Sime is 'preferred bidder' for 49% stake in NBPOL

ALTHOUGH Malaysian multinational Sime Darby has emerged as the "preferred bidder" for a 49 per cent interest in Papua New Guinea-based New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL), at least one other government- linked corporation, Felda Global Ventures (FGV), remains interested in the London-listed plantation firm.

At the end of July, Sime told the stock exchange that it had been given 60 days to "finalise the terms of the transaction". Separately, the vendor Kulim Malaysia said that it had informed NBPOL and the relevant PNG authorities …