KUALA LUMPUR: Lotus KFM Bhd has proposed to buy two companies with rights over forest reserve land in Perak and Kelantan for RM21.65mil cash.

       The group said its wholly-owned subsidiary Lotus Plantation Sdn Bhd last Friday inked a deal to buy Ladang Lojing Sdn Bhd from Lee Lip Khang, Datuk Roshaimi Razak and Kho Sau Hong for RM9.17mil cash.

       The deal will see Ladang Lojing, upon the issuance of titles, leasing forest reserve land measuring 1,030.44 ha from Yayasan Kelantan Darulnaim for 66 years, with an option to renew for a further 33 years, starting from the date where possession is delivered to Ladang Lojing.

       Also on Dec 31, 2021, Lotus Plantation inked a deal to buy Khas Jadi Sdn Bhd from Wan Yu Jin and Chin Chong Taw for RM12.48mil cash.

       Khas Jadi, involved in timber logging, has the rights-of-use over forest reserve land measuring 2,020 ha in Kledang Saiong, Kuala Kangsar, Perak, for a forest conservation project for 30 years up to Nov 11, 2051.

       It has a renewal option for a further 20 years subject to a plantation performance review.

       The deals would be financed by internally generated funds or bank borrowings.

       Lotus KFM said the proposed deals are in line with the group’s expansion strategy and would provide another stream of revenue and income in addition to its existing wheat flour milling operations and trading of starches.

       The plantation business will be carried out progressively on the land over two years after the deals, which are expected to be completed by the first quarter of this year.