 million shares from Grenfell Holdings Sdn Bhd, a company linked to the PPB Group, at RM3.50 per share, totalling RM207.5mil in cash.

Given the latest conditional takeover offer by Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary's private companies Perspective Lane Sdn Bhd, Kelana Ventures Sdn Bhd, Seaport Terminal (Johor) Sdn Bhd and Acara Kreatif Sdn Bhd to acquire all the shares they do not already own in Tradewinds for RM9.30 a share. FGVH will be making a gain of RM5.80 per share for its stake in Tradewinds vis-a-vis its previous purchase of RM3.50 per share.

It was also reported from January 2010 to date (Dec 2012), FGV has received net dividends amounting to RM46.3 million from its 20 per cent equity in Tradewinds.

The group bought the stake from Grenfell Holdings Sdn Bhd, which is linked to the Robert Kuok-controlled PPB Group Bhd, at RM3.50 a share, totaling RM207.5 million cash.

It is possibly the world's largest plantation company, owning over 850,000ha land in Malaysia , 500,000ha of which it leases and manages for the country's 112,635 smallholders