September 21, 2004 - KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones)--United Plantations Bhd.(2089.KU) may sell its 46% stake worth 1.1 billion ringgit ($1=MYR3.80) inAarhus United (AARUTD.K) of Denmark, a vegetable oils and specialty fatsmanufacturer, the daily New Straits Times reports.

"The company is currently investigating all possibilities to determinewhether the current Aauhus structure is optimum. We might sell altogetheror find a joint-venture partner," said Martin Bek-Nielsen, UnitedPlantations' executive director of finance and marketing.

The daily says several companies including Sime Darby Bhd. (4197.KU),Golden Hope Plantations Bhd. (1953.KU), the Kuok Group and Indonesia'sWilmar Group have expressed interest in the stake, the daily says citingunnamed sources.

Aarhus has a 23.4% stake in United Plantations through a 1991joint-venture agreement that allows it to source palm oil products fromUnited Plantations rather than through the open market.