05/02/2025

BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | FEB 5, 2025

15

BR Capital in pact to support Kopetro members

SD Guthrie’s deal boosts presence in non-palm sectors: PublicInvest KUALA LUMPUR: SD Guthrie Bhd’s recent acquisition of 48% equity interest in Netherlands-based Marvesa Supply Chain Services (MSCS) for €54 million (or RM250 million) would allow the former to strengthen its presence in non-palm sectors. In addition, SD Guthrie can tap into MSCS’s existing customer base for its certified sustainable palm oil products, which account for 12% of the global supply. Public Investment Bank Bhd (PublicInvest) said MSCS could also tap into SD Guthrie’s strong presence in Southeast Asia’s palm oil industry through the deal. To recap, SD Guthrie acquired a 48% equity interest in MSCS to penetrate into the European animal feed and biofuel industries. “We believe this acquisition would help strengthen its presence in the European oils and fats industry. However, given the lack of financial information such as earnings and profitability of this company, we are unable to assess its impact on the group at this junction,“ PublicInvest said in a report. The bank-backed research firm said the 48% stake was purchased from Parcom, a Dutch private equity firm, for €54 million while the remaining 52% stake is held by BGR Beheer B.V., which is owned by the current management of MSCS. MSCS is a long-established industry player in the European market specialising in the sourcing, blending and distribution of oils and fats to the animal feed and biofuel industries. The company has a diversified pool of customers in 11 countries comprising traders, distributors, and multinational feed producers. It has a refinery based in Zwijndrecht with an annual capacity of 300,000mt. The refinery produces a variety of oils and fats that are widely used for industrial frying, emulsifiers, bakery and confectionary ingredients, margarines, dairy products, candles, and milk substitutes. In addition to the Netherlands, MSCS has a presence in Indonesia to meet the increasing demand for animal feed ingredients. MSCS also has an established trading arm in lecithin, soy and other soft oils. Meanwhile, PublicInvest said SD Guthrie’s Q4’24 results are expected to be released on Feb 27. The research firm expects to see better results due to stronger CPO prices. PublicInvest maintains a neutral call on SD Guthrie with an unchanged target price of RM4.85 based on 20x FY25 earnings per share. 2023, amounting to RM753.1 billion. The JS-SEZ initiative is expected to attract substantial foreign direct investment, create numerous job opportunities and further solidify Johor’s position as a key economic hub in the region. As Johor continues to grow as a key economic hub in Malaysia, FedEx remains dedicated to fostering local businesses’ success and contributing to the region’s economic development. The accelerated delivery service is just one of many ways FedEx is working to drive growth for its customers.

“Through this partnership, members will have the opportunity to explore a wider range of investment instruments that can potentially generate sustainable returns while aligning with responsible financial principles. “By leveraging BR Capital’s expertise and structured offerings, we aim to empower members with more diversified and strategic investment options, ultimately strengthening their financial resilience and long-term growth,” he said. Muhamad Umar said this MoC represents a significant step in BR Capital’s ambition to broaden the investor base within Malaysia’s capital market. “Together with Kopetro, we seek to empower its members’ investing journey, providing them with opportunities to diversify their portfolios and create wealth through high-quality investment notes on our platform. “We are optimistic this collaboration will cultivate a dynamic investment environment that benefits issuers and investors, as well as the broader Malaysian economy,” Muhamad Umar said.

o Deal will allow members of Petronas co-op to gain wider access to fixed income investments and diversify portfolios

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia RAM Capital Sdn Bhd (BR Capital), a joint venture entity between Bursa Malaysia Bhd and RAM Holdings Bhd (RAM), recently signed a memorandum of collaboration (MoC) with Koperasi Kakitangan Petronas Bhd (Kopetro) to explore initiatives to expand access to fixed income investments and enhance financial inclusion for Kopetro members. Under the terms of the MoC, BR Capital and Kopetro will cooperate to expand access to fixed income instruments available on the BR Capital platform such as credit-rated investment notes, to Kopetro’s extensive member network. This will enable members to diversify their investment portfolios and expand income streams for long-term wealth creation, fostering greater participation in Malaysia’s growing fixed-income space.

Another focus of this collaboration is to raise investor awareness of new investment opportunities on the BR Capital platform. This will be achieved through educational initiatives and outreach programmes to inform Kopetro members of the benefits and potential of fixed-income investments for wealth preservation and growth. In addition, both parties will explore further initiatives that align with their shared interests and long-term objectives. The MoC was signed by Bursa Malaysia CEO and BR Capital chairman Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift and Kopetro CEO Ahmad Shakir Ahmad Ubaidah. Ahmad Shakir said this collaboration marks a significant step in expanding investment opportunities for 15,000 Kopetro members, providing them access to BR Capital’s fundraising and investing platform.

Importers and local businesses now receive their packages two hours earlier for inbound shipments from Asia, Europe, and the US. – PEXELS PIX

FedEx speeds up import shipments to Johor KUALA LUMPUR: Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) is enhancing its inbound shipping service to serve customers better who are importing into Johor. Johor and improving their flexibility to serve their own customers better,“ he said.

(JS-SEZ) is poised to significantly enhance economic connectivity between Johor and Singapore, focusing on key sectors such as electronics, medical equipment, food manufacturing, and data centres. In 2023, Johor’s economy demonstrated robust growth, with a 4.1% year-over-year increase in GDP, surpassing the national average of 3.6%. This growth was primarily driven by the services and manufacturing sectors contributing around 84% of Johor’s GDP. Additionally, Johor accounted for approximately 29% of Malaysia’s total trade in

Import shipments from Asia, Europe, and the US into Johor are routed to the FedEx Gateway in Singapore before journeying to the FedEx Senai Gateway, which offers customers the benefit of direct clearance at Senai customs. Previously, these shipments were routed through Kuala Lumpur before making a 300km trip to Senai for processing and delivery. This change is particularly beneficial for industries that rely heavily on timely imports including manufacturing, retail, and e-commerce. The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone

Importers and local businesses now receive their packages two hours earlier for inbound shipments from Asia, Europe, and the US. FedEx Malaysia managing director Tien Long Woon said improving the speed of its services is essential for businesses looking to thrive in today’s competitive environment. “We understand that time is of the essence, and with faster delivery of imports, we are enhancing the efficiency of local businesses in