FGV acquires four firms, land for RM655mil

Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) is acquiring four plantation-based companies and a parcel of oil palm land in Sabah measuring 836.1ha from Golden Land Bhd for RM655mil in cash.

For FGV, the proposed acquisitions are expected to improve its brownfield land and age profile of its oil palms.

Meanwhile, Golden Land sees the proposed disposals as offering an opportunity for the group to unlock and realise the value of its investments in the companies and land being sold.

But the disposal may see Golden Land to be classified as an “affected listed issuer” and/or a “cash company” pursuant to Practice Note 16 and Practice Note 17 (PN17) of the Listing Requirements. This implies that the company will have to submit a regularisation plan since the board intends to maintain its listing status.

Golden Land and FGV revealed that FGV’s subsidiary Pontian United Plantations Bhd and/or its nominee had signed a conditional sale and purchase agreement to acquire Golden Land’s four subsidiaries and land in Beluran.

The land is currently charged to Hong Leong Bank Bhd (HLBB) as part of the security for loan given to Golden Land. Its market value, as assessed by CH Williams Talhar & Wong (Sabah) Sdn Bhd, is RM71.72mil.

To facilitate the discharge of charge on land, Golden Land will obtain a redemption statement from HLBB for the security’s partial release in respect to the loan extended to the company by HLBB.

Golden Land will also secure the redemption statement by the relevant financiers in respect to the borrowings of the four subsidiaries as well as for the purpose of releasing all securities provided by the companies as third party securities for any of Golden Land group’s borrowings.

Notably, the sale and purchase of the shares and land is expected to be completed in three months from the unconditional date or any other date that FGV and Golden Land may decide later.

Golden Land estimates that the group may gain RM15.23 million from the proposed disposals. However, the company is yet to determine the amount of the net proceeds as well as on how the money will be used.

The sale and purchase of the land and the shares will be completed within three months from the unconditional date or any other date that Golden Land and FGV decide later.

Golden Land estimated that the group would gain RM15.23mil from the proposed disposals. However, it has yet to determine the amount of the net proceeds and how exactly the money would be used.

Golden Land, which will still own about 8,497ha of plantation lands after the proposed exercise, said the disposals may trigger criteria under PN17.