F&N may slake investor thirst as mercury soars

THE blazingly hot weather that has engulfed Singapore and its neighbours could be an unexpected growth driver for Fraser and Neave (F&N) this year.

The company, which has been in the business of quenching thirst since 1883, has all manner of beverage businesses under its umbrella – including its eponymous line of fizzy soft drinks, market-leading 100Plus isotonic drinks, Magnolia and Farmhouse milk, various brands of teas, juices and bottled water, and even a brewery.

F&N has fallen off the radar of many investors over the past decade, though. This is partly due to 87.4 per cent of its shares being controlled by entities linked to Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, after he won a tug of war for the group in 2013.